First Minister Alex Salmond
Scottish Parliament
May 23, 2007
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Presiding Officer,
After the drama of elections - both national and first ministerial, it is time to get down to business.
Scotland's new politics starts now.
This speech - one designed to outline to Parliament one of the strategic priorities for this Scottish Government - is necessarily different to any which have gone before.
Let's start as we mean to continue - with respect for diversity of opinion.
On behalf of the Government, I intend to lay out what we see as a range of policy initiatives. In doing so, I explicitly recognise that the Parliamentary arithmetic requires those priorities to be a first draft and not a final position.
Good ideas, well researched and well-argued will be welcomed and considered. If the challenge for this Government is to share power with Parliament, then the challenge for the Parliament in return is for every party and every member to remain open to persuasion.
To that end I know that the Business Bureau will wish to co-operate in the five subject debates planned by the Government over the coming weeks in this Chamber.
In this statement today I will focus on the economy and energy. The subject debates, however, will allow parties and members to contribute and influence across the full range of the Government's programme.
This will not be a dogmatic and intransigent government - out of choice as well as necessity. But nor will we account to a dogmatic or intransigent Parliament.
For just as the Government will require to win support from one or more parties to carry a position then so will the opposition parties require to win support from the Government or indeed one or more other parties to carry a position.
I do not favour the mushy ground of false consensus.
The public interest is not served by parties incapable of defining their driving principles and standing their ground.
Politics is either about the competition of ideas or it is about nothing. But just as the public interest is served by that competition, so it is ultimately better served by thoughtful reflection rather just than knee-jerk reaction.
The point, Presiding Officer, is this - before we turn to debating the policies and priorities of this administration my first strategic priority is to see a change in the culture of politics in Scotland.
And ironically, leading a minority administration - rather than one with a thumping majority - is perhaps an enormous advantage in leading that change towards consensus governance.
So in the spirit of that new politics, let me start with something different.
Let us indicate a few of the ideas proposed by other parties in the last campaign which we think have merit and which we are keen to investigate further.
There will certainly be others.
The Liberal Democrats wanted new roles for young people - pledging, for example, to give young people greater influence in decision making. We agree.
The Conservatives focused on law and order - flagging the urgent need for police numbers to rise - they will. In fact the only difference between us on that policy was how far and how fast we could manage it. Moreover, we will examine their proposal to permit District Courts to issue drug treatment and testing orders, and look fully at the ways we can expand drug rehabilitation across Scotland, building on our own manifesto commitments.
Presiding Officer, the Labour manifesto in the last election was not without positive initiatives - the proposals to raise the smoking age and a clampdown on the key social issue of alcohol abuse and sale to those underage, mirrored some of our own thinking. In those areas, as in others, we look forward to working together.
And the Green Party - well they stood on a platform of independence for Scotland and I can guarantee them my full support for that too!
Even more urgently, Presiding Officer, in the election, the Greens and indeed the Liberal Democrats stood, as we did, on a policy of no new nuclear power stations in Scotland
I hope, Presiding Officer, that even the briefest comparison of the party positions shows where we can work together. I hope also that those commitments are taken in the spirit in which they are offered and are suggestive of a new style of Scottish Government.
Let me also say something , Presiding Officer, about my approach to law making. Despite waiting a long time - a very, very long time - to govern, it is not my position that legislative change is always or often the best way to effect change.
In some cases, such as the ban on smoking in public places, positive legislative intervention is in the clear public interest. We will not be slow to use the powers of this Parliament to legislate as and when change is needed.
But what we will not have is a default position which assumes that any problem, however big or small, is resolved through legislation. That is a route which can undermine public confidence. This Parliament must beware of being seen as too intrusive, too interventionist. A Parliament's job is not just to legislate but to debate, to enquire and to understand.
It is time for Government to become more efficient and more creative in the way that decisions are made. Our job in this Chamber is to lead and to persuade, not to impose unnecessary burdens on business, communities and individuals.
Let me take the main themes that will dominate this Government's agenda.
It will come as no surprise to anyone in this chamber that the domestic agenda will be driven by our key manifesto pledges. Those hardly need to be restated this afternoon and has been well understood by all sides, we will rely on the goodwill and judgement of this chamber as we proceed on an issue by issue basis.
But let me try to focus on we can achieve.
The overarching priority of this government is faster and more sustainable economic growth.
Most Governments make that pledge and fail to deliver. Scottish growth over the last ten years has been in the immortal assessment of the Secretary of State for Scotland "disappointing".
We intend to be different.
The health of the Scottish economy underpins all of our priorities in government. A vibrant, dynamic economy is the beating heart of a successful confident nation.
With the support of this chamber, I hope to bring forward changes designed to reward energy and creativity, to encourage entrepreneurial spirit and to create an environment within Scottish business can flourish. Economic success is the pre-requisite of every other Governmental priority - whether a world-class education system, a properly funded and respected National Health Service or getting people into employment as a means of fostering a sense of responsibility and social cohesion.
WE SEE BARRIERS TO BUSINESS AS BARRIERS TO NATIONAL PROGRESS
Businessmen and women throughout Scotland have a huge role to play in this nation's future. Our job as a Government is to make their job easier and not harder.
But that commitment is not without qualification. The second part of that priority is just as important and that is not just to grow the Scottish economy but to allow all of our citizens to benefit from that wealth.
Moreover, we all have a shared interest in making that economic success environmentally sustainable.
The future of the western economies in the coming decades will rest on their capacity to fuel economic growth whilst reducing our impact on the planet. Scotland is not just part of that - in truth we are well placed to be a leader.
Scotland sits at the heart of one of the wealthiest parts of our planet.
In Ireland, to our West; in Iceland, to our North; and in Norway, to our East, we see an arc of prosperity, with these nations sitting at the very top of world quality of life and wealth league tables.
I don't say today that Scotland can be instantly transformed into an economic powerhouse but I do say that if we are to look objectively around us we can learn many lessons about how to make Scotland more successful.
Economic regeneration may not be achieved in the lifetime of this Parliament - in truth the step change required may take a generation before Scotland has tackled some of our economic problems.
But the job of this Government, and this Parliament, is to make our long-term economic underperformance not a matter of political point scoring but rather a legitimate area for mature debate.
This Government believes that it would be economically advantageous for Scotland to be an independent country. Other parties disagree. But as we continue that debate, let us at least agree that this country - our country - has the capacity to become one of the most successful economies on the planet.
In this parliament, I start from the ambition and belief that we can rank among the top 15 most competitive nations in the world - and move to at least match UK growth.
As a starting point, I shall appoint a Council of Economic Advisers to provide independent advice that can help us make the most of the opportunities within the global economy.
This Council will have internationally acclaimed participants analysing, questioning, criticising and suggesting policy in the Scottish national interest.
We have some phenomenal business success stories in Scotland and many individuals who are respected across the globe. But we also have to be open to advice and perspective from abroad - driving economic growth in the modern world is fundamentally more complex than it was even 20 years ago.
We will harness the most impressive academic and business advice to consider the long term position of the Scottish economy. And we will seek the support of this chamber for their recommendations and thus offer the all parties in this chamber the chance to be part of that dynamic process.
Just as Gordon Brown was right to support independence - for the Bank of England - precisely to move economic decision making away solely from political consideration, so too we need to apply a more objective focus to economic policy in Scotland.
The remit and membership of that Council will be outline shortly in a statement to Parliament. However its work is designed to impact on the medium and long term.
In the shorter term we intend to get Scotland's economy moving by working to remove or reduce the burden of business rates from our small businesses, freeing them to grow and create more and better paid jobs. I believe we will have support from at least one other party in this chamber - and perhaps more - for such an approach.
All over Scotland - from North to South, from East to West - small businesses sit at the heart of local economies.
And, with better support I believe they can flourish and help drive the future economic success for our nation.
Moreover even more immediately, I can today confirm the commitment of this Government to remove tolls from the Tay and Forth Bridges. I know and understand that this move is not universally supported in this chamber but I believe that it can carry - as it should carry - majority support.
We shall see.
Presiding Officer, I don't see any necessary contradiction between that desire to see Scotland compete in a higher economic league and the absolute necessity of ensuring that our approach is sustainable.
Our pursuit of economic growth will go hand in hand with our environmental ambitions. That isn't just a principled policy commitment but in the face of the massive climate challenges, it is a moral imperative.
That is why this Parliament will be asked to support a Climate Change Bill setting out ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland.
Scotland will aim to become a global leader in developing solutions to the challenge of climate change.
Crucially, we must take the lead in the green energy revolution. This country has played a hugely influential role in the development of green technology but we need to take that to another level. I want Scotland to become the pre-eminent location for clean energy research and development in Europe.
Becoming a world leader in the development of renewable technology provides a happy marriage of economic advantage and meeting the fundamental challenges of climate change head on.
We have the natural resources, the know-how and the skills for Scotland to become the green energy capital of Europe.
Presiding Officer, given the publication today of the UK Government's White Paper on Energy, it is perhaps appropriate that I now provide a fuller sense of the Scottish Government's position
I listened to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry this morning bemoaning Scotland's energy position and suggesting that without a continuing nuclear contribution at some point the lights might go out in Scotland.
Now of course events are fast moving and it may be that the DTI is not fully up to date with developments in Scotland but let us deal in reality.
At some point in the next few weeks we will reach what I intend to call GREEN ENERGY DAY in Scotland. That is the day at which the installed capacity of renewable generation in Scotland will OVERTAKE the installed capacity of nuclear power.
The current installed capacity of our nuclear stations in 2465 MW. As of today the renewable installed capacity - comprised of hydro, wind, biomass and landfill gas- installed capacity is 2452 MW. In two years time that figure will be a minimum of 3086 MW.
That is not pie in the sky, not plans for the future but the here and now. Let me acknowledge the contribution of the former Deputy First Minister who more than any other Minister in the previous administration recognised the renewable potential of Scotland.
Scotland has a comparative or natural advantage in just about every single renewable technology - existing and developing - wind, wave, offshore wind, tidal, biomass and biofuel. They will take their place along with key initiatives in both energy conservation and microgeneration.
Believe it or not we even have a competitive advantage in solar power not because Scotland is heating up but because we are still relatively cold in the summer but with long hours of daylight!
But despite the claims from the Secretary of State that only nuclear power can fulfil our energy needs, there are other huge alternative opportunities that demand our attention.
Last week, at Longannet, I discussed with Snr Galan, the new Chairman of the Scottish Power, the potential of clean coal technologies both to increase generating efficiency and to help cut Scotland's carbon emissions.
Scottish Power have now launched a feasibility study into the refiring not just of Longannet but of Cockenzie power station. Such an investment on its own would reduce Scottish CO2 emissions by a full 5 per cent and guarantee a long term future for Scottish coal.
And I use the word Scottish advisedly. One of the many , many benefits of such an investment is to enable the use of Scottish sourced coal. One of the other benefits is that the partner company in the feasibility study is Babcocks superheat technogy developed in Renfrew.
But the story does not end there. The plan is to enable the stations for carbon capture. If that technology succeeds then such an investment would cut Scotland's CO2 emissions by a full 20 per cent.
Now of course members may say this is merely a feasibility study. Yes it is but it is a study being conducted by one of the great energy companies of Europe - Iberdrola/, Scottish Power and it has infinitely, infinitely more chance of succeeding than any pie in the sky plan to have new nuclear stations in Scotland which even if we had a Government which wanted them and a Parliament which would allow them could not be up and running until 2020 at the very earliest..
The Chamber will understand that with other carbon capture proposals shortly to come before Ministers I am limited in what I can say about any specific project, even one in the North East of Scotland, even one backed by some of the largest companies on the planet.
But just let me add that this administration is excited and encouraged by the possibility that the world's first hydrogen refinery - with the step change possibilities of an advance into the hydrogen economy and we intend to do all that we can do to help make that vision a reality .
This country - our country - in a unique position to exploit all of these technologies.
I want to see a Scotland that is nuclear free. A Scotland that uses its natural resources and know-how to deliver clean and secure energy supplies. And a Scotland that develops new clean energy technologies that can be exported and used throughout the world.
The task our task is not just to secure Scotland's electricity supplies. This we can do quickly and efficiently but to enable the 20 or 30 GW potential from Scotland and Scottish waters to find a market in those parts of Europe which are energy poor rather than like us energy rich.
The last years have seen the green agenda move from the fringes of the argument to centre stage and let all of us congratulate the Green Party who have been at the cutting edge of that political achievement.
Climate change is one of those rarities - an issue which doesn't just invite cross-party co-operation but which demands it.
It is one of the big challenges of this century - no Government or Parliament worthy of the name can afford to ignore the necessity of radical change.
I have already committed this Government to a Climate Change Bill but as everyone in this chamber knows, legislation alone cannot deliver the step change in our every day living.
We will create a Scotland of improved community and household generation of green energy and focused on investing in and supporting measures to deliver energy efficiency.
Delivering a greener Scotland is now a mainstream commitment for progressive politics in Scotland.
Presiding Officer, I welcome the opportunity to make it a centrepiece of this administration.
Presiding officer, in the weeks to come, my ministers will unveil more detailed proposals which we hope will inspire some new thinking - whether in boosting economic growth, transforming public health, tackling crime or further strengthening the reputation of Scottish education. We will also be making statements to Parliament starting this very afternoon on many of the immediate issues exercising the attention of the country.
But in the time remaining, let me also say that this Parliament will be the most outward looking Government Scotland has ever had. We see, in the European Union, immense opportunity to influence the debate in the Scottish interest - whether that be on energy or on farming, fishing or ferries.
We make no apology for doing so - the international community has watched the emergence of Scotland since 1999 with great interest. Scotland has a rich European history and a deep well of goodwill abroad. This is not a time to be timid in an increasingly global world but rather a time for Scotland to have a voice.
Presiding Officer, there are those who will see in every effort to expand the Scottish interest abroad an attempt to use the office of First Minister as a nationalist pulpit or even a shibboleth!
They are utterly misguided. Those people should perhaps ask themselves whether it is in the Scottish national interest that the concerns of those we represent do not deserve to be heard on an international stage directly from this Parliament. European engagement is critical to Scottish internationalism.
A huge cultural challenge for Scotland is to become more outward looking and more directly engaged in the world around us. It would be a profound failure of leadership not to assist that process by reaching out beyond these shores to build on the excellent initiatives of Henry McLeish in the USA and Jack McConnell in Malawi.
A Scottish Parliament or a Scottish Government which simply cedes that international role to others, in my view diminishes the role and purpose of a national Parliament.
Finally, Presiding Officer, let me say something about the question of Scotland's future constitutional status.
Last week I pledged to act wholly and exclusively in the Scottish national interest. I meant that and I stand by that.
Accordingly, my focus will be on the priorities of making Scotland a wealthier, fairer, healthier and greener place to live. The mandate of the people is for this Government to work immediately within devolved government to deliver on those core domestic policies.
I and my Cabinet Secretaries understand that our job is to work with every member of this Parliament to deliver an improvement in the quality of life for the people of Scotland and to do so with immediate effect.
But that can be done whilst also exploring the next stage in Scotland's constitutional journey. The people of Scotland elected a majority of members who stood on a platform of further constitutional evolution - not all for independence as we and the Greens did but still for change nonetheless.
This Government will explore how best to reflect that reality and engage in a national conversation not just with this Parliament but with the people.
Mr Presiding Officer
Immediate decisions on things that matter, an early opportunity for all parts of this Chamber to engage in the policy debate which will be reflected in our legislative, a Government prepared to listen and learn, a Parliament which will grow in esteem as in importance and a vision for the future which will transcend our experience.
We should all look forward to an exciting journey.