December 2010

The Budget

The last two weeks in Parliament have been eventful to say the least.

Firstly the finance secretary presented his draft budget - a budget that has more to do with that fact that there is an election looming and less to do with what's best for Scotland. Rather than be frank about the scale of the challenges ahead, the government has chosen to only present a one year budget. The budget is too hard on services because it's too short term and doesn't allow the proper forward planning for the services we rely on. It's wrong that the SNP Government didn't give the figures for more than one year. That is a dangerous way for every school, hospital and college to try and plan ahead. Hard working staff have no way of knowing what to expect from the SNP. They can't take sensible decisions if they don't have the future plans.

The budget is full of wrong choices, from lack of support for young people from deprived backgrounds right up to not helping older people on lower incomes. The Liberal Democrats' alternative plan would reduce the number of national quangos, cut down top pay and cancel bonuses. It would stop the plans for free school meals for every child and postpone any further reductions in prescription charges. That would then free up resources to take action on education for children from deprived backgrounds, low income pensioners, properly supporting jobs and businesses and college and university funding.

The following week the Parliament defeated the government and agreed on a motion that noted the Scottish Government has been presented with its spending budgets for the four-year spending review period yet has chosen to provide local authorities, NHS boards, universities, colleges, the voluntary sector and the wider public sector with only one-year budget proposals and called on the Scottish Government to publish proper longer term figures. As a result of this vote the Government will have to make a statement to Parliament on this matter.

Scottish Parliament's Tax Powers

However, that was nothing compared to the anger in Parliament arising from the revelation that the SNP government had allowed to lapse the power to use the Scottish variable rate of tax (the so called tartan tax), and had then covered-up the truth for more than three years. Parliament concluded this was an abuse of government's power. For a party that spends most of its time bleating about not having enough power it is remarkable that it was the SNP that neutered such a power.

Parliament forced a debate on the issue as this was a major constitutional matter - these were powers voted for by the Scottish people in a referendum. John Swinney, usually politically astute, made a very ill judged and defiant opening speech to Parliament noting no more than a passing regret about the whole matter. He was roundly condemned by member after member and over the course of the afternoon John Swinney had to bend to the will of the Parliament. In his closing speech he made a number of apologies. It is not over yet as there are calls for the Finance Committee to scrutinise the whole matter, but there is no doubt that trust has been lost and that this has caused lasting damage to the SNP Government.

Assisted suicide

Last week in Parliament we debated and voted on Margo McDonald's assisted suicide bill. This bill raised complex ethical and legal issues. From the outset I was determined to approach the bill with an open mind, prepared to listen carefully to the different points of view raised. I also wanted to study the evidence before coming to a conclusion. The special committee set up to scrutinise the bill produced a very critical report and it concluded against the general principles of the bill. I met and corresponded with many constituents and groups, both for and against the bill. I also took the opportunity to meet with GPs, nurses, and palliative care specialists to discuss the impact of such a bill.

The Bill sought to decriminalise both assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia - wider powers than exist in any other country. In the end, I have not been at all persuaded that such a very significant shift in our laws would be beneficial for our society. I believe that such sweeping changes would undermine the fundamental value of life. While I recognise that some people wish to control every aspect of their life, including their death, there is a very real risk that enshrining a 'right to die' would soon become, in some vulnerable people's minds, a 'duty to die'. I could not countenance that and consequently voted against the bill. Contrary to Margo McDonald, it is my belief that a hastened death is undignified. I believe that the hospice movement, Marie Curie Nurses and MacMillan Cancer Care have all pioneered the truly compassionate way forward in dealing with terminal illness. I believe we should seek to build a society that values and cares for everyone and doesn't sanction the view that some are better off dead. It is clear that we must invest more in palliative and end of life nursing to ensure that lives can be lived to the full and that people have a peaceful and dignified death. I will do all I can to support that.

The debate was worthwhile as it allowed an important issue to be aired, and people from all political parties spoke - some for and many against. While I don't doubt Margo McDonald's intentions were based on a sense of compassion, I believe that there was a real lack of clarity about the scope of what she wanted to achieve with the bill. The Parliament voted against the bill by 85 votes to 16.

Scotland Bill

On St Andrew's Day, the Secretary of State for Scotland unveiled the Scotland Bill. This is a hugely important bill for Scotland, proposing a real step forward in devolution. I am really proud that it's Liberal Democrats in the coalition who are driving this forward. A decade on from the setting up of our Parliament and it is time to open a new chapter, and this bill does that. It is based on the three principles of empowerment, accountability and stability. It sets out plans to improve relations between parliaments and governments. It proposes further devolution of policy such as setting of speed limits, and legislation on airguns and drink driving. Most importantly, it offers proper tax raising powers for Scotland, making MSPs more accountable to the electorate through raising and spending budgets, and it will give borrowing powers to Scotland - a very significant step and one that will help the country budget more sensibly for large infrastructure projects. Given the devolution settlement, the changes need to come from Westminster but our Parliament has agreed to set up a special committee to look at the proposals in depth and uniquely, both parliaments will debate the issues raised. I think it marks a new chapter for Scotland - more powers within a strengthened UK.

Scotland's main transport routes paralysed

The transport Minister had to come to Parliament last week and apologise for the government's shambolic handling of the impact of the severe weather earlier in the week. It was, I have to say, a fairly grudging apology and he spent a deal of time blaming the forecasters. As the week unfolded it became clear that the Minister was struggling to regain the trust of the people and he resigned.

Just the week before, the Minister had boasted that Scotland was ready for the arctic blast and that lessons had been learnt from last winter. The hundreds of motorists stranded overnight on the M8 would disagree. Many of them were travelling home to the north east and have been in touch with me to tell me how horrendous it was.

All through the icy spell people made heroic efforts to get to work. Doctors and nurses, carers, bus drivers, shop keepers - all did their bit to help keep the economy going and safeguard vulnerable people. But they were all let down by a bumbling Transport Minister who didn't do his bit and allowed vital strategic links to seize up. In fact, the Minister was so out of touch, he announced to the world that his government was providing a first class response at the very moment when thousands of people were stranded on roads in freezing temperatures. His colleague the Education Secretary had also been urging schools to reopen and people to get back to work, just at the time when they should have been advising essential travel only.

The new Minister has a lot of ground to cover if he's to regain the trust of the travelling public. A good start would be to review the contingency plan ahead of more wintry weather. Motorists need to be confident that the Government is prepared. The new Transport Minister hasn't got the luxury of time as more heavy snow is forecast for the end of this week. Let's hope lessons have been learned.