Today's FMQs were more interesting than of late. Leaving aside some of the political point scoring some important facts were given by the First Minister. Ian Gray's questions concerned abscondees in open prisons and he focused on one prisoner in particular. The FM stated in the last year of the labour/libdem government there were 339 prisoners in the open estate and 79 abscondees. Since Kenny MacAskill introduced the reforms 342 prisoners were in the open estate with 16 abscondees - approximately 20% of the last government's total. This is an all time low. We now have 16,675 police officers in Scotland and continue to train more.
Annabel Goldie, unfortunately for her, asked the FM if he would be prepared to be questioned before MPs at Westminster now that David Cameron has stated, if he became PM, he would treat the Scottish Government with respect and responsibility. What an opening for the FM! Alex Salmond's response was he was quite happy to appear before any Westminster committee and he had already done so, but of course he kept his best until last. Honing in on Ms Goldie's 'respect' comment, he said that was an admission that tories were viewed as anti-Scottish because they had not treated Scotland with respect. I have to admit Ms Goldie couldn't quite suppress her amusement at the FM's attack. Ms Goldie's second question asked the FM to support her call for a general election and with this the FM said he could definitely concur.
Tavish Scott questioned the FM on the subject of Scottish banking job losses. The FM replied saying the Finance Task Force, which the libdems are requested, was now up and running and, as well as helping with those who have been made redundant, it is engaging with those companies who are growing in the financial sector. He reminded Tavish Scott that many areas of the Scottish finance sector are doing very well.
There was a constituency question which deserves a mention. Michael McMahon, who has campaigned long and hard for an answer to the deaths of 14 residents of the Rosepark Care Home in his constituency of Uddingston, asked the FM if the loophole in the law regarding prosecution of those responsible for the home at the time, could be closed. The FM replied the Scottish Government and the UK legislators were working together to close the loophole but he had just received notification from the Crown Office that a fatal accident enquiry is to be started. At last good news for the families concerned.
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6 comments:
79 abscondees to 16 abscondees
what might be more relevant is the offences the abscondees had committed for and their category.
Yes indeed Niko. Pity the last libdem lot didn't make that compulsory. Another thing for the SNP government to clean up.
subrosa,
Especially interested in your last paragraph regarding the Care Home. The "Care Commission" - the care watch-dog, is an ineffective and toothless tiger.
I am aware of one of them visiting a Residential Unit for children in this area where staff had expressed extreme concern about being forced to participate in "lone-working" with vulnerable children with the obvious Child Protection implications.
The inspector from the Care Commission promised to put a stop to this practice, went off to complain to senior management and, despite repeated further complaints, nothing was done about the matter.
As a result "lone-working", which Glasgow Council has stopped, still goes on in East and West Dunbartonshire, and probably others, with the obvious risks to staff and, more importantly, children.
SR,
I was busy doing my fitness test so didn't get to see them, thanks for the update. I reckon the Tories will make small gains in Scotland if there is a GE.
I can't believe people in Salford voted for another Labour Coons'lr last nicht after all that Blears' is guilty of, whether moral or indeed fraudulent we will have to wait and see what the law brings to bare/bear/bayre!
Anyway, it's braw and sunny the day and over the whole weekend, yipeeee!
CD
p.s. nice Italian word verification "adicti"
SR,
I'm expecting some Tory gains in the GE whenever it is, sadly there are those that always will vote Tory and Labour - they're usually white and go baaaaaaaaaaah!
CD
Aye CD I think the tories will get a few but they won't get here, John Swinney's seat and Pete Wishart's. Mind you this area 20 years ago was staunch tory and nobody got a nose in. Labour, on occasion, haven't even put up a candidate here.
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