Elaine Smith: The Queen Elizabeth university hospital is one of Europe’s largest hospitals, with 1,100 patient rooms and 14 floors, and it was built on the site of the Southern general hospital. Why is that acceptable for Glasgow but not for our hospital in Monklands, on which the cabinet secretary has just slapped a “closed” order this morning?
Elaine Smith: I supported Nicola Sturgeon’s decision as health secretary in 2007 to stop the downgrading of Monklands accident and emergency services , but today her health secretary has taken a decision to close the whole hospital on its current site. The people of Airdrie and Coatbridge need our hospital in the heart of our community, so will the First Minister order a rethink of that shocking...
Elaine Smith: I thank the cabinet secretary for early sight of her statement. Scottish Labour will, of course, require to scrutinise the supplementary papers and the progress report in due course. As we have consistently put the case for interim measures prior to the income supplement implementation date of 2022, we welcome the fact that the Government has responded with proposals to put in place, during...
Elaine Smith: Will Michelle Ballantyne take an intervention?
Elaine Smith: I, too, thank Keith Brown for securing the debate, which has highlighted, in the chamber, members’ concerns about the findings of the UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights. I would normally use the term “shocking” to refer to the situation that is described in Professor Philip Alston’s report. However, its contents actually come as no shock to the many members who...
Elaine Smith: Certainly.
Elaine Smith: I agree that this Parliament and Government cannot mitigate everything, but the Government has been keen to say that the two-child cap is a despicable policy and that it has put it high on the agenda. That is why I continue to put the case that that policy ought to be mitigated. However, I take Bob Doris’s point. The report also mentions the provision of the Scottish welfare fund by the...
Elaine Smith: I fully support the Government mitigating the bedroom tax. Given the despicable nature of the rape clause and the two-child cap, should that policy not be considered as a special case for mitigation?
Elaine Smith: 6. To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to ensure that the most appropriate support and services are in place for women in the prison system. (S5O-03426)
Elaine Smith: I thank the cabinet secretary for his informative answer. However, at the moment, changes to public policy on gender recognition are taking place without there having been a change in the law. Those changes are unregulated and unscrutinised, and they specifically affect women in prison who are especially vulnerable. Is the cabinet secretary aware that the SPS implemented its policy on gender...
Elaine Smith: I wish to make a comment on the motion rather than speak against it. As you will be aware, Presiding Officer, Labour’s whip is unavoidably not here today. In her absence, I express concern about the 7 o’clock decision time next Tuesday. Recently, this has not been a family-friendly Parliament. I ask that time management be controlled. This week’s contributions seemed more akin to...
Elaine Smith: 3. To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how it ensures equality of access for those wishing to hold parliamentary events onsite. (S5O-03395)
Elaine Smith: I am thinking of events beyond those that are organised through the events team. In my first speech in the Parliament, 20 years ago, I promoted the need for an accessible Parliament building with a crèche, an arena for trade and industry exhibits, innovative recess schemes for young people and a resource for community groups. Some of that has happened, but I did not expect the creeping...
Elaine Smith: I see only one mention of poverty in the statement, but I presume that the cabinet secretary accepts that actions to address rising emissions levels are likely to affect those on the lowest incomes and in more deprived areas the most. Are emissions reduction policies currently being poverty proofed? If not, how and when will they be?
Elaine Smith: I, too, thank Murdo Fraser for bringing the debate to Parliament, and I join other members in congratulating the way of St Andrews—or the little Camino, as it is being called—on being included by VisitScotland in the “Walk in Scotland 2019” brochure. I hope that that recognition will encourage support and participation and ensure that more pilgrims will want to join in. The way of St...
Elaine Smith: 9. I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests in respect of both Unite the union and Unison. To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the Scottish Qualifications Authority and what was discussed. (S5O-03322)
Elaine Smith: When one of my Labour colleagues asked about potential industrial action at the SQA, the cabinet secretary told Parliament: “Some of the trade unions have been in agreement with the restructuring proposals that the Scottish Qualifications Authority has taken forward”.—[ Official Report , 1 May 2019; c 9.] However, as confirmed by Labour this morning, the unions at the SQA—Unite and...
Elaine Smith: 6. To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the Poverty and Inequality Commission’s recent finding that the current level of spending directed at tackling poverty in Scotland is “falling well short of what is needed”. (S5F-03372)
Elaine Smith: I thank the First Minister for her response. We all know the damage that Tory austerity and cuts are doing, but I want to talk about the First Minister’s policies. There is consensus among numerous anti-poverty organisations, including the Government’s Poverty and Inequality Commission, to call for urgent action on the introduction of the income supplement. As the head of Oxfam Scotland...
Elaine Smith: On a point of order, Presiding Officer.