Kenny MacAskill: 2. To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the tragic event at Liberton High School in 2014, what additional support and resources have been and will be provided to the school. (S4O-04305)
Kenny MacAskill: I welcome that. All who are associated with the school are grateful for the assistance given. It has been a trying time, but great courage has been shown by all. Because of the private finance initiative and public-private partnership liabilities that were incurred by the previous Labour council, funds for development at the school through the council are limited, so any support—whether for...
Kenny MacAskill: 3. To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to meet the United Kingdom Government to discuss proposed constitutional changes. (S4O-04366)
Kenny MacAskill: I welcome the declaration by the Scottish Government that it will defend the measures in the Human Rights Act 1998 and its principles. Will the Government now modify its position on prisoner voting, to adhere to the European Court of Human Rights rulings that it endorses?
Kenny MacAskill: I thank Hanzala Malik for bringing his motion to the chamber. He has an impeccable track record in pursuing such issues, although I take issue with some of his more political comments, which are, perhaps, undeserved. I occasionally disagree with the political position of many members on the left and the right, but we have always been united in condemning racism and Islamophobia. We did so...
Kenny MacAskill: I declare an interest as the chairperson of Hibernian Supporters Limited, a company established for the ultimate ownership of Hibernian Football Club by its fans. I thank Chic Brodie for bringing this debate to the chamber. It is opportune, but I believe that the glass is half full, not half empty. Although there are issues troubling Scottish football, the game certainly remains strong at the...
Kenny MacAskill: I thank Christina McKelvie for her motion. It is an important issue that we have to discuss, especially today. Human rights and the Human Rights Act 1998 can challenge Governments and other public and private institutions, and rightly so. I required to deal with the consequences of the Cadder decision but we, as an Administration, accepted it, although we were probably rather begrudging about...
Kenny MacAskill: 16. To ask the Scottish Government what its plans are for the social responsibility levy. (S4O-04563)
Kenny MacAskill: Given the significant shift in drinking patterns from on-sales to the off-sales trade, with 72 per cent now provided by the off-sales trade compared with 49 per cent in 1994, will the Scottish Government ensure that actions target where the major source of the problem of alcohol abuse lies?
Kenny MacAskill: I, too, congratulate Sandra White on bringing the debate to the Parliament and thank her for doing so. She has been a relentless campaigner for the cause of the Palestinian people, both here in Scotland and when visiting Palestine. It is important that she mentions the report, which is not from people who could be accused of being standard bearers for the Palestinian cause. It is by not...
Kenny MacAskill: I, too, thank Gil Paterson for raising the issue and for his eloquent speech, which narrated the depth and complexity of the issue. It is not a high-profile one, but it is certainly high up in its consequence and effect and, indeed, its intensity for many people. As we are all aware, the issue is hidden in many ways. That is perhaps for two reasons. First, it can be hidden because of age and...
Kenny MacAskill: I heartily endorse the comments that were made initially by the current committee convener, which have been endorsed by every member across the chamber who has spoken so far. To some extent, the chamber seems to be echoing the committee, where we tend to operate by consensus, which is a good thing. I was not aware of the precise history of petitions and I am grateful to David Stewart for his...
Kenny MacAskill: I thank members from all sides of the chamber for supporting my motion. That is as it should be, because Caring in Craigmillar is an outstanding organisation that acts without fear or favour, political partiality or prejudice, for the welfare of the elderly not simply in Craigmillar but throughout east Edinburgh. The debate affords me an opportunity not just to praise an outstanding local...
Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what requests for (a) aid and (b) assistance have been received from the Australian Government in respect the ongoing bush fires in that country; and what (i) aid and (ii) assistance the Government is providing.
Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress the Government has made on its application to the EU Commission to become a Part 1 listed third country under Annex II of the EU Pet Travel Regulations.
Kenny MacAskill: As is customary—and, I believe, correct—I will start with a tribute to my predecessor. Martin Whitfield and I disagreed fundamentally on Scotland’s constitutional situation, but in many other aspects we were at one. I am conscious of the fact that he was tenacious in opposing Brexit, and equally assiduous in representing his constituency, so I know the standards that he has set. He will...
Kenny MacAskill: I concur with the point made by the hon. Member for Islwyn (Chris Evans) and others. I am contributing here not because I am a nationalist Member, but because this is about the best contribution to the administration of justice in Wales. I have great sympathy with my colleagues in my sister party, Plaid Cymru, but I am not commenting on that basis. The irony is that I am commenting because I...
Kenny MacAskill: My apologies, Mr Stringer. Legal aid and the position of women was touched upon in particular by the commission, because there are serious issues there. That must be addressed. Their needs are distinct, the challenges are different, and we must deal with that if we are to break the cycle of offending down through the generations. Equally—this is why it comes back to the requirement for...
Kenny MacAskill: Glenkinchie distillery in my constituency is threatened by the tariffs imposed on Scotch whisky by President Trump. Given the decision to leave the EU and seek a trade deal with the USA, and given threats about changes to the definition of Scotch whisky, what assurances can the Minister give that we will not be washing down chlorinated chicken with a glass of American rye?
Kenny MacAskill: If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities.