Meeting of the Parliament Tuesday 22 January 2019 Session 5 © 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 Tuesday 22 January 2019 CONTENTS Col. TIME FOR REFLECTION ....................................................................................................................................... 1 TOPICAL QUESTION TIME ................................................................................................................................... 3 Cryptococcus Infection (Queen Elizabeth University Hospital) .................................................................... 3 Brexit Withdrawal Agreement ....................................................................................................................... 9 CITY DEALS AND REGIONAL ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIPS .................................................................................... 13 Motion moved—[Michael Matheson]. Amendment moved—[Jamie Greene]. Amendment moved—[Colin Smyth]. The Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity (Michael Matheson) ...................... 13 Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Con) ........................................................................................................ 17 Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab) ........................................................................................................... 22 Andy Wightman (Lothian) (Green) .............................................................................................................. 26 Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD) .......................................................................................... 28 Shona Robison (Dundee City East) (SNP) ................................................................................................. 30 Bill Bowman (North East Scotland) (Con) .................................................................................................. 33 Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP) ........................................................................................... 35 Johann Lamont (Glasgow) (Lab) ................................................................................................................ 38 Jenny Gilruth (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) .......................................................................................... 40 Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) ................................................................................. 43 Maureen Watt (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) .................................................................. 45 Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Lab) ............................................................................................................... 47 Dr Alasdair Allan (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) ......................................................................................... 50 Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con) ......................................................................................................... 52 Bill Kidd (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP)........................................................................................................ 54 Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) .................................................................................... 56 Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) ................................................................................................ 58 Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) ................................................................. 61 The Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills (Jamie Hepburn) ............................................................. 64 DECISION TIME ................................................................................................................................................ 69 CERVICAL SCREENING UPTAKE ........................................................................................................................ 74 Motion debated—[Monica Lennon]. Monica Lennon (Central Scotland) (Lab) ................................................................................................... 74 Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP) ...................................................................................................... 76 Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Con) ....................................................................................................................... 78 Elaine Smith (Central Scotland) (Lab) ........................................................................................................ 80 Alison Johnstone (Lothian) (Green)............................................................................................................ 82 Rona Mackay (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) ..................................................................................... 84 Annie Wells (Glasgow) (Con) ..................................................................................................................... 85 The Minister for Mental Health (Clare Haughey) ........................................................................................ 87 CORRECTION ................................................................................................................................................... 90 1 22 JANUARY 2019 2 relationship. Hearts that are connected are Scottish Parliament stronger together. Tuesday 22 January 2019 My prayer is that, in the year ahead—for each one of us who is here and for those people who cannot be with us—we, as a people, think big, that [The Presiding Officer opened the meeting at we have hope and think “what if”, and that we 14:00] remind ourselves that the Lord Jesus is absolutely Time for Reflection for us. Thank you. The Presiding Officer (Ken Macintosh): Good afternoon. Our first item of business today is time for reflection. Our time for reflection leader is Pastor Rob McArthur, who is the pastor at River Church in Banff. Pastor Rob McArthur (River Church, Banff): Presiding Officer, elected members of the Scottish Parliament, it is an absolute honour to be with you this afternoon. One thing that I love is being with my wife and four children. Times together as a family are a high priority for us. There is something about being together in heart and mind that makes us stronger. Is it not true for us all that making time to be with family and friends is good for us? Nine years ago, I dedicated my life to Jesus and I chose to bring my heart and mind into alignment with his purposes for my life. That was not in my life plan, but God’s plans are always better than ours. Recently, I was part of a team that organised a unity service for remembrance Sunday. We decided that the best location for the service would be the connecting area of our two towns, Banff and Macduff—the Banff bridge. During the service, which more than 500 people attended, I asked folks to come together and to link arms, in order to make a human chain across the bridge. It was a beautiful symbol of local unity and there was such a sense of togetherness. However, in the early stages of preparation for the service, we had many doubts as to whether people would come. We had to challenge our thinking and replace our “as ifs” with “what ifs”— going from, “As if this could work,” to, “What if this could actually work?” That was a powerful shift in our minds. As a small group, we had to think big. I wonder what could happen if we, as a people, asked “what if” questions rather than the negative “as if” questions. What if God could use us, as a people, to do great things for this nation? What if he actually listens to our prayers and wants to help us? What if we believe that God is for us and not against us? It was one thing to have a physical bridge connecting our two towns; it is quite another to have people connecting hearts in fellowship and 3 22 JANUARY 2019 4 Topical Question Time factor in the case of the child who sadly died, which people will be shocked and upset to hear. The cabinet secretary said that she is confident 14:03 in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, but she must recognise that, over the weekend, there was a Cryptococcus Infection (Queen Elizabeth complete lack of clarity from the health board in University Hospital) response to legitimate media inquiries. We also 1. Monica Lennon (Central Scotland) (Lab): had no update from the Scottish Government at a To ask the Scottish Government what its response worrying time. is to reports that two patients have died at the We have had further information about the Queen Elizabeth university hospital after outbreak that occurred back in November, but it is contracting a fungal infection, and what advice has not clear when the Scottish Government was first been issued to national health service boards on made aware of the situation. Perhaps the cabinet that matter. (S5T-01442) secretary will confirm that. We learned yesterday The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport that an out-patient and his wife wrote last March to (Jeane Freeman): I will go through some clear, the previous cabinet secretary about the pigeon factual points in response to that question, which I infestations, but the Government has said that it am sure members would appreciate. cannot find that letter. In November, the bacteria Cryptococcus