BUDGET (SCOTLAND) (NO 4) BILL: STAGE 3

Speech delivered on Wed 3rd Feb 2010

Liberal Democrats have been clear from the beginning of the budget process that the overwhelming priority this year, and probably for years to come, must be the economic crisis-jobs, opportunities for young people, support for business, fairness and obtaining a grip on the salaries and bonuses of the top-paid people in the civil and public service.

Liberal Democrats are also well aware that there is a limited public funding pot, although ministers have considerable wriggle room within a budget of more than £30 billion because of the ability to juggle departmental priorities and the additional £58.5 million that is available, as John Swinney announced yesterday. I strongly welcome the additional funding for colleges, the Scottish investment bank and housing and regeneration, which reflect and respond to Liberal Democrat views, but the debate about creating jobs and supporting business includes the justified furore over the cancellation of the Glasgow airport rail link. In that regard, the budget process has been characterised by the SNP's total failure to engage. I am pleased that the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change, who has been absent from that debate, is in the chamber. However, John Swinney will not talk to anyone about the Glasgow airport rail link. Indeed, the SNP Government's highly dubious and obstructive interpretation of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and its failure to release to me and others information on the basis for, or the criteria that were used in, the review of GARL, has put it in the embarrassing position of defying the Scottish Information Commissioner. One would think that sufficient lessons on the reckoning that comes to a Government that obstructs the public release of full information on controversial issues were being played out daily in the television coverage from the Chilcot inquiry.

John Swinney: Mr Brown said that I had spoken to nobody about GARL. Perhaps, for the sake of accuracy, he should acknowledge that I have appeared before the Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee to talk about the subject, met business organisations to discuss it and discussed it with Mr Kerr.

Robert Brown: I am grateful to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth for that intervention but, if I may continue on the line-

John Swinney: The line of GARL.

Robert Brown: The Glasgow airport rail link will not go away. I am given to understand from a friend of mine that in Gaelic "gàrlach" means screaming infant. GARL is a screaming infant from the finance secretary's perspective, because it is an issue that will not go to sleep. The SNP had no justification, on the basis of any public information, for cancelling GARL. Liberal Democrats have recognised from the beginning that in a tighter financial climate it has been necessary to look at the project in a wider compass-the costs, the funding and who pays. Those are all issues to pursue, as some of us have tried to do. The matter has been pursued diligently and intelligently by my colleague Jeremy Purvis at the Finance Committee and by Alison McInnes at the Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee. Our line has been consistent, building on the fact that the project was initiated and backed by two successive Liberal Democrat transport ministers as vital for Scotland.

The Scottish Government needs to engage properly. That does not mean just talking, but engaging, understanding and going forward. It means engaging with stakeholders to find an agreed way forward.

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): Will the member give way?

Robert Brown: No, I am sorry, but I need to make a little progress.

A lack of coherent vision on big transport plans, delay, cancellation and a lack of commitment have characterised the Scottish Government's approach. What is important is that there is no consistent machinery for assessing and ranking key transport projects. There is not even a glimmer as to how the Scottish Government will fund the massive investment in the new Forth crossing. It is a shambles, built on a policy vacuum in a pot stirred about by interference by the finance secretary.

I am not sure that the case for GARL has been particularly helped by the Labour Party. There is, alas, a strong sense that Labour prefers the political advantage, as it sees it, of the SNP being blamed for being anti-Glasgow and anti-GARL, rather than the prospect of getting the Scottish Government back to the table to participate in delivering GARL. With such a project, only full participation by the Government and the Executive machinery will do the trick.

In previous speeches, and in letters to the finance secretary, I have suggested holding some form of round-table discussion with stakeholders and others on a cross-party basis. I make a slightly different, but sincere suggestion that John Swinney establish an independent inquiry into GARL-the Scottish Government seems generally keen on those in relation to other issues-to examine and assess the Government case for cancelling it and the on-going and substantial case for proceeding with it; to look at the potential for cost reduction, perhaps by a change of route to avoid the fuel farm; to look at the possible funding methods and their implications; and to see whether contributions from stakeholders are possible. Will the cabinet secretary establish an inquiry to examine independently whether and how GARL could be delivered?

David Whitton: Will the member take an intervention?

Robert Brown: I am sorry, but I have taken an intervention and I will not take any more during this speech.

Reinstatement of the original funding is not the issue. [Interruption.] Presiding Officer, may I have a little protection from noise?

The Deputy Presiding Officer: Order.

Robert Brown: The issue is whether a design and funding package for GARL that will deliver the project can be reinstated. The inquiry would have to be genuinely independent and suitably expert. My only stipulation is that it should report within a short period. I want to get the Scottish Government off the unnecessary hook on which it has impaled itself.

GARL is important and we want answers from the Government on it. I will listen with interest to the minister's response.

To read the debate in full please click on the link below:

Related Link:

BUDGET (SCOTLAND) (NO 4) BILL: STAGE 3.