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From YouTube: Topical Questions - 24 September 2019
Description
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A
Thank
you.
The
next
item
of
business
is
consideration
of
business
motion.
One
nine
zero,
four
four
in
the
name
of
Graham
dey,
on
behalf
of
the
bureau,
setting
out
a
revision
to
today's
business
and
tomorrow's
business,
can
I
call
on
grimly
to
move
this
motion.
Thank
you
very
much
and
November
s.
The
motion.
The
question,
therefore,
is
the
motion.
1
9,
0,
4
4
be
agreed.
Are
we
all
agreed?
We
are
agreed.
Thank
you
well
till
now,
two
topical
questions.
Our
first
question
today
is
from
Morris
golden.
B
C
Will
be
a
centrally
coordinated
intervention
to
help
remaining
local
authorities
procure
solutions
for
the
remaining
tonnage
of
waste.
Scottish
landfill
tax
will
be
used
to
provide
a
further
incentive
to
ensure
that
transitional
work,
proceeds
at
the
necessary
pace
and
I
will
also
establish
a
program
board
comprising
senior
leaders
and
waste
management
professionals
across
public
and
commercial
sectors
to
oversee
and
drive
forward
measures
to
ensure
full
compliance
with
the
ban
by
2025.
B
C
With
the
greatest
respect
to
Morris
golden
I
think
he
needs
to
understand
that
the
delivery
responsibility
for
this
actually
lies
with
local
authorities
and
what
we
were
doing
over
the
summer
was
to
try
and
establish
what
the
actual
picture
was
with
local
authorities.
We
have
that
information
I
can
advise
that
16
local
authorities
do
have
fully
compliant
solutions
in
place
for
the
period
before
2021
3
have
secured
post
bans,
solutions
that
will
come
on
stream
after
2021,
but
still
like
an
interim
solution.
C
7
have
secur
interim
solution,
but
no
longer,
but
no
long-term
solution
and
six
have
no
policy
compliance
solutions
in
place
and
are
not
currently
procuring
a
solution.
That
is
the
picture
of
which,
which
we've
had
to
consider
and
make
a
decision
on,
and
when
we
saw
that
full
picture.
It
was
clear
to
us
that
that
landfill
ban
in
2021
could
not
hold
at
the
current
level.
C
B
You
presiding
officer
I
find
that
answer
extraordinary
I
knew
back
in
2015
industry
new
in
2015
local
authorities,
new
in
2015
for
the
SNP
government,
not
to
know
reeks
of
incompetence
or
willful
neglect.
How
can
this
Parliament
trust
the
SNP
to
deliver
on
tackling
climate
change
when
they
cannot
make
the
most
basic
waste
target
remind.
C
F
You
earlier
this
month,
club
manager,
council
join
sterling
and
Perth
and
Kinross
in
signing
a
three-year
waste
management
contract
which
will
see
their
way
ship
to
Sweden
before
incineration.
Does
the
Scottish
government
actually
think
this
is
an
acceptable
way
to
deal
with
our
waste
and
what
support
can
they
give
councils
who've
signed
such
contracts?
Now
I
need
to
find
that
the
goalposts
have
been
moved
down.
A
second
well.
C
The
basis
of
respect,
I
repeat
what
I
said
at
the
outset:
delivery
responsibility
for
the
particular
band
that
we're
talking
about
today
lies
with
local
authorities
and
local
authorities
make
decisions
on
the
basis
of
understanding
that
or
unfortunately,
in
a
number
of
cases,
not
making
decisions
on
that
basis.
So
I
will
and
I
happy
to
talk
to
any
particular
local
authority
about
particular
decisions
that
they
have
made.
G
Rennie
there
was
never
a
coherent
Scottish
government
policy,
so
today's
or
last
week's
decision
was
always
inevitable.
Sending
waste
on
lorries
to
English
landfills
was
never
a
responsible
solution
to
meeting
the
ban.
So
how
is
the
government
going
to
use
mr.
Lai
wisely
and
how
will
encourage
the
market
to
seize
the
opportunities,
because
the
record
of
shipping
waste
abroad
means
our
processing
capacity
as
well
below
where
it
needs
to
be
yeah.
C
There
are
some
real
issues
that
have
to
be
have
to
be
thought
through,
as
well
as
local
authorities,
not
having
done
the
job
that
we
were
expecting
them
to
do.
There
has
been
a
difficulty
in
encouraging
solutions.
Scottish
based
solutions
out
there
I
agree
with
Willie,
Rennie
I,
don't
think
shipping
waste.
C
1St
of
Scotland
is
the
ideal
scenario
at
all,
and
it
is
what
we
are
trying
to
prevent
happening
with
the
extension
of
this
band
from
2021
to
2025,
and
that
is
why
we're
looking
very
carefully
at
what
might
be
put
in
place
to
not
to
incentivize
the
further
shipping
abroad
and
I
can
advise
really
Reni
that
we
are
considering
what
we
might
do
in
respect
to
the
landfill
tax
to
ensure
that
we
don't
provide
an
inadvertent.
It's
a
incentive
to
do
so.
Finley's.
C
Well,
local
authorities
as
a
whole
agree
with
the
Scottish
government
every
year,
the
sums
of
money
that
will
go
to
local
authorities
and
that
agreement
takes
place
with
the
negotiation
with
Khosla.
So
I
would
expect
if
this
is
to
be
a
key
part
of
the
continued
discussion
that
they
will
wish
to
ensure
that
that
particular
issue
is
raised
in
the
discussions
with
Khosla
but
as
they
as
the
member
knows
perfectly
well,
because
I've
repeated
endless
times
this
afternoon.
C
I
D
J
Limited
were
awarded
the
status
of
preferred
bidder
on
a
basis
of
an
assessment
ratio
of
65
percent
price
and
35
percent
quality
assets
in
the
tender
documents
and
made
clear
to
all
bidders
when
the
invitations
attainder
was
issued.
Circle
limited
were
therefore
assessed
as
providing
the
most
economically
advantageous
tender
on
the
terms
of
the
competition
with
a
tender
that
was
evaluated
under
the
tender
criteria
to
provide
high
quality,
ferry
services
and
value
for
money
for
the
taxpayer.
I
That
excuse
me
for
that
report.
Last
year,
the
cabinet
secretary
Lance
signed
a
commitment
to
the
application
of
Fair
Work
principles
across
Scottish
government
and
associated
bodies.
The
RMT
is
in
the
process
of
taking
strike
action
against
F
course.
The
operator
of
the
Caledonian
sleeper
for
reneging
on
pledges
to
address
serious
concerns
on
staff
safety.
J
J
Finney
references,
the
the
Fair
Work
framework
and
there's
there's
also
I,
just
want
to
stress
in
terms
of
the
issues
he
raises:
there's
no
direct
correlation
between
the
contracts
to
what
she
refers
and
the
contract
for
Northern
Isles
ferry
services
which
been
operated
successfully
by
circle
for
the
past
seven
half
years,
as
I
mentioned
circular
SAS
has
provided
the
most
economically
vente
just
in
tender
under
the
terms
of
the
competition
with
a
10
that
provides
high
quality,
ferry
services
valley
from
anetha
tax,
but
I
want
to
reassure
mr.
Feeny.
J
Indeed,
the
trade
unions,
as
I
have
already
that
the
Fair
Work
framework
does
apply
in
attainder
and
surco
are
signed
up
to
that.
So
that
means
that
there
will
be
protecting
of
pension
arrangements
for
staff
and
no
compulsory
redundancies
to
the
eight-year
period
of
the
10-day
contract.
So
I
hope
that
mr.
Finney
takes
some
reassurance
from
that.
The
favorite
framework
does
apply
to
this
contract
and
we
will
see
that
is
applied.
Don't.
I
Fini
I
think
mr.
for
that
apply
I'm
very
concerned
that
the
Scottish
Government's
upon
indifference
to
the
issue
of
repetition
all
damage
Carmack
was
the
Trust
had
provided
until
2012.
Since
then,
chef
Co
has
been
involved
in
a
number
of
controversies
across
a
staggering
portfolio
of
government
work.
Last
year,
MSP
small
parties,
including
the
Scottish
National
Party,
condemn
chef
course
plans
to
carry
out
massive
actions
of
asylum
seekers
in
Glasgow.
Does
the
minister
believe
that
such
a
company
is
fit
to
carry
out
public
services
and
desiring
of
public
money
in
Scotland
Minister.
D
J
Would
repeat:
point
I'm
not
dismissing
the
the
issues
that
mr.,
if
any
raises
around
practice
elsewhere,
but
what
we'd
see
is
as
I've
made
and
appointed.
My
second
answer
to
him
that
there
is
no
legal
basis
for
a
scooting
circle
from
the
competition
they
have
won
the
competition
on
a
fair
and
square
basis.
The
team
that
have
been
awarded
preferred
by
the
status
have
been
running
the
service
for
seven
half
years
without
the
issues
that
mr.
J
Finney
has
raised
coming
to
the
fore
and
and
more
importantly,
both
the
local
authority
or
take
Orkney
Islands
Kings
have
already
welcomed
the
decision.
Ryan
Thompson
from
hi
trans
as
welcome
the
outcome
and
stakeholders
across
the
area
are
welcoming
this
decision.
So
do
you
appreciate
the
point
mr.
friendly
makes,
but
that's
completely
separate
from
this
particular
contract
and
the
the
preferred
bidder
has
delivered
the
services
successfully
for
seven
half
years
and
the
decision
has
been
welcomed
by
those
using
the
service.
It's.
K
You
very
much
indeed
and
I
welcome
the
end
to
the
uncertainty
and
with
the
continuity
confirmation
of
circle.
North
links,
selections
that
prepared
bidder
for
this
lifeline
service.
It
was
strange,
however,
that
when
I
raised
it
with
the
first
minister
at
last
Thursday,
she
felt
unable
to
advise
the
chamber
of
the
announcement
the
following
morning,
even
though
journalists
were
then
tipped
off
later
that
afternoon,
in
terms
of
the
contract
itself.
K
J
Sonny
welcome
Liam
McCarthy
was
positive
remarks
and
for
the
benefit
of
presiding
officer.
Just
2.8
journalists
not
talk
about
the
decision
itself,
but
that
one
was
coming
as
normal,
but
as
the
member
has
mentioned
that
a
the
issue
was
still
being
determined
during
during
the
day
in
terms
of
whether
it
was
appropriate
to
make
decision
at
that
timing.
But
I
do
recognize
his
concerns
about
Freight.
A
key
factor
in
meeting
the
state
aid
rules
is
that
services
out
Lena
the
public
service
contract
are
necessary
and
proportionate
communities
needs.
J
Any
additional
services
could
have
been
interpreters
over
provision
of
aid
and
state
support,
thereby
distorting
the
effect
of
operation
in
the
market.
However,
as
mr.
McArthur
may
be
aware,
the
contract
has
been
designed
with
greater
flexibility
to
allow
timetable,
free
and
ferry
services
to
be
amended
to
better
reflect
changes
in
demand
across
the
year
and
from
sector
to
sector,
and
we
want
to
support
the
key
areas
of
the
economy
of
Orkney,
Islands
and
Shetland
Islands,
such
as
tourism,
fishing,
frittering
agriculture
and
farming,
and
to
help
me
in
Shetlands
economies
to
thrive.
J
L
20%
discount
on
carbon
fares
and
a
three
years
fares
freeze
for
passengers,
vehicles
and
cabins
building
on
a
30%
discount
for
passengers
and
Vico
fares
already
enjoyed
by
Islanders.
Is
it
not
the
case
that
this
SNP
government
has
listened
to
and
put
Islanders
at
the
heart
of
this
new
contract?
Minister.
D
J
Thankfully,
what
for
her
for
a
question?
She
is
absolutely
right,
but
separately
from
the
announcement
of
the
preferred
bidder
status
for
circle,
limited
I
was
in
a
position
to
announce
on
Friday
the
Islanders
on
Aberdeen
carolerich
services
will
benefit
from
the
first
of
January
2020
from
an
additional
20
percent
reduction
in
carbon
fears
and,
additionally,
non-commercial
vehicle
and
carbon
fares
will
be
frozen
for
three
years.
That's
to
add
to
the
existing
30%
discount,
rylander's
and
passenger
and
vehicle
fears.
J
Unfortunately,
we
cannot
at
this
point
in
time,
introduce
any
fee
reductions
or
freezes
on
the
scrap
store
on
this
route.
Just
now,
due
to
the
ongoing
state
aid
complaint
and
the
risk
that
further
complaints
will
prolong
the
deletes
the
fool
way
of
ret
on
that
route
over
the
Scottish
Government
means
committed
to
the
delivery
of
ret
and
will
continue
to
explore
options
available.
Clearly,
we
will
continue
also
to
listen,
as
I
said
in
response
to
mr.
McArthur
mr.
J
M
You
for
sending
off
so
I
think
what's
important
here
is
that,
regardless
of
your
praise,
the
service
Islanders
have
an
affordable
and
reliable
service.
All
the
minister
would
agree
with
that,
but
the
devil
will
very
much
be
in
the
detail
of
this
new
contract
can
I
check
that
he's
sought
assurances
that
whoever
wins
this
contract
will
see
action
taken
to
improve
carbon
availability
during
peak
times
and
could
explain
in
more
detail
how
this
fare
reduction
freeze
will
be
funded
and
implemented.
It
was
unclear
from
his
initial
response.
Mr.
D
J
H
D
J
A
N
O
Officer
real
saddened
by
the
collapse
of
Thomas
Cook,
which
has
a
long
history
of
providing
many
jobs
across
the
UK
and
overseas,
including
around
640
in
Scotland.
We
are
working
closely
with
the
UK
government
and
the
Civil
Aviation
Authority.
As
the
situation
progresses,
the
CAA
are
leading
the
biggest
peacetime
repatriation
operation
with
more
than
150,000
travels
from
Europe
North,
Africa,
North
America
and
the
Caribbean
over
the
next
two
weeks.
We
understand
that
there
were
63
Thomas
Cook
shops
in
Scotland,
with
an
estimated
390
employees,
as
well
as
around
250
staff
based
at
Glasgow
Airport.
O
Additionally,
there
are
Scottish
businesses
in
the
Thomas
Cook
supply
chain
that
will
be
affected.
This
will
be
a
very
worrying
time
for
employees
and
the
families
we
have
already
made
the
offer
of
support
for
affected
employees
inste
go
on
through
peace,
a
partnership,
action
for
continuing
employment
initiative.
N
The
cabinet
secretary
for
that
response,
as
you
see
there
are
a
number
of
Thomas
Cook
drops
not
just
an
Scotland
burden.
Mike
is
saying:
Glasgow
also,
which
I
visited
yesterday
and
Gordon
Street
Michael
sit
to
see
it
was
closed.
There
was
new
notice,
and
people
were
wondering
about
his
saying
what
was
going
to
happen.
I
take
on
board
what
the
cabinet
is
safe
to
say,
the
boat
Hale,
but
they're
looking
just
now
for
practical
help,
so
can
the
Scottish
government
or
the
cabinet
second,
to
tell
me
what
practical
help
we
are.
N
O
Epsa,
no
sir
I
recognise
the
concern
which
has
been
raised
by
Sandra
wait
on
behalf
of
our
constituents
as
I
outlined
in
my
initial
answer
pieces.
The
primary
approach
should
be
used
for
providing
offers
of
support
to
stafford
affected
by
a
instance
of
this
nature.
We've
also
been
in
contact
with
one
of
the
special
managers:
that's
been
appointed
KPMG
and
they
will
provide
information
to
all
affected
staff
and
how
they
should
make
a
claim
to
the
insolvency
service
for
any
wages
or
other
monies
that
may
be
owed
to
them.
O
So
it
will
be
the
insolvency,
a
service
which
will
be
responsible
for
pursuing
now
on
behalf
of
former
employees
of
Thomas
Cook.
Additionally,
KPMG
will
also
include
a
copy
of
peace
facing
redundancy
guide
which
contains
our
pace,
helpline
number
and
website
details
which
will
be
forwarded
on
to
all
employees,
former
employees
that
they
have
a
record
of
to
provide
them
with
that
information.
N
Thank
you
very
much
cabinet
secretary,
and
that
seems
helpful.
It
regards
employees
and
customers
as
well
I
presume,
but
you
did
mention
in
your
opening
remarks
that
there
are
other
agencies
involved.
Also
one
of
these
other
agencies
and
a
number
of
them
is
Caledonia
travel
who
I
visited
also
yesterday
the
actually
supply
the
porters
for
visitors
coming
over.
O
Turn-Offs
that
I'm
aware
of
the
concern
about
the
impact
it
could
have
on
some
of
the
supply
chain
to
Thomas
Cook,
the
as
a
member
made
reference
to
a
Caledonia
travel
web
help
based
on
my
own
constituency
in
what
they
provide.
A
contact
centre
for
Thomas
Cook
customers
again
will
be
affected
by
the
by
Thomas
get
into
receivership.
E
Thank
the
cabinet
secretary
for
his
considerate
response.
The
BBC
reported
that
women
from
Glasgow,
who
is
picking
a
replacement
flight
towards
it,
reported
that
it
rules
from
280
pounds
to
a
thousand
pounds
the
day
after
idling
companies
see
that
this
is
an
algorithm,
and
that
could
be
the
case,
but
with
the
minister
condemned
Airlines,
who
might
be
seeking
to
take
advantage
of
families
who,
in
a
tragic
situation,
they're
trying
to
replace
their
plans
for
holidays
and
weddings.
O
Emoji
saying
officer
algorithm
or
not
it's
appalling,
any
Elaine
should
be
seeking
to
exploit
individuals
in
these
difficult
circumstances
and
I
would
ask
all
airlines
to
actually
consider
their
actions
in
the
coming
weeks.
For
those
who
have
been
adversely
impacted
by
the
by
the
demise
of
Thomas
Cook.
This
is
not
an
opportunity
to
make
an
extra
couple
of
pounds
out
of
people
who
are
in
a
difficult
situation.
O
This
is
a
time
to
help
those
individuals
to
restore
the
holidays
and
the
plans
and
the
hopes
for
going
off
and
holiday
around
trying
to
just
take
more
money
from
home,
so
I
would
I
would
call
all
airlines
to
show
support
and
some
consideration
to
those
who've
been
affected
by
the
demise
of
Thomas
Cook
and
two
of
them
support
and
help,
as
opposed
to
trying
to
take
further
money
off
them.
Thank.