Before we turn to the next item of business, I wish to make a statement. At this morning’s Parliamentary Bureau meeting, James Kelly, the Labour business manager, expressed concern at the announcement that was made this morning to the media and not to the Parliament by the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport on funding to tackle delayed discharge. I asked the Minister for Parliamentary Business to investigate the matter and to come back to me. I have subsequently spoken to the minister and I find the response to be unsatisfactory.
All members will be aware that the good practice guidance on announcements by the Scottish Government states that major policy announcements should always be made to the Parliament. They should not enter the public domain through any other route.
Although I accept that the Government is entitled to exercise its judgment in making announcements, this was clearly an announcement of significant public policy and it should have been made to the Parliament in the first instance. In addition, the issue of delayed discharge has been of great concern to many members over the past few months. I therefore consider it to be a gross discourtesy to the Parliament and its members that the announcement was not made here first.
When a similar situation arose last year, I indicated that it was my expectation that the Government should reflect on its actions. I am very disappointed that that does not appear to have happened. I therefore ask the Government to reflect on its actions today and the consequences for ministers that will flow from similar actions in the future.
I also advise the Government that, if a request for an emergency question had been made to me this morning, I would have accepted it and I would have obliged the cabinet secretary to be here in the chamber, in person, regardless of her other commitments. Be in no doubt that I will do so in the future.
Previous
Time for ReflectionNext
Topical Questions