Live webchat with Scotland's first minister Alex Salmond, Tues 15 Feb, 1-2pm

[GeraldineMumsnet]

Scotland's first minister Alex Salmond is our guest for a live webchat on Tues 15 Feb.

Mr Salmond, who is MSP for Gordon, was first elected as MP for Banff and Buchan in 1987, and went on to become leader of the SNP in 2004 and an MSP in May 2007. He stood down as a Westminster MP in the last General Election to concentrate on his role as first minister.

His minority government has just got its final budget before the Scottish elections through the Scottish parliament, after striking a deal with the Lib Dems to boost student funding.

When he's not working, Mr Salmond enjoys horse racing, football, golf and reading.

We're very pleased to welcome him to Mumsnet. Please come and put your questions or, if you can't join him on Tues lunchtime at 1pm, post your question on this thread, as per usual.

Thanks
MNHQ

What have you found to be the greatest challenge in working in a minority government and what have you most regretted not being able to get through the Scottish Parliament?

PS My Dad, previously a lifelong Labour supporter (unusually for a medical doctor!) has been extremely impressed by you (he loves the way that you demolish ill-prepared interviewers like Jon Snow) and has turned his back on Labour (he's never forgiven them for Iraq). :)

I absolutely LOVE visiting the Scottish Parliament, the views from the upper floors are fab, it's just a great building. The staff are all fantastic as well.

What's your favourite area or room in the Parliament and do you ever contemplate in your pod???

Mr Salmond,

Are the Scottish Highlands part of the UK?

Why are many areas penalised by having to pay extra postage? Surely this is discrimination?

Nice to see you on here Mr Salmond!
I've been voting SNP since the nineties as i thought you were the best looking candidate!
I also thing the SNP have been doing a fab job lately, well done on the budget!
Any chance of getting the Labour run Glasgow City Council to build a shiny new Physical Impairment school to replace the damp, dry rot ridden dump they chose to move my sons school into? Its playing havoc with his Chronic Lung disease
I know you cant get involved with council stuff but any input much appreciated!

Testing, testing

I know I've already had my question but my husband wants to ask why sport is not compulsory at school? I know that they have to have 2 hours of PE - but if PE can include "drama" (as it does at ds' school), it is not sport.

Has anyone asked any questions about this thread?

Like the SNP yellow, MNHQ! Are all parties on webchats going to have their own colours now?

Hello all, Alex is here and we're just getting sorted with all round.

Raring to go (and on very tight schedule) so we'll probably start a few minutes early.

Thanks to everyone who has posted questions.

Yay, Havering!

(BTW: I've voted SNP ever since Nicola door-stepped us during the lection campaign where she nearly managed to beat Sarwar (of the dodgy blue plastic bags). Anyone who is prepared to debate convincingly with dh is to be admired!

Hi Mr Salmond

What would you suggest I do as a senior NHS manager who is at risk of losing my job?

I have a Masters in Healthcare and ten years NHS experience? What would you suggest that I do next?

Thanks

yes, rhadegunde, that would be a truly revolutionary step for scotland, imo.

just wanted to say keep funding those Gaidhlig schools, Eck! my dd is at one and we couldn't be happier with the community life at the school (as well as the education, obviously).

however, cuts to the gaidhlig programme in general are a worry, it seems a very soft target but it is essential for Scotland that we do not let this language die out on our watch. feasgar math!

Hello Mr Salmond. I'd like to know what your views are about the future of the centre for excellence in traditional music up at Plockton. I think Highland Council are a disgrace. Sorry this is a bit parochial, but I'm raging about possiblity that the centre may be forced to close. Oh, and please do tell us your favourite biscuit, as if you don't it'll be all over the papers tomorrow .

Welcome Mr Salmond,

I would also like ask about the area classifications of the Highlands.

I moved to Morayshire from nearby Glasgow in 2006 and have found that even though the area itself is not secluded in anyway that many businesses seem to exclude this from Mainland UK so therefore do not deliver or charge rediculous prices for slow delivery, Can you explain why this is?

Also as a first time voter last year I did cast my vote for the SNP as I think our local candidate was, and is, really down to earth and seems surprisingly genuine for an MP (no offence ). I am glad to say that in our area he won.

Anyway my question would be could you explain to someone who knows nothing about politics (I.E me..) what exactly the Scottish government takes control of rather than the 'British' government as I have always been slightly unclear about this?

Oh and any news about RAF Lossiemouth?

Yes yes I know 3 questions... what can I say, I'm inquisitive :o

Why is the Scottish Government refurbishing schools and yet still failing to include a kitchen, for preparing school lunches on site or facilities for after school cookery clubs? Surely, simple food skills and nutrition fits neatly into Health and Well Being (Curriculum For Excellence)
www.spectator.co.uk/scoff/articles/5577388/home-economy.thtml

@FromGirders

Hello Mr Salmond, and thank you for taking the time to come and chat with us.

There have been loads of specific questions asked, all good ones. I wonder if you could answer a more general question for me.

Could you please clarify for me: what is Scotland's financial contribution towards the Westminster government and what do we receive back in various funding? And where could i find documentary evidence to back that up please? (Just give me a starter for a Google search even).

So that I can start arguing back more effectively when dear friends and acquaintances tell me that "England pays for all you Jocks with loads of big subsidies".

Thank you so much.

(I'm sure your will be a Tunnock's?)

I'm Alex Salmond, I'm looking forward to lots of questions from Mumsnet, I'll try to give quick and reasonably honest answers.
I'll start with FromGirders. You're right about the Tunnocks! Plain chocolate caramel wafers, although caramel logs are pretty good as well. Unfortunately MNHQ are offering me neither! On your question, the Scottish government publishes a full account of expenditure and revenue each year. The last three years have shown Scotland in surplus, relative to the UK. You'll find it on the Scottish government website under GERS. On being proud to be in Scotland because of free personal care, and free education, then so am I, and the rocks will melt the sun before I'll allow any change to these progressive policies from the Scots parliament.

he's going to have to say shortbread, cammo's already gone for the oatcake. (to which i say an oatcake is not a biscuit)

@Mumtolittlemonkey

Hi
I think its really great to see a Scot politician on here, I've never posted before but am today!

Where to start...

1. How much would my Council tax have to go up by to keep all these classroom assistants and milk that the papers are talking about? Its pretty high already..

1. What would be the benefits of being an independent country be to someone like me?

1. We've had to get rid of one car because of the high fuel prices, which means having to take the bus, meaning I get home even later and spend even less time with my son. What can you do to lower fuel prices and when will it happen?

That's all for now!
Susie
Dunfermline

Mumtolittlemonkey, it?s clear we need more Scots politicians on Mumsnet and I am happy to start the ball rolling. My earlier answers on council tax will hopefully answer your question on that subject. And as for the other issues you raise - independence and fuel prices - well, let's take them together. It is nothing short of a scandal that Scotland is one of Europe's major oil producers and yet our motorists pay some of the very highest prices at the pumps in the whole of the Continent. Independence would certainly allow us to address that anomaly. But in the meantime we will continue to press the UK Government to introduce a fuel duty regulator to keep pump prices under control, because for many of Scotland's remote and rural communities these fuel price rises are rapidly becoming unsustainable. And it's not as if the Treasury isn't in a position to help - rising world oil prices mean they are set to rake in an extra £2 billion or so over the next year, on top of what they had expected to earn from North Sea oil.

ah, tunnocks. vg. fae uddie.

i would like to know the specifics of the contributions, though. whenever we talk about independence here, a load of snooty mares from engerland start hooting that they pay our wages, so to speak. but my understanding is that this is more complex when you take into account monies that we as individuals pay directly to westminster, such as road tax etc.

@soupmaker

Hello Mr Salmond. I'd like to know what your views are about the future of the centre for excellence in traditional music up at Plockton. I think Highland Council are a disgrace. Sorry this is a bit parochial, but I'm raging about possiblity that the centre may be forced to close. Oh, and please do tell us your favourite biscuit, as if you don't it'll be all over the papers tomorrow .

Soupmaker, I don't think the situation at Plockton, the specialist school for music covering the Highlands and Islands, is at all parochial. I regard it as a vital national resource, which must be maintained and what I can say is that Michael Russell, minister for education is meeting with the local MSP John Farqhar Munro and I hope we will soon be able to make an announcement which will protect this wonderful facility.

more paras please,mr s. hard to read your answers. (she says, as an ardent non-capitaliser).

Aitch, I believe oatcakes are biscuits as they go soft when they go off - not that an oatcake really goes off!