20/12/2012 Politics Scotland


20/12/2012

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Good afternoon and will come to the Scottish Parliament for the final

:00:23.:00:31.

First Minister's Questions of the year. In recent weeks and months,

:00:31.:00:37.

it has been a tetchy affair between Alex Salmond and the other

:00:37.:00:42.

opposition leaders. But since it is near Christmas, let us see if there

:00:42.:00:52.
:00:52.:00:56.

is a more festive atmosphere. think that maybe depend on whether

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the First Minister or the opposition leaders have been

:00:58.:01:08.
:01:08.:01:10.

naughty. Later on, we have the statement about NHS statistics,

:01:10.:01:15.

after suggestions that they had been tampered with in various areas

:01:15.:01:25.
:01:25.:01:26.

of Scotland.. In the meantime, First Minister's Questions is about

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to start. For the first time that in the year, could I ask the First

:01:35.:01:42.

Minister what is plan is for the rest of the day? I am visiting

:01:42.:01:52.
:01:52.:01:57.

Fergus Ewing had the energy park, which is going to bring forth the

:01:57.:02:05.

creation of another 400 new jobs, which is fantastic news in great

:02:05.:02:14.

news that this time of year for the Highlands of Scotland. We always

:02:14.:02:18.

welcome good use in relation to the opportunities for people to work.

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Over the last year, the First Minister told us he had legal

:02:23.:02:27.

advice on the European Union at the college funds would go up when he

:02:27.:02:33.

was cutting them, and that we would have the monetary policy agreed

:02:33.:02:38.

with the Bank of England when he had not even spoken to them. Which

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of these was the worst answer ever given to this Parliament? That is a

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bundle of laughs at Christmas. The ancient civilisation of the unions

:02:55.:03:01.

predicted at the end of the world tomorrow. Johann Lamont comes here

:03:01.:03:05.

every week and predicts it. He you have got as they not been attending

:03:05.:03:09.

the same First Minister's Questions and as I have been attending this

:03:10.:03:18.

year. I am an eternal optimist. I am hoping that the First Minister

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might reflect on the gap between what he says and what he does. This

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has been a tough year for everyone. Money has been tight. Some people

:03:29.:03:35.

may ask, what could be do with half a million pounds. Maybe a few more

:03:35.:03:43.

nurses or teachers. As far as the First Minister is concerned, edits

:03:43.:03:53.
:03:53.:03:54.

you five days watching the Ryder Cup golf in Chicago. But what in

:03:54.:04:04.
:04:04.:04:06.

Scotland is of huge importance. If I remember correctly. -- promoting

:04:06.:04:14.

Scotland. There were direct job result boost from the visit of

:04:14.:04:19.

Chicago. She has just told us she welcomes all these jobs coming to

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Scotland. Something that we should reflect on a Christmas is that he

:04:25.:04:35.
:04:35.:04:36.

learns that Young survey tops the poll across the United Kingdom for

:04:36.:04:42.

inward investment. We must be doing something correct abroad. NIE's

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spirit of unity at Christmas, the one that I 0 that Johann Lamont is

:04:50.:04:55.

striving for, let us embrace the success of Scottish Enterprise and

:04:55.:05:03.

other companies in bringing these jobs to Scotland. I am not sure

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that a First Minister's chip to the Ryder Cup is what brought these

:05:07.:05:14.

jobs to Scotland back if we were so worried about it, why are we

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attacking the colleges that lead to these jobs? Of course, the First

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Minister has moved up this year. When David Cameron called for talks

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on the referendum, we were told it was an extraordinary attempt to

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bully and intimidate Scotland. Then, he signed up to it and said it was

:05:40.:05:47.

the historic moment. Can I ask him who his favourite Minister to

:05:47.:05:57.
:05:57.:06:01.

Edinburgh was this year - David Cameron or Rupert Murdoch? What

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would be a fundamental attack on Scotland's colleges would be

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imposing tuition fees on them. I think it was unwise of Johann

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Lamont to its site David Cameron. I happen looking at Prime Minister's

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questions from yesterday. David Cameron it attacked the Labour

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leader for saying the something for nothing culture, which reflects the

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something for nothing speech of Johann Lamont. She has been here

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for one year and reaches the ultimate accolade of being

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supported by the Conservative Prime Minister. What a disgrace. Of

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course, the First Minister's problem is that John Swinney wanted

:06:56.:07:02.

that debate. That is why he asked Campbell Christie to commission the

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report and that said we had to deal with competing demand. The reality

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is that the price that the First Minister denied of his education

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choices is cuts and college places and in our schools, a growing gap

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between the rich and a poor. Maybe he bought two -- maybe he might

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want to confront the reality of that in the New Year. However, we

:07:31.:07:41.
:07:41.:07:43.

are now in the Christmas spirit. LAUGHTER. My will, it does not need

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to be written down, because it is in my heart. It is in my heart

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because we are reaching Christmas and after such a historic year of

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success, in terms of the debate, I am sure the First Minister will

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want to handout Christmas presents to his team. Perhaps an abacus and

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spell checker for Mike Russell. At talking doll for jobs when they saw

:08:15.:08:23.

ad a shovel for Nicola Sturgeon so she is ready to clean up the mess

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made by the First Minister. But may I wish everyone in the chamber that

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everyone and no country a happy Christmas and a peaceful and

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prosperous new year. In the First Minister's case, up the I wish him

:08:42.:08:52.
:08:52.:08:57.

as good a year next year as he has that this year. -- as he has had.

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not is that Johann Lamont is cheerful and it is Ms spare when

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she moves away from the cigarette and speaks from a heart. I advise

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more of that in the next year. Let us celebrate the figures which show

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an increase in Scottish unit students going to universities,

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compared to the 26,000 decline in English students going to English

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universities. Consider that the funding crisis in Scotland's is

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much wider than in England, which part of imposing tuition fees is

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actually going to increase the numbers of students going to

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university? Can we not look at a catastrophe south of the border a

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report that all parties will may take the commitment they made in

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this chamber to a huge majority to not have up front or back end

:10:03.:10:12.

tuition fees. At just to check that I was not mistaken, I consulted the

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Scottish Labour website this very day. I would advise you to look at

:10:17.:10:23.

it quickly before the take it down, it is a picture of being a three

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saying not up front or back in tuition fees in Scotland. There are

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lots of nice pictures on the Web site called signing a pledge

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against tuition fees. They're here it remarkable resemblance to the

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ones that Nick Clegg signed before his party took a nosedive. I hope

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she will not mind that she is cited by the David Cameron in the New

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Labour-Conservative alliance in Glasgow, we can say with confidence

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to the students in Scotland that not just next year, but for all

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time, that three education will be part of the Scottish tradition and

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pave a future for the people of Scotland, not just for Christmas,

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:11:30.:11:37.

but for all time. Order! May I wish you and everyone in the chamber

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:11:47.:11:47.

every it the best wishes of the season. The First Minister up Ali

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did not like a pantomime routine. Yesterday, the Finance Secretary

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pledged to spend �205 million of the money he received from the

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Chancellor's Autumn Statement to kick off the building boom that in

:12:04.:12:14.
:12:14.:12:14.

Scotland. But last year, there was Bettany �350 billion spent. Can he

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tell us how much will actually have been spent by the end of this

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financial year? The system is such a success that it was intended to

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be copied at Westminster by a Chancellor who now declares, in his

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words, that it now PFI has been deaf could discredited. In the

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spirit of Christmas, can I congratulate the Conservative Party

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and their realisation that he Private Finance Initiative has now

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been discredited and I bought their new allies in the Labour Party will

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:13:03.:13:09.

now join that incenses and agreed to seeing the nonsense that is PFI.

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What the �350 billion paid, the princely sum of �20 million will be

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paid - that is 330 million less than the Finance Minister pledged.

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That is on top of the year before, when he pledged up to 150 million

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and spent absolutely nothing. That is up to one at �480 million

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promised to build schools and hospitals never delivered. So, if

:13:43.:13:51.

yesterday's figures can be hailed as the boom for creating jobs,

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surely �480 billion could have secured thousands of jobs? -- 418

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million. It is important that the announcement was not seasonal spin.

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We cannot wait for these projects to be cynically delayed until just

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before the 2014 referendum. Will the First Minister tell us what the

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first Finance Minister refused to confirm yesterday, when will these

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projects start at when will we unspent 400 in 18 million

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previously promised to be released? Can I point out to Ruth Davidson

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that if the Conservative Party had not cut the capital budget by eight

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over one quarter, these funds could have been spent directly in the

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past two years. Can I draw her attention to the most significant

:14:57.:15:01.

non-profit distribution project in Scotland, which explains her

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question. I think the chamber will agree that it is not the

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responsibility of the Government that the writ in Aberdeen was taken

:15:10.:15:13.

through the courts. Should the Government therefore battled her

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way through to get into a position where that writs to go ahead and do

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money allocated to it or should we, according to Ruth Davidson, spent

:15:25.:15:30.

the money on something else and then not been able to go ahead with

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that project. I see this see his like, because people in the north-

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east of Scotland are celebrating that shovels around the ground

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there. If left to Ruth Davidson, the money to build the writ would

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not be there because she would have spent UN something a lot else which

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was not defined and if we are blessed it to the Conservative

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Party, the projects in line for this financial year, next financial

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year and we're after, could already have been spent in Scotland. I see

:16:06.:16:16.
:16:16.:16:20.

that the morning Star and the Daily Telegraph where United and agreeing

:16:20.:16:25.

with the rail union this week saying that he waste, in terms of

:16:25.:16:31.

the West Coast route at the abortive abandoned bidding process

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amounted to perhaps �100 million. Perhaps the Conservative Party

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would like to reflect, in the spirit of Christmas, what that �100

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million potentially wasted by Conservative Ministers could have

:16:46.:16:56.
:16:56.:16:56.

been invested and had it not been wasted? The party of all my

:16:56.:17:06.
:17:06.:17:09.

shambles should start talking about Our wonder if we are aware of our

:17:09.:17:15.

company having gone in to receivership two days ago resulting

:17:15.:17:21.

in 40 redundancies in my constituency. Another timber

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company went under with the lost of 50 jobs. Can I ask the First

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Minister what his Government will do to ensure that all available

:17:31.:17:36.

support and advice is given to the affected employees at this time of

:17:36.:17:46.
:17:46.:17:51.

year. And what about searching for a buyer for the now empty premises?

:17:51.:18:01.
:18:01.:18:01.

I am aware of the company that has gone into receivership. As soon as

:18:01.:18:06.

the partnership became aware of the situation the administrators were

:18:06.:18:12.

contacted and offered support. Members of the team are visiting

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the site this morning to identify what support is needed. It is very

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difficult particularly at this time of year. The team have had some

:18:25.:18:29.

success in redeploying people elsewhere and I hope every effort

:18:29.:18:36.

will be made to offer these people the same success. What Tuesday

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morning staff in my constituency were given the information that

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their company would close early in deep next year after the parent

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company decided not to invest. The Highlands and Islands Enterprise

:18:58.:19:05.

already considers jobs in the region to be fragile. It will have

:19:05.:19:12.

a huge impact on the island economy. I have advised what the Scottish

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Government can and will do to prevent this company being stripped

:19:17.:19:23.

of its assets. There should be a rescue package to ensure we retain

:19:23.:19:30.

the support of the facility. It is an extremely difficult situation in

:19:30.:19:40.
:19:40.:19:41.

a fragile island economy. As he is aware the premises is not actually

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used at present by the University of London. The centre for education

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and lifelong learning will begin a discussion with the university and

:19:56.:20:04.

all interested parties to secure an option. We are well aware at that

:20:04.:20:07.

what may seem in global terms a relatively small number of jobs to

:20:07.:20:14.

an island community may well be massive in terms of the scope of

:20:14.:20:21.

the impact on the local economy. The member can be assured that the

:20:21.:20:31.
:20:31.:20:43.

Cabinet sector will investigate every opportunity. -- will the

:20:44.:20:49.

First Minister seed what is happening in our NHS rather than

:20:49.:20:56.

issuing complacent reassurances to my constituents in West Lothian?

:20:56.:21:05.

The medical director has reassured patients across all hospital site.

:21:05.:21:13.

At no point will patients stop being admitted to hospital. Events

:21:13.:21:19.

at the present moment such as the illnesses which are will -- around

:21:19.:21:24.

in the community at the present moment, we will concentrate to make

:21:24.:21:31.

sure that patient care is continued at the highest possible standard.

:21:31.:21:34.

Can I ask what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of

:21:34.:21:40.

Cabinet? Issues of importance to the people of Scotland. Two months

:21:40.:21:46.

ago I asked for an extension of education for two-year-olds. Now

:21:46.:21:54.

that he has had time, what decision has he reached? There is a range of

:21:54.:22:02.

measures already announced in terms of the overall right of education

:22:02.:22:07.

for every child. Incentives offered to family centres to expand their

:22:07.:22:13.

operations. The Centre for Family nurse partnerships which deal with

:22:13.:22:19.

children even younger than two that can make a real difference for some

:22:19.:22:29.
:22:29.:22:29.

of the most challenged families in our community. In terms of the

:22:29.:22:34.

emphasis that has been put on their early years development, I do not

:22:34.:22:40.

think it can be seriously said that this Government does not have focus

:22:40.:22:43.

and concentration on the improvements being made to enhance

:22:43.:22:48.

the life chances of these children. All of us would welcome what is

:22:48.:22:54.

said about the extra provision but in England for 2% of two-year-olds

:22:54.:23:00.

will be getting 15 hours per week of nursery education. The future

:23:00.:23:05.

provision for three-and four-year- olds is good as well. The

:23:05.:23:08.

Investment before the age of three gets the best recovery it has been

:23:08.:23:13.

said. Will the First Minister connected day or a please give an

:23:13.:23:18.

indication that he is prepared to consider what is happening with

:23:18.:23:23.

extra provision for 40% of two- year-olds. That could help

:23:23.:23:27.

disadvantaged children get a good start in life. I will press them

:23:27.:23:36.

again. Will he take this important step today? Can I say two things in

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seriousness. Firstly, Willie Rennie is aware that what we have is much

:23:44.:23:47.

greater than is allocated their England for three and four-year-

:23:47.:23:54.

olds. I do not think he should disregard the importance of the

:23:54.:23:58.

measures I have already suggested. Our task force is working extremely

:23:58.:24:02.

hard to bring about the best possible position for young people

:24:02.:24:07.

in Scotland. I could cite the whole variety of sources from English

:24:07.:24:10.

local the authorities who are seriously questioning whether

:24:10.:24:15.

aspects of what is said to be offered in England can actually be

:24:15.:24:21.

delivered given the resource position that they face. There is a

:24:21.:24:25.

whole range of English local a authority leaders and other experts

:24:25.:24:30.

who are seriously doubting that. Therefore, I think we can be

:24:30.:24:36.

confident that what has been issued in Scotland today, the commitment

:24:36.:24:39.

for three-and four-year-olds, the expansion of family partnerships,

:24:39.:24:43.

the expansion of family centres and nurse partnerships, these things

:24:43.:24:49.

will all be delivered. We have a continuing review. The focus of

:24:49.:24:55.

that has been very important in terms of Government decision-making.

:24:55.:24:58.

That package represents a substantial enhancement of

:24:58.:25:04.

provision in Scotland and is fully in line with a shift to early

:25:04.:25:07.

support and early intervention which is the hallmark of this

:25:07.:25:12.

Government even in times of great financial stringency which, he will

:25:12.:25:21.

remember, is being imposed by an Government of which... LAUGHTER.

:25:21.:25:30.

Order. It is imposed by a Tory/Liberal Government of which he

:25:30.:25:34.

is at Minister. The efforts being made in Scotland are very

:25:34.:25:40.

substantial indeed and that sincere commitment will improve and enhance

:25:40.:25:44.

the life chances of our young people in Scotland, including those

:25:44.:25:50.

most at risk. Can they ask what discussions have been had with the

:25:50.:25:59.

UK Government in regards to the minimum pricing of alcohol. Their

:25:59.:26:05.

meeting with the UWE Government ministers of State early in the new

:26:05.:26:12.

year to discuss the matter further. We continue to engage in and

:26:12.:26:16.

outside Scotland with those who believe that minimum unit pricing

:26:16.:26:25.

should form a key part. The UK Government has shown its

:26:25.:26:30.

willingness to support this measure. Where Scotland leads the rest of

:26:30.:26:34.

the UK follows. Can he give an issued since that this Government

:26:34.:26:43.

will continue to promote the public health argument on pricing. I can

:26:43.:26:47.

and it is worth noting that elsewhere in Europe the public

:26:47.:26:50.

health benefits of minimum pricing which is now supported

:26:50.:26:57.

substantially across this chamber, have been recognised. It was set

:26:57.:27:03.

that there is full support for the minimum pricing of a call, a

:27:03.:27:09.

measure to reduce the harmful consumption of alcohol. In this

:27:09.:27:14.

regard the Department of Health is preparing proposals for a similar

:27:14.:27:20.

legislation in Ireland. It is important to have a degree of

:27:20.:27:24.

support at any time but particularly important because as

:27:24.:27:31.

of 1st January Island chairs the European Council. Can I have the

:27:31.:27:37.

First Minister what the Scottish position is on the Shelter claimed

:27:37.:27:41.

that one in four people believe they are one paycheck away from

:27:41.:27:48.

losing their homes? This Government remains focused on economic growth

:27:48.:27:52.

to protect and retain jobs to avoid families been placed in this

:27:52.:27:57.

position in the first place. Importantly, in terms of housing

:27:57.:28:03.

and housing legislation, from December 31st of those in Scotland

:28:03.:28:07.

to were assessed as unintentionally homeless by local authorities will

:28:07.:28:17.
:28:17.:28:18.

be entitled to accommodation. We have the best back-up plan for the

:28:18.:28:24.

whole of the British Isles. Many of those families will spend a period

:28:24.:28:29.

of time in temporary accommodation before being housed. 5,300 homeless

:28:29.:28:33.

children will wake up in temporary housing on Christmas Day because

:28:33.:28:40.

their family has no home to call their own. How will you introduce

:28:40.:28:42.

national guaranteed standards for temporary accommodation for

:28:43.:28:50.

families with children? You will get all measures serious

:28:50.:28:58.

consideration. A lecture organised by Shelter a few weeks ago had huge

:28:58.:29:06.

support for improvement in terms of homelessness. There was recognition

:29:06.:29:12.

for a beak sharp fall in a homeless applications in 2000 -- since

:29:12.:29:18.

2005/6. That represents substantial progress as does the legislative

:29:18.:29:22.

framework which gets all unintentionally homeless people

:29:22.:29:27.

equal rights before the law. While there are challenges still to

:29:27.:29:31.

overcome and while all good suggestions will be properly

:29:31.:29:35.

considered, I think the chamber, as shelter does, should be proud of

:29:35.:29:40.

the framework that this Parliament has put in place. Homelessness, in

:29:40.:29:45.

terms of these statistics, has fallen in Scotland while it rises

:29:45.:29:52.

elsewhere. Can I ask the First Minister what action is being taken

:29:52.:29:57.

to minimise disruption from industrial action over the festive

:29:58.:30:02.

season? This is one of these questions that seemed like a good

:30:02.:30:10.

idea on Monday. Can I thank the First Minister for his response. If

:30:10.:30:17.

one week is a long time in politics, the three days since I'll launched

:30:17.:30:21.

this questions has proven to be a very long time in industrial

:30:21.:30:26.

relations. Will the First Minister join with me in welcoming the

:30:26.:30:32.

resolution of the industrial dispute? That is between ScotRail

:30:32.:30:37.

and the RMT and in the spirit of the season will he join me in

:30:38.:30:42.

wishing those working for them in this sector a safe journey and a

:30:42.:30:51.

very happy Christmas? Yes I will. It is worth saying that with the

:30:51.:31:01.
:31:01.:31:02.

dispute settled, even the hospital doctors dispute is settled and the

:31:02.:31:06.

Northlink ferry is strike has been suspended, all of that is welcome

:31:06.:31:11.

news. Unfortunately I have got to report that the London Tube strike

:31:11.:31:17.

on Boxing Day is still going ahead. It is very disappointing given that

:31:17.:31:26.

even the trams in Edinburgh were running yesterday! LAUGHTER. I know

:31:26.:31:31.

that just as the advent of Murdo Fraser has question clearly focused

:31:31.:31:36.

minds in Scotland, in advance from asking it to come to a satisfactory

:31:36.:31:42.

conclusion, I am quite certain if he puts the same mind and advice to

:31:42.:31:46.

Boris Johnson down in London, perhaps we will get a result there

:31:46.:31:56.

as well. We all seem to be in good humour towards the end of First

:31:56.:32:01.

Minister's Question Time. There was political panto between Johann

:32:01.:32:05.

Lamont and the First Minister. That is the end of this year, 2012

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