01/12/2011 Politics Scotland

A warm welcome to the Scottish Parliament at the Holyrood. Today,

youth unemployment has been discussed with an announcement from

Alex Salmond who has appointed a particular Minister for that remit.

There have been exchanges between Labour and we now turn to the

opening questions. Iain Gray.

Once he puts his card into allow him to be heard. To ask the First

Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day.

It gives me great pleasure to officially reopened the National

Portrait Gallery here in Edinburgh. One thinks of the great works of

all of the museum's, the new National Museum in Edinburgh, the

should all welcome what will be another fantastic job in our

cultural crown. -- jewel. I hope some of his colleagues and some of

mine will realise it is December and a fine day to shave their

November of the starters, they are to be congratulated for their fund

raising, but enough is enough! I want today to reiterate support

for public sector workers and for the 300,000 Scots who took a stand

yesterday. I know the First Minister opposed their action but

he tries to claim not to support the pension changes either. Can he

explain then by his Scottish public pensions agency made proposals even

more punitive than the Tories? It Iain Gray have been that the

debate yesterday... -- If... He would have heard that. Being

refuted. Of course, given that in great is using lines from Tory

researchers. That was not the point of that document. The issue we

challenged the UK government on, which exercised more than any other

factor, the people yesterday supporting the strike, is that the

levy which is claimed to be to support pension plans, does not in

fact support the pension plans, it is a smash and grab raid. That is a

point we have been hammering away at, at the UK government for some

time. I feel great surprise that Iain Gray does not acknowledge this.

After all, it was Richard Baker on the 21 September, who said in

response to John Swinney outlining that particular policy, I quote, we

agree with the Cabinet Secretary's analysis of the UK government

pension policy. Why isn't in grey still maintaining that position?

The week a pose the UK pension changes, we still do. The question

is if the SNP do, why are they implementing them as asked by the

UK? As for what was making the strikers angry yesterday? I am not

sure how the First Minister noticed that because he wasn't anywhere

near those strikers. I will tell him. I will tell him what was

making them angry. What was making the nurses, teachers, council

workers angry, they were being asked to give more when they are

already in the middle of a pay cut because of the pay freeze for the

last two years. That anger was exacerbated by a having heard on

Tuesday George Osborne telling them that it would be cut, Pepe, again

next year and the year after. Public sector pay is mostly

devolved. Can the First Minister confirm that he plans to pass on

George Osborne's 1% pay cap? must surely remember his remarks

during the election campaign when he said there would have to be wage

restraint for the next three years. That is what he said during the

election campaign. So, during the election campaign, Iain Gray put

Ford that position. In September, in answer to exactly the point that

John Swinney made, that we would lose �500 million if we did not

implement the policy of the UK, that is when his spokesman said he

appreciates and supports the government position as far as the

UK pension changes were concerned. If Iain Gray thinks we can find

�500 million in response to the blackmail letter from Danny

Alexander, then he better start telling this Chamber where exactly

it is going to come from. Furthermore, at what stage between

September when Labour supported the position we have to adopt following

that blackmail letter, did Iain Gray suddenly changed his mind?

Perhaps he will also tell us when he decided not to cross picket

lines since he has done it twice in 18 months in this Parliament.

There was a lot of ways to avoid saying yes. Yes, he is going to

pass on the 1% pay cap. Because I had a John Swinney on the radio

doing everything to try to avoid saying a simple yes. That is the

answer. The Tories cut public sector pay and the SNP implement

the cut. The Tories cut pensions, and the SNP implement the cut. The

Tories cut public sector jobs, and the SNP implement the cut deeper

and faster. And the Tories cut capital expenditure and the SNP

implement that cut only deeper and faster. So... What is the

difference between the Tories and the SNP?

Iain Gray now says he supports the strikers but Ed Miliband opposes

the strikers. Iain Gray refuses to go into work in the Scottish

Parliament but Ed Miliband goes into work at Westminster. I know

Iain Gray is on the way out as Labour leader in Scotland but I do

think there should be a little bit of co-ordination between himself

and his colleagues in Westminster. The way to stop this Parliament and

this government being hamstrung by the policies of the UK is to give

us the financial independence that we require in order to do that.

Iain Gray has been foolish enough to repeat the mistakes of Richard

Baker as well as not supporting him in pension policy. Can I explain

the reality of funding affecting us. Part of the formula, it is the same

policy that was going to be pursued by Alistair Darling. But with an

ever rising trend of capital expenditure, thanks to the eight

day pulsate of devoting millions of pounds to capital and the programme

which will add �2.5 billion. For the sake and for the folks who will

get his point settled, I will have these figures on the record. And I

challenge them if they can agree to come back every week and it's here

-- and hear the same story. You cannot hide when Alistair Darling

was going to implement the cuts faster and deeper.

We know that the First Minister would like more financial powers.

He'd like powers over corporation tax. Why? Because he wants to cut

taxes for banks and big business. Even further than the Tories. I

hear the meandering bluster, but I see the cuts to pensions, to jobs,

and to pay. Isn't it true that we know a man's heart by his actions?

On pensions, public sector jobs, and pay cuts, 300,000 Scots today

stand yesterday, and yes, we took a stand with them. When is Alex

Salmond going to stand up for what he says, and stopped just doing

Tory bidding every time? Whether one start? It was his

predecessor Wendy Alexander for supported corporation tax being

devolved to this Parliament, if it was devolved to Northern Ireland.

It McIntosh told us this week that he intends to cut and end the small

business owners. Not only is there no synchronisation between Labour

at Westminster and Labour in Scotland, there is no

synchronisation what so ever between Labour's past leader,

Labour's present leader and one of the ones where we will have to wait

a few weeks before you can adopt that particular position. Our

relationship with a staff, it is appreciated because uniquely we

have a no compulsory redundancy policy in the public sector. And we

have implemented the living wage across the public sector. If Iain

Gray wants us to get out from under, out from under Tory policies, then

give this Parliament the financial and economic powers that we require

in order to do that. That is what people voted for in May, that is

what they're going to vote for again!

To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Secretary of

State for Scotland. No plans in the near future.

The First Minister likes to claim credit when he thinks something is

better in Scotland than elsewhere in the UK but when he stepped up to

the mark when Scotland is falling behind? The families of young

children in England receive 20% more free child care for three-4

Urals than in Scotland. They get 15 hours a week, we get 12. This week,

the Chancellor extended free privileged -- extended free

provision to younger children. Evidence shows early years are

crucial in a child's development. I believe young families deserve

support, particularly in these tough times. This is the devolved

issue. In a minute... I know you are keen! I want Scots families to

get a better deal and will he pledged to at least match what is

happening in England? The reason I was so anxious, during

the debate this morning, a number of her colleagues complimented the

Scottish Government and approach to early intervention. As we roll out

the early intervention fund she will find our support for young

families doesn't just match what is being done south of the border but

has a substantial enhancement. Great, I will claim that as a

partial victory. Now I want to know when and how it will be implemented

and I event -- I invite him to take this forward to help Scotland's

families. It is time we turned words into action. Well the First

Minister meet with me before Christmas on this issue?

Is that the whole team? It is approaching Christmas so let us be

gracious, yes, I shall meet the leader of the party and whichever

Members of her new Miss teens she wants to bring.

The First Minister will be aware of the closure today of the trunk road

in both directions in my constituency following another

landslide. Given this is that he wrote in and out of large parts of

Argyll, can hear surely the Scottish Government will do all in

its power to ensure the road is reopened as soon as possible, and

action will be taken to prevent further landslides which are

potentially devastating for the With permission, presiding officer,

but I say a little about the extent of the difficulties of the A83. It

was closed at 7 am, at a site approximately half-a-mile from the

previous significant landslip location. Approx 80 tons of

material is on the road. Engineers are on site, but they can be no

clearance operation until the water assessment of any further slip can

be carried through. Details have been communicated to the relevant

ferry companies of alternative routes. There is an internet and

radio side being regularly updated. We cannot as yet confer when the

road will reopen. We suspect it may be closed up to 24 hours. But I can

assure the chamber and other interested MSPs that we will be

informed as things develop. First Minister will be aware of the

situation in Glasgow, and I want Ruscombe what is his view of the

armed companies, and front line services. This is a matter for the

Glasgow's civic council. Perhaps I could arrange a meeting between the

constituency member and the relevant Minister to see how we can

take us forward, which is, it has to be said, a local government

matter. Unite the union are both speaking with one voice about the

provocative and intimidating actions of rogue employers in the

sector, led by Balfour Beatty. Will the First Minister take an interest

in this so that we can avoid a crisis this winter and the already

struggling construction industry. If the member wants to come forward

with information, perhaps I can arrange a meeting to win him and Mr

Swinney and any representative he wants to bring along to see if we

can facilitate a settlement of the pensions. To ask the First Minister

what will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet. Issues of

importance to the people of Scotland. Last month, asked the

First Minister when he will make up his mind and college funding. Last

week, the National Union of students launched a campaign called

our fight, our future. They hope to protect college student support,

protect teaching quality and stop cuts to college places. Yet we have

seen Angus College fear 400 places could be lost, and another 9,000

across the country. The First Minister's Government is proposing

a �40 million cut to colleges, but has almost �67 million in extra

money available and are allocated. It is a simple equation. Will the

First Minister today join those who want to protect Scotland's colleges,

join the dots in his own government and tell us he will use part of the

�67 million to help colleges and their students? Can I say, Willie

Rennie says that these things are simple calculations. Can I point

out that the statements up to and including Tuesday have had some

positive consequences for the Scottish budget. They have also had

negative consequences, which the UK Government have been unwilling to

specify. The assumption of 1% on public sector pay it from the

Autumn Statement has serious consequence Scholes in terms of the

Scottish budget. -- serious consequences. It is in essential

that Mr Swinney, as Finance Secretary, looks at the overall

balance before he comes to his conclusions and makes his

announcement to Parliament. Anything else would be strange. I

know that Willie Rennie wanted in his question to will come at

substantial amounts over and above consequences of �6 million per year,

which is made today to help young people in Scotland. I welcomed that

announcement this morning, but you made that announcement this morning.

Why can you not make the announcement of the colleges as

well? It is unacceptable to treat colleges in this way. He spent a

ten-minute speech on youth unemployment, but there was not one

single word about extra funds for the colleges. He spent six minutes,

six minutes, arguing about statistics. Surely the only two

statistics that matter is that he has got �67 million he wasn't

expecting when he published his plans, and he was planning to cut

colleges by 40 million. He doesn't have to do it anymore. Why can't he

saved the day in simply make up his mind? Why the delay? In terms of

college funding, we will look at college funding and we will look at

both revenue and capital funding. For example, in the year 2002-2003

when Iain Gray was College Minister, the cat was �21 million in total.

In 2.003rd team's 2014, -- in 2013- 2014, the figure will be �138

million, a factor of almost seven. If the member had been listening

carefully to the statement this morning, he would have learned and

understood that the discussions are taking place with the local

Government -- local government and colleges, so it is not acceptable

to say that the announcement this morning was irrelevant to colleges,

it was simply relevant to young people. And finally, in terms of

the UK Government, it is time to challenge some of the things we

have heard. The published budget outlines what is happening to the

college section south of the border. The UK Government is reducing

investment in further-education by �1 billion from �4 billion to �3

billion. That is much higher than any prospective tightening of the

college budget in Scotland. It is happening south of the border. The

importance of it is that until we achieve financial independence, our

budget in Scotland is unfortunately dependent on decisions that are

made elsewhere. That is why I think that any Liberal Democrat of

Conservative coming to this chamber with corporate a Tears For

Investment, they will be either laughed at by public sector workers

or given the same treatment as Danny Alexander yesterday. To ask

the First Minister what the Scottish government's responses to

the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Autumn Statement. The Office for

Budget Responsibility has confirmed that the Government's plan a south

of the border is not working. In light of the worsening economic

outlook, the Chancellor even set out a goal plan. The measures

announced fall short of the action required. The OBR itself states

that it will have limited impact on the economy. Three-quarters of the

funding will not be received until after 2013, despite the obvious

need for urgent action. Lack of action by the UK Government would

give us the levers to grow the economy and protect our frontline

services. Following George Osborne's admitting defeat on his

own economic plan, and the miserable legacy of the Labour

Party who created this economic crisis, does the First Minister

agree it is high time this Parliament has given the necessary

financial powers so that Scotland doesn't have to be burdened by a

union dividend of economic doom and gloom? Yes, I do! But in that

illustration of the impact of the Autumn Statement, previously before

the Autumn Statement the cumulative reduction in capital spend over the

spending review period as a direct result of the capital spend south

of the border was �3.7 billion. After the spending review, that

comes from �3.7 billion reduction to �3 billion reduction. So I just

want, when the Tory liberal members make these points, but remember a

�3 billion reduction in direct capital investment in Scotland

across the spending review is not something I there to cheer or to be

satisfied about. The First Minister will be aware of the �100 million

allocation for super-fast broadband in our cities, while many people in

rural areas have no broad band at all. Will he make provision

available to make sure that the Highlands and Islands and more

rural areas get broadband? support the nature of that question.

In many ways, the allocation of broadband was disappointing. We

have prioritised the requirement under need for super-fast broadband

across the country, hence the �140 million investment. I would be

delighted if the member wants to speak to that Cabinet Secretary for

in structure -- for infrastructure about the importance of this.

First Minister was slightly ungracious in relation to the

Autumn Statement that was made, and when the reverse that and welcome

the announcement in relation to fuel duty? Well he welcome the

announcement in relation to credit easing, the Youth Contract and the

additional capital spend that we will get in Scotland? I wish he had

listened to my answer earlier before he made that point. He is

asking me to welcome the fact that reduction in capital spending has

been reduced from �3.7 billion reduction to a �3 billion reduction.

I know that in the Scrooge-like world of the inner recesses of the

Conservative Party, only a reduction of �3 billion is

something to be redressed and welcomed. I think in the reality of

the homes of Scotland, they would like to see a Scottish economy

which is actually increasing investment at this time to bring

people back into employment. That is the sort of thing we will

welcome, and following through the objections of his question, will he

join his previously and unfortunately defeated leadership

candidate in calling for additional powers to this Parliament so that

when he asks the question, I can say what we are doing for Scotland

as opposed to what the Tories are doing to Scotland. To ask the First

Minister what action the Scottish government is taking to tackle

human trafficking? The human trafficking, the Government is

making further progress in terms of deterring criminals from engaging

in it. And the Scottish government has taken important steps in recent

years in human trafficking. We provide additional funding of �4

million over a two-year period, 2009-2011 to the Scottish crime and

drugs Enforcement Agency to boost capacity to tackle organised crime,

and within that we will provide Gok and's first dedicated resourced to

support and improve human trafficking investigation. --

Scotland's first dedicated resource. There is urgency around making sure

that a human trafficking is corrected before the 2014

Commonwealth Games. Lack of intelligence, the lack of

prosecution expertise, as well as services for victims. Does the

First Minister takes the view that there is a case review to

legislation, and will he commit to ask the Cabinet Secretary for

Parliamentary business to bring forward any debates so the parties

across the chamber can discuss this very important issue in detail?

will speak to the business manager to allow that to happen. But can I

just quote the words of Baroness Kennedy herself in a letter to the

Justice Secretary. In conducting his inquiry, I have learned not

only how seriously you won the First Minister take the horrifying

pictures of human trafficking, but in particular your personal

determination to eradicate it in Scotland. I would also like to

stress might appreciation for the help that has been given to me in

my team in discussing this inquiry. We close there, Alex summer

discussing human trafficking. Earlier, the focus primarily was on