Tracker
Conservative leader Annabel Enforcement Agency are as effective had improved under First ScotRail. decision-making.” However, he said
Goldie questioned the amount as possible in fighting crime and sup- He further pointed to an extract in little was still known about the impact
of money that the Government porting local police forces. The First the report that found Transport the merger will have on competition
was spending on PR for its Home Minister indicated that SCDEA was Scotland’s “rigorous” appraisal had and jobs in Scotland.
Reports, totalling £700,000, which extremely effective, having seized secured £73.1 million of investment Angela Constance (SNP) moved
is, she noted, more than is spent on £15m in class-A drugs last year from First ScotRail. He urged Gray on to question the First Minister
child protection or domestic vio- and commended the SPSA’s role in to “acknowledge that the investment about how the Scottish Government
lence. The First Minister noted the training. Baker further asked about pattern, the additional millions of plans to support the 16 days of global
cross-party support in parliament the consultation on the closure of the pounds that are coming into our activism to address violence against
which the introduction of Home Aberdeen Forensics Lab. The First railways and the fare structure, look women. The First Minister described
Reports received, with the excep- Minister indicated that there was a a lot better in Scotland than they do the period “as an important feature
tion of the Conservative Party. He new consultation ongoing and that elsewhere.” of this time of year” and highlighted
further told the Chamber that it no decision had been made about Conservative leader Annabel that he last year signed a statement
was important to spend the money the closure of the lab. Goldie moved on to question the of intent that pledged the Scottish
on information and awareness for John Scott (Con) asked the First First Minister about whether he Government’s commitment to tack-
a new policy while it is being intro- Minister what discussions the Scot- would be backing her party’s calls ling violence against women during
duced so that people can take full tish Government has had with the for a bed-by-bed infection tracking the parliamentary term. He moved
advantage of it. Food Standards Agency concern- pilot, pointing to an electronic bed- on to point out that over £44 million
Lib Dem leader Tavish Scott ing supplies of pork to consumers. management system that had been had since been invested in address-
asked the First Minister about the pri- The First Minister said that there successfully piloted in Aberdeen ing the problem, which includes
orities within the 29 projects selected was daily contact with the FSA on Royal Infirmary. She suggested that funding for every rape crisis centre in
as part of the Strategic Transport the issue and that the Government the Scottish Government’s response Scotland, a national domestic abuse
Projects Review (STPR). He specifi- was fully informed of the situation. to hospital-acquired infections had delivery plan for children and young
cally questioned what projects were He noted that they were liaising with been “tardy and inadequate”, argu- people, and a national rape crisis
going to be left behind if funding for Quality Meat Scotland to re-assure ing the Health Secretary’s calls for helpline. Constance welcomed the
the new Forth crossing did not come customers about the origin of pork a health board-by-health board or investment, but raised concern that
through from the Treasury. The in Scottish supermarkets. hospital-by-hospital approach “is women with uncertain immigration
First Minister indicated that there not good enough” in preventing a status who escaped violence were
was a broad welcome for the find- similar incident like Vale of Leven. unable to access funding. The First
ings of the STPR. He noted that the FiRST MiniSTER’S The First Minister defended the Minister stated his commitment to
International Financial Reporting
QUESTionS
Scottish Government’s response to working with the Home Office to
Standards required that all trans- tackling hospital-acquired infections, implement a new scheme that will
port projects were now on a balance DECEMBER 4 including the “trebling of available provide women on a spousal visa
sheet and that it was perfectly rea- By Elaine Samson funding” compared to the previ- help of up to £1,000 with housing
sonable to ask for capital cover from Scottish Labour parliamentary ous administration, setting national and living costs.
the Treasury. He concluded by chal- leader Iain Gray began proceed- targets for cutting C.difficile cases, Rhona Brankin (Lab) asked the
lenging Scott to present his own pri- ings by raising concern about a new stopping the privatisation of clean- First Minister how his government
orities within the STPR. Audit Scotland report that concluded ing contracts, and giving more pow- plans to respond to Educational
Dave Thompson (SNP) asked the the extension of First ScotRail’s fran- ers to senior charge nurses. He said Institute of Scotland (EIS) findings
First Minister what action the Scot- chise had been handled badly, which he was aware of the Aberdeen pilot that there has been a negative impact
tish Government is taking to tackling subsequently led to the resignation and suggested “it could offer a valu- on children’s education amongst
drink driving over the festive period. of Transport Scotland’s finance able addition to local surveillance”. nearly two-thirds of local authorities
The First Minister outlined the Gov- director after the report revealed he He pointed out that the Health Sec- due to a drop in classroom spend-
ernment’s support for ACPOS’ fes- had shares worth almost £70,000 retary was visiting NHS Grampian ing. The First Minister insisted that
tive campaign which totalled over in FirstGroup. Gray suggested the next week and will review whether it the decision about how best to spend
£86,000. Thompson also asked if decision to award the new contract is appropriate to roll out the scheme resources was down to individual
the Government supported propos- was not dissimilar to the First Min- nationally. local authorities. However, he coun-
als to reduce the legal alcohol limit. ister’s “cack-handed intervention” Pointing to a visit from Lloyds tered that the EIS report seemed
The First Minister expressed strong in Donald Trump’s plans to build a TSB chief Eric Daniels to the Scottish “incomplete and localised”, claiming
sympathy with the proposals, noting multi-billion-pound golf resort. He Parliament, Liberal Democrat leader that the average increase in educa-
that the legislation is reserved and subsequently argued that “this gov- Tavish Scott asked whether the First tion budgets for this year is in fact
expressed disappointment that the ernment clearly believes the normal Minister had discussed what impact 5.5. per cent. Brankin argued that
proposal was not mentioned in the rules of transparency and good gov- the bank’s merger with HBOS will “in the real world”, teacher num-
recent UK Government consulta- ernance do not apply to them. They have on Scotland. The First Minister bers in Scotland fell by 900 in the
tion. clearly believe that a nod and a wink explained that there had been discus- past quarter and non-teaching staff
Richard Baker (Lab) asked will do – it won’t.” The First Minister sions about the creation of a Scottish had fallen by 400. She remarked:
the First Minister how the Scottish hit back by accusing Gray of ignoring board structure chaired by Scottish “In some areas, we now have the dis-
Government will ensure that the parts of the Audit Scotland report, Widows chief Archie Kane, suggest- graceful spectacle of teachers having
Scottish Police Services Authority particularly part of the report that ing: “We should welcome anything to pay for stationery out of their own
and the Scottish Crime and Drug suggested the quality of rail services in a structure that protects Scottish pockets. Is it not time the First Min-
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www.holyrood.com | Holyrood magazine | 15 December 2008 |
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