Duncan Hamilton: Did not Mr Lyon give an unalterable commitment-during the campaign in Argyll and Bute, which he and I shared so comfortably-to the abolition of tuition fees? That commitment now seems to be on the back burner, with the result that we must wait and see what happens. If he gave such a commitment, would not his election to that constituency be a mandate to stay true to his principles rather than...
Duncan Hamilton: I support the amendment that opposes the appointment of Mr Jim Wallace. I do so with some regret: such opposition was not my understanding of the new style of politics, but neither was it my understanding of the new politics that coalition meant takeover. Sadly, that is where we are at. The First Minister started this debate by talking about how the Scottish National party was against the...
Duncan Hamilton: The Scottish National party is absolutely full square against tuition fees, and I would certainly vote against such a finding. What this discussion highlights is the difference between a party of principle and a party of opportunism, which is what it seems George represents. It was also fascinating to listen to George's arguments about beef on the bone. He is the recently retired president...
Duncan Hamilton: rose-
Duncan Hamilton: Surely one of the interesting aspects of this morning's debate was the repeated insistence that the SNP was short on specifics. However, this debate demonstrates the interesting comparison between the woolly and wan comments in Mr McLeish's motion and the specific, dynamic proposals in the SNP's amendment. We have detailed four key areas where we believe the Scottish economy can grow faster...
Duncan Hamilton: Nicely put. This Parliament has a role in removing the barriers to growth, which will happen. Let me finish-
Duncan Hamilton: Let me just finish on this point. If this Parliament has a-
Duncan Hamilton: Okay, Mr Reid, I will. [Applause.]
Duncan Hamilton: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to affirm its commitment to a maximum working week of 56 hours for junior doctors in Scotland.
Duncan Hamilton: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give a commitment to publish from 1 July the minutes of all future meetings of the National Goose Forum.
Duncan Hamilton: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give a commitment to publish on a quarterly basis from 1 July the waiting times for those seeking a first out patient appointment, including a breakdown by specialist area.
Duncan Hamilton: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to publish details of the proportion of NHS new building costs which are being drawn from NHS Trust Revenue Budgets.
Duncan Hamilton: To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the number of students who have graduated with a degree in orthoptics from either a Scottish university or college in each of the past five academic years.
Duncan Hamilton: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give a commitment to ensure that an orthoptic degree course is continued at one of the universities or colleges in Scotland.
Duncan Hamilton: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any representations from Scottish universities indicating a willingness to run a degree course in orthoptics.
Duncan Hamilton: To ask the Scottish Executive to provide details of the proportion of finance for the maintenance of Private Finance Initiative contracts for new capital projects within the National Health Service in Scotland which is being met from the revenue budgets of NHS Trusts, by project and by Trust.
Duncan Hamilton: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will explain the rationale behind the decision to keep the minutes of discussion in the National Goose Forum confidential.
Duncan Hamilton: To ask the Scottish Executive what priority is being given to the maintenance and upgrading of Dunoon Pier as part of an integrated ferry transport policy.
Duncan Hamilton: To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to provide a route by route analysis of each ferry route under the operation of Caledonian MacBrayne.
Duncan Hamilton: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the funding arrangements for Glasgow Caledonian University in respect of the education and training of orthoptists.
