----------------- ----------------- |  | | Last Updated: Thursday, 29 April, 2004, 16:09 GMT 17:09 UK |
Scotland: First Minister's Questions (29/04/04)
| | The first minister said he would vote against the European Constitution in its current form because it does not enshrine the powers of the Scottish Parliament. At First Minister's Questions this week, Mr McConnell said he would only vote 'yes' in a referendum if the Westminster Government succeeded in getting the role of devolved government's legitimised in the constitution. The SNP Leader wanted an assurance that fisheries would be brought back into Scottish control. But Mr McConnell said it was right for fisheries to be controlled at an EU level, "Fish cross borders" he said. But he maintained that Scotland needed to retain the regional management decision making. Other issues thrown at the First Minister was the recent judgement on "slopping out" in prisons, and the possibility of ID cards in Scotland. Questions John Swinney (SNP Leader) asked whether the First Minister would vote 'yes' if there was to be a referendum on the European Constitution as it stands.
The first minister said he wouldn't. He said he supports the UK Government's position on the Constitution, but adds a condition that he wants to see added the role and powers of the Scottish Parliament and the executive.John Swinney quoted Labour MP George Foulkes who would welcome a constitution that would remove fisheries from the EU and see it brought back to Scotland. He asked the First Minister to take the opportunity to defend the national industry and urge fisheries control to be given back to Scotland.
The first minister said he would not put the Nationalist interest ahead of the national interest. He believes marine resources should remain at a European level because fish tend to cross borders. He said the Common Fisheries Policy in Europe needs to change, and we need to ensure that Scotland retains regional management decision making. David McLetchie (Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party) said the only way to restore local control over fisheries was to vote Conservative at the next election as the General Election would precede any referendum. He asked why they were talking about red lines and referendum dates, when soon there may be no fishing industry to sustain.
The first minister mocked Mr McLetchie for changing his opinion and that the referendum is no longer central to the debate. He repeated that he believes the marine resources should be the subject of policy making at an EU level, Mr McLetchie asked why the first minister campaigned for the Scottish Parliament only to see powers eroded and given to Brussels.
The first minister said he was wrong. He said that for the first time in 50 years Scotland's form of regional government will be recognised. He said he wanted to see enlargement work for Scotland. He said a Tory Government would drive hundreds of thousands of jobs out of Scotland and take away influence. John Monro (Liberal Democrat) asked whether the first minister will intervene to stop the Caledonian Macbrayne ferry from being cut back as the people on the island of Rothesay have not been consulted.
The first minister said he recognised the strength of feeling within the communities affected, but that decisions about ferry services are commercial decisions. He would press companies to take their decisions wisely. Robin Harper (Green Party Convenor), citing problems with the salmon industry, asked why the Executive's Agriculture Strategy has not been applied and whether the first minister will get a grip of that failing strategy.
The first minister said the Agriculture Strategy has been widely welcomed by the agriculture industry and local communities as it provides a framework for the way forward. He said he would continue to monitor salmon farming in those communities and on the impact to the local environment. He said standards in Scotland are as high, if not higher, than other countries that have salmon fishing. Sarah Boyack (Labour) asked why Scotland is falling behind the rest of the UK on the Kyoto greenhouse gas emission targets.
The first minister said he remained strongly committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. He said there was an integrated plan to tackle climate change and the programme will be reviewed later in the year. Pauline McNeill (Labour) asked how the first minister will respond to the legal judgement on sanitation in Scotland's prisons and whether he will assure that programme will be put forward to end slopping out. She insisted that those we imprison should be held in humane conditions necessary for rehabilitation.
The first minister said ministers are considering the judgement carefully, and that he is committed to tackling overcrowding and reoffending. He acknowledged that Scotland has the worst record in Europe for reoffending and that prisons have to be fit for the 21 Century. Nicola Sturgeon (SNP) asked the first minister to apologise for not addressing the situation in 1999 which could have prevented millions of pounds being put into the pockets of criminals as a result of the liabilities.
The first minister said he would not apologise for the decisions of 1999 when he set up the Drug Enforcement Agency which brought record levels of seizures and arrests against drug dealers in Scotland. Millions of pounds were taken off the drug dealers as a result of the agency and given to Scottish tax payers, he said. Christine Grahame (SNP) asked why there has been a delay in getting payments to those who contracted Hepatitus C through receiving contaminated blood. She asked the First Minister to take responsibility for this as claimants do not have time on their side.
The first minister said the delay was caused by extensive consultation with patient groups to ensure the forms and procedures properly reflected the needs of the people involved. Claims can be put in from May, he said. Phil Gallie (Conservative) asked whether the first minister can see the advantages ID cards can bring Scotland.
The first minister said he will ensure the cards will not be used to access devolved services without the agreement of the parliament and that the debate will go on in Scotland over the coming years.You can see First Minister's Questions from Scotland every Saturday on BBC Parliament from 1000 GMT
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