Adam Ingram: 3. To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made to resolve the environmental issues arising from the abandonment of opencast coal sites in East Ayrshire. (S4O-03228)
Adam Ingram: Can the minister also provide an update on discussions with the United Kingdom Government about the return of Scotland’s share of the coal levy to assist with the restoration of opencast coal sites?
Adam Ingram: 1. To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how the performance of NHS Scotland compares with the national health service in other parts of the United Kingdom. (S4O-03146)
Adam Ingram: Given the superior performance of NHS Scotland, will the minister outline the implications for future performance of a no vote in September’s referendum?
Adam Ingram: As deputy convener of the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee, I am pleased to contribute to today’s debate, albeit as a tail-end Charlie whose points have already been covered to a considerable extent by others. The main headline measure in the bill is the abolition of the right to buy for social housing tenants, which has been warmly welcomed—so much so that we are asking...
Adam Ingram: As the First Minister is fond of saying, facts are chiels that winna ding. I suggest that Mr Kelly looks at completions of housing association houses. He will find that there have been more under an SNP Government than under Labour Administrations in previous years. Under independence and freedom from UK Treasury rules, we will be able to do much more. The bill covers other important issues....
Adam Ingram: Not at the moment. Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People believes that a number of vulnerable groups, including young disabled people, care leavers and young single parents, are likely to be disproportionately affected. According to research, housing allocated to young people on leaving care has often been unsuitable and in deprived areas, where the young people have been...
Adam Ingram: 5. To ask the Scottish Government how much it has invested or committed to activities for children and young people in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley constituency under the cashback for communities programme. (S4O-03120)
Adam Ingram: I welcome that announcement. I would be grateful if the cabinet secretary could send me a list of the awards in my constituency, with an outcome analysis, if one has been done. What plans does the cabinet secretary have to develop the programme further?
Adam Ingram: The words that follow are not mine but belong to a good friend who gave himself to the struggle 30 years ago. “We’ve nae choice. They’ll no negotiate. McGahey and Clarke huv tried, we’ve tried—tried everythaen. Work tae rule, nae overtime—even the NACODS boys hae hud enough. McGregor, Thatcher—they waant a fight. We cannae jist row ower. It’s no aboot us. It’s the bairns,...
Adam Ingram: There was no more tick at the butcher’s, but a lurcher is faster than a rabbit and back in 1984-85 there were loads of rabbits on Airds Moss. I was privileged to know those people and I was humbled by their courage. I was and am disgusted by the lies that have been told about them—that they were fools led by a madman; that they brought it upon themselves. They were not. They were people...
Adam Ingram: 6. To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is given to NHS boards regarding the provision of adequate public transport to and from their facilities. (S4O-02992)
Adam Ingram: Is the minister aware of the reduction in the bus service between Ayr and Crosshouse hospitals following the ending of a subsidy from NHS Ayrshire and Arran, which helped to establish the route? The result is that making journeys from the south of the constituency to Crosshouse is somewhat challenging for patients and their families. Despite discussions among the health board, Strathclyde...
Adam Ingram: There was a warm welcome last month for the First Minister’s announcement of the extension of free school lunches to all primary 1 to 3 children in Scotland from January 2015. That welcome came not least from long-time campaigners for free school meals such as the Child Poverty Action Group. The Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill is an opportunity for us to make sure that we have a...
Adam Ingram: There seems to be an outbreak of consensus—there are repentant sinners everywhere—so I am quite happy to leave the debate there and urge members to support the amendments.
Adam Ingram: First, I congratulate Aileen McLeod on securing the debate and express my support for her request for assistance from the cabinet secretary. Ms Hyslop might remember that I wrote to her last year on the subject of financial support for the Whithorn Trust and the development of the St Ninian ways pilgrim routes. I was prompted to do so by the aforesaid James Brown, and I pay tribute to him and...
Adam Ingram: 6. To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the establishment of a voluntary register of interests for doctors. (S4O-02842)
Adam Ingram: Does the cabinet secretary agree that doctors should register gifts and payments that they receive from drugs companies in a more formal way, similar to the way in which we members of the Scottish Parliament have to register our interests? As a recent letter to the British Medical Journal from a campaigning group of health professionals suggested, that would allow patients to check as a...
Adam Ingram: 1. To ask the Scottish Government what employment initiatives it is supporting in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley constituency. (S4O-02777)
Adam Ingram: Will the cabinet secretary say to what extent the initiatives are addressing the economic vulnerability of towns in my constituency, notably Girvan, Cumnock and Maybole, which were identified in the report, “Rural Scotland in Focus 2012”? The report highlighted the disadvantages that are experienced by rural areas in south-west Scotland. What plans does the Scottish Government have to...
