22/03/2012 Politics Scotland

A a very warm welcome to the Scottish Parliament here at

Holyrood. The Budget has been discussed here. It has been

discussed at Westminster, John Swinney was quizzed on it. Let's

see what comes up on First Minister's Questions. The devil is

often in the detail with the Budget. Politicians and officials will be

We welcome plans from GlaxoSmithKline to invest and

create 100 new jobs so. This major investment reinforces Scotland's

global reputation in life sciences. I also welcome the fact that the

Chancellor responded to John Swinney's proposal. The granting of

enhanced capital allowances. I am sure we'll remember the Chancellor

generously acknowledging that was a John Swinney proposal when he made

his Budget statement yesterday. I welcome the development, as indeed

the chamber does, and they look forward to announcing further

investment in these areas in I am sure you will enjoy your visit,

and we always welcome glimmers of hope in terms of employment and

investment in communities across Scotland. Very few of us agree with

the approach taken by the Tories in terms of the health service. I was

glad last month when the First Minister told us that Scotland is

choosing a different path. Since then we find out more about the

path taken by the First Minister and it seems to have been a

downhill gradient. Decreasing standards in elderly care, cuts to

social care budgets, and patients going without blankets. Even the

good statistics, as we found out yesterday, cannot be trusted.

Before he rhymes of the statistics he has already prepared, can ask,

why should we trust him? I think we should look at the record,

particularly public satisfaction with the health service in Scotland

which is at a record level. The ultimate verdict is passed by the

people and their confidence in their National Health Service. That

is in direct contrast to what is happening south of the border.

There, many people are wondering if they are going to have a National

Health Service worthy of the name. This Government is totally

committed to a National Health Service in Scotland. I think the

point of the Scottish Parliament is that we cannot aspire to better

than what the Tories are offering us at Westminster. But we do expect

your record to be better as well. Can we look first of all at what

experts have been saying. The Royal College of Nursing says there are

not enough nurses to provide basic, safe care. All that Scotland is

warning that councils and health boards are failing to insure a

vital care services can be delivered in the future. The Centre

for Public Policy in the regions says since 2006, Scotland has been

lagging behind resources. Does the First Minister think they are all

wrong as well? Let's look at qualified nurses and midwives.

There are more qualified nurses and midwives in Scotland than there

were in 2006. Let's look at it in comparison with the other countries

in these islands. Per head of a thousand population, we have a

eight nurses and midwives. Compared to 5.9 in England. 7.6 in Northern

Ireland. I think that indicates the huge priority that this Government,

and this Parliament, invests in our National Health Service. Joanna

Lamond and says, that is not much comparison, comparing what we're

doing in Scotland as a united Parliament in terms of preserving

the National Health Service, and what is happening in England. We

could look at what is happening in Wales at the present moment. The

sole area at in these islands where the Labour Party is in government.

I have got great sympathy for the Welsh Government, and the pressure

they are under it in terms of the Westminster government. We are

under the same pressure, but the Welsh government decided not to

protect the revenue budget of the National Health Service in real

terms. It is due to fall by eight 8% between 2011 and 24 teams.

Unlike the decision made by this administration to protect the

revenue budget of the National Health Service in real terms. So,

the contrast is not just between Scotland and the SNP and the Tories

at Westminster. The contrast is between the SNP in Scotland and

Labour in Wales. And I think the vast majority of people in Scotland

will support the policy of this government to protect our National

Health Service. First of all, your budget has been cut by �319 million.

Secondly, the substance of that answer was that the nurses' union

is wrong. To talk about Wales, we would like him to focus on his

responsibilities as First Minister here. Because he talks on these

benches, we would love to be in his position, I can assure you. The

rhetoric of this Government does not fit with reality. The First

Minister does not accept the picture painted by the experts.

What can he say to hell Macbeth? She was very ill and the Royal

Alexandra Hospital. She spent her first night frozen because staff

were unable to get her a blanket. She had to rely on her daughter

bringing one in for her the next day. They great-grandfather went in

to the hospital for a serious operation. Three nights in hospital

with only his beach towel to keep him warm. Does the First Minister

realise it is not enough to say you are protecting the NHS, you

actually have to do it. The Health Secretary has indicated that she is

prepared to look into any case in the national herd -- National

Health Service were care does not meet standards. This is a huge

priority for this Government. Jackie Baillie has already had to

apologise about her scare stories about shortages of blankets which

turned out to be untrue. She is very well aware of this. I know

that the survey, which was not a Scottish survey, which is published

this week indicated concern by nurses. However there has been that

surveys by it the RCN that did have Scottish input. There was one in

April 2006 were 4,000 nurses were questioned in Scotland. In that

survey, two-thirds of nurses said the Government prevented them

providing the standard of care they wanted. That has declined to 50%. I

would like to have a situation where no nurse was concerned about

the pressure of work. But by any standards, that represents an

improvement to when a Labour were in Office. Let's remember that when

Labour were in office, their incompetence and financial

management meant they could not even spend the Scottish budget that

was allocated we have been protecting the National Health

Service against the most ferocious cuts for many generations. That is

why we stand proudly on our record on Scotland's National Health

Service. It is one thing for the First Minister to repeat his

version of his record. He has to confront the reality of what is

happening to people's lives. It is one thing to attack Jackie Baillie,

but it is another to attack those who are raising concerns about the

National Health Service. We have established the First Minister will

not listen to me, or listen to independent voices. Will he listen

to people suffering from his mismanagement of the NHS? The

people I spoke about are sitting in the public gallery. We found at

least 7 recent cases of patients going without blankets at the Royal

Alexandra Hospital. The Government denied it. I was called to

investigate my own health spokesperson for having the

audacity to give a voice to the complaints of her own constituents.

The reality is, if you read the newspaper, he would have seen our

claims are true. If the First Minister does not believe me, why

doesn't he come and meet with the two constituents and explain that

we do not have a problem with the NHS. Explain it is a figment of

Jackie Baillie's imagination. They will tell him what the NHS is

really like. When is the First Minister going to stop the rhetoric

and face up to the reality of his own responsibilities? I said

specifically that the Health Secretary would investigate any

case in the National Health Service where treatment fell below our

expectations, and she would be delighted to meet the patients

concerned or any other people who experience care which is less than

what all of us would expect. That is why I said it in my last answer.

I did not criticise the nurses of Scotland. I pointed out we would

love to have a situation where nurses were not concerned about

numbers and standards of care. I merely pointed out that surveys

showed that the standard of care is improving from when Labour were in

power. But we should not be surprised about that. In 2007 when

this government came to office, the Government them said that the

National Health Service would just have to cut its cloth. It would not

get any consequential as whatsoever. That was their policies. During the

recent election campaign, Iain Gray said in Newsnight Scotland, we

would not ring-fence the health budget in Scotland. The reality is,

thanks to the direction of this government in 2007, the NHS had

more money spent in it. Thanks to this government last year, the NHS

had more money spent in it. Given what is happening in Wales, no-one

can be in any doubt that the only party in Scotland committed to

protecting the National Health Service and its budget is this SNP

government! Some nods of satisfaction in the public gallery.

Whatever that was, it was not taking responsibility. The Health

Secretary wrote and said the problems with the towels were that

the staff could not source them. Unison members have been

complaining for 10 months that this was a serious issues. It is about

time the Minister took responsibility, defender of the NHS

and responded to concerns of constituents. I think the health

board explicitly denied Jackie Baillie's claims as far as we

cycled towels were concerns. It is not very useful to return to

something which our health spokesman should be embarrassed

about. I have got great interest in making sure that every patient

experiences less than satisfactory care is not just met, but that

these issues and complaints are dealt with. I am merely pointing

out that it is beyond argument that if Labour had come to power in 2007,

if they had come to power last year, there would be less resources spent

on Scotland's National Health Service. The fact that Joanna

Lamond was in government in 2007 and deputy leader last year

indicates that she should hang her head in shame because she was

prepared to under resource To ask the First Minister when you

will next meet the Prime Minister? I am not surprised in this light is

it that is a with some does not want to talk about yesterday's

budget, particularly the effect on old people across Scotland. Let us

remember the huge number of people earning under �16,000 who or where

having to pay descriptions in Scotland before it they were

rightly abolished by this Government. I can tell her that the

idea at that you should cut taxes for the richest members of the

community at the expense of not providing medicines that people can

afford to was a deeply unpopular in Scotland. But that is nothing new

for the Scottish Conservative Party. I am happy to talk about the 73,000

people taking out of tax altogether, but 2.1 people who have seen their

tax rate rise, but that is not the numbers I asked for it from this

First Minister. The Government's own figure is that a �130 million

will be spent funding free prescriptions by the end of this

month alone. But as �130 million to buy votes at the last election. As

we heard last week, there is no money for a cancer drug fund. They

tell us at this week that there is less money for nurses on the front

line. Despite the protestations of the First Minister today, below us

numbers of nurses in Scotland for six years. Yesterday, Health Board

found fiddling the figures because it is missing its targets and today

the British Medical Association saying that even visiting your

family doctor means getting treated in sub-standard conditions and in

crumbling buildings. Government is all about choices. Well First

Minister now admit that there are far graver needs in Scotland's

health service than his choice for a free prescription giveaway?

think pressure on the National Health Service might be something

to do with the cutbacks taking place in the Westminster Government.

I am surprised even Ruth Davidson would want to defend the situation

testified by pharmacists across the country for patients had to choose

which medicines they took because of prescription charges. I do not

think mentioning that the British Medical Association is such a good

idea for Ruth Davidson, as I understand that you were thinking

of standing candidates against the Conservative Party in England, so

disgusted are they by the performance of the it Tory

Government on the health service. I am delighted that recidivism want

to talk about yesterday's budget, because on television last night

David Blundell was unable to tell us how many people in Scotland

would benefit from the cut in top rate tax to and unable to tell us

how many pensioners would suffer from the pensioners being punished

in the Budget. I can tell Chris Davidson, up 15,000 top taxpayers

in Scotland will benefit and 327,000 current pensioners and

half-a-million future pensioners will be powered -- punished by the

Tory, Liberal Democrat Coalition. I believe that these 15,000 tax rate

top -- top rate taxpayers in Scotland would not have wanted

their bonus to be at the expense of have a pet -- have a million

pensioners in Scotland, and therein lies our politics -- lies the

difference in our politics. Punish the pensioners and keep the rich

happy is the policy of the Tory party. Since the publication of the

Price Waterhouse Cooper report NHS scandal, I have been approached by

a number patients and staff who have raised further concerns about

the management culture and practices there. Well the First

Minister now instruct a full comprehensive and independent

review of the whole of NHS West Lothian's activities? A statement

from the Health Secretary yesterday dealt with that exact point. I do

not think anyone listening to that statement yesterday could be under

any and -- any other impression how seriously the health service takes

the situation and how determined the Health Secretary is to sort

this out. I do not think this issue to deflect from the reality that

more people in Scotland right now are satisfied with the NHS than

ever before. Secondly, all the new ball an enormous amount across the

health service in Scotland to the dedication and work of the health

professionals and all of the staff in our National Health Service.

Cast the First Minister what assurances he can provide to the 60

strong workforce in our health facing closure? And the nearby

Nestle plant in Govan are facing a significant redundancies? Will the

Scottish Government work effectively to mitigate the impact

on them, their families and the whole of the community? I should

remember's concern. -- share of the member's concerns. I can confirm we

will do everything we can to help local Ayrshire people, the

employees of nicely who may be affected, I understand it company

itself is committed to finding new jobs for local employees. We will

do everything we can act to provide support to minimise the time that

these individuals are affected by redundancies. Caspar First Minister

of what impact -- what its impact will be of the UK but it on the

people of Scotland? The budget allocated next to no money full

resources to support growth in the economy. Indeed, the off at -- the

Office of budget responsibility say that the Government has announced

policy measures that have a limited effect on our economic forecast. I

hear from the Tory benches today the comment on the oil industry. If

the summit of Tory ambition is to undo part of the Davin -- damage

that they did in last year's budget, all will no doubt they will blame

the Liberal Democrats for last year, if that is the summit of the Tory

party's ambition, then it is hardly surprising that they had been

reduced to the proposition that they are in Scottish politics.

he share my concern about George Osborne's budget will do more to

benefit millionaires than the people of Scotland? The First

Minister will also be aware that the Chancellor's proposal to freeze

age-related tax benefits for up pensioners will leave average

pensioner's �83 worse off in 2013 and 14. Can the First Minister

indicate what the impact on pensioners and Scotland will be by

this disgraceful change in pensioner's tax allowances? There

are 330,000 current pensioners who will be affected by this decision.

By 2016 and 2017, the effect will be �220 more in income tax and the

number of pensioners affected will have risen to 500,000. That is half

a million pensioners that his party has punished and many of them have

no doubt will be watching this debate and his programme. Can I say

to the Conservative Party that the pensioner's allowance was first

introduced by Winston Churchill when he was Chancellor of the

Exchequer. We have got to the stage for the Conservative Party in terms

of their determination to pursue their own agenda are prepared to

punish millions of pensioners across the UK, half a million

pensioners in Scotland, reverse the policies of Winston Churchill and

they wonder why next to nobody is voting for them! Just for clarity,

I wonder if the First Minister welcomes the increase in personal

tax allowances to over 9,000 -- �9,200, and as he will come up the

cutting of corporation tax to �14 next month and 22p in 2014? Because

a Government press release and his own answers today have completely

ignored those for two very important measures for Scotland.

John Swinney yesterday welcomed a number of the measures in the

Budget. It is true, we're tough -- we are helping people out of

taxation and we welcome this. I wish the Chancellor would be

prepared to acknowledge John Swinney's role. I think if John

Swinney, out of the goodness of his heart makes a proposal on 7th

February, and then I find out it was all Daniel Alexander's

brilliant idea, I think these things should be corrected. The see

his point is this. I do not believe that the relatively few number of

people benefiting in Scotland from the reduction in the top rate tax

would have wanted to have that benefit at the expense of half-a-

million pensioners in Scotland. I do not believe that, clearly Gavin

Brown does, that is the difference between our two parties, which is

why we are here and he is their! What impact possible changes by the

UK Government to regional pay awards would have in Scotland.

Scottish ministers have set pay policy for devolved body --

devolved bodies. This move could penalise public servants, introduce

regional pay disparities and pay cuts to implement higher public

spending as we are. This will do nothing to promote growth or

furnace and I think the Chancellor should think again. Can he outlined

what the Scottish Government is doing to offer public sector

workers under its control some level of security of pay and will

he express...? Our policy has been consistent. We want to see a

Scotland where affair may -- fair wage is a living wage. Every

employee in the Scottish Government are guaranteed from this year at

least a living wage of �7.20 per hour. Two-thirds of the thousands

who have benefited from this have been women. The living wage will

also be introduced to local Government employees in all

councils and I hope it is a substantial number of which will

have led by the SNP. Caspar First Minister about his own pension in

particular and given that he was part of the previous scheme where

he would have accrued benefits on the basis of his time his service,

Acas quit their he has moved to the new scheme which would be much

better for the public purse, if not himself? I am quite certain that if

he looks up the record for his -- he will find his question is based

on a false premise. Can I ask the First Minister of whether the

Scottish Government will reconsider its support for the continuation of

a bonus points scheme for hospital doctors in the light of the

reduction in NHS jobs and general pay freeze in the public sector?

There are obviously huge issues across the public sector at the

moment, how could there be otherwise with our budget been cut

so substantially? It should be noted that staffing in NHS Scotland

is higher than at the start of the previous Parliament. Overall, NHS

staff numbers are up by 3.5% and medical and dental numbers are up

by 3.5%. He will be aware that awards and discretionary points

have been frozen in Scotland since 2010, and spent on distinction

Awards is now less than it was in 2007 when we came to office. He

seems to be questioning the numbers, as she often does, it was 24.1

million and 2007, it has come down progressively to 24.1 million in

2007 to 23.8 million in 2011. not sure if I can start to -- thank

him for that answer because I am talking about the bonus points

scheme. As a time when his Government has imposed a pay freeze

on everyone in the NHS earning over 21,000, how can he justified the

fact that there were 201 new entrants to the hospital doctor a

bonus points scheme last year receiving additional top ups all

fat and up of their salary, and how can he justify the fact that more

than one-third of all the consultants already in the bonus

scheme were given increases at an additional cost to their health

service of �2.6 million? And this despite the promises by the Cabinet

Secretary to freeze the system to new entrants and to cease increases

to other people. I know the difference and I'm sure Richard

Simpson will be the first person to say that this was something in

place throughout labour's time in office. The NHS board believe that

they are contractually obliged to continue with the current scheme

until a new system can be negotiated. That is the belief of

the NHS's board. It is not enough for him to sweep away the

distinction of that award scheme, because that is a scheme in which

there is not a contractual element of entitlement and so it has been

possible to freeze the value of a number of awards. Up to 2012, their

work less than 84 it -- more than 84 at less consultants holding

those awards and a saving of �4.1 million. In terms of his question,

it is an inconvenient reminder that he is complaining about something

that Labour are not just established the system but did

nothing about in their entire time in office and it allows me to draw

attention to the area at which is not contractually bound. Does he

consider that separation from the rest of the United Kingdom could be

negotiated within a year of an independence referendum? Death John

Lamond was so confident about his position then he would not need to

discuss the process of independence in such pejorative terms. Can I

refer to paragraphs 4.1 and 4.5 of their referendum picture of which

has now received 7,000 responses? Somewhat greater than the reason

member but -- has a membership of the Scottish Conservative Party.

You will find in that document a timetable after a vote for

independence in the autumn of 2014. I am sure he, in his heart,

genuinely agrees that the proposed timetable is proper and following a

yes vote the first election of an independent Scotland will take

place in 2016. Sharp exchanges there. Particularly