FMQs Thursday 24 September 2009

A noisy but vibrant FMQs this week with a mix of questions from the opposition leaders.

Iain Gray made a better hash (sounds more complimentary than 'slightly improved') of it this week with all his questions being about class sizes. In his desperation to gain an SNP scalp (any scalp will do being labour's motto), he called for the sacking of the Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop.

The FM in reponse to Mr Gray's accusations insisted class sizes were down year on year, although Scotland's largest council, a labour run council, had reduced its teacher numbers by 20%. They did this is spite of the fact that they receive more per head than any other council in Scotland.

Nursery teacher numbers were 2590 and it is the first time such numbers have been published. In earlier years the labour/libdem government had miscalculated these figures by double or treble counting teachers who worked in several nursery schools.. Teach unemployment is lower in Scotland than it is anywhere in these islands the FM stated.

Annabel Goldie's questions focused on the same subject with the FM saying he was disappointed she was decrying Scottish education and the attainments made year on year by pupils. In 2009 Standard Grade passes were 98.5%, Higher passes were 74.2% and Advanced Higher passes 77.8%. These figures show a new record of achievement and congratulations ought to be given to pupils and teachers.

Ms Goldie tried again to push the FM into an apology for what she considers the 'state' of our education system and asked him he still defended his Education Secretary. Alex Salmond was staunch in his defence of Fiona Hyslop and suggested Annabel Goldie should be as staunch in her support of the move to ensure primary 1 classes are confined to a 25 maxim.

Tavish Scott, fresh from the sea breezes at Bournemouth, asked the FM is he was aware of the dispute between ITV and STV in which ITV refused the offer of binding arbitration. The FM was aware of this and he mentioned he will ask the Culture Secretary to look again at the issue.

Margo MacDonald posed an interesting back bencher question about yesterday's statement in England concerning assisted suicide. As those of you who follow FMQs, Margo has been a high profile campaigner on this issue.

The FM explained Scotland has no statutory offence of assisted suicide and it could only perhaps come under the homicide laws here. The Lord Advocate had issued a statement saying "The Crown recognises the importance of this issue but any change related to homicide is properly a matter for the Scottish Parliament." On a personal level the FM voiced he was not convinced by the argument Margo had put forward.

Not a bad half hour, I've sat through a great deal worse, but I'm hoping to see less noise in the future. Can anyone tell me who made the amusing comment just before Annabel Goldie asked her second question and what was said to cause even Annabel to smile?

Update 11.00pm: The handsome Advanced Media Watch has the answer to my question.

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