:00:49. > :00:54.Welcome to the Sunday politics. Has a government commission on a
:00:54. > :00:57.British Coal operates at been erected by the Justice Secretary?
:00:57. > :01:02.The explosive allegation of a member of the Commission on the
:01:03. > :01:08.verge of resigning his post this morning. And as the Government's
:01:08. > :01:14.welfare reforms become or will the changes really transform Britain?
:01:14. > :01:24.The Work and Pensions Secretary joins us. All that, and Danny
:01:24. > :01:27.
:01:27. > :01:30.The First Minister Alex Salmond joins us on the second day of the
:01:30. > :01:32.party's spring conference. And what really makes kids happy? How
:01:32. > :01:42.materialistic have our children become? UNICEF is putting parents
:01:42. > :01:42.
:01:42. > :29:29.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 1667 seconds
:29:29. > :29:33.Peak weekend say that when Universal Credit concern everybody
:29:33. > :29:40.all it will be better than it -- better off than they wear on
:29:40. > :29:47.benefits. Supposing Act Institute comes to
:29:47. > :29:52.see you for advice. He is offered a promotion which would take him over
:29:52. > :29:57.the higher rate of threshold and as a result would lose child benefit.
:29:57. > :30:06.How do you advise, take the job or not?
:30:06. > :30:11.Always. Even if you lose �1,700?
:30:11. > :30:15.You are always better off if you take a job that improves your
:30:15. > :30:22.options. The interplay with child benefit is a simple fact of life.
:30:22. > :30:26.You are dealing with the way it is about to be set by the Budget. It
:30:26. > :30:29.will be withdrawn from people on higher income. That is a reality
:30:29. > :30:35.for those people. But the Government does not have a huge
:30:35. > :30:45.amount of money and we need to pay off our deficit. So there is only
:30:45. > :30:47.
:30:47. > :30:51.Can I ask you for a brief reaction to the idea of a UK Bill of Rights,
:30:51. > :30:56.the claims that there is no need for the commission, what do you
:30:56. > :31:03.say? These meetings are not in the
:31:03. > :31:10.public domain and I do not know what was on by closed doors. All I
:31:10. > :31:15.can say is that my Permanent Secretary is to a pet -- fair and
:31:15. > :31:20.decent man, someone who has given a lot of his life to public service,
:31:20. > :31:30.in my experience he was straight and had no attempt -- made no
:31:30. > :31:35.
:31:35. > :31:41.attack took -- made no attempt to It is just after 11:30am. You are
:31:41. > :31:49.watching the Sunday politics. Welcome to the Scottish edition.
:31:49. > :31:56.Coming up: the SNP faithful queue at a conference to here that home-
:31:56. > :32:00.rule is better than Conservative rule. Alex Salmond is with us live.
:32:00. > :32:04.And a politician who did most to expose the phone hacking scandal
:32:04. > :32:10.says that Alex Salmond should distance himself from Rupert
:32:10. > :32:13.Murdoch. He is the only Western leader that
:32:13. > :32:19.Rupert Murdoch seems to be cosying up to. It is not in the interests
:32:19. > :32:22.of the Scottish people. Minimum pricing for alcohol is back
:32:22. > :32:29.on the legislative agenda, this time with backing from the
:32:29. > :32:38.Conservatives. And what makes hour family is
:32:38. > :32:42.happy? The latest video games, or more time with the family?
:32:42. > :32:47.Alex Salmond has warned Scots they face a clear choice in the
:32:47. > :32:51.forthcoming referendum - independence or Conservative rule
:32:51. > :33:01.from Westminster. I will be talking to the First Minister in a few
:33:01. > :33:02.
:33:02. > :33:08.minutes. What a difference be here makes. Last year's spring
:33:08. > :33:12.conference saw the SNP behind in the polls and potential losers. 12
:33:12. > :33:16.months on they have a majority government and are pursuing a
:33:16. > :33:20.independence referendum. This conference is a very busy indeed.
:33:20. > :33:26.They have been queuing for two hours to get in and see Alex
:33:26. > :33:32.Salmond. They are looking to hear a vision on how the First Minister
:33:32. > :33:35.can deliver the party its historic aim, independence.
:33:36. > :33:41.I have been in favour of independence ever since I was a
:33:42. > :33:46.small child. I do not want to see any more of the Conservatives.
:33:46. > :33:52.Accentuating the positive aspects of independence, reassuring the
:33:52. > :33:59.electorate of the economic argument. The message was simple and familiar
:33:59. > :34:05.when it came. Independence could, London, Westminster, the
:34:05. > :34:11.Conservatives, bad. The Prime Minister tried to dictate
:34:11. > :34:18.the terms but I have a message - the days of politicians and London
:34:18. > :34:24.telling Scotland what to do and think, they are over.
:34:24. > :34:34.This was a clear attempt to detoxify the pro-union brand.
:34:34. > :34:36.
:34:36. > :34:40.Little wonder the referendum date is six months... It was almost as
:34:40. > :34:45.if the Scottish Parliament and its powers did not exist but then he
:34:45. > :34:51.came to the more subtle side of the argument. Look at our record any
:34:51. > :34:55.areas of crime and health. A we're showing our friends in
:34:55. > :35:00.England that there is an alternative. Let me be clear,
:35:00. > :35:06.because of the independence we have over the health service in Scotland
:35:06. > :35:15.this Government will ensue if that Scotland's National Health Service
:35:15. > :35:20.is never for sale. As a measure of independence on health, education,
:35:20. > :35:25.law and order, we have made Scotland a better place. Think what
:35:25. > :35:32.we could do with Scottish control of the economy, of international
:35:32. > :35:36.representation, and of security. Apart from the issue of
:35:36. > :35:42.independence this was a very Labour speech - that was not much that
:35:42. > :35:52.traditional Labour voters would disagree with. Why did he focus on
:35:52. > :35:53.
:35:53. > :35:57.such traditional Labour values? I wonder. This is the SNP's newest
:35:57. > :36:02.member. The party's popularity has never been greater but Mr Salmond
:36:02. > :36:08.will be to continue recruiting even more to his cause. Labour voters
:36:08. > :36:14.appear to be in his sights. Good morning, First Minister. You are
:36:14. > :36:18.getting very good reviews. Have you read them?
:36:18. > :36:24.Politicians only read reviews and they are good ones, so obviously
:36:24. > :36:28.the answer is yes. You said that the days of
:36:28. > :36:34.politicians in London telling Scotland what to do and think are
:36:34. > :36:40.over, but if we keep the pound, post-independence, actually will be
:36:40. > :36:45.a monetary policy of the Bank of England telling us what to do.
:36:45. > :36:49.In monetary policy, but not fiscal policy. I made a speech in the
:36:49. > :36:54.London School of Economics with I outlined six areas of fiscal policy,
:36:54. > :36:59.taxation policy, that will make a very substantial difference within
:36:59. > :37:09.the context of a Stirling zone. So my argument would be within the
:37:09. > :37:14.
:37:14. > :37:20.context of that Swan -- sterling zone, which have a very powerful
:37:21. > :37:26.impact. For example, air passenger duty, that would provide a boost to
:37:26. > :37:32.tourism. That is an example of something we could do while still
:37:32. > :37:37.having control of key areas of fiscal economy. -- fiscal policy.
:37:37. > :37:41.But given what is going on in you that nobody would argue that you
:37:41. > :37:45.can disentangle monetary policy from fiscal policy. If the Bank of
:37:45. > :37:51.England was their lender of last resort it will not agree to a
:37:51. > :37:54.fiscal policy it thinks is irresponsible. Other economists say
:37:54. > :38:04.that because of keeping the pound there will be little room for
:38:04. > :38:05.
:38:05. > :38:08.manoeuvre. Do you accept that? I do not. That's why I made a
:38:08. > :38:12.speech. But I think there is a fundamental
:38:12. > :38:22.difference incidentally between a stare lingers on in Scotland and
:38:22. > :38:28.
:38:28. > :38:30.England. -- sterling zone. This is totally different to the Euro zone.
:38:30. > :38:40.Certainly any quarter Asian and the stability pact but you would still
:38:40. > :38:48.
:38:48. > :38:52.be able to have to eat terminations. -- certainly you need co-operation.
:38:52. > :39:00.But in terms of the march and you have been talking about not
:39:00. > :39:06.exceeding 3% of GDP. -- margin. We know that George Osborne has a
:39:06. > :39:09.tight fiscal regime. You want to loosen the fiscal regime. So there
:39:09. > :39:16.is obviously a contradiction - when you say there is as packed I am
:39:16. > :39:22.trying to work out whose priorities would be most persuasive?
:39:22. > :39:28.I take the example of 3% of GDP and borrowing over the long term. That
:39:28. > :39:35.is an essential discipline any country needs at any time. But take
:39:35. > :39:41.last year. Figures recently published show a �2.6 billion
:39:41. > :39:49.surplus relative to the UK figures. That is �510 for every man, woman
:39:49. > :39:57.and child in Scotland. But if we bought the same as the UK we would
:39:57. > :40:02.be �510 per person better off. -- If we borrowed the same. You
:40:02. > :40:07.certainly could have made life in Scotland substantially better for
:40:07. > :40:13.its people by marrying Scotland's resources to the talent and ability
:40:13. > :40:20.of its people. So people ruse that fiscal policy does not make a
:40:20. > :40:25.difference belie the reality. -- people that say.
:40:25. > :40:31.But you agree there would need to be a stability pact and a pact on
:40:31. > :40:36.the borrowing? Within their monitory zone, yes.
:40:36. > :40:40.But as I have set out and substantial detail, the fiscal
:40:40. > :40:44.independence with in that position would allow you to boost to growth
:40:44. > :40:50.in the Scottish economy. That is real independence in the modern
:40:50. > :40:55.world. Control of resources, taxation, the ability to make you
:40:55. > :40:59.economy more competitive and society more fair.
:40:59. > :41:04.But only to the point that your lender of last resort agrees with
:41:04. > :41:08.the fiscal policy. Are you arguing that the Bank of England will
:41:08. > :41:18.bankroll a fiscal policy it thinks is irresponsible?
:41:18. > :41:18.
:41:18. > :41:25.That is not what it does. If it is lender of last resort...
:41:25. > :41:30.That is determined by your Treasury. It is the same in England. Monetary
:41:30. > :41:34.policy, not fiscal policy. The Bank of England is independent from the
:41:34. > :41:38.Chancellor of the Exchequer and never mind any Scottish minister.
:41:38. > :41:44.So does to people say we would give up control of monetary policy
:41:44. > :41:48.conveniently forget that Gordon Brown already did so in 1997. We
:41:48. > :41:53.would be no different position relative to the Bank of England
:41:53. > :41:56.than the UK Chancellor is at the moment. There is a difference
:41:56. > :42:01.between the monetary policy framework and the fiscal policy -
:42:01. > :42:08.control taxation. All I am suggesting, First
:42:08. > :42:12.Minister... It is not just that.
:42:12. > :42:16.But there will have to be some sort of pact. You cannot just run a
:42:17. > :42:23.fiscal policy that is out of step with what the lender of last resort
:42:23. > :42:28.Pinks is OK to secure its credit ratings and his interest.
:42:28. > :42:33.But the Bank of England does not determine fiscal policy. You would
:42:33. > :42:36.have a fiscal stability pact because you do these things anyway.
:42:36. > :42:44.People cent over the long term of GDP is no more than any prudent
:42:44. > :42:48.country anywhere would have any way. -- 3%. I am saying that control of
:42:48. > :42:53.taxation and spending is absolutely critical to boosting the Scottish
:42:53. > :43:00.economy, increasing our competitive position, and building a fair
:43:00. > :43:08.society. Your comments then, control over
:43:08. > :43:18.our own finances would be by his �2.6 billion better off, �510 per
:43:18. > :43:24.
:43:24. > :43:33.man, women, and child. -- the fiscal balance is �33.5 billion in
:43:33. > :43:37.the red. Those saving, known vesting, just slightly less debt.
:43:37. > :43:41.You are wrong about that. What matters is what our position would
:43:41. > :43:47.have been if we borrowed the same as the United Kingdom. The figures
:43:47. > :43:57.show that we're too �0.6 billion better off. In other words we could
:43:57. > :43:57.
:43:57. > :44:01.have borrowed or invested that. -- �2.6 billion. It is the comparison
:44:01. > :44:05.between your relative standing with the United Kingdom. If we borrowed
:44:05. > :44:13.and spent at the same level we would have been that much better
:44:13. > :44:20.off. As you rightly say, �510 per man, woman, and child. That gives
:44:20. > :44:25.you the choice to Bordeaux, save more, or invest in the future. --
:44:25. > :44:35.Bordeaux. Scotland is indisputably in a better position than the
:44:35. > :44:37.
:44:37. > :44:40.United Kingdom at the moment. -- borrow.
:44:40. > :44:46.When will we be in a position to save money from North Sea oil
:44:46. > :44:53.revenues? Norway started and or oil fund
:44:53. > :44:57.whilst it was running a fiscal deficit. All the sleet you do it
:44:58. > :45:03.when fiscal circumstances allow -- obviously. But during the last five
:45:03. > :45:13.years we would have been �8 billion better off if we had been running
:45:13. > :45:15.
:45:15. > :45:18.our own finances. -- 8,000 billion. Comparing our position, we with the
:45:18. > :45:28.United Kingdom. I know it is inconvenient for our opponents but
:45:28. > :45:31.
:45:31. > :45:40.these official figures have These figures show subsidy has been
:45:40. > :45:47.flowing from England -- Scotland to England. You set 25,000
:45:47. > :45:57.apprenticeships every year and each linked to a new job. That is the
:45:57. > :45:58.
:45:58. > :46:03.important point, a Modern apprenticeship is up employed. The
:46:03. > :46:09.completion rate is extremely high. Give a have a job at the end of it?
:46:09. > :46:17.The majority goes into employment. This is a great strength of this
:46:17. > :46:27.system. The job retention rate is extremely high. We what percentage
:46:27. > :46:28.
:46:28. > :46:35.get a permanent job? The completion rate as up into the 70 %. I can
:46:35. > :46:41.check the figures, but the key thing is when someone gets a trade,
:46:41. > :46:49.they are able to be employed. The challenge we have is that people
:46:49. > :46:56.have not the opportunity to get a trade. Some initiatives are driving
:46:56. > :47:05.at how we can help people in that category. There's a statutory
:47:05. > :47:14.guarantee of nursery care next year. Can you guarantee that for rural
:47:14. > :47:21.areas? We put it into statute next year. It will be a statutory
:47:21. > :47:27.guarantee so will apply all over Scotland. Every family will be
:47:27. > :47:32.entitled to 600 and day towers of nursery care as an allowance. It is
:47:32. > :47:37.a huge social advance, liberating many young parents into the
:47:37. > :47:45.workplace. Eating guaranteed whenever the Louth they will be
:47:45. > :47:53.able to access that? Yes. constitutional issues, we speculate
:47:53. > :48:00.on the scenario that after a referendum, people say yes. Do you
:48:00. > :48:04.stand MPs for all Westminster at the next election in 2015? We will
:48:04. > :48:10.stand MPs as long as Scotland is government by the Westminster
:48:10. > :48:20.Parliament. If Scotland becomes independent, there would be no
:48:20. > :48:20.
:48:20. > :48:27.Scottish MPs and the House of Commons. How long can that take?
:48:27. > :48:35.The target date is the next Scottish parliamentary elections in
:48:35. > :48:45.four years time. The think the legislative framework can be worked
:48:45. > :48:47.
:48:47. > :48:57.out in four years time? Yes, I do. This law Mac dissolution take
:48:57. > :49:01.
:49:01. > :49:07.approximately that timescale. look at the 2016 Holyrood election,
:49:07. > :49:17.if you have not come back to the people with another way of testing
:49:17. > :49:19.
:49:19. > :49:24.opinion to say this is the deal, when you get to 2016, what if the
:49:24. > :49:31.auteurs used that as a red -- as a referendum, what have they don't
:49:31. > :49:35.like it and there is not a majority SNP government? And the
:49:35. > :49:41.circumstances of the people they believe in independence getting a
:49:41. > :49:50.referendum, it is reasonable that independence supporters would be in
:49:50. > :49:58.a strong position. Last time we were in this position, if I
:49:58. > :50:05.remember correctly, you said, you are behind in the polls, two months
:50:05. > :50:14.later, we had the support of the Scottish people. Her track record
:50:14. > :50:19.is impressive. I think I may have been misquoted. You must have stood
:50:19. > :50:26.alone in the Scottish press. anally, at the comments of Tom
:50:26. > :50:33.Watson, he says your relationship with Rupert Murdoch could be
:50:33. > :50:43.damaging. Tom Watson is the best chairman of the Labour Party. They
:50:43. > :50:43.
:50:43. > :50:48.are hypocritical about this matter. Today's English The Sun On Sunday,
:50:48. > :50:58.there was a court of... But how would you describe your
:50:58. > :51:03.relationship? There is a huge professional -- commercial fit
:51:04. > :51:13.print in Scotland. I have not changed my mind on these matters. I
:51:14. > :51:18.
:51:18. > :51:28.have supported the inquiries. I have never understood why these
:51:28. > :51:28.
:51:28. > :51:35.matters have never been a investigated. You met Rupert
:51:35. > :51:40.Murdoch in Edinburgh in February. The day before that, Leveson
:51:40. > :51:45.inquiry discovered shocking revelations. One woman said the
:51:45. > :51:53.paper had tried to police -- intimidate police officers. The
:51:53. > :51:59.next day, you met Rupert Murdoch. Why shouldn't that meeting have
:51:59. > :52:05.been taking by someone on your team? I supported the police
:52:05. > :52:11.inquiries. I supported the Leveson inquiry I have done that north and
:52:11. > :52:20.south of the border. As for the meeting, I released publicly the
:52:20. > :52:25.meeting had taken place. It was all above board. I did it from the
:52:25. > :52:32.consistent position that I put forward. I recognise that companies
:52:32. > :52:39.have major footprints in Scotland. News International have said they
:52:39. > :52:46.will change their ways, but it was OK for them to meet News
:52:46. > :52:53.International while we're on their malpractice. The Labour Party's
:52:53. > :52:59.attitude to this has been questionable. The MP who led the
:52:59. > :53:04.charge on the phone hacking scandal has said this relationship is
:53:05. > :53:13.potentially damaging for Scotland. The media interests are coming
:53:14. > :53:20.under scrutiny. His BSkyB a fit and proper owner of a broadcasting
:53:20. > :53:30.licence? The lesson of the hacking scandal
:53:30. > :53:30.
:53:30. > :53:36.is that politicians just got too close. There has to be a distance.
:53:36. > :53:44.Alex Salmond seems to be the only Western leader who wants to get
:53:45. > :53:50.close to Rupert Murdoch. I think it is probably a mistake for Scotland.
:53:50. > :53:56.He is to a powerful media more goal. He exerts too powerful an influence
:53:56. > :54:01.or institutions. When real look at Leveson inquiry,
:54:01. > :54:11.is spreading north of the border? It is likely we must all the
:54:11. > :54:11.
:54:11. > :54:19.evidence. How do you think this applies in
:54:19. > :54:29.Scotland? I do not want to pre-empt Leveson. He is digging deeply into
:54:29. > :54:30.
:54:30. > :54:37.tabloid journalism. If he comes up with chords of conduct, it is
:54:37. > :54:43.something that should be considered by the industry in Scotland. There
:54:43. > :54:52.could be a legislative framework? few thinks there are no protections
:54:52. > :55:02.and law, we have to consider that. It is too early to pre-empt what he
:55:02. > :55:07.
:55:07. > :55:15.does. With the Press Complaints Commission saying a robust
:55:15. > :55:25.independent regulator being set up. I think the PCC is the most damaged
:55:25. > :55:31.brand and the United Kingdom. I feel it has not got a future. I
:55:31. > :55:39.think it is presumptuous and insulting to Lord Leveson. What you
:55:39. > :55:48.think it says about their attitude to the public? The general approach
:55:48. > :55:58.of the PCC historically is one of dumb insolence. We're seeing
:55:58. > :56:03.editors coming up with discussions about... The idea that the PCC will
:56:03. > :56:09.be a vehicle that delivers that reform after so many failures as a
:56:09. > :56:19.mistake. They have lost trust. couldn't be any public confidence
:56:19. > :56:29.in any form? Again, it is too early to tell. A model of self regulation
:56:29. > :56:41.
:56:41. > :56:45.that has some powers based on statute might work. It is not too
:56:45. > :56:53.late to look at self regulatory models but we should not pre-empt
:56:53. > :56:59.Leveson. It can be good to partner with the industry. If they do not
:56:59. > :57:06.play ball, that will be down to politicians. Do we have that
:57:06. > :57:13.courage? It is too early to tell. There is intent after the Millie
:57:13. > :57:21.Dolan episode. At some point, David Cameron will have to act on Leveson.
:57:21. > :57:25.I hope that the unity displayed remains. There is a question mark.
:57:25. > :57:35.Is there a difficult balance between regulating and restricting
:57:35. > :57:36.
:57:36. > :57:42.press activity? Yes. No one wants politicians and government to and
:57:42. > :57:51.newspapers. Do we not want newspapers proprietors all were
:57:51. > :57:56.influencing government? You need a propriety to the relationship.
:57:56. > :58:05.Minimum pressing for roll-call is getting closer. Holyrood will
:58:05. > :58:12.debate the Government's plans. Targeting low-cost, high-strength
:58:13. > :58:19.rent remains divisive. -- a drink wine tasting night in an Edinburgh
:58:19. > :58:25.off-licence. This sells for just under �5. It me
:58:25. > :58:33.or �5 with minimum pricing. The order cents it will not affect the
:58:33. > :58:41.business. Minimum pricing is a good idea. It will prevent alcohol being
:58:41. > :58:48.used as a weapon by some retailers to get customers into them. It will
:58:48. > :58:52.be good for the health of the nation and independent retailers.
:58:52. > :59:01.It will probably be good for the public. Minimum pricing was not to
:59:01. > :59:09.everyone's taste. It might work as a disincentive but, as a whole, it
:59:09. > :59:18.will hurt people who drink responsibly. I have heard it have
:59:18. > :59:24.under-aged drinking before. It is worth a shot. In 2010, minimum
:59:24. > :59:29.pricing measures were voted out of the last alcohol bill. The SNP did
:59:29. > :59:38.not have a majority them. Now read the bought their new law will be in
:59:38. > :59:43.place by the summer. Their health committee has been scrutinised. New
:59:43. > :59:52.research suggests a minimum price of 45 pence per unit would reduce
:59:52. > :59:59.consumption by 4.3 % rather than 4.7 % previously predicted. The SNP
:59:59. > :00:04.backed 45p. This time, they will suggest a specific minimum price
:00:04. > :00:14.later in the process. Nicola Sturgeon agreed to a five-year at
:00:14. > :00:17.
:00:17. > :00:25.sunset clause it would result in David Cameron is considering
:00:25. > :00:28.similar measures south of the border. But it is still scepticism.
:00:28. > :00:36.The Scottish grocers Association represents convenience score goals
:00:36. > :00:41.like this one. -- convenience stores.
:00:41. > :00:45.This measure will not be helpful in terms of targeting problem drinkers.
:00:45. > :00:49.It is indiscriminate and disproportionate. It will affect
:00:49. > :00:55.our customers and there were businesses.
:00:55. > :01:00.Customers are divided. To be more expensive the alcohol
:01:00. > :01:04.the less problems our young people will have in the future.
:01:04. > :01:10.It is a good idea. It will put off those who drank most nights of the
:01:10. > :01:19.week. All evidence suggests that it will
:01:19. > :01:24.hit jobs harder than it will hit teenagers drinking in the street.
:01:24. > :01:33.So it remains a contentious issue. But drinkers will soon get used to
:01:33. > :01:38.it. -- soon have to get used to it. I am joined by representatives of
:01:38. > :01:43.the SNP, Labour, and the Conservatives. Why have the
:01:43. > :01:47.Conservatives changed their mind? We remain sceptical but we have
:01:47. > :01:51.changed her mind because we have been negotiating with the Scottish
:01:52. > :01:55.Government. We have succeeded in bringing in a sunset clause so if
:01:55. > :02:00.it proved to be ineffective the measure will be dropped in five
:02:00. > :02:06.years. We have gained concessions that there will be voluntary
:02:06. > :02:14.notifications of the European Union to see if this as a legal measure.
:02:14. > :02:20.And we're also asked for a review comparing and a rare -- comparing a
:02:20. > :02:24.region like the North of England so we can see a like for like. And
:02:24. > :02:29.lastly we want more work done on the culture and relationship of
:02:29. > :02:34.Scots with alcohol. We drink 20% more than in England but the price
:02:34. > :02:38.is the same. So by gaining these concessions we have decided to
:02:38. > :02:45.support the Bill. It was going through anyway so we think we have
:02:45. > :02:50.helped improve it. You could have second-guessed most
:02:50. > :02:54.of these amendments anyway. The substantive arguments have not
:02:55. > :03:01.changed. Do you regret delay in what could have been a significant
:03:01. > :03:07.health improving policy? North. We remain sceptical and have
:03:07. > :03:13.serious concerns about whether this will work. -- no. Alcohol
:03:13. > :03:18.consumption is falling but the problems relating to it continue to
:03:18. > :03:21.rise. Internet sales could lead Scotland and go elsewhere and we
:03:21. > :03:26.also think that more people will buy across the border in England
:03:26. > :03:30.but we have negotiated with Nicola Sturgeon for three months and feel
:03:30. > :03:35.that the sunset clause which the minority government had and which
:03:35. > :03:42.was taken out when the became a majority, we have helped to bring
:03:42. > :03:50.that back in. We think we're moving forward and a sensible manner.
:03:50. > :03:57.Labour are now isolated on this quote. You have turned your back on
:03:57. > :04:04.detailed medical evidence you have...
:04:05. > :04:11.Sorry! There is no evidence. It says that harmful rather than
:04:11. > :04:16.moderate drinkers can be tackled effectively with the changes. Are
:04:16. > :04:21.you suggesting that it was not medical opinion which said, let's
:04:21. > :04:27.try this, even with a sunset clause? Your not CDs are suggesting
:04:27. > :04:31.that there was a swathe of medical opinion that supported this? -- you
:04:32. > :04:35.are not seriously suggesting. I have spent a quarter of my life
:04:35. > :04:39.working with alcoholics and would not have suggested voting against
:04:39. > :04:45.this if I believed it would work. It will not tackle the young and
:04:45. > :04:50.binge drinkers who are the critical problem we have. This is the third
:04:50. > :05:00.time in its history that Scotland has faced Algol problems and it is
:05:00. > :05:03.
:05:03. > :05:10.always a cultural issue. -- alcohol. In Sheffield they aimed to drink
:05:10. > :05:15.just over half a pint less per 100 pts. That will not tackle this
:05:15. > :05:19.problem. Would it not therefore be sensible
:05:19. > :05:23.then to try and figure out at what level the minimum pricing works,
:05:23. > :05:31.rather than at write it off altogether?
:05:31. > :05:33.But the windfall to the retailers goes up. At 45p it is �100 million.
:05:33. > :05:38.The Institute for Fiscal Studies has said that the market response
:05:38. > :05:42.will be critical - if the price is reduced above the minimum price
:05:42. > :05:48.level so that the purchase a basket of each individual is roughly even
:05:48. > :05:53.doubt, the policy will be nullified. And this will only affect the
:05:53. > :05:56.poorest 30% of the community. It will not affect the middle class,
:05:56. > :06:00.who are drinking too much, and there are more hazardous drinkers
:06:00. > :06:05.in the middle group of the population. They will not be
:06:05. > :06:12.affected. Let's talk about that accusation
:06:12. > :06:18.that you are targeting the pool. It is untrue. The doctor is in a
:06:18. > :06:24.minority. You looking at more income groups, 80% either do not
:06:24. > :06:30.drink at all or drink too moderate levels and are unaffected by price
:06:30. > :06:35.rises. Only 20% will be affected. At the price difference between
:06:36. > :06:40.them and higher income groups is 0.7 %. There is even evidence to
:06:40. > :06:45.show that supermarkets inflate the price of their food to cross
:06:45. > :06:50.subsidise the alcohol in their stores. It will benefit those in
:06:50. > :06:55.low income groups and the most harmful drinkers. All the evidence
:06:55. > :07:02.shows that. It acknowledges that the welfare benefits of minimum
:07:02. > :07:06.pricing will be substantial. Or as a point of principle you have
:07:06. > :07:11.your reservations. But there is a body of evidence that says it could
:07:11. > :07:18.work. Why would you not, given their is a sunset clause, why would
:07:18. > :07:26.you not say, give it and go, see what happens? Other eyes it looks
:07:26. > :07:31.like opposition for the sake of opposition. -- otherwise.
:07:31. > :07:41.They SNP have put out that lie from the outset. I have put forward
:07:41. > :07:42.
:07:42. > :07:48.cogent arguments. Can I finish? If you drink 14 or 15 units per week,
:07:48. > :07:56.well within deceive deadlines, this as a tax of �120 per year on your
:07:56. > :08:04.drinking. Why should a poor person be punished this way?
:08:04. > :08:07.It is nonsense. You must be reading reports that do not exist. Quite
:08:07. > :08:14.frankly Richard is desperately searching for evidence that does
:08:14. > :08:21.not exist. What do you think David Cameron
:08:21. > :08:24.will do on this? The truth as I do not know Phil's
:08:24. > :08:30.got surprisingly enough we decide here in Scotland what we're going
:08:30. > :08:35.to do. Jackson has been negotiating with Nicola Sturgeon since January.
:08:35. > :08:41.He came to our group at a fortnight ago. We had a robust discussion and
:08:41. > :08:49.we all came to the agreement, 15 of us, that we would support minimum
:08:49. > :08:57.pricing on the basis of the concessions we have one.
:08:57. > :09:02.But you advice would be it is a good thing to do? To have this in
:09:02. > :09:09.the south rather than go, I speak - - as has been suggested, tackling
:09:09. > :09:14.it through the tax system? I am left Richard Simpson on this
:09:14. > :09:19.one. We would prefer that it was done through duties. But David
:09:19. > :09:22.Cameron does not tell us what to do nor do we tell him. If it goes
:09:22. > :09:29.through duties the money goes to the taxpayer and to fund public
:09:30. > :09:34.services. Richard makes a very good point. This will raise the profits
:09:34. > :09:39.for retailers and he is correct also that there was no evidence in
:09:39. > :09:49.Sheffield as regards Genscher drinking and middle income earners.
:09:49. > :09:55.-- binge drinking. His duty a blunt instrument?
:09:55. > :09:59.It is not necessarily the right way to do it. Also, so poor market
:09:59. > :10:02.profits, I note that the Conservatives are opposing the
:10:02. > :10:08.public health levy to tax supermarkets and Labour won against
:10:08. > :10:13.the Tesco tax. Nobody has spoken against the 40 people whose lives
:10:13. > :10:18.may be spared in the First Year that minimum pricing is brought an
:10:18. > :10:22.end. Let's talk about the public health benefits.
:10:22. > :10:29.I am sorry we're out of time. I just want Richard to have a final
:10:30. > :10:35.work. Labour were raising taxes and the
:10:35. > :10:38.conservative coalition are continually get. It means you do
:10:38. > :10:47.not have over �100 million going to the retailers which will be spent
:10:47. > :10:52.on more advertising and reducing the price of higher priced drinks.
:10:52. > :10:55.Research for a UNICEF shows that children in the UK feel trapped in
:10:55. > :11:01.a materialistic culture and do not spend enough time with their
:11:01. > :11:07.families. We will be joined shortly by the author of the report. First,
:11:07. > :11:16.we spoke to two families to find out what impact modern life has on
:11:16. > :11:26.them. My tea realism has come to dominate family life in Scotland. -
:11:26. > :11:27.
:11:27. > :11:32.- materialism. My son wants football boots priced
:11:32. > :11:40.at �124. This was advertised just before
:11:40. > :11:45.Christmas. C went on about it for weeks on end, begging for them.
:11:45. > :11:53.Jennifer is a single parent who works full-time as a student nurse.
:11:53. > :11:57.She had to save all week to buy her son a smart phone.
:11:57. > :12:02.All his friends have won so why felt pressure so that he could fit
:12:02. > :12:07.again. I see lots of expensive things and
:12:07. > :12:12.I want them. If you want to get in with a good group of friends then
:12:12. > :12:19.you need expensive stuff. When I didn't have an iPhone people would
:12:19. > :12:22.call me poor and say that I couldn't afford one.
:12:22. > :12:27.He a UNICEF report says that parents in the UK feel tremendous
:12:27. > :12:35.pressure from society to buy goods for their children. They do not
:12:35. > :12:43.call it retail therapy for nothing. Shopping makes me feel good. It is
:12:43. > :12:48.a reward for a hard day at work. It makes me feel good about myself.
:12:48. > :12:58.It is a pretty world and I like to fit and.
:12:58. > :12:58.
:12:58. > :13:03.But could this consumerism affect It attracts people from really
:13:03. > :13:10.paying attention to the things that would be better from their lives. -
:13:10. > :13:15.- detractors. The research shows that parents in
:13:15. > :13:21.the United Kingdom lose out on time together as if -- as a family due
:13:21. > :13:31.to long working arose. They try to make up for this by buying children
:13:31. > :13:35.
:13:35. > :13:45.Effort is a choice between an iPhone and a holiday next to the
:13:45. > :13:48.
:13:48. > :13:52.Could children face pressure on all fronts. There is a strong image is
:13:52. > :13:57.sending a message that this is what should be done. How people should
:13:58. > :14:04.be. Where value lies. Getting away from that and getting back to focus
:14:04. > :14:10.on relationships, friends and families, that balance needs to be
:14:10. > :14:13.struck. It is not right at the moment.
:14:13. > :14:17.With UNICEF reporting that inequality is greater in the UK
:14:17. > :14:24.than in other countries should we be doing more to guarantee the
:14:24. > :14:31.welfare of her children? The author of the report is here. Thank you
:14:32. > :14:35.for coming and. If we look at when this Stark's, we heard from B race
:14:35. > :14:44.people in the past that before your children are born you're being told
:14:44. > :14:51.to spend a small fortune. Yes, it start before children are born.
:14:51. > :14:57.Ridiculous things like baby perfume. They smell nice enough on their own.
:14:57. > :15:04.But BA is huge pressure on parents to have all the latest things. --
:15:04. > :15:08.one father there we spoke to had produced an entire football
:15:08. > :15:18.strapped to pin up everywhere around the nursery. It comes from
:15:18. > :15:26.
:15:26. > :15:32.A lot is not mediated by parents. Presumably, we have always wanted
:15:32. > :15:40.things. What has changed? There is a lot more stuff out there. When we
:15:40. > :15:50.did the work for Unicef, we filmed 24 families, we were falling over
:15:50. > :15:50.
:15:50. > :15:57.the stuff. There is so much to buy. It is advertised. Our children
:15:57. > :16:07.asking for it Ora parents using it of we were seeing sorry I am not
:16:07. > :16:08.
:16:08. > :16:18.spending time with you? When we asked my children, they said time
:16:18. > :16:18.
:16:18. > :16:27.with my family and friends. That is what children want. When the our
:16:27. > :16:31.school, like that child said there, so once or has a nightspot. Parents
:16:31. > :16:38.start to feel they are bad parents if they do not give children what
:16:38. > :16:45.they want. The feel disenfranchised. They feel they are the only ones.
:16:45. > :16:52.If parents got together, they would realise other parents were not
:16:52. > :17:01.going to buy a these things. Solidarity might help. Do you think
:17:01. > :17:06.there are sections of society who find it easier to save all? Those
:17:06. > :17:15.in hiring comes often have more time. We found families who were
:17:15. > :17:24.struggling, having to work lots of jobs, they did not have time to
:17:24. > :17:33.explain to their children. If you can survive on one income, you have
:17:33. > :17:43.a mother and father, you can set and talk -- top two children.
:17:43. > :17:46.
:17:46. > :17:49.came out that some parents EU's but a dance. It raises the child's
:17:49. > :17:59.expectation and plazas the lines between authority figures and the
:17:59. > :18:01.
:18:01. > :18:08.child. They embody dad is interesting. Mothers and daughters
:18:08. > :18:17.go to pamper parties. Some parents use their children as rents. The
:18:17. > :18:23.authority has gone. We spot to mothers in Spain. They just say no
:18:23. > :18:31.to their children. The children appreciated parents seeing off. One
:18:31. > :18:41.little boy said he had saved for Russ Star Wars set. He said if you
:18:41. > :18:43.
:18:43. > :18:53.do not save up, there is no Cherish mint. As bank loans become more
:18:53. > :18:53.
:18:53. > :19:00.difficult to obtain, one bank which started in Bangladesh is loaning to
:19:00. > :19:08.people in Scotland. The idea has been around for 30 years. Could it
:19:08. > :19:14.work here? It began in Bangladesh, a country
:19:14. > :19:24.where 63 million people live below the poverty line. It was here the
:19:24. > :19:58.
:19:58. > :20:04.idea of micro finance began. This The idea is for the bank to offer a
:20:04. > :20:09.small loans to people trying to set up businesses. The bank says it
:20:09. > :20:16.promotes self-reliance. The poorest will create their own employment.
:20:16. > :20:24.It is now coming to Scotland. This man has a Nobel Prize for his
:20:24. > :20:34.banking model. He believes it can work here. We gave people to create
:20:34. > :20:35.
:20:35. > :20:45.their own jobs. They'd do the things they know or how to do.
:20:45. > :20:46.
:20:46. > :20:52.Sowing, making cakes, walking dogs. Here at St Paul's Church, local
:20:52. > :21:01.women have started a lunch club. We see a small loan would help them do
:21:01. > :21:08.it more quickly. We are doing better sewing and ironing. We're
:21:08. > :21:14.hoping to get that up and running and get some machines in. Perhaps
:21:14. > :21:21.we can get some washing machines and do some laundry. Some money
:21:21. > :21:26.would help that. We are going to the basement. It is hoped this
:21:26. > :21:32.launderette could employee some staff. This model for stamping out
:21:32. > :21:40.poverty is not without its critics. Some people say it does not work.
:21:40. > :21:47.We're set up by people who want to escape poverty. The idea is they
:21:47. > :21:54.will automatically have clients. Unfortunately, that is not the case.
:21:54. > :22:01.Poor people do not have money so will not be able to purchase items
:22:01. > :22:07.and services. There is concerned people taking out loans would no
:22:07. > :22:17.longer apply for benefits. The test will come over the next few months
:22:17. > :22:18.
:22:18. > :22:21.as people take out loans. It can be years before we know or if it works.
:22:22. > :22:26.Good afternoon. The finance Secretary will use his speech at
:22:26. > :22:32.the conference and the next few minutes to say that Scots will be
:22:32. > :22:39.better off living in independence. John Swinney will cite the figures
:22:39. > :22:46.and will see they can afford independence. We have set out the
:22:46. > :22:52.course that Scots pay more into the United Kingdom than be get tight.
:22:52. > :22:59.It is �510 per person. That is a platform from which we wanted
:22:59. > :23:05.Scotland to become independent. Local authority is warning that any
:23:05. > :23:15.plan to move you clear spill from - - fuel from Dounreay should be done
:23:15. > :23:16.
:23:16. > :23:22.by real. Highland councils say taking nuclear material by rail has
:23:22. > :23:29.a poor safety record. Britannia's royal barge is
:23:29. > :23:33.undergoing sea trials. The bought based that portion terminal a neck
:23:33. > :23:39.and baroque was used to transport the Royal Family from the yacht
:23:39. > :23:49.until it was decommissioned in 1987. It will feature and the Diamond
:23:49. > :23:56.
:23:56. > :24:06.High pressure firmly in control. Further east, we should see more
:24:06. > :24:06.
:24:06. > :24:14.brightness. It will be cooler further west. Tomorrow, not much
:24:14. > :24:24.changed. Some brightness again further east. This week, mainly dry
:24:24. > :24:26.
:24:26. > :24:36.and settled. Let us take a look back at the
:24:36. > :24:37.
:24:37. > :24:41.Weeting 60 seconds. The UK's first green investment
:24:41. > :24:48.bank would have headquarters in Edinburgh.
:24:48. > :24:54.Tributes to Paul McBride found dead in Pakistan.
:24:54. > :25:04.In a letter to the Prime Minister, Vince Cable mentioned breaking up
:25:04. > :25:07.
:25:07. > :25:11.the Royal Bank of Scotland. A in terms of the new
:25:11. > :25:19.qualifications, there is work to be done before schools can be
:25:19. > :25:26.reassured. Eric Joyce has been fined �3,000 and banned from pubs
:25:26. > :25:36.after admitting assaulting politicians. I have been duly
:25:36. > :25:37.
:25:37. > :25:42.punished. I was lucky to avoid prison.
:25:42. > :25:52.The top of the steamy, dominated by the party's spring conference
:25:52. > :26:04.
:26:04. > :26:11.season. Joining me, Mandy roads. Former
:26:11. > :26:19.special adviser to John Swinney. Good reviews for Alex Salmond's
:26:19. > :26:29.speech. Very good reviews. He is often associated with economic
:26:29. > :26:36.issues. He devotes his speech to social issues. The interesting
:26:36. > :26:45.thing from yesterday's conference was talk of the Social Union. That
:26:45. > :26:52.is significant. The SNP will be trying to say to people, you can
:26:52. > :26:58.keep the bits you like. You can keeps airline. So we can get rid of
:26:58. > :27:06.the things we don't like. It is that the road they are heading
:27:06. > :27:14.down? It is odd for me that the conference is not discussing, is
:27:14. > :27:22.not asking the membership bought Social Union means. There is a
:27:22. > :27:30.danger that people ask what is different. Should there be a second
:27:30. > :27:40.question? That question is absent. Devolved areas, the highlighted
:27:40. > :27:44.
:27:44. > :27:48.that they were working. Is that not the danger? That is a danger. Some
:27:49. > :27:58.say the SNP could be so successful and devolution that people will not
:27:58. > :28:06.go on to independence. At the moment, there are huge spending
:28:06. > :28:16.cuts down the line. Next year, the Lindsay there are record
:28:16. > :28:20.
:28:20. > :28:25.investments in North Sea oil. Speed can do so much in devolution.
:28:25. > :28:32.Meakin said -- they can save you can improve on the things you like.
:28:32. > :28:42.Far be it from me to suggest they would fall late -- fault Holyrood
:28:42. > :28:43.
:28:43. > :28:50.magazine. A few can short it has not just been under devolution,
:28:50. > :28:57.there is an argument for discussing what we do differently. If that is
:28:57. > :29:05.better, there is an argument other things can be done better.
:29:05. > :29:15.sounds like a soft Labour vote. Mean or lots of people left Labour
:29:15. > :29:18.
:29:18. > :29:24.to vote for the SNP. Labour are not for independence. It is about
:29:24. > :29:34.getting that pitch right. A lot of the speech yesterday it was
:29:34. > :29:34.
:29:35. > :29:41.important for that. How much autonomy you can run on fiscal
:29:41. > :29:51.policy, this will have to be explored in more detail. The
:29:51. > :29:51.