Meeting of the Parliament

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Meeting of the Parliament MEETING OF THE PARLIAMENT Thursday 19 February 2015 Session 4 © Parliamentary copyright. Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Information on the Scottish Parliament’s copyright policy can be found on the website - www.scottish.parliament.uk or by contacting Public Information on 0131 348 5000 Thursday 19 February 2015 CONTENTS Col. GENERAL QUESTION TIME .................................................................................................................................. 1 Insult to Injury Campaign .............................................................................................................................. 1 Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme (Applications) ................................................................................. 2 NHS Lanarkshire (Meetings) ........................................................................................................................ 3 River Beds (Assistance to Farmers) ............................................................................................................. 3 Hospitals (Minimum Staffing Levels) ............................................................................................................ 4 National Health Service Central Register (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (Privacy Concerns) ...................... 6 Police Scotland (Merger) .............................................................................................................................. 7 NHS Borders (Meetings) .............................................................................................................................. 8 FIRST MINISTER’S QUESTION TIME ................................................................................................................... 10 Engagements .............................................................................................................................................. 10 Secretary of State for Scotland (Meetings) ................................................................................................ 14 Cabinet (Meetings) ..................................................................................................................................... 17 Austerity (Impact on Public Services) ......................................................................................................... 19 Advanced Highers (Delayed Implementation) ............................................................................................ 20 Methadone .................................................................................................................................................. 21 YOUNG VOTERS AND SCHOOL DEBATES ........................................................................................................... 23 Motion debated—[Patrick Harvie]. Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green) .............................................................................................................. 23 Stewart Stevenson (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) ........................................................................ 26 Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Lab).......................................................................................................... 27 Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con) ............................................................................................. 29 Sandra White (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) ....................................................................................................... 31 Hanzala Malik (Glasgow) (Lab) .................................................................................................................. 32 The Minister for Parliamentary Business (Joe FitzPatrick)......................................................................... 33 NATIONAL MARINE PLAN ................................................................................................................................. 37 Motion moved—[Richard Lochhead]. Amendment moved—[Claudia Beamish]. Amendment moved—[Alex Fergusson]. The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and Environment (Richard Lochhead) .............................. 37 Claudia Beamish (South Scotland) (Lab) ................................................................................................... 42 Alex Fergusson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)............................................................................... 46 Rob Gibson (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP)............................................................................... 48 Margaret McDougall (West Scotland) (Lab) ............................................................................................... 51 Graeme Dey (Angus South) (SNP) ............................................................................................................ 52 Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (LD) .......................................................................................................... 55 Dave Thompson (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) ......................................................................... 58 Elaine Murray (Dumfriesshire) (Lab) .......................................................................................................... 61 Michael Russell (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) .................................................................................................... 63 Jean Urquhart (Highlands and Islands) (Ind) ............................................................................................. 66 Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con) ......................................................................................... 67 Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab) ..................................................................................................................... 69 Richard Lochhead....................................................................................................................................... 72 COMMUNITY CHARGE DEBT (SCOTLAND) BILL: STAGE 3 ................................................................................... 77 COMMUNITY CHARGE DEBT (SCOTLAND) BILL .................................................................................................. 83 Motion moved—[Marco Biagi]. The Minister for Local Government and Community Empowerment (Marco Biagi) ................................... 83 Alex Rowley (Cowdenbeath) (Lab) ............................................................................................................. 86 Gavin Brown (Lothian) (Con) ...................................................................................................................... 88 Kenny MacAskill (Edinburgh Eastern) (SNP) ............................................................................................. 90 Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (Lab) .......................................................................... 92 Alex Salmond (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) ............................................................................................... 93 John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP) ................................................................................................. 95 Cameron Buchanan (Lothian) (Con) .......................................................................................................... 97 Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab) ................................................................................................................ 99 The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy (John Swinney) ...................................................................................................................................... 101 DECISION TIME .............................................................................................................................................. 104 1 19 FEBRUARY 2015 2 minded to address the situation, when will he be Scottish Parliament able to do so? Thursday 19 February 2015 Jamie Hepburn: I go back to my initial answer to Mr Macintosh. We are actively exploring the issue with COSLA and we will be happy to speak [The Presiding Officer opened the meeting at to a range of stakeholders. I recognise the 11:40] concerns that have been raised by the British General Question Time Legion and Poppyscotland. I go back to the point that I made earlier. The change was not a consequence of a decision Insult to Injury Campaign made by this Government; it was the UK 1. Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask Government that changed the terms of support for the Scottish Government whether it will respond to those who have been injured in the line of duty. the insult to injury campaign and ensure that war pensioners are treated fairly. (S4O-04021) Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme (Applications) The Minister for Sport, Health Improvement and Mental Health (Jamie Hepburn): We are 2. Mark McDonald (Aberdeen Donside) exploring with the Convention of Scottish Local (SNP): To ask the Scottish Government what Authorities options to create a fairer system for information it has on the average length of time charging for social care, and we will look at the taken to process applications for protecting matter as part of that work. Scottish Government vulnerable groups scheme membership for people officials are also in close contact with officials in seeking employment in the care sector. (S4O- the United Kingdom Department
Recommended publications
  • Scottish Parliament Annual Report 2012–13 Contents
    Scottish Parliament Annual Report 2012–13 Contents Foreword from the Presiding Officer 3 Parliamentary business 5 Committees 11 International engagement 18 Engagement with the public 20 Click on the links in the page headers to access more information about the areas covered in this report. Cover photographs - clockwise from top left: Lewis Macdonald MSP and Richard Baker MSP in the Chamber Local Government and Regeneration Committee Education visit to the Parliament Special Delivery: The Letters of William Wallace exhibition Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee Festival of Politics event Welfare Reform Committee witnesses Inside cover photographs - clockwise from top left: Health and Sport Committee witnesses Carers Parliament event The Deputy First Minister and First Minister The Presiding Officer at ArtBeat studios during Parliament Day Hawick Large Hadron Collider Roadshow Published in Edinburgh by APS Group Scotland © Parliamentary copyright. Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body 2013 Information on the Scottish Parliament’s copyright policy can be found on the website - www.scottish.parliament.uk/copyright or by contacting public information on 0131 348 5000. ISBN 978-1-78351-356-7 SP Paper Number 350 Web Only Session 4 (2013) www.scottish.parliament.uk/PresidingOfficer Foreword from the Presiding Officer This annual report provides information on how the Scottish Parliament has fulfilled its role during the parliamentary year 11 May 2012 to 10 May 2013. This last year saw the introduction of reforms designed to make Parliament more agile and responsive through the most radical changes to our processes since the Parliament’s establishment in 1999. A new parliamentary sitting pattern was adopted, with the full Parliament now meeting on three days per week.
    [Show full text]
  • Fact Sheet Msps by Party Session 4 29 March 2016 Msps: Historical Series
    The Scottish Parliament and Scottish Parliament I nfor mation C entre l ogo Scottish Parliament Fact sheet MSPs by Party Session 4 29 March 2016 MSPs: Historical Series This Fact sheet provides a cumulative list of all Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) who served during session 4, arranged by party. It also includes the Independent MSPs. The MSPs are listed in alphabetical order, by the party that they were elected to represent, with the party with most MSPs listed first. Statistical information about the number of MSPs in each party in Session 4 can be found on the State of the Parties Session 4 fact sheet. Scottish National Party MSP Constituency (C) or Region (R) Brian Adam 1 Aberdeen Donside (C) George Adam Paisley (C) Clare Adamson Central Scotland (R) Alasdair Allan Na h-Eileanan an lar (C) Christian Allard2 North East Scotland (R) Colin Beattie Midlothian North and Musselburgh (C) Marco Biagi Edinburgh Central (C) Chic Brodie South of Scotland (R) Keith Brown Clackmannanshire & Dunblane (C) Margaret Burgess Cunninghame South (C) Aileen Campbell Clydesdale (C) Roderick Campbell North East Fife (C) Willie Coffey Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley (C) Angela Constance Almond Valley (C) Bruce Crawford Stirling (C) Roseanna Cunningham Perthshire South and Kinross-shire (C) Graeme Dey Angus South (C) Nigel Don Angus North and Mearns (C) Bob Doris Glasgow (R) James Dornan Glasgow Cathcart (C) Jim Eadie Edinburgh Southern (C) Annabelle Ewing Mid Scotland and Fife (R) Fergus Ewing Inverness and Nairn (C) Linda Fabiani East Kilbride (C) Joe FitzPatrick Dundee City West (C) Kenneth Gibson Cunninghame North (C) Rob Gibson Caithness, Sutherland and Ross (C) Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Christine Grahame Lauderdale (C) 1 Brian Adam died on 25 April 2013.
    [Show full text]
  • Marco Biagi Annual Report Layout 1
    Raised in Parliament Commonwealth Games legacy in Edinburgh Improving recycling in urban areas Opposed unfair changes to child maintenance payments Spoke against persecution of Christians in Middle East Police action to tackle violence against women Health impact of overprovision of licenced premises Air quality in Edinburgh Supported tenants recovering illegal fees Edinburgh Supported Hearts ditching a payday loan sponsor Fair trade purchasing in the public sector Central News Member of the Scottish Parliament Supporting Edinburgh for Edinburgh Central Supported successful campaign on a bus route for Dumbiedykes NEWS IN BRIEF Met with Friends of the Meadows to discuss how the Meadows are used during the festival Fighting for a better Time for answers Campaigned on broadband access in the city private rented sector centre on the trams St Stephen’s Centre saved Supported introducing Land and Buildings for community use With the trams now running, most I’ve been a consistent critic of the Transaction Tax, which means a homebuyer will Edinburgh residents will now be business plan for the trams and pay over £4,000 less tax than before on an Edinburgh fire control happy to see their city return to I’ve yet to be convinced that average central Edinburgh property worth centre saved normality after years of disruption. they’ll make money in the long £265,231. But that disruption came at a term. Water of Leith flood defences massive cost and caused huge The fact that the premium route funding agreed damage to many businesses. The from the airport to the city centre Contact Marco Biagi public deserve to know why the takes longer than the bus service Student housing in Southside tram project spiralled out of control.
    [Show full text]
  • The Scottish Conservative 2021 Manifesto | Rebuild Scotland
    The Scottish Conservative 2021 Manifesto | Rebuild Scotland 22 Apr 2021 Our manifesto is a positive policy programme, focused on rebuilding Scotland after the worst year that many of us have faced in living memory. On delivering an economic recovery that stops widespread unemployment and creates good jobs and growth in every part of our country. On supporting our education system to catch up every single pupil from a year of disrupted schooling – so that we do not face the prospect of a Covid- generation left behind. And funding our NHS to get through the backlog of a year of delayed operations. It is a programme that will ensure our recovery from coronavirus. Yet our manifesto does so much more than that, it sets out the issues that the Scottish Conservatives will fight for in the next Parliament. For renewing our justice system, so that it is firmly on the side of victims and not those who commit crime. For devolving power and funding to communities, so that we can put an end to the era of SNP centralisation and better support local services, like schools and roads. For creating a dynamic, innovative green economy, that works with business to drive a skills revolution and achieve our 2045 net zero ambition. And so much more. With our manifesto setting out 15 major bills that we would seek to take forward and pass through a Scottish Parliament working to rebuild our country. Using the powers of the Scottish Parliament to their maximum, rather than complaining that they are never enough. It is a manifesto that, at its heart, secures and accelerates our recovery from coronavirus.
    [Show full text]
  • Official Report Is Accurate
    Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) Thursday 17 June 2021 Session 6 © Parliamentary copyright. Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Information on the Scottish Parliament’s copyright policy can be found on the website - www.parliament.scot or by contacting Public Information on 0131 348 5000 Thursday 17 June 2021 CONTENTS Col. FIRST MINISTER’S QUESTION TIME ..................................................................................................................... 1 Drug Deaths .................................................................................................................................................. 1 Covid-19 (Personal Protective Equipment) .................................................................................................. 5 Climate Targets ............................................................................................................................................ 9 Covid-19 (Business Support) ...................................................................................................................... 11 Malicious Prosecutions (Inquiry) ................................................................................................................. 12 Psychiatric Hospitals (Discharge Delays) ................................................................................................... 13 Removal of Dental Charges ....................................................................................................................... 14 ScotRail Strike Action ................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Written Answers
    Thursday 19 April 2012 SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE Governance and Communities John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities are committed to paying a living wage. (S4O-0887) Derek Mackay: The current position in local authorities regarding implementation of the living wage is as follows: Five councils have confirmed that they already pay the current level of the living wage through their existing wage structures; Nine councils have introduced the living wage; Six councils have stated that they will implement a living wage during 2012-13, and Seven councils have indicated their intention to consider introducing a living wage. Marco Biagi (Edinburgh Central) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have applied for the flooding component of the General Capital Grant as per its letter of 5 December 2011; which projects it covered, and how much was sought in each case. (S4W-06436) Derek Mackay: As part of the 2011 Spending Review the Scottish Government and COSLA agreed to a new mechanism for funding major new flood protection schemes for the period 2012-15. The following table identifies the eligible bids considered by a joint Government – COSLA assessment panel. At this stage project costs are indicative, actual costs will be dependent on the outcome of work currently underway to secure tenders for these schemes. Grant will be provided for up to 80% of the actual project costs. Council Scheme Estimated costs (£ million) Highland River Ness (tidal section) 22.002 Moray Forres (Findhorn and Pilmuir) 44.198 Scottish Borders Galashiels (Plumtree, Wilderhaugh and 3.627 Netherdale) In addition, applications were made by Edinburgh and Renfrewshire Councils for additional support for flood prevention schemes which are already reflected in the distribution of General Capital Grant for 2008-14.
    [Show full text]
  • Fact Sheet Msps Mps and Meps: Session 4 11 May 2012 Msps: Current Series
    The Scottish Parliament and Scottish Parliament I nfor mation C entre l ogo Scottish Parliament Fact sheet MSPs MPs and MEPs: Session 4 11 May 2012 MSPs: Current Series This Fact Sheet provides a list of current Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) arranged alphabetically by the constituency or region that they represent. Abbreviations used: Scottish Parliament and European Parliament Con Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Green Scottish Green Party Ind Independent Lab Scottish Labour Party LD Scottish Liberal Democrats NPA No Party Affiliation SNP Scottish National Party UK Parliament Con Conservative and Unionist Party Co-op Co-operative Party Lab Labour Party LD Liberal Democrats NPA No Party Affiliation SNP Scottish National Party Scottish Parliament and Westminster constituencies do not cover the same areas, although the names of the constituencies may be the same or similar. At the May 2005 general election, the number of Westminster constituencies was reduced from 72 to 59, which led to changes in constituency boundaries. Details of these changes can be found on the Boundary Commission’s website at www.statistics.gov.uk/geography/westminster Scottish Parliament Constituencies Constituency MSP Party Aberdeen Central Kevin Stewart SNP Aberdeen Donside Brian Adam SNP Aberdeen South and North Maureen Watt SNP Kincardine Aberdeenshire East Alex Salmond SNP Aberdeenshire West Dennis Robertson SNP Airdrie and Shotts Alex Neil SNP Almond Valley Angela
    [Show full text]
  • Wales: the Heart of the Debate?
    www.iwa.org.uk | Winter 2014/15 | No. 53 | £4.95 Wales: The heart of the debate? In the rush to appease Scottish and English public opinion will Wales’ voice be heard? + Gwyneth Lewis | Dai Smith | Helen Molyneux | Mark Drakeford | Rachel Trezise | Calvin Jones | Roger Scully | Gillian Clarke | Dylan Moore | The Institute of Welsh Affairs gratefully acknowledges funding support from the the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and the Waterloo Foundation. The following organisations are corporate members: Public Sector Private Sector Voluntary Sector • Aberystwyth University • Acuity Legal • Age Cymru • BBC Cymru Wales • Arriva Trains Wales • Alcohol Concern Cymru • Cardiff County Council • Association of Chartered • Cartrefi Cymru • Cardiff School of Management Certified Accountants (ACCA) • Cartrefi Cymunedol • Cardiff University Library • Beaufort Research Ltd Community Housing Cymru • Centre for Regeneration • Blake Morgan • Citizens Advice Cymru Excellence Wales (CREW) • BT • Community - the union for life • Estyn • Cadarn Consulting Ltd • Cynon Taf Community Housing Group • Glandwr Cymru - The Canal & • Constructing Excellence in Wales • Disability Wales River Trust in Wales • Deryn • Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru • Harvard College Library • Elan Valley Trust • Federation of Small Businesses Wales • Heritage Lottery Fund • Eversheds LLP • Friends of the Earth Cymru • Higher Education Wales • FBA • Gofal • Law Commission for England and Wales • Grayling • Institute Of Chartered Accountants • Literature Wales • Historix (R) Editions In England
    [Show full text]
  • Mcgarvey and Cairney, 2008
    McGarvey Prelims 20/3/08 9:07 am Page i Scottish Politics McGarvey Prelims 20/3/08 9:07 am Page ii McGarvey Prelims 20/3/08 9:07 am Page iii Scottish Politics An Introduction Neil McGarvey and Paul Cairney McGarvey Prelims 20/3/08 9:07 am Page iv © Neil McGarvey and Paul Cairney 2008 All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication may be made without written permission. No paragraph of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted save with written permission or in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, or under the terms of any licence permitting limited copying issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency, 90 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 4LP. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. The authors have asserted their rights to be identified as the authors of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. First published 2008 by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS and 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010 Companies and representatives throughout the world PALGRAVE MACMILLAN is the global academic imprint of the Palgrave Macmillan division of St. Martin’s Press, LLC and of Palgrave Macmillan Ltd. Macmillan® is a registered trademark in the United States, United Kingdom and other countries. Palgrave is a registered trademark in the European Union and other countries. ISBN-13: 978–1–4039–4328–6 hardback ISBN-10: 1–4039–4328–1 hardback ISBN-13: 978–1–4039–4329–3 paperback ISBN-10: 1–4039–4329–X paperback This book is printed on paper suitable for recycling and made from fully managed and sustained forest sources.
    [Show full text]
  • Subordinate Legislation
    Education and Culture Committee 2nd Report, 2011 (Session 4) Subordinate Legislation SP Paper 44 Web only Session 4 (2011) ©Parliamentary copyright. Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body 2011. Applications for reproduction should be made in writing to the Information Policy team, Office of the Queen's Printer for Scotland, Admail ADM4058,Edinburgh, EH1 1NG, or by e-mail to: [email protected]. OQPS administers the copyright on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. Printed and published in Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body by RR Donnelley. Education and Culture Committee 2nd Report, 2011 (Session 4) Subordinate Legislation Published by the Scottish Parliament on 6 December 2011 Education and Culture Committee Remit and membership Remit: The remit of the Committee is to consider and report on further and higher education, lifelong learning, schools, pre-school care, skills and other matters falling within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning and matters relating to culture and the arts falling within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs. Membership: Clare Adamson Claire Baker (Deputy Convener) Marco Biagi Jenny Marra Stewart Maxwell (Convener) Joan McAlpine Liam McArthur Liz Smith Jean Urquhart Committee Clerking Team: Senior Assistant Clerk Terry Shevlin Assistant Clerk Neil Stewart Committee Assistant Jonas Rae EC/S4/11/R2 Education and Culture Committee 2nd Report, 2011 (Session 4) Subordinate legislation The Committee reports to the Parliament as follows— 1. At its meeting on 29 November 2011, the Education and Culture Committee considered the following instrument— The Student Fees (Specification) (Scotland) Order 2011 [draft].
    [Show full text]
  • Fact Sheet Scottish Ministers, Law Officers and Parliamentary Liaison Officers: Session 4 02 September 2015 Msps: Current Series
    The Scottish Parliament and Scottish Parliament I nfor mation C entre l ogo Scottish Parliament Fact sheet Scottish Ministers, Law Officers and Parliamentary Liaison Officers: Session 4 02 September 2015 MSPs: Current Series This fact sheet provides a list of Ministers and Law Officers. The Scotland Act 1998 refers to them as Scottish Ministers, junior Scottish Ministers and Law Officers. The current government calls them Cabinet Secretaries, Ministers and Law Officers. In addition to the First Minister there are seven Cabinet Secretaries and thirteen Ministers. Together they make up the Scottish Governement. The government is responsible for devolved matters and formulating and implementing policy in these areas. There are also two Law Officers who advise the government on legal matters and represent its interests in court. The final section lists Parliamentary Liaison Officers (PLOs) (formerly Ministerial Parliamentary Aides). PLOs are MSPs appointed by the First Minister on the recommendation of Ministers whom they assist in discharging their duties. PLOs are unpaid and are not part of the Scottish Government. Abbreviations used: QC Queen’s Counsel Scottish Ministers Post Minister Party First Minister Nicola Sturgeon MSP1 SNP Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance, John Swinney MSP SNP Constitution and Economy Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism Fergus Ewing MSP SNP Minister for Parliamentary Business Joe FitzPatrick MSP SNP Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities Keith Brown MSP2 SNP Minister
    [Show full text]
  • Written Answers
    Wednesday 2 March 2016 SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT Communities Margaret McCulloch (Central Scotland) (Scottish Labour): To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to mark International Day of Older Persons on 1 October 2016. (S4W-30016) Alex Neil: The Scottish Government will work with its stakeholders to agree how to mark the day as we have done in previous years. The Scottish Older People's Assembly celebrated International Older People's Day on 5 October 2015, during older people's week, by holding its annual assembly in the Scottish Parliament with politicians and around 150 older people. Age Scotland's member groups are currently planning their activities for the day and it is expected that the community grants fund of £80,000 awarded to Age Scotland will support many local events. Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (Scottish National Party): To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its response to the Commission on Local Tax Reform. (S4W-30231) Marco Biagi: I can confirm that the details of our plans on local taxation have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib number 57721). Enterprise and Environment John Wilson (Central Scotland) (Independent): To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-29191 by Fergus Ewing on 20 January 2016, how it will engage with the community, industry and environmental stakeholders. Holding answer issued: 29 February 2016 (S4W-29590) Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is committed to engaging widely on the issue of unconventional oil and gas. A variety of engagement tools and platforms will be used before and during the formal public consultation.
    [Show full text]