Note: (DT) signifies a decision taken at Decision Time.
The meeting opened at 9.15 am.
1. Prescription Charges and NHS Spending Priorities with Particular Reference to Health Visitors: Mary Scanlon moved S3M-5572—That the Parliament calls on the Scottish Government to withdraw its proposals for further reductions in prescription charges and, having regard to current pressures on public spending, believes that the money saved would be better spent on other NHS and care priorities, such as the health visitor service.
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing (Nicola Sturgeon) moved amendment S3M-5572.3 to motion S3M-5572—
Leave out from “calls” to end and insert—
“recognises that the progress towards abolishing prescription charges is already benefitting all those patients with long-term conditions and on low incomes who are not entitled to exemption andensuring that fewer patients face having to choose between buying their prescriptions or paying for other necessities and that total abolition is the simplest and fairest way of ensuring that nobody in Scotland has to make such a choice and that healthcare is free at the point of use.”
Jackie Baillie moved amendment S3M-5572.1 to motion S3M-5572—
Leave out from “withdraw” to end and insert—
“immediately implement free prescriptions for cancer patients as has been the case in England since April 2009.”
Ross Finnie moved amendment S3M-5572.2 to motion S3M-5572—
Leave out from “the money” to end and insert—
“it is unjustifiable for the Scottish Government to continue to make consultants' distinction and clinical excellence awards in 2010-11 including under its new Scottish Clinical Leadership and Excellence Awards scheme to be introduced on 1 April 2010, and further believes that the money saved from both of these measures would be better spent on other priorities.”
After debate, amendment S3M-5572.3 was agreed to ((DT) by division: For 49, Against 32, Abstentions 42). As a result amendments S3M-5572.1 and S3M-5572.2 were pre-empted.
The motion, as amended, was then agreed to ((DT) by division: For 49, Against 32, Abstentions 42).
Accordingly the Parliament resolved—That the Parliament recognises that the progress towards abolishing prescription charges is already benefitting all those patients with long-term conditions and on low incomes who are not entitled to exemption and ensuring that fewer patients face having to choose between buying their prescriptions or paying for other necessities and that total abolition is the simplest and fairest way of ensuring that nobody in Scotland has to make such a choice and that healthcare is free at the point of use.
2. General Question Time: Questions were answered by Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers.
3. First Minister’s Question Time: Questions were answered by the First Minister (Alex Salmond).
4. Themed Question Time: Questions on Justice and Law Officers, and Rural Affairs and the Environment were answered by Cabinet Secretaries, Ministers and Scottish Law Officers.
5. Scotland’s Water Rescue Review: The Minister for Community Safety (Fergus Ewing) moved S3M-5573—That the Parliament welcomes the findings of Paddy Tomkins’ Independent Review of Open Water and Flood Rescue in Scotland, which examined the arrangements and protocols for inland water rescue in Scotland, and believes that the report’s recommendations should be carefully considered and acted on in order to strengthen multi-agency arrangements and ensure that an effective and proportionate response capability exists across Scotland.
James Kelly moved amendment S3M-5573.1 to motion S3M-5573—
Insert at end—
“that includes adequate equipment and training being made available to staff required to attend water and flood incidents.”
After debate, the amendment was agreed to (DT).
The motion, as amended, was then agreed to (DT).
Accordingly the Parliament resolved—That the Parliament welcomes the findings of Paddy Tomkins’ Independent Review of Open Water and Flood Rescue in Scotland, which examined the arrangements and protocols for inland water rescue in Scotland, and believes that the report’s recommendations should be carefully considered and acted on in order to strengthen multi-agency arrangements and ensure that an effective and proportionate response capability exists across Scotland that includes adequate equipment and training being made available to staff required to attend water and flood incidents.
6. Decision Time: The Parliament took decisions on items 1 and 5 as noted above.
7. Childhood Cancer - More Than My Illness: The Parliament debated S3M-3441 in the name of Nanette Milne—That the Parliament highlights a survey by children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent that found that 97% of children and young people with cancer say that it is important for them to be able to return home during their treatment but that many parents in Scotland say that they do not get the support that they need when their child is at home; notes that children and young people say that living with cancer is about more than their illness; expresses concern at findings that about half of parents who want support with the education of their child with cancer, such as access to home tutoring, are not getting it or are finding that it is insufficient; recognises the need to help children and young people and their families in rural and urban areas across Scotland to keep up with their ordinary lives; welcomes CLIC Sargent’s report, More Than My Illness, published on 13 February 2009, proposing innovative ways of reaching families of sick children across Scotland; notes the success of the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital and the CLIC Sargent nurse in helping to coordinate and plan aspects of care and support for children in Aberdeenshire; further welcomes the commitment to both specialist and local support made by the National Delivery Plan for Children and Young People’s Specialist Services in Scotland, and highlights the need for key workers to better coordinate and plan all aspects of care and support for every child and young person with cancer.
The meeting closed at 5.41 pm.
P E Grice
Clerk of the Parliament
21 January 2010
Appendix
(Note: this Appendix does not form part of the Minutes)
Subordinate Legislation
Negative Instruments
The following instruments were laid before the Parliament on 21 January 2010 and are subject to annulment—
The Snares (Scotland) Order 2010 (SSI2010/8)
laid under section 26(2) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
The Sea Fish (Prohibited Methods of Fishing) (Firth of Clyde) Order 2010 (SSI2010/9)
laid under section 20(5) of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967