The Scottish Government

The Scottish Government - one year on

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

A year in Government is a long time, believe me. But when you are at the heart of it all, the time really flies.

There genuinely is so much to do, and so little time in which to do it.

But as we celebrate the first anniversary of the election that brought this Government to power we can look back with a sense of satisfaction on some significant achievements.

• Keeping health services local and retaining A&E units at Ayr and Monklands
• Reducing prescription fees
• Cutting business rates
• Ending tolls on all road bridges
• Restoring the principle of free education

Looking ahead, this Government faces challenges and opportunities in equal measure. Everything we do is aimed at making Scotland's economy grow. We have a coherent economic strategy in place, and an agreed Budget.

The concordats agreed with local government have allowed us to freeze Council Tax this year, but the radical proposals for a Local Income Tax should mean a fairer deal for all - based on ability to pay.

Big infrastructure improvements are planned at the new Forth crossing and the Aberdeen by-pass while we are going ahead with the building of a new hospital in the south of Glasgow

Someone will win the £10 million Saltire Prize, the world's leading initiative on marine renewable energy, and when that happens it will be another small victory in the war against the effects of climate change.

And economic health cannot be divorced from the physical health of the nation. There is a pressing need to tackle Scotland's chronic alcohol problem and the emerging epidemic of childhood obesity.

Not least amongst all these things is the ongoing National Conversation on Scotland's constitutional future that has been played out on these pages and elsewhere over the last nine months.

This Government was elected because it had a positive vision of the future. For the voters it was an act of trust, and we want to repay that trust by renewing our commitment to serve the public interest.

Ultimately, it is the people who will decide what kind of country they want to live in, and what kind of Government there will be.

In my previous blog I wrote that being a member of this Government had convinced me more than ever of the need for change to allow Scotland to fulfil her ambition and potential.

The election a year ago was the a first step towards that necessary change. It has been a long journey since then, but a quick one, and a rewarding one.

The coming year will be another step along the way. The time really is flying.

Comments

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• 31. Under 21 - Edinburgh

  Monday, June 16, 2008 16:17

  One year on. Sad to say, despite the other achievements to date, that this will be one year down and only 3 to go in what will be a single term of SNP 'rule'. Myself and all the other under 21s out there who voted you in, will vote you right out again if you raise the age of purchase of alcohol to 21. Bad, bad mistake. Leave the beer alone and get on with some more of the good stuff.

• 32. Kev - Edinburgh

  Wednesday, June 18, 2008 15:24

  
  
  I'm all for raising the age to over 21, should have been done a long time ago, and mind its only in the shops, you want to drink go to a pub.
  I've had enough of teenage drunks roaming the streets.
  
  What I do object to is any attempt to increase price or limit consumer choice and availability of special offers.
  
  Any government may offer advise but no government should or will limited my choice or force me to drink less that what I deem expectable to me.
  
  Regards
  
  

• 33. Increased prices for alcohol? A joke or what? - Fife

  Thursday, June 26, 2008 20:58

  #32
  
  Can you remember that last increase in alcohol duty when Tesco REDUCED the cost of wines, spirits etc? Who is to say that the cost of a bottle of wine is half price when it's reduced from &7.99 to £3.99 other than the word of the supplier and retailer? The price quoted is a R(ecommended) R(etail) P(rice) (RRP) and has nothing to do with the price paid by the retailer to the supplier, only a best guess at what the buyer would expect to pay for a wine of the grade supplied. I have said before, and I'll say it again, trying to stop the sale of cheap booze will like Canute trying to stop the tide. The difference is that Canute knew that it was impossible to stop the tide and wished to humiliate his courtiers who hoped to flatter him and gain favours. Our Justice Minister actually believes he can stop the sale of booze to under age (21 years?) drinkers. One problem might be that many of the under age drinkers get their 6 - pack from Mum and Dad before they head out for the night, the next problem may be that the RRP will be reduced to reflect the production costs and fall by 50% so the BOGOF offers will not be required or the 'half price' will be withdrawn in favour of the actual price, (the same as it was before!!). If that doesn't work then do we erect border crossings to stop cheap booze being bought in Carlisle and brought over the border?
  
  Just implement the laws we already have and punish offenders instead of looking for headlines!

• 34. Thomas Porter - Scotland, Aberdeen

  Friday, June 27, 2008 15:37

  #33
  
  I don't think 18-21 were the targets. The aim was to stop the flow of alcohol to the younger children by stopping their slightly older 18 year old mates buying their alcohol.
  
  Just a thought.
  
  "Just implement the laws we already have and punish offenders instead of looking for headlines!"
  
  Get over yourself. It is up to the Police to enforce the Laws. The Government only passes them.
  

• 35. We already have the laws - Fife

  Monday, June 30, 2008 15:18

  #34
  
  The laws are in place, the retailers who are supplying booze to underage customers have already been caught but not prosecuted. I would have thought that a Justice Minister who can set up a raid on the home of an airline stewardess and find miniature bottles of spirits, (and report it to her employer), could make use of the same police force to enforce the law, and use the courts to punish the offenders.
  
  If we can find the culprits, including parents who buy alcohol for their under age offspring, why not use our existing laws? Surely an enforcement of our existing legislation would be a much more efficient use of our resources than introducing more legislation.
  

• 36. Broken Promises -

  Wednesday, July 2, 2008 13:40

  As a teenager, a Scottish/British soldier in Afghanistan or Iraq
  
  Can drive
  Can vote
  Can serve, fight (and die) for one's country
  
  but
  
  Can't buy alcohol to wind down with his/her friends and family on leave.
  
  Madness.

• 37. JH - West Lothian

  Tuesday, July 15, 2008 20:40

  The no alcohol to under 21s was trailed in Armadale, West Lothian.
  
  I was skeptical and saw no benefit to a situation where if under 21 you could get alcohol from a pub but not from the offy.
  
  However being a resident of Armadale I can honestly say that it has been a resounding success. The streets are safer, you are less likely to be verbally abused or other wise and it gives the town an altogether better atmosphere of an evening.
  
  The under 21s may not be chuffed but you can't argue with the evidence.
  
  Unfortunately there will be those who are not happy with the situation. Those opposed to the SNP and especially the under 21s. This may harm our efforts.
  
  I'd say we have made our point that the irresponsible use of alcohol is a big issue.
  
  For this reason I'd like to see the SNP use this situation to obtain support to allow mandatory community service orders and or fines, make them work for the good of the community and hit them where it hurts...in the pocket.
  
  These could be applied to:
  1) People buying drink for those under age to knock that habit on the head.
  2) For the parents of under age drinkers who commit crimes, bring it right back home and involve the parents.
  3) Hit the licensee in the pocket...the licensee should lose thier license for good and work a community service order. Would the thought of no license serve as a deterrent...I think so).
  
  Then make the age for buying from any establishment the same for all purchasers.
  
  
  

• 38. Dave Eastabrook - Largs, Ayrshire

  Saturday, July 26, 2008 00:04

  Don't know whether anyone else has noticed, but it seems to me that over the last few months STV and BBC Scotland have adopted a more neutral tone to the SNP and perhaps even a positive one, and have also moved to being more interested in Scotland, Scottish affairs and the Scottish point of view. To be blunt, some of the programs I've seen have been quite biased in favour of Scotland (and a little anti-Union). Hooray!
  
  Perhaps a sign that "they" are preparing for their future in an independent Scotland and ensuring their jobs are safe ...

• 39. Dave Eastabrook - Largs, Ayrshire

  Saturday, July 26, 2008 00:38

  It's "mad fortnight" - when there's the Glasgow Fair fortnight and the start of the English school holidays. Yet Thursday I had my pick of B&Bs on Skye at 2000, and passed back through a Fort William (on my way back from a quiet Torridon and Applecross) where half the B&Bs at 1900 had vacancies. And the roads were half empty, except for a good number this year of foreign reg cars taking advantage of the low pound against the euro. I also should be frantically keeping up with demand - but instead have time to write this comment. Sad news indeed!
  
  Fuel prices have been blamed before for a decline in tourism (and high prices!), but this year it clearly is having a large effect. Yet fuel prices in Fort William are actually lower than in Greenock, and have been for months. VisitScotland should be publicising this and also publicising the easy availability of accomodation for both passing and advance booking tourists. Not just Visit Scotland members paying extorionate annual fees and booking fees. (VisitScotland should actually be scrapped as being totally self-serving, but that's another matter, bring back the STB).
  
  As I understand it tourism is still 10% of Scotland's GDP, and can / should also lead to export business (including the rest of the UK), for native businesses. But our own government scarcely gives it a thought.
  
  Firstly what is needed is a level playing field for rural - and urban - businesses to compete with each other and the rest of the UK. This can perhaps be only done with subsidies. The best rural subsidy could be to equalise the price of fuel getting to large and small petrol stations, near and far. Also perhaps to equalise prices for couriers within Scotland by subsidising "Highlands and Islands" where courier deliveries and collections cost substantially more. I don't know what is appropriate for the likes of Glasgow - I do remember that in the days of Strathclyde Region ratepayers in Largs / Ayrshire subsidised Glasgow with little complaint. Good shopping, pubs, night clubs and curries in Glasgow!
  
  A big referendum winner for the SNP could be to promise to slash fuel duty to 50% of its present extortionate value. Give me some warning and I'll borrow money to buy up border petrol stations.
  
  For this and other ideas and views, perhaps the Scottish Government should try consulting with small businesses throughout Scotland which absorb rising costs, EU bureaucratic and uneducated garbage and daily struggle for their/our existence, while maintaining quality and service; rather than just consulting with the CBI which represents only 2% of Scotland's businesses.
  
  Oh - and help preserve rural communities by encouraging community buyouts for shops and petrol stations.
  
  Sorry, probably more than 500 words :-(

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