02/02/2012 Politics Scotland

Hello and a warm welcome to the Scottish Parliament here at

Holyrood. MSPs have been debating college funding and prison visiting.

The main substance of this programme is questions to the First

Minister. Let's talk -- across to the chamber for that. The First

Minister wrote: Dear Fred, I am watching events closely, it is of

Scottish interest for RBS to be successful and I would like to

offer any assistance of my office can provide. Yesterday, the First

Minister admitted with the benefit of hindsight he would have done

things differently. Is he prepared to apologise to the people of

Scotland for his serious error in judgment? I regret writing that

letter, that much is obvious but as I said last week, ideally do not

think Fred Goodwin is the Labour Party's strongest suit. It was

after all my predecessor who recommended him for a knighthood as

we now understand. It was Gordon Brown as Prime Minister who

appointed him as one of his economic advisers. Certainly, I

regret writing him a letter but I did not have him as a financial

adviser. I did not have six meetings with him as Chancellor as

Gordon Brown did in the face of just over one year and he was not

at the heart of this Government advising on economic policy.

Ideally suggest that Fred Goodwin and the Fred Goodwin story is not

the Labour Party's strongest suit. In a previous life I was a

schoolteacher and if I asked a child to accept that he had done

something wrong I did not accept the defence, it was not just me. It

is not a defence to say that other people have made mistakes as well.

What I have as the First Minister and he has refused to do is to

apologise for his error of judgment. He should apologise and she needs

to learn a lesson from it. Fred Goodwin clearly got carried away

with himself, he did not ask the hard questions and he was blind to

the consequences. The First Minister is in danger of doing

likewise. It is not just Daegu questions the First Minister's

judgment. Professor John Kay, his adviser said if Scotland were to

remain in a currency union it might start people wondering what the

point of independence was in the first place. Can the First Minister

tell us exactly what is the point? Before we wander off the subject of

Fred Goodwin can I just remind the John Lamont that there has actually

now been an inquiry into the collapse of the Royal Bank of

Scotland? It was published on 12th December last year and does name

three politicians as being influential in the extraordinary

decision to relax financial supervision. They are probably a,

Gordon Brown and Ed Balls. -- Tony Blair. One gone, one going, and one

still there. As far as fiscal independence is concerned I suspect

it is something to do with the fact that right now this parliament

controls 12.5 % of the resources of Scotland. Under the Ed Kalman

proposals it will be 20%. Under independence they will control 100%.

The First Minister needs to learn from his mistake, not rewrite it.

The fact of the matter is that it was the First Minister who said the

problem with banking regulation was that it was gold-plated and that he

would lighten that regulation. On the question of the currency union

it is curious that the First Minister is sticking by his plan to

remain in a currency union. Last week he told us there are 67

countries to have a similar arrangement yet in response to my

office he refused all week to name them until 30 minutes ago. Seven

days to get information we could have got in seven seconds from what

appear. -- Wikipedia. JEERING. Order, order. Can we please settle

down. But can we please clear this up and can he give me three

countries that are an example? I remind her of the comments of the

Prime Minister who was in charge as Chancellor in November 2005, he

argued in a speech to the CBI on 20th November 2005, he was not

proposing just a light touch regulation but a limited touch.

Gordon Brown then went on, and we should not just enforce the concept

of regulation but also decide whether to regulate at all. He was

not just proposing light touch of regulation but he was proposing no

regulation! Ideally do think the Labour Party should not have to

rely on the Scottish Government to provide ammunition. If she wants to

ask me the question, as me the question. In terms of monetary

union. JEERING. 11 out of the top 20 countries, including Switzerland,

are currently in monetary union. That sounds to me like a pretty

common feature across the planet and across prosperous country its.

You seem to complain that we have made the suggestion there should be

a monetary union between Scotland and England after independence. We

are pointing out that such arrangements are not uncommon in

the modern world but these countries are still independent

countries. It does strike me that if it is good enough for all these

other countries around the world including 11 in the top 20 most

prosperous, it might not be a bad thing for Scotland. It also helps

explain why last week, given the huge protection it would offer to

the balance of payments, it might be rather a good thing for England

as well. I am just trying to be helpful and co-operative. Before

you start, there is far too much shouting at each other across the

chamber. Please settle down. the fact of the matter is, whatever

that was, it was not an answer. It did not clarify anything. The

reality is that one third of those countries that are identified among

the 67 have absolutely no influence whatsoever. It appears that it is

independence at any cost that is what he is pursuing. His case for

independence is starting to look like the RBS deal that broke the

bank. He cannot provide the detail and when you look at it closely it

falls apart. A currency union like Togo, San Marino, or might any

share? In 2003 we were getting the euro, yesterday we were selling

that we are somehow three from the Bank of England. Is it not the case

that the First Minister is simply unable to make an economic case for

independence and isn't he in danger of becoming the Fred Goodwin of

Scottish politics? Order! Order! First Minister. You do not seem to

appreciate the point I made about the living of these countries being

the most prosperous. Nor have you taken on deep point I made last

week that Gordon Brown gave away the right to interest rates in 2007

when he declared the Bank of England independent. I think the

Labour Party have to catch up with the policies they pursued in

Government. A number of countries were name that you think her quite

amusing in monetary union. Let's look at some of the countries that

are not, Congo, Iran and North Korea. What exactly is the point? A

reasonable proposition to argue apart from it being a not uncommon,

of the other nine who are not in the top 20, I believe Japan have

been in a monetary union at some point in recent history. What is

the purpose and point of the independence? To control your

resources and to control the wealth of the country. It is a fact if we

look at the last five years of Scotland's income and revenue we

would be �7.5 billion better off if we controlled our own revenue and

resources. That seems to me another powerful argument for independence.

A When will the First Minister next meet the Prime Minister? I am

seeking early meetings with the Prime Minister as I have been for

the last six months or so. I am hopeful there will be an early

meeting with the Prime Minister's so we can take forward a few

matters on our Mitchell agenda. Presumably the Mitchell again there

is the referendum and since the consultation was launched in this

chamber members on Government benches has been using the removal

of nuclear arms and powered submarines from Faslane as a reason

for Scotland to become a separate State from the rest of the UK. The

Faslane naval base is the largest single-site employer in Scotland

West 6,500 people working on the Clyde. There are 18,000 uniformed

and defence personnel based across 30 of Scotland's local authority

areas. That does not include the 4,500 workers in the size and the

Clyde working on aircraft carriers for the other defence contractors

right across Scotland engaged in work for the UK military. We know

the First Minister wants to decimate the workforce in Faslane

but how many defence workers does he actually planned to keep?

estimate of cost over the next generation would be �100 billion.

That is for Faslane. I do not believe Ruth Davidson would argue

there could be more sensible investment and far more jobs

created than investing in a new generation of Trident submarines.

We would maintain the military establishment including a naval

base at Faslane which is not just the home for the Trident fleet but

for minesweepers and other submarines as well. I am interested

in the proposition that there could be no orders for Scottish yards

post independence. Did I quote Ruth Davidson from Jane's Defence

Industry recently, 4th October 2011. Vital for a military procurement.

The UK MoD is reaching its final round of procurement for tanker

requirements. There are just three contenders left, the who, ship

owning in South Korea, one company in Italy and another heavy industry

in South Korea remain in contention. Really, will be published from

South Korea or Italy but not from Scottish yards? The Clyde yards are

there because of the excellence of the workforce and the efficiency of

the product again that. It would be interesting if the Conservative

Party, given its lowly position in Scottish politics, realise that

talking down Scottish politics in this manner is not the way to

obtain boards from Scottish people. No answer them. Let's look at the

response from experts. The former commander of the Black Watch, he

said that the first minister had absolutely no grasp of how the

Armed Forces worked. The former secretary general of NATO said that

the first ministers' plans have noticed -- no coherence. What about

combat support? Medics and communicators? Nothing said about

how this gap is to be felled. A former commanding officer of the

SAS said that he had respect for some of his staff, the when it

comes to defence, I don't think they have an idea. I do find Mr

Salmond a very weak in this area, I have watched him, I had been with

him, he really doesn't understand it, he doesn't get it. There are so

many unanswered questions on the plans for defence. I'm going to ask

just one. Becomes my young Scottish soldier, he wrote to me and he said,

I do miss Davidson -- Dear Miss Davidson, I would have for the

member had more respect, I am currently serving the British Army,

and have done so over the last two years, I am deployed in Afghanistan,

I love my job, and I'm proud to serve this country. I'm sure you

are aware of the phrase back of a fag packet, this would reflect how

Mr Salmond has put together his defence policy. Those serving be

forced to make a choice between a uniform, and tragically lost

friends, and the country of their birth. Well, does the? -- does he?

A people would have a choice. the last count there are 23

nationalities serving in the British Armed Forces. The issue of

choice is a valuable one. Soldiers will be made compulsory redundant.

-- compulsory for redundant. That is no choice at all. Nor,

incidentally, I met with the colonel when I was marching against

the shutdown of Scottish regiments. Not only did George Robertson say

that the evolution would kill the SNP dead. She should have a glance

at the opinion polls, showing a 49% support for the SNP, and will

percent For the Conservative Party. A reduction even on the previous

levels. I think George Robertson, he described the Strategic Defence

Review as near the strategic or a defence review. -- in the best

strategic. A former adviser to the Conservative Party wrote, only two

days ago, the Prime Minister has laid his party open to the charge

of arrogance, and left isolated those Tories who seek to defend him.

The Prime Minister has consigned Ruth Davidson's leadership to

ignominy and failure. I never thought I would find myself in

agreement! Perhaps he's on to something at last. The first

minister will be aware that of the last few weeks, the chairman and

three members of the Board of a college had resigned following

allegations of bullying, victimisation and financial

mishandling. What action can be taken to launch an external

investigation? The Scottish government takes allegations of

this kind are very seriously. It is important that the facts are

scrutinised. To this end the Cabinet Secretary has asked the

funding council to take appropriate steps on the issue, taking into

account all the evidence, and seeking assurances that management

practices had been followed. First Minister, I had been formed that

supplying steel from a poor would have boosted employment in my

constituency. Can he explain why transport Scotland seven-over

Scottish firms were involved, and can he meets with the company to

this -- to discuss this issue? would be glad to. There have been

18 sub-contracts awarded today. That represents 76% of the total

number of sub contracts awarded. I would have a match and that these

contract would be good news for Scottish companies. I know that the

member would all wish to give any sort of misleading impression of

the willing this of the contracts to be awarded to Scottish companies

where possible. I think these figures illustrate that. I'm happy

to arrange ministerial meetings. There is a strong willingness on

the part of the various members of the consortium, towards Scottish

contracts were it is possible to do To ask the first minister what

impact the increasing applications from Scottish students to Scottish

universities will have on the education sector? I am delighted

that there has been an increase in applications from Scottish students.

We have protected funding to universities, and ensuring that

Scotland continues to offer first class higher-education.

I thank the first Minister for that response. Does he agree that the

English students applying to English universities down by 9.9%,

and the number of Scots applying down by 60%, these figures are

demonstrating the destructive nature of the fee-paying regime?

These figures fully vindicated the Scottish Government's approach, in

terms of abolishing fees for Scottish students. It shows that

the concerns offered by the Labour Party were totally unfounded her. I

think they should have taken the advice from the Education Secretary.

Looking at the typical position facing universities and students,

the overwhelming opinion would be that our universities are better

funded that -- than any other in these islands. Some people in the

sector were campaigning not to be under the influence of this

Parliament, I doubt she would get any person in that sector he would

want to the -- he would want to be in any other structure. The decline

in supply this half of that in England. That says to me that the

Education Secretary have got the balance right in maintaining the

standard of education in Scotland, and excellence, in a broad cross

section, and entitling free education to the people of Scotland.

The �75 million pay here that the Scottish Cup and is spending to

provide a free tuition to foreign students could be spent on scholars

colleges. Will the first minister give me a guarantee that this.?

the nose, the Education Secretary is working to ensure that they

charge can be applied to students from the European Union. I think

the member should reflect that one of the biggest rises in terms of

the number of students, in this sector, has been international

students outside the European Union. That is no indication of the

excellence of quality that Scottish universities offer. In terms of the

college sector, can I point out the extraordinary increase in capital

investment. Dundee College, Inverness College, the amazing

capital investments we have spent there. That is many times

Investment under the label and Liberal coalition. -- the Labour.

The investment has gone in, that is good news for the sector. There is

no complaint now. Some I would like to -- I would like to last the

first minister what changes are going to be made in youth

employment? We want to support all opportunities for that. I welcome

these actions of course. It was the Labour Party who voted against the

commitment to provide 25,000 Modern apprenticeships in this Parliament.

Can the first minister of an update on these apprenticeships? I notice

some surprise on the Labour benches, many people on the Labour benches

are new, and given that they have fallen in the polls, then maybe a

further turn round to come -- then maybe a further turn around to come

in future. They have voted against a budget which proposed 25,000

apprenticeships, 60% more than their Labour Party -- than the

Labour Party gave when they were in office. Even that mighty total, all

of whom are entitled to a job in Scotland, one of the crucial things

about these apprenticeships, they will be achieved in this financial

year. That is something we shall be supporting and celebrating. I was

very pleased to attend the National economic Forum yesterday, all

parties are committed to tackling youth unemployment. When will the

first minister except that his plans to cut college budgets will

make it harder the young people in this country? I welcome the all-

party environment. -- in their mind. That is really important. We have

questions in terms of the importance of support for students,

an acknowledgement of the income guarantee. Can I gently point out

to be member that in terms of support for students, it is the

Spanish at the higher -- it is substantially higher than the ban

we inherited when he took office in 2007. Not just that, the

maintenance allowance, which is absolutely critical for many people,

has been maintained, even though it has been abolished south of the

border. Will the Scottish government considered to abolish

prison visiting committees. As I outlined there would be a further

public consultation to analyse those proposals. This move will

ensure that we have a service fit for this century. It would help if

he withdrew the letter that he submitted saying he would abolish

them. We will recognise the need for independent advocates. Most

prisoners should have a right to wait, but will the Government stop

using it as a cover for the abolition of the committees. That

would bring in a totally different rural. In the current police sacked,

the Governor has recognised the need to strengthen the independent