12/12/2012 Politics Scotland

Hello and welcome to Politics Scotland. Coming up on the

programme: The biggest fall in unemployment in Scotland for four

years. Welcome news for UK and Scottish Government ministers.

Your views are sought on the issue of same-sex marriage as the draft

bill is prepared. The Scottish Government wins its

legal fight to ban tobacco product displays.

And here at Westminster, just what would the position be of an

independent as regards the European Union? The debate and controversy

Unemployment in Scotland fell by 19,000 to 204,000 between August

and October. It follows three consecutive increases in

unemployment. I'm now joined in the studio by our business and economy

correspondent David Henderson and by our political commentator Angus

Macleod. Good afternoon to stop thanks for joining me. First, David,

this seems a sizable fall? E is indeed, a welcome change to the

jobless total in Scotland. In the last few months we have seen the

unemployment rate here creeping up slightly. This is a bit of a fall.

During that same period, when unemployment was rising in Scotland,

it was falling across the rest of the UK. So a welcome reversal to

that. Unemployment is down by quite excitable title, 19,000 between

August and October. The total now, 204,000 people looking for a job,

but that trend is downwards. Across the UK, the unemployment rate also

fell by less, proportionately, by 82,000, leading the total at around

2.5 million. But the effect of that larger fall in Scotland is that the

proportion of people and employed here has now fallen again below the

UK average. -- unemployed. It is back below the UK average. The

youth unemployment rate is also down, so at some welcome indicators.

Part of the reason for this change may be a rise in seasonal

employment as we have been finding out.

Preparing for the Christmas rush at this toy shop in Glasgow, new staff

are doing their bit. There is seasonal work here and at other

stores across the country, and opportunities for those struggling

to find a job. It is very difficult trying to get a job with so many

people trying to go for the same job as you. They always tend to

pick someone else because they always have got more experience or

better qualifications. But this job has completely different because it

was the personality they were looking for. Competition for work

is always tough when the economy is flat. In recent months unemployment

has crept up in Scotland, and Hanley's received its 3000 job

applications for the work they have. There was a real appetite to come

and work for us. We have to get that down to the number we have now,

which is around 40 per this period, hopefully we can keep some of those

people in employment in the new year. The latest unemployment

figures show the number of Scots out of work has fallen by 19,002 a

total of 204,000. It also means the unemployment rate has also fallen

to below the UK average. But that has reignited the row about how to

get more growth in the Scottish economy. We have got to continue

efforts to boost the employment base in Scotland, which is why we

are asking for an expansion in capital investment, to enable us to

invest in the infrastructure that can create jobs. Because at the

measures taken in the Autumn Statement, there is an extract �300

million for the Scottish government to spend. There are warnings that

across the UK unemployment will rise through 2013, so it is unclear

how long the Christmas cheer will last.

Let's pick up on that, how long will the Christmas cheer last, do

you think? Probably not very long, to be honest. One of the problems

with the figures we are reporting is they are very short term. We are

feeling every bump in what is a very long road to recovery.

Unemployment may be down a little bit but it has been up over the

course of three months. Having said that, unemployment has fallen

steadily, but 25,000 now in the space of about a year it, looking

ahead, we have had projections from an independent body which advises

the UK government, and it has pointed to the challenges that lie

ahead. It has downgraded its growth forecast and expect unemployment to

drift gently upwards until 2014, to reach about 8.2% before it starts

to fall away. So it is a sign that there are long-term challenges to

the economy that will have to be sorted before this lagging

indicator starts to fall away. do you think the Scottish

government's priorities will be in terms of trying to tackle that?

heard that argument, the fundamental argument about more

spending to boost short-term economic growth. The SNP government

now have about �330 million as a result of the Chancellor's Autumn

Statement. They will have to look to spend it on the top priorities,

because they would like to spend up to 850 million on so-called shove

already projects. They will be likely to focus on Connectivity, at

BAFTA Road, better broadband connections and measures to boost

education. If they have extra money, they will be looking to boost

social mobility, to allow people to move around Scotland followed the

jobs. It is a bit of a tricky situation for the current

government, both Scottish and UK, but they will be welcoming this

news today. There was a feeling of relief on both sides of the border

when these figures were announced this morning, but the wise

politician in this situation will see the wider economy as having to

improve markedly before anyone can start giving three cheers. They

will be aware that 200,000 people out of work in Scotland and 2.5

million in the UK as a whole is no cause for celebration. We will be

back with you later.. One of the world's biggest tobacco firms has

lost a legal battle against the Scottish government's decision to

ban shop cigarette displays. The Supreme Court dismissed an appeal

by Imperial Tobacco - which argued there was no credible evidence that

the ban would lead to people smoking less. Let's speak to John

Watson from ASH - the charity campaigning for effective tobacco

control. Good afternoon. You must be rather pleased at this judgment

from the Supreme Court? Yes, we are very pleased, we said from the

beginning that this is a legitimate health measure, it will have

beneficial impact for young people particularly, there is evidence to

support that. It has been passed overwhelmingly by the Scottish

parliament, has been through records twice, we now have a

unanimous decision from the Supreme Court. It is time to get on with

the implementation. I think Imperial Tobacco had been saying

that it was out with Holyrood's powers, but to judge has struck

that argument down? I am not a lawyer, but it is clear to me that

having had this initially passed by the lawyers in the Scottish

parliament, having upheld the Scottish Court of Session twice,

and now the Supreme Court, that seems to me fairly conclusive. I

think Imperial Tobacco are interested in trying to prevent any

attempt at improving public health, they will oppose any measure. I

would give full credit to the Scottish government fought sticking

to their guns against what I can only describe as bullying tactics

on behalf of the tobacco industry fostered this is a trend we are

seeing a round-the-world, in Australia now, in Norway we have

that recently, in Uruguay we are seeing it. The industry has decided

to give up on the health of their customers and to focus on their own

profits and stop any measure to regulate their business. They would

argue they are trying to protect their business, and one of the

argument is that there was no credible evidence that a ban of

these displays would lead people smoking less. Is there evidence to

suggest it might cut down on smoking, banning these displays?

Yes, there is. This is about advertising, we have all had

experience of walking into a supermarket and seeing brightly-lit,

brightly coloured tobacco products. The industry spent decades trying

to put their products at the heart of our society, and we know young

people are susceptible to that, so we have taken away adverts from

papers, sponsorship of sport, and we want to take away the displays

in shops because we know it has an impact. In Ireland, where they have

recently had a similar display ban, we saw an immediate change in the

way young people viewed smoking in their society, few of them thinking

smoking was a normal thing to do. We have seen the Scottish

government winning this argument, how do you think things might

progress in the next few years? We have seen reports saying the

Scottish government may once got them to become smoke-free, do you

think that is a realistic possibility? In defining smoke free

as less than 5%, I think that is an excellent way of defining what we

want to do with smoking, because that is about preventing young

people taking up smoking, helping those who want to quit to do so, so

you are left with a fairly small number of willing adult smokers,

and leading them to it. Measures like today can make a big impact.

If we are clear that what we want to do is take away the

opportunities for the tobacco industry to promote their products,

take tobacco away from that central role in society where they want it

to be, we can move, over the next generation, to having what they

call a smoke-free Scotland. Thank you for joining us.

This week has seen a continuation of the long-running row over

whether an independent Scotland should reapply for EU membership.

The President of the European Commission said it would have to.

Scotland's finance secretary takes the opposing view. John Swinney

gave evidence to the House of Lords yesterday, saying he would stick to

change the President's opinion. looked at President Boris a's

letter, and it struck me that when he is referring to the question of

a country applying to be a member of the EU, he is a very specific

that it is under article 14 of the treaty on the eve. When he makes

the remark he makes about a part of a country ceasing to be part of

that technically, there is no treaty reference to that remark. I

think that is very significant, because on my reading of the treaty

position, I was struck in preparing a for the committee, In re- reading

some advice produced by the House of Commons library 12 months ago,

they make the point in the document that there is no provision between

the treaty on European Union that provides for a scenario that he has

cited in that particular paragraph. I think this really does seem

rather bizarre, on the one hand we have reconsidered Letter From the

President of the European Community, who is the person who is going to

decide whether Scotland, after independence if it came about, was

a member, on the other hand you have the view of ministers are

saying that they didn't take legal advice and it is only belatedly

doing so. Yet you are saying that we will still be able to go on

being members, don't pay any attention to Mr Barroso's advice.

Yes, because I said to. The committee should be interested in

his the fact there is no foundation in the treaty for the comment that

President Barroso has made. Can I just ask, your line appears to be

that President Borisov doesn't seem to know what he's talking about and

he is wrong when he says that it Scotland leads the UK, it also

leads -- leads the E. How do you intend to establish before in 20th

December 14 exactly what the position is, are you going to take

a legal challenge, how you will establish the position? Essentially,

the approach we will be taking is the one which the Deputy First

Minister said at yesterday, which is to engage in dialogue with the

European Commission on this question and to ensure that

dialogue gives the EU a clear understanding of the perspective we

a predator that process. Will the Scottish government but clearly to

the electorate that there is a strong possibility that an

independent Scotland would have to reapply for membership of the EU?

And there may be a period before the application process is

Will that be who clearly so people will know the gamble they are

taking on continued membership within the European Union? No, we

will not do that because we do not take that view. Father questioned

of there being a period where Scotland might be not be in the

European Union, I think the issue which has to be recognised and it

is a hard to the comments I have made about the paragraph the large

German highlighted at the beginning, there is no mechanism to do

supplied the treaties from Scotland. So therefore we could not cooked to

the people of Scotland a comment that somehow the treaties which is

applied because there is no provision within the treaty to

allow that happen. A robust performance by Mr Sweeney there.

How damaging has this whole affair been, particularly this week, for

the SNP? It has been very damaging in my view. It is a problem of

perception and the perception now is that there is at least a huge?

Hanging over, not so much hanging over whether an independent

Scotland would remain in the European Union, but under which

terms an independent Scotland would remain in the European Union. That

is the unanswered question. I think one has to look at their

President's role in this and why he chose to see what he did when he

said it. There are some people who are suggesting that he said what he

said because he was getting rather fed up with these statements that

were coming from any number up about the status of an independent

Scotland in the European Union. I think that he is an intensely

political person, a very political animal, and I think he had one eye

on the situation in Spain and the situation with Catalonia. And this

was as much driving his words as anything else. The other thing to

say here is we have had no real definition of what Scotland, what

third-country means, in terms of either Scotland or in terms of

Catalonia. I think some clarity on that would be very, very welcome

from whichever source. What you're saying there about 10 being a

political animal. That picks up an important point that a lot of these

European Union issues are down to politics and not down to legalities.

All credit to John Swinney, he went into the lion's den yesterday. You

are absolutely right, everyone is getting worked up about the legal

entity here and the legal status here. As always with the European

Union, throughout its history, this will be a political issue and it

will be settled on a political basis. And that is why the

situation in Spain, the situation in Belgium and Cyprus, is really

very, very relevant for the situation of Scotland and the

European Union. Let's move on to another issue. The

Scottish Government are publishing a bail bond same-sex marriages.

They are asking people for their views. Be it is interesting here

that what has happened in England. It is, if you like, it is two

elements and the Anglican Church, in England there will be a legal

bar against Andy couple marrying in and Church of England are a Church

in Wales. -- against a gay couple. If you look at the press release,

there was one person quoted in that press release who happens to be a

judge of Scotland Minister on the south side of Glasgow. He was

saying, I would conduct such a ceremony. So where does that place

our national Church? I think there is a question of some clarity

needed here. Would administer the outside his church's wishes and

without Church disown him and his congregation? More on that in a

moment. It is nearing that time of year

when European Union member states gather run Brussels to hammer out

fishing quotas for the next 12 months. That issue is being debated

at Holyrood this afternoon. The Scottish Government say they want

to fight a possible 20% cut in the cod quota and a reduction in days

at sea. Lima car there making an intervention on the speech. -- Lima

Carter. He has topped far a reform of the Common Fisheries Policy and

a reform for the cod recovery plan which she says is going to reduce

automatically unnecessary fishermen's days at sea. Securing

an effort is she to the continued health of our industry. It would be

off all of our fishermen were to become a collateral. We have been

able to develop proposals with the European presidency to deliver what

everyone agrees is necessary. We are in danger of being embroiled in

that disputes over who has the right to provide the amendments.

Seoul, Presiding Officer, this is an example of self-indulgent

European Union beckoning, picking fights with each other while our

fishermen's livelihoods are on the line. The squabble is blocking the

passage of necessary message. -- necessary measures. Many vessels

and a fleet will face economic chaos and our stocks will be

damaged and 2013. I am calling on all key players to see sense and

work together to ensure these technical measures remain in force

next year and other amendments that are required are delivered. He said

it will be devastating for our fleet, are vessels, but it would be

devastating for those that are producing a fish that his caught.

He is quite right. This has a knock-on impact on our onshore

centres as well. It this is a stock which has more than doubled over

the past six years, a stock which are signed his are seeing in ever

greater numbers and which has seen a draw up in cod discards.

Tragically, at 20% cut will undo all that good work and will be a

recipe for a mass of his cards. Our fishermen will find it impossible

to catch ever more plentiful caught. They will have to dump that cod's

into the sea dead. Are enervated quota scheme should be left with

little quota to make a viable. Back could mean many of our large

vessels discarding caught again. The cog recovery plan is to promote

concerts -- conservation. I took the opportunity to speak her signed

is about this yesterday. They assure me that there is a good

scientific case took over the quarter and an approach that would

prevent this cards. The reality is that this cut is not driven by

sensible science. On that basis I will be making a row over of the

quarter up another top priority and next week's council. But beyond the

December council we need to fish are more regulations which

recognise the conservation efforts made so far. They need to promote

and encourage those initiatives, not undermine the morale allow

Brussels lawyer's undermine them. Fleets have been taking good steps

my head of them think -- by adopting new measures. It will be

important for many of our fleets and the West Coast of Scotland

which face some challenges over the next year and has done in recent

months due to the ever problems we have experienced in the Scottish

waters due to lack of flexibility Endicott recovery plan. There are

many issues I could talk about. -- in the cod the recovery plan. We

will continue to keep her eye on the various important issues that

will be discussed next week. There are issues relating to high-value

stocks as well as some of the other key stocks we have been mentioning

in her remarks as well. It boils down to the fact that next week we

will have to decide on these crucial issues with other Ministers

at some ungodly hour of the morning in Brussels. I really am determined

to see decision-making brought closer to home and do away with

this management and Brussels which has been so damaging to Scotland

and a fishing communities. That is why Scotland has been the first

country to promote regionalisation. You are on your last minute. That

is why we have to secured the radical reform of European

fisheries policy throughout up 2013. Let's hope this is will last

experience of the broken policy which stands for everything we

stand for in this Parliament. We have other measures to discuss N20

13th. -- in 2013. We will be left without a Mac., and thousands of

livelihoods will be endangered. -- stock. I hope to go to Brussels

next week and get the best possible deal for Scotland. I call on Claire

Baker to speak and move amendment 527 1.2. If I am pleased we have

been able to schedule the debate in advance of the Council of

ministers' negotiations. The statement last week was welcome.

While in the last few days we have seen some setbacks, particularly in

relation to mackerel, today gives us an option to speak of our

concerns. Our world class produce, or -- how Scotland's brand across

the world. It is an industry which operates throughout the UK, whether

our fleets may choose to land fish and other parts of the UK and where

the annual quota regulations emphasise the differences between

countries, once described as heated and chaotic, it is an industry

exports which is dependent on her relationships with Europe. Fishing

is a significant industry in Scotland, one that is seen as real

times growth and landing values in recent years and success and

international recognition and quality. It is a section of faces

many challenges as well. Our men men today recognises their measures.

I recognise the pressures on that sector, stocks have been squeezed

by a inflexible regulation and the irresponsible behaviour of other

countries is damaging our reputation. I understand any

further sustainable management and international agreement. Our seas

which we exploit, doesn't mean and negative interpretation, but we do

exploit and natural resource. So when proper management of her sees

and co-operation is essential if we want to leave a legacy for future

generations. We are still experiencing the consequences of

overfishing but we know the success we can achieve a stock recovery

through sustainable management. So today we look forward to the

European Union fishing negotiations and the echoes may be positive ever

they were co-operation and not negotiation. These annual

negotiations are well past their shelf-life and progress must be

made on reforms of the Common Fisheries Policy so we can move

away from this annual horse-trading. Last week's statement identified

the key challenges faced as we go forward. There are some positive

outcomes proposed for the sector. However, the recovery plan a more

than 20% cut will have an impact on quota as well as a reduction

indecency and cod is one of our most valuable fishes, valued at 2.3

million. There is no denying that that plan is no longer working and

is in need of significant reform. As was said in September, the

European Commission brought forward proposals for a new plan. We are

dealing with frustrations of delays on a new plan. We have a dispute

between the European Parliament and Council of Ministers over who can

propose and agree amendments which Let's stay at Holyrood now. We have

three guests with us. Good afternoon to you all. Let's starred

with the him employment statistics. It must be pretty welcome news for

the SNP, it must be good news for you. These figures are to be

welcomed, they are the largest fall in unemployment in the last four

years. They're down by 19,002, which compared with some 0.8% in

the UK, the Scottish government has been doing everything it can to

support our economy. That has also entail the drawing together �180

million to based specifically the economy as well as creating an �80

million Bond to also create the opportunities that will help

improve the job prospect for 2013. Ken Macintosh, you are looking at

how the Scottish government can help increase these prospects for

people. The Scottish government have at �330 million from the

Autumn Statement to spend on these should all ready projects. Exactly

that, I would like to see the Scottish government actually

prioritise unemployment and get the figures down. There is some good

news here are some people for Christmas, it is to be welcomed in

that sense, but there are still over 200,000 Scots out of work,

that is a terrible figure. That is grim news as you going to Christmas.

It is not a healthy economic situation. Looking at the figures

over the last few months, at the moment the Scottish figures have

just gone under the UK average but the last few months they were above.

The only conclusion you can make his that the Scottish government is

making no difference whatsoever. You are making that point as well,

you are saying they have to focus on their run budget. That �330

million coming in after the Autumn Statement, but surely they must be

doing everything they can particularly in the face of cuts

from Westminster? Firstly the reduction of unemployment should be

welcomed and is welcomed. The bad news for Scotland today is the fact

there is also a reduction in employment, 27,000 fewer people

employed in Scotland, contrary to the UK where 40,000 people have

been employed. We have to take it seriously. The draft budget has a

huge cuts to colleges, at a time when youth unemployment, while down

today, he still historically high. At a time when the construction

sector is on its knees, the housing budget has been slashed in the

draft budget, so there is a lot of things the Scottish government

should focus on. Another big issue we have been talking about, the

issue of Europe, and the place of an independent Scotland in Europe.

This has been hugely damaging for the SNP, first of all it seems they

will acquire some legal advice, then there wasn't, now it seems a

certain opinion of from the President of the European

Commission... Can you still hear me? I have lost you at the moment.

Can you hear me now? At I can. is hugely damaging, this claim from

President Barroso, saying that an independent Scotland would have to

reapply for that membership, and it falls into the row Ivy non-existent

legal advice. I think he is entitled to his view, and that is

exactly a his view, and also the fact is that his government is

seeking urgent talks with President Barroso to discuss the current

situation in relation to the domestic constitutional situation

and to the context of the Edinburgh agreement. But I have to repeat

again that this is President Barroso's view, he hasn't given any

evidence as to what that is based on in terms of any legal article in

the treaty, and that signifies the extent to which there is no

provision in the EU treaty that deals with the situation in which

one part of a member state would become independent and then take up

for membership of the EU. You point out this is his view, he is an

unelected man, he has been put there by the member states, which

you go as far as to question his legitimacy when he speaks out on an

issue like this? You have to remember, I think there is a com --

conflict between his interpretation of the situation under the

Convention of International Law, and either there, he makes some

bold assumptions. You law is based on the rights and interests of East

didn't, they have to be considered. -- EU law. It determines the rules

and composition of membership. So under that, Scotland cannot be

compelled to leave the EU ought to be expelled, it is no provision at

all. We are hearing that from her there, it seems the SNP's argument

that a Mr Barroso is a highly political figure and a lot of this

may be comes down to politics and not legal points. She is retorting

to the age-old SNP tactic of shooting the messenger. --

resorting. This is not about his interpretation, the point is the

SNP always talks about independence for Scotland on their terms as if

every single decision effective will be one there is favourable to

Scotland and the SNP's position. The point that Mr Barroso raises

his it will have to be negotiated, and that put into question, will we

have to use the euro? Will our currency have to be the euro? That

is a condition of membership. The fact we don't know that is surely a

huge question mark over the whole independents project. Sweden have

not had to join the euro because they have not joined the exchange

rate mechanism. There are a number of different countries in different

situations, but Scotland is in a unique situation of leading the

euro, having been Amanda. I'm not saying Scotland doesn't want to be

a member of the European Community, but it would be interesting to have

a referendum, but if Scotland were to opt out of the UK, I don't think

there is any question that they would have to at least have some

discussions, just that uncertainty about the terms of their ongoing or

their new membership in the EU. The fact that uncertainty is a question

means our currency it is in question, Germany is imposing a

huge lot of fiscal conditions it. The people of Scotland will want to

know that before having a voter make this matter. -- a vote on this

matter. I think some of your colleagues may like to see the UK

opt out of this. They may question Mr Barroso's legitimacy. If I can

go back to your Swedish point, they were members of course long before

Lisbon, and anybody wanting to join or negotiate post Lisbon has been

in a different position. It has been difficult to join the euro or

making any commitment to do so in fairly short order. It is

interesting, the SNP have condemned Mr Barroso for making bold

assertions, they have condemned him for not providing for evidence and

legal back-up, for all the legal positions he has put forward. I

think it is totally hypocritical of the SNP to do that and to describe

him as a political figure, when many of those in the SNP have made

contrary assertions, claiming it is cut and dried, many of them could

be described as political figures are also. One final issue, same-sex

marriage, we have the Scottish government's proposals being are

published and religious bodies have to opt in. Is this surprising?

have to remember that we are all trying to make sure we have a

fairer, tolerant and more progressive society in Scotland, we

do have cross-party support for same-sex marriage, and what we are

saying today is making sure that the legislation will have important

protections in relation to religious bodies and also in terms

of freedom of speech and education. Mr McIntosh, you have seen the

proposals, of the Labour Party happy with them? I am not speaking

on behalf of the Labour Party but I can certainly say are my own behalf

but I'm very much in favour of same-sex marriage. I was surprised

at the SNP's position, I am not quite sure why they have done this.

The cynic in me suggests they are wanting to hide behind what is

happening down south. It defeats the purpose of perhaps, there will

be a lot of individual churches in Scotland who would want to carry

out these, and others who would not have to. But opting in is a strange

position they have taken. I would just. But that point to you, we

have seen that, what you think about this opting in? There will

not be a formal Scottish Conservative Party position on the

bill, it will be an entirely free vote for individual members to

decide. Having been locked in the finance committee this morning, I

have not let -- read the Bill, the proposals, I intend to do so as

soon as possible. OK, thank you to you all for joining us. That the

crispy to our political Corus -- commentator once again. Just trying

to seek out how the SNP are viewing Mr Barroso, you mentioned before,

he is a highly political animal, that is what they are pointing out.

I know there is this attempt by the Scottish government to get some

kind of dialogue going with it Barroso and the Commission on the

status of an independent Scotland. I am rather dubious about this. I

have no special knowledge about how Barroso it's office is going to

respond to this, but given we are talking about a devolved

administration within a member state can why would be surprised if

Barroso's office said, by all means we will talk to you. I think there

is a simple way out for the Scottish government, the member

state is the UK, and surely the thing to do is to approach the

member state, ie the UK government, and ask them to go to Mr Barroso

and the Commission to get that dialogue going. But of course, the

Scottish government don't want to do that. Whichever way you turn on

this argument becomes a one-way street. Thank you. Now to

Westminster and to Prime Minister's Questions, where the Labour Leader

Ed Miliband welcomed the fall in unemployment but accused the

government of raising taxes for people in work. But David Cameron

said he had to get on top of the welfare bill and claimed he was

taking more people out of tax. my Right Honourable Friend confirm

that the fall in youth unemployment figures is the largest since

records began. And will he meet with me to discuss how important

opportunities in Tamworth, including youth employment, can be

promoted further. I would be delighted to meet with my

honourable friend to discuss the best this situation in Tamworth,

but he is right, this morning's figures show the largest quarterly

fall in youth unemployment on record, 72,000 fewer people

unemployed this quarter. There is obviously no room for complacency,

they are still far too many people who are long-term unemployed, but

in these figures we can see 40,000 more people in work, unemployment

is down by 82,000 and the claimant count is down. Over a million extra

private sector jobs under this Mr Speaker... Mr Speaker, today is

a fall in unemployment is welcome. It is welcome. The part of the

challenge remains at the stubbornly high level of long-term

unemployment. Does the Prime Minister agree, this remains of

fundamental importance of not just for the people out of work but for

Long-term unemployment remains stubbornly high. The good news

about the figures today is that new unemployment is down this quarter.

Obviously long-term unemployment for others is still a problem, that

is why getting their work programme is right. It has got 200,000 people

into work but there is more to do. He said on 18th January, over the

next year, unemployment will get worse not better under his policies.

Perhaps he would like to withdraw that? If I am glad the Prime

Minister recognises long-term unemployment is still a challenge.

I want to ask him about the people who are doing the right thing and

finding work. The Chancellor decided to cut credit -- tax

credits and benefit. Can the Prime Minister tell us how many of those

hit are actually in work? The fact is this is that welfare needs to be

controlled and everyone who is on tax credits will be affected by

these changes, because we have to get on top of the welfare bill.

That is why we are restricting the increase on out-of-work benefits

and it is also the reason why we are restricting end were benefits,

but what we have also done is increased if the personal allowance

because on this side of the house we believe in cutting people's

taxes on the Aran mark. She is raising the taxes of people in work.

And of course he did not answer the question - the answer is, despite

the impression given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, there

are over 16% of those affected in work. It is a factory worker on the

night shift, it is the carer who looks after elderly people around

the clock, and it is a cleaner who cleans the Chancellor's office

while his curtains are still drawn and he is still in bed. The

Chancellor calls than scroungers. What does the Prime Minister call

long? He just said that we are not cutting taxes for people in work.

Someone who is on the minimum wage, who works full-time, will see their

income tax bill cut by one have under this Government. The fact is

under this Government we are saying to working people you can earn

another �3,000 before you even start paying income tax. That is

why we have taken 2 million people out of tax altogether. He should be

welcoming back because this is the party for people who work. His is

the party for a limited welfare. the day that unemployment in

Scotland showed the largest fall in four years, is the Prime Minister

shocked as I am by reports in the Sunday Mail and the Daily reckon

this week that some JobCentre managers were actively

encouraging... And will the Prime Minister condemned as fact is and

insure it ceases immediately? he makes an important point which

is we want work-experience places to be additional places encouraging

more young people to get a feel for work so they get a chance for work.

But it is good that he welcomes the fact that unemployment -- Welt --

has fallen 19,000 this quarter. Les their Westminster now. Let's

speak to David Porter who is standing back on College Green.

Thank you very much. Perhaps unsurprisingly our financial theme

to Prime Minister's Questions there. Joining me is Anne McGuire for

Labour, Mike Weir and Mike Crockart for the Liberal Democrats.

Anne McGuire you have been a Minister, you know when there are

good unemployment figures. It does not seem difficult to get Ministers

out and about. Do you think we have turned the corner on unemployment?

There is always a difficult day. Looking at the headline figures,

you need to look at the analysis that the officer budge a

responsibility has undertaken. Yes, it is welcome that unemployment

figures have come down, but the other issue in terms of Scotland of

courses -- of courses that unemployment in Scotland is

decreasing at a faster rate than anywhere else. There is a decrease

of employment in Scotland and in my own constituency. We have had an

increase of employment since last October to the current figures. We

have a problem. Do you think people are taking lower-paid jobs are

part-time jobs? We're seeing more people in part-time not full

employment? There is evidence to suggest that people are taking

part-time jobs. If that is an individual's choice then that is

fantastic. But we do know that people are taking part-time jobs

when the really one full time employment. I think that is the big

challenge, to convert some of those part-time jobs into the full time

jobs that people want. Mike Weir, these figures show unemployment in

Scotland is below the midi -- UK average. Does that mean that some

of the stories that your party has been fitting out of the past few

months, perhaps not true that the situation is not as bad in Scotland

as you have been saying? Her it shows that what the Scottish

Government has been doing things that are working. Making sure there

is employment, putting money back into communities. Youth

unemployment has also fallen. We cannot be complacent about it.

There is still a lot to be done but it is encouraging news that we're

moving in the right direction. managed to mention cattle project,

which your Government has been making a great deal. -- capital. We

are not seen press releases saying these projects are going to start

on a certain date. I am sure the Government is looking at all of the

projects and the money they have and will now -- announced in due

course what will be done. A Mike Crockard, from a UK Government has

vowed to, do you feel you we have turn the corner or is it too early

to say that with regards to unemployment?

It is too early to be complacent about this. These are encouraging

figures, 82,000 draw up in unemployment. The biggest draw up

in unemployment that we have seen for over a decade. Almost a quarter

of that, 19,000 of that coming in Scotland. These are good figures,

but we certainly cannot be complacent about it. The things

that have come out in the Autumn Statement will hopefully help to

accelerate that. What we need his private business to be more

confident and actually to invest some of the money that they have

available to them. The capital allowances will help one to that.

The extra job any corporation tax will help them do that. We're doing

what we can but it is up to private business to have the confidence to

invest in the economy. Let's move on to another subject - Europe.

Wall with an independent Scotland's position be in a European Union.

Anne McGuire, from what we heard from the Commission and letters

written by the Commission President. Day think we have moved a major way

for me now? I think if the President are the commission is

really saying that Scotland would have to apply as the state, a new

state, if that is what the referendum deliver it, then I think

we should take that seriously. What it has exposed is that the smoke

and mirrors that have been around this issue by the First Minister

and his deputy. What we had this week was a definitive opinion of

exactly what the situation is. And that, I hope, will encourage the

current Scottish Government to be more honest, not just about Europe

but also the implications for Scotland far if we do separate from

the rest of the United Kingdom. This is not just the decision for

20th October 14, this is a decision for more than a generation in terms

of the future of Scotland. -- 20th October 14. They want more honesty

from you. A position has always been clear. We believe we will

always be a member of the European Union after independence. We are a

member of the European Union, our position is that we are citizens of

the European Union and we still well be. If Greece wanted to leave

they would have to negotiate their way out. It comes from the Tory's

down here. We have been in the position where we are negotiating

hour conditions were staying in, they are negotiating the conditions

for getting out. How do you take that argument that we have heard

from my clear that Paul's an independence referendum, a country

like Scotland, is still a member of the E u. -- European Union? They

would have to apply to be a member of the European Union. Any sensible

person would say that they would be allowed to join the European Union.

But the real uncertainty is around what the conditions would be if

they were allowed to join. Would they have to join the euro? Whit a

have to join the Shane Chowen in the what? There are so many

unknowns. What the Scottish Government need to do is to deal

with these in a more far -- on his and fair way. -- fees that

requirements. Thank you for joining us this afternoon.

Time to hand back to you. The sirens are just started here!

Thank you very much. I am joined in the studio far final time by Angus

MacLeod, a political commentator far this afternoon.

This has been released - the First Minister's official Christmas card.

We will see it on the screen you. What you make of it?

uncharitable minds say it is like that type of graduate sent to

someone in hospital rather than a Christmas card. -- type a Christmas

card you would send. I would hazard a guess that one

person who is not going to be receiving the First Minister's

Christmas card this year is a certain President Barroso, care of

Brussels. That is for sure. It is your final programme of 2012. What

has been your big highlight of 2012? It actually came quite early

in the area. It was when the Prime Minister David Cameron walk up that

Sunday morning to find out that Mr Cameron had decided that he was

going to give the power to the Scottish Parliament to are

organised and hold a referendum on independence. He recognised the

Scottish Parliament's right to do so. I think that has set a kind of

political template for the whole of the Year. It concentrated minds

wonderfully, not just on the pro- union aside but as time has shown,

it has started to concentrate minds wonderfully within the Scottish

Government. From that moment on, we were no longer talking about

something theoretical. We were talking about something that is now

actually only 22 months away. And I think, that for me, was the kind,

it's set the pace on the whole of the political year for Scotland. If

it was a year ago, 2013 coming up. I year with no elections. That is

my highlight of 2013, the fact that we will have no elections. But

despite this frenetic activity on all sides of the constitutional

agreement, by the end of 2013 we will be needing our real relaxation

from it. It we will not get it, it will carry on into 2014. And the

European argument that we have seen today. They will run and run.

they will run and run and the temperature will increase. I think

that some of the language will start to get a bit hot as well.

Thank you very much as well -- for that as well.

That is all from us just now. We are back at the same time next week,