25/09/2014 Politics Scotland

A very warm welcome to the Scottish parliament here at Holly Ruud, one

week on from the referendum. The First Minister Alex Salmond has

signalled he intends to step down. Nicola Sturgeon has announced her

candidacy. The candidates are beginning to muster, and the various

parties, nominating members of the Smith commission to determine powers

for Holyrood. The big event of today, this programme, is questions

to the First Minister. That cross to the chamber. I am sure the

referendum and its aftermath will be mentioned during the question Time

session in the next half-hour. At the moment the energy Minister

Fergus Ewing is on his feet answering a question from labour

about fairer pay forward is employed by private companies and public

contracts. Here is the presiding Officer. Questionable one, Joanne

Lamont -- Joanne Lamont. Asking the First Minister what he is doing for

the rest of the day. It is the funeral for Neal McCormack, the late

MP. Mr 's as a temp -- Mr Swinney is attending. He was a fine member of

Parliament for Argyll and went to vote in the referendum in person

last Thursday. We will all miss him very much. On our side we want to

send our condolences to his family at a sad time. For the last six

weeks of First Minister has warned the people of Scotland, some might

say has misled them, that the NHS would be privatised if there was a

No vote. But the NHS -- that the NHS would be privatised if there was a

No vote. Last week there was about and we now know it is the sovereign

will of the people of Scotland to stay strong in the United Kingdom.

APPLAUSE. But some weeks before that No vote,

the First Minister of Scotland privatised the medical records of

every Scot in the country. Why did he keep that quiet until after the

referendum? Isn't it the case that Alex Salmond has done more to

privatise the NHS than anyone else in Scottish history? APPLAUSE.

No, it is not the case. The primary care information resource is an IT

system replacing another IT system. To describe a contract for the

Scottish primary care information resource as privatisation is like

saying this parliament is being privatised because we use Windows on

our computers. LAUGHTER. It is a ridiculous argument put forward. The

system gives substantial advantages in terms of the collection and

governance of information throughout the NHS. It is right and proper that

the government have sought and received guarantees on the data

security, that is the right thing to do, but for Joe Hanrahan and,...

Alistair Darling said no government would privatise. They would say what

-- see what Andy Burnham has said in the party conference, confirming

that they believe in what is happening in Westminster at the

moment. Given that that is confirmed by Labour, will there be accessed

and is of the knock-on effect in Scotland in terms of finance and the

critical importance for Scotland's future of controlling not just the

administration but the finances of our National Health Service?

APPLAUSE. It may be a while since we last had

an exchange of Christians but that is no more credible than any other

answers over the last period -- and exchange of questions. Because the

First Minister and his anointed successor Nicola Sturgeon have

increased the number of NHS patients treated privately by almost 500%. He

spends ?100 million of public money on private health care. This

government privatises our health records during a campaign in which

he claimed the health service would be privatised if we didn't vote for

him. Guess what, he was privatising it anyway. Now that the campaign is

over, will the First Minister be honest with the people of Scotland

and admit he is doing more to privatise the NHS than anyone else

in Scotland? The less than 1% of health board expenditure goes to the

private sector in Scotland. The figure in England is 6% and the

Labour Party says it is heading towards 20%. To describe software

and IT system as an example of privatisation, by the same company

incidentally already providing systems to the health boards in

Scotland, and has done so since 1998, is... It is what happens to

the Labour Party. I have said the Daily Telegraph has become the house

journal. If the Daily Mail as the source material of the Labour Party,

we can see why the questions get more ridiculous. Order! The position

for the Scottish health service is simple. If there is a move to

privatisation south of the border, and the introduction of charging and

the lowering of public spending south of the border, then that

impacts on the finance of the Scottish health service. That is why

in order to keep our National Health Service in public hands, we have to

control both of finances and the administrations. That is what we

intend to do and that is supported by the majority of the Scottish

people. APPLAUSE. There has been an increase in

private spending on the First Minister's watch, and he knows it.

So perhaps the First Minister could break the habit of a lifetime and

indulge in a little truth mongering. The First Minister claims, and are

now appears to continue to claim, the NHS would be privatised if there

was a No Mac vote -- no vote. He is increasing the amount of money spent

on private health providers and the First Minister six weeks before the

referendum privatised the health records of every person in Scotland.

Will the First Minister just admit that he has done more to privatise

the NHS in Scotland than any other politician in history? APPLAUSE.

Order. The company already provides IT

systems to GPs across Scotland. It does not constitute privatisation of

the NHS. It constitutes having a better IT system than we have at the

present moment. Johansson Lamont 's -- Joanne Lamont has argued that I

should be aware of my anointed successor. I read in the papers that

they seem to be a number of successes for her. LAUGHTER.

But she can be confident in the support of the members of parliament

she leads at Westminster. One quoted in the Herald asked if she was under

threat, said, yes, people will rally round but the sharks will be

circling. Can I say, one leadership election in Scotland is enough at

any one time, but we can be absolutely confident... Order. More

people will vote in the SNP leadership election than the Labour

Party once. STUDIO: Efforts to rising membership of the SNP. Don't

worry, when the First Minister is gone I will still be doing my job

and a half of the people of Scotland. APPLAUSE.

And as an optimist at the. Order. I hope the coronation of Nicola

Sturgeon still insures she might answer a question or two which

self-evidently her boss has not been able to do. But to the serious

business of this government, we now know, because of the courage of a

whistle-blower, there are ?450 million worth of cuts the First

Minister is planning to the NHS. But he decided not to tell us until

after the referendum. During the referendum campaign, the First

Minister secretly privatise the health records of every Scot, while

warning... It is astonishing, he was privatising the health records of

every Scot while warning of the dangers of privatisation. The First

Minister has increased spending on private health care to ?100 million.

I asked the First Minister, why does he say he is against privatising the

health service when that is exactly what he is doing? When was he

planning to tell us about the ?100 million spending private health and

when was he going to tell us about the privatising of our health

records, and when was he going to tell us in honesty about the half ?1

billion of cuts to our precious health service? The company

concerned supplying software since 1998 across the UK, by definition

that means Tony Blair must have been privatising the health service in

1998. I think he started the process of privatisation when they pushed

through foundation hospitals in the NHS in England. Including two

Scottish health boards. They were involved in the design and

management systems to copulate payments for GP across Scotland. A

computer system does not represent privatisation of the NHS. Nor does a

?450 million cost pressure over the next two years over which there

was... The cost pressures are caused by both pensions and the ending of

the national insurance rebate, both decisions taken by the Westminster

government. Does that not exemplify the position of the Scottish

Government, that cost pressures originating from Westminster have

huge impact in the Scottish National health this? I am delighted to

confirm to this chamber that we have increased health service spending in

real terms and will continue to do so. I am delighted to tell this

chamber the vast majority of people in Scotland understand why we have

to control the finances of this country and our health service as

well as the administration. If we can be prevented from Tory and

Labour attempts to privatise our health service. I think Joanne Lamb

-- Johann Lamont continues as the leader of the opposition in this

Parliament for some time, but if so it would be because of the

enthusiastic support of their own colleagues. Quote: The catastrophic

thing would be for her to go and not have Jim Murphy as leader. If we end

up with an MSP, we might as well go home for 2016. I am not as

pessimistic about the Labour Party's prospects of the Labour

Party. I am sure Johann Lamont will put off an excellent fight in the

coming election and end up exactly where she is now, as this party

continues the National Health Service in public hands. APPLAUSE.

CHEERING. That is why we need a woman's touch!

LAUGHTER. To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Secretary

of State for Scotland. No plans in the near future. It emerged

following questioning by my colleague yesterday that we will not

have a programme for government from this administration until late

November. But bizarrely we will have a budget before that. In other words

this government will drop the budget for a legislative programme that

doesn't exist. The First Minister spoke at great length about what

would happen in the event of a Yes vote and the team he was building

for the first 100 days, but he doesn't appear to have any plans for

the first eight weeks now he has lost. The people of Scotland demand

that we get back to the real issue, people want to see a Scottish

government working in the interest of all of Scotland. Why should they

have to wait two more months for this government to do its job? The

government will be publishing the budget, bringing forward a bill on

land reform following a report of the review group, producing a bill

to end automatic early release, we are in the process of delivering the

Ryder Cup which I hope will any let the Commonwealth Games as one of the

most successful sporting event Scotland has ever seen, we are

bringing forward the regulations to allow the first same-sex marriages

in Scotland. Order! . Introducing free school meals from January from

primary one - three, something I remember the Labour Party were fully

sure enough to vote against in this chamber. We are working with

stakeholders to secure the success and ongoing operational Ferguson

shipyards, and will have a reform bill to streamline civil justice,

and the figures on the economy suggests the SNP in both

government, particularly in the huge increase in women's employment, are

bearing fruit. I have a list of a dozen things the Scottish Government

is employed in the present moment. I can read down that list, I am sure

there would be enthusiasm. I think we have the point. The Scottish

Government is getting on with the job of governing Scotland

effectively which is perhaps why opinion poll ratings are now almost

50%, about five times the Scottish Conservative Party. APPLAUSE.

Spectacular lack of legislation to come there. Can it really be that

the First Minister does not get it? We now have at least two more months

of what the papers described as a zombie government. In the

meantime,... LAUGHTER. In the meantime, the First Minister will

pick up another ?20,000 worth of taxpayers money as salary, will go

on his farewell photo Op tour before the inevitable happens and his

deputy takes over. We know he has plenty of time on his hands because

that is what he told us all in agreement letter to a national

newspaper this week. -- a green ink letter. But we know he is working on

his book deal, not legislation, so if years in office but not in power,

can he tell us what is the point of him hanging around? I suppose one of

the reasons that the Scottish National party happen or go had

62,870 members... -- have an hour I go. That membership expects us to do

through a democratic process in terms of the election of a leader

and deputy leader and then this parliament in terms of the election

of a First Minister. I have already said to Ruth Davidson this

substantial efforts with the Government including legislation as

we speak. I know we will have the support of the Scottish Conservative

Party, especially for the measures in land reform...

Which I know is so close to the heart of Jimmy McGregor and other

members. We have no intention whatsoever in not allowing the

landowners of Scotland to develop renewable energy in their

substantial holdings, and we know are crossed that range of

legislation, the Conservative Party, in that phase of democracy for which

they are famous, will give us support or nothing because the

Scottish people recognise the SMP epitomises the wishes of the vast

majority of the people of Scotland -- the SMP. Hence the success of

this party and the lack of success of the Conservative Party. The

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are proposing to cut services, a

reduction of 16 firefighters and local people are up in arms about

this. Can I ask the First Minister if the things such a significant cut

is acceptable and will he meet me to discuss concerns about these cuts?

There are accruing changes but no job losses in these changes. If the

member is concerned about it I will arrange for a meeting so he can

carry Ford these concerns, but I am told there are no job losses

involved, as he describes the situation, but let's have the

meeting and see if they can articulate the concerns and get to

the bottom of the question. To ask the First Minister what questions

will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet. Issues of

importance. Yesterday John Swinney said in his support for home rule

and federalism, he joins the company of Gladstone, Gordon Brown, and

Michael Forsyth. Plans for home rule and federalism were published two

years ago. Can the First Minister tell us if he is now a supporter of

federalism and on which part of our plan we can find common cause?

Theirs and expect Haitian after the referendum that given the comments

not of Gladstone but certainly of Gordon Brown, -- and expectation. He

was opposing not home rule but federalism with a powerhouse

parliament coming from the steps being taken in Westminster rather

than the home rule proposals published last spring, so in terms

of securing the jobs test for a powerhouse parliament I will stand

shoulder to shoulder with William Gladstone, Gordon Brown and Willie

Rennie. I thank them for that constructive engagement. The plans

that were put before the voters last week were the plans set out by our

three parties. I am looking forward to his plans to come forward as well

because then we can create a Scottish parliament with the tax

powers to give us that flexibility to do things differently here,

powers to tackle inequality, invest for the long term and create a

stronger economy and fairer society. Driving down powers into the

communities, which I am sure he is in favour of, and creating a federal

UK. He has not commented on our proposals but can he find common

cause on what we put forth and engaged in a proper discussion? I

think we can have a very constructive discussion to improve

Scotland's situation. I don't follow the position about home rule and as

close to federalism as Willie Rennie proposes, given these were not, as I

conceive, what was produced last spring or though it was talked about

in the referendum campaign. I was struck during the campaign by a

tweet saying someone was supporting anyone who could give us devo max.

That was a tweet from JK Rowling, and it seems to emphasise there is a

considerable expectation on anyone who voted no and financed the

campaign, a substantial expectation of seeing real economic powers. My

difficulty is that when I mentioned my reading of the report proposing

the ending of the Barnett formula, Willie Rennie denied that at the

chamber, so I went back to the Campbell commission report in case I

had missed red and was misrepresenting the position, and

paragraph 131 says, I will quote, the UK should move the independence

formula to serve all parts of the UK, McKnight and the Barnett formula

was only ever to be a temporary measure. Willie Rennie is going to

have to clarify what exactly the Lib Dems are proposing, is it what was

in the Campbell report? He may find my successor, whoever he or she may

be, maybe less indulgent with Willie Rennie's missed me rambling -- mess

remembering of his own policies. Roderick Campbell. To ask that First

Minister for the Scottish minister fans to discuss with the UK

Government extending the voting franchise to 16 and 17-year-olds. As

I made clear in this chamber, the thoughtful and passionate engagement

of young voters in this debate means there is a answerable case for

giving 16 and 17-year-olds the vote in Scotland and across the UK. I am

glad this has the support of all parties. The Deputy First Minister

wrote to the Prime Minister urging the UK Prime Minister to devolve

electoral responsibilities to the Scottish Parliament, so we can

ensure 16 and 17-year-olds can take part in the 2016 election. I welcome

those comments. I am sure it you will agree it would be wrong to

remove the vote from 16 and 17-year-olds after allowing them to

choose the future of the country. Will this issue be discussed next

time he speaks to the Prime Minister? I can assure that and

yesterday the Deputy First Minister wrote to the Prime Minister now

there is a consensus on this issue, we have to keep faith with these

youngsters who voted in the referendum and also the next peer

group of youngsters coming forward. It would be a substantial setback in

democratic terms if in our 2016 elections there 16 and 17-year-olds

were not entitled to vote, so there must be a sharp focus on securing

the ability to make sure our elections in 2016 extent that

franchise and we keep faith with young people who showed such

overwhelming numbers that they were willing and able to take part in

democratic discussion. To ask the First Minister what the

Scottish Government's edition is on raising the minimum wage to ?8 an

hour. We welcome any increase in the national minimum wage, which has

failed to keep up with inflation. The proposed increase coming from

the Labour conference is phased and will not take place until 2020,

meaning an increase of just 20% at 20p in real terms. It is proposed we

should raise the minimum wage to the living wage, those are part of that

measures I would propose. I thank the Minister for that response. He

will be aware Ed Miliband is proposing a national minimum wage

rate of ?8 an hour. The majority of this chamber support this, as they

do the living wage, currently ?7 65 and are, and although the Government

did not take the opportunity to bring in the living wage for public

sector contracts, will he work with Labour to make sure for the public

sector and those engaged in delivering public sector contracts,

their wages are increased to ?8 an hour, so we can address the cost of

living crisis and help working people who were struggling across

Scotland right now. Can I point out to Jackie Baillie, if the minimum

wage had kept pace with inflation since 2008 it would already be ?7 48

per hour. The proposal to increase to ?8 is for 2020 and includes a 2%

increase year by year to get their which is less than the increase

taking place in the minimum wage before 2008. People on low wages

have been drained by successive Westminster governments, including

when Alistair Darling was Chancellor, offering increases that

were less than inflation, so what I think is important is to understand

that the living wage by 2020, even if it was only to keep pace with

inflation, should be ?8 57 per our in the forecast, and this Parliament

should aspire to raise the minimum wage to the living wage, as

recommended in our welfare proposals, and when this Parliament

has control over the minimum wage, I am certain the progressive influence

of Jackie Baillie and myself will ensure we move towards a living wage

in Scotland. If the minimum wage were to have increased in line with

the commitments in the White Paper, in which year would it reach ?8 and

are? If the minimum wage commitments in the White Paper after a guarantee

from the fair wage commission that it keeps place with inflation, so we

would be in a fundamentally that position than in the last few years,

when the Labour and Conservative parties, going through a recession,

penalised the lowest paid people in the country. Gavin Brown wasn't

among the most enthusiastic supporters of this Government's

introduction of the living wage across the public sector, but we

have been vindicated, and that is the answer from the electorate in

terms of the introduction of the living wage at ?7 65 and therefore

we look forward to raising the level of the minimum wage to a living

wage, so all workers in Scotland get a fair day's pay for a fair day's

work. To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government is doing to

capitalise on the legacy of the Ryder Cup? Golf tourism is worth a

lot to Scotland annually. The 2014 Ryder Cup is the perfect catalyst

for further growth in tourism as well as reinforcing our position as

the home of golf. Visit Scotland estimates it will benefit the

economy I at least ?100 million. One of the most important aspects of the

process which brought it to Scotland is a commitment made as part of the

Ryder Cup board that has been taken for Ward and 350,000 youngsters

across Scotland have been introduced to the game of golf. A golf

programme will be extended into a family golf approach where

youngsters ask parents to play with them, emphasising golf should be a

game for everyone in Scotland. In the Ryder Cup, 50 young unemployed

people volunteered to get the increase in skills and improve

future opportunities all round. I think just as the Commonwealth Games

was a success for the city of Glasgow, we intend to do the same

thing with the Ryder Cup in Gleneagles. I thank the First

Minister for his response. We all welcome the work on going to

capitalise on those benefits, and I was interested he seems to think the

Ryder Cup is part of his legislative programme for the coming year. I

wonder if with his upcoming retirement, he is looking forward as

much as we are to him spending more time with his golf clubs. I am

looking forward enormously to playing golf as often as possible,

but I suspect that the wishes of the Conservative Party to see me

disappear from the Scottish politics will be as disappointing to them as

future election results in Scotland will almost undoubtedly be. That is

First Minister's Questions. We move to members' business. Alex Salmond

ending with a bit of a stink, a suggestion his replacement might not

be gentle on political opponents. As Tony Blair said the great clunking

fist of Gordon Brown would come down upon them, but on the subject of

sport, well done to Dundee United for