http://www.robertbrownmsp.org.uk/speecharchive.php Recent Speeches from Robert Brown MSP en-GB Robert Brown MSP http://www.robertbrownmsp.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2010 Robert Brown MSP 2010-07-30T11:21+01:00 United Kingdom http://www.robertbrownmsp.org.uk/speeches/000137/independent_review_of_sheriff_and_jury_procedure.html The review is the latest in a series of reviews of core procedures that have covered civil courts, the High Court and various aspects of procedure. The reviews, which go back to work that was begun after 1999, demonstrate with clarity one reason why the Scottish Parliament was established in the first place-to deal expeditiously with matters that affect domestic legislation and the courts that were difficult to deal with in good time at Westminster. 2010-06-24T00:00+01:00 http://www.robertbrownmsp.org.uk/speeches/000139/glasgow_subway.html This is an important debate, in which the minister's tone and the strength of his commitment in his response will be paid close attention. I pay tribute to Pauline McNeill for securing it. 2010-06-17T00:00+01:00 http://www.robertbrownmsp.org.uk/speeches/000138/poverty_framework.html A lot of good points have been made in this debate. Rightly, Jeremy Purvis said that poverty involves not only money but the wider issues around morbidity, addiction and quality of life. That links in to the point that was made by the minister about issues of multiple deprivation and perhaps explains why there are some differences between the situation in the Borders and the situation in certain parts of Glasgow. 2010-06-17T00:00+01:00 http://www.robertbrownmsp.org.uk/speeches/000140/alcohol_etc_scotland_bill__stage_1.html This has been a high-quality debate in which speakers from across the chamber have engaged effectively with the issues. In concluding for the Liberal Democrats, I recognise the cabinet secretary's powerful opening speech in support of her position, which was trumped only by Ross Finnie's powerful critique of the details of that position. 2010-06-10T00:00+01:00 http://www.robertbrownmsp.org.uk/speeches/000141/student_fees.html It has been a rather odd debate. It is particularly odd that the background to the debate should be a situation that we have inherited from the previous Labour Government, which introduced tuition fees throughout the United Kingdom and top-up fees in England and Wales, and was all set to increase top-up fees had it continued to govern after the recent election. Against that background, it is also rather odd that Karen Whitefield appears to be nit-picking about what the coalition Government in London may or may not do in future. By its nature, coalition government involves an element of coming together of policies from different perspectives and an element of compromise. Neither party in a coalition has the absolute ability to implement policies that, in an ideal world, it would have liked to implement. The Labour Government had none of those difficulties. It had an absolute majority in the Commons, albeit on a minority of the vote in the country, and was able to do what it liked. We saw what it liked, and the country did not like what it saw. 2010-06-03T00:00+01:00 http://www.robertbrownmsp.org.uk/speeches/000136/her_majestys_government_relations.html This has been a good debate, with a lot of interesting contributions, and it will bear rereading afterwards. It is a great pity, however, about the jarring note that we have heard from Margo MacDonald, who seemed to suggest that there is a difference of attitude, philosophy and commitment on the part of those who believe in independence compared to the rest of us, who want either the union in something like its present form or, as we Liberal Democrats wish, a more federal relationship between the countries of this island. 2010-05-27T00:00+01:00 http://www.robertbrownmsp.org.uk/speeches/000134/protection_for_workers.html I begin as others have done, by welcoming the fact that Hugh Henry has raised the issue and acknowledging his long-standing contribution to the arguments about it. It is worth while to go back to the minister's observation that there is consensus in the chamber about the objective that Hugh Henry is seeking, which is to protect public-facing workers. The issue is about the ways in which we do that. As Hugh Henry said, the Liberal Democrats, when in government, supported the passage of the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Bill. That legislation was a focused response to a particular problem. One of the challenges is to determine whether further legislation on the matter would be a focused response or a scattergun response that did not have the same effect. 2010-05-20T00:00+01:00 http://www.robertbrownmsp.org.uk/speeches/000135/high_speed_rail_links.html I was struck by the minister's observation of the potential for high-speed rail to redraw the economic map of the UK. In a way, that is the biggest issue underlying this subject. 2010-05-20T00:00+01:00 http://www.robertbrownmsp.org.uk/speeches/000133/democratic_reform.html We have heard some extraordinary things so far in the debate. Paul Martin cited Fraser Nelson, of all people, in support of his proposition, while Murdo Fraser used the current situation under the first-past-the-post system and the prospect of a minority Government at Westminster as an argument against PR, which seems a bit peculiar to say the least. 2010-04-29T00:00+01:00 http://www.robertbrownmsp.org.uk/speeches/000132/legal_services_scotland_bill__stage_1.html As has been said, the bill raises complex issues. The divided view among solicitors has made assessment of its merits particularly difficult for the Justice Committee. I am bound to say that, although the committee earlier paid tribute, through the convener, to the evidence that the various witnesses gave, the case for the bill was not helped by the highly unimpressive evidence from Which? and the Office of Fair Trading, which, far from establishing the basis for the bill, tended to undermine the case for it substantially. 2010-04-28T00:00+01:00 http://www.robertbrownmsp.org.uk/speeches/000131/veterans_criminal_justice_system.html I join in the congratulations to Angela Constance on her well-worded and appropriate motion, which comes, to some extent, from her professional experience. 2010-04-22T00:00+01:00 http://www.robertbrownmsp.org.uk/speeches/000130/double_jeopardy.html This has been a focused and worthwhile debate on a tricky but significant question. The Scottish Law Commission's work has made a principled approach possible and the Scottish Government is right to follow it up with a consultation. 2010-03-24T00:00+00:00 http://www.robertbrownmsp.org.uk/speeches/000129/serious_and_organised_crime.html We have had many debates in the chamber on crime and criminal justice issues. In terms of the damage that is done, the insidious and corroding effect on communities and the destruction of lives through drugs, trafficking of women or general exploitation, and the consequences of the dominance by serious gangs on certain parts of our national life and economy are in a different league altogether. Today's debate is therefore important. All sides of the chamber are united in trying to ensure that our public response to this scourge is as effective and focused as possible. I think we all support the cabinet secretary's clarion call on the direction of travel. 2010-03-11T00:00+00:00 http://www.robertbrownmsp.org.uk/speeches/000126/factoring_services.html I begin with the point about the complexity of the issue that Mary Scanlon made towards the end of her speech. I agree that today's debate is on a very complex area that has many interlinked issues, as we will see as the debate develops. I pay significant tribute to Patricia Ferguson, whose work on her member's bill proposal has helped us very much to focus the issue by bringing it before the Parliament. I also welcome the minister's desire to move forward on a non-partisan, cross-party basis, which I think is entirely right. 2010-03-04T00:00+00:00 http://www.robertbrownmsp.org.uk/speeches/000127/regeneration.html As I have listened to the debate, I have been struck by just how much knowledge, detailed information and insight is held by members who have particular knowledge of the subject. Obviously I will break the trend, but all the speeches thus far have added significant points. 2010-03-03T00:00+00:00