Stewart Stevenson: I agree with him.
Neil Findlay: Stewart Stevenson and Peter Johnston—what a double act! Pensioners need a health and social care system that is fit for purpose and fit to meet the demands of the 21st century. Why will the Scottish Government not rid itself of its complacency and do what Labour has called for by producing a Beveridge-style review of our health and social care services? Pretending that everything is okay...
Stewart Stevenson: I apologise for being, like Christine Grahame, part of the demographic challenge that the Labour Party has identified. There are one or two others of us who may yet speak in this debate. It is interesting that we started the debate with a reference to grandparents. I have the misfortunate not to have known any of my grandparents. All my grandparents were born before the first secret ballot in...
Stewart Stevenson: That is the great trick that Christine Grahame and others have got completely wrong. I will draw my speech to a conclusion. Neil Findlay described very well the challenge that we face. I thought that he did a fine job. He quoted Peter Johnston, who reinforced that. I agree with Peter Johnston, but the economic challenges that local government, the Scottish Government and communities in...
Stewart Stevenson: I think that it was about 15 years ago when someone in England completed their pilot’s licence at the age of 82. There are no limits to the heights to which we can aspire.
Hugh Henry: There is no doubt that the generation that inhabits the Parliament owes a debt of gratitude to our older people—not just to those who make up the current generation, but to those who went before. Stewart Stevenson generously acknowledged the Labour Party’s contribution on many issues, but that contribution has come not just from the party. Over many generations, it was the members of the...
Jim Hume: We can hardly say that the debate has been consensual, but it has been welcome. Stewart Stevenson enriched it with his personal family experiences, which is a new tactic for him, I am sure. Christine Grahame enriched it with visions of her attire in the 60s. Fiona McLeod enriched it by going on about carping Opposition MSPs and then carping on about other Governments. The Government and...
Shona Robison: ...look at such things in more detail. Christine Grahame reminded everyone of Gordon Brown’s record, with the 75p pension rise and his raid on pension funds, which people are still paying for today. Stewart Stevenson reminded us that social protection is more affordable in Scotland, which is an important point. Ken Macintosh made a very thoughtful speech in which he mentioned the issue of...