The leaders came face to face in Glasgow

Scotland's coalition parties remain deeply split over proposals to jail the parents of children who consistently break the law.

Their widening differences emerged during a BBC Scotland debate between the leaders of the four main political parties.

The programme, aired on Sunday, also revealed festering differences between some parties over the military campaign in Iraq.

Issues surrounding any future referendum on independence, public private partnerships (PPP) and Scotland's economic performance also provoked heated exchanges.

The parties' differences on law and order emerged during answers to a question on dealing with anti-social behaviour and street violence.

Scottish Labour leader Jack McConnell, restated his belief that in extreme cases of children consistently breaking the law, jail terms for parents had to be considered.

'Compensation orders'

"There is absolutely no point in having parental orders that would engage parents in the solution to the anti-social behaviour, or the disorder of the youngsters, unless you also have a sanction against the parents if they break those orders," he said.

But Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Jim Wallace insisted the proposal was unworkable and said his party would not vote for it in a new parliament.

Mr Wallace said in his opinion, the proposal would not get past stage one of the parliament's legislative process because it would likely fall foul of European human rights laws.

Jack McConnell: "Sanction against parents"

Scottish National Party (SNP) leader John Swinney also said that such a move was likely to be illegal.

He said the SNP would use "compensation orders" which would compel parents to "make good" any damage caused by their children.

Scottish Conservative leader David McLetchie concentrated his efforts with an attack on the funding levels for police forces.

He said the first minister stated in parliament that future funding levels could result in either a "small increase or small decrease" in police numbers.

"The reality is that they're (coalition parties) not prepared to commit the resources that we need to do the job in Scotland," he said.

Another notable point in the debate came when the panel was questioned on the use of military action in Iraq.

War divisions

Mr McConnell said: "I agree that back in February it was the case that opinion polls in Scotland were showing people felt the government should not get involved in a war in Iraq.

"Apart from perhaps a very small minority who take a very principled position out of pacifism, I would be astonished if many other people in Scotland today thought that decision was wrong."

This response drew loud jeering from some sections of the audience and prompted John Swinney to publicly restate his party's opposition to military action.

John Swinney attacked the war on Iraq

He told the audience that the SNP had used debating time in Holyrood to raise public concerns over Iraq.

"When 100,000 people walked through the streets of Glasgow to express their opinion, they were speaking for the people of Scotland," he said.

Recent political spats over any future independence referendum also surfaced during the programme.

Mr McConnell conceded that Holyrood might have the powers to stage an independence referendum of the type promised by the SNP.

Labour initially claimed this would be outside the parliament's legal powers, then said it would be impossible to pass judgement on the legality of a referendum until the SNP said what the terms would be.

"If John Swinney gets the question right, of course it would be legal but that is not the point," said Mr McConnell.

Funding row

But the SNP leader restated his belief that an independence referendum would be entirely a matter for the Scottish electorate and should remain free from any "Westminster interference".

Controversial claims last week about alleged bed shortages in the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary from an academic also prompted debate about the legitimacy of PPPs.

Scots Tory leader David McLetchie said the findings of the study were questionable and praised the use of PPP to build the hospital.

David McLetchie backed PPPs

To some applause, he said this method was more cost-effective and efficient that the public procurement route under which the new Scottish Parliament is being built.

Mr McConnell agreed with his latter point but defended the Scottish Executive's increasing use of private cash to develop public services.

Jim Wallace also defended the use of PPPs but asserted that he was also in favour of other methods.

John Swinney again pledged to end the scheme in favour of the SNP's preferred option of not-for-profit trusts.

The SNP leader also formed an unlikely alliance with David McLetchie on the issue of business rates during questions about the performance of Scotland's economy.

Few surprises

Both men said that business rates in Scotland are currently 9% higher than south of the border.

Mr McConnell claimed that both the SNP and Tories would "take the low road" of cutting the budget of the jobs creation quango Scottish Enterprise to finance a cut in business rates.

He said Labour would keep to "the high road" of investing in skills that would create future prosperity.

Overall, the debate threw up few surprises and all four leaders delivered strong performances.

Jim Wallace is opposed to jailing parents

Jack McConnell came under pressure during several lines of questioning but the Scottish Labour leader never looked in trouble.

For Jim Wallace, the debate presented a shared platform for the Liberal Democrat leader to distinguish his party from Labour.

He did this on several occasions - most notably with his opposition to sending the parents of persistent child offenders to prison.

John Swinney did not deflect from the themes of the SNP's campaign - the different approach independence offers contrasted against perceived failures of the coalition Executive.

David McLetchie also adopted the latter approach and used most questions to highlight the Tories most cherished policies of low taxation, small government and law and order.