:00:22. > :00:27.A very warm welcome to the Scottish Parliament. There is some
:00:27. > :00:31.controversy over the industrial action by doctors. MSPs will
:00:31. > :00:36.discuss the economy and drug use. We expect a statement on the future
:00:36. > :00:42.of rail services in Scotland. Let's cross to the chamber for questions
:00:42. > :00:52.to the First Minister. Nicola Sturgeon is deputising for the
:00:52. > :00:59.
:00:59. > :01:03.First Minister today. Let's listen I speak as something of a fashion
:01:03. > :01:10.icon. I know this is a word the Deputy First Minister cannot use,
:01:10. > :01:14.but how does she explain it the following support for independence?
:01:14. > :01:20.Can I reassured Johann Lamont that I think Jack McConnell is quite
:01:20. > :01:25.safe in his hold on the title of champion of silly outfits, so she
:01:25. > :01:30.needn't worry on that score? Can I also say to Johann Lamont that I am
:01:30. > :01:32.very confident that the people of Scotland, when the see the
:01:32. > :01:38.proposition this government will put forward for an independent
:01:38. > :01:44.Scotland, will vote Yes for an independent Scotland? I am very
:01:44. > :01:48.happy to talk about independence on any day, to talk about the power
:01:48. > :01:55.independence will give us to prevent any more illegal wars. The
:01:55. > :01:59.power it will give us to read Scotland of Trident. And the power
:01:59. > :02:02.independence will give us to protect the vulnerable from Tory
:02:02. > :02:07.welfare reforms. Johann Lamont doesn't want to talk about any of
:02:07. > :02:11.these things because she prefers to leave all of these powers in the
:02:11. > :02:21.hands of her new friends in the Tory party because she prefers a
:02:21. > :02:25.
:02:25. > :02:29.Tory government to self government. Order.
:02:29. > :02:33.The First Minister is not here, but his spirit lives on in that
:02:33. > :02:38.response. She did not answer the question. Support for independence
:02:38. > :02:42.is falling. Is it not a fact that independence is becoming more and
:02:42. > :02:46.more in popular because of meaningless assertions from the
:02:47. > :02:56.likes of the Deputy First Minister, such as Scotland will have a seat
:02:56. > :03:00.on the Monetary Policy Committee on a central bank in a foreign country.
:03:00. > :03:10.Johann Lamont mentions the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of
:03:10. > :03:17.England. She is becoming a bit like a broken record on this issue. The
:03:17. > :03:21.position of the Scottish Government is a perfectly reasonable position.
:03:21. > :03:27.Johann Lamont does not have to take my word for it because that is also
:03:27. > :03:32.the opinion of the former member of the Monetary Policy Committee, at
:03:32. > :03:36.David Blanchflower. He said it is not unreasonable for Scotland to
:03:36. > :03:39.have a seat on the Monetary Policy Committee. I'll go out on a limb
:03:39. > :03:47.here, but I suspect David Blanchflower knows a bit more about
:03:47. > :03:52.these things than Johann Lamont. On the issue of unpopularity, there
:03:52. > :03:57.will be nothing more unpopular in Scotland in these coming months and
:03:57. > :04:05.years and the new collision between a Labour and the Conservatives, the
:04:05. > :04:08.coalition to hold Scotland back. The problem for the Deputy First
:04:08. > :04:13.Minister is that she did not go on television to say David
:04:13. > :04:18.Blanchflower thinks this might be a good idea. What she said was is
:04:18. > :04:22.that it would happen. She repeated it ins year without even asking
:04:22. > :04:32.anybody. That is what I mean by meaningless assertion been a very
:04:32. > :04:33.
:04:33. > :04:38.serious debate. I felt for the Deputy First Minister when she had
:04:38. > :04:48.to dig -- had to defend her boss's love-in with Rupert Murdoch. But
:04:48. > :04:53.her defence of his banking plans are even more risible. You can
:04:53. > :04:58.imagine Wallace's address to his trips if Nicola Sturgeon had
:04:58. > :05:04.written it. Don't worry, boys. If we win, we will still keep Edward
:05:04. > :05:14.as King, we will send him or one- word and keep a seat on the
:05:14. > :05:16.
:05:16. > :05:19.Monetary Policy Committee. -- we will send him towards home.
:05:19. > :05:24.Imprisoning the Scottish Government is doing anything to prepare for
:05:24. > :05:28.independence, there is that naughty word again, can the Deputy First
:05:28. > :05:33.Minister Tel-Me how the discussions are going with the European Union
:05:33. > :05:43.about, shall we say, an independently minded Scotland being
:05:43. > :05:45.
:05:45. > :05:49.a member? And independently minded Scotland will be a member of the EU.
:05:49. > :05:56.It is interesting that her members laughed because her propositions
:05:56. > :06:02.are certainly something of a joke. I said this position was reasonable,
:06:02. > :06:08.David Blanchflower says it is reasonable. The real question for
:06:08. > :06:11.Johann Lamont is this. When Scotland votes for independence, is
:06:11. > :06:16.Johann Lamont really saying that she would be arguing against an
:06:16. > :06:21.independent Scotland having that kind of representation on the
:06:21. > :06:25.Monetary Policy Committee? If she is, then again she is arguing an
:06:25. > :06:31.absurd proposition. But then, we shouldn't expect anything more from
:06:31. > :06:41.a party that is so happy to link arms with their deeply unpopular
:06:41. > :06:41.
:06:41. > :06:46.Conservative Party. -- with the deeply unpopular party. The reality
:06:46. > :06:49.is that the Deputy First Minister simply asserts something about the
:06:49. > :06:53.European Union and does not check her facts. She says it would be
:06:53. > :07:02.absurd to suggest that an independent Scotland would not be
:07:02. > :07:10.on the Monetary Policy Committee. I have never heard that argument made
:07:10. > :07:15.by anyone in the SNP until this year. There is another option which
:07:15. > :07:25.is an independent currency of your own. This is Monty Python's life of
:07:25. > :07:30.Nicola Sturgeon. What has been British ever done for us, apart
:07:30. > :07:40.from the Union Jack, monetary policy, the union, financial
:07:40. > :07:41.
:07:41. > :07:46.stability. The only dead parrots, as the First Minister would have it,
:07:46. > :07:52.is the sketch is independence. The SNP is not even prepared to make
:07:52. > :07:56.the case because she knows the Scottish people will not buy it.
:07:56. > :08:00.Compromise in the monarchy, compromise in the currency,
:08:00. > :08:05.compromise in the second question, we will still be British, and the
:08:05. > :08:15.final humiliation. The SNP are not even allowed to say the word that
:08:15. > :08:15.
:08:15. > :08:23.they have campaigned for in their whole political lives. Is there
:08:23. > :08:28.anything Nicola Sturgeon once sell out on? -- will not sell out on?
:08:28. > :08:35.Can I remind Johann Lamont that Monty Python work quite well for
:08:35. > :08:39.the SNP election last year and we won an overall majority on the back
:08:39. > :08:45.of that broadcast. She was all over the place there, but I would try to
:08:45. > :08:49.deal with her issues. On at the European Union membership, let me
:08:49. > :08:54.refer her to the words of the late and greatly respected Robin Cook.
:08:54. > :09:00.It is in the nature of the European Union, it welcomes all-comers and
:09:00. > :09:05.Scotland would be a member. Was Robin Cook wrong as well? It might
:09:05. > :09:11.have escaped Johann Lamont's notice, but the SNP has been in favour of
:09:11. > :09:15.retaining the Queen since 1934. She says she did not here are our
:09:15. > :09:25.position on at the pound Stirling and will this year. We have held
:09:25. > :09:26.
:09:26. > :09:31.that opinion since 2005. Let me tell Johann Lamont what the
:09:31. > :09:35.benefits of independence are. The mean it no more illegal wards under
:09:35. > :09:40.Labour and. No more weapons of mass destruction. An ability to tackle
:09:40. > :09:45.the poverty that Labour so abysmally failed to tackle and the
:09:45. > :09:50.mean and ability to protect people in Scotland from the policies of a
:09:50. > :09:53.right-wing Tory government. Johann Lamont refers -- prefers to leave
:09:53. > :10:02.all of those powers in the hands of a Tory government and that is what
:10:02. > :10:11.she is going to find difficult to explain to the Scottish people.
:10:11. > :10:20.Ruth Davidson. If the Deputy First Minister has been in favour of
:10:20. > :10:26.keeping the Queen since 1934, she was not actually on the throne then.
:10:26. > :10:31.Perhaps they mean that time the last evening? I have no plans to
:10:31. > :10:36.meet with the deputy first -- with the Secretary of State for Scotland
:10:36. > :10:40.any time soon. The Deputy First Minister says he has sympathy over
:10:40. > :10:43.doctors striking today and understands their frustration and
:10:43. > :10:50.anger at changes to their pensions. Can she explained what precisely
:10:50. > :10:55.she finds so unfair about an annual pension of �68,000? This is a
:10:55. > :10:58.serious issue so I will treat it extremely seriously. I deeply
:10:58. > :11:02.regret the action that has been taken today. Of Lloyd's is not a
:11:02. > :11:10.strike by doctors because they are continuing to cover all emergency
:11:10. > :11:16.and urgent care as normal, it is the case that those participating
:11:16. > :11:20.in the action are not participating in a non-emergency care. It is
:11:20. > :11:24.unfortunate that many patients will be affected by this. I note that
:11:24. > :11:28.the BMA say the action is being taken to force the UK Government
:11:28. > :11:33.back to the negotiating table. The Scottish Government has never left
:11:33. > :11:38.the negotiating table and therefore I consider the action not just
:11:38. > :11:42.unfortunate but unnecessary as well. I do also regret that this action
:11:42. > :11:47.today is taking place over an issue on which this Parliament has
:11:47. > :11:52.limited room for manoeuvre. However, be remain willing to work in
:11:52. > :12:00.partnership with trade unions to find a way forward on this issue
:12:00. > :12:06.within the severe constraint imposed upon us. -- constraineds.
:12:06. > :12:11.I did not hear anything about why it �68,000 is an unfair pension. I
:12:11. > :12:15.did not hear if she would increase that at the expense of lower pay
:12:15. > :12:20.public sector workers. Just more SNP grandstanding that they would
:12:20. > :12:24.do something different, just don't ask us what. In terms of sitting
:12:24. > :12:29.round the negotiating table, if the Deputy First Minister knows I'm
:12:29. > :12:33.well that there were 23 meetings with the BMA, including five
:12:33. > :12:36.between the Secretary of State and Head of the BMA. Can I ask the
:12:36. > :12:41.Deputy First Minister, given that her responsibility and that of a
:12:41. > :12:50.government is to stand up for patients affected today and for the
:12:50. > :12:53.Times that -- the tax payers who finance three-quarters of this
:12:53. > :13:00.multi-billion pound pension bill, can I ask her how many appointments
:13:00. > :13:05.have been cancelled in Scotland because of this industrial action?
:13:05. > :13:15.How many patients have been denied treatment by their NHS because
:13:15. > :13:16.
:13:16. > :13:20.taxpayer contributions are not deemed to be enough? I appreciate
:13:20. > :13:27.Ruth Davidson might not be aware of this, but the NHS pension scheme
:13:27. > :13:31.was reformed in 2008. Everybody in Scotland understands and
:13:31. > :13:36.appreciates the importance of the long-term sustainability of pension
:13:36. > :13:40.schemes, but there are many in Scotland, low-paid workers included,
:13:40. > :13:44.who think that the current UK forms are more about a cash grab for
:13:44. > :13:49.deficit reduction than they are about the long-term sustainability
:13:49. > :13:54.of pensions. I have already outlined our position and we will
:13:54. > :13:58.continue in negotiations, albeit within the limitations of severe
:13:58. > :14:01.constraints to see if we can find a better way forwards. I think that
:14:01. > :14:09.is in the interests of patients as well as close to work within our
:14:09. > :14:13.national health services -- National Health Service. Members
:14:13. > :14:17.will appreciate that have been monitoring this close them
:14:17. > :14:25.carefully and will continue to do so through the course of today. I
:14:25. > :14:31.am advised that approximately 3,200 out-patient appointments and around
:14:31. > :14:35.450 been patient appointments have been cancelled. Patients have been
:14:35. > :14:41.advised and all missed appointments will be re-scheduled as soon as
:14:41. > :14:45.possible. Six the% of GP practices are affected to some extent. I will
:14:45. > :14:48.continue to monitor the situation as the day progresses. I think the
:14:48. > :14:51.interest of patients and the interests of patient safety and
:14:52. > :14:55.continuity of care are paramount and that is why the Scottish
:14:55. > :15:05.Government continued to work with doctors and health boards to the
:15:05. > :15:05.
:15:05. > :15:09.course of today to ensure that any Can I ask the Deputy First Minister
:15:09. > :15:19.why the Dalai Lama has not been afforded a proper welcomed by the
:15:19. > :15:19.
:15:19. > :15:23.Scottish Government or the SNP-led Dundee City Council, who wanted the
:15:23. > :15:28.city removed from the programme and will not even put up the Lord
:15:28. > :15:31.Provost of the city to welcome the leader. What message does this send
:15:31. > :15:41.about the SNP's willingness to address human rights abuses in
:15:41. > :15:44.China? Firstly, the Scottish Government has, on many occasions,
:15:44. > :15:48.and will continue to raise important issues with the Chinese
:15:48. > :15:55.government. In terms of the question about Dundee City Council,
:15:55. > :16:00.I am sure she appreciates that arrangements made by the council
:16:00. > :16:05.have been made and there has been no contact between us and the City
:16:05. > :16:08.Council about the visit of the Dalai Lama. In all sincerity, to
:16:08. > :16:13.members across this chamber, I think it is unfortunate that
:16:13. > :16:18.anybody in any party seeks to politicise the visit of the Dalai
:16:18. > :16:22.Lama to Scotland, and the reason for that is because it is not a
:16:22. > :16:27.political or state visit. The Dalai Lama is making a pastoral visit to
:16:27. > :16:32.Scotland. He has been properly recognised and respected by this
:16:32. > :16:37.Parliament in the non-political meeting by the Presiding Officer
:16:37. > :16:47.tomorrow. So I had all members will recognise that and reflect that
:16:47. > :16:50.
:16:50. > :16:55.accordingly. -- I hope. Potential job losses have been announced in
:16:55. > :17:00.my constituency this week and it comes as a blow to the local
:17:00. > :17:04.economy for the workers concerned. Can I ask the Deputy First Minister
:17:04. > :17:09.what support the government can offer for workers directly affected
:17:09. > :17:15.by the redundancy and what will be done to ensure the workforce in
:17:15. > :17:21.Hamilton will be protected? absolutely share the concern
:17:21. > :17:26.expressed by her about developments in respect to these employees and
:17:26. > :17:33.what effect will have on their families and the general area.
:17:34. > :17:39.There are around 320 staff on the Hamilton site and approximately 140
:17:39. > :17:45.employees are likely to be affected. It is hoped this number will be
:17:45. > :17:51.achieved by voluntary redundancies. Pay Presentations two staff have
:17:51. > :17:54.been offered with workshops and one-to-one interviews. I have this
:17:54. > :17:59.reassure them that we will do everything possible to support
:17:59. > :18:05.those employees who might be affected by redundancy and have a
:18:05. > :18:11.time out of work. What issues will be discussed at the next meeting of
:18:11. > :18:17.the Cabinet? The next meeting will discuss the issues of importance to
:18:17. > :18:21.the people of Scotland. The Deputy First Minister talked about human
:18:21. > :18:25.rights in China. Let's remind ourselves about the decision of
:18:25. > :18:30.Human Rights in China. A Country where 500,000 people are detained
:18:30. > :18:36.without trial, where women are forced to have abortions on the
:18:36. > :18:40.orders of the government. Where political oppression is at its most
:18:40. > :18:48.severe in Tibet. The Deputy First Minister has a chance to be very
:18:48. > :18:50.clear about what she thinks today. Will she, on behalf of the Scottish
:18:50. > :18:56.Government, condemn the human rights record of the Chinese
:18:56. > :19:00.government? I condemn human rights abuses everywhere that they happen
:19:00. > :19:06.and I am absolutely unequivocal about that. Can I say it again in
:19:06. > :19:10.all sincerity, I think every single member of this chamber has a deep
:19:10. > :19:14.commitment to human rights across the globe. And I think it is a
:19:14. > :19:19.mistake on the part of any member in this chamber to seek to divided
:19:19. > :19:26.on the important issue of human rights. So I hope that is a
:19:26. > :19:30.statement that is unequivocal enough for Willie Rennie. Employees
:19:30. > :19:36.to hear that she is condemning the human rights record of the Chinese
:19:36. > :19:42.government. -- I am pleased. I have to say, it is a welcome change from
:19:42. > :19:47.the ambiguous attitude of the First Minister. Can the Deputy First
:19:47. > :19:51.Minister take practical steps now, practical steps, as we know the
:19:51. > :19:58.consul-general has put pressure on Scottish councils and the First
:19:58. > :20:02.Minister. Dundee has pulled back from the Dalai Lama's critics and
:20:02. > :20:07.the First Minister is refusing to meet him. To put this right, she
:20:07. > :20:12.can do two things - encourage her colleagues in the city council to
:20:12. > :20:17.provide a high level Speaker to deputise for the Lord Provost. She
:20:17. > :20:22.can also get the First Minister or any other minister at any point
:20:22. > :20:27.over the next few days to meet the Dalai Lama. If the Deputy First
:20:27. > :20:31.Minister takes these steps today, she will send an absolutely loud
:20:31. > :20:37.and clear message to the Chinese government, that she does condemn
:20:37. > :20:41.their human rights record. Will she make those changes happen? Look, I
:20:41. > :20:46.think Willie Rennie is making a serious mistake in trying to divide
:20:46. > :20:49.this chamber on these issues. Firstly, in relation to Dundee City
:20:49. > :20:53.Council, I do not speak for Dundee City Council but I think he is
:20:53. > :20:57.wrong and how he describes the position of the council. The Lord
:20:57. > :21:02.Provost is attending a reception for the Dalai Lama after years at -
:21:02. > :21:08.- he has attended a funeral. I do not think he is seeking to make an
:21:08. > :21:14.issue of that. In terms of the position of the visit of all, as I
:21:14. > :21:18.said in response, the Dalai Lama is making a pastoral visit to Scotland.
:21:18. > :21:23.He is being properly recognised by this Parliament in a reception
:21:23. > :21:27.hosted by the Presiding Officer, which, as far as I understand it,
:21:28. > :21:31.no party-political representative will attend. It is also my
:21:31. > :21:35.understanding, although Willie Rennie may no different me, no UK
:21:35. > :21:39.government minister will meet the Dalai Lama while he is in Scotland.
:21:39. > :21:44.That would, of course, include Michael Moore and Danny Alexander,
:21:44. > :21:47.so I hoped Willie Rennie would do two things. I high he will accept
:21:47. > :21:51.that the commitment of everybody in this chamber to human rights across
:21:51. > :21:54.the world, and secondly I hope he will accept this as a pastoral
:21:54. > :22:04.visit by the Dalai Lama and it would be wrong of any body to seek
:22:04. > :22:11.to politicise it. What support the Scottish Government gives to
:22:12. > :22:16.carers? During carers Week and everybody around, I acknowledge and
:22:16. > :22:25.applaud the tremendous work of Scotland's unpaid carers and young
:22:25. > :22:29.carers who care for the families, friends and neighbours they have it.
:22:29. > :22:37.We have a Scotland Careys information pack and local funding
:22:37. > :22:39.has exceeded the target to achieve an extra 10,600 weeks. The Scottish
:22:39. > :22:44.Government is providing unprecedented levels of support to
:22:44. > :22:49.carers and young carers, and this supports at least 20% of the change
:22:49. > :22:54.fund for older people, which is nearly �50 million over three ears,
:22:54. > :23:04.which will support carers of older people to continue to care. --
:23:04. > :23:05.
:23:05. > :23:09.three ideas. I thank her for her answer. It was whilst working with
:23:09. > :23:12.carers and carer groups that I became aware that many of the
:23:12. > :23:15.voluntary organisation which to support carers face extra
:23:15. > :23:20.difficulty due to the unique tendering process put in place by
:23:20. > :23:24.Glasgow City Council. With the Deputy First Minister consider
:23:24. > :23:30.using a change fund to support the work of these voluntary
:23:30. > :23:33.organisations? I am very familiar with the good work of the Glasgow
:23:33. > :23:38.south-east carers Centre. They operate in his constituency and
:23:38. > :23:43.indeed they have a very heavy presence in my own constituency, so
:23:43. > :23:46.I know about the concerns expressed about the tendering processes. We
:23:46. > :23:51.have made abundantly clear, as I indicated in my original answer,
:23:51. > :23:56.that at least 20% of the fund should be used to support carers of
:23:56. > :24:04.Olga people, and that applies as much in Glasgow as it does in any
:24:04. > :24:10.other area. -- of cold a people. 2,600,000 will be spent supporting
:24:10. > :24:13.carers either directly or indirectly and that is over 20% of
:24:13. > :24:20.the change on application. However, we want evidence of support and we
:24:20. > :24:26.will be asking all partnerships for a progress report, in particular
:24:26. > :24:34.progress in working with supported carers. This week, we all recognise
:24:34. > :24:37.the contribution that Scotland's 650,000 carers play. And I am
:24:37. > :24:45.confident that the Cabinet Secretary will be as concerned as I
:24:45. > :24:51.am and others are that over 3,000 of those carers, 80% of them
:24:51. > :24:55.believe their caring role have an impact on their health. We know the
:24:55. > :25:00.work takes place and support is in place but obviously, there are many
:25:00. > :25:06.carers missing out. What can we do to reassure action to ensure all
:25:06. > :25:12.carers receive the help they need? I appreciate the question and I
:25:12. > :25:17.think he is absolutely right up. If I can be frank about this, firstly,
:25:17. > :25:23.we owe carers and unbelievable bet of gratitude. But we do not just a
:25:24. > :25:28.them thanks, we owe them action to support them. I do not suppose that
:25:28. > :25:31.however much we do, we will repay them for the extraordinary
:25:31. > :25:41.contribution they make, but we have an obligation to do everything we
:25:41. > :25:41.
:25:41. > :25:47.can. I was very struck by the information I have had and that is
:25:47. > :25:51.that they often care at the expense of their own health, and this is a
:25:51. > :25:55.work-in-progress, but it does focus on providing respite care, short-
:25:55. > :25:58.break provision and encouraging GPs and other health professionals to
:25:58. > :26:02.be conscious of the health needs of people who have caring
:26:02. > :26:07.responsibilities. So where are not standing here saying, the
:26:07. > :26:11.Government has got this all right, but we will argue in the right
:26:11. > :26:18.direction and continued to work with carers and organisations to
:26:18. > :26:27.make sure we are fulfilling our obligations to them. But I'd give a
:26:27. > :26:33.very heartfelt thank you to the contribution that carers make.
:26:33. > :26:41.impact the industrial action by doctors could have on operations on
:26:41. > :26:48.tests and a patient appointments? As we are aware, we have the first
:26:48. > :26:51.industrial action by doctors and staff. They will continue to cover
:26:51. > :26:55.all emergency care and where non- emergency care is being affected,
:26:55. > :27:04.hospital boards have assessed the impact of clinics and taken steps
:27:04. > :27:08.to inform patients of cancellations. Approximately 3,200 out-patient
:27:08. > :27:17.appointments and other bait cases have been cancelled and all
:27:17. > :27:26.appointment will be re- scheduled as soon as possible. -- day-cases.
:27:26. > :27:30.Can I thank her for her answer. Can I also advise the chamber, I think
:27:31. > :27:40.everybody regrets this action for the effect it will have on patients,
:27:41. > :27:41.
:27:41. > :27:46.or to writes and wrongs. -- whatever the rights and wrongs. The
:27:46. > :27:50.BMA did give three a week's notice rather than the statutory one week,
:27:50. > :27:54.in order to allow a patients are to be informed in good time of the
:27:54. > :28:01.fact that their appointment would be cancelled and operations would
:28:01. > :28:05.be cancelled. So what action did the Government take? Was a chief
:28:05. > :28:09.executive letter issued? And what actual monitoring has the
:28:09. > :28:14.Government undertaken to ensure patients have been timely informed
:28:14. > :28:19.of this disruption to their lives. What further action will the
:28:19. > :28:25.Government take to ensure this patients who are being disrupted
:28:25. > :28:29.today get their appointment back as quickly as possible? Can I firstly
:28:29. > :28:34.reiterate what we said earlier on. I deeply regret this action is
:28:34. > :28:39.taking place today. I do not think it is in the interest of patients
:28:39. > :28:43.or the NHS, or doctors and those who work with an our National
:28:43. > :28:46.Health Service. The Scotland health boards have been planning to deal
:28:46. > :28:51.with the impact of today's industrial action as soon as it
:28:51. > :29:01.became clear it was going to happen. I have been receiving regular
:29:01. > :29:04.
:29:04. > :29:09.update its -- updates on at the preparedness and the principles for
:29:09. > :29:16.dealing with the industrial action on 21st June. Health boards have
:29:16. > :29:21.taken all steps as quickly as they have been able to and to advance
:29:21. > :29:24.patients where their patients have been affected. The industrial
:29:24. > :29:34.action has been known about for a number of weeks but he will
:29:34. > :29:35.
:29:35. > :29:39.appreciate that for some individual doctors on whether they were going
:29:39. > :29:44.to participate, that came later and they had to inform patients
:29:44. > :29:50.accordingly. I am confident we have taken all appropriate steps to
:29:50. > :29:55.minimise the impact on patients, but unfortunately, a number of
:29:55. > :29:59.patients will be affected and that is why I can, again, given the
:29:59. > :30:04.reassurance that all appointments will be rearranged as quickly as
:30:04. > :30:11.possible to minimise the disruption for patients. That should be the
:30:11. > :30:14.first priority for all of us. progress has been made to reduce
:30:14. > :30:24.journey times on the main line from Inverness to Adam Brown and
:30:24. > :30:28.Glasgow? Over the last five years, the Government has invested �1.5
:30:28. > :30:36.billion in railways, including opening of the Bath game route and
:30:36. > :30:44.improvements to services between Dundee and Elgin. -- BathGate at
:30:44. > :30:48.route. The journey time between Edinburgh and Glasgow has been
:30:48. > :30:56.reduced by 35 minutes. Trains have been added to the service making 11
:30:56. > :31:00.in total. I thank her for her answer. I declare an interest in
:31:01. > :31:04.using the service regularly. It would appear to be more punctual
:31:04. > :31:08.and the services have increased in number, but can she confirm that
:31:08. > :31:17.passengers to and from the north of Scotland will see further
:31:17. > :31:24.reductions in journey times by the The Transport Minister will have
:31:24. > :31:33.further information to give about real is used this afternoon. I am
:31:33. > :31:38.happy to confirm that a new timetable was introduced -- a
:31:38. > :31:45.consultation was introduced in May and journey times will be reduced
:31:45. > :31:54.again this November. Network Rail are working to further reduce
:31:54. > :32:00.journey times on this route. That N's first minister's questions.
:32:00. > :32:04.That ends questions to the Deputy First Minister standing in for Alex
:32:04. > :32:09.Salmond. There was some banter at the start about fashion and
:32:09. > :32:14.clothing, where I think neither came out badly. Two the exchanges