John Swinney
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“Since the report from several years ago was published, the Government has presided over the passage of legislation to rationalise that area of activity. Work is under way to transfer the responsibility for the funding of further education student support from the Scottish Funding Council to the Student Awards Agency Scotland.”
“I appreciate the urgency of the general policy elements of the question, because a number of applications are now being considered by planning authorities. My view is that, given the concerns that have been expressed by planning authorities, the Government has to be responsive to the issue.”
“For as long as we do not have a proper strategy on prison capacity, rehabilitation and clearing the court backlog, early release will be a revolving door, with people going in, coming out and going back into our prisons. Our justice system is in crisis, so we need a strategy.”
“I associate myself unreservedly Mr Cole-Hamilton’s comments about the feelings in the Muslim community. On Monday, I visited the Broomhouse mosque along with Simita Kumar and the Annandale Street mosque in Edinburgh with Ben Macpherson.”
“The development of further guidance will be undertaken in a manner consistent with the ruling by Lady Ross. Malcolm Offord: I thank the First Minister for his answer, which was more comprehensive than I expected.”
“I am a huge supporter of apprenticeship programmes. With foundation apprenticeships and graduate apprenticeships, the Government has brought forward important reforms that create new and successful pathways for young people. I am determined to make sure that every young person has that desirable pathway for their future.”
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“She led from the front with her bold decision to introduce the Scottish child payment. As First Minister, she expanded free early learning and childcare, extended free school meals and introduced the baby box, but I know that the policy that she feels most proud of and most passionate about is the Promise. When Nicola Sturgeon and I started on the journey of engaging with the issues of care when I was her education secretary, we started by listening carefully to the voices that were at the heart of the independent care review, which called for a system that is focused on love, safety and respect. I took part in a number of meetings, but Nicola Sturgeon gave a commitment to speak to 1,000 care-experienced young people in Scotland, and she spoke to 1,000 care-experienced young people—and likely more than that.”
“[Applause.] I also pay tribute to my friend and colleague Nicola Sturgeon, who made her final contribution to debate in the Scottish Parliament this evening— although there will be a First Minister’s question time next Wednesday, at which she may decide to hold someone to account. There is always fear in every week of the parliamentary session. [Laughter.] Nicola Sturgeon and I have travelled far together since our earliest days in the Scottish National Party. We became members of the Scottish Parliament on the same day and we entered Government on the same day. I was proud and honoured to serve for every minute of my time as her Deputy First Minister. The decisions that she took as First Minister have transformed the lives of people in Scotland—in particular, our children and young people.”
“I do not often disclose to Parliament the private conversations that I have with my ministers, but I want to make it clear to Parliament tonight that Natalie Don-Innes’s decision to stand down from Parliament is one that I deeply regret and worked hard to try to ensure that she did not take. Tonight, in the most public way that I can, I express my admiration for Natalie Don-Innes for all that she has contributed to the work of my Government and the Parliament. She stands down from the Parliament with my warmest wishes and my admiration for all that she has achieved.”
“I associate myself with what Mr Whitfield said about the learning that hands that are, perhaps, more experienced can take from more junior hands on matters such as this. I also express my thanks to members of all parties for their commitment to enhancing the bill, as a consequence of their engagement with the minister. That has been the foundation of making the bill as strong as it is, because the minister has led a process of engagement with all parties to ensure that the bill is as strong as it can be. I know that Natalie Don-Innes’s role as a minister has demanded her personal engagement, investment and activity. Those qualities are rooted in her entire being.”
“I believe that the bill represents real progress and a clear statement of the direction that Scotland has chosen to take, but it would not have reached this point in the shape that it is in without the leadership of Natalie Don-Innes in steering the bill through Parliament. Since her election to Parliament, Natalie Don-Innes has spoken openly about her own experiences of growing up, which drove her commitment to this legislation. That is clear in everything that she says and does as one of my ministers. She can be proud of the progress that she has delivered in government, and I am immensely proud of how she has gone about doing that and improving the lives of others as a consequence. She has listened, engaged and reflected. That approach has made this Government better and it has made this legislation stronger.”
“The world is watching the progress that Scotland is making, but, more importantly, our children and young people are watching this Parliament and the steps that it is taking. Moments such as this matter. They show that Scotland is prepared to listen, to learn and to change—that it is prepared to face up to uncomfortable elements of our country’s identity and make things better for those for whom we need to make our country better. They show that the voices of people with lived experience can shape the laws of this country. That is what is happening tonight. Moments such as this remind us why the work that we do in this chamber matters in improving the lives of individuals in our country.”
“One of those present told me that when someone cannot rely on their parents to care, they need their nation to care. That is a challenge that rests on all of us. Those young people also told me about tangible change that we have seen over the years since the Promise was made. They told me that, in their opinion, our nation cares more than it has in the past. That is welcome, but the challenge that we must always strive to live up to is to improve the experience of children who experience care. The Promise asked us to change. Members across the chamber accepted that challenge. Today, we take another seismic step in honouring that commitment. Roz McCall is absolutely correct to say that the keeping the Promise bill is not a single bill. It is a generational commitment to transform how Scotland supports children and families.”
“Before Parliament votes tonight, I want to reflect on what this moment represents for Parliament, and for care-experienced young people in Scotland. Throughout the debate, we have spoken about systems and reform, but, at its heart, the bill is about people. It is about the children and young people whose lives have been shaped by the care system, and our responsibility to do better for them. The Promise asks Scotland to look honestly at the experiences of those who have grown up in care. It asks us to listen to their stories, not just of resilience and courage but of systems that, too often, failed to provide the love, stability and support that every child deserves and needs in their life. On Tuesday, with the minister, I met a number of care-experienced people whom I first met 10 years ago.”
“Our next item of business is a members’ business debate. There will be a short suspension to allow people to leave the chamber and the public gallery. 12:46 Meeting suspended. 12:48 On resuming— Invasion of Ukraine”
“Rhoda Grant has raised a very important point. I understand that no decision has been taken by NHS Highland on the future of its chronic pain intervention service. The Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health has been clear about the need to ensure that local communities are properly consulted ahead of any proposed changes to that service. All NHS boards, including NHS Highland, are expected to provide high-quality care that is safe, effective and person centred. It is vital that members of the public, wherever they live in the country, have access to those services. I will ask the minister, who is in the chamber, to address the issue that Rhoda Grant raised, discuss it with NHS Highland and correspond with Rhoda Grant. The Presiding Officer: That concludes First Minister’s question time.”
“When this Government came to office, we had a clear ambition to massively increase the amount of electricity that is generated in Scotland from low- cost renewable sources, and we have succeeded in doing that. As a result, right now, people in Scotland should not be fearing soaring electricity bills as a result of soaring gas prices. Decisions by the SNP Government have put Scotland in a position where electricity bills for Scottish households and Scottish businesses should be lower, but decisions taken at Westminster prevent that. The answer is clear: Scotland’s energy wealth should be protecting people here in Scotland right now. Scotland’s energy wealth should be in Scotland’s hands, and that will only come by voting SNP on 7 May. Chronic”
“As First Minister, I have made clear on countless occasions the importance that I attach to making sure that there is a just transition in the North Sea oil and gas sector for those who are affected. That is delivered by making sure that we have the right climate to enable that judgment to be taken forward. We must consider any developments in the North Sea in relation to our climate commitments, because we have to achieve them, but we also have to have energy security, and that is why I have argued that the Prime Minister should remove the energy profits levy and enable developments that can be compatible with our climate action to take their course. Mr Lumsden raises a wider question about issues of energy sustainability and affordability.”
“I fear that Gordon MacDonald has been spending too much time in the company of his next-door neighbour from Paisley. It is something on which we have every sympathy with Mr MacDonald. [Laughter.] However, I know that he will miss his daily encounters with the member for Paisley in the neighbouring seat. Let me pay tribute to Gordon MacDonald, who steps down from Parliament next week. [Applause.] He is a wonderful servant of the people of Edinburgh Pentlands and a dear colleague and friend. Mr MacDonald raises a very important issue about the preservation of our quality natural environment. Planning policies and development plans must take into account all those considerations. That is a requirement of national planning policy and it has to be applied in all circumstances. North Sea Oil and”
“These are very high-quality, sophisticated jobs and we need to keep them. Planning Policy (Semi-rural Communities)”
“I share Mr Griffin’s concerns. The Deputy First Minister and the Minister for Business and Employment have spoken to the GMB union about the matter and we are establishing discussions with the company about the situation; Scottish Enterprise is already engaged with the business on ministers’ behalf. The issues that are causing the difficulty here are the trading conditions in which companies are operating. One of the particular issues is the tariffs arrangement with the United States, which, as Mr Griffin will know from my other comments in Parliament, I view as deeply disruptive to the handling of our economy. I assure Mr Griffin that ministers will continue to engage with the company and the trade unions to try to avoid any redundancies here, because that would be damaging to the manufacturing sector in Scotland.”
“I welcome Mr Stewart’s comments and I attach the greatest importance, as I know he does, to supporting young people whose mental wellbeing is in jeopardy. The Government takes a range of steps to ensure that we address issues of mental wellbeing and suicide prevention and that that is taken forward within our curricular work. The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills recently met the campaign group 3 Dads Walking to discuss suicide prevention. As part of the curriculum improvement cycle work, we will be looking to ensure that the curriculum adequately addresses the issues that Mr Stewart puts to me, and we will be happy to continue rolling out that work in partnership with local authorities. Rokbak (Closure)”
“The MV Glen Sannox is out on sea trials off the coast of Troon and I hope that it will return to service. Caledonian MacBrayne has made it clear that the new ferry that has come to us from the Cemre yard, the MV Isle of Islay, is on standby, should it need to be deployed to the Isle of Arran route in advance of its introduction to service on the Islay route when the summer timetable comes in on 27 March. Suicide Prevention (Schools)”
“I am glad to hear Mr Gibson’s welcome of the Government’s acquisition of Ardrossan harbour, which is a commitment that the Government gave to Parliament. It is another commitment delivered by my Government and enables us to take forward the securing of the Ardrossan to Brodick connection for servicing Arran. I must push back a little on Mr Gibson’s reference to a “zero-vessel” service for Arran, because the Claonaig to Lochranza service has been operating as a shuttle and all presenting traffic has been dealt with, although I accept that there has been disruption to Ayrshire services. The MV Caledonian Isles is now back in service. I checked the marine traffic app before I came to Parliament today to see whether it is operating just now, and it is.”
“What we will not do—and what I will never do—is knowingly release information that could compromise the anonymity of women in cases of alleged sexual assault. That would be utterly wrong, and I will not do it.”
“The First Minister: We need to be clear that we are talking about two distinct issues. As I understand it, the commissioner’s comments on further legal action relate to legal advice and not to material that we hold on the Hamilton report. The commissioner is wholly independent of Government. His budget is rightly set by Parliament, not the Government. He comes to his own views and applies his own judgment, and it is for him to explain his comments. However, on BBC Radio Scotland just three weeks ago, on 25 February, the commissioner said: “I think the Scottish Government in general is actually very good when it comes to freedom of information.” Of course, we have published thousands of pages of material on the Hamilton inquiry. That has not been simple or straightforward. It required us to navigate complex legal issues.”
“Katy Clark: The commissioner has said that there have been “unjustified delays”, a “wall of silence” and “preposterous” excuses, that the Government’s handling of information relating to the Hamilton inquiry stands in stark contrast to the way in which the Government has handled nearly every other case, and that he is now considering consulting on a second contempt of court case. No one is suggesting that any information that identifies a victim should be released, and that is not what is being asked for. It looks as though the Scottish Government is engaged in a systematic cover-up. Will the First Minister commit to providing the information that is required by law? Will he give a commitment that he is not considering using his First Minister’s veto, which has never been used since the freedom of information process was introduced?”
“The Scottish Government has answered more than 13,000 freedom of information requests since the start of 2024, and 95 per cent have been responded to on time. The commissioner has raised compliance concerns about two of those cases. One relates to a delay in compliance of just over four weeks due to the need to adhere to court orders and the scale and complexity of material involved. The other is about the interpretation of the scope of a request. The permanent secretary has assured the commissioner that all freedom of information requests cases are handled with the highest standards of impartiality and integrity.”
“If Mr Mountain has any particular examples of such cases, I would be grateful if he furnished me with them, and I will ask the Care Inspectorate—or rather, I will pass them on to the Care Inspectorate. I had better observe and not exceed my statutory responsibilities in that regard. The second way in which we can approach the issue relates to the work of Consumer Scotland, which I think could help in that respect. If Mr Mountain would care to write to me about the issue, I would be happy to pursue it. I am conscious that this might be the last occasion on which I have the opportunity to engage with Mr Mountain, unless he sneaks in a question next week. If that is the case, I express my warmest wishes to him as he steps down from Parliament, for all that he has achieved here. [Applause.]”
“It has taken constituents of mine whose relatives have died in care homes so long to have their deposit returned, while trying to mourn their relatives, that they have had to resort to legal action to get the deposit back. Does the First Minister think that that is acceptable? If not, what action will he recommend that my constituents take? The First Minister: I am very sympathetic to Mr Mountain’s point. I can understand that a reasonable deposit might be required, but it feels unreasonable to require an excessive deposit. In circumstances in which a loved one has died, a delay in repayment is unacceptable. There are a couple of ways in which we can approach the issue, the first of which relates to the work of the Care Inspectorate.”
“Deposit fees form part of the private contract between the provider and the individual. The Scottish Government is not party to such contracts. However, in recognition of the importance that the Scottish Government places on the sector, our budget for the forthcoming financial year sets out investment of more than £2.3 billion for social care, which delivers on our commitment to increase funding by 25 per cent by the end of this session of Parliament. In 2026-27, it will exceed that by more than £0.5 billion. Edward Mountain: Many care homes do not charge deposits, but when they do, the deposit can be up to three months of costs, which could be in excess of £20,000 per resident. That means that some individual care homes are sitting on, and earning interest on, £1 million-worth of deposits.”
“I will take away Mr McMillan’s point and will reflect on what more we can do in our planning legislation to ensure the resilience of the network. Care Home Deposit Fees 5.”
“I will consider further whether we need to change our planning laws to allow transport agencies to have a greater say in the way that he suggests. The aerial photography that is now available of the site demonstrates the danger and the risk that were presented to Glasgow Central station as a consequence of the fire on Union corner. Had the station been affected by the fire, the consequences for the resilience of our transport network would have been colossal, so Mr McMillan is absolutely right to raise the issue, given the significance of that infrastructure. The aerial photography also demonstrates just how effective and completely focused the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was in all that it did. I am glad that our Fire and Rescue Service was so effective in all that it did, and I am delighted to applaud its efforts.”
“At an event that I attended yesterday, an individual from Johnstone indicated that it had taken them more than two hours to get into Glasgow in the past week. I genuinely welcome all the efforts that have been made, especially with regard to the running of services as far as Paisley and the provision of bus services, but there has been a huge amount of congestion on the M8 as a consequence of the fire. Therefore, notwithstanding what the First Minister said, I believe that we should consider allowing transport agencies to have a greater say over activities that are undertaken near their key assets. Does the First Minister agree that that might be one way of helping to build greater resilience in Scotland’s public transport? The First Minister: Mr McMillan makes a fair point.”
“Network Rail is a statutory consultee, and planning authorities must notify it of certain developments in close proximity to a railway line. By law, all planning applications, including those near railways, must also be publicised so that parties have an opportunity to comment on proposed developments. Stuart McMillan: I echo the First Minister’s comments regarding the work over the past week. The tragic events that we all watched unfold serve as a stark reminder not only of the need to protect Scotland’s historic buildings but of how fragile our public transport network can be in some areas. For my constituents and those in the west of Scotland, getting to Glasgow and beyond has been extremely challenging of late.”
“The first thing that I would like to say is to express my warmest thanks to Network Rail, ScotRail and all the players in Glasgow City Council that have been involved in making sure that Glasgow Central station is now partially open, that services have been able to be restored for much of Ayrshire and Lanarkshire and that cross-border services to London have also been restored. I am really grateful to everyone for the superhuman effort that has been put in. The Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop, visited Glasgow Central station this morning to thank people on the Government’s behalf. After such a devastating event, Stuart McMillan is right to raise an issue that is of significant concern to many people. Discussions are on-going between Glasgow City Council and the Government in the wake of the fire.”
“As the First Minister of Scotland, I will always act within the law. That might be frustrating for me at times, and I assure Gillian Mackay and the Parliament that it is immensely frustrating for me at this particular moment. However, that is a vivid reminder to me of what is absolutely necessary for our country as we look to the future, which is to be a voice to argue for the de-escalation of conflicts in the middle east, to be a voice for peace and to avoid conflict. To do that, we must be an independent country, which is what I intend to deliver for the people of Scotland. Glasgow Central Station (Businesses) 4.”
“When will the First Minister properly stand up for Scotland and finally kick Trump’s troops out? The First Minister: I sympathise and agree with all the sentiments about the conflict in the middle east that Gillian Mackay has put to me. However, I cannot, at the same time as condemning the Israeli and United States intervention in the middle east as being incompatible with international law, not follow the legal framework in which I must operate as the First Minister in the Scottish Parliament under the Scotland Act 1998. The action suggested in the question that Gillian Mackay puts to me would undoubtedly have me exercising powers in relation to national security, aviation, air transport, defence and foreign affairs, all of which are reserved to the United Kingdom Government.”
“Gillian Mackay: I am pleased that the First Minister is concerned, but I am really disappointed by that answer. Last weekend, he said that an independent Scotland could ban foreign militaries that are involved in illegal wars from the country, and we welcome that commitment. However, Scotland cannot and must not wait for independence to act on our principles. Children in Iran are dying now, and they are being bombed by planes that are being refuelled in a chain that leads directly back to Prestwick. We know that the public in Scotland are overwhelmingly against this war, and we know that the airport is owned by the Scottish Government, which had already taken the decision to ban Israeli planes. It can take the same decision now, and we do not need to wait to ask for Westminster’s permission to do anything.”
“The Scottish Government acquired Prestwick airport on the basis of an intervention that it was within our powers to exercise in relation to economic development and employment. If I were to take the appropriate steps to prevent flights from entering Scotland, I would need to exercise national security, aviation, air transport, defence and foreign affairs powers, all of which are reserved to the United Kingdom Government. I would like to be able to exercise powers in that respect, but I would be exceeding my constitutional authority if I did so. That is a matter of regret for me. However, I am continuing to pursue dialogue with the United Kingdom Government, in order to address and raise the issues that Gillian Mackay has put to me today.”
“That is an issue that I have looked at very closely. The conflict in the middle east is a subject that is causing members of the public enormous concern and unease, and it is having enormous ramifications for every citizen in our country in relation to energy prices, the cost of living, mortgage prices and the value of pension investments. There is going to be a real, serious and acute economic impact as a consequence of the unjust and unjustified conflict that is taking place in the middle east. I am deeply concerned about the situation that we face, given the escalation of events that has taken place in the course of the past few days, which has enormous environmental, economic and geopolitical implications for all of us. As a consequence of that concern, I have looked closely at the situation in relation to Prestwick airport.”
“Mr Sarwar’s language is the language of a desperate man. He should think twice about the language that he uses in Parliament, because in a climate where we need to undertake respectful debate, there is nothing respectful about the language that Mr Sarwar has used. I am going to—”
“I am very proud of the budgetary and tax decisions that the Government has taken over many years, and I am proud to have been associated with those decisions. Today, 55 per cent of Scottish taxpayers are expected to pay less income tax in 2026-27 than they would if they lived in England. Of course, everybody who lives in Scotland has access to a wider set of social contract provisions than people in the rest of the United Kingdom, including free bus travel for under-22s and, crucially, the saving of £27,000 in tuition fees for any taxpayer in Scotland who sends their child to a university in Scotland. [Interruption.]”
“The report indicates the importance of leadership, a shared determination to ensure respectful working relationships and a collective commitment to make certain that all staff, regardless of who employs them, experience a workplace where they are able to perform at their best. It is vital that anyone with any concerns is able to raise those concerns and have them acted upon in the appropriate fashion. I commit my party and my Government to being full participants with Parliament in improving the processes for reporting any behaviour that falls below the high standards to which we must all adhere. I commit myself, as First Minister, to contributing in the correct way to the demonstration of leadership and to ensuring that the appropriate culture is present here, in Parliament, at all times. 09:35”
“This report is timely, and I am grateful to the many colleagues who contributed their experiences to it, both confidentially and anonymously. It is vital that everyone who comes to work at the Parliament comes to a safe and respectful working environment, and that applies to every single member of staff, no matter their role. This report was an important one to carry out, and, as the Presiding Officer has said, it highlights that, in the overwhelming majority of cases, staff do feel respected, valued and supported at work. However, if even one person has a bad experience here, that is completely unsatisfactory and there is a duty on all of us to address that. As First Minister, I make it clear to Parliament that a culture of appropriate behaviour is essential to the functioning of our democracy.”
“I am confident that there is a proposal on the table, properly and fully funded by the Scottish Government, that will allow industrial action not to happen, but it requires COSLA’s agreement tomorrow. I encourage Mr Whitfield to join the team effort to ensure that COSLA gets agreement over the line, so that we can avoid industrial action, the children of Scotland can get on with their education and we can all be happy that we have a nice tripartite agreement. Two parties are there—”
“I am grateful to Mr Whitfield for raising that issue, because we are at a pivotal moment in the discussions. I want to avoid industrial action, which, once again, is proposed for the communities that I represent, because I am the First Minister. It is not fair on my constituents if their children are unable to access schooling as a result of industrial action. I declare a personal interest, because industrial action would affect my son at a crucial moment in his education, so let us be crystal clear about its implications. The education secretary has worked incredibly hard and has focused on trying to bring the relevant parties together, but the issue is not entirely under the control of the Government. It involves a discussion and negotiation between the Government, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the trade unions.”
“The group talked through the concerns that have been raised, and everyone present agreed on the response and the action being taken to ensure the highest level of water safety when the facilities open. As a result of the intervention of NHS Scotland Assure, buildings are not opened unless it is safe for them to open and they comply with all relevant requirements. I assure Mr Burnett that that will be the case for the Baird and ANCHOR. Mr Burnett asked for the hospitals to open without delay. I cannot give him that assurance, because we have to ensure that they are safe to open. I assure him that no one wants the hospitals to open more than me, but I have to learn the lessons from previous issues, which is exactly what is going on now. School Strikes (Funding)”
“First, I recognise the importance of the point that Mr Burnett puts to me. I heard his speech last night, and I understand exactly all the points that he is making. It is a matter of regret to me that the Baird family hospital and the ANCHOR centre are as delayed as they are, but they are delayed because of the level of scrutiny and intervention that is under way to guarantee safety. That is the process that is under way, and NHS Scotland Assure, which was set up to do exactly that type of scrutiny, is exercising that responsibility. In relation to the building process at the Baird and ANCHOR, my officials spoke to NHS Grampian this morning, which confirmed that the water safety group at the Baird and ANCHOR met on Friday 6 March.”
“I agree with Karen Adam. In Scotland, we are in the position of having much lower unemployment than the rest of the United Kingdom, but the challenges that our oil and gas sector faces are caused by the more rapid decline of the sector, accelerated by the energy profits levy and the slower growth in renewables than we had expected. I have made this point at this podium before, and I will make it again: the United Kingdom Government should remove the energy profits levy so that we can safeguard employment and manage the just transition in the oil and gas sector. That is the responsible way to tackle the issue. I reiterate my call to the UK Government to scrap the energy profits levy, and to scrap it now. Baird Family Hospital and Aberdeen and North Centre for Haematology, Oncology and”
“The Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs will raise the matter with the chief constable when they next meet. UK Government Policies (Impact on North- east Scotland)”
“I agree completely with Pauline McNeill—it is appalling. I know that Police Scotland has apologised. Let me apologise to the individual affected, because I cannot begin to imagine how horrendous an experience that has been. The protection of people’s data and information, at any time, is very important and, in cases of this sensitivity, it is even more important. Police Scotland must properly, fully, openly and transparently learn the lessons of this incident. As I understand it, Police Scotland has been fined by the Information Commissioner, which is a mark of the seriousness of the issue. The issue has to be addressed in that fashion. I reiterate to Pauline McNeill the importance that I attach to issues of that nature being taken seriously and being addressed by Police Scotland.”
“I understand the significance of the point that Liz Smith raises, but, as I understand it, the decision is one that has been taken by Lord Weir, who is the chair of the inquiry. Liz Smith will know the obligations that I am under, in terms of the Inquiries Act 2005. The chair of the inquiry must be free to take the decisions that they decide to be appropriate for the running of the inquiry. They should certainly not be subjected to interference by ministers, and they certainly will not be subjected to interference by me. Whatever my personal sympathies are on the issue—as Liz Smith knows, just last week, I met those who were affected by Eljamel and had a constructive discussion with them—I have to respect the independence of Lord Weir’s inquiry. It would be thoroughly inappropriate for me to intervene on any matter of that nature.”
“The Presiding Officer: I would be grateful if we could all hear one another. Members should please remember those gathered in the public gallery, who would like to hear, too. Eljamel”
“The Prime Minister’s memo that came to light this week indicates that the Labour Prime Minister of the United Kingdom has as much contempt for devolution as his Conservative predecessors did. It displays an attitude that is disrespectful of the policy direction and actions of the Scottish Government. The people of Scotland voted nearly 30 years ago to establish this Parliament. Its members are elected to be accountable to the public in Scotland for the public expenditure matters for which it is responsible. [Interruption.] The Presiding Officer: Let us hear one another. The First Minister: That is being undermined by the UK Labour Government. The lesson is pretty clear to people in Scotland: Labour is a threat to devolution, and the only way that self-government can be protected is through the fresh start that independence would bring.”
“Public Health Scotland recently launched its “One less thing to worry about” campaign, which further encourages the uptake of childhood vaccinations. The NHS Inform website provides accessible and trustworthy guidance from medical professionals on vaccinations. That is all important, and it is important that we get the public messaging correct, so I will consider Mr Stewart’s suggestion of whether we have enough resource going into vaccination campaigns. If there is a requirement for that to be increased, I give him the assurance that that will be considered by the Government. The Presiding Officer: We move to constituency and general supplementary questions. The more concise questions and responses are, the more members we will be able to take. Leaked Memo (Devolution)”