Donald Dewar: I last met the Secretary of State, along with other colleagues, last week at Brighton, which is a prosperous watering place on the south coast of England. I spoke to him at length this morning. I will be seeing him in Glasgow tomorrow. Our discussions range widely.
Donald Dewar: Applause is easily earned these days. I am very familiar with section 23, and regard it as a nuclear option, which no one would want to see used on a regular basis. Of course there is a problem, which John Swinney will be the first to recognise, because there is a code of practice on access to Scottish Executive information that deals with internal discussion and advice. The code holds that...
Donald Dewar: I am afraid that that explanation was riddled with assumptions that are unsafe and has largely been overtaken by events. Of course, the provisions in section 23 exist. One of the committees—not both—has asked for the production of documents, and so far as I am concerned, I have made it clear that section 23 exists. However, I have tried to explain to Mr Swinney that there are real...
Donald Dewar: It would be a shame if there were to be laughter about a serious matter. The point is that, for good reasons, there is protection for direct civil service advice to ministers. In the same way, as John Swinney knows, it is not possible for me to go back and look at papers from the time of Michael Forsyth. That was not open to me as the Secretary of State for Scotland, and it is not open to me...
Donald Dewar: First, I am not in contravention of the Scotland Act 1998. Section 23 is a power that has not yet been invoked and if Mr Swinney wants to bandy legal points with me, I must point out to him that that is the legal position. I said that I thought that section 23 was something of a nuclear option. If carelessly invoked, it will do great damage to relationships between ministers of any political...
Donald Dewar: The Cabinet will next meet on Tuesday and we will discuss the issues of the day.
Donald Dewar: Mr McLetchie will have to wait a little while for the statement that Susan Deacon will make later. I have said repeatedly that the test that we will apply is whether expenditure—it will be big expenditure—raises the standard of care for a significant number of people who require support in their homes or who are in residential care. When I talk to pensioners, the common complaints that...
Donald Dewar: Fairness and equity in public funding is ensuring that the people who require help and care are the ones who get it. Choices must be made. I know that members will hear later about an exciting package—which will cost a great deal of money—investing in community care and in help and support for older people who are suffering from the infirmities of age. It is right that we should...
Donald Dewar: There has been a great deal of discussion among colleagues, led by Sarah Boyack, about how we should face up to the challenge of the competition that is being brought in by Westminster legislation, which is a difficult and complicated matter. I believe that a consultation document is available and no doubt all who have a point of view on the matter will want to contribute to the debate by...
Donald Dewar: I refer Fergus Ewing to the reply that I gave to John Swinney a few minutes ago.
Donald Dewar: All I say to Fergus Ewing is that he is taking a very simplistic approach. Let me make it clear that Deloitte & Touche is employed to provide expertise to ensure a thorough analysis of what went wrong in certain areas of particular speciality. We concluded that it was right to get outside help, as we did not have that expertise in-house. Deloitte & Touche is employed on a confidential basis...
Donald Dewar: If Mr Ewing feels that I have impugned his integrity, I am sorry. However—and I am not making a particular point about him—there has been a slight tendency in the committee system for information often to reach the press with surprising speed. [Interruption.] Having made the point about Deloitte & Touche, I repeat—although Fergus Ewing must know this—that talks to find a way forward...
Donald Dewar: I cannot give Marilyn Livingstone a time scale, because talks are continuing. I understand that today Sam Galbraith met the conveners of the two committees that are involved. I described those discussions as constructive because that was the report that reached me. I know that proposals are on the table. I hope that the matter can be brought to a satisfactory conclusion shortly.
Donald Dewar: As Michael McMahon knows, public spending will increase by £1.2 billion, £2.3 billion and £3.4 billion over the three years to 2003-04 cumulatively. That will have a substantial impact on the provision of services in Scotland. That spending has been widely welcomed and is dramatic. Health spending will increase by nearly 15 per cent by 2003-04, justice spending by nearly 13 per cent,...
Donald Dewar: I certainly agree with Michael McMahon about that. At the moment we are faced with a debate that has a certain air of unreality about it. We have a bid on the table, one might say, and a firm intention and declaration, which will be met. From other parts of the political horizon there come some very strange claims, which do not stand even the most cursory examination. The important point is...
Donald Dewar: I will certainly look very carefully at that. However, I can tell Andrew Wilson that, in real terms, the level of public spending will be higher than ever before. It may be that, as a percentage of gross domestic product, there is another picture, but that is because of the Government's success in expanding GDP.
Donald Dewar: As Ben Wallace knows, after the experiences of last winter a great deal of effort has gone into planning. The winter performance group established by the Scottish Executive reported in August and a winter planning conference was held last month. Most importantly, substantial additional spending of £60 million has been specifically allocated to action that will guard against difficulties in...
Donald Dewar: I do not blame Ben Wallace for making that point, because there has been much speculation about it in the press. However, I am told that there will be 900,000 doses of flu vaccine available for use in Scotland. That is a 75 per cent increase on the 520,000 doses that were available last year. We are confident that that substantial increase will benefit the population and will guard against a...
Donald Dewar: I am not going to be tempted—even by the charm of Jamie Stone—to discuss the immediate future of the maternity unit at Wick, although I am sure that it gives great satisfaction to those who use it. We are satisfied that standards will generally rise if we invest wisely in the health service. As Mr Stone knows, the Arbuthnott committee—the findings of which are being implemented—as...
Donald Dewar: Substantial resources have been made available through the Excellence Fund and good progress is being made. At the last school census in 1999, 89.3% of single stage P1 to P3 classes had 30 or less pupils.
