Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how his Department plans to measure any benefits to farmers arising from implementation of the recommendations of the Macdonald taskforce on farming regulation; (2) how his Department will measure benefits to farmers from the implementation of the recommendations of the MacDonald taskforce.
The Deputy Presiding Officer: Excellent. I now call Lewis Macdonald to speak and move amendment S5M-3049.1. Mr Macdonald, I hope that you were told that you have six minutes.
The Deputy Presiding Officer: I call Lewis Macdonald to speak to and move amendment S5M-03427.1. You have eight minutes or thereabouts, Mr Macdonald.
The Deputy Presiding Officer: I call Lewis Macdonald to speak to and move amendment S5M-03748.1. Mr Macdonald, you have a generous six minutes.
The Deputy Presiding Officer: I would like to call you first, Mr Macdonald, although I know that you are dead keen and want to save time. I call Lewis Macdonald.
Angus MacDonald: Firmly pressed, Presiding Officer. Amendment 1 moved—[Angus MacDonald]—and agreed to.
The Presiding Officer: Mr Macdonald, you will have to turn on your microphone. I think that the issue is that you control it. Please try to put it on yourself. We are still having difficulties. I am sorry, Mr Macdonald. We will go to Johann Lamont and then we will try again one more time.
Derek Mackay: Yes, I entirely agree with Mr MacDonald. As it happens, I started off the ministerial week with a visit to a canal, looking at regeneration opportunities and investment. Such investment is good for healthier lifestyles, for the environment and for economic opportunities, so I absolutely concur with what Mr MacDonald has said. I think that Scottish Canals is doing a good job with the...
Alex Neil: I agree with the intervention from Mr McDonald number 2 and disagree with the intervention from Mr Macdonald number 1. The reality is that 45,301 people voted for the city garden project design and 41,175 voted for retaining Union Terrace gardens. Even on the basis of Labour Party mathematics, there is still a majority of 4,126 in favour of the project. The Labour motion refers to opinion...
Richard Lochhead: Lewis Macdonald says that the Rural Affairs Committee reached its conclusions without consultation, but he was present when the committee took evidence from the fishing organisations and the Scottish Executive. Was that not consultation? Were the committee's findings and recommendations not in line with the wishes of the fishing industry in Scotland? If they were not, can Lewis Macdonald...
Nicola Sturgeon: I think that people in Scotland will find Lewis Macdonald’s attempt to draw a comparison between Scotland and Kosovo—a comparison that even President Barroso is moving away from—quite offensive. On the issue of euro membership, I suggest to Lewis Macdonald that before he asks such questions he does some basic research. Sweden is a perfect example—[Interruption.]
John Swinney: Mr Macdonald will be familiar with the financial model that we are using for the development of the cancer centre and women’s hospital in Aberdeen. On 26 June, I announced the extension of the non-profit-distributing programme, and the hospital developments in Aberdeen will be part of that programme, which will run across a number of financial years culminating in 2019-20. As Mr Macdonald...
Patricia Ferguson: Obviously, as Ms MacDonald will know, the ultimate responsibility for providing local facilities rests with local authorities. Ms MacDonald and I have previously discussed the case of Edinburgh. The City of Edinburgh Council has made a submission for funding under our national and regional facilities programme, which will ultimately help the council to maintain and refurbish pools,...
Sir Murdoch Macdonald: I can assure my hon. Friend that that graveyard is not bigger than this Chamber. It is a graveyard in which the MacDonald clan were buried, and I am sure that my ancestors would be much better pleased to be moved reverently by me to a new situation. They would turn in their graves if they knew of this proposal.
Kate Forbes: I recently spoke to the National Federation of SubPostmasters about non-domestic rates for external ATMs at post offices. In that conversation, it specifically commended Angus MacDonald for his support for the federation. This afternoon, I wrote to the federation regarding the valuation of ATMs in post offices, and I am happy to answer any specific queries that Angus MacDonald may have.
Mr William Gallacher: They elected Sam Watson, but they often elect people who do not always represent their best interests. They elected Ramsay MacDonald, and when we said that Ramsay MacDonald was pursuing a policy which meant betrayal of the working class, the Leader of the House was white-washing MacDonald and presenting him as the greatest leader that this country had ever known. There is a warning which I...
Nicola Sturgeon: I know Margo MacDonald’s position on the issue, which is perfectly respectable. My view is that Scotland is better served within the European Union and that the European Union is better served with Scotland in it. In response to the first part of Margo MacDonald’s question, I say with the greatest respect that I am making this statement as a Scottish Government minister, so it is...
Mr Ramsay Macdonald: No country exercising a mandate has yet retired from the League of Nations. As regards the mandate exercised by Japan, whose notice of withdrawal will shortly mature, I would refer to the answer returned on the 18th March by my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for the Isle of Wight (Captain P. Macdonald).
Gillian Merron: ...Department for Transport databases are wholly or partly operated by external organisations or individuals: Database External operator Owner Wholly Partly Congestion monitoring Mott MacDonald DfT statistics X — Local Roads Structural Survey WDM DfT statistics X — Accessibility indicators Dotted Eyes DfT statistics X — Bus Satisfaction Survey GfK...
Paul Wheelhouse: I share Mr MacDonald’s concern about the serious accident that took place on 10 March, and I recognise the point that he makes about the importance of that road to the local economy and the community in Falkirk. Given the passage of time, it is important that the business case for the scheme remains robust and offers value for money in economic terms. We must ensure that the project will...