MEETING OF THE PARLIAMENT Thursday 15 March 2012 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 15 March 2012 CONTENTS Col. CHILDCARE ................................................................................................................................................. 7289 Motion moved—[Liam McArthur]. Amendment moved—[Aileen Campbell]. Amendment moved—[Neil Bibby]. Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD) ..................................................................................................... 7289 The Minister for Children and Young People (Aileen Campbell) ............................................................ 7294 Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Lab) ........................................................................................................... 7298 Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) ................................................................................................ 7300 Margaret Burgess (Cunninghame South) (SNP) .................................................................................... 7302 John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) ................................................................................................ 7303 Mark McDonald (North East Scotland) (SNP) ........................................................................................ 7305 Anne McTaggart (Glasgow) (Lab) .......................................................................................................... 7306 Jamie Hepburn (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) ................................................................................. 7307 Liz Smith ................................................................................................................................................. 7309 Neil Bibby ................................................................................................................................................ 7310 The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning (Michael Russell) ..................................... 7312 Willie Rennie (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD) ............................................................................................ 7314 OFFENDERS (REHABILITATION) .................................................................................................................... 7318 Motion moved—[Alison McInnes]. Amendment moved—[Kenny MacAskill]. Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD) ............................................................................................ 7318 The Cabinet Secretary for Justice (Kenny MacAskill) ............................................................................ 7322 Lewis Macdonald (North East Scotland) (Lab) ....................................................................................... 7325 David McLetchie (Lothian) (Con) ............................................................................................................ 7327 Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) .......................................... 7328 Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Lab) ............................................................................................................ 7330 Dennis Robertson (Aberdeenshire West) (SNP) .................................................................................... 7332 Graeme Pearson (South Scotland) (Lab) ............................................................................................... 7333 Roderick Campbell (North East Fife) (SNP) ........................................................................................... 7334 David McLetchie ..................................................................................................................................... 7336 Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) ................................................................................ 7337 Kenny MacAskill ..................................................................................................................................... 7339 Jim Hume (South Scotland) (LD) ............................................................................................................ 7341 SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE QUESTION TIME ......................................................................................................... 7344 GENERAL QUESTIONS .................................................................................................................................. 7344 Dogs (Compulsory Microchipping) ......................................................................................................... 7344 Northern Isles Ferry Contract ................................................................................................................. 7345 Landlords (Registration and Appointment of Agents) ............................................................................. 7347 Public Entertainment Licensing .............................................................................................................. 7348 Police Support Staff ................................................................................................................................ 7348 Union Terrace Gardens Project (Business Plan) ................................................................................... 7349 Cardiology Services ................................................................................................................................ 7350 Modern Apprenticeship Vacancies (Advertising) .................................................................................... 7351 FIRST MINISTER’S QUESTION TIME ............................................................................................................... 7353 Engagements .......................................................................................................................................... 7353 Secretary of State for Scotland (Meetings) ............................................................................................ 7356 Cabinet (Meetings) ................................................................................................................................. 7360 Childcare (Pre-school Children) ............................................................................................................. 7361 Same-sex Marriage ................................................................................................................................ 7362 2014 Commonwealth Games ................................................................................................................. 7363 SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE QUESTION TIME ......................................................................................................... 7365 FINANCE, EMPLOYMENT AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH ................................................................................... 7365 Council Tax Bands (Appeals Procedure) ............................................................................................... 7365 Electricity (Generation) ........................................................................................................................... 7365 Industrial Operations (Permitted Hours) ................................................................................................. 7367 Jobs Market (Access for Women) .......................................................................................................... 7367 Female Unemployment .......................................................................................................................... 7369 Enterprise Growth Fund ......................................................................................................................... 7370 Council Tax Freeze (Aberdeen) ............................................................................................................. 7371 Public-private Partnership/Private Finance Initiative (Repayments) ...................................................... 7371 Scottish Natural Heritage (Guidance on Wind Farms) ........................................................................... 7372 Youth Employment ................................................................................................................................. 7374 Local Development Plans ....................................................................................................................... 7374 Council Tax (Exemption Criteria) ............................................................................................................ 7375 Unemployment (Role for Housing Associations) .................................................................................... 7376 Community Planning .............................................................................................................................. 7377 Local Government Settlement 2012-13 .................................................................................................. 7377 Perth (City Status) .................................................................................................................................. 7378 Oil Revenue ...........................................................................................................................................