----------------- ----------------- |  | | Last Updated: Friday, 12 March, 2004, 18:10 GMT |
Scotland: First Minister's Questions (11/03/04)
|  Charged with keeping order : Presiding Officer George Reid MSP |
Opposition leaders joined the First Minister in paying tribute to the many victims of the Madrid train attack on Thursday. Jack McConnell said he was sure that the whole Parliament would join him in "expressing our utter condemnation, our anger and our disgust at that despicable act by whatever group is responsible." Questions John Swinney (Leader of the SNP, North Tayside) led with a question to Jack McConnell about whether the First Minister had already dismissed the idea of a local income tax ahead of his local government finance review.
The First Minister replied that the SNP proposals were "flawed in an attempt to be populist." David McLetchie (Leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Lothian) asked about industrial action affecting nursery schools and why settlements haven�t been made in some council areas.
The First Minister says the resolution to the dispute lies between the employers and nursery nurses. Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill, Lab) asked whether he was aware that some police officers had asked for more powers to tackle anti-social behaviour.
The First Minister said a police officer who spoke out against the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill was wrong. Shona Robison (Dundee East, SNP) asked the First Minister to condemn Dundee City Council for encouraging parents of children with special needs to go to the press and criticise nurses.
The First Minister said he did not want to inflame the dispute. Robin Harper (Green Party Convener, Lothians) asked whether the Executive has approved the commercial growing of GM crops in Scotland.
The First Minister told him that is is not simply a matter for the Executive but acknowledged that Scots are "uneasy" abou the crops. Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland, Labour) asked what action can be taken to reduce the number of racially motivated attacks.
The First Minister told him that "we need to encourage cultural and behavioural change". Shona Robison (Dundee East, SNP) asked whether the FM had seen Professor Midwinter�s comments on health funding.
The First Minister replied that the SNP had had three different positions on the subject in a week. Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife, Conservative) wanted to know what the Executive�s response to the review of higher education was.
The First Minister said that an initial response will be published shortly.You can see First Minister's Questions from Scotland every Saturday on BBC Parliament from 1000 GMT
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