16/05/2013 Politics Scotland

windsail windsail windowsills The Labour Party supported the move

for free prescriptions in this chamber and in this Parliament and

if they want to reverse that policy as many suspect they do, then they

should say clearly to the people of Scotland and in particular up to

600,000 families earning �16,000 a year and less who had to pay for

prescriptions under the previous system. In terms of the cancer

drugs, it is a hugely difficult and challenging issue. We can talk about

that drug if Joanne wishes, but the position is not as she stated.

Everything is not about an argument between the First Minister and I

about manifestoes. There are some things that are more important.

It is the hugely challenging Government. Scots cancer patients

are three times less likely to get the drugs they need on the Scottish

NHS than patients in England according to cancer charities.

Scottish cancer patients have to pay thousands of pounds for vital, life

enhancing drugs which are available free south of the border. That means

that some Scottish cancer victims are planning to jup root their

families from their jb uproot their families to move to England for

treatment they cannot afford here. We are in danger of exporting health

We are in danger of exporting health refugees. Order. Order.I agree that

it is shameful so I'm asking Order. I agree it is shameful we are in

danger of exporting health refugees. So what is the First Minister's

advice to those families? The First Minister.

On the question of the drug. This was authorised by the Scottish

medicines consortium in January 2010. The decision to restrict its

use was the application from the pharmaceutical company. The

submitting company requested that it had a licence for patients who had

not previously received chemotherapy. Therefore, for that,

it was approved by the Scottish medicine consortium. It is similar

to the decision that was made by NICE in England. Now, of course, it

is the case that in England there is a Cancer Drugs Fund and people can

apply to the Cancer Drugs Fund, but this drug was listed in the Cancer

Drugs Fund, but with restrictions on its use. The Cancer Drugs Fund is

coming to an end in England next year. With has been criticised by

the cancer charities who challenged the idea of the Cancer Drugs Fund

and we know that the Labour Party in this Parliament not only voted for

to remove prescription charges from Scotland which was a good vote, but

voteds against the idea of the Cancer Drugs Fund in this Parliament

because of the challenges to that fund. Now, I know that Joanne Lamont

doesn't like to be reminded of these things, but in terms of tackling

access to medicines and what's the right thing to do. I think looking

at the track record in this Parliament of people facing up to

prescription charges and what's the right way to put forward a medicines

which can help people with life limiting conditions. Then the fact

that the Labour Party agreed with this Government puts Joanne Lamont

in a difficult position to pursue the line of questioning which she is

now pursuing. APPLAUSE

No, the extraordinary difficult position that I am in is I am not

able to address these problems. I cannot only ask the questions.

APPLAUSE I am not in Government and I am

asking the First Minister... Order. I am not in Government. I have a

responsibility to raise the difficult issues which are had and

I'm asking the First Minister not to retreat to the comfortable refuge of

dealing with party politics, but focus on what's happening in the

real world. Because First Minister, with respect, this is not good

enough for people like Maureen Fleming. She is is a mother of three

and a a grandmother of ten and she has bowl -- bowel cancer. Maureen

has been denied the drugs which the consultant says would extend her

life. The Flemings are struggling to get together the �10 thou needed for

the -- the �10,000 needed for the treatment. They are planning to

leave their home of 27 years and rent a flat in Newcastle because in

England they can get the drug for free. Time is short. So Maureen

Fleming has come to this chamber today to hear first hand what is the

First Minister's advice to her and cancer victims like her. First

Minister. As Joanne Lamont will have noticed we had the review which put

forward a range of ways which the SNP is carrying out its job for the

Scottish people. I can give Joanne Lamont a list of drugs which are

available in Scotland because of the efficiency of the SNP process which

is not available in England, but as far as the canner drugs fund, this

chamber and indeed the cancer charities in Scotland decided that's

not the right way to go. We know that the cancer drug fund comes to

an end in England next year. In Scotland, we have an efficient

process which would be unwise to challenge in terms of the Scottish

medicines consortium and it is effectiveness is widely admired in

terms of the quickness in which it judges and evalue waits drugs --

evalue waits drugs, but we have the individual patient request system

where people can apply in terms of the individual nature of their

condition and we know also that improvements can be made to that

system as well. But Joanne Lamont accuses me of playing party

politics, but Joanne Lamont introduced this in the party

political way and it is reasonable to point out on prescription charges

and on her attitude to the Cancer Drugs Fund that the Labour Party

agreed with our judgement that it is the best way to deliver health to

the Scottish people. So in these extraordinary difficult

circumstances, we are trying to judge a position which gives the

best trEEmght to the people of Scotland -- best treatment to the

people of Scotland. And it is not the case that they are a simple or

easy solution to these matters. These are judged in the best way we

can and it is done as I hope every member of this chamber does, with a

genuine wish to protect the welfare and health of patients in Scotland.

I regret all of and the First Minister has not addressed the

question I put to him because Mrs Fleming represents a failure in the

system and while we are thinking and deliberating about how in future we

might address this problem, it is the business of Government to

address what is happening to families now who do not have time to

wait. Because we are walk talk being the real lives of real Scots. I will

engage in the policy debate, but I urge the First Minister to act now

for those people who have been failed for the system because the

First Minister and I agree that the NHS should be free at the point of

need, but the reality is, isn't it the case that in the First

Minister's Scotland if you have a headache, xwrur prescription is

free, but if you have cancer, your prescription can cost �3,000 a

month. Isn't it the case that in this Scotland, Scots with hayfever

can get the prodescriptions for free, but Scots with cancer may have

to leave their homeland for the treatment to save their lives.

Minister. When this administration abolished

prescription charges, we were in a minority. They supported the move

and they supported it because they felt for that range of 600,000 Scots

and �16,000 -- on �16,000 a year or less. If they felt the Cancer Drugs

Fund was the right thing to do, they could have supported it, but they

agreed with us and the cancer charities that wasn't the right

thing to do. There are always improvements that can be made to the

system, but the SM C process a robust and effective system. It is

doing the best it can and we are making improvements. The individual

patient request is a good system and that is why we are trying to

standise across the nation in terms of looking at the particular aspects

of individual patients. But to pretend to people that there is a

solution to these hugely difficult questions which are faced by every

health service across the world in terms of the ethicacy of what drugs

can be approved for use is misleading people. And to pretend to

people that the situation in England is either continuing, which it is

not, or is satisfactory is wrong and the last thing I would say to Joanne

Lamont and I have every consideration and respect for the

individual cases and we have all had constituents in that position and

that's how it is done, but we have to look with some regard at some of

the information that is placed out by drugs companies in this matter.

There was a statement from last week which argued the drugs tourism that

Joanne Lamont referred to, we should reflect on the fact that the drug

there was concern about. They did not offer the dis discount on the

drug. This is franchise a company that has been operating -- this is

from a company which has an operating profit of �10 billion.

Perhaps we should ask the drugs companies why they have they are not

prepared to offer to the Scottish people the effective drugs at a

reasonable price which would allow more of them to be approved?

So ask the First Minister when he will meet the Secretary of State for

Scotland? I have no plans. Last year we had the embarrassing

pantomime of the First Minister pretending fof legal advice on an

independent Scotland relationship with the EU to find no such advice

existed. They made it up to cover the fact that everything this

Government said about the EU was based on little more than wishful

thinking. Then, in October... We had the Deputy First Minister

promising this chamber she would tell us how much it cost taxpayers

for that aborted action. As of this morning, that information has not

been lodged. So I will ask again, how much public money was spent on a

pointless action to prevent the publication of legal advice which

never existed? First Minister? have to says -s but to talk about

Europe and the phrase embarrassing pantomime...

LAUGHTER In the wake of the House of Commons

where her ally in the leader of the Liberal Democrats who I should give

another mention to because he doesn't get a question today who

said that the Prime Minister had taken leave of her senses and that

is that allies in the coalition Government, I think, takes the most

extraordinary degree of bravado for which I congratulate Ruth Davison.

She would do well not to make these claims in the future. In terms of

bare faced bravado when the SNP's own voters are more interesting in

holding a referendum on Europe than voting on independence, I think the

First Minister goes some himself. Despite being promised. Seven months

ago for that information, it is still being kept secret, we don't

that. Last night we heard from another one of the ministers of this

Government who says that at last Scottish Government legal advice on

the EU does actually exist. Now, on the basis that she was not

pretending, the First Minister needs to tell the people of Scotland what

that advice contains. Last year, the NHS commissioner ruled that question

had a right to know on this critical issue and vague promises of edited

highlights in a far off White Paper just won't cut it. Is the First

Minister once again going to go through the costly farce of fighting

in the courts to stop the people of Scotland knowing the truth or will

he reveal what the Information When you request information, it is

normal to receive it. This is no great surprise. We will do what the

Deputy First Minister said on October 23rd, 2012, that the White

Paper will be based on the advice we received. The UK government have

not published advice, that has not been done. The UK government

published legal advice from an eminent expert, James Crawford. We

now have a large selection of eminent experts who can opine on

the Scottish government within the context of the European Union and a

10 scale of 18 months is a reasonable timescale for the

successful completion of the negotiations. Lord Malloch Brown, a

minister in the last Labour government, and only yesterday, a

former Taoiseach and EU ambassador to the United States said exactly

the same thing. Perhaps the absolutely clinching view that you

could negotiate your position from within, and 18 months was a

reasonable timescale, should come from the UK Government's legal

adviser, Professor James Crawford. The Scottish estimate is around 18

months, which seems realistic, he said. We have this consensus of

legal experts, including even the UK Government's expert, can Ruth

Davidson not bring herself to join the consensus? To ask the First

Minister what discussions the Scottish government has had

regarding its investments in offshore wind energy prospects?

Discussions have been held regarding we ensure energy projects.

Regarding offshore wind -- the scheme is to be developed alongside

the Aberdeen renewable Energy Group, and is confident of securing new

funding. Can he estimate what the Scottish government and the

agencies have made of the benefits of the European offshore wind

deployment centre a driver of jobs since Scotland? It will and Trish -

- produce employment. 265 is the estimate in construction, and 25 in

operation. It is not as a wind farm, it is a deployment centred to test

the technologies, which is why there are only 11 turbines in the

proposed development. the significance of what is to put

Scotland and Aberdeen in a central position in the development of this

new technology. That technology is estimated to be able to provide

tens of thousands of jobs in Scotland because it is a technology

which is going to be necessary for the energy needs of Scotland,

England and the European Continent. The offshore wind deployment centre

is important for the future of Scotland's offshore industry. Can I

ask the First Minister if they are unable to sell their shares, will

he stay open to secure its future? I saw the Labour Party spokesperson

suggesting that we should match the funding, which was secured, 40

million euros. Is that another Labour party spending commitment?

Are they saying that 40 million euros to be spent from the Scottish

Government? This is a commercial government supported by the 40

million European investments secured by the initiative of the

Scottish government. The project partners are confident they will be

able to secure interested in the project. There are many companies

interested in in the development of deep offshore wind in Scotland. He

should come to this chamber and to outline his commitments. He said he

is only asking a question. But his colleagues in Aberdeen was making a

recommendation. To ask what the position is on the use of

electronic tagging for offenders as an alternative for a short-term

sentences. There is strong evidence that community sentences are an

alternative -- effective alternative. 58% of offenders in

prison for three months or less are reconvicted in one year, compared

with 24% of those who receive a community sentence. Electronic

monitoring has been used since 2002, and continues to play a part in

offender management. It is possible development to include satellite

tracking offenders. Thank you. Is the first Minister aware that in

Sweden, anyone given six months or less can apply to be tagged under

house arrest while being monitored? Any breach, and they will be

returned to jail. Reoffending fell to 12%. The cost to the taxed it --

the taxpayer, �40 per day. Given the success of tagging there, with

the First Minister consider following their model? -- would be

First Minister consider? There was an event at Strathclyde University

which head from his -- heard from the Swedish probation service. Many

of the characteristics are already in place in Scotland, but the

consultation this summer will be an opportunity to capture any

opportunities for improvements. We have the lowest crime rate in 37

years, but we are all -- all was -- we are always keen to improve.

wondered if the First Minister has had a chance to look in on the

debate we had on Tuesday because in that, people that he himself has

classified as offenders were split into two camps, those with

electronic tags and could vote in an election, and those who had

custodial for the same crime, more or less, and could not vote. I

wondered if he agrees there is a matter of equity we should look a

act. -- we should look at. It was an excellent debate on all sides.

Various arguments were put forward. I agree with the majority position

taken, when people engage in crime and receive a prison sentence, they

sacrifice some entitlements, the entitlement to freedom and also the

entitlement to vote. That is the position I take. I thought it was a

good debate, and it did the parliament proud in terms of a hat

that was conducted. To ask what steps the Scottish government is

taking to tackle bullying in the National Health Service. In 2011 we

worked with health boards and trade unions to set out a new minimum

standard insuring all members of National Health Service staff are

treated fairly and consistently. A national helpline went live in

April, providing support for staff who fear they may be bullied or to

raise concerns about their health service. He is right to praise and

thank hard-working staff for their dedication, but less than one-third

of nurses believe that if they reported their concerns they would

be believed. Any suggestion of a culture of management bullying is

unacceptable, particularly where it would fit in robust whistle-blowing

procedures which are necessary. More than a third of staff say they

have been a victim of bullying. Will he ensure that this helpline

has publicised more widely? -- is publicised? He should be careful

with the statistics he is using. The staff survey said that 22% of

staff believe they had been bullied or harassed, but 31% of that was

from service users or relatives of service users, which is important

to understand the terms of the statistics. We have introduced a

confidential alert line. I do not agree with Jackie Baillie he seemed

to suggest that such a thing was not necessary. Given that this has

been introduced, posters and flyers were issued to the health board to

promote this alert line, and it is true that we are planning more

promotion throughout the year, making sure staff are aware of the

confidential resource. Staff will be pleased to know that includes

advice on payslips. To ask the First Minister what discussions the

Scottish government is having with local authorities regarding Gaelic

medium schools. A summit was hosted in February this year, attended by

all local authorities that provide education and leading

educationalists. The Minister for Scottish languages announced

�90,000 to fund summer schools. Would he agree with many in the

Gaelic community who feel strongly that the urgent priority should be

addressing the concerns of teacher training in terms of the employment

of teachers in Gallic Region Education and their retention in

areas where there is high demand, rather than insisting local

authorities spending where there is no demand? -- Gaelic region

education. Yes, I agree. She should also know that the new posts in the

University of the Highlands and Islands in Gaelic teacher training,

they are very effective. We should be delighted to see the indications

from public opinion surveys which, contrary to the view that the

sometimes put forward in some of her less reputable... There is

widespread public support for Gaelic medium education and for the

BBC channel which has had outstanding figures, of over

500,000 people on many occasions, which has a spectacular achievement.

There we have it. A wide range of topics. The main event was those

very serious and honest exchanges between Johann Lamont and the First