The First Minister mentioned two important homecomings today; firstly the body of Lance Corporal Liam Tasker from Fife who was killed in Afghanistan and secondly the team of six, from Grampian Fire and Rescue Services, who assisted in the search and rescue in Christchurch, New Zealand. He offered his condolences to the family of L/Cpl Tasker.
Iain Gray should have one of his London bosses in the audience - Ed Balls was his cheerleader today - every week. His performance today was perhaps the best I've seen, although his rhetoric fell far below the line when he insisted upon using 'cancelled' for 'postponed' - an important difference which invalidated his questions. The Labour questions and First Minister's answers were peppered with statistics which can be boring for an observer and Iain Gray's impression of the tough guy who "would take the First Minister on anytime" didn't quite make John Wayne standards.
Annabel Goldie questioned the FM on a subject dear to my heart - health visitors. The tories would invest £ millions in increasing health visitor numbers. Like Ms Goldie I consider government is missing a trick by not appreciating the skills of health visitors. These are the professionals who can sniff out problems between parents and children at ten paces. They're invaluable to our NHS and an increase would, very possibly, help the very young in our society. Social workers do not have the specific skills of health visitors yet more and more they're being used as replacements.
Tavish Scott requested the cost of reducing the number of police forces in Scotland. He accused the FM of delaying for political reasons (as if Alex Salmond would behave in such a manner) and Mr Scott was assured the figures would be available once the Chief Constables had finished their sums. To compare the reorganisation of local authorities with the police wasn't useful. Alex Salmond reiterated his thoughts that one police force covers half of Scotland with another seven covering the other 50% and our police service needs a more efficient structure.
The Old Firm issue reared its head from back bench questions, along with apprenticeships, graduate contributions and recruitment of university principals.
Unfortunately the BBC is no longer sharing Democracy Live videos so may I suggest that if anyone wishes to view FMQs they do so via HolyroodTV. It ought to be available early tomorrow.
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11 comments:
Rosie, I hate to come across as puffing my own blog, but would you pop over to mine and give me feedback on what you see and read? I would so much appreciate it. And once this is out, I WILL gift you with a copy. No review required. ;)
Jeanne
"Unfortunately the BBC is no longer sharing Democracy Live videos ..."
Not only are they withholding embed script but today's FMQ's aren't posted at all? Was this an oversight or are they keeping Grays mug off the air lest he drives voters into the lap of the SNP? It just seems a little strange at the start of a election campaign for a website that bills itself as "Democracy Live" to start restricting access and the ability to redistribute video of our elected representatives at work?
That is an interesting question, McGonagall. I have frequently complained about BBC attempts to restrict overseas viewing of BBC news programs. I question WHY they don't want people outside the UK to see their news coverage.
Rosa, I came on to *that* site just after you left; and the Unionists complain about *us*...
Jeanne, you can puff your own blog on here as much as you like. It's relevant to Scotland. Will be there in a jiffy.
McGonagall, it was this afternoon when I wrote the post but no embed again. Seems like it's being restricted. Surprise eh?
Hi Conan, that doesn't surprise me. I know ASE whose blog it is and I'm surprised he allowed such venomous comments.
I'm sure you're big enough to cope and I'm old enough. :)
"The Old Firm issue"
What issue? No-one has yet been able to articulate what the issue is.
If I didn't have such a *cough* high opinion of Strathclyde Police, I'd assume they were fishing for more resources, i.e. money.
My thoughts exactly William. Mr House is nearly as good as Dave Cameron at ensuring he keeps an exceptionally high profile.
SR, Alex Salmond had done well to avoid funding the 'sectarian' industry that his predecessor enjoyed. It's a pity that he didn't feel he could tell Strathclyde Police to just do their job, in this situation. If they need to make arrests then so be it. We have a situation where the police want more money than ever before whilst wanting to ban anything that might lead to crimes being committed.
William, I think Alex Salmond said the government fund 9 organisations connected with the results of male football anger. Can't quite remember the wording on FMQs.
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