Tracker
>> QUESTION TIME
novEMBER 13
General Question Time
Christine Grahame (SNP) – importation of animal skins from Africa used in the manufacture of drums; Johann Lamont (Lab) – meetings with representatives of
the Equality and Human Rights Commission; Ted Brocklebank (Con) – buildings on the at-risk register; Claire Baker (Lab) – levels of student hardship to increase
in this academic year; Christina McKelvie (SNP) – support for architecture and design services; Jamie Hepburn (SNP) – the learning of Gaelic at pre–school level;
Ross Finnie (Lib Dem) – protection under the Mortgage Rights (Scotland) Act 2001; Lewis Macdonald (Lab) – free school meals for all P1 to P3 pupils; Alasdair
Allan (SNP) – public sector jobs dispersed throughout Scotland.
Rural Affairs and the Environment
Hugh Henry (Lab) – disposal of materials containing CFCs in buildings; Cathy Jamieson (Lab) – priorities for rural development; Elizabeth Smith (Con) – decline
in breeding sea bird populations; Wendy Alexander (Lab) – the provision of flood defences; Richard Baker (Lab) – reform of the Scottish Agricultural Wages
Board; Angela Constance (SNP) – reduction in plastic carrier bags resulting in additional waste per annum; Robert Brown (Lib Dem) – rates of recycling in
Glasgow; Jackson Carlaw (Con) – supporting fishermen in the west of Scotland; Willie Coffey (SNP) – town hall meeting on flood management in Newmilns on
18 April 2008; Alex Neil (SNP) – renewable energy projects Scottish Natural Heritage has objected to on environmental grounds.
Justice and Law officers
Tom McCabe (Lab) – licences removed from off–sales for selling alcohol to people under 18; Rhona Brankin (Lab) – current overcrowding in prisons; Liam McArthur
(Lib Dem) – Kirkwall Sheriff Court building fit for purpose; Gavin Brown (Con) – monitor and analyse the effectiveness of the summary justice reforms; Mary
Mulligan (Lab) – the impact of voluntary sector cuts on criminal justice services; Michael Matheson (SNP) – reducing fire–related deaths; Malcolm Chisholm (Lab) –
preventing intrusive and humiliating questioning of women on their sexual histories in the course of rape trials; Keith Brown (SNP) – how the fiscal fines system is
working; Margaret Curran (Lab) – youth violence in the East End of Glasgow; Frank McAveety (Lab) – requirements for recruits to the police service.
commence a review of ferry services Riddle, chief executive of VisitScot- port for Homecoming from the economy, to which Reed noted that
to develop a long-term strategy for land; chief executive Jack Perry and Scottish Government, particularly transport projects usually have lead
lifeline services to 2025 and provide chief financial officer Hugh Hall ministers regularly discussing it at times of around a decade, mean-
an immediate minimum discount from Scottish Enterprise, and chief public engagements. ing any such measures “would be
of 40 per cent on ferry fares. executive Sandy Cumming and Livingstone later asked what very much at the margin”. Smith
Petition by Joyce MacDonald, strategy director Sandy Brady from impact the current economic cli- also asked Scottish Water whether
calling on the Scottish Parliament Highlands and Islands Enterprise; mate would have on Scottish Enter- it could re-phase any of its invest-
to urge the Scottish Government to chief executive Malcolm Reed, prise investment decisions, to which ment to support the economy,
remove the general permitted devel- head of finance Guy Houston and Perry replied that all companies which Aitkenhead said would be
opment rights of port authorities. head of economics David Ander- it helps are undergoing business difficult because it is currently near
Petition by Netta MacKenzie, son from Transport Scotland; and reviews to identify areas for improve- the end of a cycle of work and
calling on the Scottish Parliament Mark McEwen and Geoff Aitken- ment in financial and business per- is fully committed. However, he
to urge the Scottish Government head from Scottish Water. formance. He also noted increases noted that his organisation is mov-
not to adopt the main recommen- Marilyn Livingstone (Lab) in investment for manufacturing ing away from traditional “boom-
dations of the Shucksmith report asked Riddle what was being done advice, support for companies seek- and-bust” investment cycles – with
on crofting in any future legislation to support tourism through the ing financing, and research and each regulatory period being split
including, breaking up the Crofters economic downturn. He replied development initiatives. into a planning section and a
Commission, permitting non-croft- that there had been a recent shift Christopher Harvie (SNP) also construction section – by starting
ers by mere virtue of residency to sit towards domestic advertising, as raised the issue of preparations for design work for 2010-14 before
on crofting township development well as offering regular customers economic decline, asking what is that regulatory period begins.
committees, and introducing bur- free marketing opportunities in Vis- being done to support the financial Smith later asked Mather what
dens which will reduce the value of itScotland campaigns. Livingstone sector and mitigate likely job losses impact he believes the economic
crofters’ homes, thereby rendering further asked what is being done from the proposed takeover of troubles will have on Scotland.
borrowing impossible. to “maximise” the potential of HBOS. Perry replied that there will The Enterprise Minister accepted
Homecoming 2009, and whether be consolidation both of financial that the “Scottish economy is not
more money would be made avail- companies and their international immune from what is clearly a global
EConoMy, EnERGy able by the Government. Riddle operations, arguing that each pres- recession” but argued that while the
AnD ToURiSM
said that “discussions are ongo- ents Scotland with opportunities. finance and construction sectors
CoMMiTTEE
ing” over financing, and that extra He stressed his organisation would may suffer, there remain oppor-
investment could broaden the seek and support new investment, tunities in oil, gas and renewable
novEMBER 5 reach of planned advertising. In and would work with other sectors – energy. He also suggested Scotland
By Chris Wilson response to an associated question including energy and life sciences – could attract major data centres,
Continuing its scrutiny of the 2009- from Rob Gibson (SNP), Riddle to ensure broader growth in skilled both because of renewable energy
10 budget process, the committee noted that the year’s events are employment. supplies and the climate-reducing
took evidence from Enterprise, expected to earn over £40 million Convener Iain Smith (Lib Dem) cooling costs. Lewis Macdonald
Energy and Tourism Minister Jim from £5 million of investment. He questioned Transport Scotland (Lab) later asked Mather about the
Mather and four panels: Philip also welcomed the increased sup- over how it is helping support the timescale for the Scottish Futures
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www.holyrood.com | Holyrood magazine | 17 November 2008 |
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