Swinney makes G8 cost comparison

John Swinney said the G8 money could eradicate Aids in Malawi

Former Scottish National Party leader John Swinney has said the cost of hosting the G8 summit should have been used to eradicate Aids in Malawi.

Speaking in an amendment to a motion by Tom McCabe which welcomed Scotland hosting the summit, he said the money could be used for a better cause.

Mr Swinney also said policing costs could reach £100m and he wanted to know where the money was coming from.

The G8 summit at Gleneagles will be held from 6 to 8 July.

Mr McCabe's motion at Holyrood welcomed the opportunities of hosting the summit and predicted the Scottish public would be engaged on the theme of Africa and climate change.

The whole G8 summit will cost hundreds of millions of pounds just to put eight world leaders up in a prestigious Scottish hotel John Swinney SNP MSP

The finance minister's motion also said the summit would develop Scotland's international role and showcase it to an international audience.

However, Mr Swinney said the cost of hosting the event should not be forgotten.

"The whole G8 summit will cost hundreds of millions of pounds just to put eight world leaders up in a prestigious Scottish hotel," the MSP for North Tayside said.

'Safe summit'

"If the summit hadn't taken place, those hundreds of millions could have paid for the entire effort required to eradicate HIV/Aids in Malawi.

"Equally it could have transformed the life chances of children in schools and hospitals that had such an effect on the first minister during his trip to Malawi."

Mr Swinney said it was not a question of whether the G8 summit was value for money for the people of Scotland, but if it benefited the poverty-stricken in Africa.

Malawi has problems with Aids and poverty

The finance minister said the G8 summit will not feature water cannon, rubber bullets or stun guns.

Mr McCabe said the summit was a tremendous opportunity for Scotland but added that the "fog of myth and rumour" could easily descend on it.

"First and foremost we must ensure a safe and secure summit which encourages democratic participation without unacceptable behaviour," he added.

"Our country won't become an armed camp at the beginning of July.

"Here in Scotland we celebrate our democracy, our rights and our freedoms. We want to temper enthusiasm with common sense."

Anti-poverty protest

The executive motion was passed by 109 votes to three, with eight abstentions, while the SNP amendment was defeated by 69 votes to 35, with 15 abstentions.

Amendments from the Greens and the Socialists were also defeated.

Before the debate, about 35 anti-poverty protesters gathered outside Holyrood and said the streets of Perthshire belonged to the people.

Raphie De Santos, of campaign group G8 Alternatives, said it expected 100,000 people to gather at Gleneagles during the summit.

Democratic right

"We're going to have our historic right as workers, to march democratically, to state our point of view," he added.

Scottish Socialist leader Colin Fox said it was people's democratic right to protest and he believed most people in Scotland supported the Make Poverty History campaign.

Green MSP Mark Ballard said he was looking forward to demonstrations across the country to mark the G8 summit.

He added: "Protest works, it's a democratic right. Let's have a really great day, a great week in Scotland."