15/01/2014 Politics Scotland

Hello and welcome to politics Scotland, coming up on the

programme. The green shots continue to peep

through, Scotland's economy grows again, we will look at the figures.

As we plough through the winter Labour call for a full review, that

is our live debate in the chamber. And here at Westminster, bankers'

bonuses are on the agenda again. It's a poisoned chalice or a sign

the economy is stepping up a gear. The Scottish economy grew by 0.7% in

the third quarter of last year according to figures from the

Scottish Government. There were similar rates of growth across

service, production and construction sectors. This represents the sixth

quarter of growth as the recovery has picked up. A trend welcomed by

the Finance Secretary John Swinney. The figures on the development and

growth in the Scottish economy are encouraging. They show over the last

six quarters sustained and accelerating growth in the Scottish

economy, and we have reached a point where the annual growth in the

Scottish economy is at 2.1%, so this is further reinforcement of the fact

that the Scottish economy is recovering, we have seen that in the

labour market. We have seen that in the gross domestic product. We are

joined by Douglas Fraser and by our commentator for the afternoon, the

columnist Jerome Kerviel. Dug la, it seem -- George Kerr van. It is

historical. They take a long time to give us the figure, this this is for

the third quarter. It doesn't come as a huge surprise, it is reassuring

it is the right number we are looking for. It is in line what the

UK as a whole saw. The difference explained by construction. Which

with all this help to buy and the improvement in the housing market

has been helped a great deal, a big boost in the UK, a more modest boost

in line with everything else with the services sector, the production

sector in Scotland, that would probably explain that gap there was.

These summer autumn months were good from the other indicators we had,

the next question is what happens next. The 28th January we find out

about the fourth quarter for the whole of the UK, they are faster in

giving us these figures that the Scottish Government is, and there is

some signs that may come off the boil a bit. The accelerating

recovery that we have seen may not continue, particularly in Scotland,

we saw purchasing managers for December were a bit weaker. There is

still recovery, growth, I should stress but less strong than we were

seeing in the period for the third quarter figures. The other factor is

Grangemouth, which is a big part of the Scottish economy. The shut down,

which was a dispute that lasted not more than a couple of weeks, firing

it up meant the output was held back, we may say that reflected. I

think that not be that great. There was a lag there. George, looking at

the figure, how are they playing out the Scottish Secretary is saying

that is what Scotland can achieve as part of the UK, the Finance

Secretary is saying well, Scotland needs independence to achieve its

full potential? Good growth figures are positive for the party in

Government, which is why down south you are seeing the Cameron

Government is improving its poll position, so they are good for John

Swinney and Alex Salmond north of the border. And I think the fact

that John Swinney can point to six consecutive quarters of growth

proves he is doing something right. One month one quarter's figures is

neither here nor there, they are a bit crude, subject to revision, so

you have to look at it over a period of time. I think, you know, just

following on, there is a slight difference between what is going on

north and south of the border, in terms of economic performance, what

is going on south of the boarer is very much forced by -- border is

rising house prices that came on the back of some emergency subsidies the

Westminster Government put in in 2013. The growth in Scotland is

slightly better embedded and that comes from the fact they put more

money into capital spending over the period. Dug la, it is not all good

news though, looking at the Scottish sales figure, disappointing December

for retailers. Yes for retail, this is Scottish Retail Consortium

figures, these are vital figures an were poor. If you look at the

equivalent UK figures more than 2% growth. Scottish figures more than

1%, a decline. Particularly for stores that have been trading over

the whole year, it is known as like for like, it is a sharp fall for

them. Both food and non-food. Now, part of this maybe explained by the

difficulty that the Retail Consortium has in capturing online

sales, not all of the members, the retailers account for where online

transactions take place. Clearly, the Christmas period in particular,

was a very strong one for a move into online, so that may be one of

the reasons the figures aren't particularly strong, but retail, the

consumer confidence was very important, really, to getting the

economy going over the past six quarters that we are see, we have

seen growth. It may be because people have been spending, you know,

the average spending power of the average household has been curtailed

by inflation, outstripping earnings, we have heard a lot about that. It

maybe house holds are getting more cautious, the hope has to be other

parts of the economy, export, business, they need to pick up in

order to carry on where the consumer starts. George, let us finish off

with one more stat. You could finish on a high, it was the news yesterday

that inflation fell to the Bank of England's 2% target for the first

time in four years. David Cameron was welcoming this, but I think you

have a different take on inflation don't you? It is good in the sense

that your pay packet goes further, here is my warn, low inflation means

that debts are heavier in real terms, if inflation goes down the

debt mountain that is holding the Scottish and British economies back

remains in place and gets heavier, in real terms, so watch out for

that. OK, George, you stay with us here, but Douglas thanks for coming

in. Another political issue that is making the headline the abolition of

corroboration in criminal cases is to be delayed to allow time for a

fresh review of what other safeguards might be needed. The

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill made the commitment at Holyrood's

Justice Committee yesterday. The century's old requirement it says

evidence must come from more than one source. . This is about access

to justice, I come back to the letter sent to the committee by

Colette Barry, she wanted access to justice. When I met with her she was

clear she would hope, would hope that that would result in a

conviction. She would be disappointed if it didn't.

But she would accept the position and the view of the jury. But she

had been groomed and abused as a child, as had he sister, she had to

live with the consequence, she is a bright and intelligent woman. It had

affected her whole life in very tragic ways. She wanted her day in

court. She wanted, she said to me, to look her abuser in the eye and

say "You ruined my childhood and damaged my life." She would have her

day in court and she wanted access to justice. Have you taken time to

think about whether or not Scottish Law Commission or some other

mechanism could be utilised to look at the judge's power, the size of

the jury, never mind what a majority looks like, the not proven verdict,

the use of here say within the trial, the dock identification you

have spoken about, is a time to stand aside from this at this

moment, and get this right for everybody concerned. I think there

is time to get the new system of evidential requirements and the

other aspects that you commented on right. I don't think there is any

time to delay in getting rid of corroboration. Are you saying you

could keep corroboration in the bill, but it wouldn't be ins for

pending something else? No, what I am saying. You are not?

Corroboration has to go. Believe that to remain the bill and we have

to trigger that, we recognise we have to make sure that we get the

landscape right, and the balance of the scales of justice right, to

ensure that the due change does not come in until such time as we have

got right, the, the new landscape for prosecution and indeed the

judiciary to decide upon, when matters come before them. I

appreciate what you are saying about this coming in later is there a way,

perhaps I shouldn't be asking this, a way the committee should ensure

that they look at this again, prior to, it would be in the bill, and it

would be in the act but suspended animation as it were until such time

as further evidence came back to the committee, to allow us to say "OK,

now we have taken our time, it is better than trying to do it as stage

two." Maybe I am asking the wrong question. I don't know. These things

would be triggered by subordinate legislation but there are ways

through legislation that matters can come back before the committee and

indeed before Parliament, and indeed, I think from discussion with

various people, including accuse deminutes that would probably

provide for greater scrutiny than would be dealt with in any other

way. That was Kenny MacAskill there. Let us pick up with George again.

George, the essence there is Kenny MacAskill offering that review of

what alternative safeguards might be needed if corroboration goes, why

you think he has decided to do this now? Well, I don't think it is

because he is flighty, I mean, remember he was a lawyer, very

well-thought-of lawyer before he became minister, he has been

minister for six year, which is a long time by UK standard so he is

well bedded. If he doesn't do things quickly or without a lot of thought.

He wants rid of corroboration, I think what is happening is that it

has become the issue has become a focus of debate for other thing, I

think the judiciary is feeling a bit under pressure, issues about the

integration of the Scottish police force. It has cop a head on that

particular issue, but he is not going to give way. Scotland is the

odd system out, the women's movement is very clear that the cases of rape

the cob rakes rule is dangerous and leads to bad side effects because in

those crimes there isn't a witness to gi you the corroboration, so it

is a matter of the debate about how we resolve the issue to put in the

safeguard, I don't think council tax will retreat on that. It is

interesting what you say about the judiciary there. There has been very

strong opposition from them. When you say the issue is maybe coming to

a head and they express themselves, do you think there are other

problems with within the judiciary and they are using that to attack

the Scottish... It has to be a conservative force. So that is good.

So they have to be moved along slowly to catch up with public

opinion, but I do feel that the mood over the last period is the

judiciary feel that the politicians are encroaching, not just in

Scotland but across the UK on their prerogative, and so they are

defensive and they see this as the front line. This review will report

back by the end of the year, but this does delay the legislation,

doesn't it? It does, I am sure Kenny MacAskill would have referred to

have got it through smoothly but he is a canny operator, and I think in

the end he will get his way, but he wants to bring people with him. The

review is not a review of the principle as your clip showed. It is

easy to see if he can do a deal on the safeguard, so everyone feels

happy with the removal of the corroboration rule. Thank you, we

will speak do you shortly. Let us go to our live debate in the

chamber. Scottish Labour is calling on the Scottish Government to

conduct a full and comprehensive review of the NHS in Scotland to

ensure as they put it, it can become a 24/7 service fit for the 21st

century. Our commentator is standing by in the chamber at Holyrood. It is

over to you. A minute or so into the debate now,

as you say, Neil Findlay Labour's health spokesperson on his feet,

fleshing out his motion, the thrust of which is a call on the Scottish

Government to conduct a full and comprehensive review of the NHS in

Scotland, to ensure they have a service fit for the 21st century.

Let us hear what he has to say. The NHS would not function, and we

ignore them and their concerns at our peril. Of course, health is

fully devolved. Therefore our responsibility in this Parliament is

to hold ministers to account for what is going on here in Scotland.

As my motion sets out, the reality is that the NHS in Scotland, and the

staff who work in it, are under pressure, like never before. Budget

pressures, fewer staff being asked to do more for less, the social care

system in crisis, bed blocking, waiting times increasing, a skeleton

weekend service, vacancy rates up, cases of bullying and the use of

gagging clauses to silence staff up. Junior doctors being left to look

after up to one hundred beds while working up to 100 hours a week.

Patients left on troll his and sometimes being treated -- trolleys

and sometimes being treated in cupboards and only last week patient

being left on trolleys for up to 13 hours. Let us not forget Scotland's

shame of health and equality, increasing despite the rhetoric of

the Scottish Government, southern pricing given the billion pound of

cuts. In the summer I called for a full scale review of the NHS in

Scotland. This call was not based on a whim, or for narrow party

political reasons, it followed wide-ranging discussions I had with

doctor, nurse, patient, trade unions and a range of stake holders from

across the NHS. We need such a review to examine how we sustainably

finance and resource the NHS. We need it to ensure we have the right

people and the right places to meet expectations on the health service

and we needed to reflect the challenges and opportunities of an

ageing population. So, let us look at some of the evidence to support

this call. The auditor general told the public audit committee about the

Hiddink waiting times. -- hidden waiting times. Nicola Sturgeon said

it didn't exist. He said the focus on tension was on whether the 18

week treatment target was being achieved rather than how it was

being achieved. That information should have rung alarm bells. Those

in charge of the health service at the time, it was also the -- said

that the NHS budget was on an amber warning and now we see how only

three health boards met the 12 week legal treatment time guarantee. With

nine of the 14 failing to meet the accident and emergency target. In a

recent report, in 2012 and 2013, pressure had increased and the focus

was on short-term measures. The health service, it was theirs, needs

to prepare for the challenges it faces. One doctor from the BMA said

that NHS managers have the unenviable task of managing

shrinking budgets whilst trying to achieve a range of targets annually

and performance standards set by the government. This means planning for

the short-term and making savings from easy targets such as the

workforce. He said it was not sustainable. Another said that the

picture painted of the NHS is of it doing its best whilst creaking at

the seams. Next year 's budget does not look set to change much in

practice, it is not sustainable to manage the health service in this

way as shown all too clearly by Mr waiting times and health care staff

and an increasing reliance on bank and agency staff as well as the

private sector. As a previous member of the health committee on a number

of health committee meetings, the question has often been asked as to

where the investment should take place all this investment should

take place. Does Mr Finlay have any suggestion? He makes my argument for

me. That is why we need an overall review of the NHS to look at these

issues. To reserve five is absolutely rife, private sector

spent is up by a quarter and the use of consultants on triple time is up,

use of agency nurses is up by 62%, spending on Bach -- bank staff up by

the 15% and vacancy rates for consultants are up. As one from the

BMA said that medical staff are feeling under considerable strain as

a result. Clearly, this is not sustainable. These are his words,

the words of these different groups, they are not my words. Therefore, we

have a duty to listen. We can see the pressures and the increase in

sick days. In the last few days, this has come to light, the amount

of sick days been taken in Tayside. It shows 24 and a half percent of

all sick days related to stress. 16% in Fife and 14% in Lanarkshire. Of

course, before Christmas, we were reminded of the tragic death of drop

-- Doctor Lauren Connerly who died in an accident having work excessive

hours in a week prior to her death. We cannot treat young people who are

the future of our NHS like this and that is why I have called on the

Health and Safety Executive to examine junior doctor hours and I

hope the Cabinet Secretary will support that call. Junior doctors

are often asked to work 100 hours a week. That is clearly unhealthy for

them and unhealthy for their patients. I know they would talk

about averaging out the working Time directive and the rest of it, but if

you are working 100 hours a week you cannot function properly and deal

with patients properly. We'll head to Holyrood for some political

reaction now. I'm joined by the SNP's Christian Allard, Graeme

Pearson from Scottish Labour and from the Scottish Liberal Democrats

we have Liam McArthur. David Cameron has defended the government's record

on banking amid continuing pressure from Labour about bonuses.

Let us look at the figures now. Labour must almost be disappointed,

looking at these figures, when you see what your friends beside you are

managing to achieve in the Scottish economy? Labour is always pleased

when some good news comes through. The problem as far as we will

estimate is how fragile these changes are and whether we can

commit to long-term growth in the economy and real jobs in communities

who do not see any. Our fear is that much of the perceived growth is on

the back of zero hour contracts and part-time working and low-paid jobs.

As much as any growth in the economy is to be welcomed, it is not a great

number. Better than nothing, but we would like to see sustainable growth

and growth that will ring some degree of comfort to those who have

suffered most these last few years. I think we have had six consecutive

quarters of growth and when you see the inflation figures from yesterday

going down, Labour 's cost of living crisis doesn't ring true true at the

moment, does it? It might not to you in the BBC studio, but come down to

the communities I represent and they do not feel much warm air coming in

at all. We need a great deal more of investment in industry and jobs. It

is good to see construction jobs are seeing some growth because often

that is seen as the first signs of a building economy. But I don't think

anyone is confident today that Scotland is out of the woods and we

are getting on our feet again. Let us put that point to Christian

Allard. Scotland is not out of the woods. To a certain extent, I would

agree that we need to be cautious. The figures are very good and we

have to welcome them. GDP figures and unemployment, not only are they

very good, but the direction of travel during those quarters has

been very good. Quarter after quarter, we push well above our

weight and that is promising. Let us not forget there are difficult

circumstances and we are managing to do very well because the Scottish

Government. The last report from the Federation of Small Businesses was

very optimistic and I am sure it is a good sign of progress that

entrepreneurs are taking about a bright future. Do you think a bright

future is part of the United Kingdom as the socket -- Scottish secretary

was saying today? Part of the United Kingdom... Or part of the UK, it

could be the same result. It is to decide what we can do here for our

businesses here. And for looking after the communities. I live in a

constituency which is very rich. One with full employment and

particularly in Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen. I would like to see that

across Scotland and independents can bring this. Listening to that, Liam

McArthur, what you make of John Swinney saying that only with full

powers of independence can we build a wealthier and fairer and

economically sustainable Scotland? I am rather bemused, to be honest.

Christian has just suggested that what we need to be as an independent

Scotland in a United Kingdom and I can't see how you can square that.

What we are seeing is encouraging signs of growth. Earlier figures

suggested that we are on a trajectory that gives cause for

optimism. Add to that figure is around inflation yesterday and some

of the surveys yesterday of business indicating confidence is up. We are

not out of the woods yet and we need a long-term sustainable strategy,

but I believe that is a pattern which is set. Christian is also

taking the credit for this recovery, but let us not forget that

SNP ministers have been criticising Westminster MPs. You do say we are

on a positive trajectory, but hearing from what Graham Pearson was

saying, is it sustainable? He said .7% is not a huge amount. To be

fair, it is stronger than most other economies in Europe. There are

difficult weeks ahead, but the indications are that we are seeing

growth over successive quarters with business confidence. We see

employment up and unemployment down. We see inflation back to the sorts

of levels which are a bit more comfortable, particularly in

relation to the cost of living. All of these things combined suggest

that, yes, we are not out of the woods but we are going in the right

direction. Let us move on to corroboration. Christian Allard, it

what is Kenny MacAskill up to at the moment with this new review looking

at what alternative safeguards might be available? Is he getting cold

feet? Not at all. The Cabinet Secretary for Justice has been

listening to all the evidence we took at the committee. He is on the

side of the Scottish Government to listen and ask for suggestions from

the judicial system and a lot of people out there would be delighted

to hear that he is listening. I hope he will bring back some safeguards.

That is when we bring in the removal for requirements for accommodation.

Has he been taken aback? One of the High Court judges is against this? I

have been listening to what the media has said but if you follow the

evidence we took at committee level, you will see that the debate has

changed. There was a lot of opposition to the removal of

corroboration and there was an understanding that it will not be

removed as such but only the formal requirement for cooperation. --

corroboration. What a Labour think at the moment? We are bemused. There

was no reference yesterday to any possibility of an expert panel. It

was only after close questioning and I asked him about taking time and

getting this thing right that he finally indicated that he would

create this panel and he would, indeed, slow up his progress. This

whole area is a mess. Cold feet... It would be good if he did feel cold

feet and not only listened, but actually responded to decent views

that have been made to him, both in public and in committee, which says

there are a great deal of problems here. It is not as straightforward

as he was advised at the outset and we need to ensure we can solve these

problems first and then decide on the issue of corroboration after.

Liam McArthur, what do the Lib Dems think at the moment? At least the

Justice Secretary is listening, isn't he? I don't think he is. I

would like to think he is getting cold feet. What we are talking about

isn't a minor, has met exchanges but major surgery to our justice system

and the notion that he is now asking Parliament to back the end of

corroboration in return for some ill-defined review thereafter is a

nonsense. It is almost like those on a sinking ship throwing life raft

over the side and having a discussion about what safeguards and

other flotation devices they might be able to cling to. It is a

nonsense and a mess. We will have to leave it there. All of you, thank

you all for joining us. Let us pick up with this afternoons

commentator, George Kerevan. We chatted about corroboration

earlier. Jumping back to the health debate, we are heading back to the

chamber shortly, the Labour MSP health spokesman is calling for a

review of the NHS in Scotland and he laid out a litany of problems he saw

with the NHS. What do you think a review might achieve?

When they don't have ideas of their own thaw they call for a review or

inquiry and I some day for one to expect to call for a inquiry into

the number of inquiries there have been. The issue is at Westminster

and Holyrood, all the main political parties have conspired to make the

NHS a Cinderella and never contemplate any cuts. Only the Welsh

Government has confronted that. If you never confront the budget issue,

all that will happen is every year you will try and put more money into

it. You can't do that because you have to spend money on other thing,

there is an issue about how we approach it, but I rather doubt that

is what was being discussed today, what was being discussed was a

scroert call for more spending and that is not going to be forthcoming.

It is a difficult issue for my Government. But the litany of

problems including bed blocking, gags clausing, junior doctors

overstretched, relying on bank staff, it does seem a number of

problems at the moment and the Scottish Government are probably

action to keep the problems under wraps with the referendum coming up.

Is that is what he is trying to do? Trying to highlight some of the

problems, that are a sense at a sensitive time? What has been

happening under the Treasury cosh from London over the last six years

and beyond that, is that the NHS has, the main budget has been

protected, it has had to deliver efficiency savings as all Government

departments have been forced to do, that puts the squeeze, sometimes

rather, rather blindly on some areas rather than other, and I suppose

that Alec Neil would apply if he had control of the budge he could

resolve some of that. The more fundamental issue is there a crisis

of expectation, health is one of the areas where budget expand because of

technology change, and so there will be never be enough money to go

round. Thank you for that just now. Right, let us dip Tabb back into the

tham ber and listen to the health -- dip back in to the chamber again and

listen to the health debate. The Health Secretary on his feet at

the moment offering his response to Neil Findlay, he says the calls for

a review are absurd, the criticism of the NHS is based on a lack of

fact, and he says they know the problems and know what needs to be

done. Let us hear what he has to say. There as been a 12 point 4%

reduction in hospital standardised mortality rates. Of the 31

hospitals, participating in the acute patient safety programme, ten

have already achieved a reduction in HSMR in excess of 15%, with three

already showing a reduction in excess of 20%. And Scotland's

hospitals are far cleaner than they were under Andy Kerr, cases of C

diff in patients aged 65 and over have reduced by 80.5%, since they

were in power, and for MRSA cases, they were reduced by 88.9%, in NHS

Lanarkshire an 88.4% nationally. And of course, we have also made

significant reduction, in premature, not at the moment, premature

mortality... Heart disease and stroke, through a number of

initiative, in unscheduled care we are based in the latest figures got

95% of people being treated and discharged within four hours.

When you look at the performance elsewhere, in Wales the comparable

figure under Labour there, is 89%. We have reduced waiting times

dramatically for inpatients and outpatients. The time of referral

has been reduced. The time people have to wait for diagnostic tests

has been reduced dramatically, there are no hidden waiting lists. It

quotes hidden waiting list, nowhere does the Auditor General refer to

hidden waiting lists. In terms of the workforce it is

rising in skills levels and we are treating our workforce properly, and

dealing with any problems of harassment or bullying which I have

said we take a zero tolerance approach to.

So all in all there are problem, pressure points but instead of

exploiting them and turning a small number of cases into a large

national crisis, look at the patient survey and the satisfaction rate of

nearly 90%, I can tell you it is a far higher satisfaction rate than

the Labour Party has had for the last ten years.

Thank you, if members don't keep to the times given we will lose a

member from this debate. I call on Jim Hulme to move the next

amendment. Thank you. I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the

debate. Labour's party motion describes the NHS has the most

valued and loved public ser servicing that is a statement I

endorse, and I associate myself with the Cabinet secretary's Christmas

message where he spoke of the extraordinary work undertaken by NHS

staff across Scotland on a daily basis to improve the lives of

others. NHS staff are the life blood of the Health Service and just as we

look upon them to ensure our welfare in our time of need, they rely on us

to ensure their welfare is taken care of as well. But the reality is

that many front line staff are under extreme pressure, just last month

the BMA chairman warned up that reports of stress and burn out among

all grades of clinical staff are emerging across the service, this

followed RCN 2013 employment survey, which made for alarming reading. It

revealed 54% of Scotland nurses were working more than their contracted

weekly hours with much of the overtime going unpaid. 58% reported

being under too much pressure, and this should keep the Cabinet

secretary up at night, 55% believe that they are unable to provide the

standards of care they would like to, due to this pressure. When you

continue to pile pressure on any employee, then corners may

inevitably be cut. That might be tolerable in many professions, but

when decisions and actions can mean life-and-death corner cutting can't

be tolerated. We only have to look at Lanarkshire as mentioned before,

to see why the Cabinet secretary should be and I am sure he is,

straining every sinew to support the majority of nurses who believe they

cannot provide the standard of care they want. Health improvement

Scotland will move to make 21 recommendation, following their

discovery of poor working condition, inadequate staff, delays in

admitting emergency pay shipts and patients not being listened to. Why

no definitive conclusions could be drawn, it is telling that quality of

care couldn't be ruled out as a factor behind the unusually high

mortality rates. At this point I must take issue with the specific

part of the Cabinet secretary's almenment, in it he praises the

Scottish patient safety programme and the role it plays in Scotland's

hospital, I don't contest that point but I refer him to the health

improvement Scotland's report, which stated that the review team found

that awareness of the Scottish patient safety programme was low in

the majority of areas it visited, with little evidence that staff were

consistently applying improvement techniques, although there were

exceptions of course, some elements of the programme specifically

executive safety walk rounds are not in place and other key interventions

need to be reliably implemented. So I presume it will be some concern to

the Cabinet secretary that not only are there somel mentes of the safety

programme not being implemented and some staff are not even wear of its

existence. The Cabinet secretary must ensure that this particular

finding is exclusive to NHS Lanarkshire, and not widespread

throughout the NHS. These pressures staff are born out of many thing,

the expectations placed on staff by Government, but staffing bottlenecks

on certain wards, in certain hospital, and certain specialities

across Scotland contribute. The latest NHS workforce statistics up

to September 2013 reveal a significant increase in both

consultant, nursing and midwifery vacancies.

In just 12 month, there are an additional 70 consultant posts lying

empty. Double what they were in September 2012 and with a 26%

increase in the number of posts which had been lying empty for over

six months. In that same period, there has been a 20% increase in the

number of nurse g and midwifery vacancies with nearly 1400 posts

lying empty and a 27% increase in those empty for over six months. The

recruitment issues that the BMA and Royal College of Nurses continue to

warn us should be one of the Cabinet secretary's main priorities. Has the

member has an opportunity to look at what unison Scotland said when they

say the we are please the Scottish government has listened and we will

train more nurses in 2014? I am aware of that and I will come to

that point in my summing up. I recognise it is not the whole NHS is

brokered but there are points that need priority. -- broken. There has

been a knock-on effect on NHS ability to provide treatment in a

timely fashion also, I have highlighted this in the chamber

before, the disparity in treatment times for cancers, not only in

different health boards but type and make no apology for doing so again.

In the most recent stat 95% standard was only achieved in three of the

types. 9.6 of screens, 10.1 of urology patients and 13.4 of head,

neck and patients had to wait over the 62 days for their first

treatment. We will leave Jim Hulme on that day

bait for the moment. You can watch the rest of the debate live on

demand at BBC Scotland land's democracy website. David Cameron has

defended the Government's record on banking amid continuing pressure

from Labour about bonuses. During Prime Minister's Questions Mr

Cameron said he would veto any proposal by the Royal Bank of

Scotland to increase the overall level of pay and bonuses, he was

responding to the Labour leader Ed Miliband.

Mr Speaker RBS are expected to ask the government to approve bonuses of

over 100% on multimillion pound salaries. Does the Prime Minister

think that is acceptable? What can I can till him about RBS is we will

continue with our plans for RBS that have seen bonuses come down by 85%,

that have seen the bonus pool at one third of the level that it was under

Labour, and I can confirm today that just as we have had limits on cash

bonuses of ?2,000 at RBS this year and last year, will do the same next

year as well. I think we can all agree with the

general sentiments he expresses about bonuses but today I am asking

a specific question. RBS are talking to parts of the Government, about

the proposal to pay over 100% bonus, he is the Prime Minister. The

taxpayer will foot the bill. Will he put a stop to it by telling RBS to

drop this idea? I will tell him what we are saying, it is this. If there

are any proposals to increase the overall pay that is pay and bonus

bill, at RBS, at the investment bank, any proposals for that, we

will veto it. What a pity the past Government never took an approach

like that. Thank you, given that we have heard reports that half a dozen

terrorist suspects could soon be released on to our streets, can the

Prime Minister give an assurance that public safety will not be cop

promised once the Government's latest experiment with terrorism

controls expires? -- compromised. We will take every step necessary to

keep the British public safe, I think that the TPIM measures are

working well. It's a myth to pretend that control orders would be kept in

place forever. Many people were taken off control orders during the

existence of that set of measures and all of the time I listened

carefully to the head of the Metropolitan Police service, and to

the heads of the security service who were involved in drawing up the

measures and who advice us on how best to keep the country safe. The

leader of the op sings has said what Holland is doing in France I want to

do in Britain. Given recent events across the

channel, does my honourable friend agree with me this is at odds with

our long-term economic plan? I didn't... I didn't catch all of

President Hollande's press conference because I was in front of

the Liaison Committee, one thing I did no sis is -- notice is that the

French proposals are to cut spending in order to cut taxes, in order to

make the economy more competitive. Now, perhaps the Shadow Chancellor

and his new silent form will want to consider some of these ideas and

recognise that this revolution of making business more competitive, of

trying to win this the global race, that is a proper plan for the

economy. The issue of bonuses is likely

confusing. David Cameron does not agree with what Ed Miliband was

calling for. Yes, it is a dreary College Green here today and I

suppose bankers bonuses is an issue which will be a poisoned chalice --

chalice for whoever is in government. Bonuses will be coming.

As far as RBS is concerned, the bank owned by the UK taxpayers, if

taxpayers are paying bonuses, that might be a bit of a problem. Today,

David Cameron said there would be a cash limit of eight ?2000 bonus but

he did not agree on a cap on bonuses in shares. But he said that as far

as he was concerned there would be no increase in the overall amount of

bonus payments paid. Why is that important? It means the global

figure for RBS for bonus payments will not go up mainly because the

number of people working for RBS has declined. It is one of those

difficult issues for politicians in government and to discuss that and

the other issues important to Scotland, I am joined by Mike Weir

and Russell Brand. Let me start with you first. When you were in

government, you got bashed for bankers bonuses and know you're

doing the same to the Conservatives. Absolutely, because if we recognise

that households are suffering and businesses are suffering even yet

and the inability to grow businesses with the need of money from banks is

not happening. Yet those at the top end in the banking system will be

lying back in a way in which it really sickens the wider public.

Bonuses are just unthinkable. They have no shame. I think that has come

across loud and clear today. Mike Weir, you may not like the size of

the bonuses but if you want a vibrant banking sector, and we know

how important that is in Scotland and Edinburgh, you are going to have

to pay the going rate. To a certain extent. We have to wonder if bankers

have a sense of awareness. There is pain in the economy caused by banks

in the first instance. There are scandals with embedded interest

swaps caused by bankers. Part of the argument today is not just about

this years bonuses but whether they will agree to European rules limit

bonuses to just one haven't -- 100% of salary, Heaven forfend! Yes we

need to have good banks and make sure they survive, but there must be

a limit on what is a reasonable bonus. Surely anyone out there would

think that 100% of salary is far more than reasonable. You alluded to

the changes that were coming from the European Commission next year.

What is your party 's position on that? I think the European rules

seem perfectly reasonable. They are trying to put a limit on it. If

bankers are serious that they will move away, it has to be done at an

international level and this is a good start. Bankers are well paid at

the top end of the scale at the moment. Different perhaps at the

lower end. At the top end they are well paid and bonuses should not be

allowed to go out of control as in the past. None of the banks are

making huge profits at the moment to justify large bonuses. Sticking with

economic matters, an important announcement from the Treasury this

week that they would guarantee UK debts if Scotland votes for

independence. That is basically truncating the Treasury's argument.

Was it the right thing for the Treasury to do at this time?

Absolutely because we still have several months to go to the

referendum vote. We need to be sure, as a nation, that borrowing

will still continue, those that might be in a position to lend to

the UK... The whole system needs to be assured that we will not default

on any borrowing so it was right that we laid the marker down and

everyone out there can see that it will be paid for any borrowing which

we as a nation and take. But does it weaken the Treasury 's case when

they say they will not do any negotiation before a referendum? It

is about the well-being of the economy and our ability to borrow as

far as the UK is concerned. It is right to lay the marker down and

they had to whether we will be good for anything we borrowed. It is

right that we have done that and it is what was required by the wider

economic world. Mike Weir, presumably you agree that it was a

common-sense measure? Indeed, and it was put forward by the Scottish

Government in a document. We have made our position perfectly clear

that we are willing to negotiate with the Treasury and the UK

Government as to debts and assets to be divided on independence. It is

high time the Treasury took a sensible decision and they have

started to do so. But they must make a sensible position and look at

these issues. But your party has hinted that if it doesn't like some

of the negotiations it could potentially walk away. What message

does that send to the international money markets? We say that the UK

and us would be willing to take on a proportion of the debt. Also a

proportion of the assets. That means negotiation between the two parties

to sort this out and that can be done relatively easily. Thank you

both. The arguments over economics will continue throughout this year.

But one thing, even in years when we have referendums on Scottish

independence, two friends here are still willing to share an umbrella

when need be! Thanks for that. Voters go to the polls in

Cowdenbeath a week tomorrow to elect a new MSP following the death of

Labour's Helen Eadie. Our political editor, Brian Taylor, has been to

the constituency to see how the campaign is going.

The name is Cowdenbeath but this constituency is a disparate amalgam

of small towns and villages. Once, Cole was king but no jobs are scarce

and precious. Defending a Labour majority is currently Fife Council

leader. He encounters anxiety about employment visiting a club. There

were six of 7000 men in that regard but not now. He insists he supports

the council tax freeze up to 2016 and says he will be equally robust

in Parliament. If I am elected, I will be a strong voice in the

Scottish parliament speaking out for issues in this constituency around

skills, jobs and education. These are the issues I will want to take

to the floor of the Scottish Parliament. In the 2011 Scottish

parliament elections the 2011 Scottish Parliament elections BNP

won every constituency in Fife. Labour staunch the tide of the SNP

avalanche. Labour say they are making strides. This candidate

oppose the SNP. It is labours for the losing but we speak to people on

the doorstep and we get an excellent response to the messages we take to

people. If we can speak to enough people, I am confident we have the

right message to win. The stories start third. Someone said that we

have a big hill to climb. We are on the beach here. One of these deeds

and we will break out and it might as well be now. For the Lib Dems, it

is about attacking this Scottish government. People appreciate the

fact that taxes are going down and people are being critical of the

SNP. People feel they have the wrong priorities. UKIP say they are a

fresh voice. We believe that small businesses are the lifeblood of this

country and they should be supported. They should not have

directives from Europe on their back. So it is about politics.

Local, Scottish and the UK. There are seven... There are seven

candidates standing in the by-election. The Victims' Final

Right Party and the Scottish Democratic Alliance are also

contesting the seat. You can see the full list on the politics page of

the BBC Scotland news website. Let's get a final thought with our

commentator for the afternoon, George Kerevan.

That by-election is one that no one has noticed. It is a reasonably safe

Labour seat and Labour are happy to keep the thing dampened down and

walk away with it. The SNP are putting an effort in towards the

referendum but as Brian said, if they couldn't win it in the last

election it would be difficult to do it this time. And bankers bonuses? A

difficult balance for any government to strike, isn't it? You don't want

the bankers going away but you don't want them awarding high bonuses.

David Cameron made a statement he will live to regret. His argument

was that he would block any increase in the overall RBS spend on bonuses.

Of course he can do that because RBS is getting rid of its investment

bankers but it doesn't stop individual investment bankers

getting more money. He has also caused a problem because he is

opposing the EU legislation to place a limit on the ratio of high

salaries, high bonuses to lower ones within the banking profession and

unless that goes through it becomes difficult to block the bonuses. It

is interesting this issue comes around every year. I suppose bankers

say they need the bonus? If I was being offered a bonus of several

million pounds, I would say I needed! The issue is not about greed

and people feeling jealous of bankers. If people are paid absurd

bonuses, they take absurd risks and that is why they have to go. Do you

think they will go? They will because Europe will put a damper on

it. Even under UK law, it can reasonably deny them under company

law. It needs European legislation to put a brake on bonuses. Thank you

for coming in and it is good to see you. That is all we have time for.

We will be back at the same time on BBC Two Scotland and we will have

more on the Cowdenbeath by-election. From all of us, have a good

afternoon.