:00:22. > :00:24.Hello and welcome to the last Politics Scotland of 2012:
:00:24. > :00:27.The Chancellor's extra cash for Scotland - the Finance Secretary
:00:28. > :00:36.will outline where it's going. And our look back at the year with
:00:36. > :00:43.our A to Z. And coming home - almost 5,000
:00:43. > :00:49.troops will be coming home from Afghanistan at next year.
:00:49. > :00:52.So, it's the last programme of the year. Joining me here in the studio
:00:52. > :00:55.I have a couple of our regular commentators who will look back at
:00:55. > :01:04.the year with me over the course of the programme - Professor John
:01:04. > :01:08.Curtice and Alf Young. John, what was your moment of the year?
:01:08. > :01:14.think one has to go all the way back to the beginning of this year,
:01:14. > :01:19.to January, when the UK Government indicated that it was willing
:01:19. > :01:24.indeed to have a section 30 order that would pass the legal authority
:01:24. > :01:27.to hold a referendum on its independence to the Scottish
:01:27. > :01:30.Parliament, subject to some important conditions, including the
:01:30. > :01:36.crucial one - that there should only be one question on the ballot
:01:36. > :01:39.paper. Two things happened straight away. There was an incredible
:01:39. > :01:48.debate about how the referendum should be held, should there be one
:01:48. > :01:51.or two questions? The second thing was the outside world suddenly
:01:51. > :01:56.finally realised that Scotland really was indeed likely to get the
:01:56. > :02:01.chance to vote on whether or not it should leave the United Kingdom or
:02:01. > :02:04.not. There was incredible foreign press interest, and when Alex
:02:04. > :02:10.Salmond made his own statement later there was a huge press
:02:10. > :02:15.contingent here. And the whole year of politics has been dominated by
:02:15. > :02:21.the process and the substance of this referendum debate. Sir David
:02:21. > :02:27.Cameron fired the political starting gun. What about you, Alf
:02:27. > :02:34.Young? Can I have two moment? Chancellor George Osborne's
:02:34. > :02:40.disastrous Budget in March with all the you turns. And then in the
:02:40. > :02:45.Autumn Statement, an attempt to get back in control of things. But
:02:45. > :02:51.having to admit we are now facing austerity right through to 2018,
:02:51. > :02:57.which takes us way beyond the next Scottish election and UK election.
:02:57. > :03:03.All to defend the UK's triple A rating, we are now on negative
:03:03. > :03:07.watch from all three of the big ratings agencies. The coalition is
:03:07. > :03:12.letting it be known that if we lose it it would not really be a big
:03:12. > :03:15.deal. So we fought and fought to save it, all the austerity and
:03:15. > :03:22.everything, and probably next year it will be downgraded and the way,
:03:22. > :03:24.but they are saying, well, it doesn't really matter.
:03:24. > :03:27.Now, let's head to Westminster, where the Prime Minister has
:03:27. > :03:31.announced that around 3,800 British troops will be withdrawn from
:03:31. > :03:34.Afghanistan during 2013. David Cameron said the partial reduction
:03:34. > :03:42.paved the way for the final removal of the bulk of British personnel
:03:42. > :03:47.from the central Asian country as planned, by the end of 2014.
:03:47. > :03:50.sure the whole House will wish to join me in sending Christmas wishes
:03:50. > :03:54.to our brave forces in Afghanistan and elsewhere. To their families
:03:54. > :03:58.that will be missing them and to servicemen and women around the
:03:58. > :04:03.world, you are always in our thoughts. We owe you deep gratitude
:04:04. > :04:07.and we send you our heartfelt thanks at Christmas time.
:04:07. > :04:12.Speaker, I joined the Prime Minister in paying tribute to our
:04:12. > :04:16.troops in Afghanistan who continue to show such a huge courage and
:04:16. > :04:25.bravery. I bent it is particularly important at this time of year to
:04:25. > :04:28.remember them and their families, many of whom will be separated. I
:04:28. > :04:33.also want to welcome the government's expected announcement
:04:33. > :04:37.today on reducing the troops in Afghanistan in 2013. We await that
:04:37. > :04:42.statement. Can the Prime Minister tell the House how many troops and
:04:42. > :04:47.civilian staff will be left in Afghanistan after the 2014 deadline,
:04:47. > :04:51.and can he confirm whether they will be under Afghan-led command?
:04:51. > :04:55.Firstly, I join the Leader of the Opposition in welcoming what our
:04:55. > :05:00.troops to. Particularly on Afghanistan there are two decisions.
:05:00. > :05:03.Firstly, the draw down of troops between now and the end of 2014,
:05:03. > :05:08.and what the Defence Secretary will announce is that, because of the
:05:08. > :05:11.success of our forces and the Afghan national security forces,
:05:11. > :05:16.and the fact we're moving to mentoring at a battalion level to
:05:16. > :05:21.men to it at a brigade level by the end of 2013, we will be able to see
:05:21. > :05:26.troops come home in two relatively even steps in 2013 and 2014,
:05:26. > :05:36.leaving probably around 5,200 troops after the end of 20 their
:05:36. > :05:40.
:05:40. > :05:45.team, compared with 9,000 we have now. -- end of 2013. In terms of a
:05:45. > :05:48.post 2014, there had been no final decisions. We have said clearly no-
:05:48. > :05:53.one will be in a combat role and nothing like the number of troops
:05:53. > :05:58.there now. We promised the Afghans we would provide an at of the than
:05:58. > :06:02.-- Officer Training Academy and we are prepared to look at issues
:06:02. > :06:06.above and beyond that, but that is the starting base line. Can I back
:06:06. > :06:10.the Prime Minister for that answer? Given that thousands of troops will
:06:10. > :06:14.still be in harm's way in Afghanistan, can the Prime Minister
:06:14. > :06:20.say what specific effort the government is making what the
:06:20. > :06:23.international community to match the continuing military adverts --
:06:23. > :06:27.at that with the greater diplomatic efforts which I know he thinks are
:06:27. > :06:33.important. Because this will give us our best chance of leaving
:06:33. > :06:37.behind an inclusive, durable political settlement in Afghanistan.
:06:37. > :06:42.He is entirely right, as well as a military track there's always been
:06:42. > :06:47.a diplomatic track. Let me be clear - after 20th December 14, there
:06:47. > :06:51.will still be some troops who will be involved in returning equipment
:06:51. > :06:56.and dealing with logistics. Exact announcements will be made at a
:06:56. > :07:01.later stage. Let's stay at Westminster and speak to our
:07:01. > :07:04.correspondent there who is standing by. Good afternoon. Interesting
:07:04. > :07:07.idea what the Prime Minister was saying about our troops in
:07:07. > :07:11.Afghanistan and the Defence Secretary Philip Hammond furnished
:07:11. > :07:18.us with a bit more detail after that. I think many in the House
:07:18. > :07:22.were pleased to hear that news. most MPs believe it is now time for
:07:22. > :07:30.Britain to start to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan. David
:07:30. > :07:38.Cameron gave us the Max - at the moment there are 9,000. -- the
:07:38. > :07:44.maths. By the end of next year, 3,800 troops will have come back
:07:44. > :07:48.from Afghanistan, leaving just over 5,000 to be drawn down in 2014.
:07:48. > :07:54.David Cameron making it plain that at the end of that year, he does to
:07:54. > :07:59.all intents and purposes want to see all Britain's combat troops
:07:59. > :08:02.removed from Afghanistan. It was noticeable from Ed Miliband, he was
:08:02. > :08:06.wanting to focus not just on the military draw down but to get some
:08:06. > :08:10.assurances if the Prime Minister can give that that the diplomatic
:08:10. > :08:17.process is working and Afghanistan. It was notable that the Prime
:08:17. > :08:20.Minister said that they were now able to mentor bar more -- far more
:08:20. > :08:27.Afghanistan police and troops, despite the incidents we have heard,
:08:27. > :08:37.the recent cream on be a tax where Afghan forces are have attacked
:08:37. > :08:43.
:08:43. > :08:50.British troops. -- the recent green on blue attacks. Another story
:08:50. > :09:00.hitting the headlines yesterday and today - the Andrew Mitchell scandal.
:09:00. > :09:01.
:09:01. > :09:04.Things now seem a bit different. Yes, this is intriguing and
:09:04. > :09:09.interesting. New revelations and allegations average -- have come
:09:09. > :09:12.out over the past few days. The allegations concern a member of
:09:12. > :09:17.their diplomatic police service, who it seems at one point had sent
:09:17. > :09:21.an e-mail to people in government, to his local MP, and also suggested
:09:21. > :09:26.he wasn't that a member of the public who had seen what had gone
:09:26. > :09:30.on. It now transpires that perhaps that was not the case. He has been
:09:30. > :09:34.arrested, he is being interviewed by police. It is worth saying none
:09:34. > :09:38.of these new allegations have been proven, they are just that -
:09:38. > :09:41.allegations. It is also worth emphasising that the police
:09:41. > :09:45.officers who were involved in the original altercation with Andrew
:09:45. > :09:49.Mitchell say they are quite happy with their story, but we have a
:09:50. > :09:53.further police investigation going on and we have a building head of
:09:53. > :09:59.steam here from supporters of Andrew Mitchell that, to some
:09:59. > :10:05.extent, he ought to be politically rehabilitated. It is a story which
:10:05. > :10:08.in journalistic terms is continuing to give. It has some fascinating
:10:08. > :10:13.ankles to it and I think most people at Westminster are a bit
:10:13. > :10:18.confused, a bit perplexed, as to what happened. If these allegations
:10:18. > :10:21.are proved true - and they are still allegations now - it raises
:10:21. > :10:27.serious questions about what has gone on within the Metropolitan
:10:27. > :10:33.Police. Finally, a brief look at another issue. A lot of MPs will be
:10:33. > :10:43.interested in to the report about BBC chaos and confusion but no
:10:43. > :10:49.cover up over the Jimmy Savile affair. Yes, looking into Jimmy
:10:49. > :10:52.Savile and later Lord McAlpine. The report is excoriating, it
:10:52. > :10:57.criticises BBC management, one senior manager is retiring, other
:10:57. > :11:01.editors are being moved. Again, this is something which MPs,
:11:01. > :11:07.because they deal with the BBC on a daily basis, nationally or locally,
:11:07. > :11:12.most of them have the -- had dealings with ABB see on a weekly
:11:12. > :11:15.basis, they will want to look through this report. Not a very
:11:16. > :11:19.comfortable day for the BBC Today, and certainly the criticism of
:11:19. > :11:26.senior management, it may be the season of goodwill but there
:11:26. > :11:29.doesn't seem to be much goodwill in this report.
:11:29. > :11:32.Now, two weeks ago the Chancellor's autumn statement detailed some
:11:32. > :11:40.extra money for Scotland - that's being debated in the Chamber at
:11:40. > :11:48.Holyrood now, and Brian Taylor is watching. It has just been
:11:48. > :11:58.announced that the consequential us of that money from the Chancellor
:11:58. > :11:58.
:11:58. > :12:02.will be allocated. Let's listen. This year, the Scottish government
:12:02. > :12:07.has written a times to the UK Government asking for an immediate
:12:07. > :12:10.capital stimulus to provide much- needed work to the Scottish
:12:10. > :12:14.construction centre and boost local economies over Scotland. In
:12:15. > :12:19.addition, we broke twice jointly with other devolved administrations.
:12:19. > :12:22.At a time when public sector investment has been crucial to a
:12:22. > :12:27.boost to economic recovery, this additional capital would have been
:12:27. > :12:32.welcome at an earlier stage. Taking into account the budgetary impact
:12:32. > :12:38.of the Autumn Statement, by 2014 and 2015, we can expect the
:12:38. > :12:42.Scottish capital budget of four by 26% in real terms compared to 2010
:12:42. > :12:49.and 2011. We have added to the capital provided in our Spending
:12:49. > :12:52.Review settlement where possible. We are supplementing are up --
:12:52. > :13:02.supplementing our programme by switching resources and capital
:13:02. > :13:06.
:13:06. > :13:09.receipts. Also through use of fossil fuel packaging in June. I am
:13:09. > :13:14.able to announce further editions now. In November, we provided an
:13:14. > :13:20.updated list of projects were �820 million that could begin
:13:20. > :13:26.construction by the end of 2013. The additional funding that I am
:13:26. > :13:31.allocating today means the go-ahead to now be given to these projects.
:13:31. > :13:36.Today, I am announcing proposals for additional capital investment
:13:36. > :13:40.of �190 million this year and next. This is a combination of the
:13:40. > :13:49.consequential schools resulting from the Autumn Statement of 4.6
:13:49. > :13:53.million in 2012 to 2013, and 160.2 million in 2013-2014. In addition,
:13:53. > :13:56.due to the progress that has been made, I am able to direct
:13:56. > :14:02.contingency funds which now on will be needed for the 4th replacement
:14:02. > :14:05.costing project. This amounts to a further �25 million. Some
:14:05. > :14:12.commitments are made today will need continued investment over the
:14:13. > :14:21.next two years and mounting -- amounting to a additional
:14:22. > :14:25.investment. The programme I announced today adds up to �250
:14:25. > :14:28.million. Our overriding concern has been to focus on projects with a
:14:28. > :14:32.significant impact on jobs and an ability to deliver quickly along
:14:32. > :14:37.with those that reduced carbon and help to meet our climate change
:14:37. > :14:40.targets. Back in September, the First Minister wrote a joint letter
:14:40. > :14:45.to local authorities encouraging them to consider how they could
:14:45. > :14:49.boost their own capital investment. We are now allocating �46 million
:14:49. > :14:53.of the consequential to local government for this purpose. That
:14:53. > :14:59.is on the condition that local authorities spend this additional
:14:59. > :15:05.funding of projects that are ready to deliver it and are not already
:15:05. > :15:11.funded in their programmes for the next two years. This is a mechanism
:15:11. > :15:15.to provide assurance. We will invest �21 million in transport to
:15:15. > :15:19.develop our cycling, ferry and Canal infrastructure and maintain
:15:20. > :15:24.our trunk road network. This is in line with our commitment to
:15:24. > :15:28.increase active travel, to support our lifeline services, to encourage
:15:28. > :15:32.regeneration along a canal network, which is now the responsibility of
:15:32. > :15:37.the Scottish government, and to continue to invest in a strategic
:15:37. > :15:41.network, all of which encourages sustained growth. Over �11 million
:15:41. > :15:44.will be invested in economic development projects through our
:15:44. > :15:48.enterprise agencies on a range of the early start projects, and all
:15:48. > :15:54.of which will provide the foundations for economic growth in
:15:54. > :16:00.their respective areas. �22 million will be spent on regeneration
:16:00. > :16:05.projects in the City of Glasgow and other places. This includes
:16:05. > :16:10.developing high energy office space to attract inward investors to
:16:10. > :16:13.Scotland. �10 million will be invested in our justice system,
:16:13. > :16:23.including these are up -- the Scottish court system. We have
:16:23. > :16:26.noted concerns raised against the backlog, and are seeking to address
:16:27. > :16:32.Investment needs to maintain their historic Court Estate and improve
:16:32. > :16:38.energy efficiency. Over �7 million will be spent in rural environment
:16:38. > :16:43.and tourism projects through the Forestry Commission. Investment in
:16:43. > :16:50.forestry will include long-distance path which include recreational and
:16:50. > :16:54.tourism benefits. We will also provide fresh investments to
:16:54. > :16:56.Scottish information centres to insure our visitors receive a high
:16:56. > :17:00.standard of information provision when they visit in the run-up to
:17:00. > :17:05.and during 2014, when Scotland welcomes the world with the
:17:05. > :17:09.Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup and our next homecoming. Nearly �7
:17:09. > :17:14.million will be allocated to cultural and heritage projects to
:17:14. > :17:18.the National Theatre of Scotland, historical Scotland, and created
:17:18. > :17:22.Scotland, delivering improvements to cultural venues and maintenance
:17:22. > :17:26.of the existing heritage across Scotland. �10 million will be
:17:26. > :17:31.allocated to maintain a help a stake, targeted to further tackle
:17:31. > :17:36.the backlog maintenance identified in the state of NHS Scotland state
:17:36. > :17:40.a report published in February this year. Nearly �20 million of
:17:40. > :17:44.investment will be made in further and higher education projects. This
:17:44. > :17:47.will allow us to support the development of a centre for
:17:47. > :17:52.livestock improvement at the cutting edge of collaborative
:17:52. > :17:59.academic development. We will address pressing needs in the
:17:59. > :18:09.college state, accelerate progress on that the development involving
:18:09. > :18:13.
:18:13. > :18:17.further technology of call -- and And hit one of the highest priority
:18:17. > :18:22.isn't this taking no action in Scotland which is why this
:18:22. > :18:27.government is allocating �50 million to affordable housing. The
:18:27. > :18:33.exhaust tranche of housing this year, with editions already made in
:18:33. > :18:39.Cadbury, June, September and now. We will be allocating an extra �200
:18:39. > :18:49.million, demonstrating went we have an opportunity to invest, this
:18:49. > :18:51.
:18:51. > :18:56.government does exactly that. This will increase the socially... A
:18:56. > :19:01.significant proportion of the investment will come banks --
:19:01. > :19:08.commenced this financial year, with the majority in the first half of
:19:08. > :19:15.2013 and 14. This will boost the economy and bring lasting
:19:15. > :19:18.improvements to -- improvements to Scotland's base. We will work with
:19:19. > :19:22.the organisations involved to provide more detail of intellectual
:19:22. > :19:29.proper -- projects over the coming weeks. The changes that I am
:19:29. > :19:32.announcing today will be reflected in the budget bill, and a double by
:19:32. > :19:42.can the debate about the proposals as part of the budget process in
:19:42. > :19:44.
:19:44. > :19:50.the new year. Listening to that we have John Curtice band Alf Young.
:19:50. > :19:54.He says the biggest until last. A building boom for Scotland. They
:19:54. > :20:01.are clearly -- clearly problems in the housing sector. There is an
:20:01. > :20:04.overall problem of demand. Most of the sector is pretty flat. We want
:20:04. > :20:12.affordable housing so people can get on the first step off the
:20:12. > :20:15.ladder. It is a pressing issue. Any money is good. �50 million is not
:20:15. > :20:24.huge in the context of what is needed to be done, but it must be
:20:24. > :20:30.welcome, and there will be another �46 million in capital spending. So
:20:30. > :20:34.that is the lion's share of the �200 million package. What
:20:34. > :20:41.difference does that make do you think in terms of trying to bring
:20:41. > :20:46.that Ford? How much can we get for it out of that? You can work it out
:20:46. > :20:56.yourself. In terms of units, you get a rough idea of how much it
:20:56. > :20:56.
:20:56. > :21:06.cost to build. It is not a huge amount. If you say it is going to
:21:06. > :21:15.cost �15 million -- �50,000 per unit, you have a 1,000 units.
:21:15. > :21:20.is he trying to do here? This is something at his own investigation.
:21:20. > :21:25.On the economic front, there has been a debate on whether or not the
:21:25. > :21:34.government should keep to plan a or whether it should amend it or not.
:21:34. > :21:44.George Osborne's Autumn Statement but a little bit of style to it.
:21:44. > :21:44.
:21:44. > :21:49.They found a little bit of money from the 40s spectrum. Using that,
:21:49. > :21:52.the government will not suffer from it, because it won't be in areas of
:21:53. > :22:02.consequential loss. They have managed a pounds and -- find some
:22:02. > :22:11.more money from capital spending. Mr Sweeney has now got a least some
:22:11. > :22:17.of the money he wanted. He really wanted to or three times as much.
:22:18. > :22:23.Here's the money. In truth, given the way in which the devolution
:22:23. > :22:30.settlement is still funded Int Scotland, he is still primarily a
:22:30. > :22:35.function of decisions in Westminster. This is him deciding
:22:35. > :22:42.to pass on the money. It is by accident rather than by intention.
:22:42. > :22:46.It staying with the subject of government spending, security costs
:22:46. > :22:52.for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow have trebled, according to
:22:52. > :22:55.Mr in charge of a project. Shona Robison told MSPs that lessons have
:22:55. > :23:00.been learned from the London Olympics. As is the case with all
:23:00. > :23:06.major events, as the planning process has Richard, our knowledge
:23:06. > :23:11.of safety and security measures have crystallised. We note that the
:23:11. > :23:16.athletes village will need to be secured from 20th January 14 rather
:23:16. > :23:21.than 20th June 14 as a written the plant. We now better understand the
:23:22. > :23:24.shift pattern for stewards and other security staff, and the
:23:24. > :23:29.impact on staffing costs. The London 2012 experience was similar
:23:29. > :23:35.in that demand for security personnel could not be finalised
:23:35. > :23:39.until late, and the operational planning -- late in the operational
:23:39. > :23:44.planning process. That was the reason for the massive increase in
:23:44. > :23:49.security budget. Olympic lessons around risk assessment has helped
:23:49. > :23:57.us plan more clearly the security requirements of the venues. We need
:23:57. > :24:03.more CCTV, perimeter or fencing and security checks. It is critical to
:24:03. > :24:07.ensuring that everyone is protected properly from the moment they are
:24:07. > :24:12.approaching two the venue to the moment they leave. As games
:24:12. > :24:18.planning has progressed, we have developed a clearer picture of the
:24:18. > :24:26.non-competition venues needed. These have security requirements
:24:26. > :24:31.that could not be possibly spoke to -- scope early. They all need an
:24:31. > :24:38.effort of prevention -- protection. Alongside the review of the
:24:38. > :24:43.security requirements, we have been deciding how to strengthen our
:24:43. > :24:48.governments -- strengthen our governments. In light of this, we
:24:48. > :24:56.have decided to take to specific actions. The Glasgow 2014 strategic
:24:56. > :25:01.group has asked the general Constable of police Scotland to
:25:01. > :25:06.deliver the overall security for the Games. The chief constable has
:25:06. > :25:12.accepted that role. He will not only direct policing around the
:25:12. > :25:17.Games, but also the wider security situation against venues. He will
:25:17. > :25:25.attend meetings of the security group chaired by the First Minister.
:25:25. > :25:30.He will report on all areas of planning. We are also appraising --
:25:30. > :25:36.improving the governance. We will publish a paper but will be tell
:25:36. > :25:39.this further. In the light of the lessons learned from London, and
:25:39. > :25:45.the word that the police have carried out subsequently, the chief
:25:45. > :25:49.constable has advised that they should be a budget to deliver a
:25:49. > :25:55.safe and secured games. I am announcing today that the Scottish
:25:55. > :25:58.government is taking responsibility for a new games and security budget
:25:58. > :26:02.of �19 million. As a minister responsible for the Commonwealth
:26:02. > :26:09.Games, I have to listen when Scotland's top police officer tells
:26:09. > :26:13.me that this is what is required to deliver a safe and secure games.
:26:13. > :26:21.That was the Sports Minister speaking in parliament yesterday.
:26:21. > :26:29.She said that the Games budget had trebled. The minister that separate
:26:29. > :26:34.she had to listen to the Chief Constable, and he is a powerful man
:26:34. > :26:39.to command that kind of change. lot of people will say that this
:26:39. > :26:45.goes to show when you put on these events, the budget never ends up
:26:45. > :26:52.the same as the original budget. The London Olympics suffered from
:26:52. > :26:59.exactly the same problem. That cynicism aside, everyone remembers
:26:59. > :27:04.the London Olympics from the Danny Boyle opening ceremony to the
:27:04. > :27:10.performances of the Paralympic athletes. Do one thing they did not
:27:10. > :27:16.happen in London was that there was not anything serious from a
:27:16. > :27:21.security issue. We are much more concerned about terrorism, and any
:27:21. > :27:26.country that takes on an event like this is to ensure that there is not
:27:26. > :27:31.negative publicity as well as other consequences. We should not be
:27:31. > :27:41.surprised that Scotland will also want to try and ensure that it runs
:27:41. > :27:41.
:27:41. > :27:46.the game in Glasgow. The responsibility is now with the new
:27:46. > :27:50.chief constable, and in line with the broader policy of public
:27:50. > :27:57.services in Scotland, it is probably in the public sector. The
:27:58. > :28:06.bond Pickup levels about security at the London Games, when Chief
:28:06. > :28:11.Forest -- the Group 4 security for had some problems, the Scottish
:28:11. > :28:18.government has nailed its colours to the mast, but security is going
:28:18. > :28:24.to be delivered by the public sector in 2014. Alf Young, the
:28:24. > :28:31.Scottish government is also keen to it melt the colours to the mast. Do
:28:31. > :28:35.you think they have adapted this very open stance, explaining costs
:28:35. > :28:40.to people? They made to the commitment. What they did not here
:28:40. > :28:43.in the statement is where the �60 million is coming from. Some of a
:28:43. > :28:48.programme is going to suffer, or maybe some of the money that has
:28:48. > :28:52.come through from the Autumn Statement will find its way not
:28:52. > :28:55.into existing projects, but more security at the Games. I do not
:28:55. > :29:00.know, but it will be interesting to know where exactly where it is
:29:00. > :29:05.coming from. When you have a single policeman in charge of Scotland,
:29:05. > :29:10.and also directly in charge of the security at the Games, you have no
:29:10. > :29:14.contest ability. He cannot compel one to the other and say it is this
:29:14. > :29:18.guy right, when he wants an extra �60 million. Is there someone who
:29:18. > :29:23.could do it in a different way? Begin not have that and not. One of
:29:23. > :29:28.the consequences of having a single police force is that he is the only
:29:28. > :29:34.man to listen to. Clearly up to now, he has only just got the job,
:29:34. > :29:40.Ministers are going to listen to him. It is that time of year again
:29:40. > :29:50.it. An annual look back on the big stories of the next 12 months --
:29:50. > :29:50.
:29:50. > :31:32.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 102 seconds
:31:32. > :31:41.the last 12 months. Sit back and I am not that special. They are not
:31:41. > :31:45.concentrating on who they really The Scottish government has
:31:45. > :31:51.previously cited a number of opinions from authorities, past and
:31:51. > :31:59.present, in support of its few that they will continue in membership of
:31:59. > :32:07.the European Union, however, as the Edinburgh agreement provides the
:32:07. > :32:17.context of independence, we now at stake he basis on which a specific
:32:17. > :32:17.
:32:17. > :36:55.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 102 seconds
:36:55. > :36:59.This summer, I was called a rebel I think this resource budget is an
:36:59. > :37:03.increase in funding by definition. I take full responsibility for what
:37:03. > :37:13.I say in this chamber and I apologise to the chamber for this
:37:13. > :37:18.
:37:18. > :37:28.I am an expert in tourism. Where is your empirical evidence? I am your
:37:28. > :37:45.
:37:45. > :37:55.The idea that Scotland is a land where everything is free is a lie.
:37:55. > :38:21.
:38:21. > :38:26.Someone always pays for it in the In the West, rain will be lighter
:38:26. > :38:31.and patchier, there may be some patches of rain. It will be snow
:38:31. > :38:41.for the higher ground, over the higher ground. A potential for a
:38:41. > :38:41.
:38:41. > :39:40.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 102 seconds
:39:40. > :39:46.few flurries over Balmoral. He read That is our A to Z of 2012. If you
:39:46. > :39:54.want to catch it again it is on our website. Back to Holyrood now to
:39:54. > :39:57.speak to mark McDonald of the SNP. Before we get on to looking back at
:39:57. > :40:03.2012, let's pick up on some issues emerging from the statement about
:40:03. > :40:09.the extra money received from the Chancellor in the autumn budget.
:40:09. > :40:14.Mark, some highlights there - �50 million for new housing, a jobs
:40:14. > :40:19.boost. Is that enough to try to get Scotland's economy moving? Well,
:40:19. > :40:22.what we have to deal with, Andrew, is the money we received from the
:40:22. > :40:26.UK Exchequer. It would have been nice to receive this money the
:40:26. > :40:30.first time we asked for it. It was not forthcoming. The Chancellor has
:40:30. > :40:36.now finally yielded to our calls for additional capital investment.
:40:36. > :40:39.Now we have to deploy it across a range of poor for years. But even
:40:39. > :40:47.with this additional capital investment, the budget is still
:40:47. > :40:51.suffering a cut of 26% against last year's budget. If we have had the
:40:51. > :40:55.ball control to take care of our own decisions, we would not have to
:40:55. > :41:01.suffer their wrong-headed approach of Westminster. Could he have given
:41:01. > :41:05.more money for bigger projects rather than many -- may be a key --
:41:05. > :41:12.piecemeal approach such as 7 million for cultural projects, 7
:41:12. > :41:16.million for roads? Could you put it all together into one big budget?
:41:16. > :41:20.Are I think the people receiving the funding today would perhaps
:41:20. > :41:25.abject to the term a piecemeal. This will be extremely welcome
:41:25. > :41:28.funding across a range of sectors. Yes, everybody wants a bit more
:41:28. > :41:34.money but we have to deal with the cake that is sliced up at
:41:34. > :41:38.Westminster. We do not have the ability to raise our own financing
:41:38. > :41:43.here so we have to play the hand that has been dealt. We welcome the
:41:43. > :41:46.fact that additional capital has been brought forward. We would have
:41:46. > :41:52.liked more and earlier but we will deal with this and it will boost
:41:52. > :41:56.jobs across Scotland in this tough time. They are doing what they can,
:41:56. > :42:02.then, they say their hands are tied by the Chancellor and his lack of
:42:02. > :42:09.generosity, it seems. Well, it is welcome George Osborne has of
:42:09. > :42:12.plight this cash -- has supplied this cash. It is welcome. What is
:42:12. > :42:15.interesting is how quickly we can see these projects proceeding,
:42:15. > :42:21.because it is only when the money actually starts getting spent and
:42:21. > :42:25.the work is carried out on the ground that jobs will be created.
:42:25. > :42:30.And there is an issue with procurement. We need to make sure
:42:30. > :42:35.that as much of this money is going into supporting local Scottish
:42:35. > :42:39.businesses and workers as we can within EU rules. The SNP are keen
:42:39. > :42:43.to talk about the powers they don't have, but due to the delay in them
:42:43. > :42:48.bringing forward the non-profit distributing model to build new
:42:48. > :42:55.schools, it will be a year before all projects that should have
:42:55. > :43:02.started in 2013 will start. That was within that John Swinney's gift.
:43:02. > :43:07.He is responsible for that delay, nobody else. Now, and look back at
:43:07. > :43:12.the year. We saw there that Alex Salmond gotten to a bit of trouble
:43:12. > :43:19.about the college education project, I'm sure that would be your moment
:43:19. > :43:23.of 2012. There can only be one moment of 2012 for me, and that was
:43:23. > :43:28.the launch of the yes campaign for a positive outcome in the
:43:28. > :43:32.referendum it in 2014. It is a fantastic historic opportunity for
:43:32. > :43:39.the people of Scotland to shape and control their own destiny, and that
:43:39. > :43:46.for me was the highlight of 2012. I'm sure that will not be your
:43:46. > :43:51.highlight. Nor will it be the Chancellor's approached her
:43:51. > :43:54.austerity! What is your moment? I've enjoyed seeing the unravelling
:43:54. > :44:00.of the Independent's campaign over the last few weeks. It seems to
:44:00. > :44:04.have well and truly gone off the rails. I think Mark and his
:44:04. > :44:10.colleagues will be looking to forward to a fresh start over many
:44:10. > :44:14.years. I enjoy it looking at your clip their where Donald Trump was
:44:14. > :44:21.being entertained by the Scottish Parliament, or perhaps he was
:44:21. > :44:25.entertaining us. That was a very interesting Parliamentary occasion
:44:25. > :44:30.and it got us a lot of attention, a lot of interest in the subject of
:44:30. > :44:33.renewable energy. I don't think we should apologise for getting the
:44:33. > :44:42.Scottish Parliament leading the news bulletins, I think that was a
:44:42. > :44:46.good day for our committee. What you want for Christmas? What I
:44:46. > :44:52.would like his two weeks off with the family and some peace from
:44:52. > :44:58.politics. It doesn't usually happen at Christmas. Mark, I presume the
:44:58. > :45:01.same view? Yes, and also I hope the Scrooges of the campaign at are
:45:01. > :45:04.visited by three spirits over Christmas and come back renewed
:45:04. > :45:14.characters, seeing that independence is the best way
:45:14. > :45:18.
:45:18. > :45:24.Thank you both for joining us. Let's speak to our, Peters once
:45:24. > :45:32.again. Let's focus on the more substantive issue about John
:45:32. > :45:37.Sweeney's statement. He was trying to delay some investments? There is
:45:37. > :45:45.this argument about Harry should fund capital projects in Scotland,
:45:45. > :45:50.how you trying getting normal state money. The truth seems to be that
:45:50. > :45:55.some of the previous models, the public-private initiative is no
:45:55. > :46:05.longer be flavour of the month, even among to Conservative
:46:05. > :46:07.
:46:07. > :46:11.ministers. It is a surprise not to hear a -- the SNP saying more. It
:46:11. > :46:15.is perhaps too expensive, and it has left us with a built but we
:46:15. > :46:19.will be paying for 20 or 30 years down the track. But it is still
:46:19. > :46:23.undoubtedly the case that there has been some reasonable criticisms
:46:23. > :46:29.about getting some of the Scottish Government's alternative ways of
:46:29. > :46:33.doing this on track, such as these buildings built on time. The issue
:46:33. > :46:40.of how you get in end of -- extra funding from the private sector in
:46:40. > :46:47.order to get the capital budget going as far as you can, without
:46:47. > :46:51.creating a burden for future generations is something that
:46:51. > :46:56.causes a division on both sides of the border. You're talking about
:46:56. > :47:02.the jobs boost on the housing development programme. It was not
:47:02. > :47:07.that much money, but do you think you were helping more to come their
:47:07. > :47:15.way from the Autumn Statement? may well have been looking for more.
:47:15. > :47:23.I think the numbers announce were north of �300 million. What was
:47:23. > :47:26.announced today was to London Fire million pounds. -- �205 million.
:47:27. > :47:33.said today that he was not going to announce what he was going to do
:47:33. > :47:43.with the third year's worth of money. He has left some money and
:47:43. > :47:50.some parcels inciters centre -- Santa's sack for 2014. Thank you Mr
:47:50. > :47:59.Osborne! Just on that tranche, it did not seem much, but maybe that
:47:59. > :48:08.was all we could get? The general point that he has court �200
:48:08. > :48:14.billion, and he has chopped it up into packages. -- �200 million. Do
:48:14. > :48:21.you go for some big hits where you get will action and you get some
:48:21. > :48:26.playback quickly? He is going for a bit here and a bit here. Which
:48:26. > :48:33.works best, do think? The big hit somewhere or do you think the
:48:33. > :48:37.little bits stimulate? I think he have a whole generation there are
:48:37. > :48:42.finding it difficult to get into the housing market. Providing a bit
:48:42. > :48:48.of extra money, which of the top of the head, is 1,000 units, that is
:48:48. > :48:57.not going to light up the sky with activity. Clearly doubling that
:48:57. > :49:03.would be 2000 units, which would be a bit better. I think the biggest
:49:03. > :49:09.hits make more impact. Of course, blog was pointing out that they are
:49:09. > :49:13.struggling with a money they are getting from Westminster, and the
:49:13. > :49:16.pond has made to Murdo Fraser that they are struggling with the
:49:16. > :49:21.austerity much further down the line. We the Scottish government is
:49:21. > :49:26.having to cope with it the reductions in funding, but one of
:49:26. > :49:30.things happening in the course of this year it is that how the
:49:30. > :49:38.government is spending his money. The Scottish government is not
:49:38. > :49:48.dealing with the austerity, but it is still managing no tuition fees
:49:48. > :49:50.
:49:50. > :49:54.for Scottish universities. There has certainly been cuts for further
:49:54. > :50:00.education and that his concern. One thing that has happen this year is
:50:00. > :50:05.that some of the politicians try to avoid, but some of the consequences
:50:05. > :50:11.of the choices the SNP have made have become evident, and it has led
:50:11. > :50:17.to this debate as to whether or not free Unison -- university tuition,
:50:17. > :50:22.which is one of the distinctive policies, is maybe the best way of
:50:22. > :50:28.spending a diminishing budget. One argument is that you should have
:50:28. > :50:33.more money to spend in the first place. But subtly, we are going to
:50:33. > :50:43.see this continuing debate. Thank you very much. Let's go back to the
:50:43. > :50:43.
:50:43. > :50:50.gardening lobby of Holy Rood. -- Holyrood. Thank you for joining us.
:50:50. > :50:59.Then the get your reaction, Ken Mackintosh. The man it was welcomed,
:50:59. > :51:04.going to various projects. You must welcome it to. It must bring a
:51:04. > :51:09.smile to a few faces. The question I was asking is that what is the
:51:09. > :51:12.impact on the Scottish economy? He is the cabinet secretary, Andy is
:51:12. > :51:15.presiding over a country in recession, and a country where
:51:15. > :51:20.hundreds of thousands of people are out of work. He said that he wanted
:51:20. > :51:24.the money to boost jobs and growth, and what he seems to have done is
:51:24. > :51:30.handed out. These projects are very worthy. I do not get an
:51:30. > :51:35.overwhelming picture of a plant here that is designed to boost
:51:35. > :51:42.employment which is measured, for example, by a number of
:51:42. > :51:49.apprenticeships. Even the �50 million for housing? Without not
:51:49. > :51:55.boost jobs? You will notice that he was asked, will it boost the
:51:56. > :51:59.levels? He has cut its, and the housing associations cannot use the
:51:59. > :52:05.money to poorer effectively. Hinnies to adequate -- increased
:52:05. > :52:09.levels, he keeps putting extra money into housing, just to replace
:52:09. > :52:19.the money he has already cut. But he has not revise the totals for
:52:19. > :52:20.
:52:20. > :52:23.the amount of houses he is building. The money he has cut is because of
:52:23. > :52:28.the Chancellor in the coalition government at Westminster, and they
:52:28. > :52:31.are complaining that their budgets have been cut. Was there any room
:52:31. > :52:38.for the Chancellor to give the Scottish government and little more
:52:38. > :52:41.to boost capital spending? Chancellor to give the Scottish
:52:41. > :52:45.government �300 million of additional monies. This government
:52:45. > :52:51.has had more money than they ever have done in the past, so times are
:52:51. > :52:54.tough, and everyone understands that, and whatever position they
:52:54. > :52:57.would be in, they would be constantly complaining about
:52:57. > :53:05.someone else. It is his decisions that he has taken. The point is
:53:05. > :53:09.that the record on spending is not good. The almond spent �300 million
:53:09. > :53:13.in the current financial year. They have only spent �20 million. They
:53:13. > :53:20.are not getting the money into the project that our economy needs, and
:53:20. > :53:28.that is a lesson for businesses across Scotland, and that mechanism
:53:28. > :53:33.is not performing. We are looking back at 2012. What has been your
:53:33. > :53:40.moment of your year? When the something than nothing a speech
:53:40. > :53:45.happened? Despite something for nothing? It certainly got people
:53:45. > :53:50.thinking again, but for me, the highlight of the year was the local
:53:50. > :53:54.election results. These are political highlight, rather than
:53:54. > :53:58.the personal highlight of the year! I am not sure that the whole of
:53:58. > :54:04.Scotland was jumping around the room, but we were in the Labour
:54:04. > :54:08.Party to. The SNP were crowing into the elections that they were going
:54:08. > :54:13.to take Lanarkshire, but they got thumped, and you only have to look
:54:13. > :54:17.back at the joy on people's faces, and see the difference it is making
:54:17. > :54:27.to the lives of people in Glasgow. That is the high point. Tavish
:54:27. > :54:30.Scott, there was not much joy in the Scottish Liberal Democrats.
:54:30. > :54:35.Idle talk about the Ryder Cup! I would be happy to talk about
:54:35. > :54:39.sporting highlight than any in politics. I think the long-term
:54:39. > :54:45.factor that did happen this year it was the Leveson inquiry, and the
:54:45. > :54:53.relationship between and among so the press, and what that means for
:54:53. > :55:01.how you, Andrew, and the rest report on the issues around the
:55:01. > :55:07.world. That has indications for the future. -- implications. We are
:55:07. > :55:12.asking a run this. What you want for Christmas? Why Teva my wife
:55:12. > :55:18.Connie gives any! But are but hope for something that they put into a
:55:18. > :55:23.golf bag. How does that for about a played pro Scottish economy bit of
:55:23. > :55:30.Christmas present buying! If I do not get my act together, Santa
:55:30. > :55:35.might not appear in my house! Politically, I would not mind
:55:35. > :55:40.killing Alex Salmond some legal advice! Ken Mackintosh and Tavish
:55:40. > :55:50.Scott, thank you very much and a merry Christmas! Les gets and final
:55:50. > :55:52.
:55:52. > :55:56.Interesting, just here what those two was saying. What are you
:55:56. > :56:03.looking forward to in 2013, politically? A I think we are going
:56:03. > :56:10.to have another 12 months about debating the constitution. The sad
:56:10. > :56:16.thing is that the longer the debate goes on, the more the fog of
:56:16. > :56:26.uncertainty accumulates, and I do not cents out there that people are
:56:26. > :56:26.
:56:26. > :56:30.energised by the debate. If they were -- they are worried about jobs,
:56:30. > :56:40.and budgets and meeting them. And the austerity cuts which are going
:56:40. > :56:40.
:56:40. > :56:45.on and on and on. Those two Dynamics, those different dynamics,
:56:45. > :56:53.they do not play very well together. It will be interesting to see,
:56:53. > :56:58.because we are promised in 2013 that there will be a white paper
:56:58. > :57:04.where the government will set out its case, and it will be ingested
:57:04. > :57:09.see how the case matches with the realities in Europe, and the
:57:09. > :57:16.continuing membership of the monetary union with sterling. How
:57:16. > :57:20.will that play out if Scotland becomes independent, alongside the
:57:20. > :57:24.realities everyone is facing? the fog of uncertainty, there has
:57:24. > :57:30.been a lot of debate about Europe and sterling. Do you think that
:57:30. > :57:36.will dominate 2013? Yes. We are going to be talking about process
:57:36. > :57:46.issues. We are going to talk about what is -- who is responsible for
:57:46. > :57:47.
:57:47. > :57:51.what in Scotland. But we anticipate that the Labour Party's
:57:51. > :57:59.pronouncements on constitution. One of the non stories of 2012 will be
:57:59. > :58:06.the -- was the change to the proposal. There are going to have
:58:06. > :58:10.to sell what they have. But it is going to be process issues that did
:58:11. > :58:15.-- that carry on south of the border. The relationship between
:58:15. > :58:21.the UK and Europe. The other think that is going to be important is
:58:21. > :58:25.the question about who should make decisions for the United Kingdom as
:58:25. > :58:33.a whole. Goodall questions of politics, even though we are in the
:58:33. > :58:37.era of economic difficulty, will be Spain -- will remain at really
:58:37. > :58:43.essential to Scottish and British politics. Thank you both are very
:58:43. > :58:50.much indeed today. That is all from us. We will be back on 9th January,