Written Answers

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Load more

Monday 5 September 2011 SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE Education and Lifelong Learning Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue to fund the In Care Survivors Service Scotland project beyond October 2011. Holding answer issued: 9 August 2011 (S4W-1626) Angela Constance: The Scottish Government is committed to supporting survivors of childhood abuse. The In Care Survivors Service Scotland (ICSSS) provides a specialist service to a group of people who have suffered trauma of a very specific nature which is tailored to their needs. In particular, the service uniquely offers support accessing records relating to individuals‟ care experiences. We have asked Open Secret to submit a renewed business case for further funding, which we will take into consideration in combination with the external evaluation of the service currently being carried out. Jamie Hepburn (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Executive how many registered foster carers it estimates are required to match assessed care needs. (S4W-2143) Angela Constance: It is for local authorities to assess the care needs in each of their areas and recruit and register foster carers to match the need. The Scottish Government is supporting local authorities by working with, and funding activities through, The fostering network which support the recruitment and retention of foster carers. Jamie Hepburn (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children have been fostered outwith their local authority area in each of the last five years. (S4W-2144) Angela Constance: The Scottish Government does not centrally collect information on the number of children who are fostered outwith their local authority area. This information would only be available by contacting individual local authorities. Jamie Hepburn (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Executive how many fostered children have been returned to their parents in each of the last five years. (S4W-2145) Angela Constance: Information on the number of looked after children whose last accommodation type immediately prior to leaving care was “in foster care” and whose initial destination on leaving care was “home with (biological) parents” is only available since 2008-09. During 2008-09, there were 491 looked after children who last accommodation type immediately prior to ceasing being looked after was “in foster care” and their initial destination on leaving care was “home with (biological) parents”. The equivalent figure for 2009-10 was 388 looked after children. Please note that these figures may include some multiple counting if a child ceased being looked after more than once during the respective reporting period, and their final accommodation type and initial destination on leaving care met the specified criteria. Jamie Hepburn (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of fostered children has remained in the care system until 16 years of age in each of the last five years. (S4W-2147) Angela Constance: Of all looked after children who were “in foster care” at the end of each reporting year, the percentage that were aged 16 years or older for each of the last five years was: 31 March 2006: 9.7% 31 March 2007: 9.4% 31 March 2008: 9.2% 31 March 2009: 8.3% 31 July 2010: 8.2%. Please note that figures for 2006, 2009 and 2010 include a very small number of young people aged over 21 years who were still being looked after, whereas figures for 2007 and 2008 only included young people being looked after up to and including the age of 21 year olds. Jamie Hepburn (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children have been living with a parent with a known drug dependency in each of the last five years. (S4W-2148) Angela Constance: Current best estimates suggest that between 40-60,000 children in Scotland may be affected by parental drug misuse. Of these, 10-20,000 may be living with at least one parent with a drug misuse problem. These figures are largely derived from Estimating the National and Local Prevalence of Problem Drug Misuse in Scotland 2006, published in October 2009 and remain largely unchanged since the last update based on 2003 data. Jamie Hepburn (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding exempting kinship care payments when calculating entitlement to support from the Department of Work and Pensions. (S4W-2150) Angela Constance: The Scottish Government has met with the UK Government and discussed the issue of benefit entitlement for kinship carers numerous times since 2007 in order to try to improve financial support available. This has resulted in a number of improvements including the exempting of kinship allowances from housing and council tax benefit. For example, if a kinship carer received a weekly payment of £100 they could be better off by up to around £37 per week depending on their individual circumstances, as a result of these changes. Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is available for local welfare assistance grants and what proportion will be allocated for administration. (S4W-2409) Michael Matheson: We are currently consulting on the successor arrangements for community care grants and crisis loans. We will make decisions on future arrangements, including the allocation of funding, in the light of the responses. Finance and Sustainable Growth Drew Smith (Glasgow) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive what the key themes of its cities strategy are and whether regional transport is a priority. (S4W-2168) Nicola Sturgeon: As noted in the answer to questions S4W-02164 and S4W-02166 on 5 September 2011, the cities strategy is currently being developed collaboratively with cities and will be published by the end of 2011. It is the role of Scotland‟s seven regional transport partnerships to strengthen the planning and delivery of regional transport. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament‟s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/MAQASearch/QAndMSearch.aspx. Drew Smith (Glasgow) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive what collaboration it has undertaken with Strathclyde Passenger Transport in the development of its cities strategy. (S4W-2169) Nicola Sturgeon: There has been no collaboration with Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) specifically on the development of the cities strategy. As one of Scotland‟s seven regional transport partnerships, SPT has regular engagement with Scottish Government, through Transport Scotland, on transport related matters. Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances would it allow a local development plan to contradict the national planning framework. (S4W-2271) John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-01373 on 11 July 2011. Planning legislation requires that in preparing a local development plan the planning authority (a) are to take into account the National Planning Framework; (b) are to have regard to such information and considerations as are prescribed in the Town and Country Planning (Development Planning) (Scotland) Regulations 2008, and (c) may have regard to such other information and considerations as appear to them to be relevant. Scottish Ministers would only consider intervening in the process of adopting a local development plan where it appeared to them that the proposed plan was in some respect unsatisfactory, for example in terms of its implications for national policy. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament‟s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/MAQASearch/QAndMSearch.aspx. Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances would it permit a local planning authority to reconsider the need for a development identified in the national planning framework when (a) preparing development plans and (b) responding to individual project proposals. (S4W-2272) John Swinney: I refer the member to the answers to questions S4W-01373 on 11 July 2011 and S4W-02271 on 5 September 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament‟s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/MAQASearch/QAndMSearch.aspx. Health and Wellbeing Ruth Davidson (Glasgow) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on offering all heart patients cardiac rehabilitation. (S4W-2122) Michael Matheson: Our Better Heart Disease and Stroke Care Action Plan, published in August 2011, recognises the clinical and cost effectiveness of cardiac rehabilitation. The action plan also emphasises the importance of ensuring that people living with heart disease who could benefit from cardiac rehabilitation, can gain access. We therefore expect provision of cardiac rehabilitation to be in line with Healthcare Improvement Scotland‟s clinical standards for heart disease, published in April 2010. Standard 10 is that patients with specified heart disease have access to a menu-based cardiac rehabilitation programme. It is however
Recommended publications
  • Eastendeye Edition6

    Eastendeye Edition6

    The Eastend Eye Summer/Autumn 2013 Free! The Eastend Eye p2 p3 p4 Dear Gordon Dear Alex About the Eye Broken commitments and Accord Centre becomes political Find out more about the Eye and how to faltering ‘legacy’ football between parties. contact and support us. Save the Accord Campaigners Open Letter Where’s our Legacy? Special Open Letters to the City Leader and First Minister For over 2 years now, the Save the Salmond concedes that the Accord Centre users with severe learning Accord campaign has protested against Centre carers and users have every needs have described the loss of vital the closure of their day care centre reason to feel “legitimately aggrieved” amenities, and the friendships and in the East End of Glasgow. Because that legacy commitments have not security provided by the centre that of the Commonwealth Games, the been fulfilled. But despite numerous are no longer available. With under a Accord Centre has been demolished for assurances, no solution has been found year to go until the start of the games a bus park for temporary use during and the whole East end of Glasgow is this situation must be resolved. An the games. Despite promises for a left with no adequate day-care facility. adequate replacement for this service, new build replacement centre, the The group have complained of being as promised, should be a priority. Labour-led City Council now argue treated like a ‘political football’ between Anything less is an embarrassment that the austere ‘economic climate’ the Council and the SNP, when all to both the Council and the Scottish means there will be no new day care they want is the facilities they lost Government, and a travesty of ‘legacy’ centre.
  • Tesco Reps’ Elections and Much More

    Tesco Reps’ Elections and Much More

    >> JUL/AUG 2015 NETWThe bimonthly magazine for Usdaw AcOtivists Rwww.usdK aw.org.uk LATEST NEWS MEMBERSHIP WEEK ACTIVIST IN DEPTH Discount stores in union’s sights ••• WAREHOUSE CONF ERENCE ••• LGBT GET-TOGETHER ••• ACADEMY1 ••• @UsdawUnion Flickr /UsdawUnion /UsdawUnion [email protected] WELCOME [email protected] Email the editor with your stories, pictures and opinions. Comment General secretary John Hannett Usdaw faces another battle to stop the Government’s plans to allow local councils to deregulate Sunday trading, but rest assured we won’t shy away from this fight. Our members oppose it, many retailers oppose it and so do many shoppers, so we will be doing all we can to make 26 the sensible, common-sense case to retain the current restrictions as set out in the 1994 Sunday Trading Act. We now know the Tory chancellor expects low paid workers to bear the brunt of his austerity measures after he announced a four-year freeze on in-work benefits for millions of people in his emergency July Budget. Chancellor George Osborne also announced: n Tax credits and Universal Credit to be restricted to two children, affecting those born after April 2017. n Income threshold for tax credits to be reduced from £6,420 to £3,850 n Working-age benefits to be frozen for four years - including tax credits and local housing allowance, (although maternity pay and disability benefits will be 22 exempted). In a major departure for the Conservative Party (who opposed the introduction of Labour’s National Minimum Wage), the Budget also included the introduction of a new national living wage for all workers aged over 25, starting at £7.20 an hour from April 2016 and set to reach £9 by 2020.
  • Poverty Leadership Panel Membership Biographical Information

    Poverty Leadership Panel Membership Biographical Information

    Poverty Leadership Panel membership Biographical information Gordon Gordon was elected Leader of Glasgow City Council in May 2010, Matheson, having joined the Council in 1999 as a Councillor. Leader of the In May 2012 he led the Scottish Labour Party to victory, securing an Council overall majority in Glasgow in the local government elections. As Leader, Gordon Matheson has established the Commonwealth Jobs and Graduate Funds; approved a scheme to reduce Glasgow’s landfill by 90%; introduced winter fuel payments to pensioners, and embarked on the refurbishment or rebuild of every school in the city. Gordon says that he copes with his busy schedule by taking his full complement of annual leave and holidaying in the sun whenever possible, especially in Italy. Ghazala Ghazala has been involved in the third sector for the past ten years Hakeem, working directly with grassroots communities and serving on Poverty Truth management committees and boards. Commissioner Ghazala has been involved in anti-poverty work for many years; she was one of the original testifiers with the Poverty Truth Commission. She has a long record of volunteering in Glasgow, including for instance with Amina – the Muslim Women’s Resource Centre and for the Govanhill Festival. She has been on the management committee of the Govanhill Housing Association and the Govanhill Community Development Trust, among other organisations. She has also served on the Children’s Panel. Ghazala recently won the Scottish Muslim Women's Award for Contribution to Community Work. Aileen Aileen was first elected in 1999 and now serves the multi-member Colleran, ward of Partick West.
  • Consultation Report Supporting Planning Permission in Principle

    Consultation Report Supporting Planning Permission in Principle

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ÌGLI 'PEWW YTXSWUQ VIWMHIRXMEPJPEXW QEMRWXVIEQSVWXYHIRX WYMKIRIVMW YTXSWUQ (EXE'IRXVI 'PEWW YTXSWUQ IRIVK]GIRXVI WYMKIRIVMW QIERWSJEGGIWWWIVZMGMRKERHTEVOMRKEVVERKIQIRXW VIPEXIHMRJVEWXVYGXYVI VIPEXIHPERHWGETMRKERH VIPEXIHTYFPMGVIEPQ 8LIETTPMGEXMSRMWGPEWWIHEWE1ENSV%TTPMGEXMSRMRXIVQWSJXLIVIPIZERXPIKMWPEXMSRERHVIKYPEXMSRW-XLEWXLIVIJSVIFIIRXLIWYFNIGXSJ E4VSTSWEPSJ%TTPMGEXMSR2SXMGIERHXLIVIPEXIHTYFPMGGSRWYPXEXMSRTVSGIWW[MXLXLITYFPMGERHWXEXYXSV]GSRWYPXIIW%WITEVEXI4VI %TTPMGEXMSR'SRWYPXEXMSR6ITSVXHIXEMPWXLMWTVSGIWWERHXLISYXGSQIW 8LIETTPMGEXMSRLEWEPWSFIIRXLIWYFNIGXSJEVIUYIWXXS+PEWKS['MX]'SYRGMPEWTPERRMRKEYXLSVMX]JSVEWGVIIRMRKSTMRMSRYRHIVXLI
  • Representation on Outside Bodies Approved. 6 the Council Approved the Following Appointments Etc to Outside Bodies:- Organisatio

    Representation on Outside Bodies Approved. 6 the Council Approved the Following Appointments Etc to Outside Bodies:- Organisatio

    Representation on outside bodies approved. 6 The Council approved the following appointments etc to outside bodies:- Organisation Appointment Advocacy Project Appoint Philip Braat Association of Port Health Authorities Appoint Alistair Watson Association for Public Service Excellence Appoint Paul Carey and Elaine (APSE) McDougall Bailie’s Institution Appoint Gerald Leonard Barlinnie Prison Visiting Committee Appoint Matt Kerr, Yvonne Kucuk, Hanif Raja and Martha Wardrop Blindcraft Trust Appoint Phil Greene and Gordon Matheson Cadder Housing Association Appoint Mohammed Razaq Cassiltoun Trust Appoint Malcolm Cunning Cathcart and District Housing Association Appoint Archie Graham Ltd Children’s Classic Concerts Appoint Alison Thewliss Children’s Panel Advisory Committee Appoint Marie Garrity, Pauline McKeever and Austin Sheridan Citizens Theatre Appoint James Scanlon Clyde Valley Learning and Development Appoint George Ryan, with Paul Rooney Project Joint Committee as substitute Community Enterprise in Scotland (CEIS) Appoint Aileen Colleran and Jonathan Findlay COSLA Convention Appoint Representatives Substitutes Susan Aitken Kenny McLean Elizabeth Cameron James Adams Stephen Curran Aileen Colleran Archie Graham James Coleman Matt Kerr Marie Garrity Glasgow City Council, City Chambers, Glasgow G2 1DU John Letford Mhairi Hunter Gordon Matheson Alistair Watson Paul Rooney George Ryan COSLA Executive Groups:- Community Wellbeing and Safety James Coleman Education, Children and Young Stephen Curran People Health and Wellbeing Matt Kerr Regeneration
  • Meeting of the Parliament

    Meeting of the Parliament

    MEETING OF THE PARLIAMENT Thursday 12 June 2008 Session 3 £5.00 Parliamentary copyright. Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body 2008. Applications for reproduction should be made in writing to the Licensing Division, Her Majesty‘s Stationery Office, St Clements House, 2-16 Colegate, Norwich NR3 1BQ Fax 01603 723000, which is administering the copyright on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. Produced and published in Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body by RR Donnelley. CONTENTS Thursday 12 June 2008 Debates Col. EDUCATION CUTS ........................................................................................................................................... 9589 Motion moved—[Rhona Brankin]. Amendment moved—[Fiona Hyslop]. Amendment moved—[Murdo Fraser]. Amendment moved—[Jeremy Purvis]. Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab).............................................................................................................. 9589 The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning (Fiona Hyslop) ............................................ 9592 Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) ............................................................................................. 9595 Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD) ........................................................................ 9596 Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab) ............................................................................................................... 9599 Rob Gibson (Highlands
  • Glasgow Labour 2012

    Glasgow Labour 2012

    Glasgow Labour Manifesto 2012 putting first! Foreword by Gordon Matheson I am tremendously proud to be Glaswegian. I am proud of our city, our people and our culture. And I am proud of Labour’s record in transforming Glasgow. Glasgow Labour has a proven record of achievement, including: being the first local authority in Scotland to introduce a living wage; introduction of the UK’s largest and most successful modern apprenticeship scheme for school leavers; the rebuilding or refurbishment of every secondary school in the city; 15 hours free childcare for all 3 year olds before the rest of Scotland; provision of jobs for young people, graduates and the over 50s; and delivery of the 2014 Commonwealth Games for Glasgow. And we have delivered all of this while freezing council tax for the last seven years. Our actions have set Glasgow apart. We were the only major city in the UK where unemployment fell in 2011, and youth unemployment rose at a fraction of the Scottish and UK average. School attainment in the city is at all time high and the number of young people going on to university has risen for each of the last 10 years. Glasgow is now one of Europe’s top financial centres, a tourist destination of international standing and the UK’s top retail destination outside of London. None of this has happened by accident. But we have much more to do. This manifesto sets out both our record and our clear vision for the future. Our 100 policies are clear, ambitious and we will deliver every single one of them.
  • A Fairer, Better, More Co-Operative Scotland

    A Fairer, Better, More Co-Operative Scotland

    A fairer, better, more co-operative Scotland Edited by Richard McCready and Paul Godzik Preface by Cathy Peattie Chair, Scottish Co-operative Party Preface Cathy Peattie Chair of the Scottish Co-operative Party I don’t need to remind colleagues that it has been a challenging year for many within the co-op movement. However, like you, I believe that the principles underpinning our movement are strong, and it is on that firm basis that we move forward. I believe that the Scottish Co-operative Party can be proud of the contribution we are making to policy change in Scotland, and proud of the tangible difference these policies are making in communities across Scotland. Across the country, in local government, co-operative and mutual solutions are playing an increasing important role in providing services. As the articles that follow show, we have a rich and diverse tapestry of co-operative and mutual solutions in a range of different sectors and settings. But they also show that seeds are being planted in a range of new areas that, I hope, will lead to a range of new opportunities. I would like to thank all those that contributed to this pamphlet, along with Richard McCready and Paul Godzik for the editing and production. Most importantly I would like to thank all of you for your continued commitment and unstinting belief that together we can make a difference, and build a more co-operative Scotland. the scottish co-operative party A fairer, better, more co-operative Scotland | 3 Foreword Johann Lamont MSP Scottish Labour Leader The Co-operative Party has a rich history of radical ideas that have brought real change to people’s lives.
  • Glasgow and Clyde Valley City Deal

    Glasgow and Clyde Valley City Deal

    Glasgow and Clyde Valley City Deal Executive Summary Glasgow and Clyde Valley is comprised of eight local authorities: East Dunbartonshire Council; East Renfrewshire Council; Glasgow City Council; Inverclyde Council; North Lanarkshire Council; Renfrewshire Council; South Lanarkshire Council; and West Dunbartonshire Council (hereinafter referred to as “Glasgow and Clyde Valley”). This area comprises the largest city- region in Scotland and one of the largest in the United Kingdom, with a population of over 1.75 million people. As such Glasgow and Clyde Valley is a key engine of economic growth for both the Scottish and UK economies, generating around 32% of Scotland’s Gross Value Added, 33% of Scottish jobs and is home to over 29% of all businesses in Scotland. Glasgow and Clyde Valley benefits from numerous economic assets including: strengths in areas such as financial services, life sciences, engineering, manufacturing and creative and media industries; successful universities and research institutes; and a skilled workforce. However the city and wider region also faces numerous challenges that have acted as barriers to economic growth. These include: high rates of long term unemployment; poor survival rates for business start-ups (when compared to similar UK cities); stalled development sites in key locations; and weaknesses in the area’s transport infrastructure. Recognising these challenges and opportunities local leaders, the Scottish Government and UK Government have worked together to transform Glasgow and Clyde Valley. As a result of action taken to date, the city and wider region is undergoing a renaissance, re-emerging as a major centre for economic growth in the UK. Signs of this renaissance include: the 2014 Commonwealth Games – where the city welcomed athletes and visitors from all over the world; major enhancements to infrastructure including improvements to the M74 and M80; and the construction of the new South Glasgow Hospitals Campus (which will be the largest hospital complex in Western Europe).
  • Commitment Letter

    Councillor Gordon Matheson CBE MA MCIPD FRSA LEADER OF THE COUNCIL Chair - Glasgow City Marketing Bureau Scottish Labour Party Anderston/City - Ward 10 Phone 0141 287 5480 E-mail [email protected] Our Ref: GM/NB/0129AFG 29 January 2015 Dear Colleague Glasgow City Council – Application to join the WHO Global Network of Age Friendly Cities and Communities. Glasgow City Council welcomes the opportunity to apply to join the WHO Global Network of Age Friendly Cities and Communities. Glasgow is an ambitious, inventive and entrepreneurial city with a track record of delivery and making things happen. The recent success of the 2014 Commonwealth Games is testament to that. We are Scotlands largest city and like many large urban areas, we face challenges in tackling issues of deprivation and inequality. In our Council Strategic Plan 2012 to 2017, we provide a vision for Glasgow that will deliver economic growth and resilience for all in our community. The plan sets out a wide range of priorities and commitments to ensure local services and neighbourhoods are informed by the people who live in them. The plan sets out a range of practical commitments to ensure that our older citizens can participate fully in the life of the city. This includes: a programme of free and discounted access to a range of sports and activities; a strong commitment to independent living and support for our older citizens; a range of supports for carers; a programme to help alleviate fuel poverty for some of our most vulnerable older people. We believe that being part of the WHO programme will help us to focus and accelerate our approach, building on the good practice we can already demonstrate and allowing us to raise our aspirations even higher.
  • BUSINESS BULLETIN No. 342/2012 Monday 3 December 2012

    BUSINESS BULLETIN No. 342/2012 Monday 3 December 2012

    BUSINESS BULLETIN No. 342/2012 Monday 3 December 2012 1 Contents The sections which appear in today’s Business Bulletin are in bold Section A: Today’s Business - Meetings of Committees - Meeting of the Parliament Section B: Future Meetings of the Parliament Section C: Future Meetings of Committees Section D: Oral Questions - Questions selected for First Minister’s Question Time - Questions selected for response by Ministers and junior Scottish Ministers at Question Time Section E: Written Questions – new questions for written answer Section F: Motions and Amendments Section G: Bills - New Bills introduced - New amendments to Bills - Members’ Bills proposals Section H: New Documents – new documents laid before the Parliament and committee reports published Section I: Petitions – new public petitions Section J: Progress of Legislation – progress of Bills and subordinate legislation 2 Business Bulletin: Monday 3 December 2012 Section B – Future Meetings of the Parliament Business Programme agreed by the Parliament on 29 November 2012 Tuesday 4 December 2012 2.00 pm Time for Reflection – Ms Morag White, Leader, Girl Guides, Coatbridge followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions followed by Topical Questions (if selected) followed by Ministerial Statement: Annual EU Fisheries Negotiations followed by Scottish Government Debate: The Leveson Report – The Way Forward for Scotland followed by Business Motions followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions 5.15 pm Decision Time followed by Members’ Business – S4M-04855 Jamie Hepburn: White Ribbon Campaign
  • Councillor Gordon Matheson Spee

    Councillor Gordon Matheson Spee

    President, Councillor Fletcher, Mr Murphy, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. Friends one and all. Shalom. And thank you for the kind invitation to speak this evening. I am very pleased and honoured to join you. Tonight is a happy but also a somewhat poignant occasion for me because this is my last speaking engagement as Leader of Glasgow City Council. I officially step down this Thursday. At approximately 2.15pm to be precise, when a new leader will be appointed at the full council meeting. As to my successor - that will be decided by a vote of the administration Labour Group this Wednesday afternoon. I know which of the two nominated candidates I'll be voting for - but I'm not saying. So tonight I'm in something of a reflective mood about all that has happened in the five plus-years that I have been Leader, and indeed the 16 years that I have been a councillor in Glasgow. It's been a blast; if, at various points, not for the fainthearted. I'm also excited, and a little nervous in truth, about what the future holds for me. This is a time of change in my career, with all the opportunities and uncertainties that entails. But I am not so self-absorbed as to imagine that my personal career prospects is anything other than of 3 limited interest. Limited, in fact, to me, my partner, my mum and a couple of close pals. Although to be fair I have a number of friends who want the best for me and I know will point me in helpful directions if they can.