Brian Adam: I was a little concerned by Mr McCabe's proposal, as it could lead to difficulties. There has been the occasional difficulty. We divide among ourselves, as do religious communities. If we consult as he suggests, that may lead to division rather than people coming together. I support the motion, on the assumption that there will be a multifaith arrangement that will be inclusive and allow...
Brian Adam: In light of the new coalition arrangement, will Mr Watson tell us precisely what the Labour party has given up from its manifesto in order to accommodate the Liberal Democrat party? We are well aware of what the Liberal Democrat party has given up to accommodate the Labour party, but what has the Labour party given up?
Brian Adam: Will Trish Godman give way?
Brian Adam: Mr Macdonald referred to the partnership agreement and to its principles. It is fairly obvious which particular principles the Liberal Democrats have given up to reach that partnership. For the benefit of the rest of us, would Lewis Macdonald care to elucidate which principles the Labour party is giving up to enter the agreement?
Brian Adam: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to act to expedite the building of the western peripheral route round Aberdeen. (S1O-12)
Brian Adam: I note that the minister believes that the primary responsibility belongs to the two local authorities. Will she confirm whether the Executive has plans for extensive de-trunking of the network, whether any such plans might have implications for the funding of the proposed route, and whether the Executive has plans to help with the funding of that route?
Brian Adam: The local Aberdeen Evening Express kindly referred to me recently as a real north of Scotland MSP. I certainly hope that the paper does not consider some of my colleagues to be unreal MSPs, because I greatly value the cross-party support for the motion. Most unusually for a proposed roads development, there is widespread support throughout the north-east for the principle of the western...
Brian Adam: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a statement on the total cost of abolishing Skye bridge tolls with immediate effect.
Brian Adam: Mr McConnell suggests that his scheme will give flexibility, but I fail to see how that can be achieved under long-term contracts. In many of the areas that he has described there will be a need for significant changes in the lifetime of contracts; every time a change is required, we will have to go to whoever owns the facility, or manages the service and controls the staff. How will his...
Brian Adam: Does the First Minister agree that there is some danger in continually putting further duties on education authorities, rather than allowing them discretion to act locally? Does he agree that there is little point in local authorities dealing with education if we continually restrict their ability to act locally?
Brian Adam: I would also like to start by welcoming much of what the Minister for Communities said. I welcome her positive response to the idea of a four-year cycle. In winding up, will she tell us whether she is in sympathy with the idea of general competence? She did not give any indication of where her sympathies lie on that or whether she is sympathetic to introducing a system of PR. Despite what we...
Brian Adam: I thank Mr Davidson for his intervention. I welcome the Conservatives' presence as a reminder to the public of just how bad they were. I will highlight one or two examples from recent council elections. There are real problems in our councils. The situation cannot continue in which, in one local authority, the Labour party had 32 per cent of the vote-less than a third-but won 22 seats and a...
Brian Adam: That is a fourfold difference. That does not reflect any kind of fair voting. It happened in Aberdeen, but the same is true throughout Scotland. It is a travesty of a result, an affront to democracy and an insult to the voters. The same can be said in many areas. This is not idle whingeing. Such results matter because they are unjust, not just to my party, but to many other parties and to...
Brian Adam: I am not whingeing because the SNP did not do well; in the European elections we would have won an additional seat through the first-past-the-post system. We are prepared to accept that, from time to time, PR will not be to our advantage, but consider PR to be the best route. I hope that the minister will indicate whether she is sympathetic to the introduction of PR in local government.
Brian Adam: In summing up, will the Minister for Transport and the Environment consider the pressures that apply to NOSWA, given that there is already a preferred bidder for the scheme? I also ask her to consider whether the commercial considerations of preferred bidder status will have any implications for the innovative public-private partnership that has been suggested for Aberdeen-and for other...
Brian Adam: To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made or intends to make to Her Majesty’s Government regarding British Telecom’s proposed plans in Scotland for new high speed data services, technically known as asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL), and whether it will seek to encourage their installation in North East Scotland as part of their initial introduction.
Brian Adam: To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to amend the Environmental Protection Act (1990) to give Environmental Protection Officers power to require a person to give their name and address in order to enforce penalties for littering.
Brian Adam: To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve the railway network in Scotland. (S1O-248)
Brian Adam: I am grateful to the minister for her answer. However, I would be extremely grateful if she answered the supplementary question put by my colleague, Mr Kenny MacAskill, which directly related to improvements in the line at Larkhall and Hamilton. Can she say when that work will be done or, if it will not be done, what the problem is?
Brian Adam: I thank Phil Gallie and, in particular, Mr McCabe, given the reservations that he expressed at our first debate on this subject. The measured response that he delivered today was most welcome. I understand Mr Gallie's point of view, but I do not share it. It is difficult, given the correspondence that we have all had from people who hold views strongly and dearly, but the view which...