After the news of the apprentice who already had an offer to complete his apprenticeship and the revelations about Ellon Academy on Richard Thomson's blog this morning, I was looking forward to FMQs this week. I was disappointed.
Ian Gray, with his usual eau de Nil aura, refused to acknowledge he had misled parliament last week - not a good beginning. His questions centred on teacher numbers, a subject which has been in the news this week. Alex Salmond, in his usual robust manner, explained the ratio of pupil-teacher numbers was smaller in Scotland than in England or Wales but Mr Gray was having none of that. England didn't matter this week (although it was mentioned several times last week in his apprenticeship figures) and Mr Gray wanted teacher numbers in Scotland increased. No mention was made of the falling school rolls throughout the country but Mr Salmond emphasised Glasgow labour councils were the guilty parties in not employing more teachers as agreed in the concordat. He must sort this out with COSLA and quickly.
Annabelle Goldie's contribution was about the poor report from the Audit Commission regarding drug and alcohol figures. Alex Salmond agreed to hold a summit on the condition that it did not reflect on policy but on the implementation of the policy. It was this which wasn't successful and needed to be reviewed.
Tavish Scott centred on fishing policy and how one fisherman was feeling aggrieved with the latest EU policy. To be truthful I became a little lost here because his points were difficult to follow for a person with no knowledge of the fishing industry and I haven't read about any problems. Richard Lochhead usually receives accolades for his handling of the EU with regard to fishing.
Not an inspiring FMQs but one which provided good information. Pity Ian Gray didn't feel he should apologise for misleading parliament for the past two weeks, but that's politics I suppose.
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Not an inspiring FMQs but one which provided good information.
More than we ever get! Although a smacking a la Hannan would be good.
If I was Tavish I'd be careful with the fishing issue as his colleague Ross Finnie was the most ineffectual Fisheries Minister we've ever had in Europe.
Join the campaign for an English parliament oldrightie!
I got quite lost on his question brownlie. Something about having to go 200 miles and days tied up. I expect you understood it, being the superb angler you are catching all these salmon and trout to keep your protein levels up.
You would think that if there was the SNP caused problem Tavish was blethering about it would be evident in here: http://tinyurl.com/dnhl9r
Cannae see it. Methinks Tavish is shooting at the wrong target, as usual.
I looked at the P & J first then there too KW to see if I could understand what Tavish was on about. Like you I didn't find anything.
You're right he missed his target but his presentation was good I must admit.
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