Meeting of the Parliament
Thursday 9 June 2011
Note: (DT) signifies a decision taken at Decision Time.
The meeting opened at 9.15 am.
1. Caring for Scotland’s Older People: Jackie Baille moved S4M-00234—That the Parliament welcomes the Scottish Government’s new focus on the care for older people; further welcomes the commitment given by the First Minister that vulnerable residents in Southern Cross homes will not be compromised as a result of Southern Cross’s business model; notes with concern the report by the Mental Welfare Commission regarding the appalling treatment of Mrs V at Ninewells Hospital and the recent disturbing events at the Elsie Inglis Nursing Home in Edinburgh where standards of care were totally inadequate; further notes that one in 10 of the city’s care homes have been criticised and deemed weak or unsatisfactory in at least one area of assessment in the past year; believes that the 25% cut to the budget of Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS), charged with the inspection and improvement of care standards, should be reversed; agrees that radical reform of community health partnerships is urgently required following the serious failings identified in a recent Audit Scotland report; recognises that funding prevention work will delay services for older people requiring formal care; believes that the care and safety of Scotland’s older and vulnerable people must be a major priority for the Scottish Government, and therefore calls on it to come forward urgently with plans to integrate health and social care so that Scotland’s older people and their families can have full confidence that they will receive the best possible standard of care when they need it.
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing (Nicola Sturgeon) moved amendment S4M-00234.3 to motion S4M-00234—
Leave out from "further notes" to end and insert—
"considers that these cases demonstrate the need for a robust system of regulation and inspection that provides protection for older people irrespective of where they receive their care and treatment and that listens to the views of people who use services and their carers; believes that the care and safety of Scotland’s older and vulnerable people must be a major priority for the Scottish Government, and welcomes the fact that there is a consensus across the Parliament to improve the integration of health and social care so that Scotland’s older people and their families can have full confidence that they will receive the best possible standard of care when they need it."
Mary Scanlon moved amendment S4M-00234.1 to motion S4M-00234—
Leave out from first "believes" to end and insert—
"notes the criticisms of the community health partnerships identified in the Audit Scotland report, and calls on the Scottish Government to bring forward a comprehensive strategy to support older people that will include plans for the integration of health and social care and proposals for better utilisation of existing care home capacity in the independent sector."
After debate, amendment S4M-000234.3 was agreed to ((DT) by division: For 61, Against 56, Abstentions 0). As a result, amendment S4M-00234.1 was pre-empted.
The motion, as amended, was then agreed to (DT).
Accordingly, the Parliament resolved—That the Parliament welcomes the Scottish Government’s new focus on the care for older people; further welcomes the commitment given by the First Minister that vulnerable residents in Southern Cross homes will not be compromised as a result of Southern Cross’s business model; notes with concern the report by the Mental Welfare Commission regarding the appalling treatment of Mrs V at Ninewells Hospital and the recent disturbing events at the Elsie Inglis Nursing Home in Edinburgh where standards of care were totally inadequate; considers that these cases demonstrate the need for a robust system of regulation and inspection that provides protection for older people irrespective of where they receive their care and treatment and that listens to the views of people who use services and their carers; believes that the care and safety of Scotland’s older and vulnerable people must be a major priority for the Scottish Government, and welcomes the fact that there is a consensus across the Parliament to improve the integration of health and social care so that Scotland’s older people and their families can have full confidence that they will receive the best possible standard of care when they need it.
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. Ministerial Statement: The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning (Michael Russell) made a statement and answered questions on Rural Schools.
5. Scotland Bill – Borrowing Powers and Growing the Scottish Economy: The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth (John Swinney) moved S4M-00235—That the Parliament notes the Scotland Bill proposals on capital borrowing and the recommendations of the Scotland Bill Committee in that regard; calls on the UK Government and Scottish Government to undertake joint work to agree a clear, long-term and principles-based approach to capital borrowing and the sources of borrowing including the potential for bonds, and calls for the implementation of capital borrowing powers at an accelerated timescale to that proposed in the Scotland Bill to support economic recovery and enhance Scotland’s infrastructure.
Richard Baker moved amendment S4M-00235.1 to motion S4M-00235—
After "bonds" insert—
"; recommends that the total limit should be set by reference to the capacity of the Scottish Government to finance debt prudently from devolved tax revenue".
After debate, the amendment was agreed to ((DT) by division: For 116, Against 2, Abstentions 0).
The motion, as amended, was then agreed to (DT).
Accordingly, the Parliament resolved—That the Parliament notes the Scotland Bill proposals on capital borrowing and the recommendations of the Scotland Bill Committee in that regard; calls on the UK Government and Scottish Government to undertake joint work to agree a clear, long-term and principles-based approach to capital borrowing and the sources of borrowing including the potential for bonds; recommends that the total limit should be set by reference to the capacity of the Scottish Government to finance debt prudently from devolved tax revenue, and calls for the implementation of capital borrowing powers at an accelerated timescale to that proposed in the Scotland Bill to support economic recovery and enhance Scotland’s infrastructure.
6. Scotland Bill Committee: Bruce Crawford, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S4M-00256—That the Parliament shall establish a committee of the Parliament as follows:
Name of Committee: Scotland Bill Committee
Remit: To consider the Scotland Bill, proposed amendments to the Bill, responses to the report of the Session 3 Scotland Bill Committee and to report to the Parliament.
Duration: Until the Scotland Bill has received Royal Assent, falls or is withdrawn
Number of members: 11
Convenership: The Convener will be a member of the Scottish National Party and the Deputy Convener will be a member of the Scottish Labour Party.
Membership: Richard Baker, Nigel Don, Linda Fabiani, Adam Ingram, Alison Johnstone, James Kelly, John Mason, Stewart Maxwell, Joan McAlpine, David McLetchie, Willie Rennie
The motion was agreed to (DT).
7. Decision Time: The Parliament took decisions on items 1, 5 and 6 as noted above.
8. Ban on Use of Wild Animals in circuses: The Parliament debated S4M-00102 in the name of Elaine Murray—That the Parliament notes the decision by the UK Government not to introduce a ban on the use of wild animals in travelling circuses; notes that in the recent past a travelling circus visiting locations including Dumfries included an elephant as one of its attractions; believes that there is sufficient evidence to support the view that life in a travelling circus does not allow for acceptable standards of welfare and quality of life for wild animals; notes the work done by animal rights activists and third sector organisations to argue for such a ban, and considers that action in this area is needed to prevent suffering to animals.
The meeting closed at 5.36 pm.
P E Grice
Clerk of the Parliament
9 June 2011
Appendix
(Note: this Appendix does not form part of the Minutes)
The following document was laid before the Parliament on 9 June 2011 and is not subject to any Parliamentary procedure
General Dental Council Annual Report and Accounts 2010 (SG/2011/88)
laid under section 2 of the Dentists Act 1984