Apologies for the tardiness with this summary, but I had the bright idea of using a laptop while I watched the recording and two hours later I trust this is a reasonable account. Let's not think about the three efforts which mysteriously vanished and have no idea why, so I've now retreated to my trusty Mac desktop.
Prior to the start of proceedings the Presiding Officer introduced John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons, who was present the gallery.
Iain Gray's questions all centred on the finances of Scotland, not unexpectedly as this was draft budget day. He insisted the budget had increased and Alex Salmond refused to accept this and repeated Scotland had lost £500m in cuts from the Treasury. Mr Gray requested that 'programmes that are not working should be cut' and he proceeded to raise the Scottish Futures Trust as a example of a policy not working. Mr Gray stated he would 'rather have one more nurse, one more teacher and one more apprentice than the National Conversation' which isn't surprising. The unionist parties would like to see the National Conversation dead and buried. The First Minister retorted there were now 2,000 extra front line staff in the NHS and the government put the health service and the schools building programme ahead of Trident and weapons of mass destruction. Not much Iain gray could say in reply other than to stick to his script. I do admit to laughing at times because his attempts at the dramatic were amusing.
Annabel Goldie travelled in a rather roundabout manner to reach her main question about the government's refusal to consider privatising Scottish Water, reinstating student tuition fees and reinstating prescription charges - savings of £250m annually by her calculations. Alex Salmond responded by attack the Deputy Conservative leader's speech in the Parliament earlier in the year when Murdo Fraser mentioned labour cuts will be far worse than any tory party cuts which wasn't how Mr Salmond interpreted the musings from Dave in London.
Tavish Scott concentrated on the council tax freeze asking if the choice could be given to councils as some would have to cut front line services. Twice the First Minister mentioned the libdem's proposal to cut tax which would have cost the country £700m but he never answered Mr Scott's question. It would appear that Mr Salmond has no intention of permitting councils to make the decision on how to use the money they are to be given to make up the shortfall in any council tax increase.
Angela Constance (SNP) asked for continuing support for the workforce of Baush and Long in Livingston. This was granted.
Malcolm Chisholm (labour) requested help for the staff of Chambers reference books
producers and the FM assured him everything would be done and he would arrange a meeting between the company and the Finance Secretary.
Alisdair Allan (SNP) asked the F M to join with him in congratulating the people of Uist in their successful campaign to maintain jobs at the Hebrides range. The FM gave praise to the dedication and hard work of the Hebrides range taskforce who had given the UK government real pause for thought over the future of the range. Talks will continue between the taskforce and the Scottish government.
Michael McMahon (labour) voiced his concerns about the level of unemployment in Bellshill and requested that Skill Development Scotland (SDS) do not close the credit union in Bellshill. Alsex Salmond said the significance of the unemployment figures yesterday were not that they were fewer than numbers elsewhere in UK but that more people were now out of work here. He asked the Parliament to approve of the acceleration of capital investment into next year to allow the 5,000 jobs that can be supported by it. Our recovery is fragile he said and jobs are vital.
Jamie Hepburn (SNP) wished to know the FM's opinion on Lord Sutherland's comment recently about reinstating tuition fees. Alex Salmond said we invest more in universities and higher education and he insisted it should be free. In research terms, relative to GDP, Scotland's universities rank second, just behind Switzerland and ahead of the USA. The FM supported the new President of Universities UK who, last Thursday said, 'the issue is irrelevant in Scotland. It seems to me there is no issue.'
Murdo Fraser (Con) wanted an independently chaired review with regard to tuition fees. The FM informed Mr Fraser that he preferred to take the statement of the President of Universities UK to his - but he was gentle with him.
A good FMQs this week and such a difference with the leaders' short, sharp questioning.
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