Tracker
>> QUESTION TIME
FEBRUaRy 5
General Question Time
Christine Grahame (SNP) – Scottish Government policy on the Act of Settlement 1701; Michael Matheson (SNP) – football clubs that can benefit from the
Cashback for Communities programme; Sarah Boyack (Lab) – financial incentives to stimulate a mass market for micro–renewable technology and energy
efficiency measures; Marlyn Glen (Lab) – meetings with the chief constable of Tayside Police; Mary Mulligan (Lab) – implementation of the Evaluation of the
National Mortgage to Rent Scheme; Alasdair Allan (SNP) – European Commission’s proposals for special area of conservation designations in the Sound of
Barra; Karen Whitefield (Lab) – support for healthy living centres; Christina McKelvie (SNP) – support for police and firefighters’ pensions; John Lamont (Con) –
reopening of Reston railway station; Gil Paterson (SNP) – changes to the law on limitation.
Education and Lifelong Learning
Ted Brocklebank (Con) – parenting skills; Wendy Alexander (Lab) – local authority settlement for 2008 and 2009 resources for education; Cathie Craigie (Lab) –
national salary structure for lecturing staff in further education colleges; Bob Doris (SNP) – lower class sizes in primary schools; John Wilson (SNP) – performance
of Skills Development Scotland; Andy Kerr (Lab) – protecting teachers from violence in schools; Richard Simpson (Lab) – two hours of high quality physical
education per week; Frank McAveety (Lab) – Glasgow City Council’s director of education; Mike Rumbles (Lib Dem) – chair of the Scottish Qualifications
Authority; Elizabeth Smith (Con) – indiscipline in schools.
Europe, External affairs and Culture
Hugh O’Donnell (Lib Dem) – European policy matters that impact on Scotland; Christopher Harvie (SNP) – technical and training partnerships with European
advanced regions; Kenneth Gibson (SNP) – humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza; Nicol Stephen (Lib Dem) – Scottish charities assisting the humanitarian
response to the situation in Gaza; Elaine Murray (Lab) – cultural legacy for Dumfries and Galloway from Homecoming Scotland 2009; Rhona Brankin (Lab) – the
Scottish Mining Museum; Hugh Henry (Lab) – promoting Scotland’s creative industries; Roseanna Cunningham (SNP) – traditional music awards in December
2008; Des McNulty (Lab) – meetings with representatives of the creative industries.
were not that surprised by the results discussed whether the European for flows of money to richer mem- amendment to the agricultural
of the taskforce’s work, which very Union’s structural funds should be ber states and to regions in richer policy” in the European Union,
much reflected the membership of distributed on the basis of “levels member states, although that is which will diminish the need for
the group. Including business inter- of national wealth or focus more currently the way in which the sys- budgetary corrections regarding
ests, staff and students would have on regional and even sub-regional tem works.” the UK’s contribution. He added:
given a different flavour.” wealth levels”, and target funds Brocklebank replied that “The French want some significant
Links between the universi- more precisely on regions that most nations are not necessarily entirely changes in how the funds operate.
ties sector and business in Scotland need support. rich, they include poor areas, to Given that funds are scarce, both
are good but could be better, Sir Stephen Quest was speaking to which Quest replied: “That is abso- nationally and at Europe level, how
Muir and Caldwell agreed. One the Scottish Parliament’s European lutely the case and of course we are can we use them to boost compe-
challenge to knowledge exchange and External Relations Committee conscious of that. Regional policy as tition, innovation, ideas and skills,
between academia and business as part of its review into the Euro- it stands at European level carefully rather than necessarily spending
is the large number of small and pean Union Budget Review. takes account of regional disparities large sums on regional policy? I am
medium-sized businesses in Scot- Asked by Ted Brocklebank in member states. The issue will certain that that debate will con-
land, John F McClelland, chair of (Con) if he would comment on certainly be on people’s minds as tinue.”
the SFC added. The council plans responses, particularly from the we consider the future of the Euro- He added: “We will never have
to consult with business and industry richer member states that some pean Union budget. I would not a budget under which everyone
on how to make it easier for SMEs areas of spending should be re- want to speculate about the answers gets out exactly the same as they
to deal with universities, he told the nationalised and that the budget that might be arrived at, because we put into it. It is right that smaller
committee. responsible for funding regional have much discussing and negotiat- countries should be helped, but not
developments could be handled ing to do.” indefinitely. Eventually, Portugal
at the national level rather than He added: “Should we catego- will run out of land for runways,
EURoPEan the European level, Quest said: rise countries at national level and motorways or whatever. There is a
anD EXTERnaL
“It has been argued that it is of simply say that overall a country is limit to the amount of infrastructure
RELaTionS
interest at European Union level richer or poorer and will therefore that one can create, so the process is
CoMMiTTEE
for there to be solidarity between receive different treatment? Such a finite one.”
the richer and the poorer member matters will need to be considered
FEBRUaRy 3 states. It therefore makes sense— carefully and discussions are still JanUaRy 27
By Richard Johnstone and it fits with the treaty—that going on.” By Elaine Samson
The head of the Cabinet of the there should be a flow of money The committee also heard from Taking evidence on the EU budget
Commissioner for Financial Pro- from the richer to the poorer Bill Newton Dunn MEP (Lib Dem) review inquiry, the committee were
gramming and Budget at the Euro- member states to help poorer and James Elles MEP (Con). Dis- joined via videoconference by Dr
pean Commission has said that the regions and countries to catch up. cussing the budget review, Elles said Fabian Zuleeg and Dr Sara Hage-
commission’s budget review has In that sense, there is less of a case that he believes there will “a further mann, both policy analysts for the
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www.holyrood.com | Holyrood magazine | 9 February 2009 |
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