03/12/2015 Politics Scotland

A very warm welcome to the Scottish Parliament here at Holyrood. Here,

as else #, the political focus is very much

upon that remarkable debate in the Commons and that decision to launch

air strikes against Syria which indeed those strikes are now

underway. I gather the First Minister may have some remarks to

make on that subject at the start of her question session. Let's cross to

the chamber now. Shona is on her feet answering the last of the

scheduled questions on the issue of NHS waiting times. As soon as she

brings her answer to a close, we'd expect the Presiding Officer to

begin the session of First Minister's Questions where we expect

the First Minister to make comments on Syria. Later today, I will have

discussions to take forward our plans to host at the invitation of

the United Nations annish tiff to help prepare Syrian women for peace

building. On that note, I'm sure we' mindful that British service

personnel are in action over Syria. Notwithstanding by opposition to

this action, my thoughts and my good wishes are very much with them at

this time. However, I remain deeply drubbed by the decision of the UK

Government to take the country into conflict with no strategy, no exit

plan and against the wishes of the overwhelming majority of Scotland's

MPs. Like the First Minister, I did not support extending air strikes

into Ceri. However, with British Forces now involved we must come

together to support the brave men and women in our armed forces. I'm

sure the First Minister will join with me extending the support of

this Parliament to them. There's another issue of significance in the

papers this week. It's climate change. This week, the First

Minister announced she'd attend the climate summit in Paris. I'm sure

she, like me, looked at David Cameron's appearance there with a

mixture of demusement and anger. The Prime Minister told delegates the

earth was in peril and there would be no excuses for this generation of

politicians if they don't act. This is a Prime Minister who undermined

the renewable industry by slashing subs did I. He can aide the one

billion carbon capture in storage competition. Does this Government

agree this posturing from the merriment in Paris was sheer Hib ok

Si? -- hypocracy. Here's something we may not hear, yes, I do agree

with that 100%. As world leaders meet in Paris over the course of

this week and I were deed next week to hopefully come to an agreement

that will help the world better tackle climate change, it is income

bant on all of us, including the Scottish Government, to make sure

our politician and practices, what we do ourselves at home is commence

rate with the rhetoric we use about climate change. I will be proud to

represent Scotland on Monday in Paris. I'll take our message and use

that, I hope, as a motivation and spur to others to follow suit. I

absolutely deplore some of the decisions being take why enby the UK

Government. Decisions which undermine our efforts and the

decision imcommented on in the chamber last week to cancel the

carbon capture competition. I think it is damaging to our efforts to

reduce emissions and tackle climate change, it is deeply damaging to our

reputation amongst the business community. We'd two FTSE 100

companies entering this competition in good faith devoting time and

effort and it is nothing short of a disgrace it has been cancelled at

the last minute. I'm glad the First Minister agrees with me. But she's

going to Paris in her own words to show that our world leading targets

set the benchmark that the international community needs to

match. Presiding Officer, this Parliament unanimously set those

targets in 2009. When the first minister tells the community she has

the most ambitious target in the world will she remember to tell them

she hasn't hit those targets once? I would encourage Kezia Dugdale to

study in some detail all of the facts and information around this. I

hope we can continue to come together as one on this important

global issue. But when we set the target for 2013 back in 2010, the

reduction in carbon we anticipated at that time was 31.7%. Thafrs the

target we anticipated we would have to reduce emissions by. In actual

fact, what we have achieved is 38.4% from the 1990 base Ryan. The only

reason why that means we still haven't met the target is because of

the increases to that baseline. Fixed annual targets were missed

because of improvement to the way the data was calculated with added

10.6 mega tons to the baseline. That's equivalent to all waste

management, public sector buildings. We've excited the reduction we

anticipated but, because of the increase in the baseline, that means

we haven't met the target. I would have thought... This is actually

factual information I'm sharing with the Chamber. The opposition, if we

are serious about the rhetoric that is used, the very welcome rhetoric

Kezia Dugdale has just used, we should do two things. We should

celebrate the progress we are making in Scotland and use that to

encourage others to make similar progress. But we should also not

rest on our Lawrence. We should be determined to continue to make

progress. It may be abop rat Presiding Officer to end with a

quote from Professor Jim Skeigh a comment he made back in the summer

this year. If you divide where Scotland is now as to where it was

in 1990, it was among the world leaders. That is unam big ewous --

unambiguous. There's more spin in that answer than your average wind

turbine. The First Minister's Government has never hit a climate

change target. On Monday, we saw one reason why. The report on public

sector climate change duties was published. Yet again, the Scottish

Government missed their own target to cut emissions from their own

activities. No wonder. This report shows that the Government's use of

vehicles, taxis and private cars all actually increased in the last year.

So, if her own Government can't hit their targets, how can she lecture

did the rest of the world on their duty to do the same? I really think

Labour should raise its game if it wants to raise issues of such global

importance. What I've just farated to the Chamber is factual

information about the performance of Scotland. Something, I think when it

has been praised by the UK committee on climate change, when we've people

like Desmond tutu and the head of the UN climate body saying in a

letter to the Environment Minister in August this year, Scotland's

ambition to Cree tackle climate change is a shining example. When

people across the world are saying that about Scotland, why is it that

Scottish Labour are the only ones still trying to talk down the

achievements of our country? What I will do... What I will do Presiding

Officer is I will go to Paris on behalf of the people of this

country. I will encourage others to follow the lead that is recognised

as being set by Scotland. But here at home, I will also make sure we

continue to challenge ourselves. The progress I have outlined to the

chamber shows we have actually excited the reduction in emissions

we set back in 2010. But, because we know the whole world, not just

Scotland, needs to go further, we'll continue to raise our sights and

raise our ambitions. Raising our sights and am Bigses is what

characterises this Government and it puts us in stark contrast to the

opposition. Let's see if the First Minister is raising her game on

climate change. She's about to get control over a key environmental

tax, air passenger duty. What is her plan for this green tax? She wants

to abolish it. The Government's own figures show abolishing APD will

increase emissions by 50,000 tons a year. To put that in context, the

First Minister could fly to Paris and back every day for 200 years and

do less damage to the environment. So the First Minister heads to Paris

next week, head of a Government that's missed its own targets four

years in a row. Is unable to control their own emissions and plans to

abolish environmental taxes. When it comes to hypocracy and climate

change, isn't the First Minister giving the Prime Minister a run for

his money? I won't be flying to Paris on Sunday. I'll be taking the

train to Paris on Sunday! Secondly, Presiding Officer, Kezia Dugdale's

argument around APD as it relates to the environment might have more

force in the revenue from APD was hype O'Kated to spend on reducing

emissions. It's not. It is simply a rev enenewe raising measure for the

UK Government. Of course, the reason why, some of us were last night at

the annual dinner of the Scottish chambers of the commerce speaking to

a wide range of I business people there focussed on trying to

internationalise the Scottish economy. Grow the export base of the

Scottish economy. I suspect there was considerable consensus reducing

APD is an important measure to create jobs, improve our transport

links and help our business community grow their exports. We'll

continue to make sure that as a Government we are pursuing policies

that help promote equality and social justice. That help promote

our environment but also help to make sure that we have a vibrant

growing economy. It is in a balanced approach to governing this country

which mean the SNP are standing here and Labour are sitting over there.

I'd like to add my gratitude to the brave service personnel who will be

involved in this necessary military action in Syria. As too often

before, their self-less efforts abroad do all ensure and help to

keep us living safely at home. Can I ask the First Minister when she will

next meet the Secretary of State for Scotland? I have no plans in the

future. The SNP's policy of free university education is failing

poorer stoodents. A new report by Universities UK today shows poorer

students in Scotland are only half as likely to go to university than

those across the rest of the UK and the gap is getting wider. Five weeks

ago, I raised this issue with the First Minister suggesting a graduate

contribution could help restore bursary funding which has been

gutted by this SNP Government. These are bursaries which support poor

students who otherwise couldn't get a foot through the door. When this

SNP Government came to office, bursary support stood at ?104

million per year. Can she tell me what the figure will be next year?

We'll continue to make sure we have a funding support package for our

students that supports students, particularly those from the poorest

backgrounds, to go to college and to university. But I actually cannot

believe that Ruth Davidson has come to this chamber today and raised the

issue of bursaries with this Government. Because, doesn't she

remember that George Osborne, of the Conservative Party, which the last

time I looked was the same party Ruth Davidson is a member of, stood

up in the House of Commons last week to deliver his autumn spending

statement and announced that the UK Government are going to abolish all

bursary support for students from April next year. Not reduce it, not

take it back a little bit, but abolish it completely. Abolish it

for student nurses as well as for students in general. I'll take no

lectures whatsoever when it comes to student support from the

Conservative Party or from Ruth Davidson. Let me give Ruth Davidson,

just as I did Kezia Dugdale a few facts which might get in the way of

her rhetoric. The number of people from our most deprived communities

achieving a university qualification has increased under this Government

by 24%. The number of 18-year-olds from our most depride areas applying

to universities is up by 50%. Young people from our most deprived air

yeas are more likely now to participate in higher education by

the age of 30 than they were in 2006. Though the UCAS figures have

to be treated with cacks because they under estimate Scotland's

performance, they show Scotland is reducing the attainment gap at

university faster than any other part of the UK. Those are the facts.

What will certainly not help us make any further progress is if we were

to go down the road of Tories by taking away bursaries from all

students. I asked for a number. It was a number that the First Minister

didn't want to give. The thing is she didn't want to give the number

five weeks ago either. After that session, we put in a freedom of

information request who tell us bursary funding will be about ?40

million in 2016 a drop of ?40 million under this Government. The

SNP says their no tuition fee policy is helped to design -- designed to

help poorer students get a university. Despite political

rhetoric surrounding free education in Scotland the system's failed to

produce more equal opportunities than the rest of the UK. The

policies were reproducing existing social inequalities. So the SNP have

slashed college places. They've cut bursaries and the policy that's

supposed to counter all of this does not work. I know the First Minister

will want to dismiss me like she's done before but these experts are

telling her a contribution after graduation can be used to help

poorer students into universities in the first place. Will she dismiss

them too? I am not going to dismiss Ruth Davidson. But I am going to

criticise as I believe people across the country will do so, her

shame-faced hypocracy on this particular issue. The reality is

this. Whatever the SNP Government is spending on student bursaries is

going to be more than the zero the Conservatives will be spending on

student bursaries when they scrap them for all students next year. We

will continue to make sure that we give our students a decent funding

package. Average support for students in Scotland is now the

highest that it has ever been. ?5,610 per student. Up nearly 5%

since the year before. We remain committed to bursaries for the

poorest students unlike the Conservatives who are scrapping them

from next year. Our minimum income gather teen for under graduate

students from the poorest households living at home is the highest

package of support anywhere in the UK. That's the reality, partly the

reason we are starting to make the progress I cited in my earlier

answer and decreasing our numbers from deprived communities going to

university. We'll continue to do that work while also protecting a

principal I hold dear which is free access to education based on your

ability to learn not on your ability to pay. Led me end by quoting what

the NUS had to say about the report Ruth Davidson cites. The idea that

abolishing free education, a clear recognition of the public and social

good provided by higher education would improve fair access would seem

bizarre. It is. The NUS are right and the Tories, not for the first

time, are downright wrong. The First Minister will be aware of

structural safety checks on the Forth Road rage are causing major

sections. Can I ask the First Minister what discussions she has

held with transport Scotland to mitigate these disruptions?

Officials are working with a roads operator to identify the problem and

traffic management measures are now in place. The decision to close the

southbound carriageway was not taken lightly because we understand the

disruption to commuters that this will cause but it was taken for the

right reasons, for safety reasons. Measures to reopen it partially will

be taken as soon as it is safe to do so and I hope that the Shawlands is

welcome in the chamber. And I would take the opportunity to thank the

travelling public for the patients they are showing at the moment. Rob

Gibson. What part Scotland can play in international mitigation of

climate change? Scotland is supporting international efforts to

secure an ambitious and legally binding climate treaty at the UN

conference. Both I and the Environment Minister will be in

Paris to promote the action that Scotland is taking, action which has

been praised as, I quote, a shining example, by the head of the UN

climate body. Scotland is three quarters of the way to achieving a

world leading reductions target. We have delivered our target for

community and locally ridley warbles five years early and we met our

energy consumption targets seven years early. Also benefiting from

45,000 low carbon jobs so I think Scotland is offer both a message and

model for climate action that we will be proud to promote at these

vital Paris talks. I thank the First Minister for that answer. This week

the Herald described the record of the UK Government as particularly

shameful with retrograde measures such as the ending of subsidies for

onshore wind. Does the First Minister agree that climate justice

must start at home and that climate justice must be a rallying point for

all parties and all sections of the public to each act quickly to

decrease our greenhouse gas emissions? But vitally, in terms of

climate justice, to give onshore wind power development the top

priority? I do agree with that. At home it is important that we take

continued action if we are to achieve our emissions reductions.

That is why we designated improving energy efficiency as a national

infrastructure priority and Scotland has made significant process in

renewable electricity with around half hour gross out of the

conception now coming from renewables. We do share the

renewables sector's and says that the damaging and premature concerns

will hamper future progress. We talk about climate justice, it is

important to concentrate on the contribution we can make to climate

justice around the world and that is why I am proud that Scotland is

showing the way by putting people and human rights at the heart of our

action on climate change. We supported 11 projects through our

climate Justice fund in Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia, which helps

some of the world's poorest and most burnable people. Both at home and

overseas, I think Scotland should be... -- most vulnerable people.

What will the impact on Scotland B of the recent defence review?

Scotland has been disproportionately hit by previous Strategic Defence

Review is which resulted in the closure of bases and the creation of

major capability gaps. I wrote to the Prime Minister this week seeking

assurances for Scotland about the latest review. While we welcome

plans to locate nine Kraft here, we understand that previous commitments

have never materialised. The report creates more uncertainty for

shipbuilders on the Clyde. Overall, the review does little to reverse

the disproportionate decline in Scotland's defence footprint over

more than a decade and most indefensibly it proposes wasting an

estimated ?167 billion on Trident at a time when people are being so hard

hit by the Treasury's damaging austerity cuts. I gather from that

response is the First Minister already she is my concerns about the

balance of what the UK Government is up to. Does the First Minister feel

there is any prospect at all that the UK Government might rebalance to

conventional forces which might protect this rather than preserving

a sacred cow called Trident? In this train the -- chamber, Trident is

only supported by the Conservatives and Jackie Baillie, an unholy

alliance if ever we saw one. I do share the concerns that... Order! I

think it is important that we see a balanced defence. The National

Security strategy which accompanied the defence review's range of

threats, all of which we should take very seriously, but not one of these

threats is Trident a sensible answer. Instead of investing in

Trident, we should be in Courage under UK Government to make show we

have the right conventional forces in place. I am glad, Presiding

Officer, the First Minister acknowledges the loss of the base as

a consequence and given her opening remarks this morning, does she also

welcome that the review underlines the UK Government's commitment to

spending to % of the UK's GDP on meeting our commitments and on

making sure our forces remain some of the best in the world? We have

seen disproportionate cuts to our conventional defences in Scotland

and while I welcome anything that secures the future of Lossiemouth,

it is important to point out that the only reason there has been any

threat is due to decisions taken or proposed by the UK Government. We do

face, and this day is a very timely reminder of this, we face a range of

threats, Presiding Officer, which is why I think it is right that we

continue to argue for conventional defence forces with the right

capabilities and to oppose spending so much money on nuclear weapons

that do not provide a defence to any of the threats we face as a country.

To ask the First Minister about the Scottish Government, whether it has

requested an extension of the 45 day course alteration period for Tata

Steel plans? We have discussed the length of the consultation period

with both the company and workforce representatives. The minimum

statutory period is due to end tomorrow but consultation is still

ongoing and that is primarily a matter for the company and the

unions. The focus of our activity remains very firmly on securing an

alternative commercial operator for DL and flybridge and he will know

that Tata Steel has confirmed that there are serious parties

potentially interested in the plants. This is encouraging and we

continue to do everything we can to assist that process. I'm sure

everybody across the chamber will recognise there are no quick fixes

here. There are certainly no easy fixes. But with the workforce, the

unions and others, we are working tirelessly in however it is to keep

these plants open. Clearly, workers are very stressed and worried about

their future. Does the First Minister agree that we have the

potential to create a centre of excellence for steelwork in

Scotland? And can she reassure me that in the quest to a cheap that,

leaving no stone unturned, that the Scottish Government is prepared to

provide support for any transitional period, leading to a buyer taking

over or public ownership that may be necessary to see the deal -- jobs,

which I trust the Scottish Government values? I think the

member knows how highly from we value the jobs and the continuation

of the steel industry in Scotland. I very much agreed that there is a

real opportunity to create a centre of excellence in the steel industry

in Scotland. When I say we will leave no stone unturned, I mean

exactly that. If there is any viable option that will secure the future

of these, the Government will explore taking that forward. The

Government has been, suggestions made at the task was about support

that could be provided in a transitional period and the Scottish

Government is exploring all of these options, but I would like to repeat

what I said in my initial answer, we do have serious parties that are

expressing potential interest in the plants. I think it is therefore

appropriate and right that we concentrate on doing everything we

can to see one of those expressions of interest turned into something

real and viable and that, at the moment, is where the Scottish

Government will continue to expand our energy. Is the First Minister

able to give an update on the work being done to reduce fuel costs at

the Tata plans? We have been working very intensively to create the best

business environment for any new operator that might be prepared to

take on the site. As a result of work that was commissioned by the

Business Minister, we know now that energy costs at the site could be

cut significantly and there is potential for renewable energy

generation from the plants and we also continue to maintain pressure

on the European Commission to exaggerate state aid clearance for

the energy intensive package and to do that before Christmas. On

business rates, we agreed that the assessor will take on the steel

industry for the next re-evaluation where we are open to options of

reducing the options as long as they comply with state aid rules. As well

as doing everything we can to secure commercial operator for these

plants, we will continue to do everything we can to reduce the

running costs, which make these plans even more attractive to any

commercial operator. Question six. To ask the First Minister what the

Scottish Government is doing to reduce health care... We have a

range of public health policies on tobacco, alcohol, diet, for

example, to improve health and close the quality gap. One of the ways the

Scottish Government is tackling health inequalities is by informing

the GPs contract to give them more time and particularly in areas where

patients face the greatest inequalities and health issues.

Further changes will be made to the 20 something contract, including

reviewing the allocation formula, and this will ensure GPs surgeries

in the areas of most need will receive funding. I thank the First

Minister for her response. She mentioned GB funding, earlier this

week a report by Professor Graham Watt highlighted that GPs are the

most the cries -- deprived areas in the countries receive less than

those in well off areas. Scotland has the worst wealth inequalities in

Western Europe and this is one of the reasons behind it. What can the

Scottish Government do more than it is currently doing to combat these

inequalities? Firstly, I welcome Professor Watt's findings and we

will take them fully into account in delivering a new GP contract for

2017 and a company in revised allocation formula. Professor Watt

examine data from 2011-12. I have looked at the recent data for GP

payments for 2014-15 and what they show is that the most deprived

practices received on average 79 65 more per patient than practices in

the most affluent areas in 2014-15, so I hope that is a sign of some

progress in the direction he wants is to go in. The allegations former

has been in place since 2004. It has undergone some revisions and changes

since then but the new GP contract, which will take effect in 2017,

gives us a good opportunity to revise that allegations former to

make sure it is reflecting the various need of GPs practices in

different local communities and I look forward to having the support

of the chamber as we seek to do that. Does the First Minister agree

that over and above fundamental action is necessary to support

targeted action with the most vulnerable individuals and the most

disadvantaged communities initiative such as the Royal College of Nursing

innovative nursing at the edge initiative which will actually be

featured in a cross-party group on mental health in five minutes' time.

I better make take too long and swing that I will make you late for

the meeting but I do agree with that and send my best wishes to the

meeting and support the work he has referred to. But I do agree with

that and I would also refer him to the support that we showed to the

defender GP practices which are very much about recognising the

particular needs in our most deprived communities and we have got

to make sure that as well as raising the health outcomes of our country,

generally, we are taking the action that will close the gap as well.

Thank you. That ends First Minister's Questions.

Democratic exchanges on health, on industry, on climate change.

Democracy operating in the context of conflict, to which there was a

reference at the very beginning. I will hand you over to the daily

politics. and one of the chance was, what do

we want? Peace. When do we want it?