Duncan McNeil: I thought that it was a risky strategy for the Tories to lead on this motion this morning. Their defence of it today at least has been commendable— [Applause.] However, as Kenny Gibson said, what a brass neck. Before the Scottish Parliament election, the Tories apologised for all their mistakes, but there was no apology this morning to those pensioners who cannot take a bus to church on a...
Duncan McNeil: No, we have had enough tosh from the Tories today, and I will have my say. There has not been a word of regret for low-paid workers who are forced into taxis to take them to work in the morning. The fuel escalator affects those temporary workers in my constituency who are forced to hire buses to take them to and from work. The price of the bus is fixed, so they have to watch their fares...
Duncan McNeil: No, I am going to press on. I apologise for that, but I need to make a couple of points. No word of concern was expressed for Mr Dempster, whom I met at Greenock West station this morning, when again the train did not turn up at 6.30. He faxed me to say that he supports our integrated policy. I will tell him that no comfort came from the Conservatives this morning with regard to getting him...
Duncan McNeil: To ask the Scottish Executive when new appointments will be made to the board of the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency.
Duncan McNeil: To ask the Scottish Executive whether, further to the publication of the UK anti-poverty strategy by Her Majesty’s Government, it will make a statement on its strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion.
Duncan McNeil: On a point of order. When Sir David Steel opened the debate, he said that those who were not here while the minister was making the statement would not be called in the debate. Now Mr Raffan has been called. Will you please give clarification?
Duncan McNeil: I am not a known supporter of Tommy on many matters, but he has been here all morning and others who arrived late have been allowed to speak. That is an issue which needs to be resolved.
Duncan McNeil: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that enhanced powers to seize the assets of organised criminals, similar to those of the Criminal Assets Bureau in the Republic of Ireland, would help the fight against dealers in illegal drugs. (S1O-365)
Duncan McNeil: I welcome the minister's answer, as I am sure the families and communities throughout Scotland who have suffered as a result of drug-dealing activities would welcome such powers being available. I understand that, under the current system, the proceeds from assets of convicted drug dealers—
Duncan McNeil: I know that you are going to be strict today, Presiding Officer, and I am coming to the question.
Duncan McNeil: The proceeds from the assets of convicted drug dealers, like fines, go into a consolidated fund. Will the minister investigate whether those assets could be returned to the communities from which they were taken? That would be a welcome boost for local drug prevention groups.
Duncan McNeil: To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the law relating to the granting of security over moveable property.
Duncan McNeil: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce traffic calming or other measures to protect pedestrians on the A78 trunk road from the IBM plant to Inverkip. (S1O-403)
Duncan McNeil: Is the minister aware that 48 accidents were reported on that stretch of road between 1 January 1998 and 31 July 1999, including two fatalities? Is he also aware that the pedestrian bridges that are to be built along the road, at a cost of £200,000 each, have been described by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents as an expensive second-class alternative to reducing the speed...
Duncan McNeil: On a point of order. Is it appropriate for someone who has not participated in the whole debate to come along and make an intervention?
Duncan McNeil: The real question is where the money will come from. Does Mr Swinney agree with increasing tax for hard-working families in Scotland?
Duncan McNeil: To ask the Scottish Executive how many annual general meetings of the governing bodies of Registered Social Landlords were inquorate, in the last year for which information is available.
Duncan McNeil: To ask the Scottish Executive how many Registered Social Landlords there were in Scotland on 31 March 1999.
Duncan McNeil: To ask the Scottish Executive how many Registered Social Landlords have a governing body with 50% or more tenant members, how many have less than 50% tenant membership, and how many have no tenant membership.
Duncan McNeil: To ask the Scottish Executive what is the average number of people on a Registered Social Landlord’s governing body.