08/05/2013 Politics Scotland

Welcome to Politics Scotland on the day that the Queen opens a new

Gracious Address of the UK government's programme for the year.

Here at Westminster will be gauging the reaction to the announcements

and finding out what it means for Scotland. At Holyrood, the focus is

on childcare, a key topic for politicians as parents struggle with

high fees. The Queen has highlighted the UK

government's determination to keep Scotland as part of the United

Kingdom. The comment was part of her speech this morning. She was setting

out the coalition 's programme for the next year. I'm joined by our

commentator for the afternoon, Severin Carrell, from the Guardian.

What are the UK government trying to do with this year's speech?

first thing they are trying to do is keep the coalition together, keep

the Tory backbenchers placated, and trying to not too scared to many

horses. They have the rise of UKIP, that is causing anxiety for the

Tories. There are new tensions in the coalition, how they keep the

team together. It is a very safe Queens speech, with the exception of

the immigration bill, where there will be some controversy and

conflict between partners. Their political opponents were saying it

was lightweight. When it comes to Scotland, how much applies to what

here? -- to us here? The comments by the Queen, let's put that to rest.

Brian Taylor was pointed out that this was scripted for her, she did

not write this, like 1977 where she was speaking for herself, as it

were. The application of these measures for Scotland is quite

significant. There are only two that don't have any in Scotland. Most of

them will apply, they are reserved powers, pensions, even the reforms

of the NHS are going to have some knock-on effect. Back with you in a

moment. We have set the scene, here are some

excerpts from the speech this morning.

My Lords, and members of the House of Commons, my gunmen's literalist

-- my government's programme will focus on building a stronger economy

so that the United Kingdom can succeed around the world. It will

also work to promote a fairer society that rewards people who work

hard. My government 's first priority is to strengthen Britain's

economic competitiveness. To this end, it will support the growth of

the private sector, and the creation of more jobs and opportunities. My

ministers will continue to prioritise measures that reduce the

deficit, ensuring interest rates are kept alone for homeowners and

businesses. Mike garment is committed to building an economy

where people who work hard are properly rewarded. It will therefore

continue to reform the benefits system, helping people move from

welfare to work. Measures will be brought forward to introduce a new

employment allowance, to support jobs, and help small businesses. A

Bill will be introduced to remove the burden of excessive regulation

on businesses. A further Bill will make it easier for businesses to

protect their intellectual property. A draft Bill will be established to

establish a simple set of consumer rights to protect competitive

markets and grow. My government will introduce a Bill which introduces

the audit commission. My government will continue to invest in

infrastructure to develop jobs and growth for the economy. Legislation

will be introduced to unable the building of the high two railway

line, providing further opportunities, economic growth for

many Britain's cities. My government will continue with legislation to

update energy infrastructure, and to improve the water industry. My

government is committed to a fairer society, where aspiration and

responsibility are rewarded. To make sure that every child has the best

start in life, regardless of background, further measures will be

taken to improve the quality of education for young people. Plans

will be developed to help working parents with childcare, increasing

availability, and helping with its cost. My government will also take

forward plans for a new national curriculum, a world-class exams

system, and greater flexibility in paying the teachers. My government

will also take steps to ensure that it becomes typical for those leaving

school to start a trainee position or an apprenticeship, or to go to

university. New arrangements will be put into place to help more people

own their own home, with government support provided for mortgages and

deposits. My government is committed to supporting people who have saved

for their retirement. Legislation will be introduced to reform the way

that long-term care is paid for, to ensure the elderly do not have to

sell their homes to meet their care bills. My government will bring

forward legislation to create a simpler state pension system, that

encourages saving, and provides more help to those who have spent years

caring for children. Legislation will be introduced to ensure

sufferers of asbestos related cancer receive payments where no reliable

employer can be traced. My government will work in cooperation

with the devolved administrations. A Bill will be introduced to give

effect for a number of institutional improvements in Northern Ireland.

Draft legislation will be published concerning the electoral

arrangements for the National Assembly for Wales. My government

will continue to make the case for Scotland to remain part of the

United Kingdom. Let's stay at Westminster and speak

to David Porter who is standing by an College Green. MPs have now had

three hours to digestive what was -- to digestive what was in that

speech. We are joined by three MPs on College Green to discuss what it

means for Scotland, and indeed what it may or may not do to re-energise

the economy. Joining me is Alistair Carmichael, the deputy chief whip,

Angus Robertson, and Margaret Curran, for Labour. What does it do

for Scotland? There are a number of very significant measures which

application for Scotland. Reduction in national insurance contributions

for employers, the green energy measures, they are directed and will

have an impact in Scotland, and which are very good news, and should

be welcomed by all parties. It is Westminster working with Scotland is

the interference? Whilst obviously there are Bills which will be

relevant to Scotland, there is also a massive tranche of business which

has no relevance to Scotland. There are things we had anticipated being

there, and which were not there. The pledge to live up to a 40 year

promised to support international development targets, that was not in

the Queens speech, and is not being enshrined in law. -- Queen's speech.

What people were looking out for was whether there was going to be a

really serious effort to try and boost economic growth. Whilst there

may be some measures, and there are always some good things, with things

that are less than perfect, I didn't see anything which is really going

to make a difference, and get us out of this. They have a fetish with

austerity. A lot of people will have been looking for that, and we have

not seen any major measures which are going to change that. We will

come to the economy, to you regard it as a missed opportunity? Elect

the people of Scotland down, it does not address the real circumstances

of families in Scotland, and also Briton, who are struggling, nothing

with the economy, nothing to help of the cost of living, nothing to get

the economy going. Escarpment has run out of ideas, there are some

good things, but nothing that addresses the scale of the

challenge. We need intervention and change from the government, they do

not get it, they do not understand what is happening in the country.

This is pretty desperate staff, if you could re-energise the economy, I

suspect that Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling would have done

that, and you would not have lost the election. -- desperate stuff. As

for overseas spending, that was in the budget, we don't need a Bill to

do that. We are doing the things that they always speak about, but

did not achieve. Think about the difference that is going to be there

for pensioners. A single tier pension, eradicating where the

biggest issues of pension and fairness. -- unfairness. The issue

of people who took time out of their career to look after children, I

thought they would have been pleased to see that. We need intervention

now. They're going to be getting help of their childcare as well.

this is worthy of discussion, I would note that the briefing from

the government, the main issue they are trying to get across is dog and

whistle about immigration. This is what is being spun to the London

based media, and shows a rather nasty turn from the government, and

I'm sorry the Liberal Democrats are supporting it. They are looking to

stave off the threat from the right, and what UKIP are saying.

That is a very unfortunate move from the government. Of course, you need

to deal with immigration, I would suggest that getting rid of European

arrest warrant is not the way of dealing with it, but what is being

briefed down here as being at the centre of the speech, relates to

immigration, not the economy. argument what -- which is worrying

people is the economy, of course we need debate on immigration, but we

need action now, and that is where the government is failing. We have

17,000 people out of work, we need to do things for them, we have

people being crippled by energy bills, there are food banks being

opened or over my decision when C. I will -- all over my constituency. I

will visit another one this week. need to offer an apology, what she

said earlier was desperate, I had not heard Angus 's last immigration

intervention. We have not published any Wallasey, we are just saying

that there is going to be an immigration bill coming in. If there

is dog and whistle politics being spun, it is from them over there.

The government policy has a lot of support? He is totally relaxed, I'm

reflecting on the briefing that is going on within the UK government, I

reflect it is happening within a week of the Tories bleeding support

to UKIP, and these things are connected. Perhaps everything in the

proposals is fantastic, that is not what is in the centre of the

briefing at the present time. As is always the case with a Queen's

speech, there are things that emerge which are not bad, there are things

which emerge that are truly awful, it always takes time to these things

to emerge. I think it is absolutely right to point out that in the real

world, people are worried about the economy, about jobs, about personal

finance, and I don't think the speech is going to deal with that.

Commentators are saying that this is a Queen's speech that has very

little to say about the big issues, a government only three years into

its business, with two parties, and they cannot come up with one decent

idea to get the economy moving. They are in deep trouble. One question I

want to put all three of you, some people have raised eyebrows at a

speech so specifically pointed at the constitutional debate in

Scotland. I think that is inevitable, we are

just under 500 days from the independence referendum and the

government here is taking the lead in terms of putting the real

realities of what independence will mean for our currency and our

dealings with the rest of the world under the sort of scrutiny that it

cannot pay. You're going to see a lot of that for the next 12 months.

Shock horror, Her Majesty's UK government run by the Tories is

opposed to independence, while Her Majesty Boz Micro Scottish

government is in favour. -- Her Majesty's Scottish government. I

happen to think it is a tremendous idea that Scotland becomes a normal

country, instead of... Parliament not in our country making decisions

about Scotland - that is not normal. The fact that the Tories, the

Liberals and their friends in labour are opposed to Scotland making all

big decisions is no surprise. I think when we move beyond these

platitudes and get into the details, the SNP are really

struggling and it is a sign of how important this is. I am really

looking forward to the next 500 days to get the details out, and as is

evident, the polls will stay where they are and there will be a big

rejection of Scottish independence because they cannot withstand

scrutiny. We will leave it there, thank you

very much. I don't think you will be very surprised, Andrew, when I say

that this lot will carry on talking until the end of the programme, we

will have more discussion in the days and weeks to come.

More of it in just a moment, but first at Holyrood this week, Labour

have chosen to focus on childcare. It came up during the Queen's Speech

and during the SNP Party conference and labour's conference. Alex

Salmond said a transformational shift towards childcare should be

one of the tasks in an independent Scotland. Meanwhile, to one Lamont

said she wanted to meet the First Minister to discuss childcare,

saying Scotland Boz Micro greatest -- Johann Lamont said she wanted to

meet the First Minister, saying Scotland's people are its greatest

risk -- resource. With those who have expertise in the

delivery of childcare and the knowledge and understanding of

working with children. We need to engage with those who have

responsibility for delivery and we should not be too big to admit

that, individually, we do not have all the answers or that there are

others who may know better. We need to engage with those who know what

they are talking about. Above all, we need to work out how much this

would cost and where the money would come from. That is why Johann Lamont

has offered to work with the First Minister, but I don't think that

offer should be restricted to just the SNP and Scottish Labour. There

are practical things we can do know if there is the will across the

political spectrum. We do not need to wait until 2014 or 2016. I accept

that, if we are to make a long-term difference, we need to start working

together now and not delay while Scottish families struggle. I don't

mean any disrespect to the quintal of economic advisers when I say that

I don't think they are best placed to come up with a practical model of

computing to Tokyo delivery. -- the Council of economic advisers. They

may be experts in the economy, but we need the expertise of those it --

who educate and work with children. There is one thing I agree with in

the Scottish government amendment, and that is that we need to look at

the best models of delivery and funding for Scotland. That is why I

appeal, even at this late stage, to the Scottish government to withdraw

its amendment. Let us work together, let us put aside our differences.

Let us agree to share the knowledge and expertise from the political

spectrum, but also from the professional spectrum. Let us agree,

for once, to put those Party political differences aside. Let us

work together to come up with affordable, flexible, quality

childcare that puts families -- that families in Scotland want and need.

Let's put Scotland first. Thank you. I know call on Eileen Campbell to

speak on the movement. Seven minutes, please.

Thank you, and I want to start by welcoming the Labour motion within

the plans on the children and young people build to increase the

childcare entitlement to a minimum of 600 hours per year. I also

welcome the desire to work on cross Party lines. I recognise that Johann

Lamont is to meet the First Minister in the near future to discuss

childcare. We all recognise that high quality childcare has a vital

role to play, both for children's social, emotional and cognitive

development, and for parents to seek -- seeking to balance childcare with

work, education and training. It has profound implications for

Scotland's economy. Our provisions within the children and young people

build to increase early childcare for three and four-year-olds as well

as the most vulnerable to your notes to a minimum of 600 hours per year

represents a significant step. -- most vulnerable to-year-olds. It

will meet the needs of all children, their parents and their families.

Our commitment to legislate for 600 hours represents significant

progress since 2007. This progress is an important component in our

efforts to maximise household budgets to benefit the economic and

social well-being of Scottish citizens. Our ever -- efforts will

benefit around 121,000 children and their families, savings equivalent

to around �700 in childcare bills, adding 188 hours of early learning

and childcare and increasing flexibility to ensure high-quality

early learning and child care is delivered in response to local needs

and choices for parents. This will improve consistency and lead to

better outcomes for children and better meet the needs for parents,

particularly mothers who want to go back into work, education or

training. We are also trying to improve provision and help for the

most vulnerable in society, exemplified by the extension of the

childcare extent -- entitlement to two -year-olds, and those under a

clear order who can make sure children remain looked after. Waited

we -- we believe it is essential to focus our efforts where we can make

a real and positive test -- difference. I no much has been said

about the benefits of extending the entitlement to a wider group of

disadvantage to-year-olds and the opposition has cited the statistics,

but my reply is we are committed to building a high-quality system of

early learning childcare to benefit the most vulnerable in our society.

We must do that in a manageable and sustainable way, getting it right

for every child and in an approach that is designed to secure better

outcomes for every child. Failure to move forward on a manageable and

sustainable asthmatic sustainable way would put children at risk. The

risk of adverse impacts on our youngest children is unacceptable to

this government. In England it is becoming clear that many experts

have serious doubts about the affordability, practicality and

effectiveness of the expanded funding entitlement so far and so

fast, and yesterday the BBC reported a potential shortage of 65,000

places for disadvantaged two -year-olds. A respected academic is

editing the Scotland tomorrow and I hope to meet with her. An academic

who carried out a review that informed the UK government's

childcare strategy has now criticised that strategy and was

recently quoted saying, trading staff to child ratios for hire

qualified staff is nonsense. Watering down ratios will threaten

quality. Childcare will be cheaper, but children will be fitting the

Bill. This government will not -- children will foot the Bill. The

First Minister has asked the Council of economic advisers to look at the

best model of economic delivery and funding for a system of childcare in

an independent Scotland informed by what other countries are doing. As I

am sure all in this chamber are away, there are a range of models

and provision -- one provision and funding, but our concern is what is

right for Scotland and its people. I am delighted to see that the early

learning and childcare strategic funding partnership and the care and

learning Alliance have allocated 155,000, adding to the 1.5 million

already allocated to LA learning and childcare third sector partners

through the third sector early intervention fund.

That was children's Minister Eileen Campbell speaking on the issue of

childcare. Let us pick that up with Severin Carrell from the Guardian. A

lot of politics about childcare. It was brought up at the SNP

conference, Labour conference and into the's Queen's Speech, as well.

A lot of people see this as important because childcare is all

of the normal motherhood and apple pie politics. The difficulty for the

Scottish government at the moment is that the UK government is producing

specific finance proposals, talking about numbers of individual

children, and Labour in Scotland are trying to push them very hard to

bring forward plans. Alex Salmond has spoken about something as being

an aspiration for after 2016 and Labour see that as political space

to capture. They want to focus on the idea that domestic politics on

Scotland is on hold because of the referendum. They are deliberately

trying to capture this territory, talking about the childcare

commission, trying to do it as an openhanded, cross-party, apolitical

proposition. Alex Salmond is a clever operator. He will meet Johann

Lamont to try and claw back some credibility, some control over this

agenda. In some way, the Scottish government is probably going to have

to move further than the wish at the moment.

It is interesting, the attempt to form some cross-party consensus on

this. Johann Lamont said she wanted to meet with the First Minister next

week, I don't think that happened, but Hugh Henry was saying they were

trying to achieve that and wanted to work together.

Yes, we will see some movement, there is no doubt about that. It is

an important topic. It allows Labour to start re-harassing this idea --

rehearsing this idea they are concerned about the lives of

ordinary dairy Scots. -- ordinarily Scots. Alex Salmond is smart enough

to know there are some debates you need to take control of and this is

very definitely one of those. It is also interesting because it

almost helps real in someone in voters, particularly for the SNP,

where there is a gap for the female support for independence and from

men's support. Polls consistently show support is

weaker amongst women for independence. Reporters are more

concerned about the economy and their own incomes and how much money

they had to spend. -- voters are more concerned. If you have

questions about making it easier to a folder and making it -- dealing

with issues that women are more concerned with, as a generality,

than male voters are it is a push point, I think.

Let's get some reaction now on the Queen's Speech from a panel of SMP

-- MSP is at Holyrood. We have Scottish Conservative Jackson

Carlaw, SNP's Stewart Motherwell -- Stewart Maxwell and James Kelly from

Labour. First you, Jackson Carlaw, your colleagues at Westminster

drafted the Queen's Speech. A lot of people are pointing out it is light

on the detail, I government running out of steam.

I think these things are said every year and sometimes we are all pulled

the earth will shake after the Queen's Speech. Fundamentally, the

government is continuing its approach to recovering the economy,

and many of these bills will aid that process. As well as that, there

are 15 bills, eight of them will apply to Scotland in total, five to

some extent. There are some important measures, one I would

point out is the pensions flat rate reform that will be a huge advantage

to many women who have been prejudiced by the existing system.

There are a lot of very important things in this Queen's Speech that

will be part and parcel of the sustained recovery of the economy.

Stewart Maxwell, that is the key point of the UK government, that

they want to try and boost the economy and that is what this

Queen's Speech is trying to do. I don't think it is, Jackson made a

good job of trying to defend something that is... Apart from the

main Bill, I don't think there is really any focus on the economy.

What is most interesting is the bills that are not in it, many which

were widely trailed and have been dropped. For example on minimum unit

pricing which was supposed to be greed then dropped, plain packaging

for cigarettes, and the legal commitment to 0.7% of GDP going in

overseas aid has been dropped. Progressive measures have been

dropped and panicked reaction to UKIP's success has resulted in a

latch to the right with the anti immigration Bill.

James Kelly, what do you make of it? I suppose the government is trying

to legislate to boost the economy, which is something that the Labour

government tried to do from 2010 onwards.

It is pretty big stuff, what you have here is a speech crafted by

David Cameron and his elite cabal of advisers, which does nothing for

people throughout Scotland. What we needed was action on jobs, 200,000

people in Scotland, 65,000 of them young people are unemployed. There

should have been tougher action on energy firms to deal with rising

energy bills. �300 per household since the last election. Not enough,

in my opinion, pretty weak stuff. Jackson Carlaw, you are hearing from

your opponent is what they are saying, let's pick up on this point

about focusing on in immigration, we have heard that it is dog and

whistle politics, a lurch to the right, is that what it is, or is it

fair to have this so-called crackdown? We are getting used to

Angus Robertson 's rant on everything. We're simply saying that

those people coming into this country who use the National Health

Service, or take up housing, are people who should be entitled to do

that. There should be a proper process whereby the costs can be

recovered. We want to see net immigration to this country for

people contributing to the economy. We don't want it to be used by

people who exploit human rights legislation. They are here abusing

our particular systems and services available. It is not a widely

encompassing Bill, it is one with sensible measures. I would be

surprised if people don't see the common-sense on them. I was

disappointed with Stewart Maxwell's reaction on minimum pricing, we have

made clear no decision has been made. It only got through in

Scotland because the Scottish Conservatives assisted, in the

courts last week, it was the UK government which supported the

action. Let's stick with immigration, Jackson laid out his

defence of the policy, does that sound fair and sensible? Lutz of the

talk sounds perfectly reasonable, and we want a sensible policy. We

don't want people abusing the system the want a clear mechanism for

removing them. It is quite clear that the highlight that this has

been given in this particular Queen's speech, and the action from

backbenchers on the issue of immigration is a reaction, a

frightened reaction, to the UKIP success last week. It is a lurch to

the right, an attempt to deal with the UKIP agenda. On this issue, the

Conservatives are coming out and saying they want us out of Europe,

it shows us the problems we face if people vote to stay in the UK next

year. We want to deal with this far right agenda. James Kelly, it will

be interesting to see how your colleagues react to the UKIP

phenomenon, particularly in the South Shields by-election. Labour

may have to react. Do you think your party will support these proposals

put forward by the UK government? think what you have here on you have

a government reacting to the loss of hundreds of Conservative council

seats on Thursday, I don't think that is the way that a Queen's

speech should be crafted, it should be looking on the issues on the

ground, getting the economy going, and helping working families. On the

specific issue of immigration, we need a balanced policy, and we

should be looking at firms who are using immigrants and not paying the

minimum wage, that should not be allowed. We should take strong

measures to act against that. Ultimately the balance of any

Queen's speech should reflect the feelings of the country at the

time, and the country needs action on jobs and the economy.

immigration, what about limiting access to the NHS? I don't think

that any measures which are drafted over the weekend should be done,

they should be looked at very closely. That is the feeling of

people in my constituency, we should be pushing against immigrants in

such a fashion. We want people to have proper access to services, and

they contribute properly in the tax system, and they should be looked

after if they are proper citizens in the country. It is about respect, we

need to remember that. Thank you very much joining me.

Experts who have been reviewing patients access to medicine are

calling for a new fund. They warned the health committee in singling out

cancer from other elements. They urge cross-party talks. I have very

much enjoyed looking carefully at the consortium, I highlighted in my

report what I regarded as the characteristics of an ideal

appraisal process. The timeliness which is very relevant to the speed

in which Scotland assesses drugs. The relevance and the in-depth

nature of the usability of information, the efficiency of the

process which I looked at carefully, and particularly the elements of the

process, which I was satisfied was very independent. My conclusion is

that the process that Scotland news is to appraise new drugs is a very

good one, and one which Scotland should be proud of. My

recommendations relate largely to trying to increase the transparency

of the process so that all those involved in the process who have an

interest in the outcome are able to see the qualities of the process

that Scotland uses. Many of my recommendations are about tightening

up and improving what is there already, and essentially asking for

more transparency, and public reporting, in some cases

involvement. I was also very struck by the original recommendations to

the committee which started this process. The particular plight of

those patients who suffer from very rare diseases. For whom, very few

medicines have been recommended. Even though they might be effective

in many instances. That is why I made an interim recommendation about

the establishment of a rare medicines and diseases fund. I very

much welcome what you have said about the orphan, and ultra-orphan

diseases, and the setting up of fund. Beyond that, many patients,

and many collisions who are involved -- many clinicians who are involved

want to see a fund established, and we have one established, that is

excellent. Do you think there is any case made for setting up a fund for

patients to get access to cancer medicines? Although they may not be

cost-effective. Obviously not part of the process, that I have real

concerns about identifying any particular condition of another in

relation to making access to medicines. I think rarity of disease

is another issue, and somebody -- and some of the indications are for

very small groups of individuals, which could shorten the life, it is

fair that all serious conditions be given the same opportunities as say

cancer, which is clearly one of those. I would like the political

parties to work together to find a pragmatic approach to facilitate a

shared understanding and support in the need to ensure the best possible

outcomes for patients and clinicians in this challenging environment,

whilst meeting our responsibilities to patients and the public, to issue

this -- to achieve this in the timescale recommended. Moving

forward, we will not take any decisions on this report until we

have seen and considered the recommendations from this

committee. We will then engage in a period of public consultation, with

the objectives of trying to get cross-party agreement and consensus

on the way forward in dealing with this difficult issue. If we can take

it out of party politics, I believe that will be to everybody 's

benefit. Let's have a final chat with Severin

Carrell. Interesting to hear that, cancer drugs other very emotive

issue. This must be one of the worst subject ever? Choosing who gets

medicine, and who gets less, it is very difficult. I would not want to

be the person making the choices. Which diseases are more important

and gets greater priority? The experts are probably right, the

fight against cancer is something that everyone would agree is

important, there are many other diseases out there which are buried

the ability to -- which are buried ability, and need looking at.

have spent a large portion of the programme talking about the Queen 's

speech, the next big set piece in Westminster is the spending review,

and we will see some drastic cuts? You may argue that today 's speech

is the calm before the storm, the next spending review is going to

produce some very deep cuts, in defence and other areas. We know the

UK government are seeking more cuts in their overall spending,

protecting health and education. Other departments I going to have to

take deep cuts. I go back to Angus Robertson, the austerities lettuce,

that is going to be part of the new dynamic. -- austerity fetish. The

pro-independence movement are going to latch onto economic thinking,

spending plans, and contrast what the coalition are seeking to do with

what they would hope they can do, where Scotland to become

independent. It will be a crucial period. One piece of news today, the

Aberdeen by-election, that has been announced, the 20th of June? One

wisecrack on Twitter, interesting that Alex Bergersen resigned today

so he could stand? I'm not sure he could even win that. A majority of

7000, it seems very safe. It is a hard land for the Scottish National

party, their counters will feel fairly secure. -- their candidates

will feel very secure. It will be interesting to see how Labour fight

this one. They will try and rode the majority, that to win the seat will

be eight tall order. Thank you for coming in.

That is all we have time for this week, join me again at the same time