As it happened: Tavish Scott live webchat

Good afternoon. Welcome to scotsman.com's live webchat with Tavish Scott, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

Galen Milne
With the Liberal Democrats in Scotland looking to gain at least 4 seats from Labour at the next General Election and the party reportedly well placed to make similar gains in England and Wales, in the event of a "hung parliament" with the Liberal Democrats holding the balance of power, what priorities for Scotland would you be trying to ensure Nick Clegg includes in any deal?

Answer
That's a very fair question about the way politics would be likely to look after the next general election. We would look to maximise Scottish advantage. There's no doubt pressure on the public finances is going to be the biggest challenge north and south of the border so working to tackle that must be a very high priority.

The other main policy are that Liberal Democrats want to see happen is a fair voting system for the Westminster Parliament - Scotland already leads in that area - and I hope Westminster could follow.

Megan
Dear Mr Scott
Is the current projected cost for the new Forth Bridge Crossing reasonable when projects of similar size in other countries come in substantially lower? I ask this due to your previous experience as Transport Minister.

Answer
Megan, what we have at the moment, I assume, is a Government estimate. Whether it's reasonable or not will depend on how many companies want to tender to build this bridge.

I was concerned that the Scottish Government have said that they're going to pay any company expressing an interest their bid cost. That's new to me and I think the commercial sector should pay their own costs themselves. If they win the work, good, if they're not successful that's commercial life.

Scott Dickson
Dear Mr Scott
As one of the founding fathers of the new Licensing Act 2005 are you happy with its final outcome whereby local councils have control over implementing the act, causing huge discrepancies across the country?

Answer
I totally accept that local licensing boards have different regimes in different parts of Scotland - that's as it should be because they have to deal with circumstances in their own areas. I think their is a difference in managing Edinburgh's pub and club city centre nightlife from that of Galashiels or Glenrothes.

I know that can create problems for license holders but Scotland is different and local licensing boards should reflect that.
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:17

Steve Bearson
What would you cut from the Scottish budget to pay for free tuition fees for students?

Answer
We have free tuition fees for students so, thankfully, we don't have to cut anything. I recognise that many students still worry about the level of debt that they will have after they leave university or college, Steve may be in that category, so I think it's important that the Scottish Government do more in that area because they did say they would cancel £2 billion of Scottish student debt so I'd hope they accept they still have a lot to do.

Rebecca
How can the SNP say that they will reduce class sizes when they are losing teachers? What would the Lib Dems do differently?

Answer
Class size targets across Scotland are not working because local councils weren't given the money to build the extra classrooms that would be needed to hit the target. I feel particularly sorry for many probationer teachers who were given the impression that jobs would be available and are struggling to find work. I want to see more emphasis on getting this new generation of bright talented men and women into Scotland's classrooms.

Rory Easter
What plans to the Lib Dems have to improve rural transport? For most rural Scots there is no public transport option (the bus service in the village where I live has been cut so much it's virtually useless) and the car is the only viable option for travel. Fuel duty is used as a nice wee earner for the treasury despite the fact that rising petrol and diesel costs are a crippling burden for people who have no choice but to use their car. What would he do to help people who are being unfairly taxed by this?

Answer
On petrol we would introduce a scheme to specifically help rural motorists based on where they live. That would provide a reduced level of duty and therefore reduce the cost of essential motoring. We've made that suggestion every year to the Labour Government at Westminster and they've turned it down.

I totally recognise that many people across Scotland don't have a car so we've got to find better ways to design local bus services in areas where the market simply won't work.

David Peterson
Dear Mr Scott Surely the best position for parties to take on the issue of an independence referendum is that there will be one when parties supporting independence receive at least 50% of the seats in the Scottish Parliament or even 50% of the popular vote. Wouldn't that be the democratic way of settling the issue?

Answer
Yes

David Gordon
What's your view on the Scottish consortium bidding to buy the TSB?

Answer
I would support a Scottish initiative to bring more competition into Scottish banking, increased lending for business and to keep the economy moving out of recession. I also want to see a split between 'casino' banks that can fail and solid, safe retail and business banks which shouldn't be allowed to.

If Scotland is to rebuild its international reputation we need homegrown banks and effective homegrown financial instutions. So a saltire above the front door must be part of the future

David Gordon
After the recent furore over BBC Question Time, would you be happy to share a platform with the BNP?

Answer
The BNP have no democratic legitimacy in Scotland so I would not here but if I was on a national panel south of the border, where they do unfortunately have MEPs and councillors I would be happy to take on their odious values.

Steve Bearson
What do the Liberal Democrats think about the Audit Scotland report released yesterday?

Answer
Steve, it is a wake up call to all of Holyrood, we're going to have to live within our means and that will mean hard decisions.
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:27
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4:27


(Comment From Callum RoxburghCallum Roxburgh: ]
If your party loses seats at the coming general election because of its opposition to allowing the people a say on their constitutional future through a referendum will you rethink this strategy.
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:27 Callum Roxburgh
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4:28

I hope we're going to gain seats because this election is going to be about Labour's recession and the way in which they've handled the economy in recent times. The Liberal Democrats with Vince Cable on the economy have offered something better and I hope people will respond positively to that.
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:28
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4:28


(Comment From AlexAlex: ]
I understand the LIb Dems oppose the SNP Government's proposal to convene a national police board and their 'one-size-fits-all' approach. At the moment there is a shared recruitment pilot where all applications are processed centrally. If this pilot became the standard recruitment process would you endorse it on the ground that new recruits would still essentially be part of a local force area or would you encourage forces to regain control of their own recruitement once again? Are we already on the 'slippery slope'?
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:28 Alex
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4:29

I want to see our effective local police forces with the autonomy they need to respond to the local communities they serve. I will look into the recruitment issue because I don't know about it.
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:29
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4:30


(Comment From Malcolm ColeMalcolm Cole: ]
Under Labour the gap between rich and poor has got worse. What would you do to turn that around?
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:30 Malcolm Cole
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4:31

Malcom, we need fairness in our taxation system and Lib Dems would take the lowest paid in Scotland out of tax altogether by closing tax loopholes for the rich - that would be a start in redressing the balance of taxation.
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:31
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4:31


(Comment From ClaireClaire: ]
what do you think about the SNP's plans for minimum pricing of alcohol? Do you agree that responsible drinkers on low incomes (like me!) should suffer because of a minority of trouble-makers?
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:31 Claire
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4:33

We all accept across political parties that Scotland does have a dependence on alcohol but I don't think minimum pricing will work. If you want to change people's behaviour - in other words cut down how much they drink - Government would have to impose a much higher price on a unit of alcohol and I don't see any politician prepared to take that unpopular step.

We should use the legislation Parliament's just passed and vigorously enforce it. Let's use the tools we have effectively rather than coming up with new ones.
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:33
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4:33


(Comment From EwanEwan: ]
Why are the Lib Dems a more viable alternative to the Conservatives for the people of Glasgow North East?
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:33 Ewan
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4:34

Ewan, Eileen Baxendale has years of experience in tackling the social problems that I've found when visiting the constituency. She's full of ideas about how to help people and I think she's the kind of person who would be an asset to Glasgow North East in the Commons.
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:34
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4:34


(Comment From miamia: ]
Mr Scott, do you agree with me that Scotland's water in public hands will be a profitable export resource for the future good of Scotland, and should not be taken out of 'full' public control?
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:34 mia
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4:35

Yes but I would mutualise Scottish Water which would retain the public interest but mean that the business could borrow badly needed money to invest rather than depending on the Government for its money.
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:35
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4:35


(Comment From David GordonDavid Gordon: ]
Do you agree that the Westminster expenses saga has had a damaging effect on the way the public view politicians in general, and is not consigned to London?
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:35 David Gordon
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4:36

Yes, David, I'm pleased my party and Nick Clegg led the calls to implement the independent report on cleaning the system up in full. I hope that can begin the process of building confidence in politics and politicians.

The Scottish Parliament has seen many of its practices, including the complete transparency of our system, copied by Westminster.
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:36
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4:36


(Comment From ali edinburghali edinburgh: ]
Do you think Edinburgh will pull through this finacial down turn and what will your party do to help
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:36 ali edinburgh
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4:38

Yes - because capital cities have the advantage of being exactly that - capital. There's so much more going on in Edinburgh which can build confidence for the future. It's an internationally recognised city for visitors, business and international conferences and that market continues to grow.

My colleagues on the city council are working hard to present the positives Edinburgh has to the world and I will strongly support them in that work.
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:38
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4:38


(Comment From David Jay, LeithDavid Jay, Leith: ]
Do you think your Party is attracting enough interesting candidates from outsie traditional local party structures?
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:38 David Jay, Leith
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4:40

No. I think one of the challenges for all politicians, particularly after an expenses scandal, is to demonstrate why politics is a relevant and exciting profession to be in. If more people came forward looking to be councillors, MSPs and MPs from different backgrounds, including ethnic minorities, it's something I feel is very important and I am working hard on.
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:40
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4:41


(Comment From GuestGuest: ]
What is your policy on the Scottish fishing industry?
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:41 Guest
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4:42

Parliament is debating fisheries as we speak and I want to see a vital Scottish industry supported by politicians of all parties at this really tough time. We need to ensure that the negotiations in Brussels, which take place at Christmas, do not further damage the fleet and that's the biggest test for all of us at this time.

If the Scottish Government achieve that they will have my full support.
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:42
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4:42


(Comment From Mary McSherryMary McSherry: ]
How much clear water are you prepared to pt between yourselves and the other main parties over their vacillating and suspicious policies on making the EU work well?
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:42 Mary McSherry
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4:44

The EU is now so big and involved in so many areas that I worry it becomes unworkable. It should decide the things it can do effectively that cross international borders and get out of other policy areas that are best dealt with at a UK, Scottish or local government level.
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:44
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4:44


(Comment From EmmieEmmie: ]
What's been the biggest failure of the SNP government?
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:44 Emmie
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4:45

I am disappointed that they didn't introduce legislation to abolish the unfair council tax. I wanted to discuss with them the best way to achieve that but they didn't give Parliament the chance.

We still need to make that change away from a tax which doesn't work so I think they just put off a hard decision.
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:45
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4:45


(Comment From EmmaEmma: ]
There is a lot of apathy surrounding politics, especially amongst young people. What would you do to engage more young folk in politics? And politicians spend a lot of time at the Parliament discussing things, and seem out of touch with reality. Are you making any effort to engage with people outside the political bubble?
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:45 Emma
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4:47

I spend a lot of time meeting people going about their everyday lives, both in my Shetland constituency and across Scotland, so I keep as close as I can to the reality of life. That's why I've raised in Parliament the gas and electricity prices we're paying and the cost of living.

More students have joined the LIb Dems at universities and colleges this year than ever before across Scotland, so we're doing our best as a party to listen to young people's views.
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:47
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4:47


(Comment From JohnJohn: ]
Did you support the recent groundbreaking event where the UK Youth Parliament debated in the House of Commons? This included a strong delegation from the Scottish Youth Parliament and i wondered what role you envisage YP to play in this country following the Lib Dem 07 Future of Scotland Bill in your manifesto?
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:47 John
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4:49

John - it was great to see young people debating in the house of commons. We hope to take our bill proposals forward. I value the Scottish Youth Parliament and have held constituency advice sessions with Shetland's representatives in the Parliament back home.
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:49
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4:49


(Comment From JoeJoe: ]
Who do you think will win XFactor?
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:49 Joe
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4:49

Unfortunately the two who can't sing which will make Louis really happy and the rest of us utterly distraught but the public are the king.
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:49
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4:50



Mr Scott, the McCrone report said that if we gained indepedence we would have an embarrassing surplus and one of the strongest currencies in Europe, since then we have been told this is not the case but that is using a "per capita" share of the oil revenues. The true figures are geographic which would confirm McCrone's opinion. Do you agree? And if so, why do you still support the union?
Mark McCann



Statistics on what oil does to the Scottish economy are traded, unfortunately, like political insults at First Minister's Questions. The SNP talked this analysis up when oil prices are high and say less when oil prices fall. It's difficult to see how we can base such a huge decision just on the fluctuations of crude oil.




(Comment From EmmieEmmie: ]
Hi Tavish, what's been the highlight of your political career?
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:51 Emmie
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4:52


(Comment From Malcolm ColeMalcolm Cole: ]
Billions have been spent on bailing out the banks. What have we got to show for it?
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:52 Malcolm Cole
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4:52

The official opening of Parliament in 1999 was a day that I will never forget. I never thought I'd be in a parliament and it's a fantastic honour to be part of the extraordinary and always-changing world that is Scottish politics while serving the people who put me here.
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:52
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4:54

There is less competition; we face public sector cuts and higher taxes but the Government had no alternative but to keep the banks afloat so it was the worst of all worlds. Few who were responsible within the banks appear to have lost their jobs and have soon got other ones yet the ordinary taxpayer will pay through the nose for years to come. It cannot be allowed to happen again.
Thursday November 5, 2009 4:54
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4:56

Unfortunately Mr Scott has to return to Holyrood for a 5pm vote. Thanks for all your contributions.