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| Clash over 'vulnerable' children | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Labour leader Wendy Alexander has accused the Scottish Government of creating a postcode lottery for disadvantaged children. | |
| She claimed Alex Salmond had abandoned the "poor, weak and dispossessed" by jeopardising £100m previously earmarked for spending on children. | She claimed Alex Salmond had abandoned the "poor, weak and dispossessed" by jeopardising £100m previously earmarked for spending on children. |
| At question time, the first minister said the cash was part of the settlement with local authorities. | At question time, the first minister said the cash was part of the settlement with local authorities. |
| He quoted the Labour president of Cosla, who welcomed the arrangement. | He quoted the Labour president of Cosla, who welcomed the arrangement. |
| The Conservatives raised concern about steps to keep communities safe from predatory sex offenders, while the Liberal Democrats pressed the first minister for a timetable on plans for an alternative to public private partnership (PPP) funding. | The Conservatives raised concern about steps to keep communities safe from predatory sex offenders, while the Liberal Democrats pressed the first minister for a timetable on plans for an alternative to public private partnership (PPP) funding. |
| Speaking in the Scottish Parliament, Ms Alexander hit out at the Scottish Government's decision to end ring-fenced funding, allowing councils to spend money as they saw fit. | Speaking in the Scottish Parliament, Ms Alexander hit out at the Scottish Government's decision to end ring-fenced funding, allowing councils to spend money as they saw fit. |
| Is the first minister content that predatory sex offenders get early release then get out only to breach their release conditions, because I am not Annabel GoldieScottish Tory leader | Is the first minister content that predatory sex offenders get early release then get out only to breach their release conditions, because I am not Annabel GoldieScottish Tory leader |
| Urging Mr Salmond to commit to Labour's pledge of a nursery place for every vulnerable two-year-old, she said: "The truth is that this government is taking the guarantees to the poor the weak and the dispossessed out of the nation's budget and leaving it to chance." | Urging Mr Salmond to commit to Labour's pledge of a nursery place for every vulnerable two-year-old, she said: "The truth is that this government is taking the guarantees to the poor the weak and the dispossessed out of the nation's budget and leaving it to chance." |
| Mr Salmond said Ms Alexander's claims were scaremongering and a slur on councillors - many of them Labour - who welcomed the greater spending freedom given to them. | Mr Salmond said Ms Alexander's claims were scaremongering and a slur on councillors - many of them Labour - who welcomed the greater spending freedom given to them. |
| Early release | Early release |
| "Our plans for nursery education are to increase provision by 50% across the course of this parliament - something that was never even attempted by the previous administration in eight years," he said. | "Our plans for nursery education are to increase provision by 50% across the course of this parliament - something that was never even attempted by the previous administration in eight years," he said. |
| Mr Salmond pointed out that Pat Watters of Cosla, the council umbrella body, had sought to reassure vulnerable groups that removing ring-fencing could lead to better services. | Mr Salmond pointed out that Pat Watters of Cosla, the council umbrella body, had sought to reassure vulnerable groups that removing ring-fencing could lead to better services. |
| Meanwhile, Tory leader Annabel Goldie accused the government of betraying victims and endangering the public, by allowing the early release of prisoners from jail. | Meanwhile, Tory leader Annabel Goldie accused the government of betraying victims and endangering the public, by allowing the early release of prisoners from jail. |
| David McMillan appeared in court over a curfew breach | David McMillan appeared in court over a curfew breach |
| She raised the case of David McMillan, a violent rapist due to be released from prison next month without the extensive safeguards which a sheriff in Perth wanted to place on him. | She raised the case of David McMillan, a violent rapist due to be released from prison next month without the extensive safeguards which a sheriff in Perth wanted to place on him. |
| The 31-year-old, said to pose a "very high risk" of reoffending, appeared in the dock for breaching a curfew, but the court was unable to place him under a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO). | The 31-year-old, said to pose a "very high risk" of reoffending, appeared in the dock for breaching a curfew, but the court was unable to place him under a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO). |
| "Is the first minister content that predatory sex offenders get early release then get out only to breach their release conditions, because I am not," said Miss Goldie. | "Is the first minister content that predatory sex offenders get early release then get out only to breach their release conditions, because I am not," said Miss Goldie. |
| Mr Salmond said he did not believe in a "general scrapping" of the current system, pointing out that his government had decided to rebuild Peterhead Prison, which had done "outstanding work" in keeping communities safe from sex offenders. | Mr Salmond said he did not believe in a "general scrapping" of the current system, pointing out that his government had decided to rebuild Peterhead Prison, which had done "outstanding work" in keeping communities safe from sex offenders. |
| "I think everybody in this chamber will share Annabel Goldie's concern about predatory sex offenders," he told MSPs. | "I think everybody in this chamber will share Annabel Goldie's concern about predatory sex offenders," he told MSPs. |
| Lib Dem leader Nicol Stephen accused ministers of "sneaking out" plans for a Scottish Futures Trust alternative, just before Christmas, adding that they contained "nine excuses" why the trust would not work. | Lib Dem leader Nicol Stephen accused ministers of "sneaking out" plans for a Scottish Futures Trust alternative, just before Christmas, adding that they contained "nine excuses" why the trust would not work. |
| He said: "People don't want excuses first minister. Councils are waiting to get on with building new schools. Projects have ground to a halt." | He said: "People don't want excuses first minister. Councils are waiting to get on with building new schools. Projects have ground to a halt." |
| Mr Salmond insisted the plans would be "light years in advance" of the previous funding method, telling Mr Stephen: "He should go and have a look at the building programmes in Carnoustie and Forfar and he will see schools actually being built at the present moment." | Mr Salmond insisted the plans would be "light years in advance" of the previous funding method, telling Mr Stephen: "He should go and have a look at the building programmes in Carnoustie and Forfar and he will see schools actually being built at the present moment." |