John Lamont: As this is my maiden speech, I want to express my grateful thanks to my constituents for returning me as their MSP. It is an honour and a privilege to be elected to represent the historic constituency of Roxburgh and Berwickshire, which I and other members often refer to as R and B. However, I must say that the abbreviation can give rise to some confusion among some of my younger...
John Lamont: To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to increase the number of NHS dentists in Roxburgh and Berwickshire.
John Lamont: To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to extend access to dentistry in Roxburgh and Berwickshire.
John Lamont: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide additional funding to NHS Borders to fund a new full-time NHS dentist for Newcastleton.
John Lamont: I welcome the change of atmosphere and the new Executive's approach: issues can now be discussed and opinions sought from outside the ruling political parties. I am pleased that the Parliament has this opportunity to discuss how we will make Scotland a safer and stronger country. As we heard from Jackson Carlaw, the previous Administration had a disappointing record on tackling crime. Now,...
John Lamont: I have only five minutes. It is easy to see where the problem lay: neither crime nor the causes of crime were properly tackled. The challenge for the new Administration is clear: it needs to tackle crime and the causes of crime now—and the first step in cutting crime is defeating drugs. According to the Government's own figures, for every £1 that is spent on drug treatment, almost £10 is...
John Lamont: To ask the Scottish Executive what new measures it will put in place to support rural development and, in particular, wealth creation in the Borders and across Scotland.
John Lamont: I echo Roseanna Cunningham's remarks. The first duty of society must be to protect the public, especially children. Sex offenders are a danger to children and recent high-profile examples have served to fuel the fear of that danger. If sex offenders are freed from prison and, quite rightly, subjected to monitoring and supervision, it must be as effective as possible. We must not be afraid to...
John Lamont: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support the reopening and development of Jedburgh and Coldstream hospitals in the Scottish Borders, in light of its decision to support the retention of accident and emergency services at Ayr and Monklands hospitals.
John Lamont: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support local communities that object to the building of new wind farm developments in the Scottish Borders.
John Lamont: To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to improve doctors’ out-of-hours services in the Scottish Borders.
John Lamont: What will the minister do to ensure the greater use of parenting orders, given that not one has been issued to date?
John Lamont: To ask the Scottish Executive what position it plans to take on the banning of animal containment systems, such as freedom fences.
John Lamont: To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to address affordable housing issues in the Borders.
John Lamont: To ask the Scottish Executive what role it will have in the implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2006.
John Lamont: To ask the Scottish Executive what its intentions are for the draft Culture Bill published by the previous administration.
John Lamont: To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will put in place to support, expand and promote the bus network in Roxburgh and Berwickshire.
John Lamont: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support the reopening of a railway station at Reston in Berwickshire and what other measures it will take to support transport links in Berwickshire.
John Lamont: To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements it plans to carry out to the A7 between Edinburgh and Langholm.
John Lamont: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce legislation similar to that in England and Wales to address the issue of overgrown hedges, trees and other vegetation.