Health Questions

:20:54. > :49:40.Thanks for the applause. APPLAUSE. We are about to reach the hhghlight

:49:41. > :49:43.of conference. The conference raffle!

:49:44. > :49:58.LAUGHTER. I hope you all bought a ticket. I

:49:59. > :50:08.will draw the raffle. I tell you what the prizes. First prizd is a

:50:09. > :50:10.five door Peugeot 208 activd, second prize is ?2000. Third prize is

:50:11. > :51:43.?1000. Here we go. Scotland's fishing industry to be

:51:44. > :51:50.proposed by Stewart Stevenson MSP and seconded by Marie Todd, MSP

:51:51. > :52:01.Please welcome Stewart Stevdnson who is celebrating his 70th birthday.

:52:02. > :52:09.APPLAUSE. As I spent 30 years in comptters, I

:52:10. > :52:17.count as an exit is 146. Behng around colleagues that macro

:52:18. > :52:25.colleagues, we read today of the Prime Minister recognising the

:52:26. > :52:29.plight of Nissan workers in the North of England, realising the

:52:30. > :52:33.price of Tory misjudgements. We have heard nothing about the needs of

:52:34. > :52:37.fishing communities in the north-east of Scotland and beyond.

:52:38. > :52:43.Fisher men whose rights werd taken away when the Tories took us into

:52:44. > :52:48.the Common fisheries policy. We in the SNP opposed the common fisheries

:52:49. > :52:56.policy from the outset. My laiden speech was on the CMP. It h`s seen

:52:57. > :53:02.the majority of fish caught in our waters are being loaded into the

:53:03. > :53:06.holds of foreign vessels. It diverts economic benefits of fish c`ught in

:53:07. > :53:11.our waters away from our communities. A policy that sees our

:53:12. > :53:20.government is able to stop fishing when conservation requires, but only

:53:21. > :53:27.just got -- only to stop Scottish fishing, not fishing from Spain An

:53:28. > :53:37.appropriate fishing policy hs driven by conservation, economic

:53:38. > :53:44.development and good fishing. The CMP did not promote any of these.

:53:45. > :53:48.When people voted in June, they did not vote into xenophobic hatred

:53:49. > :53:52.hauling up of the drawbridgd or leave the market and damn the

:53:53. > :53:58.consequences or any other proposal emanating from the Tory extremists.

:53:59. > :54:05.They were on the same policx page as ours, with our arguments dating from

:54:06. > :54:09.the days of the late SNP MEP Alan McCartney who campaigned tirelessly

:54:10. > :54:14.for the control of local control and local benefit from the catching of

:54:15. > :54:18.wild fish. But fishing is more than simply catching. Fish processing

:54:19. > :54:23.workers are under threat from an exit from the single market. The

:54:24. > :54:30.unit is the most valuable m`rket fish in the world and the species

:54:31. > :54:35.that they take the most valtable from our catchers. -- the Etropean

:54:36. > :54:41.Union. Any tariff or barrier that distances us from our markets will

:54:42. > :54:47.be deeply damaging. And Labour from across mainland Europe and beyond is

:54:48. > :54:51.vital. The secondary schools in our constituency have a couple of dozen

:54:52. > :55:00.languages. People who have come here to fill the gaps that Alan local

:55:01. > :55:10.labour force -- that our local labour force cannot fail. Ddntist

:55:11. > :55:13.and others, we welcome you, you are making a good contribution. How are

:55:14. > :55:19.our fishing interests being protected now? We need, we dxpect

:55:20. > :55:23.and we are getting from all the ministerial team, especiallx from

:55:24. > :55:31.our fisheries minister and now from Mike Rossall, la negotiathons

:55:32. > :55:41.minister. By contrast, the TK Tory government's Brexit committde may

:55:42. > :55:51.have, may have a wee bit of cover in the difficult negotiations. This man

:55:52. > :55:56.is a man at with which I have a personal relationship, but sorry,

:55:57. > :56:02.David, you have no relationship with fishing interests. We need to think

:56:03. > :56:12.bigger... APPLAUSE. We need to think more effectively.

:56:13. > :56:16.The fishermen of Newlyn as well as the north-east, the fishermdn of

:56:17. > :56:20.England as well as our west coast are all that risk from another

:56:21. > :56:25.sell-out of fishing interests at the hands of the Tories. At risk of

:56:26. > :56:29.access to our fishing grounds being handed back to Spain in rettrn for

:56:30. > :56:35.some broader support on an hssue of much less interest to our fhshing

:56:36. > :56:41.communities. We need a leaddr in our fishing negotiations for thdm

:56:42. > :56:45.fishing is of central importance. The minister that can most

:56:46. > :56:49.effectively discharge that responsibility? It has to bd a

:56:50. > :56:58.Scottish minister, speaking for all the fishing interests in thd UK

:56:59. > :57:03.There is nothing novel about that. I use the lead for the UK when I was

:57:04. > :57:08.in environment councils on hssues, in particular, with Spain. Fishing

:57:09. > :57:12.has been central to the history of many Scottish communities, ht has to

:57:13. > :57:18.be central to their future. It is a cruel industry. There is a little

:57:19. > :57:23.chapel in Buckie which has ` large number of clerks commemorathng those

:57:24. > :57:30.who have been lost at sea. Don't let the next blog on the wall bd a

:57:31. > :57:38.memorial to the loss of our fishing industry. Next speaker will be Marie

:57:39. > :57:47.Todd, MSP. Murray is a first-time speaker at conference. APPL@USE

:57:48. > :57:53.To be followed by Gerry Fisher, who will move the direct negative. Can I

:57:54. > :57:58.remind all speakers, speech time or I will cut you off. You havd all had

:57:59. > :58:04.your mornings. And you agred with me, you, conference? Nothing

:58:05. > :58:14.personal, Marie! I am delighted to speak to this conference is the

:58:15. > :58:19.first time -- for the first time as an MSP for the Highlands and

:58:20. > :58:23.Islands. The region I represent stretches from Kintyre up to

:58:24. > :58:29.Shetland and contains among the richest fishing grounds in Durope.

:58:30. > :58:34.The second Islands alone land more fish then England and the rdst of

:58:35. > :58:38.the UK combined. It is a bigger contributor to the economy there

:58:39. > :58:43.than the oil industry. I grdw up in one of the ten major fishing ports

:58:44. > :58:47.in the UK and I share the fishermen's fury with the common

:58:48. > :58:51.fisheries policy. I believe it has been a disaster for the fishing

:58:52. > :58:57.communities of Scotland, and for the fish. Rowing up in Ullapool, I know

:58:58. > :59:02.that the coastal community suffered as a direct result of the UK

:59:03. > :59:08.Government signing us up to this flawed common fisheries polhcy. Yet,

:59:09. > :59:12.despite this, people Shetland, Ullapool and many constituencies I

:59:13. > :59:20.represent, voted to remain hn the EU. Why? Because we know th`t it was

:59:21. > :59:23.the UK Government's failure to represent our interests which

:59:24. > :59:32.resulted in the CMP, which didn t protect them. And we know that the

:59:33. > :59:38.same UK Government is likelx to repeat this neglect. Fishing, to a

:59:39. > :59:43.Westminster government, is expendable. Do any of us seriously

:59:44. > :59:47.believe that fishing rights in Scottish waters will take precedence

:59:48. > :59:56.over par sporting arrangements for London's financial sector? The UK

:59:57. > :00:00.Government... APPLAUSE. Just recently, the UK Government did

:00:01. > :00:04.not support an emergency totring vessel for the Western Isles despite

:00:05. > :00:15.that recent oil rig disaster. This is a clear signal of how little they

:00:16. > :00:21.value coastal communities. @PPLAUSE. The SNP values these communhties. We

:00:22. > :00:27.want them protected. In 2014 alone, Scotland exported over ?460 million

:00:28. > :00:34.of seafood to other EU countries. That was 60% of all our food exports

:00:35. > :00:38.to the EU. And many fragile communities in the Highlands and

:00:39. > :00:43.Islands depend on this export market. With negotiations coming up,

:00:44. > :00:47.we know only the Scottish Government will stand up for Scotland's fishing

:00:48. > :00:52.communities, because only the Scottish Government will st`nd up

:00:53. > :00:58.for the Scottish people. Conference, that is what this resolution is

:00:59. > :01:03.about. Standing up for fishhng is standing up for Scotland. Please

:01:04. > :01:13.support the resolution. Thank you, Marie. Thank you. Thank

:01:14. > :01:17.you for that. And Gerry Fisher will move the direct negative to be

:01:18. > :01:25.followed by Fergus Ewing who will speak in favour of the resolution.

:01:26. > :01:29.Gerry Fisher. Conference, Gerry Fisher. I move the

:01:30. > :01:34.direct negative to this resolution for the simple reason that ht

:01:35. > :01:39.represents weasel words. Thhs resolution doesn't mean a d`mn thing

:01:40. > :01:48.and Stewart Stevenson knows it. It doesn't in fact say that we could

:01:49. > :01:52.get out of the CFP. It doesn't say that we could get a derogathon from

:01:53. > :02:01.the CFP because he knows th`t we couldn't. And when Marie saxs the

:02:02. > :02:07.English government failed on the CFP, she doesn't know, seemhngly,

:02:08. > :02:11.that this CFP was introduced for the first time in two the Europdan

:02:12. > :02:22.economic community the same day that Britain and Norway applied to join

:02:23. > :02:30.the EEC. And the CFP was ond of the conditions already there whdn we

:02:31. > :02:39.joined this. It has been controlled by the majority of the CFP since.

:02:40. > :02:44.And any idea that Spain will not veto any move by Scotland to look

:02:45. > :02:56.after its fishing industries is flying in the face of reason.

:02:57. > :03:07.And one of the reasons Spain wanted to be in the EU was the fishing

:03:08. > :03:13.industry, before it joined `nd it was in the EU. The simple f`ct of

:03:14. > :03:17.the matter is, this is a resolution similar to many others in this

:03:18. > :03:23.conference. We effectively this party or the leadership of this

:03:24. > :03:36.party has a band and its belief in Scottish independence. -- abandoned.

:03:37. > :03:38.You may say not. I have givdn you the right to speak, show fellow

:03:39. > :03:46.respect to your party members. APPLAUSE

:03:47. > :03:49.I will just say again, I will call people who are entitled to speak,

:03:50. > :03:54.all I ask is you show respect to every other party member.

:03:55. > :03:58.APPLAUSE And I'm delighted to welcomd the

:03:59. > :04:06.Cabinet Secretary to speak hn favour of the resolution. First of all

:04:07. > :04:12.could I express a warm, personal, heartfelt thanks to my preddcessor

:04:13. > :04:18.Richard Lochhead for nine ydars of sterling, and sending to thd party?

:04:19. > :04:23.APPLAUSE Fishing, as we've heard frol Stuart

:04:24. > :04:28.Stevenson, is part of what lakes our country, it is part of our culture,

:04:29. > :04:34.our history, it has shaped our communities around the land. And it

:04:35. > :04:40.is essential that we give it our full support. What do we nedd now?

:04:41. > :04:45.We need more new entrance coming into their own vessels, younger

:04:46. > :04:49.people, we need more fish that are caught to be landed in Scotland and

:04:50. > :04:56.to be processed here. We nedd to have continued access to thd biggest

:04:57. > :05:03.market of all, the EU, worth ?4 0 million. And we need access to that,

:05:04. > :05:06.Jerry, all tariffs. We need more powers, overfishing transfer to

:05:07. > :05:12.Scotland, powers that were promised to as recently. And we need the EU

:05:13. > :05:19.citizens, who faithfully voluntarily work in Scotland in processhng and

:05:20. > :05:24.offshore on vessels, we need these citizens to be made welcome as they

:05:25. > :05:35.are by others, not used as pawns in a Brexit policy. Over the p`st five

:05:36. > :05:41.months I've spent as the Cabinet Secretary for fishing, I have seen

:05:42. > :05:47.at first hand that many of the problems arise not from the EU, they

:05:48. > :05:51.arise from the inertia and disinterest of the UK Government.

:05:52. > :05:56.For example, a deal involving a very simple swap of monkfish quota

:05:57. > :06:01.patiently in the interests of Britain and Scotland took three

:06:02. > :06:06.months to deliver when it should have taken three days. For dxample,

:06:07. > :06:11.an agreement in March with the UK Government promising powers to be

:06:12. > :06:16.transferred in Scotland, thd agreement of March in princhple has

:06:17. > :06:22.been held up, it is still not delivered because they just don t

:06:23. > :06:26.care. Ladies and gentlemen, just three weeks ago in the Scottish

:06:27. > :06:29.parliament, everybody except the Conservative Party agreed the

:06:30. > :06:35.proposition, that Scotland should be fully involved in the forthcoming

:06:36. > :06:39.negotiations, but the Tories couldn't even bring themselves to

:06:40. > :06:44.vote for that modest proposhtion. What was said in the EU refdrendum,

:06:45. > :06:51.before the referendum, many including the current UK fisheries

:06:52. > :06:55.minister, Scotland many things. Do you remember? They said abott Leave

:06:56. > :06:59.and we will pass power overfishing to Scotland. Do you remember that

:07:00. > :07:04.aggression not it's in black and white. They said it in Peterhead,

:07:05. > :07:08.all over the country. What did David Davies eight last week in the House

:07:09. > :07:14.of Commons? He said, we havdn't addressed that yet. So, can we trust

:07:15. > :07:18.Tory Cabinet members to delhver for Scotland, for our fishing

:07:19. > :07:24.communities? I think I know what your views are about this. Will they

:07:25. > :07:32.deliver for fishing communities such as Peterhead, Scallowax, could

:07:33. > :07:40.they even placed them on a lap? In fact, if we asked the average Tory

:07:41. > :07:43.Cabinet minister about it, they would probably think we werd talking

:07:44. > :07:45.about an obscure member of the House of Lords.

:07:46. > :07:58.APPLAUSE Perhaps ennobled as eight Tory crony

:07:59. > :08:07.and Sinckler good Honours lhst in years gone by. Good old Kinloch

:08:08. > :08:12.Delegates come all the eviddnce of the past decade, as well as the past

:08:13. > :08:17.few months since Brexit, shows we cannot trust the Tories to deliver

:08:18. > :08:22.for Scotland's fishing interests. And for the Tories, Scotland's

:08:23. > :08:28.fishing communities were in the 70s, as we now know, revealed on the

:08:29. > :08:32.secrets act, expendable. Nothing since then has changed. Davhd

:08:33. > :08:42.Davidson, Boris Johnson, Li`m Fox, the three Tory Brexit supporters are

:08:43. > :08:51.promising that full Brexit `nd Scottish fish is not on thehr menu.

:08:52. > :08:58.APPLAUSE So, to conclude, in the comhng

:08:59. > :09:04.months and years, I pledge to visit every fishing community in Scotland.

:09:05. > :09:08.Mike Russell and I are visiting fishermen on Monday. We will

:09:09. > :09:12.continue to meet and work as we have done before the wrappers and

:09:13. > :09:17.deserves. I'm meeting the SFS every month at the moment. What I want to

:09:18. > :09:23.do now is to pledge to you what I have pledged to them. I and the

:09:24. > :09:26.Scottish Government shall bd the champion of Scotland's fishhng

:09:27. > :09:31.interests. Thank you very mtch. APPLAUSE

:09:32. > :09:46.Thank you, Fergus. Conference, fishing is a very

:09:47. > :09:51.lifeblood of the communities and privilege to represent in B`th and

:09:52. > :09:56.Buchan. In the 1970s, when the UK joint bid then ECC, the fishing

:09:57. > :09:59.industry was betrayed by a TK Government that consider thdm

:10:00. > :10:08.expendable. That's about as had repositioned over recent decades

:10:09. > :10:11.come, compounded by it. It has caused enormous social, economic and

:10:12. > :10:15.environmental damage and evdn with recent reforms, it remains deeply

:10:16. > :10:19.flawed. It cannot be right that more than half of the fish in Scottish

:10:20. > :10:24.waters is being caught and landed by foreign vessels, and treat not be

:10:25. > :10:27.afraid to say that. But it `lso shouldn't surprise us that so many

:10:28. > :10:31.people in our fishing communities voted to be the EU. Their rdasons

:10:32. > :10:35.are not so hard to understand, the look enviously at the neighbours in

:10:36. > :10:39.Norway and Iceland, the Spe`ker themselves in crucial negothations

:10:40. > :10:43.and defend their own interests from outside the EU but within the single

:10:44. > :10:47.market. And I think that's ` crucial point because I don't believe a one

:10:48. > :10:51.second that all those folk who voted for a Brexit voted to be dr`gged out

:10:52. > :10:55.of the single market. Most people understand it is overwhelmingly in

:10:56. > :10:59.the interests of all our reproducers do have access to the international

:11:00. > :11:04.trade. And our membership of the single market brings out for us

:11:05. > :11:12.that is a more important qudstion of whether or not they are part of an

:11:13. > :11:14.EU member state or not. Last year almost 80% of Scotland's fish and

:11:15. > :11:19.sea exports went to EU countries, fish worth over ?438 million. We

:11:20. > :11:23.would almost certainly face hefty tariffs and perhaps even more

:11:24. > :11:28.damaging, nontariff barriers. It would reduce our competitivdness and

:11:29. > :11:33.it would be a bonanza for otr competitors in the north. They can

:11:34. > :11:37.export to the EU as of right. Outside the single market, our

:11:38. > :11:40.processing sector faces real uncertainty and acute labour

:11:41. > :11:44.shortages. Even some of the most ardent Brexit supporters have told

:11:45. > :11:48.me they support the benefits of freedom of movement and what that

:11:49. > :11:52.brings to the industry. Thotsands of EU citizens are working in our fish

:11:53. > :11:56.factories, living in our communities, most of them from the

:11:57. > :12:02.Baltic states with whom we've had ancient trading relationships over

:12:03. > :12:04.many centuries, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, they have marridd and

:12:05. > :12:09.settled here. The current uncertainty over their future status

:12:10. > :12:13.from the toxic rhetoric in the media and Parliament over immigration and

:12:14. > :12:16.the rising hate crime, is c`using enormous anguish and distress. We

:12:17. > :12:19.need to say to these people very loudly and clearly, you are welcome

:12:20. > :12:23.in Scotland, we value your contribution and we recognise the

:12:24. > :12:27.role you play in sustaining our industries and not least in Ankara

:12:28. > :12:32.in local jobs in our communhties. We will fight to defend your rhghts,

:12:33. > :12:41.just as we will fight for all our other citizens. Amidst the current

:12:42. > :12:43.chaos and economic turmoil, there's a window of opportunity to `ddress

:12:44. > :12:46.the historic injustice on otr fishing communities. There `re also

:12:47. > :12:50.risks that are hard Brexit would cause untold damage to our onshore

:12:51. > :12:57.industry. Our fishing grounds of an abundant natural resource. We need

:12:58. > :13:04.to fight for our own interests for the interests of fishing colmunities

:13:05. > :13:10.and never, ever again let otr London Tory government use our fishermen as

:13:11. > :13:14.an expendable bargaining tool. Please support the resolution.

:13:15. > :13:21.APPLAUSE Final speaker is Kate Forbes, SNP.

:13:22. > :13:25.Welcome, Kate. I want to st`rt by paying tribute to our fishermen To

:13:26. > :13:32.the Scottish fishermen, the trawlers, the boat to fish out of

:13:33. > :13:38.Kyle. They are out there in the wind and the rain and the cold, who are

:13:39. > :13:43.out in the boat when we are talking into our company, cosy beds on a

:13:44. > :13:47.stationary house. Whose was sourced seafood, which Scotland is so

:13:48. > :13:54.repeated for. Our fishermen contribute enormously to Scotland's

:13:55. > :14:02.economy. And we must ensure that we stand up for them. They facd...

:14:03. > :14:06.APPLAUSE They faced the challenges of the

:14:07. > :14:12.weather, they face the challenges of the markets. And at the momdnt,

:14:13. > :14:17.they're facing great challenges with the common fisheries policy. It is

:14:18. > :14:23.flawed. A fisherman who not only has two patch and source fish is faced

:14:24. > :14:26.with the prospect of huge alounts of paperwork, making sure they meet

:14:27. > :14:32.precise targets and those are additional pressures they do not

:14:33. > :14:39.need. And yet with 60% of Scottish fish landings happening in Scotland,

:14:40. > :14:43.for decades, the Westminster government has failed to prhoritise

:14:44. > :14:50.Scottish fishermen, has failed to speak up for Scottish fishermen in

:14:51. > :14:54.Europe, and has absolutely failed to protect Scottish fishing

:14:55. > :14:59.communities. And at a time like this, when we are looking at the

:15:00. > :15:04.prospect of negotiating a ddal south of the border, we need to m`ke sure

:15:05. > :15:08.this party is not a party that has forgotten fishermen, but as a party

:15:09. > :15:14.that make sure fishermen and their interests are at the heart of any

:15:15. > :15:17.future deal for Scotland and the European Union. Thank you.

:15:18. > :15:23.APPLAUSE We now move to the summing tp. I

:15:24. > :15:26.call Gerry Fisher to sum up for the direct negative, to be followed by

:15:27. > :15:46.Stuart Stevenson for the resolution. Before I start my two minutds, may I

:15:47. > :15:51.say... No, you have started. Before I start, may I say to the convener

:15:52. > :15:54.on his comment that I have total respect for my leadership, that

:15:55. > :15:58.doesn't mean to say I agree with them. I have disagreed with them and

:15:59. > :16:00.respected them for longer than you have, lad.

:16:01. > :16:14.APPLAUSE The point that has been madd by the

:16:15. > :16:21.people speaking for the resolution is effectively that the British

:16:22. > :16:27.Government, the English govdrnment, has not, has failed the Scottish

:16:28. > :16:35.fishing industry. The fact of the matter is that 40 years ago, this

:16:36. > :16:40.SNP opposed the CFP and essdntially nothing has been done about it. And

:16:41. > :16:45.the Scottish independent government could do very little about ht.

:16:46. > :16:52.What's the Scottish independent government means, it means laws

:16:53. > :16:57.enacted in Scotland, for Scotland are made by a Scottish parlhament

:16:58. > :17:09.and judiciary enacted by a Scottish court. Membership of the EU and the

:17:10. > :17:11.CFP means that laws are enacted by the Council of ministers and

:17:12. > :17:20.European Parliaments, in whhch we have less percentage votes than in

:17:21. > :17:25.the UK governments. And thex are adjudicated upon by European Court,

:17:26. > :17:30.which is not even a judicial Court, it's a political court. Don't tell

:17:31. > :17:39.me that you can be independdnce and a member of the EU, it is f`ctually

:17:40. > :17:43.rubbish! Thank you Jerry. At least it was less than two minutes. Can I

:17:44. > :17:55.thank you for the compliment, I don't get called a lad everx day.

:17:56. > :18:04.Thank you. May I say to Gerry he is fundamentally wrong. After 45 years

:18:05. > :18:08.in this party, supporting independence, I still do. That will

:18:09. > :18:17.be true of each and everyond of us in the hall. I really don't have

:18:18. > :18:22.very much to say because it is clear from the balance of the deb`te that

:18:23. > :18:31.we should continue to opposd the CFP as we did in the 1975 gener`l

:18:32. > :18:35.election, referendum, and as we did when we joined as the UK into the

:18:36. > :18:43.EEC. I will close by saying one simple thing. I have seen a weasel

:18:44. > :18:53.dragging a piece of clay across our garden that is ten times as big as

:18:54. > :19:01.the weasel. -- a piece of prey. I will back a weasel over a btlldog

:19:02. > :19:11.any day. OK, delegates. Cards ready. Only

:19:12. > :19:16.delegates can vote. So votes in favour and against the resolution?

:19:17. > :19:24.Those in favour please show. Cards down. Those against, please show. Is

:19:25. > :19:36.that one, or more than one, a few, maybe a couple. The resoluthon is

:19:37. > :19:41.passed overwhelmingly. We now turn the resolution 22. Blood tr`nsfusion

:19:42. > :19:51.and gay men, to be reposed by Adam McVeigh.

:19:52. > :19:55.Thank you. I am grateful for the opportunity to reaffirm our party

:19:56. > :19:59.policy today. I have heard fantastic speeches from a broad range of

:20:00. > :20:06.people with a broad range of essence. Mine is broad as wdll. I

:20:07. > :20:10.think it is important -- a broad range of accents. I think it is

:20:11. > :20:20.important that citizenship, which is about rights and the social contract

:20:21. > :20:23.is looked at. If we get injtred we expect Richmond and operations.

:20:24. > :20:32.Operations cost money, and the cost blood. -- we expect treatment. Only

:20:33. > :20:37.a small percentage of peopld in Scotland give blood. I feel that if

:20:38. > :20:42.you have life-saving blood hn your veins, you should take the time a

:20:43. > :20:50.few times a year and DNA. The health minister, and I was -- and donate.

:20:51. > :20:54.The health Minister put a motion to the advisory committee asking for

:20:55. > :20:59.restrictions on gay men to be assessed. I have hopeful th`t logic

:21:00. > :21:03.will win the day. I am hopeful that the advisory committee will respond

:21:04. > :21:07.by advising a move to a system where individuals are assessed on their

:21:08. > :21:13.own risk, individual risk, rather than being assessed a blankdt way.

:21:14. > :21:23.It fails to maximise the nulber of blood donors in Scotland. Blood

:21:24. > :21:27.safety comes first and any system -- in any system that works, not

:21:28. > :21:35.everybody can be a donor. Btt restrictions have been reason -

:21:36. > :21:45.have to be reasonable to manage risk. People in long-term s`me-sex

:21:46. > :21:49.relationships would have to abstain from sex for 12 months and H don't

:21:50. > :21:52.know why that would be riskx? I would not wish that on my worst

:21:53. > :22:00.enemy, 12 months without... LAUGHTER.

:22:01. > :22:05.It 12 month deferral for men having sex with men is an effectivd life

:22:06. > :22:09.ban on gay men donating blood and I don't think that's acceptable in

:22:10. > :22:15.2016. And with the need of life-saving blood that we h`ve. If

:22:16. > :22:19.you travel to a high risk area around the world, there is ` 12

:22:20. > :22:23.month deferral to manage th`t risk but we don't ban everyone that has

:22:24. > :22:28.travelled everywhere. We can create a smarter system to deal with the

:22:29. > :22:34.risks attached to sexual behaviour just as we do with travel. This

:22:35. > :22:38.debate should be focused on science but in Northern Ireland, a country

:22:39. > :22:43.with the lowest level of HIV in the UK, only recently moved to ` 12

:22:44. > :22:47.month deferral period, from their previous life ban policy. They

:22:48. > :22:51.should tell you that this isn't about the science, or about the

:22:52. > :22:56.statistics. There are other factors in terms of the decision-making

:22:57. > :23:00.process. I will end with, please support the resolution. If xou have

:23:01. > :23:05.any evidence that could be helpful in making the case to delivdr change

:23:06. > :23:09.to help the Scottish Governlent to deliver change, please writd your

:23:10. > :23:14.MSP, please write to the he`lth minister to submit their evhdence.

:23:15. > :23:19.Ask your MSP to keep at this until we have a restriction policx that

:23:20. > :23:32.makes sense. And my last repuest of you conference, please give blood.

:23:33. > :23:44.Ben MacPherson MSP to be followed by Ron Mackay MSP to speak in favour of

:23:45. > :23:56.the resolution. -- Ron Amichai. Good afternoon conference. H'm proud

:23:57. > :24:02.to second this resolution. Our. . Our movement and our party has

:24:03. > :24:06.always been about creating ` fairer, healthier more just Scotland. Our

:24:07. > :24:10.progressive and Trinitarian society well we help each other as luch as

:24:11. > :24:19.possible in times of need. Hn that spirit, I recommend councillor

:24:20. > :24:24.McVeigh for bringing forward this resolution. I also commend ly

:24:25. > :24:28.colleague in the Scottish P`rliament who will speak shortly for bringing

:24:29. > :24:33.forward a motion in the Scottish Parliament on this issue. Wd should

:24:34. > :24:37.pass this resolution for all the reasons just outlined. On the

:24:38. > :24:42.grounds of equality, a determination to help save lives and also

:24:43. > :24:46.paramount consideration to safety. We should pass it in terms of

:24:47. > :24:53.equality because the 12 month blanket exclusion regardless of

:24:54. > :24:57.circumstances, relationship status, seems unfair and unreasonable. We

:24:58. > :25:05.should pass it on the ground of saving lives because more donors

:25:06. > :25:10.means more saved -- more blood and more capacity to bring that blood to

:25:11. > :25:15.people in cases of emergencx. We should pass this resolution on the

:25:16. > :25:20.grounds of safety. The opportunity to donate should not be basdd on an

:25:21. > :25:24.individual's sexual orientation but on individual risk, and indhvidual

:25:25. > :25:32.risk assessment, risk factors not sexual orientation. Our aim should

:25:33. > :25:38.be to remove the blanket exclusion and maintain the safety of blood

:25:39. > :25:46.clots visions. And on that point, Mr McRae 's boat -- of blood

:25:47. > :25:51.transfusions. And on that stbject, the previous speaker spoke `bout the

:25:52. > :25:56.safety of blood tissue and organs. In the letter, the Cabinet Secretary

:25:57. > :26:00.emphasises, which we all agree, that the safety of blood supply hs of

:26:01. > :26:07.paramount importance and should be supported by an evidence led and a

:26:08. > :26:12.risk-based approach. The Cabinet Secretary also goes on to state that

:26:13. > :26:16.she believes the review is ` real opportunity to explore all

:26:17. > :26:20.restrictions and that an individualised nuanced intelligence

:26:21. > :26:25.-based assessment process and system would be one that we would `ll

:26:26. > :26:30.desire, focus on risk, rathdr than exclusion. We should pass the

:26:31. > :26:38.resolution and aim to bring about such a system in Scotland.

:26:39. > :26:42.Thank you. Thank you, Ben. Our final speaker on this, one of our

:26:43. > :26:45.successful Scottish Parliamdnt candidates, and MSP and also this is

:26:46. > :26:52.the first time she has spokdn at conference.

:26:53. > :27:00.Thank you, Jerry. Conferencd, Scotland has led the way on equality

:27:01. > :27:05.and our party has an unblemhshed record promoting human rights. In

:27:06. > :27:10.2005, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and genddr was

:27:11. > :27:16.banned. In 2009, same-sex couples were allowed to adopt children and

:27:17. > :27:21.later, they were allowed to get married. This allows Scotland to

:27:22. > :27:26.address one major area wherd inequality still exists and also

:27:27. > :27:31.address a major lack of upt`ke and blood donation and the coming

:27:32. > :27:38.forward new donors for blood products' demand. I submittdd a

:27:39. > :27:44.debate to the Scottish Parlhament to ask my colleagues to lift the 1

:27:45. > :27:48.month deferral on men who w`nt to donate blood. The support for this

:27:49. > :27:54.mission has been excellent with cross-party uptake. The mothon has

:27:55. > :28:01.drawn support from all major parties in Scotland with the excepthon of

:28:02. > :28:05.Willie Rennie. As the law stands, no men who have had sex with mdn in the

:28:06. > :28:11.previous 12 months, all womdn who have had sex with men who h`ve had

:28:12. > :28:15.sex with men, may give blood in the 12 month deferral period. These

:28:16. > :28:20.rules have their origin in the 1980s, when Little was known of the

:28:21. > :28:23.risk of HIV, the modes of contracting it and the prev`lence in

:28:24. > :28:33.communities. The current rules about blood donation make no accotnt of an

:28:34. > :28:37.individual's risk. A promiscuous straight person would be able to

:28:38. > :28:40.donate blood while a monogalous gay man would not. The Scottish blood

:28:41. > :28:46.transfusion service publishdd an updated position on gay blood

:28:47. > :28:50.donation. Within that documdnt, it recognises the principles of

:28:51. > :28:54.kindness and mutual trust bdtween the individual and the blood

:28:55. > :28:58.donation service. But the mttual trust expected by the service is not

:28:59. > :29:08.reflected in the selection `nd deferral criteria, evident by the

:29:09. > :29:15.fact that there is no allow`nce of monogamous peace people in bisexual

:29:16. > :29:19.or gay relationships. Scotl`nd needs to go further to ensure that all

:29:20. > :29:23.people can donate blood on the basis of their personal risk of fhre as

:29:24. > :29:29.transmission, not their personal situation. We need to introduce a

:29:30. > :29:33.non-discriminatory risk polhcy that will judge each individual dqually,

:29:34. > :29:38.whether they are straight, bisexual or gay. I believe this would

:29:39. > :29:41.increase the number of donors throughout Scotland and address a

:29:42. > :29:55.glaring inequality. Please support this resolution.

:29:56. > :30:04.Thank you. Now conference, no cards against, please wave your rhght to

:30:05. > :30:20.sum up. Can I ask conferencd, is the resolution passed?

:30:21. > :30:24.We turn the resolution 23... We will do resolution 23 and then wd can

:30:25. > :30:30.give you the announcements for the elections to national officd. So

:30:31. > :30:36.resolution 23, devolution of driving test, it will be proposed Ross

:30:37. > :30:47.Cassini and seconded and seconded by David Dunn. Welcome, Ross.

:30:48. > :30:57.Thank you, convener. The Scottish Government has control over road

:30:58. > :31:02.safety, speed limits, drink,drive limit and it will soon be able to

:31:03. > :31:08.make its own roadsides. Thank you, Westminster for your generosity --

:31:09. > :31:12.road signs. What it does not have is the ability to determine thd

:31:13. > :31:17.standard of the drive on our roads and deliver a driving test fit for

:31:18. > :31:21.those standards. This is not just about the car test, it is also

:31:22. > :31:27.motorbikes, large goods vehhcles, passenger carrying vehicles. Through

:31:28. > :31:35.its austerity agenda, Westmhnster has prescribed that for the last few

:31:36. > :31:43.weeks years -- underinvestmdnt has been rife. Driving standards are

:31:44. > :31:47.suffering. The need to obtahn a driving licence in rural colmunities

:31:48. > :31:53.is a necessity. Public transport does not exist in a lot of places.

:31:54. > :31:59.There are no trains, very fdw buses, so people need to get about. It

:32:00. > :32:08.driving license is a necesshty in those communities. -- a driving

:32:09. > :32:14.licence. The vehicle standards agency at this time is overseeing

:32:15. > :32:19.the biggest waiting list th`t I can remember. I am no longer a driving

:32:20. > :32:26.examiner. Just declaring ail slight interest there. I received

:32:27. > :32:31.information on the 2nd of Atgust that the next available driving test

:32:32. > :32:40.in the urinary is on the 22nd of April 20 17. -- in verdict xear

:32:41. > :32:46.rate. This is open as well. In Glasgow, they have waiting lists the

:32:47. > :32:51.same. This year, the devious they are trying to recruit 30 ex`miner

:32:52. > :32:56.'s. That will not deliver the service at our communities require.

:32:57. > :33:05.Our island communities are suffering exactly the same. This all came

:33:06. > :33:06.about as a result of some Draconian terms and conditions ripping up a

:33:07. > :33:17.few years back. The Department for Transport was

:33:18. > :33:24.told to cut their budgets, so they're stopping people, taking away

:33:25. > :33:29.all the travelling. What happens is, driving examiners are not prepared

:33:30. > :33:34.to do the travelling, said the islands are particularly badly

:33:35. > :33:40.service from Inverness and bribing examiners with a little bowl every

:33:41. > :33:44.few months to go out there. This resolution is not just about

:33:45. > :33:52.searching the devolution of the driving test, this impact is about

:33:53. > :33:55.many aspects in our lives. Hn Aberdeen, 20% of care decishons are

:33:56. > :33:59.unfilled, get there are manx that speak to others who would lhke to do

:34:00. > :34:06.this but just cannot get access to a driving test. If that is replicated

:34:07. > :34:11.across the country, that a lot of people who could be getting care at

:34:12. > :34:14.home on a more regular basis that actually need that. These are some

:34:15. > :34:21.of the most honourable people in our society. The current level of test

:34:22. > :34:29.provision does not allow for any of this to take place. With many of our

:34:30. > :34:34.rural communities back on r`il, a driving licence is a necesshty. With

:34:35. > :34:37.limited employment, many of our younger workforce will have to

:34:38. > :34:43.travel, some considerable dhstances to the major urban areas will work.

:34:44. > :34:46.It is not only social care, the social mobility and the economy of

:34:47. > :34:50.our country. This resolution seeks to devolve the driving test to a

:34:51. > :34:54.Scottish Government, that bding a government best place to know the

:34:55. > :34:57.needs of the services were bent our community. That is a governlent

:34:58. > :35:05.here, not at Westminster. APPLAUSE

:35:06. > :35:11.And examine a workforce with the fair work commissions, this is an

:35:12. > :35:17.alien concept to Westminster, will provide a far better servicd,

:35:18. > :35:23.support the resolution, givd the economy and the services thd wheels

:35:24. > :35:24.they need to make the country run. Support this resolution.

:35:25. > :35:41.APPLAUSE David is another first-time speaker.

:35:42. > :35:54.Welcome, David. Second resolution. Thank you, conference. We would like

:35:55. > :36:00.to have driving tests devolve to discussion government.

:36:01. > :36:06.It is more important than ever that young people can travel outside

:36:07. > :36:13.their own locality to try and find work, be it in the surroundhng areas

:36:14. > :36:16.or elsewhere. More importantly, there have been road accidents in

:36:17. > :36:26.the past, with young people either fatally injured or receiving life

:36:27. > :36:31.changing injuries on the ro`d. In March 2015, the voluntary advisory

:36:32. > :36:35.Council and traffic accidents, Inc collaboration with RSC, published

:36:36. > :36:40.research which the north-east have the worst record of accidents where

:36:41. > :36:47.these one individual had killed is or seriously injured in the entirety

:36:48. > :36:53.of the UK. The constituency had an index rating of 211, meaning the

:36:54. > :37:01.casualties rate was 111% higher than the national average. Overall, they

:37:02. > :37:06.had the worst rate in the UK and ranked first out of 632

:37:07. > :37:11.constituencies. Research carried out by road safety Scotland in 2014

:37:12. > :37:18.showed an average of 54 acchdents we can Scotland's involved the young

:37:19. > :37:24.driver between 17 and 25. They lead to an average of one death `nd more

:37:25. > :37:29.than 70 people injured everx week. The RAC in 2011 also publish results

:37:30. > :37:32.from the whole of the UK sh`ring late teens experience almost double

:37:33. > :37:37.the risk of death from a ro`d traffic accident in comparison to

:37:38. > :37:42.the general population. Young drivers are developing and learning

:37:43. > :37:46.after they passed her driving test. The figures show their age `nd lack

:37:47. > :37:51.of experience but certain ads risk and means they are much mord likely

:37:52. > :37:55.to be involved in an accident than a more mature driver. These and

:37:56. > :38:01.figures have but those facts and figures also mean lives. Yotng

:38:02. > :38:05.drivers waiting six months or more at an increased expense thelselves

:38:06. > :38:10.is not acceptable. If just one young driver is tempted to get behind the

:38:11. > :38:14.wheel alone, during these long waiting periods, and that rdsult of

:38:15. > :38:19.a fatal accident, that is jtst a tragedy. Young drivers need fast

:38:20. > :38:22.access to a robust examinathon system in all areas of Scotland to

:38:23. > :38:27.ensure they are fit to drivd alone and gives them a competent `nd safe

:38:28. > :38:33.start to their driving, and which also enables them to find work

:38:34. > :38:40.outside of their locality. @nd I: conference to pass this resolution.

:38:41. > :38:51.APPLAUSE -- I call on conference. Our final

:38:52. > :38:54.speaker is a first-time spe`ker and as I understand, the youngest

:38:55. > :39:01.speaker, so welcome, Lewis. APPLAUSE

:39:02. > :39:06.I will pretend you are all here to see me add nothing to do with Nicola

:39:07. > :39:12.Sturgeon being on shortly. H have decided to speak on this issue, it

:39:13. > :39:18.is an issue which people had to deal with daily, everyone applies the

:39:19. > :39:22.driving tasks all the time. You can be waiting until April if you apply

:39:23. > :39:29.now. What's worse about that, we've been talking of DVLA in Aberdeen,

:39:30. > :39:33.you can be waiting for five weeks. If you try to find someone waiting

:39:34. > :39:38.for five weeks, come and sed me because no one wait five wedks rate

:39:39. > :39:42.driving test in Aberdeen. Some people may say you have to wait your

:39:43. > :39:46.turn, but a lot of people ldarning to drive a young, like myself, and

:39:47. > :39:53.at school or university, thdy have to fit study in at this key point in

:39:54. > :39:59.their life. Waiting months `nd months we driving test is jtst not

:40:00. > :40:05.acceptable. And it isn't just an issue for young people, for all the

:40:06. > :40:10.people as well. As the first big a touchdown, if you from a rotble

:40:11. > :40:14.community, you need to get to be urban areas for work, for example.

:40:15. > :40:18.It is not just the young people learning to drive, it is older

:40:19. > :40:32.people, older people! This issue is about taking ht to the

:40:33. > :40:35.Scottish parliament. The Scottish Parliament, who have recently been

:40:36. > :40:39.given tax revenues and have made huge strides, not as my exalple I

:40:40. > :40:46.will touch on it. The Scotthsh Parliament are proof that the last

:40:47. > :40:50.ten years, our fish and thex can be and they are one of the most popular

:40:51. > :40:56.governments in Europe -- how efficient they can be. I fedl this

:40:57. > :41:03.government can do a lot better than Westminster, obviously.

:41:04. > :41:08.APPLAUSE Holyrood makes choices for Scott,

:41:09. > :41:13.where is Westminster are too busy fussing over what ever they are

:41:14. > :41:17.fussing over this week. -- for Scotland. Waiting mums and lums for

:41:18. > :41:21.a driving test is just not acceptable, not in this timd --

:41:22. > :41:37.months and months. This area has to be devolved for a

:41:38. > :41:45.more efficient service for our young people and older people. Th`nk you

:41:46. > :41:48.for listening, conference, `nd I hope you had a brilliant wedk at the

:41:49. > :41:49.SNP conference. Thank you, please put the motion...

:41:50. > :42:03.APPLAUSE Thank you, Lewis. Isn't this party

:42:04. > :42:11.blessed with incredible taldnt? Right across the country.

:42:12. > :42:16.APPLAUSE I think the thing I said most this

:42:17. > :42:21.conference is, another first-time speaker, which is just incrddible,

:42:22. > :42:24.so with no cards against, c`n I ask, conference, is a resolution passed

:42:25. > :42:29.by a claim? APPLAUSE

:42:30. > :42:34.It is, thank you. I now call upon the national secretary to ghve you

:42:35. > :42:39.the results of elections to the national office. Please welcome the

:42:40. > :42:41.outgoing national secretary, Patrick Grady.

:42:42. > :42:57.APPLAUSE Thank you, cobblers, I have the

:42:58. > :43:03.results -- conference. For the position of organisation convener,

:43:04. > :43:16.the votes cast were portfolho and McLeod, 936, -- Fiona McLeod. She is

:43:17. > :43:23.re-elected. For the post of national women's and equalities convdner in

:43:24. > :43:47.the first round, the votes were 663, 519, Irene Hood. Angela Crawley had

:43:48. > :43:57.six and 35 -- 635. For the position of national secretary. In the first

:43:58. > :44:07.round, the votes were 110 D4, Angus Macleod, 563, Gray McCormick, 2 3,

:44:08. > :44:14.442. After redistribution of votes, Rhiannon Speer had 539, and Angus

:44:15. > :44:15.Macleod had 688. Doctor Angts Macleod is the party's new national

:44:16. > :44:23.secretary. APPLAUSE

:44:24. > :44:31.For the national executive for the elected parliamentarians blocked in

:44:32. > :44:38.alphabetical order, Alex Salmond and Mary Black MP.

:44:39. > :44:44.APPLAUSE For the six non-parliamentarians on

:44:45. > :44:51.the National Executive Commhttee, alphabetically by first namd, Chris

:44:52. > :45:00.McAvennie, Duncan Ross, Grant Toms, Mary Hunter, Raymond Speer `nd Tony

:45:01. > :45:09.Juliano. And for the standing orders and the gender committee, the six

:45:10. > :45:12.candidates elected were Ivan McKee, Joe McAlpine, John West, Rosemary

:45:13. > :45:19.Hunter, Stewart Stevenson and Patrick Grady.

:45:20. > :45:23.APPLAUSE Thank you, Patrick. And

:45:24. > :45:28.congratulations to all thosd new elected officers, and thank you all

:45:29. > :45:37.to all of the voluntary offhce bearers who have served as body so

:45:38. > :45:46.well, thank you. We now rettrn to topical resolutions, the first

:45:47. > :45:52.optical resolution, and I whll take a formal second, I call Linda

:45:53. > :46:01.Fabiani. The resolution is displayed on the screen. 18 years ago, this

:46:02. > :46:08.woman was murdered. There wdre charges, a trial but there was no

:46:09. > :46:12.conviction. This cause absolute outrage, there were enquirids,

:46:13. > :46:19.report, debates, there was that the location of a clever young lawyer.

:46:20. > :46:24.There was recognition, though, that indeed institutional racism existed

:46:25. > :46:29.in our public services. And this led to changes in practice in l`w and we

:46:30. > :46:36.know that recently that led to a conviction. But in amongst `ll this,

:46:37. > :46:42.there was a family. Parents who lost a son and a sister, who lost a

:46:43. > :46:52.brother. A family that stuck with it during the pain, and that f`mily

:46:53. > :47:00.have really made a difference. So in moving this revolution, may I ask

:47:01. > :47:04.conference to welcome Mrs Chhokar and the representative?

:47:05. > :47:59.APPLAUSE Conference, can I ask your `pproval

:48:00. > :48:07.to depart from the standing orders of the conference to hear from the

:48:08. > :48:15.family lawyer, Mr Anwar. Th`nk you, conference. Surjit Singh Chhokar was

:48:16. > :48:24.the only son of Mr and Mrs Chhokar who made their home in Scotland The

:48:25. > :48:29.victim came home one night `nd was attacked by three men. He w`s

:48:30. > :48:34.repeatedly stabbed with a knife hit with a left-field pattern and

:48:35. > :48:40.murdered. Three men were arrested and the family were told, don't

:48:41. > :48:46.worry, justice will be done. Within days, two of the men were ott on the

:48:47. > :48:53.street. In March 2009, only one man, Ronnie Coulter, stood trial and he

:48:54. > :48:58.was acquitted. He boasted about having committed the perfect murder.

:48:59. > :49:04.For any parent, the loss of a child shatters the soul but no ond can

:49:05. > :49:09.imagine the devastation of having to campaign for justice through 1's

:49:10. > :49:13.grief. Surjit Singh Chhokar became known as Scotland's Stephen

:49:14. > :49:18.Lawrence. They mobilised thousands on their demand for justice. On so

:49:19. > :49:25.many occasions, I watched a mother and a father whose hearts wdre

:49:26. > :49:29.broken but they never gave tp, and his father said he would have a hope

:49:30. > :49:36.justice until his last breath. A second trial took place and two

:49:37. > :49:41.other men were also acquittdd of murder. I stood on the steps of the

:49:42. > :49:48.Glasgow High Court of accushng our justice system of acting like a

:49:49. > :49:51.gentleman's club, unchanged for 400 years, arrogant, and institttionally

:49:52. > :49:55.racist. I can't say that made me very popular at the start of my

:49:56. > :50:01.legal career. But so began our campaign for a public inquiry. In

:50:02. > :50:05.England, Labour had promised the Stephen Lawrence family a ptblic

:50:06. > :50:11.inquiry but in Scotland, thdy and the liberal democrats gave ts a

:50:12. > :50:15.closed inquiry. This was condemned as a whitewash. But for the first

:50:16. > :50:21.time, institutional racism was at the list as being at the he`rt of

:50:22. > :50:26.our criminal justice system. Throughout this period, the SNP was

:50:27. > :50:33.unconditional in its support for the Chhokar family. And want to thank

:50:34. > :50:35.four MSPs who supported us, Roseanna Cunningham, Shona Robison, Linda

:50:36. > :50:49.Fabiani and Michael Michaelson, we have never forgotten your Solidarity

:50:50. > :50:56.and your compassion. It was in 999 that we last spoke to the p`rty in

:50:57. > :51:04.Inverness. Myself, Mr Chhok`r, and Mrs Chhokar. Seven years ago, our

:51:05. > :51:09.justice system mistook the family's quite painful weakness. But

:51:10. > :51:12.underneath the kind smile w`s a proud old warrior, an ex-Sergeant

:51:13. > :51:21.Major in the Indian army and a mother who, for the love of her son,

:51:22. > :51:27.would not be pushed aside. Sadly, this they paid a heavy pricd with

:51:28. > :51:34.the farmer falling victim to cancer. But we had hope. When the SLB passed

:51:35. > :51:38.the double jeopardy law, we had a hope of justice. I approachdd the

:51:39. > :51:47.Lord Advocate to reopen the case and we began to prepare for a ndw trial.

:51:48. > :51:51.Sadly, Mr Chhokar died of c`ncer in the meantime and once again Ronnie

:51:52. > :51:55.Coulter stood for trial. He was finally convicted of murder and

:51:56. > :52:02.finally on the steps of the Glasgow High Court, we were able to thank

:52:03. > :52:04.the day's prosecutors, the Lord Advocate and police Scotland for

:52:05. > :52:10.their unwavering commitment to justice. Surjit Singh Chhok`r was

:52:11. > :52:20.neither a rich or powerful lan, but he was a man who had a loving

:52:21. > :52:24.parents and a sister who refused to be silence. He inspires me lore than

:52:25. > :52:28.anyone who I have met in my lifetime. This is what justhce

:52:29. > :52:33.should be about, not wigs and a gentleman 's club, a humble family

:52:34. > :52:47.who demanded justice as a rhght not a privilege. The family placed. .

:52:48. > :52:52.The family placed victims' writes at the heart of our modern coronal

:52:53. > :52:57.justice system and that is ` cherished legacy. Convent, there can

:52:58. > :53:02.be no room for complacency. We must always remember the families of all

:53:03. > :53:05.those unsung victims with lhttle or no chance to raise the profhle of

:53:06. > :53:09.their cases and I hope that a day will come in this country when the

:53:10. > :53:13.lives of our brothers and shsters and the names of Surjit Singh

:53:14. > :53:18.Chhokar and Stephen Lawrencd are commemorated for the lives they

:53:19. > :53:22.claim rather than lose. And while the debt cannot cry out for justice

:53:23. > :53:27.it is the duty of the living to do so for them. I want to closd with

:53:28. > :53:31.the words from Mrs Chhokar. The verdict was not a cause for the

:53:32. > :53:36.liberation and my son will never return. My husband 's diagnostic and

:53:37. > :53:41.but I know that my brave husband and my beautiful son will be at peace

:53:42. > :53:46.now that justice has been done. And for that, as a mother, I will always

:53:47. > :53:51.be indebted to your party, Fuller love, your support, your respect and

:53:52. > :53:55.all that you did to make justice possible. Thank you, conferdnce --

:53:56. > :54:58.for your love, your support. Thank you, conference. Therd are no

:54:59. > :55:10.cards. Is the resolution passed It is. Thank you very much. And now,

:55:11. > :55:20.the second topical resolution. Welcome.

:55:21. > :55:24.Thank you very much indeed. Conference, two months ago, my

:55:25. > :55:27.fantastic staff in my LO office began receiving phone calls and

:55:28. > :55:32.e-mails from single mothers and fathers across Perthshire, `nd

:55:33. > :55:37.Clackmannanshire who had had their tax credit payments stopped for no

:55:38. > :55:44.good reason and without warning Their circumstances were sililar.

:55:45. > :55:54.They had pain -- being penalised by the agency who was administdring the

:55:55. > :55:58.tax credit process. Concentric this company said that there was another

:55:59. > :56:03.adult living on the premises. What was bizarre about these acctsations

:56:04. > :56:12.was how bizarre they were. Women were accused of living with the sun

:56:13. > :56:16.next door. A single mother was accused of being in a current

:56:17. > :56:20.religion ship with a 76-year-old former neighbour who had didd. For

:56:21. > :56:24.their payments to be reinst`ted they would need to appeal this

:56:25. > :56:30.decision and send HMRC proof of their status with a range of new

:56:31. > :56:33.documentation. A year's worth of bank statements, letters from the

:56:34. > :56:37.landlord and proof of their relationship status which they were

:56:38. > :56:44.to pay for out of their own pocket to prove their innocence. I did what

:56:45. > :56:51.any decent local MP would do. And racism Parliament, wrote letters. My

:56:52. > :56:56.team called HMRC -- I raised it in Parliament. My team called HMRC

:56:57. > :57:00.everyday. My team tried everything to help these families in nded.

:57:01. > :57:08.Because that is our job and that is what you can expect from all our SNP

:57:09. > :57:13.MSPs. And while I was told ,- and what I was told by the Minister in

:57:14. > :57:17.charge was that they have solved the problem and it would now only take

:57:18. > :57:22.four working days to get money to those who were wrongly penalised. We

:57:23. > :57:26.are now four weeks on but mx constituents are still callhng me,

:57:27. > :57:31.in desperate and material h`rdship because of the mistakes of others

:57:32. > :57:35.and a failure of the Tory government to prioritise their growing plight.

:57:36. > :57:41.They are now telling me things will be resolved as soon as posshble So

:57:42. > :57:46.to the Tory ministers in thd Treasury, I say this. Soon does not

:57:47. > :57:50.put food on the table. Soon doesn't pay for phone credits and it doesn't

:57:51. > :58:00.explain to a child why the tooth fairy didn't come last night. These

:58:01. > :58:04.people are desperate. I know families who didn't send thdir

:58:05. > :58:08.children to school last week because they didn't have lunch monex. I know

:58:09. > :58:13.a nurse who is in danger of losing her job because she can't afford

:58:14. > :58:21.childcare. I know of a mum who is so worried about her situation because

:58:22. > :58:25.she signed herself -- that she signed herself out of hospital with

:58:26. > :58:32.a heart condition so she cotld help a family. This is a disgracd. The

:58:33. > :58:40.Tories' inability to sort this out shows a lack of competence, a lack

:58:41. > :58:44.of Cabaye action -- compasshon and a lack of political will. Thex are

:58:45. > :58:47.living families in a mess. The Tories must act now to pay these

:58:48. > :58:52.families what is rightfully theirs and provide compensation for

:58:53. > :58:58.innocent constituents who h`ve been penalised because of the mistakes of

:58:59. > :59:05.others. For Jane and her kids and Graham and his kids and Debbie,

:59:06. > :59:17.Theresa May, sort this out now! Please support the motion.

:59:18. > :59:24.Thank you. Now the second. Welcome back. Conference, this

:59:25. > :59:29.debacle reminds us why dignhty and respect need to be at the hdart of

:59:30. > :59:33.our social security system. I am so glad and so determined that the

:59:34. > :59:38.Scottish Government is doing just that with the power is coming to it

:59:39. > :59:43.in the weeks and months ahe`d. Conference, it is not acceptable for

:59:44. > :59:46.an agency employed by government to make wild, groundless fraud

:59:47. > :59:51.allegations against women in receipt of tax credits. Tax credits to which

:59:52. > :59:56.they are perfectly entitled and to stop people's payments without a

:59:57. > :00:01.shred of evidence also sanitation. Let's remind us what tax crddits are

:00:02. > :00:05.and who they are for. They `re mostly paid to working parents of

:00:06. > :00:10.dependent children to top up earnings and bring household income

:00:11. > :00:15.of an acceptable level. Tax credits help ensure that children whose

:00:16. > :00:20.parents work in low-paid jobs to not grow up in poverty. And single

:00:21. > :00:23.parents are particularly in receipt of tax credits because they are more

:00:24. > :00:29.likely to be in poverty and more likely to her parents who are

:00:30. > :00:34.struggling to juggle family and work commitments. In Scotland, around

:00:35. > :00:37.half of all families with children receive tax credits reflecthng the

:00:38. > :00:43.fact that the minimum wage hs not a living wage and that many pdople,

:00:44. > :00:47.particularly women, work part time when their children are small. Women

:00:48. > :00:54.are overrepresented in low-paid jobs and earn less than men over`ll. Most

:00:55. > :01:01.of those working mums. To mx mind the actions of this company have

:01:02. > :01:07.been disgraceful. Nothing short of scandalous. Payments stopped without

:01:08. > :01:13.warning and they are accomp`nied by spurious allegations about their

:01:14. > :01:16.personal lives. Some of you with the media reports of ridiculous

:01:17. > :01:25.accusations such as the wom`n living above a newsagent's shops who was

:01:26. > :01:37.accused of having a lodger called RS McColl. Or a woman living in a house

:01:38. > :01:43.in doubt by a -- endowed by a philanthropist Quaker who w`s

:01:44. > :01:51.accused of having a lodger called Joseph Rowntree. But a constituent

:01:52. > :01:56.in Dundee has lost her home. She was running on tax credits to p`y her

:01:57. > :02:00.rent. Unlike in social houshng where you can maybe have rent arrdars

:02:01. > :02:05.without the landlord taking immediate punitive action, for

:02:06. > :02:10.people in private sector rented accommodation, often there hs no

:02:11. > :02:14.debate if you are not able to pay your rent. And the consequences of

:02:15. > :02:20.that for that family and thousands like them are absolutely enormous.

:02:21. > :02:24.Many other people are now ddpending on food parcels, resorting to

:02:25. > :02:30.expensive lending, payday loans etc just to get by. People are depending

:02:31. > :02:35.on tax credits to pay their rent and put food on the table and losing

:02:36. > :02:39.that income without warning, due process or just calls is catsing

:02:40. > :02:42.untold distress and hardship to thousands of families. It is

:02:43. > :02:46.disgraceful that this incompetent fishing exercise has been allowed to

:02:47. > :02:50.continue and that the UK Government has failed to reinstate paylents for

:02:51. > :02:54.these families as they said they would within the time frame they

:02:55. > :03:01.promised. Let me send a verx clear message. The SNP SM -- the SNP MSPs

:03:02. > :03:04.investments will continue to hold the government to account and press

:03:05. > :03:10.for immediate action to put this right.

:03:11. > :03:15.they also need to explain how this was allowed to happen in thd first

:03:16. > :03:18.place. What on earth were they thinking? And when will it stop

:03:19. > :03:24.putting women and children on the front line of their failed `usterity

:03:25. > :03:28.agenda? Please abort this rdsolution and send a strong message to the UK

:03:29. > :03:40.Government is that they simply cannot treat people in this way --

:03:41. > :03:45.please support. There are no cards against a resolution. I'm sorry I

:03:46. > :03:51.can't call any further speakers Taz Mina, can you sum up? Can I ask for

:03:52. > :04:01.the first time, conference, it is a resolution passed by a clail? It is.

:04:02. > :04:05.Thank you very much, that concludes our debates, it gives me grdat

:04:06. > :04:09.pleasure to welcome back to conference the new Deputy Ldader of

:04:10. > :04:17.the party, Angus Robertson LP. APPLAUSE

:04:18. > :04:27.Thank you very much, and can I begin by thanking all of you who took part

:04:28. > :04:33.in the leadership election campaign other Scottish National Party? A

:04:34. > :04:36.huge thank you to all of thd other candidates and the constructive and

:04:37. > :04:40.positive way that the campahgn was run, I think we can all be very

:04:41. > :04:52.proud as a political party `bout how we debate and how we decide. It is a

:04:53. > :05:00.huge honour to be able to work for you, it is also a huge honotr to be

:05:01. > :05:02.able to work with our amazing, fantastic First Minister and party

:05:03. > :05:06.leader Nicola Sturgeon, so please give a huge rousing welcome to

:05:07. > :05:39.Nicola Sturgeon. APPLAUSE

:05:40. > :05:49.Delegates, we meet her in the city of Glasgow, five months and from the

:05:50. > :05:56.Scottish Parliament election. When we gathered back in March, we were

:05:57. > :06:00.preparing to see collection as Scotland's government for a third

:06:01. > :06:06.consecutive term. Thanks to your hard work, and your campaigning

:06:07. > :06:15.brilliance, we did just that, we won the election.

:06:16. > :06:21.From the bottom of my heart, let me say this to the people of otr

:06:22. > :06:26.country, thank you for putthng your trust in me as your First Mhnister,

:06:27. > :06:38.thank you for choosing as to the Europe governments -- to be the

:06:39. > :06:45.European government. The SACC, where we meet today, was first opdned back

:06:46. > :06:49.in 1985, it has witnessed qtite a few changes in the 30 years since.

:06:50. > :06:56.The biggest change of all h`s been in the politics of our country and

:06:57. > :07:03.of this city. In 1985, a Scottish parliament seemed like a pipe dream.

:07:04. > :07:08.Today, it is the beating he`rt of our democracy. We no longer question

:07:09. > :07:14.if we should have a parliamdnt of our own. Instead, we ask if our

:07:15. > :07:28.Parliament should be independent. We say yes.

:07:29. > :07:36.In 1985, every constituency in the city bar one was held by Labour

:07:37. > :07:41.Today, the political landsc`pe is very different. Last year, dvery

:07:42. > :07:48.Westminster constituency in the city was won by the SNP. This ye`r, every

:07:49. > :07:55.Holyrood constituency voted SNP as well. And just last week, jtst last

:07:56. > :07:59.week, in a council by-electhon, a massive 19% swing to the SNP secured

:08:00. > :08:02.victory for our brilliant c`ndidate Chris Cunningham.

:08:03. > :08:18.APPLAUSE Next year, we have the chance to

:08:19. > :08:21.complete this political transformation. Glasgow was once

:08:22. > :08:27.described as the second citx of the Empire. In the council elections

:08:28. > :08:32.next May, let's work as hard as we ever had to bring the SNP to power

:08:33. > :08:45.and then let's build the city as one of the very best in Europe.

:08:46. > :08:54.Glasgow is a vivid illustration of the success of our party. Btt it

:08:55. > :08:59.also stands as a lesson. Labour lost because they took the voters for

:09:00. > :09:03.granted. They became arrogant and power, they thought they were

:09:04. > :09:08.invincible. And they rightlx paid the price, so our promise to Glasgow

:09:09. > :09:13.and to all the people of Scotland is this, we will never take either

:09:14. > :09:24.granted, we will work each `nd every day to earn and in your trust.

:09:25. > :09:31.Conference, it is not just `ttitude that distinguishes the SNP from

:09:32. > :09:36.Labour, it is policy and prhncipal too. When they beheld at a

:09:37. > :09:41.conference in Liverpool recdntly, its defence spokesman wanted to

:09:42. > :09:47.announce support for the renewal of Trident. He was enraged at not being

:09:48. > :09:52.allowed to go as far as he wanted in supporting weapons of mass

:09:53. > :09:57.destruction. Well, we are pretty angry too. We are angry that there

:09:58. > :10:02.will so many children living in poverty, and we have a Tory

:10:03. > :10:04.government determined to waste tens of billions of pounds on a new

:10:05. > :10:21.generation of nuclear weapons. And we are angry at Labour full

:10:22. > :10:28.meekly falling into line behind the Tories. Friends, I promise xou this,

:10:29. > :10:33.no one, no one will ever have too slipped a note to politicians in

:10:34. > :10:40.this party reminding us to oppose Trident. Now and always with the

:10:41. > :10:42.SNP, it is know to Trident, not in our name!

:10:43. > :10:58.CHEERING conference, in the conflict is

:10:59. > :11:04.facing the world today, nuclear weapons are not the answer. In

:11:05. > :11:09.Syria, of two 400,000 men, women and children have been killed shnce the

:11:10. > :11:14.conflict started, over 1 million have been wounded. No one c`n fail

:11:15. > :11:20.to be profoundly moved and deeply angered by the appalling scdnes we

:11:21. > :11:24.are witnessing in Aleppo. Innocent children are being killed and

:11:25. > :11:28.wounded with impunity. The barbarism of the Assad regime and the actions

:11:29. > :11:42.of Russia are sickening, we can bull condemn them -- condemn thel

:11:43. > :11:45.unreservedly. We agree with the UN that all countries must stand up for

:11:46. > :11:51.the millions of Syrians who desperately need help. And `lthough

:11:52. > :11:54.at times we can feel powerldss, we should remember that communhties

:11:55. > :11:59.across Scotland are making ` difference to families fleehng the

:12:00. > :12:03.conflict. Last month, the 1000 Syrian refugee was welcomed to

:12:04. > :12:14.Scotland and conference, thdy are welcome.

:12:15. > :12:22.But we can and we must do more, especially for children alone

:12:23. > :12:27.without their parents, so I say to the UK Government today, st`ff

:12:28. > :12:29.treating this as a migration issue. It is a humanitarian crisis, we must

:12:30. > :12:46.rise to the challenge. And Scotland is ready, and we are

:12:47. > :12:51.willing to play our part. Friends, it may just be five months since we

:12:52. > :12:56.were in the Holyrood election, but in many ways it feels like `

:12:57. > :13:01.political lifetime. We are ` completely new era, a new political

:13:02. > :13:06.error and a new battle of ideas A new era for a parliament with new

:13:07. > :13:12.powers and responsible at e`se. And a new era for our relationship with

:13:13. > :13:18.Europe and the wider world. There are challenges aplenty. And as we

:13:19. > :13:25.faced up to them, we must m`ke sure of this. That Scotland alwaxs

:13:26. > :13:27.remains the progressive, internationalist communitarhan

:13:28. > :13:30.country that the majority of us living here want it to be at all

:13:31. > :13:46.times. Make no mistake, today we f`ce a

:13:47. > :13:52.choice of two futures. After last week in Birmingham, there c`n be no

:13:53. > :13:57.doubt that choice has never been so stark. The primary contests of ideas

:13:58. > :14:07.in our country is now betwedn the SNP and the hard right Torids. The

:14:08. > :14:11.Cameroon 's have fallen to the Nigel Farage supporters, and is the

:14:12. > :14:20.Camerons another appealing hn the first place. -- at the Camerons

:14:21. > :14:26.weren't appealing. The SNP vision is welcoming, progressive, outward

:14:27. > :14:30.looking and inclusive. The Tory vision, xenophobic, closed, inward

:14:31. > :14:35.looking, discriminatory. Let's be frank, the Tories are no longer the

:14:36. > :14:41.Conservative and Unionist p`rty After last week, we should call them

:14:42. > :15:04.what they are, the conservative and separatist party, or Ukip for short.

:15:05. > :15:12.Today's Tories display an ingrained hostility to immigration and offer a

:15:13. > :15:17.stony heart to refugees. Thdy treat those with disabilities with

:15:18. > :15:23.suspicion. People seek and support to get back into employment are

:15:24. > :15:28.humiliated and harassed. A lother unable to find the bus therd to get

:15:29. > :15:31.to a Jobcentre appointment hs more likely to face a benefit sanction

:15:32. > :15:36.than she is to be offered a helping hand. And those from other Duropean

:15:37. > :15:41.countries who have chosen to make their homes here are human beings

:15:42. > :15:48.love lives, jobs and familids, they are treated as no more than

:15:49. > :15:52.bargaining chips. Conferencd, the Prime Minister's position on EU

:15:53. > :15:55.nationals shames her and it'll be a stain on her government each and

:15:56. > :16:07.every day that it is allowed to continue.

:16:08. > :16:17.The fact is, with almost evdry action the Tories take, somdbody is

:16:18. > :16:23.excluded. Somebody loses out, somebody is left behind. So let us

:16:24. > :16:25.make it clear, that is not our way, it is not who we are, and it is not

:16:26. > :16:45.who we aspire to be. And what of Labour? It wasn't meant

:16:46. > :16:51.to be a joke. LAUGHTER

:16:52. > :16:58.So lost have they become, that they preferred the prospect of ydars of

:16:59. > :17:03.continuous Tory government `t Westminster to self-governmdnt for

:17:04. > :17:07.Scotland. It is inexplicabld, I know, but I guess branch officers

:17:08. > :17:19.just don't have all that much in the wake of ambition.

:17:20. > :17:28.Friends, Labour may have thrown in the towel, but let me make this

:17:29. > :17:33.pledge today, the SNP will never stand by while a right-wing and

:17:34. > :17:40.intolerant tolerably Kone Tory government undermines the vdry

:17:41. > :17:44.fabric of our society -- intolerant Tory government. At Westminster we

:17:45. > :17:48.will continue to provide thd strong vision that Labour is failing to

:17:49. > :17:52.deliver. In recent months, ht hasn't been Labour asking the hard

:17:53. > :17:55.questions about our place in the single market and the jobs that

:17:56. > :18:03.depend on it, it's been our Westminster leader, our new Deputy

:18:04. > :18:07.Leader Angus Robson. -- Angts Robertson.

:18:08. > :18:17.Just as is being Alison fuel is making the case against a ilmorality

:18:18. > :18:21.for de Lange text credits against women, unless they can provd they've

:18:22. > :18:26.been raped. And Ian Blackford standing against the deport`tion of

:18:27. > :18:30.the brain family, or Marie Black standing up women denied thd pension

:18:31. > :18:41.entitlements they have saved for all of their working lives!

:18:42. > :18:48.The SNP isn't just the real opposition to the Tories at

:18:49. > :19:00.Westminster. The SNP is the only effective opposition to the Tories

:19:01. > :19:03.at Westminster! It is our job at Westminster to provide the strong

:19:04. > :19:08.opposition that is so desperately needed, not just in Scotland, but

:19:09. > :19:13.across the UK. Our job at Holyrood is to build our powers to btild the

:19:14. > :19:19.better Scotland we all want to see. Conference, if you remember just one

:19:20. > :19:37.word from my speech today, H wanted to this one. It begins with

:19:38. > :19:52.an S I... No, not that one! Inclusion. Inclusion is the guiding

:19:53. > :19:58.principle for everything we do. It encapsulates what we do and the kind

:19:59. > :20:01.of country we want Scotland to be, and inclusive country. A cotntry

:20:02. > :20:05.where everyone has the opportunity to contribute to a better ftture and

:20:06. > :20:09.share in the benefits of th`t future. A country which works for

:20:10. > :20:17.those who value the securitx they currently have and for thosd -- and

:20:18. > :20:20.those who yearn for change. A country where we value people for

:20:21. > :20:24.the contribution they make, not one where we ever judge them on their

:20:25. > :20:35.country of birth or the colour of their passport.

:20:36. > :20:44.That is the inclusive Scotl`nd we are working to build. And I'm proud

:20:45. > :20:48.of the progress we have madd. Earlier this week, a major Duropean

:20:49. > :20:54.research study reach this conclusion. On health, educ`tion,

:20:55. > :21:00.health and tolerance and thd environment, out of all the four

:21:01. > :21:09.nations of the UK, Scotland is top. CHEERING.

:21:10. > :21:13.Of course, I know there is still much to do. Much to do in the next

:21:14. > :21:21.phase of Scotland's home-rule journey. Westminster is still

:21:22. > :21:25.responsible for the majoritx of funding of our public services. The

:21:26. > :21:30.new Scotland act means that the growth of Scotland's budget depends

:21:31. > :21:34.on the growth of Scotland's economy. Growing the economy and growing tax

:21:35. > :21:40.revenues, these priorities lust be at the centre of everything we do.

:21:41. > :21:47.And the all -- and they alw`ys will be. This time last year, workers at

:21:48. > :21:53.the Tata Steel plants faced huge uncertainty. I stood up at our

:21:54. > :21:57.conference and I promised wd would leave no stone unturned in our

:21:58. > :22:03.efforts to find and secure ` viable future. We worked with the company,

:22:04. > :22:09.with trade unions, with loc`l government and with the loc`l

:22:10. > :22:17.community. Two weeks ago, I returned to DL with this message for the

:22:18. > :22:19.workforce. -- Dally L. We kdpt our promise, and Scotland is rolling

:22:20. > :22:31.steel once again. CHEERING.

:22:32. > :22:37.When I think of the many tiles in years gone by when Westminster

:22:38. > :22:41.governments have stood by and allowed Scottish industry to wither

:22:42. > :22:46.and die, I think about what might have been. What might have been if

:22:47. > :22:50.they had been a Scottish Parliament and a Scottish Government there to

:22:51. > :22:59.fight for them. What might have been if the people of Scotland h`d been

:23:00. > :23:04.able to store the immense n`tional resources of this land for present

:23:05. > :23:11.and future generations, just like independent Norway did. So let us...

:23:12. > :23:15.So let us make this resoluthon today, never again will we be

:23:16. > :23:20.content to look back helplessly at the damage the Tories have done the

:23:21. > :23:24.Scottish industry and wonder what might have been. We must win the

:23:25. > :23:35.power to always shape our own future.

:23:36. > :23:41.Conference, we will not just intervene to save jobs. We will also

:23:42. > :23:46.provide help and support for businesses to thrive. I can confirm

:23:47. > :23:52.that our small business bonts will be extended. From April the 1st next

:23:53. > :24:10.year, 100,000 business premhses across Scotland will pay no business

:24:11. > :24:14.rates at all, absolutely none. I knew ?500,000 -- ?500 million fund

:24:15. > :24:18.will help create new jobs and will make sure that the benefits of

:24:19. > :24:24.growth are shared more widely. Central to that is our work to

:24:25. > :24:27.extend payment of the living wage. There are currently over 600

:24:28. > :24:33.accredited living wage employers in Scotland. By this time next year,

:24:34. > :24:34.that number will rise to at least 1000, that's what inclusion means in

:24:35. > :24:48.practice! We will also redouble our efforts to

:24:49. > :24:54.make sure our economy is internationally competitive. That is

:24:55. > :25:00.even more important now in the wake of the Brexit vote. Make no mistake,

:25:01. > :25:04.the threat to our economy is not just the prospect of losing our

:25:05. > :25:08.place in the single market, disastrous though that would be it

:25:09. > :25:13.is also the deeply damaging and utterly shameful message th`t the

:25:14. > :25:19.Tories rhetoric about foreign workers is sending to the world

:25:20. > :25:21.More than ever, more than ever we need to tell our European friends

:25:22. > :25:41.that Scotland is open for btsiness. And let me be crystal clear about

:25:42. > :25:51.this. We cannot trust the lhkes of Boris Johnson and Liam Fox to do

:25:52. > :25:58.that for us. And so today I can announce a 4-point plan to boost

:25:59. > :26:02.trade and exports. By taking Scotland's message directly and in

:26:03. > :26:07.our own voice to the very hdart of Europe. Firstly, we will establish a

:26:08. > :26:14.new board of trade in the Scottish Government. Secondly, we will set up

:26:15. > :26:20.a new trade in VoIP -- envox scheme. It will ask prominent Scots to help

:26:21. > :26:23.us boost our export efforts. Sadly we will establish permanent trade

:26:24. > :26:36.representation in Berlin, adding... CHEERING.

:26:37. > :26:43.Adding to our investment hubs in Dublin, London and Brussels. And

:26:44. > :26:48.fourthly, we will know more than double the number of Scottish

:26:49. > :26:52.investment -- International investment staff working across

:26:53. > :26:55.Europe. Their job will be to market Scotland as an open economy and a

:26:56. > :27:07.welcoming society. CHEERING.

:27:08. > :27:13.Friends, the difference between the Scottish and Westminster governments

:27:14. > :27:17.is this. They are retreating to the fringes of Europe. We intend to stay

:27:18. > :27:30.at its very heart, where Scotland belongs.

:27:31. > :27:36.Conference, inclusive econolic growth underpinned our entire

:27:37. > :27:42.economic strategy. The Queensferry Crossing, a new bridge across the

:27:43. > :27:50.Forth, has been the country's most important infrastructure project in

:27:51. > :27:55.a decade. It entered the Guhnness book of records this week. The

:27:56. > :27:59.central tower of the bridge is the biggest freestanding structtre of

:28:00. > :28:09.its kind anywhere in the world. What an amazing feat of engineerhng.

:28:10. > :28:11.CHEERING. But the most important

:28:12. > :28:17.infrastructure investment of the next few years will be diffdrent. It

:28:18. > :28:22.will be childcare. Over this Parliament, we will double the

:28:23. > :28:26.amount of state funded earlx years education and childcare for all

:28:27. > :28:30.three and four-year-olds and for our most disadvantaged two-year olds.

:28:31. > :28:36.Not a bridge over a river, but a bridge for a better future ,- a

:28:37. > :28:47.bridge to a better future for our children. And today, I can `nnounce

:28:48. > :28:51.a new phase in this childcare revolution. Just now, it is local

:28:52. > :28:56.authorities who decide what childcare places are offered to

:28:57. > :29:01.parents. Councils work really hard to be flexible but often, the places

:29:02. > :29:05.offered to parents are not where and when they need them. So tod`y we are

:29:06. > :29:11.launching a national parent consultation on how to do things

:29:12. > :29:15.differently. It proposes radical new approaches, prioritising choice and

:29:16. > :29:20.credibility. First, we will post that parents can choose a ntrsery or

:29:21. > :29:24.childminder that best suits their needs and as long as the provider

:29:25. > :29:29.meets agreed standards, ask the local authority to fund it. In other

:29:30. > :29:43.words, the funding will follow the child, not the other way around And

:29:44. > :29:46.second, as suggested by children in Scotland's childcare commission we

:29:47. > :29:50.will propose that parents c`n opt to receive funding in a childc`re

:29:51. > :29:56.account and then use it to purchase a suitable place directly. Puality,

:29:57. > :30:01.choice, flexibility. These will be the watchword is of a policx to

:30:02. > :30:05.transform the working lives of families and the life chancds of our

:30:06. > :30:20.children and I am proud that it is an SNP government that will deliver

:30:21. > :30:25.it. There is another policy for our youngest children that I will be

:30:26. > :30:30.very ploughed to deliver. In the election, we promised a babx box,

:30:31. > :30:34.and essential items for all newborns. It's a policy borrowed

:30:35. > :30:37.from Finland where it has contributed to the one of the lowest

:30:38. > :30:43.levels of child mortality in the world. So I'm delighted to give you

:30:44. > :30:48.an update on our plans to introduce it. Next month, we will launch a

:30:49. > :30:53.competition in partnership with the sea and eight in Dundee for the

:30:54. > :30:58.design of the box. -- the Vhctoria and Albert. The first boxes will go

:30:59. > :31:07.to pilot areas in Dundee on New Year's Day. Now, I don't know about

:31:08. > :31:16.you... But as a first foot offering, I think that beats a lump of coal!

:31:17. > :31:23.LAUGHTER. And then, next summer, everx newborn

:31:24. > :31:29.baby across our country will receive a baby box full of clothes, nappies,

:31:30. > :31:34.bedding, books and toiletrids. Friends, the baby box is a powerful

:31:35. > :31:37.symbol of our belief that all children should start life on a

:31:38. > :31:52.level playing field. That's what inclusion means in practice

:31:53. > :31:59.In our schools, raising the bar for all, including the attainment gap,

:32:00. > :32:05.opening up opportunity for dvery child, that is the number-1 priority

:32:06. > :32:09.of our government. It is my personal defining mission. That is why we are

:32:10. > :32:14.directing more funding to areas of greatest need. It is why we have

:32:15. > :32:18.announced our intention to school governments. To put parents,

:32:19. > :32:24.headteachers and classroom teachers at the centre of decisions `bout

:32:25. > :32:29.learning. It is why we are working with teachers to reduce workload. It

:32:30. > :32:32.is why we are bringing greater transparency to school performance

:32:33. > :32:36.so that we can measure the attainment gap accurately and set

:32:37. > :32:41.clear targets to close it. But if we to live up to our ambition, we have

:32:42. > :32:49.a very particular duty to those most in need. We have to get it right for

:32:50. > :32:56.every child. Recently, I have been spending some time with young people

:32:57. > :32:58.who have grown up in care. Some of them are here today. We welcome you

:32:59. > :33:14.to our conference. Their stories have moved me deeply.

:33:15. > :33:22.These young people have challenged me to accept who cares Scotland

:33:23. > :33:25.pledge to listen to 1000 yotng people over the next two ye`rs, 90

:33:26. > :33:39.use what they tell me to help make their lives better. I've accepted

:33:40. > :33:44.that challenge -- and then tse. Don't get me wrong, many yotng

:33:45. > :33:50.people who grew up in care go want to do great things. And the staff

:33:51. > :33:51.and the Foster carers do an amazing job, let us thank them publhcly

:33:52. > :34:06.today. And real progress is being lade

:34:07. > :34:09.Skill exclusions are down, the number of children living in

:34:10. > :34:15.permanent rather than temporary placement is up. But we can not

:34:16. > :34:24.ignore the reality for too lany children in care. Only 6% go to

:34:25. > :34:27.university. Nearly half will suffer mental health issues. Half of the

:34:28. > :34:33.adult prison population are people who lived in care when they were

:34:34. > :34:42.growing up. And worst of all, and this breaks my heart, a young person

:34:43. > :34:48.who has been in care is 20 times, 20 times more likely to be dead by the

:34:49. > :34:54.time they're 25 than a young person who hasn't. Conference, this simply

:34:55. > :34:55.as to change. And I am determined that it will change.

:34:56. > :35:16.APPLAUSE So I am going to do what thdse young

:35:17. > :35:20.people have asked me to do, I am announcing today will launch an

:35:21. > :35:25.independent root and branch review of the care system. It will look at

:35:26. > :35:27.the underpinning legislation, practices, cultures and ethos and it

:35:28. > :35:58.will be joined by those... And it will be driven by those who

:35:59. > :36:01.have the experience of care. Conference, this is not somdthing

:36:02. > :36:05.any other country has ever done before. We will do it here hn

:36:06. > :36:12.Scotland first. The young pdople who speak to me make a simple btt very

:36:13. > :36:18.powerful point. They say thd system feels like it is designed only to

:36:19. > :36:22.stop things happening. And of course it must have safeguards and

:36:23. > :36:26.protections, but children don't need a system that just stops thhngs

:36:27. > :36:29.happening to them. They need one that makes things happen for them.

:36:30. > :36:45.CHEERING they need a system that supports

:36:46. > :36:52.them to become the people they can be. One that gives them a sdnse of

:36:53. > :36:56.family, of belonging, of love. My view is simple, every young person

:36:57. > :37:01.deserves to be loved. So let's come together and make this commhtment to

:37:02. > :37:05.love our most vulnerable chhldren and give them the childhood they

:37:06. > :37:34.deserve, that is what inclusion means in practice.

:37:35. > :37:42.Conference, if there is one institution in our country that

:37:43. > :37:47.embodies the values of incltsion and compassion more than any other, it

:37:48. > :37:52.is our precious national he`lth service. Today, there are more staff

:37:53. > :37:58.working in the health service than ever before. Our doctors, ntrses,

:37:59. > :38:01.auxiliary 's and all of our other health professionals are helping to

:38:02. > :38:05.deliver some of the low was waiting times and some of the highest

:38:06. > :38:12.satisfaction levels ever recorded in Scotland. So I will never thre of

:38:13. > :38:17.saying this, our NHS staff, our heroes, each and every one of them,

:38:18. > :38:19.no matter where they were born deserve our state deepest gratitude

:38:20. > :38:39.for the work they do. Over this Parliament, we will

:38:40. > :38:44.increase health spending by almost ?2 billion. That's a necess`ry

:38:45. > :38:49.commitment, but it is not sufficient. To make our NHS fit for

:38:50. > :38:54.the future, we must reform `s well as invest. That will involvd tough

:38:55. > :38:58.decisions, but the challengd of an ageing population demands it. It is

:38:59. > :39:04.why our government has integrated health and social care, a challenge

:39:05. > :39:10.docks by every administration before us. And it is why we are expanding

:39:11. > :39:14.stand-alone elective capacity through five new treatment centres.

:39:15. > :39:20.But we must go further. The NHS of the future must be built on a real

:39:21. > :39:25.ship from acute care to prilary and community care. So the commhtment I

:39:26. > :39:30.am making today is a landmark one. By the end of this Parliament, we

:39:31. > :39:34.will increase spending on primary care services to 11% of the front

:39:35. > :39:36.line NHS budget. That is wh`t doctors have said is needed, and

:39:37. > :39:56.that is what we will deliver. And let me be clear what th`t means,

:39:57. > :40:03.by 2021, an extra ?500 millhon will be invested in our GP practhces and

:40:04. > :40:08.health centres. And that me`ns for the first time ever, that h`lf of

:40:09. > :40:12.the health budget will be spent not in acute hospitals, but in the

:40:13. > :40:17.community, delivering primary, community and social care, building

:40:18. > :40:19.an NHS that delivers today `nd for generations to come, that is what

:40:20. > :40:38.our government is determined to do. Friends, today I have set ott our

:40:39. > :40:45.determination to build an inclusive Scotland. I've talked about our

:40:46. > :40:48.ambitions for our NHS, our dconomy, our education system, and otr

:40:49. > :40:53.children in care. I've talkdd about our hopes for the next generation

:40:54. > :40:59.and for the generations that come after that. Hopes and ambithons that

:41:00. > :41:05.are shared by men and women the length and breadth of Scotl`nd. So

:41:06. > :41:11.as we prepare to take the ndxt steps in our nation's journey, wh`tever

:41:12. > :41:17.they might be, let us always remember this, that small, luch more

:41:18. > :41:33.that unites us as a country that will ever divide us.

:41:34. > :41:42.Yes, voters, and no voters, remain and leaders, all of us cared deeply

:41:43. > :41:46.and passionately about the future of this nation. So whatever our

:41:47. > :41:53.disagreements, let us always treat each other with respect. And let's

:41:54. > :41:59.work harder to understand e`ch other's point of view. You know in

:42:00. > :42:07.a strange sort of way, the dvents of the last few months might hdlp us do

:42:08. > :42:12.just that. I know how upset I was on the morning on the 24th of June as I

:42:13. > :42:19.came to terms with the result of the EU referendum. I felt as part of my

:42:20. > :42:25.identity with being taken away. I don't mind admitting that it gave me

:42:26. > :42:31.a new insight into how thosd who voted no might have felt if 201 had

:42:32. > :42:38.gone the other way. Likewisd, there are many no voters now lookhng at

:42:39. > :42:42.the Brexit boat with real dhsmay and wondering if independents mhght be

:42:43. > :42:45.the best option for Scotland after all. Let's build on that colmon

:42:46. > :43:00.ground -- Brexit vote. Let's resolve that whatever

:43:01. > :43:05.decisions we face in the ye`rs ahead, we will take them together,

:43:06. > :43:07.respecting each other every step of the way and let us in the SNP lead

:43:08. > :43:25.by example. You know, this year marks 30 years

:43:26. > :43:30.since I first joined as of hours. Now, I know what you're thinking.

:43:31. > :43:34.How is that even possible when she's still only 25?

:43:35. > :43:41.LAUGHTER Or maybe that is just what H would

:43:42. > :43:47.like you to be thinking. But in all those 30 years, I have never doubted

:43:48. > :43:50.that Scotland will one day become an independent country, and I believe

:43:51. > :44:01.it today. CHEERING

:44:02. > :44:08.and I believe it to date more strongly than I ever have bdfore.

:44:09. > :44:13.But I've always known it will happen only when a majority of our fellow

:44:14. > :44:17.citizens believe that becomhng independent is the best way to build

:44:18. > :44:23.a better future together. So we need to understand why in 2014 that

:44:24. > :44:28.wasn't the case. Some of those who voted no believe staying in the UK

:44:29. > :44:33.offered greater economic security, a stronger voice in the world, and a

:44:34. > :44:38.guaranteed place in the EU. Back then, it even seemed possible that

:44:39. > :44:44.there might be a Westminster Labour government at some point in the next

:44:45. > :44:50.20 years. But the future, the future looks very different today. And make

:44:51. > :44:54.the mistake, it is the opponents of independence, those on the right of

:44:55. > :44:56.the Tory party intent on a hard Brexit who have caused the

:44:57. > :45:13.insecurity and the uncertainty. So it falls to us, the advocates of

:45:14. > :45:18.independence, to offer solutions to the problems they have created. Of

:45:19. > :45:24.course, independents will bring its own challenges, that is trud of

:45:25. > :45:26.every independent nation on earth. But with independence, the solutions

:45:27. > :45:43.will lie in our own hands. It will be up to us to chart our own

:45:44. > :45:47.course and be the country wd want to be. Not the country that an

:45:48. > :45:51.increasingly right-wing Torx government wants us to be. H

:45:52. > :45:55.promised at the start of our conference that we will seek to

:45:56. > :46:00.protect Scotland's interest in every way we can. And we will. We will

:46:01. > :46:04.work with others across the political divide to try to save the

:46:05. > :46:12.UK as a whole from the fate of a hard Brexit. We will proposd new

:46:13. > :46:16.powers to help keep Scotland in the single market, even if the TK

:46:17. > :46:20.leaves. But if the Tory govdrnment rejects these efforts, if it insists

:46:21. > :46:27.on taking Scotland down a p`th that hurt our economy, cost jobs, lowers

:46:28. > :46:32.our living standards and dalages our reputation as an open, welcoming,

:46:33. > :46:35.diverse country, then be in no doubt, Scotland must have the

:46:36. > :46:37.ability to choose a better future, and I will make sure Scotland get

:46:38. > :46:57.that chance. And let us be clear about this too,

:46:58. > :47:02.if that moment does arise, ht will not be because of the 2014 result

:47:03. > :47:05.hasn't been respected. It whll be because the promises made to

:47:06. > :47:27.Scotland in 2014 have been broken. And above all, it will be bdcause

:47:28. > :47:31.our country decides together that being independent is the best way to

:47:32. > :47:43.build a better, stronger, f`irer future for all of us. Friends, we

:47:44. > :47:52.know what kind of country wd want Scotland to be. And I believe it is

:47:53. > :47:56.a vision that unites us. An inclusive, prosperous, soci`lly

:47:57. > :48:02.just, open, welcoming and ottward looking country. The question now in

:48:03. > :48:07.this new era is how best to security. Let's resolve as ` nation

:48:08. > :48:15.to answer that question togdther. We have already come so far. Otr home

:48:16. > :48:18.rule journey has given us ndw confidence, new self belief, a

:48:19. > :48:22.determination not to be takdn backwards, but to finish buhlding

:48:23. > :48:28.tomorrow's Scotland. Friends, the time is coming to put Scotl`nd's

:48:29. > :48:45.future in Scotland's Hans! CHEERING

:48:46. > :48:53.Let us get on with making that case. Let's get on with building the

:48:54. > :49:04.country we know Scotland can be Thank you.