MEETING OF THE PARLIAMENT Wednesday 20 September 2000 (Afternoon) Volume 8 No 5 £5.00 Parliamentary copyright. Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body 2000. Applications for reproduction should be made in writing to the Copyright Unit, 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 The Stationery Office Ltd. Her Majesty’s Stationery Office is independent of and separate from the company now trading as The Stationery Office Ltd, which is responsible for printing and publishing Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body publications. CONTENTS Wednesday 20 September 2000 Debates Col. TIME FOR REFLECTION ...................................................................................................................................... 429 QUESTION TIME ................................................................................................................................................ 431 FIRST MINISTER’S QUESTION TIME .................................................................................................................... 447 SPENDING STRATEGY ....................................................................................................................................... 457 Statement—[Mr McConnell]—and debate. The Minister for Finance (Mr Jack McConnell) ............................................................................................ 457 Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP) .................................................................................................... 464 Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con) ........................................................................................ 468 Mr Keith Raffan (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD) ............................................................................................. 471 Mike Watson (Glasgow Cathcart) (Lab) ...................................................................................................... 473 Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) .................................................................................. 475 Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD) ................................................................... 477 Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD) ..................................................................................................................... 479 Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con) ........................................................................................... 481 Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP) ................................................................................................... 482 Mr McConnell ............................................................................................................................................... 485 ST VIGEANS PRIMARY SCHOOL ......................................................................................................................... 488 Motion debated—[Alex Johnstone]. Alex Johnstone (North-East Scotland) (Con) .............................................................................................. 488 Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP) ................................................................................................................ 490 Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) ........................................................................................ 492 Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD) ................................................................. 493 Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP) ............................................................................................. 495 The Deputy Minister for Children and Education (Peter Peacock) .............................................................. 496 Oral Answers Col. QUESTION TIME SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE ................................................................................................................................ 431 Cumbernauld Housing Stock Transfer ........................................................................................................ 437 Education (Higher Still) ................................................................................................................................ 442 Family Planning and Sexual Health Services .............................................................................................. 443 Fuel Poverty ................................................................................................................................................. 431 Fuel .............................................................................................................................................................. 440 National Health Service (Zyban).................................................................................................................. 434 National Health Service ............................................................................................................................... 435 National Health Service ............................................................................................................................... 438 Organ Removal (Guidance) ......................................................................................................................... 433 Retired People ............................................................................................................................................. 444 Safer Routes to School ................................................................................................................................ 445 Scottish Qualifications Authority .................................................................................................................. 438 Student Funding .......................................................................................................................................... 432 FIRST MINISTER’S QUESTION TIME SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE ................................................................................................................................ 447 Cabinet (Meetings) ...................................................................................................................................... 451 Inward Investment ....................................................................................................................................... 454 Secretary of State for Scotland (Meetings) ................................................................................................. 447 429 20 SEPTEMBER 2000 430 Let us praise the way of truth and call on God, saying, Scottish Parliament “Waheguru!” May Sikhs be humble of heart yet sublime in Wednesday 20 September 2000 understanding, their belief and honour committed to your care. Merciful Lord, pride of the humble, strength of the (Afternoon) weak, defence of the helpless, our true father and our God, we come before you praying; O Lord, give us a heart of wisdom that seeks your will and follows your commands. [THE PRESIDING OFFICER opened the meeting at 14:30] Bless the Parliament to serve the nation regardless of colour, creed and culture. Bless us to practise true justice and peace and to serve the citizens of this country. May your blessings shower upon those who lead and work in Time for Reflection the Parliament. Forgive us for any errors and grant to all the fulfilment of their due tasks and responsibilities. Bring The Presiding Officer (Sir David Steel): Good us into the company of those devout souls whose presence inspires remembrance of your divine name. afternoon. Our first item of business is time for reflection, which is led today by Mr Parminder Nanak prays that the name may be magnified; by your Singh Purba, the honorary secretary of the Central grace may all be blessed. Gurdwara Singh Sabha Association in Glasgow. The Khalsa belongs to God; all victory is to the Almighty Lord. Mr Parminder Singh Purba (Central Gurdwara Singh Sabha Association): Sir David Amen. and members of the Scottish Parliament, I am grateful for the opportunity to say a Sikh prayer at time for reflection. I will read the Ardas, the common prayer of the Sikhs. Victory to the Lord, the eternal one. May almighty God assist us. The Tenth Master’s ode to almighty God. Having first remembered God, turn your thoughts to Guru Nanak, then Angad, then Guru Amar Das. May Ram Das grant us aid; from Arjan to Hargobind and think of Hari Rai; recite upon Hari Krishan; think of Guru Tegh Bahadur; thus shall every treasure come; may they always grant their gracious guidance, help and strength in every place. May the tenth master, the revered Guru Gobind Singh, also grant us help and strength in every place. The light that shone from each of the ten masters shine now from the sacred Guru Granth Sahib. Call on God, saying, “Waheguru!” The cherished five, the master’s four sons, and the forty liberated; all who were resolute, devout and strict in their self-denial; they who were faithful in their remembrance of the divine name and generous to others, they who were noble both in battle and in the practice of charity; they who magnanimously pardoned the faults of others; reflect on the merits of those