Tom McCabe: 2. To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of recent events such as the murder of Reamonn Gormley, what measures it will bring forward to improve safety on Scotland’s streets. (S3O-13351)
Tom McCabe: I appreciate the minister’s answer, but within a square mile of that tragic murder there have been around eight murders over the past 18 months. My local paper can report on four murders over a six-week period, and page after page reports violent crime. The police tell us that violent crime is down and that crime in general is down, but that is not the feeling on the streets of Hamilton and...
Tom McCabe: When we discussed the Scotland Bill previously, some feared that our parliamentary committee would do nothing more than rubber stamp the bill that is currently going through Westminster. That was an underestimation of the committee convener’s tenacity and her track record on the issue. As other members have said, the committee’s report is a fitting legacy of the 12 years for which Wendy...
Tom McCabe: As others have done, I acknowledge Andrew Welsh’s service. I will not repeat all the plaudits. I simply say to him that he should be proud of his public service over a long number of years and of the way in which he chaired the Finance Committee and steered the report to its final conclusions. I wish him well in whatever he chooses to do when he leaves this place. Every committee wants its...
Tom McCabe: The following table contains the information requested on the monetary value of parliamentary equipment that has disappeared or been lost (both classified as loss) and stolen items (classified as theft) in each of the last three years. Year Loss (£) Theft (£) 2007-08 2,309 2,065 2008-09 2,079 225 2009-10 1,435 1,040
Tom McCabe: 3. To ask the Scottish Executive what reassurance it can give that maintenance of core places in higher and further education will also fully maintain the diversity and volume of courses available to students. (S3O-12880)
Tom McCabe: I appreciate that answer. However, my concerns are around the introduction of subjectivity or elitism in the definition of core places. There are many courses available, particularly at college level, that allow young people to pursue a range of careers that are beneficial and serve the community and the young people well for the rest of their lives. I hope that the minister can provide some...
Tom McCabe: The draft budget for 2011-12 was always going to be a more difficult and contentious affair than those for previous years. It is presented at a time of unprecedented financial upheaval for the Parliament and precedes a prolonged period of financial constraint, the like of which we have not had to face for at least a generation. As if all that were not bad enough, it also precedes a Scottish...
Tom McCabe: Although the cabinet secretary was open about the fact that there would be less public sector employment, I asked him to be specific about how much public sector employment would be lost as a consequence of the budget.
Tom McCabe: 4. To ask the Scottish Executive what action it can take to ensure the elimination of the noxious odours that emit from the sewage treatment works at Bothwell Road in Hamilton. (S3O-12650)
Tom McCabe: I appreciate the minister’s offer, and I will take it up. We have already arranged a telephone conference. The odour is an intermittent problem that depends on weather conditions, but it generates a fair degree of concern among residents.
Tom McCabe: Devolution from Westminster to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland was undoubtedly a seismic shift for the United Kingdom. Here in Scotland, with the creation of the Parliament, we enjoyed the most extensive of transfer of powers. Some people expected that everything would fall into place and work perfectly on day one. That was not going to happen; devolution was always going to be refined...
Tom McCabe: Of course the bill can be improved, which is why there must be rigorous scrutiny of it in the appropriate committee. I do not want to be Northern Ireland, however, and if that is Ms Hyslop’s aspiration she is welcome to it. Financial matters are important for the Parliament, but so are relationships. From experience I know that, at ministerial, intergovernmental and official levels,...
Tom McCabe: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37685 by Stewart Stevenson on 25 November 2010 and given that the inquiry was concluded two years ago, when it expects to announce the outcome of the public local inquiry into the M8 Baillieston to Newhouse scheme.
Tom McCabe: To ask the Scottish Executive when the Raith Interchange upgrade will be completed.
Tom McCabe: On a point of order, Presiding Officer. The member has misled Parliament. His statement is totally and utterly untrue.
Tom McCabe: It is clear that the minister is aware of Scottish Water's strategic importance. He recognises its strategic value in the United Kingdom and the world and he recognises that there is a vision of it playing an extremely important part in our country's development. However, that is not new knowledge—I think that almost every member possesses that knowledge. Was the minister not aware of those...
Tom McCabe: The SPCB has been planning on the basis that it will reduce its overall budget in line with the real-terms reduction in the Scottish budget, while seeking to deliver efficient parliamentary services to members and the public. We are currently reviewing the outcome of the United Kingdom comprehensive spending review, which reported last week, and the SPCB will present its budget submission to...
Tom McCabe: The degree of harshness is perhaps subjective, but I assure the member that we will do our best to ensure that the approach that is taken is as fair as it can be to all sections of the Parliament and all members.
Tom McCabe: In the financial year 2009-10, just over £59,000 was spent on consultants. The bulk of that was spent on business continuity support. Most of the remainder was spent on information technology advice, and £2,600 was spent on management consultancy advice.
