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Read the full transcript of General Question Time in the Scottish Parliament Official Report: http://goo.gl/5WwMyO
General Questions
1. Patrick Harvie: To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that its proposals on changes to council tax comply with its treaty obligations under the European Charter of Local Self-Government. (S5O-00111)
2. Stuart McMillan: To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Trussell Trust opening its 50th foodbank in Scotland. (S5O-00112)
3. Linda Fabiani: To ask the Scottish Government how it contributes to international development. (S5O-00113)
4. Finlay Carson: To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on the creation of new national parks and what consideration it has given to creating one in Galloway. (S5O-00114)
5. Richard Leonard: To ask the Scottish Government whether it will take action to prevent NHS Lanarkshire from closing trauma and inpatient orthopaedic services at Monklands Hospital. (S5O-00115)
6. Gail Ross: To ask the Scottish Government what support it gives to Highland Games. (S5O-00116)
7. Alex Johnstone: To ask the Scottish Government what the expected completion date is for the upgrading of the junction of the A937 with the A90 at Laurencekirk. (S5O-00117)
8. George Adam: To ask the Scottish Government how sport can help improve health, education and wellbeing. (S5O-00118)
9. Gillian Martin: To ask the Scottish Government what it considers the impact will be on Scotland's universities of the UK Government's decision to limit the new post-study work visa pilot scheme to graduates of Imperial College London and the universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Bath. (S5O-00119)
10. Alexander Stewart: To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent figures suggesting that the number of drug-related deaths is at a record level, what action it is taking to tackle drug dependency. (S5O-00120)
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C
Our
reforms
to
council
tax
will
protect
household
incomes,
enable
more
support
for
those
on
low
incomes
and
provide
additional
investment
and
our
skills
with
every
right
to
legislate
on
council
tax
matters,
and
it
means
the
case
that
local
authorities
will
keep
every
penny
of
council
tax
raised.
We
consider
that
these
reforms
will
have
no
impact
on
our
continuing
compliance
with
the
European
charter
of
local
self-government.
Much.
B
The
Minister
for
the
answer,
a
bitter,
does
seem
a
little
confusing
to
me.
I
would
draw
the
Chamber's
attention,
in
particular
to
article
9,
which
states
that
local
authorities
shall
be
entitled
to
adequate
financial
resources
of
which
they
may
dispose
freely
within
the
framework
of
their
powers,
and
also
that
part,
at
least
of
the
financial
resources
of
local
authorities
shall
derive
from
local
taxes
and
charges
of
which
they
have
the
power
to
determine
the
rate.
B
So,
overall,
the
scottish
government's
proposal
to
reintroduce
rape
capping
and
to
centrally
determine
how
councils
will
spend
any
extra
revenue
gained
from
the
changes
to
the
multiplier
do
seem
clearly
to
conflict
with
these
objectives.
And
this
at
a
time
when
we've
seen
the
the
report
on
the
commission
for
local
taxation
reform
arbitrarily
dismissed
by
the
government
without
even
a
debate
in
the
chamber,
are
we
really
to
take
seriously
the
scottish
government's
proposals
comply
with
the
spirit,
as
well
as
the
letter
of
this
charter
cabinet.
C
Presiding
officer
mr.
Harvey
asked,
if
proposals
were
legally
compliant
and
I
have
answered
yes,
they
are.
They
are
in
keeping
with
the
spirit
of
the
European
charter
of
local
self-government,
in
that,
as
I
have
said,
that
local
authorities
will
keep
every
penny
of
council
tax
raised
and
I
look
forward
to
on
going
in
engagement,
west
local
government
through
cause
luck
and
the
others
as
to
the
way
forward,
and
a
budget
approach
and
I
also
offer
to
have
further
discussions
with
mr.
Harvey
Aon
a
options
for
the
budget
ahead.
C
E
So
we
are
committed
to
doing
all
that
we
can
with
the
powers
we
have
to
lessen
effects
of
these
yuki
policies
and
to
ensure
everyone
in
scotland
can
access,
affordable,
nutritious
food,
and
we
want
to
eradicate
the
need
for
food
banks
in
scotland
and
a
1
million
pound
per
annum
fiat
food
fund.
It
supports
community-based
responses
that
help
to
reduce
reliance
on
emergency
food
provision.
Stuber.
D
Commit
secretary
for
a
reply
and
with
universal
credit
being
rolled
out
member
clade
and
within
a
couple
of
months,
there's
a
cabinet
secretary
have
any
advice
for
volunteers
at
my
local
food
bank
as
a
brace
themselves
for
increased
requests
for
assistance
due
to
the
UK
government.
Continued
attack
on
the
most
vulnerable
in
our
society.
E
Officer
the
Scottish
Government
has
long
made
its
concerns
clear
about
the
implementation
of
universal
credit
and
in
practical
terms,
we
already
know
that
the
bill
and
Delise
to
the
universal
credit
system
can
cause
long
waits
for
the
first
payment,
which
then
increases
pleasure
on
volunteers
at
food
banks
and
other
community
food
providers.
A
claimants
can
be
advised
to
apply
to
the
DWP
for
a
short
term,
a
advanced
to
train
here
when
tied
over,
and
they
can
also
apply
for
a
cases
grant
it
from
the
Scottish
there.
We
all
feel
fun.
G
G
F
F
The
official
UK
figures
show
that
Britain
has
no
the
second
biggest
arms
dealer
in
the
world
with
most
of
the
weapons
fueling
deadly
conflicts
in
the
Middle
East
does
it
have
no
secretary
agree
with
me,
that
is
ironic,
two
on
one
hand,
fund
international
development
and,
on
the
other,
profit
from
the
morality
of
the
arms
trade,
the
results
of
which
we
see
every
day
on
our
TV
screens
and
an
hour
news
bulletins.
Well,
she
on
behalf
of
Scotland,
raise
this
matter
with
the
UK
government
cabinet.
G
Terms
of
our
international
development
I
think
we
can
agree
that
some
of
the
real
causes
of
poverty
are
conflicts
across
the
world
and
therefore
early
resolution
of
conflicts
is
an
important
part
of
what
we
can
try
and
achieve
only
so.
Many
of
these
issues,
as
she
points
out,
are
reserved
to
the
UK
government.
G
However,
in
terms
of
our
peace
process,
support
our
support
for
women,
particularly
in
our
program,
to
support
women
and
resolving
conflict
situations,
and
Syrian
women
in
particular,
is
something
that
we
as
a
government,
can
do
but
she's
right
to
identify
some
of
the
issues
around
the
conflict
and
the
differences
between
arms
trade
relations
and
also,
at
the
one
hand,
also
looking
at
the
ODA
and
the
commitment
for
international
development.
I.
Think
one
of
the
key
tenants
and
principles
of
our
policies
set.
H
Stewart
Thank
You
presiding
officer,
can
I
find
the
cabinet
secretary
for
indicating
that
there
has
been
an
increase
in
Scotland's
International,
Development
Fund?
This
was
something
that
we,
the
Conservatives,
pledged
and
I'm
delighted
to
see.
It's
happened,
but
can
I
ask
the
cabinet
secretary?
Are
there
any
further
developed
suppose
for
this
fund
as
she
goes
forward?
Cabin
circuitry,
I'm.
G
Glad
to
have
the
support
from
the
Conservatives
for
instructor
development
and
I
would
say
at
the
start
of
this
new
parliamentary
term.
One
of
the
hallmarks
of
this
parliament
has
been
the
cross-party
support
for
all
our
work
on
international
development,
particularly
with
our
relationship
with
Malawi
and
I
hope
that
would
continue
going
forward.
G
We
are
committed
to
a
peace
and
justice
at
home
and
abroad
and
also
to
tackling
inequalities,
and
we
can
showcase
by
that,
what
we
do
in
terms
of
our
policies
at
home,
but
also
internationally
and
our
climate
justice
fund
is
world-leading
and
in
terms
of
adding
that
to
our
contribution,
as
Linda
Fabiani
pointed
out.
That
has
actually
meant
from
january
to
december.
Last
year
we
contributed
actually
11
million
pounds
and
that
would
be
counted
as
part
of
the
UK
government's
all
da
targets
of
0.7
percent.
J
Are
no
current
plans
to
designate
new
national
parks
in
Scotland?
The
creation
of
new
national
parks
requires
considerable
planning,
the
support
of
all
local
authorities
in
the
area
and
carries
cost
implications,
and
for
these
reasons
we
believe
that
it
is
essential
to
focus
support
on
our
two
existing
national
parks
to
ensure
that
they
continue
their
valuable
contribution
to
tourism
and
sustainable
rural
economic
development.
Finley
Carson
I.
Thank.
I
The
cabinet
secretary
for
a
response
and
can
I
ask
if
she's
aware
of
the
Scottish
campaign
for
national
parks
report
unfinished
business
produced
in
conjunction
with
Association
for
the
protection
of
little
Scotland,
which
has
identified
seven
potential
areas
for
considerations,
future
national
parks
and
which
flags
up
the
very
considerable
economic
benefit
of
national
parks.
Rural
areas,
the
Scottish
Government's
idiots
about
riddle
regeneration.
How
can
it
then
rule
out
the
possibility
of
further
national
parks
which
do
not
need
to
be
the
same
size
or
scale
or
but
the
same
regulations
as
the
two
current
ones
can.
J
I
second
I,
don't
think
anything
I
said
indicated
that
we
were
ruling
out
national
parks
in
the
future.
What
I
said
is
that
there
are
no
current
plans
to
designate
new
ship
national
parks,
and
there
are
very
good
reasons
for
that.
First
of
all,
I'm
not
aware
of
there
being
any
specific
proposals
before
us
from
local
communities
in
respect
of
the
creation
of
national
parks.
J
Indeed,
and
I
would
endorse
the
latter
part
of
em
Harper's
question
they,
of
course
the
Southwest
does
already
hosts
a
number
of
designated
areas
as
a
Galloway
Forest
Park,
which
is
a
long-standing
park.
There's
a
Galloway
biosphere
which,
interestingly
enough
I
gave
the
go-ahead
to
when
I
was
previously
Minister
for
the
environment.
The
national
scenic
areas
are
also
in
the
southwest
and
there
are
other
options.
J
People
have
pursued
options
of
regional
parks,
there's
a
Geopark
I
think
which
is
being
looked
at
in
the
southwest
as
well
so,
and
there
are
a
number
of
options
for
designations.
Each
of
them
require
different
things.
To
bring
them
into
being
and
I
would
encourage
all
communities
to
consider
that
variety
of
options
and
consider
which
might
be
most
appropriate
for
their
areas.
M
Line
it
showed
us,
supported
by
the
academy
of
raw
ecologies
and
faculties
in
scotland,
has
been
clear
that
the
interim
changes
are
necessary
in
order
to
ensure
the
safety,
quality
and
resilience
of
local
services.
I've
been
assured
that
the
interim
plans
will
not
materially
impact
on
the
provision
of
A&E
services
are
any
of
the
three
main
hospitals
in
line
it
show.
The
A&E
department
at
mullen
sees
around
sixty
six
thousand
patients
per
year,
and
the
board
are
estimating
that
ninety-eight
percent
of
patients
will
be
unaffected
by
the
interim
changes.
M
That
means
the
number
of
individuals
who'll
be
treated
either
here,
myers
or
west
shore
general,
as
a
result
of
the
interim
changes
should
amount
to
three
to
four
patient
referrals
each
day.
I
do
expect
the
board
their
health
board
to
keep
the
actual
activity
information
under
close
review.
Also,
the
Health
Board
has
given
assurances
that
is
committed
to
retaining
three
district
general
hospitals
with
any
departments
as
part
of
their
longer-term
plans,
which
are
no
subject
to
public
consultation
and
encourage
all
stakeholders,
including
the
member,
to
play
a
full
power
in
that
consultation,
which.
A
L
Leonard
presiding
officer,
it's
customary
to
thank
the
cabinet
secretary
for
her
answer,
but
I'm
in
this
Parliament
in
a
representative
capacity
and
the
people
of
lanik
sure
will
not
thank
the
cabinet
secretary
for
her
answer.
People
rightly
expect
genuine
consultation
before
decisions
that
affect
them
are
taken.
The
one
section
of
this
document
which
the
shadow
which
the
cabinet
secretary
referred
to
achieving
excellence
upon
which
there
is
no
public
consultation,
is
the
withdrawal
of
trauma
and
inpatient
orthopedic
services
from
the
monk
llins
next
month.
This
goes
to
the
very
heart
of
how
our
democracy
works.
M
As
I've
said,
NHS
managers
entered
in
plans
that
about
in
shooting
clinical
safety
and
the
quality
of
care
are
supported
by
clinical
experts
at
the
Academy
of
Neurology
zand
faculties,
and
it
will
help
to
address
issues.
I'm
sure
the
local
member
is
a
weird
of
around
recruitment
retention
in
the
training
of
key
clinical
staff
and
but
also,
as
I
said
in
my
initial
answer.
The
longer
term
service
plans
are
currently
the
subject
to
formal
public
consultation,
which
will
run
until
the
first
of
November.
M
A
good
point
out,
however,
to
the
member
of
course
that
it
was
this
government
that
saved
the
A&E
department
at
mullins
from
closure
in
2007.
Since
then,
we've
seen
over
half
a
million
attendances
at
that
department,
half
a
million
people
that
would
not
have
been
able
to
attend
that
hospital.
If
the
members
party
had
had
its
way
back
in
2007,
so
I'm
sure
local
people
will
remember
the
reality
of
that.
M
I
can
guarantee
that
there
will
be
any
departments
that
all
three
hospitals
within
Atlantic
show,
but
also
to
also
reassure
the
member
that
there
has
been
a
significant
investment
into
Mullins
hospital
over
recent
years,
including
a
new
theatre,
critical
care
unit,
upgrades
a
new
air
pathology,
pathology
laboratory
and,
of
course,
the
22
million
sure
beats
and
radiotherapy
center
and,
of
course,
is
planned
further.
Planned
investment,
including
improved
facilities
for
day
surgery
and
immediate
assessment
unit
adjacent
to
the
ENT
department
and,
of
course,
a
single
center
of
excellence
for
cancer
services.
M
In
line
that
sure
which
will
be
consolidated
at
the
hospital
plus.
I'm
sure
the
member
will
be
aware
that
we
have
welcomed
NHS,
I
lectures,
prep
addition
of
a
business
case
either
for
the
redevelopment
of
the
hospital
or
for
a
new
builder
placement.
I.
Think
that
shows
that
this
government
is
absolutely
committed
to
the
future
of
montones
hospital
Graham.
A
O
Thank
you.
The
cabinet
secretary
may
not
be
aware
that
her
party
colleague
Alex
Neil,
were
this
week
in
his
local
paper,
was
promising
the
people
of
lanar
sure
that
the
trauma
and
impatient
orthopaedic
services
at
mullins
would
not
be
closed
under
the
SMP.
Has
she
given
him
that
assurance
cabinet
secretary
well.
M
I'm
happy
to
meet
with
Alec
meal
or
any
other
local
members
to
discuss
any
of
the
issues
around
this
development.
But
what
I
can
see
is
this
NHS
line.
It
should
have
been
very
clear
about
the
reasons
for
these
interim
plans.
They
are
about
clinical
safety
and
the
quality
of
care.
We
cannot
ignore
the
expertise
and
the
concerns
raised
by
the
academy
of
rural
colleges
and
faculties.
M
What
is
clear,
however,
as
I
have
said,
and
all
my
answer
to
you
today-
is
that
NHS
lanik
sure
and
this
government
remain
absolutely
committed
to
having
three
any
departments,
weapon,
lanik
sure
the
configuration
of
those
and
the
way
those
departments
work
together
to
the
final
aim
of
a
single
trauma
site
and
a
single
elective
site
is
very,
very
important.
This
is
about
sustainable,
safe
services
and
I
am
sure
that
all
local
members
will
want
to
support
that
aim.
High.
P
Meal
guru,
presenting
officer
can
I
can
I,
first
of
all,
just
for
the
record
point
out
that
the
Labour
leader
of
North,
Lanica,
Council,
Jim
log,
has
given
unqualified
support
to
the
proposal
by
any
chase
la
nature,
to
transfer
trauma
and
orthopaedic
to
the
other.
Two
hospitals-
hey
not
for
the
first
time
the
Labour
Party
speaks
with
more
than
one
voice
when
it
suits
them.
O
M
I
tell
Alan
you
for
his
question
and
putting
on
the
record
the
very
the
very
interesting
views
of
gem
log
can
I
say
that
I
think
there
would
be
a
very
strong
case
for
the
single
electro
site
for
orthopaedic
to
be
at
the
new
or
refurb
monkland
hospital.
Obviously,
there's
a
lot
of
work
to
be
done
and
the
lead
up
to
that
decision.
That
is
why
it
is
open
to
consultation
at
the
moment.
Q
R
Government
is
committed
to
protecting
the
hill
and
games
as
a
tradition
enjoyed
by
many
communities
across
scotland.
Our
national
agency
for
sport
sportscotland
also
shares
this
commitment
and
recognizes
the
Scottish
Highland
Games
Association,
as
the
governing
body
of
traditional
Highland
Games
in
Scotland
Gill.
Q
The
Minister
for
her
response
during
recess,
I
attended
a
number
of
games
and
gatherings
and
mike
instead
should
say
a
present.
There
are
concerns
from
some
that
put
in
on
games,
especially
smaller
ones
that
rely
on
volunteers
is
difficult,
given
the
amount
of
opera
see
associated
with
it.
Is
there
any
way
that
the
scottish
government
can
help
lessen
the
amount
of
bureaucracy
associated
with
Highland
Games
or
any
support
that
they
can
offer
to
organizers,
to
make
the
process
easier
understand.