Minister
The next item of business is a debate on motion S2M-3041, in the name of Jack McConnell, on the appointment of a minister. I ask members who wish to contribute to the debate to press their request-to-speak buttons, but I remind them that we are tight for time.
Because I did not have the opportunity to do so last week, I start by formally wishing Jim Wallace well as he enjoys the unfamiliar territory of the back benches. He seemed comfortable this morning and he looks even more comfortable this afternoon, but he is a sad loss to our ministerial team. I wish him all the best wherever his career now takes him. [Applause.]
Jim knows how highly I regard the efforts that he made in the constitutional convention and then, after devolution in 1999, to ensure that the Parliament worked and worked in the interests of the people of Scotland. However, his most remarkable achievement was to be able to disagree on a regular basis, usually behind the scenes, within the coalition and even during the convention, without ever being disagreeable. That is the mark of Jim Wallace and it is a trait that many others in the chamber might want to develop in years to come.
I congratulate Nicol Stephen on his election as leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats and on what is therefore his automatic appointment as Deputy First Minister. Nicol and I worked closely together four years ago to make what I hope was a real difference throughout our education system. In particular, he played a central role in resolving the biggest crisis that the Parliament and Scotland have faced in the past six years—the collapse of our examination system. We worked together closely then and I am looking forward to working just as closely with him again. He will be a robust leader of the other coalition partner and I hope that, as we work together, we will always ensure that we work in the interests of Scotland.
I have great pleasure in nominating Tavish Scott to be appointed as Minister for Transport and Telecommunications in our Cabinet. Tavish has now played a significant role in the Parliament in two different deputy ministerial positions, most recently in piloting through the Parliament the Licensing (Scotland) Bill. He has been central to our work in finance and public service reform, working with Tom McCabe to deliver greater efficiencies in our budget and therefore more resources to spend on the services that people in Scotland want. He was also involved in the bill to introduce something that I am sure was dear to his heart, if not to the hearts of everybody in the chamber—proportional representation for local authorities. I am sure that the passing of that bill was a proud moment for him and that his work on it has given him great credit not only inside his party, but elsewhere.
The position of Minister for Transport and Telecommunications in the Executive is important, especially because investment in transport in Scotland is greater than it has been for a long time. We have significant numbers of new direct air routes in and out of our country, we see improvements in our roads and railways the length and breadth of Scotland and the Parliament has new powers, for which we take real responsibility. In all those areas, and in others, Tavish Scott will take on a challenging portfolio at an exciting time for transport in Scotland. I hope that he will take on the job with the support of the Parliament after today and with the vigour and determination that I know he wants to bring to it.
I am sure that one of the achievements that we will see in Tavish Scott's time as Minister for Transport and Telecommunications will be something that is particularly dear to my heart—a national free bus concessionary fares scheme for the elderly in Scotland. We are determined to introduce the scheme next spring for the whole of Scotland. Tavish will have that as a key objective in the next 12 months. I am sure that he will remember throughout that time that the Tories attempted to vote the measure down at stage 1 of the Transport (Scotland) Bill; I hope that they will have more sense later this afternoon.
This is a great summer for Scotland. Many things are happening—I am thinking not only of the improvements in our economy and our public services, but of the many exciting things that are increasing the profile of our country internationally. When people come to Scotland as a result, I hope that they enjoy better transport systems because of Tavish Scott's appointment as Minister for Transport and Telecommunications.
I move,
That the Parliament agrees that Tavish Scott be appointed as a Minister.
I assure the First Minister that I will be very agreeable in disagreeing with some of what he has just said.
The purpose of the motion is to appoint Tavish Scott as a minister. I take the opportunity to congratulate Mr Scott on his elevation and to wish him well in the post. I also take the opportunity to congratulate warmly Nicol Stephen on his election as the leader of the Liberal Democrats. Nevertheless, his appointment as Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning raises the most questions for the Parliament today, probably the biggest of which is whether he has the political bottle to demand from Labour the changes that he knows are necessary in Scotland.
Nicol Stephen's manifesto for the leadership of his party makes interesting reading. He said:
"Scotland needs new ideas and fresh thinking."
If I can paraphrase, I think that what he means is that the Government is stale and has run out of ideas. I will certainly second that, but I am afraid that Nicol Stephen, who has been a member of that Government as a minister for the past six years, must take his share of the responsibility. What has he done over those years to bring forward all those new ideas and all that fresh thinking?
Now that Nicol Stephen has a new lease of life, perhaps he will make some amends. I suppose that that is what we want to know today. I hope that he will take the opportunity to answer some questions when he sums up the debate. For example, he says in his manifesto that we need to cut business rates to boost economic growth. The question for him is whether, now that he is in charge of enterprise, he will deliver. He also says that back-door tuition fees should be abolished to help to tackle student debt. We know that student debt now stands at £11,000 on average. Now that he is in charge of lifelong learning, will he deliver and get rid of back-door tuition fees? He says that the Parliament can do more only if it has greater powers. Will he use his influence as Deputy First Minister to demand and secure those extra powers not at some distant point in the future, but here and now, so that the Parliament can get on with delivering for the people whom we serve?
If the answer to those questions is yes, I assure Nicol Stephen that he will find willing, co-operative and very agreeable allies in the Scottish National Party. However, until we know the answer, the jury must remain out on his appointment and, by extension, on that of Tavish Scott.
I echo the sentiments expressed by the First Minister about Jim Wallace, as I did not have the opportunity to do so in the way that I would have liked at First Minister's question time last week. On behalf of all the Tory members, I thank Jim for his contribution to the Parliament and to the Scottish Executive over the past six years as a member and a minister. His commitment and hard work are beyond question, as are his courtesy and good humour to all. I thank him very much indeed.
Frequent ministerial reshuffles are a feature of the Parliament. I am sure that members would be disappointed if I did not comment, as the Conservatives always do on such occasions, on the bloated size of the Scottish Executive. During the recent general election campaign, Charles Kennedy said that the Liberal Democrats at United Kingdom level favoured a Cabinet of Gladstonian size and that we should streamline the administration of government and reduce the scale and scope of its functions. He was quite right, but sadly that exposition of classical liberalism has fallen on deaf ears among his colleagues in the Scottish Parliament.
Six years after the establishment of the Scottish Parliament, 18 Scottish Executive ministers are carrying out the functions that before devolution were exercised by five Scottish Office ministers—we now have nearly four times as many ministers. Moreover, instead of cutting the Government down to size, the Liberal Democrats are gagging for jobs—none more so than Mr Lyon, whose promotion is an overdue reward for six long years of persistent sycophancy. Given the poor example that has been set at the top, is it any wonder that there has been an explosion in the size of the bureaucracy underneath?
Gladstone's great rival, our very own Benjamin Disraeli, described attaining the leadership of a political party as climbing to
"the top of the greasy pole".
Mr Stephen may find that the top of a greasy pole makes for an uncomfortable perch, although it affords the opportunity of a clear view. The issue for Mr Stephen, Mr Scott and the other new ministers is whether they have not just a view, but a vision to take Scotland forward.
Until now, the Liberal Democrats have successfully managed to present themselves as being simultaneously in government and in opposition. They will not enjoy such a luxury in the run-up to the Scottish Parliament elections in 2007. The acid test, particularly in relation to Mr Stephen's enterprise portfolio, will be whether they decide to make an immediate difference to Scottish Executive policy or seek to duck responsibility and delay decisions for tactical advantage.
For example, as Ms Sturgeon correctly pointed out, Mr Stephen made great play in his leadership campaign of his desire for a reduction in business rates in Scotland. The Conservatives in the Parliament have long advocated such a measure, because the abolition of the uniform business rate by the Executive has cost Scottish businesses £839 million during the past five years. If Mr Stephen, Mr Scott and their fellow Liberal Democrats are serious about reducing the burdens on business, Mr Stephen should take the initiative and do so now, as opposed to simply making a manifesto pledge on the matter in 2007. There is no better time than now to give a welcome boost to the Scottish economy. The opportunity should not be wasted and, if Mr Stephen, Mr Scott and their colleagues seize that opportunity, however belatedly, I will be the first to compliment them on doing so.
I thank everyone for their kind words. I also record my thanks for the work and support of Jim Wallace. Members of all parties have been warm in their tributes to him. To spend 22 years as a parliamentarian for such a distant constituency requires a special commitment to political work, which he has demonstrated. He made his first intervention from the back benches during today's statement and he deserves to be thanked for his leadership of the Liberal Democrats in Scotland during the past 13 years and for his huge contribution to the Scottish Parliament in his role as Scotland's first Deputy First Minister.
When I consider previous debates on the appointment of ministers, I think that, back in 2002, John Swinney got it right.
Not for the first time.
I also thank John Swinney for the words of advice on leadership that he gave me the other day. He said in 2002:
"The appointment of ministers to Cabinet office should largely be about who can focus the Government's priorities in order to achieve the Government's objectives."—[Official Report, 8 May 2002; c 11621.]
I have absolutely no doubt that my colleague Tavish Scott will bring that focus and commitment when he joins the Scottish Cabinet. Members of all parties have recognised his recent successful work on relocation policy and licensing and they know that he will bring to the Cabinet drive, determination and energy.
The position of Minister for Transport and Telecommunications is an important one to hold in the Executive. Thanks to our policies, we have seen a switch in spending to public transport on an unprecedented scale and we are building new railways in different parts of Scotland, whereas the history during the Conservative years was one of closure and cuts.
It is always interesting to hear from Mr McLetchie on these occasions. Jim Wallace reminded us last week that, around the Parliament, leaders may come and go but David McLetchie remains the constant. He always has a weary tone when he talks about changes among ministers and spokespeople. He is on less sure ground on this occasion. We might remember James Gray, but how many of us do? I remember his six days in office in May as shadow Secretary of State for Scotland. He was famous mainly for recommending that Mr McLetchie and all his colleagues should be axed. I point out to Mr McLetchie that there were more shadow Secretaries of State for Scotland in one week than there have been Scottish Conservative MPs in each of the past eight years.
Nicola Sturgeon was kind enough to endorse much of my personal manifesto for the Liberal Democrat leadership campaign, for which I thank her. Of course the SNP has made some play of cutting business rates. SNP members often talk about taxation; they have proposed cutting corporation tax, cutting income tax for low earners, cutting whisky duty, cutting fuel duty and cutting council tax. Does that sound familiar? However, the other half of the SNP shadow Cabinet, consistent as ever, summed the position up nicely back in January. After three years when the Liberal Democrats and Labour have reduced business rates in real terms, Christine Grahame told us:
"We need to raise taxes".—[Official Report, 19 January 2005; c 13601.]
The Opposition parties have a lot of work to do. The Parliament should not support their objections to the motion. Tavish Scott will be an excellent minister in the Executive and he deserves the support of the Parliament.
The question is, that motion S2M-3041, in the name of Jack McConnell, on the appointment of a minister, be agreed to. Are we agreed?
No.
There will be a division.
For
Alexander, Ms Wendy (Paisley North) (Lab)
Arbuckle, Mr Andrew (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD)
Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Baker, Richard (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Barrie, Scott (Dunfermline West) (Lab)
Boyack, Sarah (Edinburgh Central) (Lab)
Brankin, Rhona (Midlothian) (Lab)
Brown, Robert (Glasgow) (LD)
Butler, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab)
Chisholm, Malcolm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab)
Craigie, Cathie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab)
Curran, Ms Margaret (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab)
Deacon, Susan (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab)
Eadie, Helen (Dunfermline East) (Lab)
Ferguson, Patricia (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab)
Finnie, Ross (West of Scotland) (LD)
Gillon, Karen (Clydesdale) (Lab)
Glen, Marlyn (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Godman, Trish (West Renfrewshire) (Lab)
Gorrie, Donald (Central Scotland) (LD)
Henry, Hugh (Paisley South) (Lab)
Home Robertson, John (East Lothian) (Lab)
Hughes, Janis (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab)
Jackson, Dr Sylvia (Stirling) (Lab)
Jackson, Gordon (Glasgow Govan) (Lab)
Jamieson, Cathy (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab)
Kerr, Mr Andy (East Kilbride) (Lab)
Lamont, Johann (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab)
Livingstone, Marilyn (Kirkcaldy) (Lab)
Lyon, George (Argyll and Bute) (LD)
Macdonald, Lewis (Aberdeen Central) (Lab)
Macintosh, Mr Kenneth (Eastwood) (Lab)
Maclean, Kate (Dundee West) (Lab)
Macmillan, Maureen (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Martin, Paul (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab)
May, Christine (Central Fife) (Lab)
McAveety, Mr Frank (Glasgow Shettleston) (Lab)
McCabe, Mr Tom (Hamilton South) (Lab)
McConnell, Mr Jack (Motherwell and Wishaw) (Lab)
McMahon, Michael (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab)
McNeil, Mr Duncan (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab)
McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab)
McNulty, Des (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab)
Morrison, Mr Alasdair (Western Isles) (Lab)
Muldoon, Bristow (Livingston) (Lab)
Mulligan, Mrs Mary (Linlithgow) (Lab)
Murray, Dr Elaine (Dumfries) (Lab)
Peacock, Peter (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Peattie, Cathy (Falkirk East) (Lab)
Pringle, Mike (Edinburgh South) (LD)
Purvis, Jeremy (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD)
Radcliffe, Nora (Gordon) (LD)
Robson, Euan (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD)
Rumbles, Mike (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD)
Scott, Tavish (Shetland) (LD)
Smith, Iain (North East Fife) (LD)
Smith, Margaret (Edinburgh West) (LD)
Stephen, Nicol (Aberdeen South) (LD)
Stone, Mr Jamie (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD)
Wallace, Mr Jim (Orkney) (LD)
Whitefield, Karen (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab)
Wilson, Allan (Cunninghame North) (Lab)
Against
Adam, Brian (Aberdeen North) (SNP)
Aitken, Bill (Glasgow) (Con)
Brocklebank, Mr Ted (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Brownlee, Derek (South of Scotland) (Con)
Crawford, Bruce (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP)
Davidson, Mr David (North East Scotland) (Con)
Douglas-Hamilton, Lord James (Lothians) (Con)
Ewing, Fergus (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP)
Ewing, Mrs Margaret (Moray) (SNP)
Fabiani, Linda (Central Scotland) (SNP)
Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Gallie, Phil (South of Scotland) (Con)
Gibson, Rob (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)
Grahame, Christine (South of Scotland) (SNP)
Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green)
Hyslop, Fiona (Lothians) (SNP)
Ingram, Mr Adam (South of Scotland) (SNP)
Johnstone, Alex (North East Scotland) (Con)
Lochhead, Richard (North East Scotland) (SNP)
MacAskill, Mr Kenny (Lothians) (SNP)
Marwick, Tricia (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP)
Mather, Jim (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)
Maxwell, Mr Stewart (West of Scotland) (SNP)
McFee, Mr Bruce (West of Scotland) (SNP)
McLetchie, David (Edinburgh Pentlands) (Con)
Mitchell, Margaret (Central Scotland) (Con)
Morgan, Alasdair (South of Scotland) (SNP)
Neil, Alex (Central Scotland) (SNP)
Robison, Shona (Dundee East) (SNP)
Scanlon, Mary (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Scott, Eleanor (Highlands and Islands) (Green)
Scott, John (Ayr) (Con)
Stevenson, Stewart (Banff and Buchan) (SNP)
Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow) (SNP)
Swinney, Mr John (North Tayside) (SNP)
Tosh, Murray (West of Scotland) (Con)
Welsh, Mr Andrew (Angus) (SNP)
White, Ms Sandra (Glasgow) (SNP)
The result of the division is: For 62, Against 38, Abstentions 0.
Motion agreed to.
That the Parliament agrees that Tavish Scott be appointed as a Minister.