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I appreciate that strong views were expressed to you on that aspect. However, I stress that the interim recognition scheme is, at its heart, about access to rights.
Will that have an impact on people feeling that they are able to express their views democratically? Is there a tension between the legitimate right to freedom of expression—a fundamental human right—and the police’s responsibility to keep us all safe?
Above all, we are lucky to be defined by our freedom of expression and thought. Significantly, our ability to argue from different viewpoints is the cornerstone of respectful debate.
In the context of the risk that patients may be facing in not being given an MRI scan, do you accept that the general view that you have expressed about MRI bringing its own risk should be recognised and balanced against the experience of the patients?
He acknowledged that it is important to listen to views, that some of the fears being expressed “might not come to fruition” and that “the best chance of achieving that outcome will come through having a dialogue about what might happen in the final stages of phase 2 of the review”.
That must underpin whatever we recommend to the Finance Committee and, I hope, what the Finance Committee recommends in turn.I understand what Des McNulty said about the timescale being too short this year.
Questions and Answers
Date answered:
6 November 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will meet COSLA to discuss extending the free school meals entitlement to families in receipt of maximum child tax credit and maximum working tax credit.