Donald Dewar: I speak to the Secretary of State for Scotland frequently on the telephone; indeed, I spoke to him but a couple of hours ago. However, I might not see him until the Labour Party conference, where I am always glad to have civilised conversation.
Donald Dewar: I concede that waiting lists have increased—we have made that clear. Mr McLetchie might be quoting from an Executive press statement, which would be an improvement on many of his previous sources. If he is, he might want to examine the rest of the statement, which indicates that there has been considerable progress in bringing down waiting times. I remember that on many occasions in the...
Donald Dewar: On waiting times, I remind Mr McLetchie that 43 per cent of patients are treated immediately and never join a waiting list. Of those who have to wait, 46 per cent are seen within a month and 83 per cent are seen within three months—that is encouraging. We would like to improve the situation, but those figures are a corrective against some of the excitable comments that we hear on the issue....
Donald Dewar: I am delighted to see that Mr Neil has been allowed to progress to the second rank. I welcome his question. A comprehensive programme of action is in place for tackling poverty among pensioners in Scotland. That programme includes the minimum income guarantee, with which Mr Neil will be familiar. We calculate that 200,000 Scots can benefit from it; I say can, because we will have to run a...
Donald Dewar: Mr Neil might acknowledge that, because that was an inflation-linked increase, it was a mark of the fact that inflation is very low in this country. Secondly, Mr Neil's figures on Europe are as spurious as many others that he uses.
Donald Dewar: That might be the case if one considers only the basic state pension, but as Mr Neil knows, in the United Kingdom we have a very substantial occupational pension sector, which makes a big difference to the statistics. By 2001, as a result of the budget measures that have just been announced, an average UK pensioner will be some £400 a year better off. A 75-year-old pensioner on the minimum...
Donald Dewar: I welcome the presence of pensioners' delegations in the gallery of Parliament today. I have something of a fellow feeling with them because I will qualify for a state pension in two years. I will tell members a secret—I do not know whether it is an admission or a confession: I am reasonably comfortably off. If anyone tells me that the best way of helping the poor pensioner is to increase...
Donald Dewar: I have enormous sympathy for the point that Malcolm Chisholm makes. It is important that we deal with the self-evident difficulties with the housing stock. It is true that we want to ensure that houses in which pensioners live are properly heated and insulated. We will have something positive to say about that very shortly.
Donald Dewar: Health needs are strongly influenced by deprivation. That is the key factor that is taken into account by the Arbuthnott calculations. The Arbuthnott formula allocates national health service funding to health boards and their local health care partners on what we believe is a more equitable basis. The existing rigorous monitoring arrangements and the annual accountability review will ensure...
Donald Dewar: That is an important consideration. Furthermore, it is vital that we have proper discussion and co-ordination and that we make the best use of this opportunity. If I remember rightly, Patricia Ferguson has direct experience of hospital management and, perhaps, of accounting control in hospitals. We must give a very high priority to those matters. I am proud of the Arbuthnott report and the...
Donald Dewar: I must take refuge in saying that I will write to Kay Ullrich on that. The amount is on the margin; however, that is important in such areas.
Donald Dewar: That sounds right to me. However, I will have to check, as I do not have the figures to hand. The issue is important. For example, Glasgow has been one of the winners and the extra finance that will result will be very welcome, particularly given the difficult period that we face with the health service in Glasgow and the pressing need to alter the profile of hospital provision.
Donald Dewar: Earlier today, I launched the Executive’s wide-ranging plans for creating a Digital Scotland. I stressed that above all there must be digital inclusion to ensure that everyone in Scotland benefits. Much work is already underway: providing access to computers and the web in libraries and community cybercafes; 80% discounts on the costs of basic courses in computers; and learndirect scotland...
Donald Dewar: All our policies for schools are directed towards ensuring that all children in rural areas benefit from school provision of the highest quality.
Donald Dewar: It is true that the oil companies and the protestors have been having discussions. At Grangemouth, there is a suggestion that no lorry can move without the permission of the protestors. That is an interesting and serious situation.
Donald Dewar: rose —
Donald Dewar: No. I am merely anxious to establish what the SNP's position is. Is Mr Salmond advising the protesters to continue their action, or is he joining the large number of people who are increasingly concerned about the situation and asking the protesters to call the action off?
Donald Dewar: rose —
Donald Dewar: Mr Salmond might like to consider that if oil prices vary at that level, they are not a very sound foundation on which to build the case for independence. My point—and it is very important—is that Mr Salmond is giving the impression that he is in favour of a massive reduction in fuel duty. At the most recent meeting of the Scottish Grand Committee, there was a quite definitive statement...
Donald Dewar: rose—
