|low graphics version | feedback | help|
|You are in: UK: Scotland|
Friday, 1 September, 2000, 21:02 GMT 22:02 UK
Blair backs education minister
The prime minister has dismissed calls for the resignation of Scottish Education Minister Sam Galbraith over the exams fiasco.
On a visit to Scotland, Tony Blair described Mr Galbraith as "an outstanding minister".
He told BBC Scotland: "Of course people will be very worried and very irritated by what has happened.
"I think it's entirely right that a full and proper apology has been given to people, but I do also say that this authority is at arm's length from the executive.
Asked if Mr Galbraith should resign, Mr Blair said: "I think it would be wrong for him to do so. He has no executive or administrative control over the authority, it's an arm's length body.
"I think his job is obviously to sort it out, but as an education minister, he's done - if you look at the broad swathe of Scottish education in particular the extra investment going in there now - I think he's got many things of which he can be very pleased.
"Sam worked under me for a time as a minister, he's an outstanding minister."
The prime minister is in Scotland for a series of engagements which included visits to Strathclyde Police in Glasgow, chairing a joint ministerial meeting and culminating with a weekend as the guest of the Queen at Balmoral.
Mr Blair attended the first meeting of the reconstituted Drugs Enforcement Forum and was briefed on the work of Scotland's Drug Enforcement Agency by its director Jim Orr.
Moves to make more treatment available for drug offenders are to be extended nationwide in England and Scotland next month.
The scheme is intended to help them break the habit and cut drug-related crime.
Studies suggest this could reduce the number of crimes in England by up to 700,000 with a proportional reduction in Scotland.
Before the orders, some offenders were committing 100 offences a month each.
Research suggests that the orders have helped offenders cut their spending on drugs from £400 a week to £30 a week.
'No soft option'
But Mr Blair stressed: "They are not a soft option and anyone breaching the terms of the order is taken back to court and can be sent to prison instead.
"We are determined to cut crime, help victims, and make our streets and homes safer.
"We need to cut the flow of drugs into Britain and we will continue to pursue those who profit from the human misery caused by drug addiction."
Scotland's First Minister Donald Dewar is hoping that the prime minister's presence will calm the troubles that have beset his administration.
However, opposition parties rounded on Mr Blair after his vote of confidence in Mr Galbraith.
Scottish National Party education spokeswoman, Nicola Sturgeon MSP, said Mr Blair had "completely underestimated" the degree of anger over the exams chaos in Scotland.
She said: "Tony Blair has come up from London to try and ease the pressure on the accident prone education minister.
"The prime minister insists that Sam Galbraith is one of New Labour's finest talents.
"Well the Labour Party must be in dire straits if they are trying to trumpet Galbraith as one of their main assets."
The Tories said Mr Blair sounded like a football chairman praising his manager - just before sacking him.
Education spokesman, Brian Monteith MSP, said: "Surely now the writing is on the wall for Sam Galbraith whose days as education minister are clearly numbered.
"If Sam Galbraith is an 'outstanding minister', then I daren't think what a bad minister would be like."
Later, Mr Blair chaired a meeting in Edinburgh of a joint committee of senior ministers from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to review the progress of devolved government in Britain.
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, Northern Ireland First Minister David Trimble, and Wales First Secretary Rhodri Morgan attended.
After the summit, Mr Blair said parliaments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and regional and local changes in England had strengthened the ability of different parts of the UK to find solutions to their particular needs.
"The achievements of the devolved administrations over the past year is proof of the success of these changes," he said.
The serious business of politics over, Mr Blair and his wife Cherie were due to have a weekend-stay at Balmoral with the Queen.
29 Aug 00 | UK Politics
Blair survives summer unscathed
05 Jun 00 | Scotland
Health decisions 'taken in Scotland'
26 May 00 | Scotland
Brown pledge on poverty
11 Feb 00 | Scotland
Power sharing comes to Edinburgh
11 Dec 99 | Scotland
Power sharing the Brown way
07 Oct 99 | Scotland
SNP attacks devolution 'diktats'
01 Oct 99 | Scotland
Dewar and Reid set out 'ground rules'
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
Top Scotland stories now:
Links to more Scotland stories are at the foot of the page.
Links to more Scotland stories
|^^ Back to top
News Front Page | World | UK | UK Politics | Business | Sci/Tech | Health | Education | Entertainment | Talking Point | In Depth | AudioVideo
To BBC Sport>> | To BBC Weather>>
© MMIII | News Sources | Privacy