08/11/2012 Politics Scotland

Welcome to the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood, where MSPs were taking

evidence from the Scottish Secretary this morning, looking at

the details of a referendum. Michael Moore said he was confident

that further devolved powers would go to Holyrood once the Scots had

said no to independence in the referendum. He said he was speaking

from his perspective as a Liberal Democrat. He believed Labour would

also be looking at things. And that proposals would emerge. There is a

degree of scepticism from the nationalists on the committee. It

is questions to the First Minister today. Now we can cross to the

chamber. We are finishing off the session of

questions to Mr Salmon's ministers before getting on to the main event.

-- Alex Salmond's ministers. One thing that may come up his football

trouble at Hearts football club and a light for Celtic after their

victory over Barcelona -- delight for Celtic after their victory over

Barcelona last night. And celebrations for 2014,

commemorating World War One. Fiona Hyslop is answering questions on

that particular subject at the moment. A few seats away is the

First Minister, Alex Salmond, preparing his papers. Joanne Lamont

from Labour will ask the first question. -- Johann Lamont. Now we

can tune in for the very end of Fiona Hyslop's contribution, then

we expect the beginning of First Minister's Questions.

For future generations, learning the lessons of war and

commemorating those who have lost their lives is very important.

Before we moved to First Minister's Questions, members will wish to

join me in welcoming to the gallery the President of the Australian

Senate. APPLAUSE. And standing up for applause. Now

to First Minister's Questions. Question number one. If I made a

putt from protocol, in this very important week, because I have

often disagreed with them. -- May I delayed protocol. But I do not

doubt his commitment to Scotland. I ask the whole parliament to pay

tribute to Craig Levein. LAUGHTER. And may I, of course,

congratulate the First Minister on his longevity and I ask him what

engagements he has planned for the rest of the day? I think the whole

chamber should congratulate President Obama for his re-election

to the biggest office in the world. APPLAUSE. And Glasgow Celtic, over

the outstanding victory over what many people think is the greatest

team in the world. I have no difficulty in agreeing with the

First Minister on those two counts. According to Audit Scotland, the

NHS has an outstanding �1 billion bill in terms of repairs. We have

lost more than 2000 nurses. The First Minister has imposed real-

terms cuts of almost �200 million. Yesterday, the Auditor-General said

the NHS in Scotland was on a number warning. Does the First Minister

agree? -- was on an Amber warning. Scotland's Health Services well-

managed in terms of finances. You should concede that there are more

people working in the National Health Service in Scotland than

when the SNP took office. More importantly, on every single

judgment of output, waiting lists, patient care, Scotland's National

Health Service is performing outstandingly. I have to say that

the First Minister's breathtaking complacency, in the face of a

serious warning from the Auditor General, that the NHS is on an

Amber warning, it does him and his Government no service whatsoever.

People of this country deserve better. It is clear the First

Minister does not agree with a Auditor General in the NHS. When he

said -- both he and his Education Minister said we were wrong when we

spoke about education cuts, the Auditor-General has now said not

once, but twice, that college budgets have been cut by 24% in

real terms. Is she right what is she scaremongering? -- or is she?

We have protected the spending of the health boards in real terms.

And just encase the former deputy leader of the Labour Party in

Scotland for gets, the Labour Party refused to make that commitment

last year. That was in their election campaign. And as bad as

Scotland's colleges are concerned, we have get big -- we have kept

commitment on full-time colleges. As we look forward, given their

extraordinary capital investment going into Scotland's colleges that

the present moment, the total funding is going to reach �655

million by 2014-2015 in capital and revenue investment, comparing

favourably not just with funding now, but with the �217 million when

the Labour Party took office in the first devolution Parliament. In

that year, the total capital investment in that Scotland's

colleges was �4 million. The expectation in 2014-2015 is for

�184 million. APPLAUSE. I would say that his white noise

between the end of one question and the beginning of another. The First

Minister wants this to be a theoretical argument between us,

this is the independent voice of the Auditor General saying there is

a serious problem in the NHS and in college funding. And he denies it.

Let me get this right. When it is said we need to face up to public

spending crisis, the First Minister says that is wrong. When the

current Auditor General talks about at that in college funding, she is

wrong. When the Auditor General says the NHS is in crisis, she is

wrong again. If you will not listen to the people counting the numbers,

maybe those treating patients? One person said not being frank about

how money is spent store some problems for the future. When my

the First Minister face up to reality and beech tree it with the

people of Scotland? -- and the straight with the people of

Scotland? There are pressures on public services. That includes the

health service. Things would be worse if the Labour Party had not

defended the real terms increase in revenue spending in the National

Health Service which we committed to in the election, the Labour

Party refused to commit to, which is perhaps one of the reason she is

there and I am here as First Minister. I think she is edging

towards, talking about a affordability of public services,

the review of the key pledges and promises defining not just the

administration of the SNB, but the devolution era. The commitment to

not having tuition fees, so there is no obstacle to going to college

or university. The commitment to free travel for pensioners. These

are crucial gains of devolution, which she and her party are now

putting at risk. These were things that they committed to only last

year in the election, but are now up for review in the Med -- In the

bleak midwinter cuts. These other things not just on which this party

has been judged and re-elected, but on which the Labour Party will be

judged and never elected on that platform. Acknowledging pressures

in funding is not the same as doing something about it. That is his job.

Secondly, I am not be edging towards anything, but asking the

farce Minister to listen to what the auditor general and one nurses

and doctors and people in public services are seeing now about what

is happening to their services. This is not an argument for an

election, but understanding what is happening in the real world to

ordinary people. We know the First Minister does not believe the

Auditor-General, or her predecessor, Nordic experts he himself up points.

Do you yourself believe that politicians should have a higher

duty and more to the economic cycle than the political cycle? I read

that to understand that politicians should always put the interests of

their country before the interests of their party. Order! When will

you join the rest of us in the real world? When we you face up to the

cuts happening now in the real world? And a �3 billion worth of

cuts he is delaying until after his referendum? Does Alex Salmond still

believe himself or has he joined the rest of Scotland in not

believing a word he says? Auditor General never said the

National Health Service of Scotland was in crisis. She pointed out that

health boards were well-managed. We have maintained real term spending

in the revenue of the National Health Service in Scotland,

something the Labour Party refused to do. That does not mean there is

no pressure. How could and there be when this Government and every

public service faces cuts from Westminster? -- how could there not

be? There is no solution to addressing the problem of cuts from

Westminster than threatening, as the Labour Party is now doing, to

cut the vital services to pensioners and students in Scotland.

She is the fourth Labour leader I have faced across the chamber. If

she pursues this line, she will certainly not be the last Labour

leader that I face across this chamber, because she is putting

forward to the people of Scotland the incredible proposition that,

some high free personal care of the elderly is unaffordable,

concessionary prices for travel for prisoners is not affordable, that

abolition of tuition fees is not affordable, all the things she

wants to cut from the Scottish people, but maintains that �163

million Scotland currently contributes to the far this month

and refurbishment of the Trident missile system, but that is somehow

or affordable. APPLAUSE. How can the Labour Party maintained a

position that spending on weapons of mass destruction is affordable

but things essential to the people of Scotland shall be dispensed

with? You will never be elected on that basis.

Ruth Davidson. Thank you. To ask the First Minister when he will

next meet the Prime Minister? It may be appropriate to mixed up -

- to mix up the leaders there. I have no plans to meet the Prime

Minister in the near future. apologies for that mix up. Thank

you. Let us stick with the Auditor General. All that Scotland

published a highly critical report this week showing that the

offending cost Scotland �3 billion per year. -- Audit Scotland

published. You have had five years to get this right. Why, according

to their Auditor General, is there such a mismatch between what is

delivered and what is known to work to tackle re-offending? Can I say

that there are substantial signs of progress in the Scottish justice

system. You do not get the lowest level of recorded crime for 37

years without establishing progress within the justice system. That is

something which I believe has been largely contributed to by having

police across communities, 1,000 extra police, which the

Conservative Party support and say they support. But it is belied by

the action of the Conservative Party at Westminster, radically

cutting police numbers side of the border. We take with great care and

attention, because re-offending rates and a key issue, we takes

suggestions, positive suggestions, but I think you should concede that

the criminal justice system, in terms of what matters, that is the

falling rates of recorded crime in Scotland, is performing well for

the people of Scotland. The Auditor General seems to think that what

matters is having a real spending programme that actually works.

Audit Scotland says that the money is being spent on things not known

to work. It says there needs to be stronger national leadership, there

is a lack of cohesion, that real offending rates are relatively

static. -- but those that offend again a relatively static. They say

there is still an urgent need for improvement and in all areas.

Communities across Scotland are seeing the same people committing

the same crimes time after time. Whatever the First Minister is

doing now is not working. So when is he going to do what Audit

Scotland are urging him to do and get serious, not just about crime,

but those who offend again? Let us look at some initiatives designed

to tackle this. The violence reduction Unit, which introduced

unsupported by this Government, commanding general support across

this chamber, the work against violence against women, including

domestic abuse, has increased substantially. The support for

victims' rights and compensation. The bill and legislation passed

through this parliament commands general agreement. But I do not

agree with Ruth Davidson sweeping aside the reality in terms of the

statistics that recorded crime in Scotland is at a 37 years low. That

must show some aspects of a justice system performing well. I do Archer

had to look carefully at the interventions which have been

budgeted for this Government under great difficulties and stringencies

of the intervention funds, both for early years and those who real

friend, to give national leadership we believe is necessary to pursue

the assault on crime rates. -- those who offend again. Can I say

gently that, if the achievements that have been made had been

against a huge didn't see in public spending, I do not really see why

threatening to cut the Scottish budget by over �1 million, as she

did this week, will help the spending on Criminal Justice, on

public services, on the National Health Service or any other area of

Scottish life. That is the programme has got it -- the

programme the Conservative party wanted was used, so be it, but do

not argue for public spending they director dinky areas whilst

simultaneously proposing up other To ask the First Minister, what is

the Scottish Government's position on the compensation received by

William Beggs as a result of delays to his appeals? The case was

contested vigorously and that was the Scottish Government's position.

We have to accept the court judgment. We have no choice in that

mattered. But the Scottish Government's position, and I expect

the position of this entire chamber was to pursue vigorously against

that compensation claim. Thank you for that response. Would the First

Minister agree that the public, generally, and certainly the

communities across Ayrshire find such awards extremely distasteful

and would he issue of this parliament that his Government will

take steps to minimise the opportunities that prisoners are

take advantage of to receive a financial benefit from such events?

That was a bonus question. I doubt if there is a single person in

Scotland who doesn't believe that that award is extremely distasteful.

I think we can be reasonably certain that that would command the

ascent of the overwhelming almost unanimous view of the Scottish

people. The point about opposing the award indicates the seriousness

with which the Scottish Government and I am sure opposition parties

take the matter. But you must know that once the court judgment is

made, we have to follow the court judgment. However distasteful it

may be. And therefore, that is why -- while he is right to say it is

distasteful, we have to acknowledge what has happened in a court of law.

Question number three. To ask the First Minister what issues will be

discussed at Cabinet? Issues of importance to the people of

Scotland. I was shocked this morning to read the Daily Record!

But in the Daily Record this morning, and this is serious,

pharmacists were being condemned as methadone Berens. Does the First

Minister think it is right for frontline help officials --

professionals be attacked for carrying out the Government drugs

strategy? First Minister. I think it is hugely important that we

maintain the cross-party consensus in the policies Against drugs.

Almost 20 years ago, I joined a cross-party initiative in Scotland

Against drugs and watched that initiative which I think was well-

meaning and well meant dissolve into acrimony between the competing

claims of a variety of treatments and approaches to the drugs issue.

At the end, to some extent, didn't actually matter who was right or

wrong because so much attention was given to the variety of difference

in treatment that meant the policy itself was compromised. At think

the road to recovery policy agreed by this Parliament is hugely

important. That doesn't mean it is perfect and Notts could walk of

improvement and amendment -- and not capable of improvement and

amendment. We will fail people of Scotland if we don't do that.

Willie Rennie. Can I thank the First Minister for the sensible

respond -- response. I am reassured by what he says. We are now in the

position where people being attacked by MSPs are not drug

pushers but the pharmacists. It is not easy work. It is not pleasant.

But it benefits everyone. Methadone has cut death, cut disease and it

cuts crime. MSPs should not be seeking to close down treatment

options and attack the staff delivering them. The scandal,

actually, the scandal is that methadone is not methadone for drug

users, it is that drug addiction remains so rampant in one of the

world's wealthiest nations. What leadership and the First Minister

proviso that a drugs strategy is based on evidence and the expertise

of our health professionals? don't think that the views which

you expels a general across this chain. Some people are entitled to

their views. It is better to try and achieve the consensus around

the road of recovery. I think they should be a recognition that the

problem is hugely serious, as indicated by the number of drug-

related deaths. They also should be a recognition that that path

towards death was set every long time ago. There is also indications,

in terms of dropping drug use among drug use, and that is not to

minimise the scale of the problem. It just shows there are some

hopeful signs, if we keep a coherent approach to this huge

social issue and a try to unite behind it. I'm certain we can do

that if we can come and unite around a consensus policy so that

people know that the key thing about this is not to score points

off each other but unite around a strategy which can actually help

and assist he -- the people we are here to serve. Maureen Watt. To ask

the First Minister what impact fungal diseases will have on trees

in Scotland. And you for raising this issue. Members will be aware

that ash dieback has been detected in Scotland. But as the

commissioners have worked around the clock completing a survey to

identify potential distribution of the disease in Scotland. Thank you

to were those who undertook this work. We have responded to requests

for help from forestry England and have sent staff to help them

complete their serviced. There are 11 sites in Scotland with confirmed

signs that the disease. Because infection is seasonal, we have a

window of opportunity to further develop our plans to mitigate its

impact. The Environment Minister will convene a summit of key

stakeholders this coming Tuesday to take that stage and process forward.

Maureen Watt. Can I thank the First Minister for that answer at can I

be the first person in this chamber to sincerely congratulate the first

Mr unbecoming Scotland's longer serving the First Minister. Given

that the UK Government may not have released advice in relation to the

bowl lability of ash trees as speedily as they could have done

and that there is now speculation that a threat could exist to hour

iconic Scots pines, what advice can you give to us? The Forestry

Commission have been undertaking regular surveys and we are

monitoring the impact. Trials of forest management techniques are

under way to identify ways to manage the risk of disease. We're

doing everything we can, as a Government, to protect, as the

remember right he describes, the Scots pines species which is truly

iconic in Scotland. Given the expressions of concern about

various species in Scotland, isn't it time we had a national plan in

Scotland for tree health and by a security and that this Parliament

could take a lead that would set a new turn to this debate in the

whole of Britain? I think that is a positive suggestion. That will be

considered at the meeting this coming Tuesday. Jackie Baillie.

of the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government is taking

to improve treatment for people with dementia? The key to effective

treatment to dementia is effective and early treatment. The target

introduced by our Government has led to a 39% increase in diagnosis.

This is to be welcomed but there is no room for complacency. We will be

putting 300 dementia champions in place next year to insure people

who receive a new diagnosis of dementia are entitled to a minimum

of post diagnostic support. This has further to the announcement

last weekend that all health boards in Scotland have appointed an

Alzheimer's nurse. Jackie Baillie. Can I thank the First Minister for

his response and very much welcome the progress made. The 14 makes

additional specialist nurses does need to be set against -- against

the cut of overrule nurses in Scotland. Can I bring to his

attention a Freedom of Information response from NHS Fife which says

that during 2011, the highest number of bed ward moves for a

dementia patient in a single hospital stay was 13. Does the

First Minister share my view that this number of moves for a dementia

patient is an acceptable and what measures will he take to their

eradicate the practice of boarding out from our NHS? That is precisely

why we have introduced inspections of hospitals to address such

concerns. Can I just say to Jackie Baillie that her comments about the

appointments to have less than credit and I think I would prefer

the views of Henri Simons, the chief Executive of Alzheimer's

Scotland who said there is a significant milestone in our

attempt to ensure that people with dementia and their families are

treated with the utmost dignity and respect at all times. He gets the

point we Jackie Baillie fails to get that these appointments are

directed to ensure that people with the denture and their families are

treated properly across our excellent National Health Service.

-- with dementia. Can the First Minister provide assurance that

there will be an enhanced integrated social care strategy?

This is Scotland's First dementias strategy that was completed in 2010

and has now been taken forward. I think it reflects the recognition

which I am sure his shared across the chamber that this condition is

of extraordinary seriousness. glad to hear the last part of the

first Mr's answer but I have my doubts because the people who are

working in the integration of health and social care services at

ground level are under great stress and they are trying to do

everything at the one time. I would imagine that this might be an extra

task too far and so I will be getting in touch with the Health

Minister to get an assurance of how this will be carried out, if that

is all right with the First Minister. I am sure that Malcolm

McDowell and will much appreciate it. That is part of the response.

Liz Smith. To ask the First Minister would support the Scottish

Government is providing two female college students? The number of

women students attending colleges has been maintained at 65,000 full-

time places. This is the same level to live in 2006 and 2007. That put

has been achieved with a 42% increase in funding for childcare

which is of crucial importance to many female in steep -- female

students. I think the First Minister -- thank the first Mr.

Could you explain how the 26% decline in female student numbers

sits with the Scottish Government's promises to widen access and

maintain overall student numbers? The position, as I have stated, it

is true that the Scottish Government is concentrating on

full-time courses because these are the courses which prepare people

for Employment but it is also true that we have expanded student

support in colleges to record levels in order to enable people to

attend these full-time courses. We have also expanded funding by 42%

for child care so that female students are not disadvantaged. The

credibility of the Conservative Party on this matter would be

somewhat greater if it wasn't for what is happening to the revenue

and the capital budget south of the border in terms of colleges with

the pressure is infinitely greater than it is in Scotland. And finally,

is there going to be some acknowledgement any time from

Elizabeth Smith that this year in Scotland, we have the highest

number of full-time students in college and university than any