MEETING OF THE PARLIAMENT Thursday 4 March 2010 Session 3 © 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 4 March 2010 CONTENTS Col. FACTORING SERVICES ............................................................................................................................... 24219 Motion moved—[Patricia Ferguson]. Amendment moved—[Alex Neil]. Amendment moved—[Mary Scanlon]. Amendment moved—[Robert Brown]. Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab) ......................................................................................... 24219 The Minister for Housing and Communities (Alex Neil)........................................................................ 24223 Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con) ....................................................................................... 24227 Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD) .............................................................................................................. 24231 Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab) ............................................................................................... 24234 Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP) .................................................................................................................. 24236 David McLetchie (Edinburgh Pentlands) (Con) .................................................................................... 24239 Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab) ......................................................................... 24241 Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD) .................................................................................................... 24244 Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab) ....................................................................................... 24246 Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP) ........................................................................................... 24248 Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP) ............................................................................................................ 24251 Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab) ............................................................................................. 24253 Nigel Don (North East Scotland) (SNP) ............................................................................................... 24256 Robert Brown ........................................................................................................................................ 24257 Elizabeth Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) .................................................................................... 24260 Alex Neil ................................................................................................................................................ 24262 Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab) .......................................................................................................... 24265 SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE QUESTION TIME ....................................................................................................... 24269 GENERAL QUESTIONS ................................................................................................................................ 24269 Probationary Tenancies ........................................................................................................................ 24269 Severe Weather (Vulnerable People) ................................................................................................... 24270 Energy Assistance Package ................................................................................................................. 24271 New Campus Glasgow ......................................................................................................................... 24272 Affordable Warmth ................................................................................................................................ 24273 Litter ...................................................................................................................................................... 24274 Getting it Right for Every Child ............................................................................................................. 24275 NHS Highland (Meetings) ..................................................................................................................... 24276 FIRST MINISTER’S QUESTION TIME ............................................................................................................. 24278 Engagements ........................................................................................................................................ 24278 Prime Minister (Meetings) ..................................................................................................................... 24280 Cabinet (Meetings) ............................................................................................................................... 24282 Alcohol Consumption (Pregnancy) ....................................................................................................... 24285 Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi (Status) ........................................................................................ 24286 Sex Offenders Disclosure Scheme....................................................................................................... 24287 SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE QUESTION TIME ....................................................................................................... 24289 FINANCE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH ........................................................................................................ 24289 Gilmerton Core Store ............................................................................................................................ 24289 Union Terrace Gardens ........................................................................................................................ 24291 Coalfields Regeneration Trust .............................................................................................................. 24292 Small Business Bonus Scheme ............................................................................................................ 24293 INCREASE III Funding ......................................................................................................................... 24294 Transmission Charges .......................................................................................................................... 24295 Scottish Futures Trust .......................................................................................................................... 24296 Local Government Finance (Third Sector) ........................................................................................... 24298 Equality Trust ........................................................................................................................................ 24299 Forth Replacement Crossing ................................................................................................................ 24300 Single Outcome Agreements ................................................................................................................ 24301 Town Centre Regeneration Fund ......................................................................................................... 24302 Harris Tweed ........................................................................................................................................ 24303 Glasgow City Council (Funding) ........................................................................................................... 24304 EDUCATION AND SKILLS ............................................................................................................................. 24306 Motion moved—[Michael Russell]. Amendment moved—[Des McNulty]. Amendment moved—[Elizabeth Smith]. Amendment moved—[Margaret Smith]. The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning (Michael Russell) ................................... 24306 Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab) .................................................................................... 24311 Elizabeth Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) .................................................................................... 24315 Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD) ................................................................................................ 24317 Aileen Campbell (South of Scotland) (SNP) ......................................................................................... 24321 Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) .......................................................................................... 24324 Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP) ....................................................................................... 24326 Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab) .......................................................................................... 24329 Hugh O’Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD) .............................................................................................. 24331 Christopher Harvie (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP) .............................................................................