:00:23. > :00:31.Good afternoon and will come to the Scottish Parliament for the final
:00:31. > :00:37.First Minister's Questions of the year. In recent weeks and months,
:00:37. > :00:42.it has been a tetchy affair between Alex Salmond and the other
:00:42. > :00:52.opposition leaders. But since it is near Christmas, let us see if there
:00:52. > :00:56.
:00:56. > :00:58.is a more festive atmosphere. think that maybe depend on whether
:00:58. > :01:08.the First Minister or the opposition leaders have been
:01:08. > :01:10.
:01:10. > :01:15.naughty. Later on, we have the statement about NHS statistics,
:01:15. > :01:25.after suggestions that they had been tampered with in various areas
:01:25. > :01:26.
:01:26. > :01:35.of Scotland.. In the meantime, First Minister's Questions is about
:01:35. > :01:42.to start. For the first time that in the year, could I ask the First
:01:42. > :01:52.Minister what is plan is for the rest of the day? I am visiting
:01:52. > :01:57.
:01:57. > :02:05.Fergus Ewing had the energy park, which is going to bring forth the
:02:05. > :02:14.creation of another 400 new jobs, which is fantastic news in great
:02:14. > :02:18.news that this time of year for the Highlands of Scotland. We always
:02:18. > :02:23.welcome good use in relation to the opportunities for people to work.
:02:23. > :02:27.Over the last year, the First Minister told us he had legal
:02:27. > :02:33.advice on the European Union at the college funds would go up when he
:02:33. > :02:38.was cutting them, and that we would have the monetary policy agreed
:02:38. > :02:47.with the Bank of England when he had not even spoken to them. Which
:02:47. > :02:55.of these was the worst answer ever given to this Parliament? That is a
:02:55. > :03:01.bundle of laughs at Christmas. The ancient civilisation of the unions
:03:01. > :03:05.predicted at the end of the world tomorrow. Johann Lamont comes here
:03:05. > :03:09.every week and predicts it. He you have got as they not been attending
:03:10. > :03:18.the same First Minister's Questions and as I have been attending this
:03:18. > :03:24.year. I am an eternal optimist. I am hoping that the First Minister
:03:24. > :03:29.might reflect on the gap between what he says and what he does. This
:03:29. > :03:35.has been a tough year for everyone. Money has been tight. Some people
:03:35. > :03:43.may ask, what could be do with half a million pounds. Maybe a few more
:03:43. > :03:53.nurses or teachers. As far as the First Minister is concerned, edits
:03:53. > :03:54.
:03:54. > :04:04.you five days watching the Ryder Cup golf in Chicago. But what in
:04:04. > :04:06.
:04:06. > :04:14.Scotland is of huge importance. If I remember correctly. -- promoting
:04:14. > :04:19.Scotland. There were direct job result boost from the visit of
:04:19. > :04:25.Chicago. She has just told us she welcomes all these jobs coming to
:04:25. > :04:35.Scotland. Something that we should reflect on a Christmas is that he
:04:35. > :04:36.
:04:36. > :04:42.learns that Young survey tops the poll across the United Kingdom for
:04:42. > :04:50.inward investment. We must be doing something correct abroad. NIE's
:04:50. > :04:55.spirit of unity at Christmas, the one that I 0 that Johann Lamont is
:04:55. > :05:03.striving for, let us embrace the success of Scottish Enterprise and
:05:03. > :05:07.other companies in bringing these jobs to Scotland. I am not sure
:05:07. > :05:14.that a First Minister's chip to the Ryder Cup is what brought these
:05:14. > :05:23.jobs to Scotland back if we were so worried about it, why are we
:05:23. > :05:27.attacking the colleges that lead to these jobs? Of course, the First
:05:27. > :05:35.Minister has moved up this year. When David Cameron called for talks
:05:35. > :05:40.on the referendum, we were told it was an extraordinary attempt to
:05:40. > :05:47.bully and intimidate Scotland. Then, he signed up to it and said it was
:05:47. > :05:57.the historic moment. Can I ask him who his favourite Minister to
:05:57. > :06:01.
:06:01. > :06:07.Edinburgh was this year - David Cameron or Rupert Murdoch? What
:06:07. > :06:15.would be a fundamental attack on Scotland's colleges would be
:06:15. > :06:20.imposing tuition fees on them. I think it was unwise of Johann
:06:20. > :06:28.Lamont to its site David Cameron. I happen looking at Prime Minister's
:06:28. > :06:36.questions from yesterday. David Cameron it attacked the Labour
:06:36. > :06:41.leader for saying the something for nothing culture, which reflects the
:06:41. > :06:45.something for nothing speech of Johann Lamont. She has been here
:06:45. > :06:51.for one year and reaches the ultimate accolade of being
:06:51. > :06:56.supported by the Conservative Prime Minister. What a disgrace. Of
:06:56. > :07:02.course, the First Minister's problem is that John Swinney wanted
:07:02. > :07:06.that debate. That is why he asked Campbell Christie to commission the
:07:07. > :07:13.report and that said we had to deal with competing demand. The reality
:07:13. > :07:19.is that the price that the First Minister denied of his education
:07:19. > :07:26.choices is cuts and college places and in our schools, a growing gap
:07:26. > :07:31.between the rich and a poor. Maybe he bought two -- maybe he might
:07:31. > :07:41.want to confront the reality of that in the New Year. However, we
:07:41. > :07:43.
:07:43. > :07:51.are now in the Christmas spirit. LAUGHTER. My will, it does not need
:07:51. > :07:56.to be written down, because it is in my heart. It is in my heart
:07:56. > :08:03.because we are reaching Christmas and after such a historic year of
:08:03. > :08:08.success, in terms of the debate, I am sure the First Minister will
:08:08. > :08:15.want to handout Christmas presents to his team. Perhaps an abacus and
:08:15. > :08:23.spell checker for Mike Russell. At talking doll for jobs when they saw
:08:23. > :08:31.ad a shovel for Nicola Sturgeon so she is ready to clean up the mess
:08:31. > :08:36.made by the First Minister. But may I wish everyone in the chamber that
:08:36. > :08:42.everyone and no country a happy Christmas and a peaceful and
:08:42. > :08:52.prosperous new year. In the First Minister's case, up the I wish him
:08:52. > :08:57.
:08:57. > :09:02.as good a year next year as he has that this year. -- as he has had.
:09:02. > :09:08.not is that Johann Lamont is cheerful and it is Ms spare when
:09:08. > :09:17.she moves away from the cigarette and speaks from a heart. I advise
:09:17. > :09:25.more of that in the next year. Let us celebrate the figures which show
:09:25. > :09:29.an increase in Scottish unit students going to universities,
:09:29. > :09:38.compared to the 26,000 decline in English students going to English
:09:39. > :09:43.universities. Consider that the funding crisis in Scotland's is
:09:43. > :09:48.much wider than in England, which part of imposing tuition fees is
:09:48. > :09:54.actually going to increase the numbers of students going to
:09:54. > :09:58.university? Can we not look at a catastrophe south of the border a
:09:58. > :10:02.report that all parties will may take the commitment they made in
:10:03. > :10:12.this chamber to a huge majority to not have up front or back end
:10:12. > :10:17.tuition fees. At just to check that I was not mistaken, I consulted the
:10:17. > :10:23.Scottish Labour website this very day. I would advise you to look at
:10:23. > :10:30.it quickly before the take it down, it is a picture of being a three
:10:30. > :10:36.saying not up front or back in tuition fees in Scotland. There are
:10:36. > :10:42.lots of nice pictures on the Web site called signing a pledge
:10:42. > :10:49.against tuition fees. They're here it remarkable resemblance to the
:10:49. > :10:57.ones that Nick Clegg signed before his party took a nosedive. I hope
:10:57. > :11:05.she will not mind that she is cited by the David Cameron in the New
:11:05. > :11:10.Labour-Conservative alliance in Glasgow, we can say with confidence
:11:10. > :11:16.to the students in Scotland that not just next year, but for all
:11:16. > :11:20.time, that three education will be part of the Scottish tradition and
:11:20. > :11:30.pave a future for the people of Scotland, not just for Christmas,
:11:30. > :11:37.
:11:37. > :11:47.but for all time. Order! May I wish you and everyone in the chamber
:11:47. > :11:47.
:11:47. > :11:54.every it the best wishes of the season. The First Minister up Ali
:11:54. > :12:01.did not like a pantomime routine. Yesterday, the Finance Secretary
:12:01. > :12:04.pledged to spend �205 million of the money he received from the
:12:04. > :12:14.Chancellor's Autumn Statement to kick off the building boom that in
:12:14. > :12:14.
:12:14. > :12:19.Scotland. But last year, there was Bettany �350 billion spent. Can he
:12:19. > :12:26.tell us how much will actually have been spent by the end of this
:12:26. > :12:30.financial year? The system is such a success that it was intended to
:12:30. > :12:38.be copied at Westminster by a Chancellor who now declares, in his
:12:38. > :12:44.words, that it now PFI has been deaf could discredited. In the
:12:44. > :12:48.spirit of Christmas, can I congratulate the Conservative Party
:12:48. > :12:53.and their realisation that he Private Finance Initiative has now
:12:53. > :13:03.been discredited and I bought their new allies in the Labour Party will
:13:03. > :13:09.
:13:10. > :13:15.now join that incenses and agreed to seeing the nonsense that is PFI.
:13:15. > :13:22.What the �350 billion paid, the princely sum of �20 million will be
:13:22. > :13:28.paid - that is 330 million less than the Finance Minister pledged.
:13:28. > :13:36.That is on top of the year before, when he pledged up to 150 million
:13:36. > :13:43.and spent absolutely nothing. That is up to one at �480 million
:13:43. > :13:51.promised to build schools and hospitals never delivered. So, if
:13:51. > :13:59.yesterday's figures can be hailed as the boom for creating jobs,
:13:59. > :14:08.surely �480 billion could have secured thousands of jobs? -- 418
:14:08. > :14:15.million. It is important that the announcement was not seasonal spin.
:14:15. > :14:21.We cannot wait for these projects to be cynically delayed until just
:14:21. > :14:26.before the 2014 referendum. Will the First Minister tell us what the
:14:26. > :14:31.first Finance Minister refused to confirm yesterday, when will these
:14:31. > :14:41.projects start at when will we unspent 400 in 18 million
:14:41. > :14:46.previously promised to be released? Can I point out to Ruth Davidson
:14:46. > :14:51.that if the Conservative Party had not cut the capital budget by eight
:14:51. > :14:57.over one quarter, these funds could have been spent directly in the
:14:57. > :15:01.past two years. Can I draw her attention to the most significant
:15:01. > :15:06.non-profit distribution project in Scotland, which explains her
:15:06. > :15:10.question. I think the chamber will agree that it is not the
:15:10. > :15:13.responsibility of the Government that the writ in Aberdeen was taken
:15:13. > :15:20.through the courts. Should the Government therefore battled her
:15:20. > :15:25.way through to get into a position where that writs to go ahead and do
:15:25. > :15:30.money allocated to it or should we, according to Ruth Davidson, spent
:15:30. > :15:35.the money on something else and then not been able to go ahead with
:15:35. > :15:40.that project. I see this see his like, because people in the north-
:15:40. > :15:46.east of Scotland are celebrating that shovels around the ground
:15:46. > :15:50.there. If left to Ruth Davidson, the money to build the writ would
:15:50. > :15:54.not be there because she would have spent UN something a lot else which
:15:54. > :16:00.was not defined and if we are blessed it to the Conservative
:16:00. > :16:06.Party, the projects in line for this financial year, next financial
:16:06. > :16:16.year and we're after, could already have been spent in Scotland. I see
:16:16. > :16:20.
:16:20. > :16:25.that the morning Star and the Daily Telegraph where United and agreeing
:16:25. > :16:31.with the rail union this week saying that he waste, in terms of
:16:31. > :16:35.the West Coast route at the abortive abandoned bidding process
:16:35. > :16:44.amounted to perhaps �100 million. Perhaps the Conservative Party
:16:44. > :16:46.would like to reflect, in the spirit of Christmas, what that �100
:16:46. > :16:56.million potentially wasted by Conservative Ministers could have
:16:56. > :16:56.
:16:56. > :17:06.been invested and had it not been wasted? The party of all my
:17:06. > :17:09.
:17:09. > :17:15.shambles should start talking about Our wonder if we are aware of our
:17:15. > :17:21.company having gone in to receivership two days ago resulting
:17:21. > :17:28.in 40 redundancies in my constituency. Another timber
:17:28. > :17:31.company went under with the lost of 50 jobs. Can I ask the First
:17:31. > :17:36.Minister what his Government will do to ensure that all available
:17:36. > :17:46.support and advice is given to the affected employees at this time of
:17:46. > :17:51.
:17:51. > :18:01.year. And what about searching for a buyer for the now empty premises?
:18:01. > :18:01.
:18:01. > :18:06.I am aware of the company that has gone into receivership. As soon as
:18:06. > :18:12.the partnership became aware of the situation the administrators were
:18:12. > :18:17.contacted and offered support. Members of the team are visiting
:18:17. > :18:25.the site this morning to identify what support is needed. It is very
:18:25. > :18:29.difficult particularly at this time of year. The team have had some
:18:29. > :18:36.success in redeploying people elsewhere and I hope every effort
:18:36. > :18:45.will be made to offer these people the same success. What Tuesday
:18:45. > :18:52.morning staff in my constituency were given the information that
:18:52. > :18:58.their company would close early in deep next year after the parent
:18:58. > :19:05.company decided not to invest. The Highlands and Islands Enterprise
:19:05. > :19:12.already considers jobs in the region to be fragile. It will have
:19:12. > :19:17.a huge impact on the island economy. I have advised what the Scottish
:19:17. > :19:23.Government can and will do to prevent this company being stripped
:19:23. > :19:30.of its assets. There should be a rescue package to ensure we retain
:19:30. > :19:40.the support of the facility. It is an extremely difficult situation in
:19:40. > :19:41.
:19:41. > :19:48.a fragile island economy. As he is aware the premises is not actually
:19:48. > :19:56.used at present by the University of London. The centre for education
:19:56. > :20:04.and lifelong learning will begin a discussion with the university and
:20:04. > :20:07.all interested parties to secure an option. We are well aware at that
:20:07. > :20:14.what may seem in global terms a relatively small number of jobs to
:20:14. > :20:21.an island community may well be massive in terms of the scope of
:20:21. > :20:31.the impact on the local economy. The member can be assured that the
:20:31. > :20:43.
:20:44. > :20:49.Cabinet sector will investigate every opportunity. -- will the
:20:49. > :20:56.First Minister seed what is happening in our NHS rather than
:20:56. > :21:05.issuing complacent reassurances to my constituents in West Lothian?
:21:05. > :21:13.The medical director has reassured patients across all hospital site.
:21:13. > :21:19.At no point will patients stop being admitted to hospital. Events
:21:19. > :21:24.at the present moment such as the illnesses which are will -- around
:21:24. > :21:31.in the community at the present moment, we will concentrate to make
:21:31. > :21:34.sure that patient care is continued at the highest possible standard.
:21:34. > :21:40.Can I ask what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of
:21:40. > :21:46.Cabinet? Issues of importance to the people of Scotland. Two months
:21:46. > :21:54.ago I asked for an extension of education for two-year-olds. Now
:21:54. > :22:02.that he has had time, what decision has he reached? There is a range of
:22:02. > :22:07.measures already announced in terms of the overall right of education
:22:07. > :22:13.for every child. Incentives offered to family centres to expand their
:22:13. > :22:19.operations. The Centre for Family nurse partnerships which deal with
:22:19. > :22:29.children even younger than two that can make a real difference for some
:22:29. > :22:29.
:22:29. > :22:34.of the most challenged families in our community. In terms of the
:22:34. > :22:40.emphasis that has been put on their early years development, I do not
:22:40. > :22:43.think it can be seriously said that this Government does not have focus
:22:43. > :22:48.and concentration on the improvements being made to enhance
:22:48. > :22:54.the life chances of these children. All of us would welcome what is
:22:54. > :23:00.said about the extra provision but in England for 2% of two-year-olds
:23:00. > :23:05.will be getting 15 hours per week of nursery education. The future
:23:05. > :23:08.provision for three-and four-year- olds is good as well. The
:23:08. > :23:13.Investment before the age of three gets the best recovery it has been
:23:13. > :23:18.said. Will the First Minister connected day or a please give an
:23:18. > :23:23.indication that he is prepared to consider what is happening with
:23:23. > :23:27.extra provision for 40% of two- year-olds. That could help
:23:27. > :23:36.disadvantaged children get a good start in life. I will press them
:23:36. > :23:44.again. Will he take this important step today? Can I say two things in
:23:44. > :23:47.seriousness. Firstly, Willie Rennie is aware that what we have is much
:23:47. > :23:54.greater than is allocated their England for three and four-year-
:23:54. > :23:58.olds. I do not think he should disregard the importance of the
:23:58. > :24:02.measures I have already suggested. Our task force is working extremely
:24:02. > :24:07.hard to bring about the best possible position for young people
:24:07. > :24:10.in Scotland. I could cite the whole variety of sources from English
:24:10. > :24:15.local the authorities who are seriously questioning whether
:24:15. > :24:21.aspects of what is said to be offered in England can actually be
:24:21. > :24:25.delivered given the resource position that they face. There is a
:24:25. > :24:30.whole range of English local a authority leaders and other experts
:24:30. > :24:36.who are seriously doubting that. Therefore, I think we can be
:24:36. > :24:39.confident that what has been issued in Scotland today, the commitment
:24:39. > :24:43.for three-and four-year-olds, the expansion of family partnerships,
:24:43. > :24:49.the expansion of family centres and nurse partnerships, these things
:24:49. > :24:55.will all be delivered. We have a continuing review. The focus of
:24:55. > :24:58.that has been very important in terms of Government decision-making.
:24:58. > :25:04.That package represents a substantial enhancement of
:25:04. > :25:07.provision in Scotland and is fully in line with a shift to early
:25:07. > :25:12.support and early intervention which is the hallmark of this
:25:12. > :25:21.Government even in times of great financial stringency which, he will
:25:21. > :25:30.remember, is being imposed by an Government of which... LAUGHTER.
:25:30. > :25:34.Order. It is imposed by a Tory/Liberal Government of which he
:25:34. > :25:40.is at Minister. The efforts being made in Scotland are very
:25:40. > :25:44.substantial indeed and that sincere commitment will improve and enhance
:25:44. > :25:50.the life chances of our young people in Scotland, including those
:25:50. > :25:59.most at risk. Can they ask what discussions have been had with the
:25:59. > :26:05.UK Government in regards to the minimum pricing of alcohol. Their
:26:05. > :26:12.meeting with the UWE Government ministers of State early in the new
:26:12. > :26:16.year to discuss the matter further. We continue to engage in and
:26:16. > :26:25.outside Scotland with those who believe that minimum unit pricing
:26:25. > :26:30.should form a key part. The UK Government has shown its
:26:30. > :26:34.willingness to support this measure. Where Scotland leads the rest of
:26:34. > :26:43.the UK follows. Can he give an issued since that this Government
:26:43. > :26:47.will continue to promote the public health argument on pricing. I can
:26:47. > :26:50.and it is worth noting that elsewhere in Europe the public
:26:50. > :26:57.health benefits of minimum pricing which is now supported
:26:57. > :27:03.substantially across this chamber, have been recognised. It was set
:27:03. > :27:09.that there is full support for the minimum pricing of a call, a
:27:09. > :27:14.measure to reduce the harmful consumption of alcohol. In this
:27:14. > :27:20.regard the Department of Health is preparing proposals for a similar
:27:20. > :27:24.legislation in Ireland. It is important to have a degree of
:27:24. > :27:31.support at any time but particularly important because as
:27:31. > :27:37.of 1st January Island chairs the European Council. Can I have the
:27:37. > :27:41.First Minister what the Scottish position is on the Shelter claimed
:27:41. > :27:48.that one in four people believe they are one paycheck away from
:27:48. > :27:52.losing their homes? This Government remains focused on economic growth
:27:52. > :27:57.to protect and retain jobs to avoid families been placed in this
:27:57. > :28:03.position in the first place. Importantly, in terms of housing
:28:03. > :28:07.and housing legislation, from December 31st of those in Scotland
:28:07. > :28:17.to were assessed as unintentionally homeless by local authorities will
:28:17. > :28:18.
:28:18. > :28:24.be entitled to accommodation. We have the best back-up plan for the
:28:24. > :28:29.whole of the British Isles. Many of those families will spend a period
:28:29. > :28:33.of time in temporary accommodation before being housed. 5,300 homeless
:28:33. > :28:40.children will wake up in temporary housing on Christmas Day because
:28:40. > :28:42.their family has no home to call their own. How will you introduce
:28:43. > :28:50.national guaranteed standards for temporary accommodation for
:28:50. > :28:58.families with children? You will get all measures serious
:28:58. > :29:06.consideration. A lecture organised by Shelter a few weeks ago had huge
:29:06. > :29:12.support for improvement in terms of homelessness. There was recognition
:29:12. > :29:18.for a beak sharp fall in a homeless applications in 2000 -- since
:29:18. > :29:22.2005/6. That represents substantial progress as does the legislative
:29:22. > :29:27.framework which gets all unintentionally homeless people
:29:27. > :29:31.equal rights before the law. While there are challenges still to
:29:31. > :29:35.overcome and while all good suggestions will be properly
:29:35. > :29:40.considered, I think the chamber, as shelter does, should be proud of
:29:40. > :29:45.the framework that this Parliament has put in place. Homelessness, in
:29:45. > :29:52.terms of these statistics, has fallen in Scotland while it rises
:29:52. > :29:57.elsewhere. Can I ask the First Minister what action is being taken
:29:58. > :30:02.to minimise disruption from industrial action over the festive
:30:02. > :30:10.season? This is one of these questions that seemed like a good
:30:10. > :30:17.idea on Monday. Can I thank the First Minister for his response. If
:30:17. > :30:21.one week is a long time in politics, the three days since I'll launched
:30:21. > :30:26.this questions has proven to be a very long time in industrial
:30:26. > :30:32.relations. Will the First Minister join with me in welcoming the
:30:32. > :30:37.resolution of the industrial dispute? That is between ScotRail
:30:38. > :30:42.and the RMT and in the spirit of the season will he join me in
:30:42. > :30:51.wishing those working for them in this sector a safe journey and a
:30:51. > :31:01.very happy Christmas? Yes I will. It is worth saying that with the
:31:01. > :31:02.
:31:02. > :31:06.dispute settled, even the hospital doctors dispute is settled and the
:31:06. > :31:11.Northlink ferry is strike has been suspended, all of that is welcome
:31:11. > :31:17.news. Unfortunately I have got to report that the London Tube strike
:31:17. > :31:26.on Boxing Day is still going ahead. It is very disappointing given that
:31:26. > :31:31.even the trams in Edinburgh were running yesterday! LAUGHTER. I know
:31:31. > :31:36.that just as the advent of Murdo Fraser has question clearly focused
:31:36. > :31:42.minds in Scotland, in advance from asking it to come to a satisfactory
:31:42. > :31:46.conclusion, I am quite certain if he puts the same mind and advice to
:31:46. > :31:56.Boris Johnson down in London, perhaps we will get a result there
:31:56. > :32:01.as well. We all seem to be in good humour towards the end of First
:32:01. > :32:05.Minister's Question Time. There was political panto between Johann
:32:05. > :32:09.Lamont and the First Minister. That is the end of this year, 2012