08/09/2011 Politics Scotland

We are back, welcome to Holyrood for the first First Minister's

Questions of the first session. The UK government is going to try again

to answer the West Lothian question through the commission. Evidence is

being given about the Scotland Bill, new powers for Holyrood. The big

one for this programme is questions to the first minister. Let's cost

to the Chamber. -- cross. Welcome back to the Chamber of the

Scottish Parliament. Still settling back after the election. Lots of

new faces and some are familiar faces. Iain Gray and Annabel Goldie

will be asking the questions today on behalf of their parties. They

both said they are going to stand down in the search for their

successors. It looks as though we are about to get started with Iain

Gray to ask the first question. We now move to First Minister's

Questions, Question Number 1, Iain Gray. Can I ask the first Mr what

engagement he has planned for the rest of the day? -- Minister.

meeting with the finance secretary to discuss amongst other things the

job-creating powers we need adding to the Scotland Bill. I will be

discussing the analysis at 9:30am this morning that shows over the

next 20 years, a reduction in corporation tax of just 3% that

would boost Scotland's GDP by 4% and raise investment in the

Scottish economy and lead to an increase of 27,000 jobs in Scotland.

I am sure when Iain Gray decides to read that analysis, he will, like

his predecessor Wendy Alexander would have done, welcome the idea

that this Parliament should have access to these sort of job-

creating powers. Iain Gray. The presiding officer, we would

certainly welcome debate on the future of Scotland. In 2009, the

first minister said the people of Scotland were ready to have their

say on separation. Now he is scared to hat -- let them have their say

because he is scared of the answer. Isn't that the simple truth? As he

prepares for his imminent retirement... I don't know if it is

imminent, actually, but as he prepares, he obviously hasn't had a

chance to let that beat opinion polls in terms of the

constitutional question and substantial movement. He will

remember the election campaign, I know he will, because he spent the

first 20 minutes of his speech yesterday talking about it but he

will remember when we clearly set out, during that campaign, not

least the leadership debate in Perth, that the Scotland Bill

legislation and job-creating powers was the immediate constitutional

priority and the referendum Bill would be in the second half of this

parliamentary term. Surely Iain Gray wouldn't want me to go back on

a clear commitment to the Scottish people. Iain Gray. What I don't

understand is why he goes back on a clear commitment he made in 2009.

Actually, I do, because the answer lies in the opinion poll which

shows that 60% of Scots reject his vision of this kit -- future of

Scotland. And you know, it wouldn't matter if the First Minister's

ducking and diving wasn't a damaging Scotland. But last week,

the CBI said that it is, it is damaging business confidence. Yes.

Yes. These are the people who create wealth and jobs, and the

first minister told them they should not blundered into politics.

Is this Alex Salmond's Scotland? Is this his independence debate? Agree

with me or shut up? Can I remind Iain Gray of a bit of recent

history. 2009, that was the time that this Labour party in

parliament blocked the referendum Bill. 2011 is this year, when we

stood for election and won a resounding majority. Now, if, of

course, having won that a resounding majority, we had gone

back on what we said that during that election campaign, Iain Gray

would be saying it, you have gone back on the election campaign, you

are not making jobs the priority! He would be in the same ridiculous

position as Michael Moore, who in the same speech said we should be

concentrating on our own powers and then demanded answers on

independence in the self-same speech acts Mark --! On people who

do create jobs in Scotland, can I point out to Iain Gray, the recent

announcements from Amazon, Ryanair, easyJet, Tesco bank, Virgin money,

Blackrock, Mitsubishi, all companies creating jobs partly

thanks to the policies of this government. All of which have

confidence in the economic future of Scotland. Let's look at recent

history on this. In 2007, when my predecessor Wendy Alexander said

she wouldn't block a referendum, the First Minister wouldn't have

won. In 2009, when he knew he couldn't have one, he wanted one.

And in 2011, when he can have one, he is not going to have it again.

That is the recent history on this question. It is not just the CBI,

even the First Minister's personal PR outlet, the Scottish Sun, says

this morning... It says this morning that the First Minister

should get on with it. They agree with the CBI. So is the first

minister going to give them the same answer? Is he going to drop a

note to his pen-pal Rupert Murdoch's showing -- telling him

that he should and blunder into politics? -- shouldn't. I honestly

don't think the Labour Party and Rupert Murdoch is the strongest

line of questioning. I have to say, I am touched of caused by these

newspapers which are brought into this chamber. -- of course. At some

point, Iain Gray will go online and he won't have to hold copies of

newspapers. Can I say to Iain Gray, we said clearly in the election

campaign that we had a fundamental priority on jobs in this economy at

the present moment. That is a fundamental priority. Iain Gray

took 21 minutes yesterday to mention the economy and jobs in his

speech. Secondly, we said that the priority in the constitution was to

create a job -- get job-creating powers into the Scotland Bill. We

said the independence referendum will take place in the second half

of this parliamentary term and that is what we will do. I think going

back through the history is not particularly comforting for Iain

Gray. As I remember a response to Wendy Alexander's declaration, when

Iain Gray had his speaking Portuguese interview, as he tried

to explain the contortions of Labour's position. And when Wendy

was removed as leader, Iain Gray came in and immediately reversed if

they policy. I think rather than take lessons in political strategy

from Iain Gray, we will stand on a policy which run us such a

resounding victory in this here's collection -- one us. -- won us a

resounding victory in this here's election. I am interested when he

takes lessons in political strategy from. Sometimes it can be

surprising. A friend went to a fortune teller in Dundee last week

and displayed on a caravan was a photo of a celebrity client, Alex

Salmond. So maybe we should ask a fortune teller when the referendum

is going to be? Because the First Minister doesn't seem to know. And

by the way... Banned by the way... -- and by the way. If anybody would

like their fortune told, if you ask how much it tears -- it is for a

reading it, the answer you get is, you can never tell, it might be a

five-hour, it might be 30 quid. Isn't that exactly the First

Minister's plan for separatism? Say yes first and then I will tell you

how much it costs. The strategy of the snake oil salesmen down the

ages. I recognise the fortune teller's name, she is a regular

attendee in my constituency. And I visited her stall in 2006 and she

said the SNP would when election... -- would win. And it came to pass

a! I didn't even have to give her any money. Now I am going to make a

return visit. And I am going to ask her the most difficult question in

Scottish politics. Not who is going to be the next Labour leader, and

but when is the contest going to be? Annabel Goldie? I would ask the

first minister when he will next meet this Secretary of State for

Scotland. I am meeting with the Secretary of State for Scotland

this very afternoon but I am looking forward to meeting with

Professor Joseph Stiglitz, who as - - who has today accepted Mike at --

invitation to join Scott Lamb's board of economic advisers. I am

sure when Annabel Goldie find out who he is, she will welcome the

fact that one of the world's finest economic minds is putting his

services at Scotland's disposal. Presiding Officer, yesterday, the

First Minister in his statement told us that we must move away from

the European model of deficit driven States. Of course, the

European states with the biggest deficit problems are in the euro-

zone. There are masses of unanswered questions about the

independence plans, but let me pick one, the currency, which I hope he

can answer without reference to fortune tellers. If he gets his way,

what is his personal preference? Is it the British pound or is it the

euro? I can do better than that, I can just ask Annabel, in York

Scotland, You'll Voice, -- your Scotland, your voice. She said it

in there. The last thing the Conservative Party want to do at

the moment is you read newspapers already documents, and I also know

that Annabel Goldie, that when I spoke to her, I thought it will be

the last time she would ask me the question, I now understand it will

be the last time any Conservative asks me a question in this

Parliament. It says we should stay in the sterling area until the

Scottish people say we should do otherwise. It seems a pretty clear

answer and I hope Annabel Goldie will excepted. It seems to be

anything but clear. -- well accepted. Yesterday, he was

commending to Scotland certain policies and certain objectives,

not least independence. Let's get this straight, this is a first

minister who wants independence but won't tell us the date of a

referendum or the question to be asked. Now he personally doesn't

know what currency he once if he wins. This leopard has got some

spots. As First Minister, he has rushed to the airways, Radio

Scotland, a radio Catalan, in which he denigrated the British pound and

praised the euro. Let me ask him again. Does he personally wanted

the British pound or does he want to the euro? -- want. He cannot

duck questions on independence forever. This is one question he

can answer, so what is his answer? "from the document so Annabel

Goldie can scrutinise it, because obviously she cannot have read it -

- I will speak. Choosing the currency best suited to the needs

of the Scottish economy, Scotland will carry on operating from the

sterling until it says the people of Scotland and for a referendum

when the economic situation is correct. It is a pretty clear

statement. In comparison with the Conservative's party's convulsions

on these issues... When I was in the House of Commons, Ken Clarke

was the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Labour Party's contortions

on this issue, which have reversed so many times, that is a very clear

statement of position. What I want to know is when we have our new

Conservative Party after the current one has disbanded, will the

policy is actually changed all will it be the same old stuff under a

different banner -- Policies? I asked the question because I got

some insight... I draw attention to the answer, when I saw Jeremy

Paxman interviewing the new, perhaps, leader of power, perhaps,

that party in Scotland. Most people won't have seen it, because it was

only shown in England, but nonetheless, the answer to the

Conservative Party's problems with being not fit for purpose, no

future, Adapt or date -- adapt or die, may be contained in that

interview. I would say it takes more than a change of name or a

change of leader to give any chance One of the welcome consequences of

my a condition he is that I am responsible for what matters of the

present and raising these for the future I leave to others. It is

clear to me that, rather than answer important basic questions,

he would run for cover and bring in all other matters of distraction to

disguise the basic point that this man who wants this country to be

independent doesn't even know what currency it will have. I say that

it is therefore Annabel Goldie to read on page 31 of this document

published 18 months ago. The last thing that Annabel Goldie wants to

talk about is the future election of her party but it is a perfectly

legitimate response to look upon the agonies and uncertainty of her

party because, after all, if they had the right policies towards

Scotland at the right attitude, Annabel Goldie would be unleashed

in this space as opposed to being unleashed in that space. Can I say

in all friendly nurse, I always thought she was unleashed before

she was standing down as party leader. Supplementary, Sandro white.

Thank you. To raise parking fees which will have a severe impact on

workers at the hospital. I know the member will appreciate that PFI

contract under which these charges were introduced and which these

charges were contained was, unfortunately, signed by the last

Labour administration. Much as we would have liked to adopt the same

policy to was the PFI contracts as we did to the vast majority of

National Health Service hospitals under our control, it is not

possible to do that without substantial expense on the public

Exchequer. It would have been great if when the great -- negotiating

PFI contracts, the last administration had paid an iota of

concentration on the care of patients and the public. To ask the

First Minister what issues will be discussed at the first meeting of

the Cabinet. Issues important to the people of Scotland. An array go,

the safety committee advised that the lifetime ban on gay men

donating blood should be rescinded. What would the first minister do to

respond to that report? There is a news release which gives our

response in which we accept the recommendations with the protection

that the committee recommends a term of timescale. It is not the

full equality that many of us have campaigned for but it is a start.

Similar bans have been relaxed in Australia, South Africa, Japan and

Sweden and the Scottish Blood transfusion Service is committed to

finding 65,000 more donors in the next year. The sooner the changes

adopted the sooner the service can add 100,000 patients. This would

save lives. Will the First Minister personally promote this change and

encourage more people to donate blood, whatever sexuality they

have? The answer to the last part is certainly yes. Can I say that

when we accepted the recommendation, the recommendation was to end the

lifetime ban on gay men giving blood. An expert committee

recommended some safeguards in terms of public safety and I don't

think any responsible government would not accept those

recommendations as well. In the response the government made, we

make -- take the matter extremely seriously and welcome that progress

is being made. We have to go by the expert advice in terms of

protections. As for people giving blood and advocating that, almost

certainly. To ask the First Minister, in light of the reported

discovery of -- dogmas relating to Gaddafi's linked to US intelligence

services, is there any access or information relating to the Pan Am

flight 103 over Lockerbie? This is a case concerning the atrocity

which killed 270 people. The Crown Office will come -- pursue lines of

inquiry as they become available. The First Minister is aware that I

believe the conviction is not secured and whilst welcoming the

legislation to facilitate publication of reports and

abandoned cases such as Lockerbie, can he advise that this is an open

case and, therefore, is the Crown Office in contact with the National

Transitional Council in Libya to ensure preservation of

documentation that may relate to that atrocity and in the interests

of justice, what steps will be taken to secure delivery to

Scotland if such evidence exists? am pleased that she welcomes our

intention to publish the full statement of reasons to the court.

We should do our absolute best to facilitate this being done because

it has a substantial and detail within it which may shed some light

on the thinking went them case was referred to the Court of Appeal. In

the contact we have had with the National Transitional Council, we

made two things clear. Abdul Al- Megrahi is in compliance with his

conditions. This is an open investigation and the Crown Office

and the police continue to pursue any lines of inquiry that may arise.

That refers to the protection of any evidence that should shed light

on this issue. The National Transitional Council have indicated

their willingness to maintain contact on this issue. They made

the reasonable point that their immediate focus in Libya is in

restoring civil order and rebuilding services as the current

conflict draws to a close, Hong -- at least. With reference to the

discovery of documents relating to the corporation between Colonel

Gaddafi's intelligence services and the British intelligence service in

Tripoli, will the Scottish government investigate the illegal

use of Scottish airports in the illegal rendition flights. Apart

from anything else, the regime in the Middle East are changing and we

have an interest in ensuring that incoming Arab governments realise

they can expect a better deal from Scottish Government's than they got

from Westminster. I will ask the justice Secretary to have a further

look at this. And the last Parliament, we had a look with the

lord advocate on the question of illegal rendition and Scottish

airports being used. I will ask the justice Secretary to have another

look at that. In terms of the documents that have come to light,

it is no secret for the Scottish government that the last Labour

government wanted by any means to seek Mr Megrahi released back to

Libya. What I can say is, as I had no knowledge of the extent of the

corporation that these documents seemed to indicate, if they are

true - I confirm it is a row of -- most remarkable case of double

standards or no standards that I have seen in international politics.

All I can say is that the Scottish government took his decisions on

the basis of due process in Scottish law. To ask the First

Minister what agreement the Scottish government has made with

universities regarding access arrangements for students from the

rest of the UK? No student attending a Scottish university

should pay fees. However, with the misguided decision by the UK

government to introduce tuition fees of up to �9,000, there has to

be comparable fees charged to UK students attending Scottish

universities. Can I thank the First Minister for his reply, but can I

remind him that when the First Minister's colleague introduced

9000 pan fees he suggested that Scottish universities might wish to

show some restraint. Given that to date, all universities are one have

gone for the maximum �9,000, does he think that is acceptable? In

Edinburgh University's case, they now have the unenviable title of

being the most expensive university in the UK. Does the first minister

thing that is fair for middle income families? Can I correct Ken

Mackintosh. It is important we get this proper information. Aberdeen

Caledonian and Heriot-Watt universities have not set the

maximum �9,000. In the case of Caledonian, it does not appear at

all. Most universities have set a four year course in terms of three

years of fees. One-year free then. In the EC -- universities, the

average pay year were �6,250, below the technical work group

conclusions average. Including Edinburgh, the average would be

�6,937. In defence of Edinburgh University, there are bursaries

schemes in order to protect the diversity for students coming from

elsewhere in the UK. I would hope, as many universities as possible

will follow the example of the other three universities and I hope

the average gets close to what was suggested by the universities in

the working group's scenario. One last thing, in the last few days,

there's a record number of calls and many of them were from Scottish

students worried because they saw the press and believed the fees

been quoted in the headlines applied to them. It is vitally

important that when we debate this issue and when it is reported, it

is made absolutely clear to every Scottish student in terms of access

to our universities, the rocks will melt before the sun before students

in Scotland -- Scottish students are made to pay fees. Could you

tell us how many places for Scottish and EU students will be

cut over the next five years as a result of the pressure on

universities to take far more students from the rest of the UK?

would have thought that she would have welcome the fact that the

Education Secretary and the universities have protected the

numbers of Scottish students who have access to places. This is in

stark and overwhelming contrast to what her government is pursuing

south of the border -- border. Maybe it is the embarrassment of

seeing and having to answer for these misguided policies in

Westminster that has led the Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party to

advocate its disbandment in There we have it, the First

Minister quoting Robert Burns. Earlier we had a reference to a

gypsy and we may hear more from her in the near future! Didn't he deal