27/02/2014 Politics Scotland

Welcome to the Scottish Parliament here at Holyrood, the talking point

this morning those remarks from standard life in their annual report

saying they would have to make potential preparations for with

drying operations from Scotland in the event of the risks associated

with independence. Let us cross to the chamber. -- Standard Life.

Sadly, we have had confirmation earlier this morning a 62-year-old

man fell from a platform in the North Sea, transferred to hospital,

but he has unfortunately passed away. I know the chamber will join

me in expressing condolences to family, friends and colleagues at

this distressing time. We on this side add our condolences and

recognise the importance that people going to work are kept safe.

recognise the importance that people the United Kingdom. I'm

recognise the importance that people companies need to leave Scotland

before the First Minister admits I guess vote would be a disaster for

Scottish jobs? -- a yes vote. Let me quote exactly from the question and

answer session at the Standard Life annual meeting. How many people do

you employ in Edinburgh which might want with be the impact of moving

jobs? We have made no decision of moving jobs at the current time as a

consequence of the constitutional debate. We are proud of Scottish

heritage and believe it is a good place to conduct business and

compete around the world. They they have intended to plant if this

continues to not be the case. Our submission should be that Standard

Life will find Scotland a good place to do business, as does business in

ten countries around the world, and that will happen first and foremost

because of the excellence of the staff, its prime asset, the 5000

people working in Scotland, the strength of the company. And second,

relating to their points, the Scottish Government puts forward the

concept of a shared currency and revelatory framework, which is

exactly the sort of things that Standard Life have been calling for.

Given that statement, and given the importance of Scotland as a good

place with which to run business and compete around the world, in this

chamber not unite in having confidence that an independent

Scotland, under any constitutional framework, will be exactly that?

APPLAUSE. Only in Alex Salmond's world was what Standard Life dead

today represented by what he has said. -- said today. Are tried and

tested path. Denial, JEERING.

Delusion. Ms Lamont, deception is not acceptable in the chamber. It

certainly isn't, and is not in the chamber. And it is not acceptable in

life. It is not acceptable in the chamber. Continue. Standard Life is

worth nearly ?250 billion, 90% of its customers are in the rest of the

United Kingdom. Now, Standard Life is actively making plans to leave

Scotland if the First Minister gets his way. No amount of bluff, no

amount of bluster, and no amount of bullying from Alex Salmond can

change that fact. Now, Will the First Minister admit that, if

Scotland leaves the United Kingdom, people's jobs will leave Scotland?

The bluff, bluster and bullying applies to George Osborne, the Tory

Chancellor that she is in alliance with. What Standard Life are seeing

is what I have read out. I know Johann Lamont says she does not

believe what I say, but I was reading exactly from the question

and answer session at two-day's AGM. What they are two is they want

Scotland to be a good place in which to run business and complete around

the world, as they do in ten countries at the moment. We say we

can say that Scotland will be a good place to run business from, we can

do that because of the propositions we make, have a currency union,

secure regulatory environment, we make, have a currency union,

the skills and assets of its staff, which is what makes Standard Life,

and has made Standard Life, a successful company. The Scottish

Government put forward a viewpoint of what we believe to be in the best

interests of Scotland, a logical and rational argument. Is it really the

case that you and Lamb and is making is that Scotland will not be a good

place to do business? -- the real case that Johann Lamont is making

question that there is substantial evidence that not only will it be a

good place to do business, but an independent Scotland will be a more

competitive place to do business. APPLAUSE. It is precisely because

Scotland is a good place to do business we want Scotland to stay

strong in the United Kingdom, in the currency union we have now. The

First Minister has to explain why he wants to create change to something

that is actually working all stop but of course, it is not just

Standard Life. Royal Bank of Scotland, the bank the First

Minister used to work for, that he encouraged to do the deal which made

them go bust, The Royal Bank of Scotland--... JEERING. Order. We

have all seen the letter you wrote to Fred Goodwin. The of Scotland has

said that uncertainty is damaging their fragile business. Standard

Life planning to leave, RDS shedding Scottish jobs. When the First

Minister said he did not mind that your economics, he was not kidding.

-- RBS shedding jobs. Isn't it the case that Alex Salmond's

-- RBS shedding jobs. Isn't it the Margaret Thatcher?

-- RBS shedding jobs. Isn't it the believes that Scotland is not

genetically programmed to make political decisions could possibly

come up with that concoction of nonsense! Let us take it parties by

piece. We have been here before. Standard Life in the past have

expressed concerns. In 1992, of course, the managing director wrote

to every employee saying that any constitutional change, any

constitutional change, would be damaging for their business and cost

jobs, but by 1997, they had changed their minds as experience showed

them constitutional change could secure a business environment. I

think Johann Lamont should remember that in the past, other people have

been convinced by experience and evidence that Scotland indeed is

genetically programmed to make political decisions. But then of

course she mentions other things. There have been a range of

statements across the financial sector. Ross McEwan stated that the

Royal Bank operates in 38 countries, an independent Scotland would make

it 39. Independence was described as a matter for the Scottish people to

decide. Aberdeen asset management, if it did happen, it would been

neutral. Major figures recognise that the operations of their

business in an independent Scotland could be highly successful. In the

past, when we were faced with businesses who have concerns or

doubt, and the Anson of those supporting constitutional change was

to demonstrate by evidence and billions that Scotland would be more

successful. -- the answer. That is what has been done in the past and

will be done with what has been done in the past and

debate. But she should say she believes that Scotland is capable of

making political decisions, because if you don't believe that, and she

seemed to deny in a debate earlier this week, then the whole basis on

which we have come so far to this parliament is being denied and, as

we have demonstrated, our ability to run so many of the affairs of

Scotland better than they have ever been run from Westminster, so we can

demonstrate our ability to run our economy and other great issues and

independent Scotland will do. APPLAUSE. Yet more from the First

Minister, obviously someone up Googling, Alex Salmond is right.

LAUGHTER. I just thought they were getting paid for it. This is far too

serious to score cheap points about the significance about what Standard

Life is being. About what Standard Life is saying. Now, BP has warned

independence will damage Scotland. RBS Damaged by the uncertainty Alex

Salmond is even causing now. Standard Life planning to leave if

there is a yes vote. The workers on the River Clyde warning there will

be no shipbuilding after a yes vote. The First Minister can selectively

quote all he likes. He can rewrite people's words and try to mislead

the people of Scotland all he can. But the reality, more jobs go down

at Ravenscraig, more than Bathgate, more than Linwood. If there is a yes

vote, isn't it the case that we will need to be right that song. If there

is a yes vote, isn't need to be right that song. If there

Standard Life no more. RBS no more. Shipbuilding no more! The Scotland,

the Scotland, we love and fight for, no more. And all for Alex Salmond, a

price worth paying. APPLAUSE. Hors d'oeuvre. -- Order. Looking at

what she has quoted, such as Bathgate, the things put out by the

no campaign in 1979, one which she supported, because she was against

evolution. Scotland did not get a parliament and guess what happened?

Bathgate, Linwood, Lochaber, all closed! APPLAUSE. Now, of course, if

you Lamont had not supported the no campaign in 1979, she could have

said that the sole Tory scaremongering, but now we are

seeing not just Tory scaremongering, because she was a no vote in 1979,

she agrees with exactly the same tactics that Scotland has grown out

of over these last 20 years. We have seen through this gear mongering. If

we had not been through Ed, we would not have this Parliament. -- seen

through the scaremongering. Scotland will go on to prosperity and more

equality through an independent Scotland, it will not be our

business no more, it will be the Labour Party no more. CHEERING.

Question number two. Order. Ruth Davidson. I would like to add

Question number two. Order. Ruth chamber to the family of the worker

from the platform tragically killed and I would like to ask the First

Minister when he will next meet the Prime Minister? No plans in the near

future. Thank you. 5000 people across Scotland will cut to hear

that, in the event of a yes vote, the jobs might move both. The chief

executive of Standard Life, David Ness, said he had started to

establish countries outside of Scotland to operate within

independence. They are just making calm and rational preparations for

what happens when you break up a country in which it is operating.

Standard Life has just told as their plan B. How about the First

Minister? Can I read Ruth Davidson something written in the past? The

Scottish life-insurance industry has emerged in recent weeks as the

business sector most publicly demented by even the hint of home

rule. The biggest players, led by Standard Life and Scottish Widows,

even included letters to staff warning about the status of jobs.

That was written by Alf Young, the commentator, talking about the 1992

election campaign. What was worst about that aspect in the campaign,

it was the Conservative Party who were exploiting fears of business

and trying to translate them into opposition to constitutional change

in Scotland. But what happened, by 1997, is that people had been

through that tactic I have read what Standard Life actually said today.

They said they wanted security in having a competitive business

environment. I read it to the chamber that Scotland would be a

good place through which to run business and compete around the

world in the ten countries and due respect and is which Standard Life

currently operates. Ruth Davidson, can you not, from the position of

the Scottish Conservatives, not express the confidence that we can

create, in Scotland, that good competitive place to do business, so

that our highly successful companies can grow their staff in an

independent Scotland? APPLAUSE. What he does not understand is that when

David nicht tells people what they will do it is not a conspiracy, when

other companies say they would move business it is not a conspiracy,

when Asda say they will put up prices, that is not a conspiracy.

When it is said that a currency union without shared government

would be very dangerous, that is not a conspiracy. When a Canadian banker

says you would have to give up sovereignty to have currency union,

that is not a conspiracy. However much he would like to protest that

the Chancellor of the Exchequer, his opposite numbers and the Treasury

say that a currency union would not be in the best interests of the rest

of the UK, that is not a conspiracy either. Explaining how independence

would affect them, their country, their business and their customers

is vital to this debate and the SNP should not dismiss those voices or

shout them down. Standard Life has said that jobs could go in an

independent Scotland if they are not giving our duty on

independent Scotland if they are not issues. What can

independent Scotland if they are not tell their employees today that he

could not tell them yesterday? The conspiracy is not taking place among

the range of companies that Ruth Davidson quartered, it is taking

place among the scaremongers who want to misrepresent what is being

presented. The governor of the Bank of England to made the judicious

speech in Edinburgh a few weeks ago is to be incorporated with the

Chancellor of the Exchequer 's political statements against

monetary union. I have already read out what the Chief Executive of the

Bank of Scotland said, I heard him on the radio this morning, she is

misquoting him. I have seen on the record what else has been said. I

noticed in the papers last week that standard life investments have

reportedly agreed a joint venture acquisition in the joint deal for a

site for Edinburgh. The deal was described as a first-class long-term

investment for our partners, that is what is going on in terms of the

Scottish economy and the attempts by the Chancellor Nix Decker going back

to 2011 to undermine confidence have failed. Ruth Davidson's attempts

will as well. She asks who is supporting our proposition for a

currency union. A huge range of people. Emig Donald, Tony Banks,

Martin Mackay, Edwin McKee, key business people who have signed a

letter to the Scotsman. The UK as an optimal currency zone and would

letter to the Scotsman. The UK as an in the future. Jim Walker of the

bank and business finance partner. A range of people. Above all, the

Scottish people who, by a significant majority, think our

proposal is right. Everyone else who supports our proposal for a currency

union. Jackson Karloff. Not only is he is support, he goes further, he

will man the barricades. I love giving Ruth Davidson the benefit of

the doubt, when Jackson is on the barricades Ruth and I will be

standing along with him. The First Minister will be a weird last week

that in response to investigations by the Kieran Spectra it it was

announced the Independent Hamilton schoolmasterly in Aberdeen would

close immediately. The future provision for preschool children

following the closure of the nurse remains in doubt. Well be Minister

update us on progress and ensure as everything is being done to find

places for the nursery children affected and minimise disruption to

families? I can report, and she knows that Aberdeen Council and the

Scottish Government are working closely on this. As of last night,

over 50 places have already been secured for the children involved.

She knows that faced with the reports that the government

ministers were faced with, there was no reasonable alternative but to

take the action which was required to be taken with guard to the

Hamilton school. We will continue to work closely with Aberdeen Council

to insular the minimum of disruption. I think the very rapid

and effective and is was left with the primary children. -- to ensure

the minimum of disruption. I think looking at the efforts that have

been made, it affects the children, families and staff of the school.

Everyone is doing their up most to make sure there is the minimum of

disruption. The welfare of children has been uppermost in everyone's

mind. Can I ask the First Minister of what support the Scottish

Government is finding for food banks? We have now put in place more

than ?250 million of medication. That is over three years from 2013,

14, to 2015/16. That is to help with welfare change. That is aimed at the

most vulnerable in society to tackle the worst impact of cuts which,

research and September found that food banks themselves believe are

the root cause of the massive increase in numbers using their

services. We will continue to work with partners to insure that those

who use food banks have access to appropriate advice and support. I

have asked for more research into food poverty in Scotland. In the

week when Scotland's largest food bank ran out of food, does he agree

with the General Assembly and Church of Scotland when they said this is

not right Western Mark this is an affront to the dignity of our fellow

human beings when they are forced to rely on these services.

human beings when they are forced to the measure of a just society that

we resolve to tackle and eradicate the poverty that exists in

Scotland? I agree with that. I also think that any politician who visits

and supports the food bank is caught in the pawns of dilemma of two

minds. Admiration for the solidarity being shown by those who worked in

food banks, those volunteering to help fellow citizens, but also the

clearer understanding shared by those volunteers in the food banks

that it is disgraceful that in 21st century Scotland we are seeing the

spread of the necessity to help our fellow citizens in distress. I think

both these aspects should be taken forward policy. One is solidarity

which does help people and secondly the determination to eliminate the

necessity of people trying to rely on food banks. I could not agree

more with those comments. Referral have been made to food banks instead

of grants being made available from the Scottish welfare fund, this is

happening at a time when the Scottish welfare fund is

substantially underspent. The minister last week projecting an

underspend of millions. Wiki there for consider an urgent review to

ensure the Scottish welfare fund better supports those in prices,

negating some of the needs for food banks? It is under review. When I

visited Edinburgh food banks a couple of weeks ago they were saying

exactly that. Operations with local authorities is insular in a better

provision. It was often said these bonds are undersubscribed. It seems

quite clear that the series of mitigation is put forward by the

Scottish Government and local authorities are not going to be

undersubscribed, they are new schemes that have been set and as

time goes on more and more is being claimed from that mitigation

scheme. That is the reality. The other reality at some stage Jackie

Baillie is going to face is that with all the best will in the world,

?250 million of mitigation, we cannot cope with the full extent of

the welfare cuts that have been born down upon many sections of Scottish

society. Given that is the reality, at some stage she will also have to

reconsider her incredible position not that Scotland could not run

welfare provision but that it should not run welfare provision. The

reality is that it must run welfare provision. To ask the First Minister

what the Scottish Government position is on the recent increase

in the reported incidence of rape. It is troubling. We know the highest

proportion are never reported to police, it may be that victims have

more confidence in the police and are more willing to come forward to

report crime. The Crown Office has also improved the way it handles

rape with the creation of the National sexual crimes unit. I thank

him for that answer but whatever the reason for the increase, given the

current constraints on public finance, can he advise what funding

is available from the Scottish Government to ensure agencies to

assist alleged rape victims are properly financed? There are now 14

Scottish rape crisis centres. They properly financed? There are now 14

will receive funding each year until 2015. Rape crisis Scotland will see

244,000 of government funding each year. They also support the 14 rape

crisis centres. We are also providing a rape at Viscusi pilot

which supports victims through their contact with criminal justice

systems. We support the rape crisis helpline which received 260,000 of

Scottish Government funding from 2012 to 2015. That offers

confidential information and help for women and men who have received

sexual violence. In light of the evidence given by health and

well-being audit committee in February, how many confidentiality

clauses have been included automatically in NHS cases? They

were induced in 1993, while these clauses have often been used there

is no obligation to do so. There is understandable concern that the

inclusion of a confidentiality clause in a standard template

produced in 2009 has been encouraging their use. That is why

this morning it was announced these confidentiality clauses are to be

removed from the standard template. The presumption must be against

their use. There is no cause whatsoever that can ever prevent an

NHS employee raising any concerns they might have on patient safety.

Can I thank him for his remarks? Is you Wear, according to Freedom of

information requests, in 2007/8 there

information requests, in 2007/8 NHS in Scotland at the cost

information requests, in 2007/8 ?130,000. That figure has risen

every year since. In 2012 to 110. Last year to 143, ?3.5 million. Now

we discover that every one of these has a confidentiality clause. That

they recognise this problem is one of his own creation? After Ken

Macintosh thanking me for the week I responded to his first question, I

think he should accept that the Health Secretary has consistently

says he is looking at this issue. Looking at how this can best be

sorted in the interest of patients gear -- patient care in Scotland.

They can be no cause in terms of law to prevent an NHS Folly raising

concerns of safety. The patient's rights act established a

confidentiality helpline and Alex Neil announced this very morning at

the Royal College of Nursing conference of taking a further move

to ensure a deal through the use of the standard template to make it

absolutely clear to health boards that the confidentiality clauses are

removed from standard template and the presumption should be against

their use. That seems to me a range of measures that demonstrate this

government was my commitment to allow people in the health service

to promote their concerns without fear. Can I ask out the Scottish

Government will ensure all sectors of sport are equipped to handle our

Jack arrest by participants and spectators? We want everyone to have

access to the best possible care as quickly as possible. A substantial

investment in heart disease services has reduced problems. We are

investing ?100,000 to increase the number of public access to the

further delay to is across Scotland which will benefit sports

participants as well as the wider community. I thank him for his

answer. A campaign aims to have one defibrillator at each of the 300

golf course clubs by 2014. In this exciting year for golf in Scotland

will the government worked with the campaign to persuade every golf club

in Scotland to install such a device? The minister for

Commonwealth Games and sport and I are meeting Bernard Gallacher to

discuss this campaign. Bernard's own recent experience has highlighted

the life-saving potential of public access to defibrillation and I look

forward to learning more about the campaign. I welcome that someone

would use this to bring forward real benefits to the people of Scotland.

There we have it. Coming to the close of questions for the First

Minister. At the beginning, of course, as expected, the issue of

Standard Life predominant in the questions. The First Minister

responding robust play as one would questions. The First Minister

expect. Now I will hand you over to the Daily Politics.

low income and all kinds of poor outcomes for children. Low

educational attainment, poor health, low self-worth and so on. The real

problem at the moment is that poorer families are facing ?22 billion of

tax cuts and benefits cuts. 60% of those are hitting working and low

income families. So now they cannot make those ends meet and it shows in

the statistics. 60% of poor children