----------------- ----------------- |  | | Last Updated: Friday, 7 May, 2004, 18:13 GMT 19:13 UK |
Scotland: First Minister's Questions (06/05/04)
| | The mistaken release of another prisoner led to another stressful First Minister's Questions for Jack McConnell. He was forced to defend his Minister for Justice Cathy Jamieson as the SNP turned on her and the private security firm Reliance. Opposition leader John Swinney pointed out that it's now been four weeks since the wrongful release of convicted murderer James McCormick. He wants to know why no one has paid the penalty for the error, the First Minister says Reliance will be punished. Questions John Swinney (SNP Leader) asked what allowances were "made for mistakes over prisoner release in the contract that was issued to Reliance Secure Task Management?"
The First Minister told him that the contract refers to the penalties Reliance will pay for "releases in error." David Mcletchie (Scots Tory Leader) wanted to know why, even though funding has increased, fewer treatments are taking place and waiting lists are lengthening.
The FM says that it is a good thing that "millions more people" in Scotland are being "treated in out-patient departments rather than being treated as in-patients." Kenny MacAskill (Lothians, SNP) asked whether the FM will undertake to seek new operators following the collapse of Duo Airways.
The First Minister said that "the new routes have been a success" and says the company's collapse was a major blow for passengers. Tommy Sheridan (SSP Convener) asked whether the First Minister will call on the PM to pull troops out of Iraq.
The FM said "it would be wrong-headed and extremely ill judged to take British troops out of Iraq at the moment." Kenny Macintosh (Eastwood, Labour) asked for reassurance that Scotland is not going to abolish its universities.
The FM said this is "nonsense" and that he is committed to increasing investment in universities. Robert Brown (Glasgow, LD) asked about the gap between rich and poor in Glasgow and how it can be worked on.
The FM told him that resources had been targeted at Greater Glasgow NHS Board and Glasgow City Council. Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife, Con) asked what is to be done to turn round consistent economic underperformance.
He was told by the FM that "over the past year, the Scottish economy has shown one of the best growth performances in Europe."You can see First Minister's Questions from Scotland every Saturday on BBC Parliament from 1000 GMT
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