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20 Most Recent Speeches
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Speech by Alison McInnes delivered to Scottish Parliament on Thu 11th Dec 2008
There is no doubt that local government provides some of the most important and valued services in our communities. Everyone expects a great deal from their local council, even when it does not get a great deal from the Government, which supplies the majority of councils' funds.
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Speech by Alison McInnes delivered to Scotrail Franchise Debate on Thu 11th Dec 2008
I welcome the chance to debate the extension of the First ScotRail passenger franchise. Although I welcome the debate, I cannot help but feel that it is a debate that we should have had a long time ago, perhaps before the Government committed an extra £800 million of taxpayers' money. Back in the spring, before the Government made its decision, we might have been able to hold a constructive debate on the case for the extension. Instead, we are left with an inquest. How could Transport Scotland make its recommendation without a formal consultation process? How could the minister make such a huge decision-the largest contract that the Government has handed out-without ever seeing a documented business case? I do not have the answer.
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Speech by Alison McInnes on Wed 10th Dec 2008
I thank the minister for his statement, although it has turned out to be disappointing, given that the announcement was expected in September.
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Speech by Alison McInnes delivered to Scottich Parliament on Thu 4th Dec 2008
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Trish Godman): The final item of business is a members' business debate on motion S3M-2650, in the name of Alison McInnes, on "Safe drivers are made, not born". The debate will be concluded without any question being put.
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Speech by Alison McInnes delivered to Scottish Parliament on Thu 4th Dec 2008
Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): I am not sure that I have been much enlightened by the debate. When I first read the Conservative motion, I was reminded of my childhood Saturday mornings at Woolies pick-'n'-mix: "Oh dear, we really can't decide what we want, but that's okay-we can have a wee taste of everything." I realise that I am a newcomer to the Parliament, but it is the first time that I have come across the pick-'n'-mix, multi-option bill, and I am glad to hear that Brian Adam-who is far more experienced than I-is also perplexed by that suggestion.
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Speech by Alison McInnes delivered to The Scottish Parliament on Wed 10th Sep 2008
This very interesting inquiry has given me a valuable insight into the daily constraints faced by islanders and I welcome our engagement with communities and the willingness with which people shared their experience.
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Speech by Alison McInnes delivered to The Scottish Parliament on Wed 3rd Sep 2008
I wish to use my time to talk about the proposed climate change bill. We must work together in Parliament to ensure that the bill is fit for purpose. This morning, the First Minister made only one commitment relating to the bill, in reaffirming his target of reducing emissions by 80 per cent by 2050. The recent consultation drew a remarkable 21,000 responses from all around the world. I have heard it said before that Scotland's impact is small and insignificant in this global matter, but surely that level of international response demonstrates that people are waiting to see what we do and are urging us to grasp the opportunity to make a profound difference. I hope that we do not let them down.
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Speech by Alison McInnes delivered to The Scottish Parliament on Thu 12th Jun 2008
An audit of best value is intended to identify how well a council is performing in relation to best value and community planning. As part of the agenda to modernise local government, it is meant to encourage a culture of continuous improvement and engagement with communities. That whole agenda challenges local government to find new ways of working across services and with other bodies to achieve the best results for citizens and service users.
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Speech by Alison McInnes delivered to The Scottish Parliament on Thu 12th Jun 2008
I thank the Labour Party for allocating this time to a debate on bus transport. At a time when everyone is struggling with the impact of spiralling fuel prices, people must have access to effective alternatives to car travel. Seventy per cent of public transport journeys are made by bus, so let us ensure that the people who already use buses not only continue to do so, but are rewarded by better, faster and more reliable journeys and that more people are attracted to using them for some of their journeys.
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Speech by Alison McInnes delivered to The Scottish Parliament on Wed 28th May 2008
A little more than a year ago, we sat in the chamber and listened as the First Minister outlined his new Government's priorities. Among some of his more questionable policies, he devoted a good deal of time to talking about the environmental challenges that we face, the need for a Scottish climate change bill and the all-encompassing nature of action against climate change. I am sure that I can speak for members of all parties when I say that we welcomed those priorities.
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Speech by Alison McInnes delivered to The Scottish Parliament on Thu 15th May 2008
The debate allows us to look forward and consider how to improve the policy of free personal care and the manner in which it is implemented. We must take care, however, not to lose sight of the great many benefits that the policy has brought to individuals throughout Scotland. It represents a major social reform, in which Parliament can take justifiable pride. The significant increase in the number of elderly people who are enjoying extended years in their own homes is something to be celebrated.
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Speech by Alison McInnes delivered to The Scottish Parliament on Thu 8th May 2008
This is the first time that I have had a motion selected for a members' business debate. I am grateful for the opportunity to raise the matter and I thank all the members who supported my motion.
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Speech by Alison McInnes delivered to The Scottish Parliament on Thu 24th Apr 2008
The debate is about not the merits of a planning application, but the conduct of Government ministers in their dealings with the applicant. The Local Government and Communities Committee's report deserves careful consideration.
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Speech by Alison McInnes delivered to The Scottish Parliament on Thu 27th Mar 2008
I thank Mary Scanlon for affording us the opportunity to debate this matter this evening. I apologise that I cannot stay for the whole debate. I add my voice to the call for much-needed improvements on the A96 and state my support for a bypass for Elgin.
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Speech by Alison McInnes delivered to The Scottish Parliament on Thu 13th Mar 2008
I am fortunate enough to have part of the Cairngorms national park in my region. As well as being a world-class area of outstanding natural environment, the park is home to around 17,000 people in a wide range of diverse communities.
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Speech by Alison McInnes delivered to The Scottish Parliament on Thu 13th Mar 2008
I understand that the Borders railway won the Parliament's backing because it will deliver major economic and social development opportunities and because it represents one of the most sustainable public transport proposals in Scotland. In fact, the minister said last week that its cost benefit ratio has increased even further.
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Speech by Alison McInnes delivered to The Scottish Parliament on Wed 12th Mar 2008
I thank Dave Thompson for lodging the motion for debate. We should be deeply concerned about the levels of drink-driving throughout the country. In 2005, 30 people were killed and there were 990 casualties from drink-driving related accidents in Scotland. Figures for the four week campaign to tackle drink-driving and drug-driving at Christmas, which was backed by ACPOS, show that 839 drivers were arrested during the period for numerous drink-driving or drug-driving offences throughout the eight police force areas. That figure is unacceptably high and represents only a small reduction from the previous year-by 69 from 908-and it demonstrates that there is no room for complacency.
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Speech by Alison McInnes delivered to The Scottish Parliament on Thu 7th Feb 2008
Councils and their communities and partners are always anxious at this time of year as they await the outcome of funding decisions that will directly affect the provision of much-valued local services. That is not a sensible way of going about things. Local councils ought to be able to determine what they need to maintain and develop local services. That is why Liberal Democrats support the replacement of the discredited council tax with a system of fair local income tax.
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Speech by Alison McInnes delivered to The Scottish Parliament on Thu 31st Jan 2008
I welcome the opportunity to debate these important and interlinked issues. Greater accessibility for all will best be delivered by co-operation among and joint initiatives involving the voluntary sector, commercial bus operators, local authorities and the Government. That was the approach of the previous Administration, and it resulted in more investment in new routes, cleaner engines and more accessible buses. It brought greater access, freer movement, less isolation and modal shift. Investment from local authorities and the Government in bus infrastructure, such as bus priority measures, real-time information and park and ride, has demonstrably led to improved provision. We have heard from Des McNulty about the investment of £450 million in new vehicles and the 8.8 per cent increase in the mileage covered by buses.
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Speech by Alison McInnes delivered to The Scottish Parliament on Thu 17th Jan 2008
There are compelling reasons for ensuring that we have a coherent and comprehensive energy strategy for the UK, including the need to tackle climate change, the ever-increasing demand for energy, higher prices, and the decline in oil and gas resources. We need the right energy strategy for the UK and we need a Scottish Government that is willing to employ its own powers to best advantage.
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Archive of earlier Speeches.
 Speech Feed(v1.0).
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