06/09/2012 Politics Scotland

A very warm welcome to the Scottish Parliament. There is a new

ministerial team. But still very much Alex Salmond in charge and the

boss. We were his questions to him as First Minister, let us cross to

the chamber. To ask the First Minister what engagements he has

planned for the rest of the day. Later today I will be visiting a

college in Stirling to open a new state-of-the-art 20 million pound

campus building. It is one of the most advanced premises in his

column for colleges and demonstrates their unwavering

commitment of this government to the college sector. -- in Scotland.

Astonishing then that the budget is cut by 20 % for colleges. However,

so Nicola Sturgeon is the new Minister for shove already projects

and Alex Neil get a hospital pass. As I look around, I see not

everyone is smiling. Not Jamie Hepburn, passed over for sticking

to party policy on the tour. Kenny gets in - not even invite into the

evening reception. Not so much rearranging deckchairs on the

Titanic but so swabbing decks on the vital Spark. It is not just his

backbenchers who are unhappy, so too is anyone in the country

looking for a full-time job or any business looking for opportunities.

Why has the First Minister reduced the ministerial responsibility for

economic recovery to a part-time post? Why is running the National

Health Service less important than running his own referendum?

cannot believe that the Johann Lamont put forward that and accused

somebody else of not smiling. Let us deal with the college sector

first. I have been looking at the massive capital investment

programme in this sector in Dundee and 40 value and come our and

Inverness and now in the city of Glasgow - a �200 million capital

investment. I am looking at what that does to the college budget

currently over the next couple of years. End means that the college

and Budget news from 574 million to an expected it 655 million in 2014.

That means for example a capital programme of 184 million in that

here. 10 years ago the Labour Party capital programme in the college

sector was �21 million. �21 million! That is the extent of this

government's commitment to the college sector around Scotland. As

far as the government changes are concerned, Johann Lamont is in a

position that she has to select her shadow cabinet out with their ranks

of MSPs. It touches the dearth of talent. I am fortunate that every

single member of his government is focused on economic recovery in

Scotland. Every member of his government is focused on public

services in Scotland. Every member of this government is looking to

secured for this nation economic and political power as we need to

ensure a prosperous and just future. Johann Lamont. Order. Never

apologise for drawing on the expertise of ordinary people across

this country, including students who know what you're doing. The gap

between what the First Minister says is happening and what is

actually happening is growing wider by midday. Ask any college

principal that and that is what they will tell you. In the morning,

Nicola Sturgeon will deal with Scotland's biggest decision for 300

years. Any after new in she would deal with it biggest economic

crisis since economic depression of the 1930s, what will she do for

lunch? Split the atom? On Tuesday the first ministers said there had

never been an economic recovery without at recovery in construction,

yet this is a man who cut �86 million from the housing budget and

now he has downgraded the Minister for construction to a part-time job.

How does he explain to someone looking for work that it is tizz on

Nicola Sturgeon's to do lest. -- it is on. That is when she gets past

the constitution. Let us deal with the consequences of London rail

over Scotland, supported by Johann Lamont and her friends in the

Conservative Party. -- London rule. The castle budget for Scotland --

the capital budget outlined by Alistair Darling, deeper than that

cuts of Margaret Thatcher, said that capital spending in Scotland

in real terms would reduce 37 % between the years due 1010 and 2014.

-- 2010. After the men at this -- then munificence of their liberal

administration, that has been reduced from the 37 % planned to 33

and I have percent next year. Can she make the possible connection

between a 33 % cutback in the capital budget and the consequences

that has for people in Scotland? Does she not understand that almost

90 % of Scotland's budget is controlled by Westminster? Can she

possibly explain to the Scottish people why she wants to continue

with this situation that's Colin's suffers from the cutbacks ordered

by successive Tory and Labour chancellors? -- that Scotland

suffers. He makes my case for me. If the Tories and attacking

Scotland in the way he does, why does he not have a Minister focused

on protecting the people of Scotland rather than on their

referendum? If he wants to talk about working with the Tories,

perhaps he should speak to his Westminster colleagues who I hear

it are saying they will back the Tories in cutting the number of

Scots MPs be sent to Westminster. The fact is, the problem for the

First Minister is, his priorities are not the priorities of the

people of Scotland. We know the First Minister is fond of quoting

opinion polls. Let me quote one from one published this morning,

asked what subject in a daze for the First Minister, 68 % of young

Scots said jobs and the economy. Only 5% said it constitution,

behind it jobs, crime and their health service. And yet the First

Minister has downgraded jobs and the economy. He has placed less

importance on hospital care, all at the expense of his obsession with

picking up the United Kingdom. Can he not see he is out of touch and

does not care about jobs, other than he is going? First Minister.

Order. She was the Health Secretary more than twice as long than anyone

in the history of devolution. -- shadow health secretary. Nicola

Sturgeon as Health Secretary restored... John Swinney's

leadership of the economy gave us jobs in Scotland which I a better

unemployment rate, a lower unemployment rate and a lower end

activity than arrest of the United Kingdom. I think that is at

considerable performance against the restrictions of the Tory

Government at Westminster. If Johann Lamont does not like Tory

rule from Westminster, except when she shares platforms where it

Tories across Scotland, then why on earth does she support the

continuing Exchequer roll over Scotland which is forcing cutbacks

not just over parts that we control, but also parts like welfare were

the Westminster Government is putting hundreds of thousands of

Scottish people into Parliament. Why did she supports that kind of

policy from Westminster? Regarding opinion polls, the best one I saw

all this summer was from the Labour Party affiliated organisation - the

Fabian Society. They asked people in Scotland what words they

associated with the Labour Party. The top three - wear out of touch,

35 %, incompetent, 29 % and boring, 26 %. If that is what if Fabian

Society think, what does the rest of the population think? The First

Minister might want to reflect that people in this country do not think

his obsession with their referendum is their priority. -- them

referendum. If I was concerned about a health service, I would not

be putting a man in charge who in his current job presided over a/in

the housing budget and exported �700 million of money to is the

economies of China, has been and Poland. Nicola Sturgeon was in

charge of another campaign, to take over Scotland's in his city. She

made her campaign not about the priorities of the people of Glasgow,

but it Glasgow being a stepping- stone to independence and she got

roundly thumped. Clearly, at First Minister has learned nothing from

that. The priorities of the people are jobs, pay bills, putting feed

on the table. Thousands of families now in need fear parcels. The First

Minister cannot keep Scotland on pause for the next two years. --

food parcels. When will he realised that it is not independence but the

economy people care I -- hear about it? -- care about. I am now in my

40 party since 2007 and I do not end Labour should talk about people

getting thumped in elections. -- 4th party. Alex Neil epitomises the

values of the National Health Service better than any member of

then it Labour Party in this Parliament with the possible

exception of Malcolm Chisholm who was removed as Health Secretary by

the Labour Party. They help service his stake in hands of Alex Neil. As

opposed to the limit party line centre privatisation of health

service sent of the border. In terms of Johann Lamont's

explanation of why people are happy with Hara lives at the Tory Party,

I do not believe that is universal in liquor party ranks. -- with

heart alliance. Charlie Gordon says on in Twitter, have we through the

recession, jobless youngsters and then it is excellent. Devolution

cannot protect them, I think there are questions in the minds of

Labour MPs as well as at really a supporter in Scotland about the

alliance Johann Lamont has taking wit that Conservative Party front

bench. Back to the opinion poll, in terms of the Fabian Society, it was

not all accused of the Labour Party. They also had some expression that

people felt the Labour Party in Scotland have quote, plenty of

ideas. That was 8%. I think that 8% is a massive figure, given the

negative performance of the Labour Party in this Parliament since 2007.

As expectant the Scottish party dominating. When will the First

Minister first meet the next Secretary of State for Scotland.

understand that meeting will take That is good to hear. It is good to

see that the bomb or make that was between the First Minister and the

Labour Party has resumed. It appears that the First Minister

would sacrifice a latter-day nine s and on health in the cassette of

the break up of Britain. Frankly,... Order! Frankly, justice has been

little more of an afterthought and the SNP. Yesterday, Mike Russell

said that the SNP wants to be judged on their record, so let me

ask the First Minister. Under the SNP, how many convicted killers and

rapists have been released early? We have, as Ruth Davidson should

know, the lowest crime rates in Scotland for over 30 years. The

reason we have the lowest crime rates in Scotland for over 30 years

is that we have 1,000 more police in the street that communities of

Scotland, solving crimes and making communities safer. I do not

understand this cheery and bonhomie that Ruth Davidson has been talking

about, the cheery bonhomie that I have been talking about is the one

between Ruth Davidson and the Labour front bench. People have

been watching all we are turning themselves into the Conservative

Party. -- have been watching the Labour Party turning themselves

into the Conservatives. We -- the best funding universities in Europe

have a record number of Scottish students going to university, in

England, under the policies of Ruth Davidson's party, the numbers have

collapsed by 25,000. Perhaps Ruth Davidson might inform this chamber

how she can possibly interprets to a record number of university

students from Scotland going to Scottish universities as anything

other than an outstanding success for this administration and a total

vindication of restoring free education to the Scottish people.

Actually stunning lap in the Gloucester Olympics, but I ask

about rapists and murderers, and the First Minister should have

those figures. They should be in his book because they are

Government figures. 161 rapists, 277 killers. They are amongst the

nearly 5,000 of the most violent people of our society being

released early, back on Scotland's streets since he came to power. We

know the judges do not like it because Lord Ross has called a

share rate. You are so keen to be on opinion polls, we know the

public to not like it because 95% of them opposed early release.

There is a simple remedy. The First Minister has even brought forward a

victims bill for this parliamentary session, but in its not a single

word about automatic early release. Well the First Minister now act and

the manifesto promises that he made, both in 2007 and in 2011, or is he

personally content with these people being in Scotland's St?

For the political party which introduced LA police in Scotland's,

yes, the Conservative Party introduced automatic yellow police

in Scotland, under the tutelage of Michael Forsyth. -- automatic early

release. They should realise that they should have some modesty in

terms of their complaints against the criminal justice system in

Scotland. The best thing about Criminal Justice in Scotland right

now it is that criminals actually get caught. We have the best

statistics on solving crime for a generation. We have the lowest

levels of recorded crime in a generation. Fear of crime is

falling in Scotland, leading to the situation where the Home Secretary

of England gets booed off stage by the Police Federation will be

Justice Secretary of Scotland gets a standing ovation. Question number

three, Willie Rennie. To ask the First Minister what

questions will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.

Issues of importance to the people of Scotland. We have just heard

from the Johann Lamont that the Health Service and the economy have

been in the prioritised by the First Minister. Moving his most

senior minister from health to independence. There is also a

concern about the cost of focusing the civil servants one making the

SNP's case for independence. How many civil servants are working for

that new Minister for independence? At how much is it costing gym --

costing? Somewhat less than they are working

in Downing Street arguing against this case for the Scottish people.

One thing I would say to will be ready is this, I think moving

someone of her formidable talents from the Health Service indicates

and vindicates the sake of feeling in this party in favour of a

National Health Service free at the point of need, would that the

Liberals in England would resist the Tory attempts to dismantle the

National Health Service in England. Secondly, every member of this

Government is focused on economic recovery. Every member of this

Government understands the inevitable conclusion, that unless

this country of Scotland get control of important resources,

unless we are able to run the finances of Scotland, then the best

we can do is mitigate the impact of Tory or Liberal cuts from

Westminster. There was a time in Scotland when it members of the

Liberal Party actually believed in genuine home rule, actually

believed in controlling the finances of Scotland, under the

leadership of Willie Rennie at his immediate predecessor, that

enthusiasm for genuine self- government has disappeared. That is

probably why they are reduced to a rump in this Parliament.

He lost to Gloucester rather than answer the question. He did not

even know how many civil servants are working on this. -- he all of

us to it than bluster. In summer, will be less that every civil

servant had received training, not on the economy or improving public

services, but on how to keep information on independence seated.

And how to criticise the United Kingdom. They laugh and joke but

that is what is happening. His deputy, who is paid by the taxpayer,

is running the SNP's independence campaign. With all of the problems

facing our country, can it really be justified for taxpayers to pay

her and demote so many civil servants to the SNP's Cos? Tell us.

I consider Willie Rennie's allegations preposterous, and his

interpretation of incidents fanciful, not my words but those of

Alison Elliott, former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church

of Scotland who had to respond to a similar nonsensical attack from

Willie Rennie. John Finnie. To ask the First

Minister what representations the First Minister has made to BBC

Scotland following the announcement that there will be job losses at

BBC Highlands and Islands. The job cuts at BBC Scotland are

extremely disappointed, this week the Cabinet Secretary for Culture

and external affairs has written TV general director of the BBC in the

news and current affairs and Gallacher broadcasting, and I will

speak to him personally next week. I I thank the First Minister for

that answer. He will be aware that BBC Albarn has been very successful

in pulling in viewers of half-a- million, does he agree with me that

this is clear evidence that people in Scotland or seeking programming

made in Scotland and they want more productions made and shown here and

that an independent public service broadcaster would help deliver

this? I do agree with that, and I think that this chamber should be

aware of the contrast between the funding cuts that are reflecting

the BBC in Scotland, the 60% cut in funding from 102 million to 86

million, with this Government's decision to protect the funding for

BBC Albarn. They hope that everyone in this chamber we take notes that

if the reports in the Herald are true, at St BBC are intending to

use the staff of the publicly funded BBC Scotland asked to cover

the cuts of the BBC broadcasting in Gallic in Inverness. This to be

serious indeed and I will be pitting this point directly to the

director designate. Does the First Minister share my

concerns that with the removal of the news editor's job from the

proposed Inverness establishment, that there will be no direction

except for Glasgow for the services? That means the BBC

Highlands news agenda driven from Pacific Quay. Does the First

Minister agree that the mission must be that news must be given for

the whole of Scotland, not just the central belt? I do agree with that,

and tackled the Minister shares my concerns about the report in the

Herald newspaper about taking journalistic expertise to cover for

cutbacks in the BBC's on Broadcasting. The BBC is our

national broadcaster in Scotland, I think this whole chamber would

agree that it is time they acted like a national broadcaster for the

whole of the country. To ask the First Minister, what discussions

the Scottish Government has had with Hull regarding ferry services.

We have reached out to them and trade union representatives to

discuss how best we can deliver ferry services. Richard Baker.

Which the First Minister agree that the process which begins next year

to renew the current contracts that the ferry operator has fought the

Clyde and Hebrides, the bridge should not be Deane bundled bust

tendered as a single contract as it was previously? The case for

unbundling in our estimation has not been made. I am sure that

Richard Baker will be the first to acknowledge and understand that we

have no choice but to tender for these services. I know he

understands that, because in 2005 he supported a Government motion as

a Government supporter at that time which acknowledged that the

tendering of the Clyde and head of the slightly ferry services is

required to protect these vital services. Given that there can be

no disagreement that these -- that this tendering process is

inevitable, and given that I have given him an indication of the

Government a view on unbundling which would give him and the

workers much security, then I hope that he can see that this chamber

should be united in protecting our lifeline ferry services. Dave

Thompson. I am sure, First Minister, that you are aware that these

ferries are currently crewed by West Coast of seafarers. What

safeguards will be in place in the next round of tending to ensure

that these excellent staff maintain their jobs and conditions of

service should the ferry operator will lose the contract? Dave

Thompson describes the staff as excellent, and let me reiterate

that I believe they are excellent staff and we should recognise the

vital importance of these jobs to local communities. Even if,

following the tender process we fail to get a new provider, and D

Wood heard all members to look at the terms and conditions and to

ensure that they take place in regard to the contract.

Linda Fabiani. To ask the First Minister what the

Scottish Government's response is to the proposed closure of the

Rolls-Royce plant. We ain't be -- that we appreciate the express

concern about the close the Rolls- Royce plant. However, we are

pleased that Rolls-Royce intends to maintain all of its staff from the

East Kilbride plant, which underlines the significant

contribution that these staff make. We also welcome Rolls-Royce's

continued commitment to manufacturing in the West of

Scotland. Beat the -- the company is working with its employees to

ensure that these measures are taken with consideration and to

ensure that relocation is managed effectively for all concerned.

Scottish Enterprise are working with the company and local partners,

to look at conserving local options for the East Clydeside for 2015 and

beyond. That work is underway. Further meetings are scheduled in

East Kilbride on 20th September. Linda Fabiani. The First Minister

will be aware that in 2004, the Labour Lib Dem administration

agreed funding to upgrade the Rolls-Royce plant in Renfrewshire,

which created jobs that will now be moved. Can I ask if any conditions

were imposed on that funding at that time to protect East Kilbride

jobs and workers? And can I ask the First Minister to ensure that the

Scottish Government supports measures to maintain Rolls-Royce on

the east Clyde, and pursues suitable re-use of this industrial

says? East Kilbride has been home to some of Scotland's most advanced

manufacturing, and there is an absolute determination in the town

to see his continue. I will get into the first part of Linda

Fabiani's question and reply to her in writing. In terms of assurance

with skills the film in Scotland, we are working with local partners

to ensure that all young people have access to services. She knows

that employment is -- that employers are undertaking a series

of employment action forums to engage young people to drive action

at the local level. She can be absolutely certain that the

Government and its agencies are fully committed to East Kilbride

economy. This ends First Minister's questions, the next act of does

this is a member's debate. This brings to a close our coverage

of First Minister's questions. An intriguing discussion at the

beginning between a Johann Lamont and Alex Salmond, the fundamental

disagreement that is the fault line in Scottish politics with regard to

the ministerial reshuffle, it occurred and the independents have

been at being a total distraction from efforts to solve the economic