Press Release
9th January 2002
McNeil Welcomes Renewed
Emphasis on Delivery of Public Services
MSP for Greenock & Inverclyde,
Duncan McNeil, has welcomed First Minister, Jack McConnell's
renewed emphasis on the delivery of public services, outlined
today in the Scottish Parliament.
Speaking after the debate on the Scottish Executive's priorities, Mr McNeil said:
"The Labour-led Scottish Executive is dedicated to improving the quality of life of all people in Scotland. This means working in partnership with front line staff in health, education and the police in order to ensure everyone has equal access to the best in Scottish public services.
"This is the time for action, not hot air. We should not be wasting time and energy on fruitless debates about constitutional powers, as our SNP colleagues in the Parliament are determined to do.
"As Jack McConnell said in his speech today, ‘We will put quality public services and building a better Scotland first, using the powers that this parliament, that we believe in, already has. The quality and breadth of our public services is what marks our nation as a decent and civilised society. We must have public services that are excellent, improving, or both – to create the Scotland that is full of opportunity.'"
Reflecting on the progress of the Scottish Parliament to date, Mr McNeil continued:
"One of the major success stories of the Scottish Parliament so far has been in education. We have introduced great improvements through pre-school provision to higher education. I am particularly pleased to see attention now being turned to one of the most vulnerable sections of our society – children in care. It is hugely important that these young people are given every opportunity to achieve in school, ensuring that any disadvantage in their early years is not continued into later life.
"The Scottish Parliament has achieved
a great deal for the people of Scotland – more jobs; more
young people in higher education; a comprehensive review of the
teaching profession; more doctors and nurses in our health
service; more operations and record numbers of police officers.
It is now time to build on these strong foundations. Working
together with the people of Scotland we can succeed."
ENDS
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