Margaret Curran: To ask the Scottish Executive whether there was cabinet support for the allocation of central government funding to Glasgow City Council during the budget negotiations.
Margaret Curran: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19656 by John Swinney on 12 January 2009, what the determining factors unique to Edinburgh were that led to the award of the capital city supplement of £3.5 million to the City of Edinburgh Council.
Margaret Curran: To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the financial needs of the City of Glasgow Council are met.
Margaret Curran: To ask the Scottish Executive what representations the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing made in the budget negotiations concerning the funding of Glasgow City Council.
Margaret Curran: This is a welcome debate for a welcome initiative. Of course I would say that: as Iain Smith pointed out, the homecoming was devised and directed under—Iain will forgive me—the previous Labour-led Administration. I take this opportunity to pay tribute to the work done by Jack McConnell, who is with us in the chamber today. As First Minister, he was deeply committed to the homecoming...
Margaret Curran: I am sure that all members acknowledge that drug addiction is a serious problem, not just for the people who are addicted but for their families and the communities in which they live. I am sure that the First Minister agrees that we should take every possible step to tackle that blight throughout Scotland. Does the First Minister acknowledge that most sensible people in Scotland think that...
Margaret Curran: I, too, thank Patrick Harvie for bringing the matter to the chamber for debate. I congratulate all those who are with us this evening who have participated in the climate challenge fund. In his introduction, Patrick Harvie talked about the decades of change since climate change was on the fringes of the political agenda. It now holds a strategic place at the centre. I feel that I have made...
Margaret Curran: To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth last met COSLA.
Margaret Curran: To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to address youth violence in the east end of Glasgow.
Margaret Curran: To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing last met representatives of the STUC. (S3O-4396)
Margaret Curran: As I understand it, the cabinet secretary has refused a request to meet the STUC women's committee and offered them Stewart Maxwell instead. I am sure that Mr Maxwell has a lot to learn from the women of the STUC, but nonetheless I ask the cabinet secretary to reconsider. In times of pay dispute, such a meeting would afford an opportunity for her to explain to women who are among the lowest...
Margaret Curran: Will the cabinet secretary tell the STUC to its face why the SNP, when dealing with low-paid workers, engages in such double standards?
Margaret Curran: I, too, thank Trish Godman for securing tonight's debate. As others have acknowledged, she has made a significant contribution to raising awareness of thrombosis, and deep vein thrombosis in particular. I defer to the medical knowledge of my esteemed colleagues; I will not match their grasp of the subject, but please bear with me. My awareness of this issue was increased by my...
Margaret Curran: Many in the chamber will recognise the contribution of Mike Gray, a good friend of mine over many years, and his wife and friends, who have had an enormous impact and have helped us to look at the complex issues of provision and funding of cancer drugs, and indeed the operation of the national health service. There are many telling lessons to learn for all of us who are committed to the...
Margaret Curran: To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to unblock the apparent impasse between the State Hospital in Carstairs and NHS Fife in relation to the care of the remaining female patient in the State Hospital.
Margaret Curran: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take immediate action to unblock the apparent impasse between the State Hospital in Carstairs and NHS Fife in relation to the care of the remaining female patient in the State Hospital, in light of the implications for the NHS budget.
Margaret Curran: Has the minister costed the provision of PE in schools by specialists?
Margaret Curran: Cue a woman from the west of Scotland. In opening, I will declare an interest. Along with other MSPs, I participated in a programme that was run by the Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation for the very reason that Christine Grahame outlined: busy women need to be encouraged to participate in sport and fitness regimes. I found the programme interesting. Indeed, one of the sports that I was...
Margaret Curran: Oh, gosh! If the recent Beijing Olympics and Paralympics inspired people, how much more inspired will they be if the games happen on their doorstep? The legacy of the Commonwealth games could be significant in tackling health inequalities, but only if we ensure that the inspiration of sport is deepened and networked throughout all our communities. We must ensure that we maximise...
Margaret Curran: I would like Margo MacDonald to come to the east end of Glasgow, to see whether she can inspire people there, as she inspires us, on the importance of sport in Scotland.
