Colin Fox: On 23 May 2006, at the University of Stirling, the First Minister gave a lecture called "Scotland's Future: Thinking for the Long Term". I came across his speech while I was tidying up my office. Among other things, he said: "It is crystal clear to me, though, the greatest change required. Poverty and inequality are at the root of Scotland's greatest weaknesses." I agree, but here we are a...
Colin Fox: I am sorry; I do not have time. I have no doubt that Scotland would be better off economically, socially, culturally and politically if we were independent in a modern democratic republic. Jack McConnell ended his May 2006 speech by saying that he wanted a Scotland that offers everyone the chance to become the best that they can be. That chance has been denied them. He wanted every child...
Colin Fox: The debate has been interesting—perhaps even memorable. Like other Labour members, the minister claimed in her opening remarks that all Scotland's achievements in the past 300 years were products of the Act of Union 1707. The mind boggles when we think of John Logie Baird, Alexander Graham Bell or Alexander Fleming, and at the thought that when Archie Gemmill scored his goal in Argentina in...
Colin Fox: Last night, Margo MacDonald and I shared a platform at the Edinburgh Tenants Federation hustings. It was a very nice event with eight speakers. A Labour member of the audience pressed Tricia Marwick to say whether, if the SNP won a majority in May, the party would press Gordon Brown to return money to this country. The Labour member was somewhat aghast when I spoke to them later and said, "Of...
Colin Fox: Yes, of course, but it is typical of Labour members to see the hundreds and thousands but not the cake. The fact is that the Labour Government of 1974 to 1979—I am sure that Bristow Muldoon and Charlie Gordon reflect on this in their saner moments—redistributed wealth from the poor to the rich, which is why it was brought to its knees. The Government of James Callaghan, Harold Wilson and...
Colin Fox: I knew that it would come back to Labour members, now that I have mentioned it. They have remembered that there was a cake. The icing sugar was on the top and the cake was underneath.
Colin Fox: I am happy to give way now that Labour members have remembered the cake.
Colin Fox: Of course they were a nightmare, but they were brought about by the failure of the previous Labour Government, which redistributed wealth to the rich. That is why Thatcher got in. I am confident that, as Campbell Martin said, the demographics are in favour of those who support independence. I am also confident in the ability of the people of Scotland to run their own affairs and I am happy to...
Colin Fox: Will the member give way?
Colin Fox: The Executive's case for the union consists of three elements, essentially. It says that the union provides political stability, security for Scotland in an uncertain world and continuing economic prosperity. I want to consider those three elements, which the minister has mentioned. First, I will deal with stability. According to recent opinion polls, David Cameron's Tories are 15 percentage...
Colin Fox: As is traditional on these occasions I, too, congratulate Mike Pringle on securing the debate. His motion raises important issues that many of my constituents—not just residents of south Edinburgh, but commuters into the city from further afield—have raised with me. The issue is not just park and ride, but traffic congestion and the need for better public transport. In the light of Mike...
Colin Fox: In a second. The scheme failed, but we still have to address the problem, which is worsening. We cannot expect the problem to go away just because of a referendum result. I think that that was Mark Ballard's cue.
Colin Fox: I was just coming to that point. I am not against congestion charges in principle. I lived in London for 10 years—the scheme there is fair. People in London had the alternative of using existing services—the tube, the train or the bus. If we offer people a better alternative, they will use it. However, the SESTRAN improvements, good as they are, point to the fact that we do not have a...
Colin Fox: To ask the Scottish Executive when it will fulfil its commitment to enact sections 25 to 29 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990.
Colin Fox: To ask the Scottish Executive what the public sector provision is of full-time and part-time nursery places for three and four-year-olds in south Edinburgh.
Colin Fox: To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to reduce the number of full-time nursery places available for three and four-year-olds in south and south-east Edinburgh.
Colin Fox: To ask the Scottish Executive how the sale of Meadowbank Stadium fits with the National Strategy for Sport.
Colin Fox: At First Minister's question time today, the First Minister said that the bill will end the Tories' provisions on the automatic early release of prisoners. Of course, it will do no such thing, because it will replace those provisions with Labour's provisions on the automatic early release of prisoners. Offenders will continue to be released early, before they have served the full period that...
Colin Fox: To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the recent increase in the cost of prescriptions will have on patients with chronic conditions. (S2O-12390)
Colin Fox: Four years ago, the Executive promised to review national health service prescription charges for those who suffer from long-term conditions. The charges have since risen year on year and are now £6.85 for each medicine. The unfairness of the system, like the number of sufferers languishing in pain and financial hardship, has grown and grown but the Executive has done nothing about the...
