:00:24. > :00:30.A very warm welcome to the Scottish Parliament here in the garden lobby
:00:31. > :00:33.at Holyrood. There is a week to go until the EU referendum. It is the
:00:34. > :00:38.only topic in politics but it might be difficult for that to be raised
:00:39. > :00:43.in the next hour or so questions to the First Minister, it is a pretty
:00:44. > :00:48.zealous interpretation but we might get lucky. Let's cross to the
:00:49. > :00:55.chamber and my colleague Lucy Adams. Thank you, this is the last day of
:00:56. > :01:00.Holyrood before the EU referendum vote and as Brian has said we are
:01:01. > :01:05.expecting very much more domestic issues to be discussed today rather
:01:06. > :01:09.than the EU is that as the ruling of a decision of Parliament. So, this
:01:10. > :01:14.will be the last FMQs before the vote next week. In two weeks' time
:01:15. > :01:19.we will be back again for more questions to the First Minister.
:01:20. > :01:26.Right now we are still on the parliamentary questions to
:01:27. > :01:35.ministers. Those are continuing until FMQs begins. We will pass now
:01:36. > :01:38.to the Parliament to see what exactly is Scottish Conservatives,
:01:39. > :01:43.Labour and others want to ask today. I think we can expect questions as
:01:44. > :01:47.usual around the health service and education, attainment figures and
:01:48. > :01:52.perhaps some of the report is out in today's papers looking at the
:01:53. > :01:59.language skills of toddlers across Scotland and the impact that that
:02:00. > :02:05.might have. We now move on to First Minister's Questions. Question one,
:02:06. > :02:09.Ruth Davidson. What engagement does the First Minister have for the rest
:02:10. > :02:16.of the day? Engagements to kick forward the Government programme for
:02:17. > :02:20.Scotland. We are once again facing the prospect of teachers either
:02:21. > :02:23.boycotting work or shutting altogether. I accept teachers have
:02:24. > :02:26.every right to raise what hurt legitimate concerns about their
:02:27. > :02:31.workload but I do not believe industrial action is the answer. It
:02:32. > :02:34.is simply wrong that parents and pupils pay the price for a dispute
:02:35. > :02:40.between teachers and this government. The First Minister
:02:41. > :02:43.agree? The Government is working very hard to ensure that industrial
:02:44. > :02:46.action does not take place in our schools. I don't believe it is in
:02:47. > :02:50.the interest of teachers and I certainly don't believe it is in the
:02:51. > :02:54.interests of young people in our schools. As Bruce Davison is aware,
:02:55. > :02:58.this is an issue around what teachers consider to be -- Ruth
:02:59. > :03:00.Davidson, it is about and unnecessary workload and the
:03:01. > :03:06.Government has been clear about our determination to take action to
:03:07. > :03:12.reduce the workload is and will take action to do so. That is why we
:03:13. > :03:14.established a group on qualifications. The Deputy First
:03:15. > :03:18.Minister published the initial work on the 26th of May and it set up
:03:19. > :03:22.concrete steps we are kicking to reduce workload for teachers. This
:03:23. > :03:26.week the Deputy First Minister has also written to all the teacher
:03:27. > :03:29.unions asking for specific and deliverable proposals to help reduce
:03:30. > :03:33.workloads. We are determined to address these concerns and to do so
:03:34. > :03:37.in the interests of teachers, but most importantly in the interests of
:03:38. > :03:39.our young people. I hear what she is saying but the question is how what
:03:40. > :03:54.was it allowed to get to this stage because of
:03:55. > :03:55.secondary teachers have been complaining about the assessment
:03:56. > :03:57.requirement for national qualifications for quite some time.
:03:58. > :04:00.We have all heard warnings about the added bureaucracy and the extra
:04:01. > :04:02.burdens it is placing on classrooms and given that and that we may now
:04:03. > :04:04.be facing industrial action, is the First Minister really satisfied that
:04:05. > :04:07.the Scottish Government has done enough to sort this out before now?
:04:08. > :04:10.Yes, I do believe we have been working to do this and if Ruth
:04:11. > :04:13.Davidson is sincere as I hope she is about wanting to avoid industrial
:04:14. > :04:18.action then I hope she'll behind the behind the actions the Scottish
:04:19. > :04:22.Government is taking. It is indeed because we are determined to tackle
:04:23. > :04:24.this issue that the working group on assessment and national
:04:25. > :04:29.qualifications was established earlier this year. That group has
:04:30. > :04:34.done a very detailed work in the report of that work was published at
:04:35. > :04:36.the end of May. That set out some initial steps, concrete initial
:04:37. > :04:40.steps that have already been announced. The Deputy First Minister
:04:41. > :04:43.will reconvene that group and they said he has issued an open
:04:44. > :04:47.invitation to the teaching unions to come forward and give examples of
:04:48. > :04:56.where they think there is unnecessary workload and what can be
:04:57. > :04:58.done to reduce that, so as we have debated in this chamber many times
:04:59. > :05:00.over the last few months, improving education and the standards and
:05:01. > :05:04.closing the attainment gap is my top priority. Ruth Davidson and others
:05:05. > :05:08.joined us yesterday at an education Summit that was very positive and
:05:09. > :05:12.constructive and if we're going to achieve that goal then enabling
:05:13. > :05:14.teachers, our fantastic teachers across as countries to do what they
:05:15. > :05:19.do best and give our young people the best education, is absolutely
:05:20. > :05:22.central to that. Everybody has an interest in making sure this issue
:05:23. > :05:25.is addressed and I hope the chamber will get behind the work of John
:05:26. > :05:30.Swinney and the entire government is easy to so. I have listened to her
:05:31. > :05:34.say the working group was established earlier this year but
:05:35. > :05:37.Larry Flannigan of the EIS last night claimed that they need to
:05:38. > :05:44.remove duplication was first raised by teachers in August 20 14. He
:05:45. > :05:48.claimed that since then and I will content directly, not a single unit
:05:49. > :05:52.assessment has been removed. After years of action from this
:05:53. > :05:56.government, only this week do we see the Education Secretary asking for a
:05:57. > :05:59.fresh ideas on how to cut down on bureaucracy. Teachers are preparing
:06:00. > :06:06.to take industrial action right now. Isn't all of this just a little bit
:06:07. > :06:09.late, First Minister? Firstly, as Ruth Davidson knows and this was a
:06:10. > :06:14.view that they believe was expressed by the Chief examiner in Scotland,
:06:15. > :06:17.to remove unit assessment to quickly would actually compromise the
:06:18. > :06:21.certification of qualifications in this country. If that is what Ruth
:06:22. > :06:26.Davidson is suggesting we do I think that is a deeply responsible course
:06:27. > :06:31.of action for her to be putting forward. Bat irresponsible. We will
:06:32. > :06:34.continue to work closely with teaching unions and the teaching
:06:35. > :06:38.profession as a whole and will continue to take action that is
:06:39. > :06:42.sensible to reduce unnecessary workload. It is in nobody 's
:06:43. > :06:47.interests any more than it is indicators of pupils for teachers to
:06:48. > :06:50.be burdened with workload that is unnecessary. They want all of the
:06:51. > :06:53.great teachers across our country is to be freed up to what they do best
:06:54. > :06:57.which is to teach our children and give them the best educational
:06:58. > :07:00.experience. All party leaders joined us at the educational summit
:07:01. > :07:06.yesterday and I was very grateful for them to doing so. They were last
:07:07. > :07:09.heard as we did many great examples, the OECD praising the many strengths
:07:10. > :07:13.of Scottish education and the work is cut government is now taking
:07:14. > :07:18.forward, many issues raised about what we need to do including by the
:07:19. > :07:22.teaching unions. Let's get together in a national endeavour to take
:07:23. > :07:29.forward his actions in the interest of improving our education system
:07:30. > :07:32.for all of our young people. Presiding Officer, there is a wider
:07:33. > :07:38.point to be made here and that is the fact that we have a system which
:07:39. > :07:40.is constantly sending out ever more directives and initiatives and
:07:41. > :07:45.diktats to our schools but doesn't think about how they are to be
:07:46. > :07:50.eliminated. -- imploded. At the 11th hour we have John Swinney saying he
:07:51. > :07:54.wants specific ideas on how to cut down on teacher workload. He is
:07:55. > :07:57.acting as if this is a year zero but this government has been in power
:07:58. > :08:02.for nine years. He is trying to clear up the mistakes his government
:08:03. > :08:08.has made. But if he wants clear, tangible ideas, let me give him on.
:08:09. > :08:15.The EIS said today that they have resourced, named Person scheme will
:08:16. > :08:21.be potentially dangerous, will be potentially dangerous and worse than
:08:22. > :08:27.no scheme at all. Teachers saying it would be potentially dangerous and
:08:28. > :08:31.worse than no scheme at all. If this government wants a scrap, -- wants
:08:32. > :08:40.to scrap red tape on our teachers, they will cut the unwonted scheme,
:08:41. > :08:45.let teachers get on with the job. Clearly I don't speak for the EIS
:08:46. > :08:51.but I suspect the EIS will be as horrified as I am at the Tory
:08:52. > :08:55.attempts to hijack their legitimate concerns and the point is that they
:08:56. > :09:03.have put forward for the narrow political interests of the
:09:04. > :09:12.Conservative Party. Lucy, clearly... -- you see, unless they are
:09:13. > :09:15.interested in our children in -- they are trying to score cheap
:09:16. > :09:19.political points. Getting back to the issue at hand, John Swinney has
:09:20. > :09:23.asked for the suggestions in addition to the work that is already
:09:24. > :09:28.underway. For example is Ruth Davidson is Jim is aware the chief
:09:29. > :09:31.inspector of education has already published clear national
:09:32. > :09:34.expectations for teachers and schools which will directly tackle
:09:35. > :09:37.workload issues and help improve the learning experience for young
:09:38. > :09:41.people. That includes advice on the preparation of young people in the
:09:42. > :09:44.broad general education on the transition to the senior fears and
:09:45. > :09:49.the importance of appropriate course choices. These are sensible actions
:09:50. > :09:52.to deal with a legitimate issue and this is the way this government will
:09:53. > :10:02.continue to take it forward because that's what our teachers and young
:10:03. > :10:08.people deserve. When sheep that are true when will they next meet
:10:09. > :10:12.Stonewall Scotland? I met representatives last night when I
:10:13. > :10:18.was other party leaders attended the vigil in St Andrews Square to show
:10:19. > :10:23.our sympathy and Solidarity of the victims of the attack in order
:10:24. > :10:27.London. Ministers will continue to meet with Stonewall on a range of
:10:28. > :10:30.issues and officials are meeting them today to discuss the new powers
:10:31. > :10:36.coming to Scotland under the Scotland act. In the first ministers
:10:37. > :10:41.were last night were the bat very welcome particularly on the driving
:10:42. > :10:45.out homophobic bullying in schools and build an education system that
:10:46. > :10:49.is inclusive so every person can be themselves and to fill their
:10:50. > :10:51.potential. I hope the Cabinet Secretary of Education will meet
:10:52. > :10:56.Stonewall at the earliest opportunity. The Government's Expo
:10:57. > :11:01.statistics confirm that the European Scotland are Scotland's biggest
:11:02. > :11:03.trading partner behind only the rest of the United Kingdom. What
:11:04. > :11:07.assessment of the First Minister made on how many jobs in Scotland
:11:08. > :11:13.are dependent on our unfettered access to the single market? Are
:11:14. > :11:18.right now in Scotland more than 300,000 jobs that are associated
:11:19. > :11:23.directly or indirectly with Scotland's access to the single
:11:24. > :11:28.market. In addition, more than 40% of Scotland's international exports
:11:29. > :11:33.go to countries within the single market and of the more than 2000
:11:34. > :11:36.foreign owned companies in Scotland, 40% are owned by firms that are
:11:37. > :11:41.based in other European countries. These are all positive reasons
:11:42. > :11:45.related to the jobs and the livelihoods of thousands of people
:11:46. > :11:47.across Scotland. From my conclusion that Scotland's continuing
:11:48. > :11:59.relationship with Europe is absolutely vital. In the days
:12:00. > :12:03.leading up to the referendum in 2014, this Parliament debated the
:12:04. > :12:06.case for and against independence, and we did so with passion and a
:12:07. > :12:10.sense of the importance of the decision we were about to make. This
:12:11. > :12:15.is a parliament elected by the people of Scotland. Much more than a
:12:16. > :12:19.public body. Next Thursday is about securing hundreds of thousands of
:12:20. > :12:24.jobs for detecting the rights of workers, showing the world the
:12:25. > :12:29.Cabinet country we want to be. -- type of country. When it comes to
:12:30. > :12:33.issues of terrorism, climate change and the refugee crisis, does she
:12:34. > :12:45.share my support for the principle of working together with the other
:12:46. > :12:50.nations of the world? Yes, I do. I agree with that very strongly. As
:12:51. > :12:52.Kezia Dugdale and indeed the whole chamber and I think it is fair to
:12:53. > :12:56.say the whole country knows I believe passionately that Scotland
:12:57. > :13:00.should be an independent country. And I very much hope that in the new
:13:01. > :13:05.future we will be an independent country. But they also believe that
:13:06. > :13:09.very strongly, in the modern interdependent world we live in, the
:13:10. > :13:14.independent countries must work together. To tackle the issues that
:13:15. > :13:17.no country can deal with on its own. That does include issues like
:13:18. > :13:21.climate change, refugee crisis, and tackling terrorism. Independent
:13:22. > :13:23.countries working together on this issues makes all of us stronger and
:13:24. > :13:42.safer. I'll take the point of order at the
:13:43. > :13:45.end. Thank you. Kezia Dugdale. The future of our economy is one of the
:13:46. > :13:50.biggest issues being debated outside of this chamber. Sudden shocks would
:13:51. > :13:54.have a damaging impact on our ability to fund public services.
:13:55. > :14:00.People need to know what plans are in place. So can the First Minister
:14:01. > :14:07.tell us what contingency planning is underway to prepare for a shock to
:14:08. > :14:13.the UK economy? Well, clearly a very much hope that such a scenario does
:14:14. > :14:17.not arise. But let me be very clear, as First Minister my duty is to seek
:14:18. > :14:22.to protect Scotland's interests in all circumstances and therefore I am
:14:23. > :14:25.ensuring that appropriate planning for all eventualities is being
:14:26. > :14:30.undertaken by the Scottish Government. That we also say and I
:14:31. > :14:34.have said this made her give for that is Scotland faces the prospect
:14:35. > :14:39.of being taken out of the European Union against our democratically
:14:40. > :14:41.expressed will, then all options to protect our relationship with Europe
:14:42. > :14:56.and the European Union will require to be considered. Jackie Baillie.
:14:57. > :15:00.Thank you. Prior to the election the First Minister and Health Minister
:15:01. > :15:05.dismissed concerns about cuts to services at the Vale of leaving
:15:06. > :15:12.hospital, Inverclyde Hospital, the Royal Alexandra in Paisley and
:15:13. > :15:15.Lightburn Hospital in Glasgow is some house gerrymandering. Because
:15:16. > :15:20.the SNP government would not approve any changes that would run counter
:15:21. > :15:26.to the vision for the Vale which I have before me today. I have been
:15:27. > :15:29.given a leaked document, the final draft of the local development plan
:15:30. > :15:38.for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. It lists the closure of Inverclyde
:15:39. > :15:45.but heard the unit, Lightburn Hospital and the transfer of
:15:46. > :15:49.children's emergency care away from the are a hitch in Paisley. Can I
:15:50. > :15:54.ask the First Minister if you will keep her promise to my constituents
:15:55. > :16:01.so that babies will continue to be born at the Vale?
:16:02. > :16:09.Jackie Baillie knows when I was Health Secretary I took actions to
:16:10. > :16:12.protect the hospital at the time. It was under threat from the last
:16:13. > :16:20.Labour administration. As I have made clear, as the Health Secretary
:16:21. > :16:26.has made clear, we will not approve proposals running counter to the
:16:27. > :16:30.vision for the Fail. I am not aware of the document Jackie Baillie is
:16:31. > :16:35.quoting, I am yet to receive a copy of it. I'm sure what she has read
:16:36. > :16:42.out our proposals. At most, proposals. Let me be very clear to
:16:43. > :16:45.this government's vision for the Fail and our commitment towards it.
:16:46. > :17:03.-- Vale. Last week the Education
:17:04. > :17:08.Secretary was greeted with booing at the conference, when he was
:17:09. > :17:16.discussing workload, talking about his plans for compulsory testing.
:17:17. > :17:20.How does the first Mr think her minister is right and the teachers
:17:21. > :17:27.are wrong? I'm astonished William Rennie asked that question, he was
:17:28. > :17:32.in the room yesterday when Larry Flanagan made positive comments
:17:33. > :17:38.about standardised assessment. I am paraphrasing, he said he felt much
:17:39. > :17:41.of the opposition and objection to standardised assessment was based on
:17:42. > :17:46.misunderstanding and misrepresentation of what the
:17:47. > :17:50.government was actually doing. Having sat in that education summit
:17:51. > :17:54.yesterday, while those comments were made, I am frankly staggered that
:17:55. > :18:04.Willie Rennie has asked me the question he has. I don't know who
:18:05. > :18:08.the First Minister thinks it she is building a consensus with, it is
:18:09. > :18:11.certainly not teachers. We have heard about their plans for
:18:12. > :18:16.industrial action, I don't know what planet she is on. Testing small
:18:17. > :18:22.children is not the answer to our problems in education, we have been
:18:23. > :18:26.down that blind alley before. Scotland's employers cannot get the
:18:27. > :18:30.skilled workforce they need. Save the children told us about lack of
:18:31. > :18:35.investment in early years vocabulary, nursery targets have
:18:36. > :18:43.been missed, too. All the while, education budgets have been cut up
:18:44. > :18:49.the fighting speeches over the first step provide the investment and the
:18:50. > :18:57.early education investment we need for our future? Instead of fighting
:18:58. > :19:01.with teachers? I notice Willie Rennie did not actually respond to
:19:02. > :19:08.what I just said about the comments of Larry Flanagan at the summit
:19:09. > :19:15.yesterday, that he was in attendance at. Willie Rennie also heard that
:19:16. > :19:19.the OECD talked about the very clear distinction between national
:19:20. > :19:25.testing, which we are not doing, and National assessment, which we are
:19:26. > :19:30.doing. Andy Hargreaves, of the OECD, very respected on education, praised
:19:31. > :19:38.the Scottish Government from moving from a culture of teacher judgment,
:19:39. > :19:41.and that he felt we were on the right track. That is what we are
:19:42. > :19:45.seeking to do to make sure we have the information we need to ensure
:19:46. > :19:49.that our children, regardless of where they grow up, their
:19:50. > :19:53.background, that they are getting the best possible education. Willie
:19:54. > :19:56.Rennie can oppose that if he likes, I am all for it, and determined we
:19:57. > :20:08.are going to achieve it. I would like to ask the First
:20:09. > :20:11.Minister whether the Scottish Government plans to restrict the
:20:12. > :20:25.amount of alcohol solvency markets or parts? We have no plans to
:20:26. > :20:31.restrict the mad Beasant -- restrict the amount of alcohol sold. We are
:20:32. > :20:35.still investigating the damaging effects of alcohol, and Scottish
:20:36. > :20:41.targets for reducing Scottish capital harm use. The First Minister
:20:42. > :20:44.will share my disappointment after a steady decline in recent years,
:20:45. > :20:50.alcohol consumption is once again on the rise, Scottish adults consuming
:20:51. > :21:00.on average of 41 bottles of vodka, with the health and social ills it
:21:01. > :21:05.brings. While I'm please note legislation is being considered at
:21:06. > :21:09.this time, existing legislation to restrict the overprovision of
:21:10. > :21:14.alcohol selling outlets should be reviewed as to its effectiveness? I
:21:15. > :21:19.agree with the sentiments behind Kenny Gibson's question. As I said
:21:20. > :21:22.in my original answer we will continue to pursue an evidence
:21:23. > :21:28.-based approach to tackling alcohol harm. The court case remains active,
:21:29. > :21:34.restricting what I can say. I continue to believe minimum unit
:21:35. > :21:37.pricing is more effective than tax, targeting the cheap high street
:21:38. > :21:41.alcohol favoured by the heavy astringents. I am not alone in
:21:42. > :21:45.wondering why a measure which would save 2000 lives over the next 20
:21:46. > :22:29.years is so resisted by some parts of the industry? To
:22:30. > :22:39.ask the buttons, particularly in East Lothian, that housing elements
:22:40. > :23:12.were. And planning authorities should take
:23:13. > :23:16.into account current infrastructure capacity, when they are approving
:23:17. > :23:21.developments. A sensible approach. We need new housing in Scotland,
:23:22. > :23:25.that is why we exceeded our target for affordable housing in the last
:23:26. > :23:29.parliament, setting ambitious targets in this Parliament. We must
:23:30. > :23:32.make sure the infrastructure is there to support new development,
:23:33. > :23:42.and that is what our approach to planning is about achieving. I echo
:23:43. > :23:46.Rachel Hamilton's concerns. The SNP Labour administration of Glasgow
:23:47. > :23:53.Council approved the garden development against the advice of
:23:54. > :24:01.officials. It is only most congested roads outside of the M25. Also the
:24:02. > :24:04.medical practice is that capacity. 4000 extra patients mean it will
:24:05. > :24:11.have to close its list. Not just about roads, but addressing the GP
:24:12. > :24:14.crisis in our health service? All of these matters are important, when
:24:15. > :24:20.any local authority is looking at new developments. These are matters
:24:21. > :24:24.for local authorities, the Liberal Democrats frequently in this chamber
:24:25. > :24:27.accuse the government of centralisation, talking about the
:24:28. > :24:32.merits of localism. They should start practising what they preach.
:24:33. > :24:36.The government is very clear, in the draft guidance I have spoken about,
:24:37. > :24:41.the importance of housing development. Nobody can deny the
:24:42. > :24:44.need for new housing development. The importance of making sure we
:24:45. > :24:48.have advocate infrastructure, whatever the nature of it is, it is
:24:49. > :24:55.in place, and that is what we will focus on. That the First Minister
:24:56. > :25:00.had a position on the future of paediatric services across Lothian?
:25:01. > :25:08.The board will consider next week the recommendation of an independent
:25:09. > :25:12.review of the paediatric services by the Royal College of Paediatrics and
:25:13. > :25:19.Child Health. The Scottish Government stands ready to support
:25:20. > :25:22.NHS Lothian, including recommendations to make sure all
:25:23. > :25:27.necessary improvements are delivered for the benefit of patients. The
:25:28. > :25:32.report by the Royal College into children's services has recommended
:25:33. > :25:38.a retention of a 24-7 board at St George 's. NHS must accept the
:25:39. > :25:49.recommendation, a tremendous victory for people power
:25:50. > :26:00.the first Mr has taken credit for good things happening at St John's,
:26:01. > :26:04.after nine years in government, much of that time as Health Secretary
:26:05. > :26:10.take responsibility for these failings, more importantly, for
:26:11. > :26:16.putting them right? I would have thought Niall Finlay may have come
:26:17. > :26:23.to this chamber to date, uttering an apology for what he has previously
:26:24. > :26:28.said on this issue. Every time Niall Findlay stood up in this chamber to
:26:29. > :26:32.raise this issue, it used to be from the benches of the official
:26:33. > :26:35.opposition, now from the benches of the third party in the Scottish
:26:36. > :26:43.Parliament, every time he has done it, he has suggested that the
:26:44. > :26:47.independent report was somehow underhandedly forcing the closure of
:26:48. > :26:53.the inpatients paediatric service at St John's. Now the report has
:26:54. > :26:57.recommended the retention of the children's inpatients service,
:26:58. > :27:04.surely Niall Findlay would have the good grace to admit he got it wrong
:27:05. > :27:09.previously? Now that the recommendation has been made, it is
:27:10. > :27:13.for the board of NHS Lothian to discuss its next week. I repeat what
:27:14. > :27:18.I said, the Scottish committee will support NHS Lothian in implementing
:27:19. > :27:25.the recommendations to ensure all necessary improvements are delivered
:27:26. > :27:29.for the benefit of patients. We can add this to the long list of things
:27:30. > :27:45.the government has done to insure improvement at St John's Hospital.
:27:46. > :27:54.To host the NHS summit for planning? Obviously the issue is recruitment
:27:55. > :27:59.and retention to the children's unit at Inchon 's Hospital, something
:28:00. > :28:04.that has been under investigation and discussion, and lots of activity
:28:05. > :28:12.has been taken to recruit people for a long period of time, that will
:28:13. > :28:19.continue to be the thing. I would say in passing, we have, working
:28:20. > :28:22.within the NHS, many first-class clinicians from many different
:28:23. > :28:29.countries across Europe and the world. It would be a massive mistake
:28:30. > :28:35.to close off the supply of any of them, and any decision we might be
:28:36. > :28:39.taking the next few days. Just days before the election, the force
:28:40. > :28:44.Minister wrongly denied they were proposals to close down the
:28:45. > :28:51.theatrics services in Paisley. From Jackie Baillie's proposal, there are
:28:52. > :28:58.proposals to move inpatients to Glasgow. 30 support those proposals?
:28:59. > :29:03.The member will have heard my reply to Jackie Baillie. Before the
:29:04. > :29:06.election Niall Finlay was standing up in this chamber week after week
:29:07. > :29:11.scaremongering about the Scottish Government's plans to close
:29:12. > :29:14.paediatric services at St John's Hospital, and today we're talking
:29:15. > :29:18.about the reservation of an independent report about retention
:29:19. > :29:23.of paediatric services. That underlines the commitment this
:29:24. > :29:31.cabman has two quality, sustainable local services. That is what will
:29:32. > :29:35.continue. What progress has the Scottish Government made to reduce
:29:36. > :29:43.the visibility of unhealthy products in schools? School food legislation
:29:44. > :29:50.provides high standards all schools must meet, lunches, tuck shops,
:29:51. > :29:55.breakfasts, vending machines. Food brought in to school is exempt from
:29:56. > :29:57.these regulations. The act requires all schools to promote health
:29:58. > :30:06.policies. I thank her for her answer. As she
:30:07. > :30:10.will be aware of our country's children now find it easier than
:30:11. > :30:12.ever to gain access to unhealthy food and drink. Energy drinks cause
:30:13. > :30:17.particular problems in schools across the country and have been
:30:18. > :30:20.cited by those such as Forfar Academy is a contributing factor in
:30:21. > :30:26.maybe several issues, he has brought in a ban and I fully support the
:30:27. > :30:29.campaign to get it in place across Tayside. Tomorrow I will be visiting
:30:30. > :30:34.a Dundee secondary school and I would be delighted to tell the start
:30:35. > :30:36.that you will be backing they can it campaign. We'll be First Minister
:30:37. > :30:44.join me in supporting this worthwhile cause? I know the Health
:30:45. > :30:48.Secretary has already publicly supported the can it campaign, and I
:30:49. > :30:52.think it is a very positive campaign that is worthy of support. As I
:30:53. > :30:56.outlined in Nyanza and I do agree that there are some worrying
:30:57. > :31:00.conclusions that have been drawn about the impact of energy drinks on
:31:01. > :31:07.young people. Food and drink brought into schools by pupils is exempt
:31:08. > :31:09.from regulations, but the act does require schools to set health
:31:10. > :31:13.routing policies and I would certainly expect these help
:31:14. > :31:16.promoting policies to apply to full -- food and drink permitted on
:31:17. > :31:20.school grounds. I think schools have the tools they need here. We will
:31:21. > :31:23.continue to talk to local authorities about all these matters
:31:24. > :31:26.but all of us have an interest in making sure that young people eat
:31:27. > :31:31.healthily because it is not only good for the health but also their
:31:32. > :31:37.ability to learn as well. This is a debate also about what is purchased
:31:38. > :31:40.by schools near as opposed to within schools. Given how many children
:31:41. > :31:47.Hedda doosra markets and local shops at lunchtime or on their way home
:31:48. > :31:52.from school and given that price... Will they be willing to engage with
:31:53. > :31:57.the retail sector that have better policies to promote healthy
:31:58. > :32:01.products? I think he is absolutely right. Not only are we willing to
:32:02. > :32:04.engage of retailers but we are already engaging with retailers and
:32:05. > :32:09.caterers to our supporting healthy choices framework challenging
:32:10. > :32:12.retailers and caterers to rebalance the promotions and support children
:32:13. > :32:19.and families to make healthier choices. As I have just said we also
:32:20. > :32:22.welcome public health campaigns like the Can It campaign, so we will
:32:23. > :32:25.continue to engage with industry to promote healthier choices wherever
:32:26. > :32:31.possible and any efforts in this direction are very welcome indeed.
:32:32. > :32:35.As the First Minister has acknowledged, this is more than
:32:36. > :32:39.about what is sold within schools. Recently in North Lanarkshire
:32:40. > :32:43.Council, they tried to enforce a ban on fast food snack vans operating
:32:44. > :32:48.within the vicinity of local schools. This ban was overturned in
:32:49. > :32:54.the courts, calling into question bands which operate across the
:32:55. > :32:58.country in Glasgow, and other areas. Can I ask the First Minister to ask
:32:59. > :33:03.the Cabinet Secretary for education to look at this recent court ruling
:33:04. > :33:09.and consider whether it there is any legislative changes required to give
:33:10. > :33:14.local authorities the power to enforce a snack van ban to improve
:33:15. > :33:18.the health of pupils in Scotland? I will certainly do so and I will ask
:33:19. > :33:28.the Cabinet Secretary for education to write when he has done so. What
:33:29. > :33:32.action is the Scottish Government taking to improve access to IVF
:33:33. > :33:35.treatment? This week we confirmed he would accept recommendations in the
:33:36. > :33:39.National infertility group's report to build on the improvements we have
:33:40. > :33:44.made to IVF access in recent years. This will see the number of IVF
:33:45. > :33:48.cycles on the NHS increase from two to three and also allow access for
:33:49. > :33:54.couples where one partner does not have a biological child. I thank the
:33:55. > :33:59.First Minister for her answer and the action her government is taking
:34:00. > :34:02.to ensure that IVF provision in Scotland is as generous as possible.
:34:03. > :34:06.Can I ask the First Minister Wendy's changes will come into effect
:34:07. > :34:11.ensuring that Scotland remains at the forefront in terms of IVF action
:34:12. > :34:14.and right across the UK? We are working to ensure that Scotland
:34:15. > :34:19.remains at the forefront of IVF action and rights across the UK.
:34:20. > :34:22.This is in comparison for example to Northern Ireland where eligible
:34:23. > :34:25.couples can access only one fresh and one frozen cycle of treatment.
:34:26. > :34:30.England were the majority of patients can access only one cycle,
:34:31. > :34:35.in Wales were patients can only access to cycles of taken. So the
:34:36. > :34:41.actions we are taking puts us at the forefront. Working is beginning with
:34:42. > :34:43.health boards to develop a sustainable in turn is --
:34:44. > :34:47.implementation plan which will include timescales for introduction
:34:48. > :34:50.of each of the criteria changes and I will make sure the Health
:34:51. > :34:56.Secretary keeps Parliament informed of the implementation as it
:34:57. > :34:59.progresses. Can I thank Margaret Mitchell for waiting to the end of
:35:00. > :35:07.First Minister's Questions to raise her point of order? Thank you. I
:35:08. > :35:09.seek your guidance on whether the line of questioning from Kezia
:35:10. > :35:13.Dugdale and the exchanges of the First Minister have breached the
:35:14. > :35:18.Parliament's rules in advance of next week referendum's the test of
:35:19. > :35:23.which is I believe that the content is likely to influence that
:35:24. > :35:27.referendum. And if they have been breached, what opportunity will
:35:28. > :35:31.there be to point out the unfettered free movement of people will deeply
:35:32. > :35:40.damaged the economy and our public services? And to point out, is the
:35:41. > :35:46.economy in the world and the talented and innovative people, the
:35:47. > :35:52.UK is more than capable of surviving outside the EU and in fact it is
:35:53. > :35:58.being Nato and the UN which has preserved our security, not the EU.
:35:59. > :36:04.Can I ask, is it the same point of order or separate? Can I thank
:36:05. > :36:07.Margaret Mitchell? Think she is quite right to raise this point of
:36:08. > :36:10.order. As members may know, the Parliament has decided to a decision
:36:11. > :36:19.of the business bureau and business managers in the bureau to observe
:36:20. > :36:21.our legal guidance that the parliament should not use
:36:22. > :36:28.parliamentary resources, this is under legal advice is affects us
:36:29. > :36:30.through the referendum act, that he Parliament should not use
:36:31. > :36:34.parliamentary resources to promote one side or the other during the
:36:35. > :36:41.referendum. The Parliament may also be aware that I wrote, as I believe
:36:42. > :36:44.this was an oversight rather than intend, I wrote on behalf of the
:36:45. > :36:48.Parliament to both the Speaker of the House of Commons and to the
:36:49. > :36:52.Secretary of State for Scotland to voice our concerns that we should be
:36:53. > :36:55.covered in this way. However we have agreed, I listened to but the
:36:56. > :37:00.questions and the answer is very carefully, it is my judgment that
:37:01. > :37:04.they did not breach that agreement and they did not take a side on
:37:05. > :37:14.either side of the referendum issue. That is my decision and I listened
:37:15. > :37:17.very carefully. They did not use parliamentary resources to promote
:37:18. > :37:28.one side of the argument. My daughter. Thank you. -- point of
:37:29. > :37:32.order. They said there was a lack of investment in early years. Having
:37:33. > :37:36.read the recent press release it does not say a thing of the sort. Is
:37:37. > :37:40.it correct that Mr Rennie should come here and misrepresent a very
:37:41. > :37:47.important charity, save the children? That is a point of
:37:48. > :38:01.information or accuracy. One second... One second, Mr Findlay.
:38:02. > :38:04.Thank you. That is a point of information or accuracy for the
:38:05. > :38:10.member. I am sure he heard your comments. It is for him to reflect
:38:11. > :38:14.on, not a point of order. In reply to Margaret Mitchell's point. I
:38:15. > :38:17.think whichever side they are on they have the right to be heard and
:38:18. > :38:21.the right to have their views put forward in the chamber but you
:38:22. > :38:26.expressed the view that parliamentary resources would not be
:38:27. > :38:31.used, I am not making a point on one side of the other, but surely the
:38:32. > :38:35.fact that we use power, we have the official report, these are
:38:36. > :38:40.parliamentary resources, therefore I think we need absolute clarity on
:38:41. > :38:44.this because it is very important. The point he makes is exactly the
:38:45. > :38:49.one that we considered in the bureau and with our legal advisers. The use
:38:50. > :38:54.of the parliamentary report to report on our proceedings is a user
:38:55. > :38:59.parliamentary resources. In this particular case I did not judge that
:39:00. > :39:04.either the questions or the answers were in abuse of those resources.
:39:05. > :39:13.That was my judgment. But members have made a point of order... --
:39:14. > :39:17.both members. My ruling so far, neither of these are points of order
:39:18. > :39:25.but I have taken them on board. Thank you. I raised a point of order
:39:26. > :39:30.yesterday during the members debate on a similar point to the ones that
:39:31. > :39:34.were raised today. I still await a response and I wonder if that can be
:39:35. > :39:38.forthcoming? I think the member will receive a response from one of the
:39:39. > :39:41.deputy residing officers. The information will be passed to the
:39:42. > :39:47.member I would imagine before the close of proceedings today, but just
:39:48. > :39:53.for information, our decision was that it was not a point of order
:39:54. > :39:57.yesterday either. More information will be passed later. For there are
:39:58. > :40:04.any more points of order, can I suggest we move to members business?
:40:05. > :40:07.I would ask members to leave the chamber quietly while we get on with
:40:08. > :40:14.members business. Thank you very much. The bit of to do there in the
:40:15. > :40:17.chamber. The new Presiding Officer facing his first challenge and it
:40:18. > :40:21.was on the subject of, guess what, the European Union. We will be
:40:22. > :40:24.talking about that in some detail later but it would be wrong to
:40:25. > :40:28.entirely neglect the substantive questions that were also put a stop
:40:29. > :40:32.joined now by two journalistic colleagues. David Torrance first of
:40:33. > :40:35.all. That's cool with all the substance of the questions facing
:40:36. > :40:40.the Christmas. She got a hard time from both rude Davidson and Willie
:40:41. > :40:47.Rennie on the question of teachers that Ruth Davidson. There is a
:40:48. > :40:53.cross-party battle for supremacy on this issue. Education was one of the
:40:54. > :40:57.things that Scottish Parliament was supposed to focus on after it was
:40:58. > :41:04.created and belatedly it is now doing that. What we are also seeing
:41:05. > :41:07.is what someone much wiser than than me cold the narcissism of small
:41:08. > :41:11.differences. There is not a lot between the two parties. They agree
:41:12. > :41:16.the attainment back must be closed and that teacher workload must be
:41:17. > :41:20.lifted. What the spots are over, slightly baffling spats, over how
:41:21. > :41:24.that should be done. She was making a distinction about the nature of
:41:25. > :41:28.the testing. One point that was being made both by Willie Rennie and
:41:29. > :41:34.Ruth Davidson is they are treating this as if it was a new problem. It
:41:35. > :41:38.plainly wasn't. The idea that they have been in power for nine years. I
:41:39. > :41:42.think that is the key point they are trying to get across. Ruth Davidson
:41:43. > :41:46.also managed to get in a little bit of a dig about the named person
:41:47. > :41:51.child protection scheme which the Tories as we know are strongly
:41:52. > :41:57.opposed to. The First Minister was particularly annoyed. She called it
:41:58. > :42:02.a cheap political stunt. The SNP backbenchers were also very angry,
:42:03. > :42:06.shouting, shame. I think you're absolutely right. The point that
:42:07. > :42:11.Willie Rennie and Ruth Davidson were both trying to make was, they are
:42:12. > :42:17.trying to fix the problem of your own making. What about the point
:42:18. > :42:21.about testing? The MSPs are streaming down the stairs behind you
:42:22. > :42:24.there. There appears to be a different interpretation as to what
:42:25. > :42:30.the testing is. Willie Rennie saying don't waste your time testing young
:42:31. > :42:32.kids, teach them instead Andy First Minister saying, no, you're getting
:42:33. > :42:38.it wrong is the nature of the testing. And are also seized a
:42:39. > :42:42.difference in saying the EIS and the Government and it is all as I say a
:42:43. > :42:46.bit baffling I imagine for the outsider. Baffling for teachers as
:42:47. > :42:52.well. They need clear guidance on this, what is coming down the line
:42:53. > :42:56.in terms of testing. The key point is whether testing will provide us
:42:57. > :43:00.with any new information. That is not altogether clear even after
:43:01. > :43:03.these exchanges. The First Minister is adamant you're required to get
:43:04. > :43:08.the data first and then the action. He said there is some scepticism.
:43:09. > :43:12.Yes and we have significant data about the attainment gap and that is
:43:13. > :43:17.why it is being discussed because we have data showing it has got worse
:43:18. > :43:22.over the last few years. It is not clear as to what standardised
:43:23. > :43:25.testing will add to that. Is this building up, Magnus, into a tough
:43:26. > :43:33.one for the Government? Do you have the potential of industrial action?
:43:34. > :43:37.Is this building up into a big one? Not on the testing. I think we are
:43:38. > :43:43.gaining some well needed clarity on this. We are talking about national
:43:44. > :43:47.assessment, not national testing. A lot of the political difficulties
:43:48. > :43:51.around this I think stem from a few months ago when perhaps government
:43:52. > :43:55.ministers tried to play to the gallery, play to public opinion a
:43:56. > :43:59.little bit and give the impression this was a slightly more rigorous
:44:00. > :44:03.national testing system that was coming in. In fact it is something
:44:04. > :44:07.slightly different but relies on entirely on teacher judgment. The
:44:08. > :44:12.EIS are happy with that. Nicola Sturgeon was careful to them that
:44:13. > :44:15.back in Willie Rennie's face. On testing it sounds as if John Swinney
:44:16. > :44:22.is taking this whole issue of workload very seriously. My hunch is
:44:23. > :44:26.that industrial action will be avoided on this although there are
:44:27. > :44:29.negotiations still to run. David, one of the serious things he was
:44:30. > :44:34.doing was to call the summit yesterday. I'm sure it was with good
:44:35. > :44:38.intention and good purpose. It is also bringing the opposition parties
:44:39. > :44:42.onside and trying to keep them in the tent. Rather than lobbing things
:44:43. > :44:49.at the campus. Summitry is the key part of the game. It brings the
:44:50. > :44:53.opposition and it makes us though the Scottish Government is doing
:44:54. > :44:57.something. They love to appear as if they are doing something. We are
:44:58. > :45:00.both deeply cynical in that regard. Magnus, let's turn briefly to the
:45:01. > :45:04.topic of health that was raised by Jackie Baillie and Neil Findlay.
:45:05. > :45:12.Again they are from bottles on both occasions from the First Minister.
:45:13. > :45:16.-- firm bottles. The question Mr Findlay has been asking a lot about
:45:17. > :45:19.children's services at St John's in Livingston, that seems to be
:45:20. > :45:27.resolved. The First Minister was committing support from the Scottish
:45:28. > :45:32.Government to NHS Lothian. It looks as though that long-running saga is
:45:33. > :45:36.reaching a solution and the Government are going to put the
:45:37. > :45:42.money where their mouth is. In terms of long-running salad is, Jackie
:45:43. > :45:44.Baillie has been pursuing the Vale of Leven Hospital and got a blonde
:45:45. > :45:48.dancer saying regardless of what document you have in your
:45:49. > :45:50.possession, the First Minister was saying is they would be no change to
:45:51. > :46:05.the provision of services. He comes down to who the voters
:46:06. > :46:08.trust. Highly unusual that the detail changes slightly after the
:46:09. > :46:15.election. The First Minister used to be the Health Secretary. It is her
:46:16. > :46:22.own record being examined. In terms of competence, her own record is
:46:23. > :46:28.intrinsically bound. She will take everything seriously, but health
:46:29. > :46:34.much more seriously. Briefly, we have tuck shop wars. I should not
:46:35. > :46:39.mock. Children's nutrition. Described as being about the tuck
:46:40. > :46:42.shop coming into the school. I was joking before we went on air, this
:46:43. > :46:48.is what devolution was for, the Scottish Government set up to
:46:49. > :46:53.regulate tuck shops. There is an autonomy issue, for schools, equally
:46:54. > :46:59.a governmental role into what kind of food is sold. I imagine it is a
:47:00. > :47:01.then when I was at school. Thanks, we will come back to you in a couple
:47:02. > :47:09.of minutes. The European Union was discussed
:47:10. > :47:19.between Cacia Dugdale and the European mint -- and the First
:47:20. > :47:24.Minister. Before we began the programme today, I took the chance
:47:25. > :47:29.to raise the question of the European Union with both sides in
:47:30. > :47:32.the campaign. Asking the Conservative MSP, Graeme Morrison,
:47:33. > :47:37.the fundamental argument for leaving.
:47:38. > :47:44.Michael argument, always about pussy, sovereignty. About who runs
:47:45. > :47:49.affairs in Scotland and in the UK. By taking back control from the EU
:47:50. > :47:54.we can have much more say about what happens in Scotland and the rest of
:47:55. > :48:01.the United Kingdom. Christina, a fundamental appeal? For Remain,
:48:02. > :48:07.benefits we recruit from being members of the European Union,
:48:08. > :48:13.workers' rights, female rights, peace, protection, all these
:48:14. > :48:18.reasons, why people should remain in the European Union. A UK Government
:48:19. > :48:22.unfettered by these regulations and rules, as I put it rights and
:48:23. > :48:29.responsibilities, a dangerous prospect. A luck to lose? Cristina
:48:30. > :48:33.Torkilsen policy decisions. These are decisions taken in Brussels. I
:48:34. > :48:37.think, and I would think a nationalist like Christina would
:48:38. > :48:42.think these decisions should be taken closer to home. Isn't it true
:48:43. > :48:49.that the rights are underpinned by Brussels law. Implemented by the UK,
:48:50. > :48:55.underpinned by Brussels? Take employment rights. These could be
:48:56. > :49:02.enshrined in UK law. There is absolutely no reason... I would love
:49:03. > :49:06.to have that enshrined in UK law. We have a trade union Bill taking away
:49:07. > :49:11.rights. Proposal to repeal the Human Rights Act. What we have is
:49:12. > :49:17.proposals from a government taking away those rights, they say we will
:49:18. > :49:22.confirm them back to you commit because -- back to you because we
:49:23. > :49:26.have goodwill. What about the argument they should be taken in the
:49:27. > :49:32.UK? It is a red herring, there are 28 members of the European Union,
:49:33. > :49:38.they will have elected MEPs. Elected ministers. They have a vote and a
:49:39. > :49:43.veto. David Cameron has used it in the past. There is a democratic
:49:44. > :49:47.structure in place. It is not democratic, decisions are taken in
:49:48. > :49:53.Brussels by people who are not elected. Michael argument is
:49:54. > :49:57.decisions should be taken by elected parliamentarians, as close to the
:49:58. > :50:04.people as possible. In this case in Scotland. What are elected MEPs.
:50:05. > :50:12.Someone like Christina, coming from the back when she does, I would
:50:13. > :50:15.think she would support that. I noticed I was wearing a different
:50:16. > :50:24.time in that pre-recorded interview! The substance that counts. The stunt
:50:25. > :50:27.of the fate -- substantive debate. Questions raised to the First
:50:28. > :50:36.Minister. One or two were unhappy that was the case stop we have the
:50:37. > :50:41.presiding officer saying it was OK, they were not making a case one way
:50:42. > :50:48.or another. Using public resources, the problem? In an election or
:50:49. > :50:53.referendum? You can quantify that, in terms of people asking questions
:50:54. > :50:57.in the chamber, tabling a written question, that all has a cost.
:50:58. > :51:04.Difficult to pin down, but it is there. The official report. It
:51:05. > :51:14.appears it directly contradicts the presiding Officer's own analysis. He
:51:15. > :51:19.says it does not. There was some grinning on the faces of the
:51:20. > :51:23.ministers. The First Minister. Probably quite a widespread view it
:51:24. > :51:28.would be slightly absurd not to discuss the EU reference. Certainly
:51:29. > :51:35.not the approach taken by Kinsey Sio that they'll. She said we debated,
:51:36. > :51:44.it would be wrong not to debate the biggest topic. Far be it from anyone
:51:45. > :51:50.to question the decisions of the presiding officer. That was quite an
:51:51. > :51:54.extraordinary decision he made. The gist of the rule, cost comes into
:51:55. > :51:58.it. Nothing should happen that is capable of influencing people. We
:51:59. > :52:17.have a staged encounter between that encounter between Dugdale in the
:52:18. > :52:22.first semester. There are photocalls NOW, telling you everything you need
:52:23. > :52:26.to know. The first method set jobs depend on Scotland's relation with
:52:27. > :52:32.the EU. I thought she challenged it really well. She made sure, even if
:52:33. > :52:36.she was always going to get overruled, she got in some points of
:52:37. > :52:40.heroin. From processes substance. A photocall outside with the five
:52:41. > :52:44.Parliamentary leaders in this Parliament. Our people paying
:52:45. > :52:52.attention to the political direction? Are they making their
:52:53. > :52:56.minds up in way? Interesting point. They are making up their own minds,
:52:57. > :52:59.there could be a difference between Scotland and the rest of the
:53:00. > :53:04.country. There is evidence that your average voter ignoring Establishment
:53:05. > :53:10.politicians, big business, independent organisations. At this
:53:11. > :53:14.late stage, I am not sure joint photocalls will make much
:53:15. > :53:20.difference. This photocall, and the event coming up this afternoon. The
:53:21. > :53:25.European Movement, that is notable. Nicola Sturgeon was quite certain
:53:26. > :53:30.she was not going to share platforms with conservatives. She has done it
:53:31. > :53:35.once in a televised debate last week, doing it again this afternoon.
:53:36. > :53:42.That speaks to the urgency of the situation, and the narrowing of the
:53:43. > :53:45.polls. The early cast list did not include a conservative. Yesterday
:53:46. > :53:49.one was added. It speaks to the position of conservatives in
:53:50. > :53:55.Scottish politics generally. Despite the recent election results, still a
:53:56. > :54:00.toxic one. All the parties nervous about being seen to cooperate with
:54:01. > :54:02.them. A very different debate taking place in Scotland, to the one Taking
:54:03. > :54:09.Place in England? Slightly different. There was a focus on what
:54:10. > :54:16.will happen, in terms of powers for Holyrood. Really interesting, only
:54:17. > :54:23.yesterday did John Swinney address that point. The Leave campaign has
:54:24. > :54:29.been allowed to make a without argument. That powers would
:54:30. > :54:33.automatically transfer from Brussels, not to Westminster, but
:54:34. > :54:38.Holyrood. Particularly in the case of fishing and farming. John
:54:39. > :54:46.Swinney, yesterday, really quite forthright in their that. Surprising
:54:47. > :54:52.to my mind how slow the Remain side have been. The two sides have
:54:53. > :54:56.fundamental messages. We got the message to date on the economy from
:54:57. > :55:01.supporters of Remain. The message on the other side tends to go to
:55:02. > :55:07.immigration. They do argue other points as well, that the default
:55:08. > :55:12.argument tends to be in the Gration. Is that when we are, two fundamental
:55:13. > :55:16.arguments battling. When they move from processed into substance, they
:55:17. > :55:22.mention unfettered freedom of movement. The default argument. At
:55:23. > :55:26.the late stage, one week to go. You have two boiled down your message to
:55:27. > :55:31.the bare essentials. The polling shows immigration and economy jostle
:55:32. > :55:37.for primacy in terms of what is most important for voters. It makes sense
:55:38. > :55:48.for Remain to go with the economy, and Leave to go with the immigration
:55:49. > :55:58.issue. Have the sides menace to counter the arguments? Not really, I
:55:59. > :56:01.don't think so. The League side have not attempted to counter the
:56:02. > :56:16.economic argument. They have dismissed it as scaremongering. --
:56:17. > :56:24.the Leave side. That budget yesterday, quite striking in terms
:56:25. > :56:28.of the lack of impact. It is designed to close down debate,
:56:29. > :56:33.rather than encourage it. The whole tenor of the Remain campaign has
:56:34. > :56:40.been on those lines, with one weeks ago, the same will not have impact.
:56:41. > :56:45.As the immigration question been closed down by the Remain side?
:56:46. > :56:51.Distracting attention. Moving focus onto the economic argument? The
:56:52. > :56:57.question of immigration sums up one of the problems the Remain side has
:56:58. > :57:02.generally. If you take Labour, contradictory views on immigration
:57:03. > :57:07.within Labour alone. If you look at the Remain side generally, you don't
:57:08. > :57:12.get the feeling of a coordinated campaign. Several campaigns talking
:57:13. > :57:20.to discrete constituencies on their own. In stark contrast to the Leave
:57:21. > :57:24.side, at heart a simple, clear message, resonating with focus
:57:25. > :57:29.groups, taking back control. Talking about the impact, what about the
:57:30. > :57:34.impact of the Conservatives? A Sirius Prospect, if it is exit, the
:57:35. > :57:38.Prime Minister and the Chancellor could stay in office? It is an
:57:39. > :57:44.extremely messy situation either way. If it is a narrow Remain vote,
:57:45. > :57:49.Kamran is more unpopular with a section of his party than a few
:57:50. > :57:55.years ago. Not even masking it anymore. Complete breakdown in
:57:56. > :57:59.discipline. If there is a Brexit vote, Kamran would have to resign,
:58:00. > :58:04.Osborne's chances of succeeding would be minuscule. Read unifying
:58:05. > :58:11.the Conservative Party after the past few months, almost impossible.
:58:12. > :58:17.-- unifying. I agree with David, absolutely. I cannot see the Prime
:58:18. > :58:23.Minister remaining in office if we vote to leave. Thank you both very
:58:24. > :58:27.much. Remarkable series of questions to the First Minister, the topic of
:58:28. > :58:39.Europe being raised almost in defiance of the ruling. It was ruled
:58:40. > :58:48.that they were not using public resources to making art. Things
:58:49. > :58:53.going on outside, the leave campaign in Scotland at a rally. It is one
:58:54. > :59:00.week to the vote. From, me, Brian Taylor, goodbye.
:59:01. > :59:06.the most important issues of the EU Referendum,
:59:07. > :59:09.and it'll be in front of a live audience of thousands,
:59:10. > :59:14.in a final attempt to persuade YOU of their side of the argument.