John Lamont: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the role of community first responders in the Scottish Borders. (S3O-621)
John Lamont: Given that the nearest ambulance service is many miles away, people in the village of Newcastleton in my constituency often have to rely on community first responders to provide emergency ambulance service cover. The group, which is entirely voluntary and self-funded, is in desperate need of financial support to ensure continuation of the vital service that it provides. Will the minister...
John Lamont: The debate has made for some interesting listening as people have addressed the issue that penal policy needs to move forward to ensure that it fulfils its duties to society. Prison has four functions: to protect the public and to deter, punish and reform criminals. The removal of dangerous and violent people into a prison for the purpose of public safety is the most important function of...
John Lamont: The member is making a point about community service orders, of which we should make better use. If we need to put someone in prison to remove them from the public, we should not be afraid of doing that. At present, community service orders are seen as a soft option. The fact that in 2005-06 a quarter of such orders were breached and many were not completed is evidence that the system needs...
John Lamont: No. Early release must become a thing of the past. Tougher non-custodial sentences must be introduced and more must be done to reform criminals, to enable punishment to be effective and to deter offenders from reoffending. We must also ensure that more police are available to patrol our streets and to keep our communities safe. Only then will the Scottish penal system offer the correct...
John Lamont: To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to encourage and expand the voluntary sector.
John Lamont: To ask the Scottish Executive how Disclosure Scotland rules apply to migrant workers from (a) outside and (b) inside EU states to guarantee that checks are safe and thorough.
John Lamont: To ask the Scottish Executive what action local communities are required to take under the Private Water Supplies (Scotland) Regulations 2006 to secure water supplies and what funding is available to assist them in such action.
John Lamont: The debate is about health; it is about ensuring that the people of Scotland get the health care that they deserve; and it is about ensuring that they get health care as quickly as possible. Although I acknowledge that the debate is perhaps more to do with the quality and speed of service and treatment, there is a comment in the motion about investment in primary health care facilities....
John Lamont: I apologise to Mr Purvis—I have only four minutes. There is a new threat in the Borders—rural surgeries might be closed or downgraded. That threat has come to light in my constituency only in the past 10 days with the news that the Kelso medical practice proposes to close its surgeries in the villages of Yetholm and Morebattle in Roxburghshire. Those two neighbouring villages, although...
John Lamont: To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve the east coast main line and, in particular, to reopen a station at Reston. (S3O-714)
John Lamont: As the minister knows, the reopening of a station at Reston is of particular importance to Berwickshire. I am concerned that there appears to be doubt about who should progress the issue. Scottish Borders Council believes that it is a matter for the Scottish Government, but the Government thinks that it is a matter for the council. I would be grateful if he could clear that up for us.
John Lamont: To ask the Scottish Executive how local authorities are required to control the burning of waste such as horse manure.
John Lamont: To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are grants available to help businesses to provide changing facilities for babies on their premises.
John Lamont: To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance will be available to Scottish Borders Council to continue the provision of free school meals after the initial pilot ends.
John Lamont: I thank members for participating in this Conservative party debate. It must be rare to have a debate in which so many of the speeches are so one-sided and so condemning of Government policy. In the May 2007 elections, the SNP recognised the dwindling number of police officers in Scotland, which has resulted in a lack of community trust in the justice system, and pledged to spend extra money...
John Lamont: I could not agree more. What is the point of voting SNP if, six months later, the pledges are all in the bin? A further issue with the police force is the loss of officers to retirement, which Nigel Don mentioned. ACPOS reports a continued rise in officers retiring and a significant loss of talent and expertise. It has also highlighted the importance of recruiting and maintaining officers,...
John Lamont: I am in my last minute—sorry. The Scottish Conservatives have devised a strategy for achieving that goal, which consists of retaining serving officers, ensuring that time is used more productively and providing enough funding for the extra 1,500 officers. We have campaigned consistently for 1,500 additional police officers in Scotland and created a strategy with which to achieve that...
John Lamont: Excessive alcohol consumption is a growing problem throughout Scotland, including in my constituency in the Borders. Lifestyles and the way in which alcohol is presented have changed. Increasingly, alcohol is used simply as a means to get drunk as quickly as possible rather than as a means to relax and socialise. Recent statistics show that alcohol abuse is extending its harmful effects to...
John Lamont: Indeed. I agree. Men and women in Scotland drink more frequently than men and women in England. Men and women in Scotland are also more likely to exceed the daily benchmarks. Scotland has one of the highest rates of alcohol consumption in the United Kingdom, and we rank among the top 15 countries in the world on this issue. Excessive alcohol consumption has also contributed a significant...