Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 11 December 2012
11 Dec 2012 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Role of Science in Public Policy
Does the member acknowledge that the benefit that Scotland reaps in research funding is due not to any act of charity but to the excellence of Scottish institutions?
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-05154, in the name of Alasdair Allan, on the role of scientific evidence in advice on public policy. Mich...
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning (Michael Russell)
SNP
My speaking notes start with the following observation:“We all make decisions every day. Those decisions are based on what we know and what we think we know....
Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
I ask the cabinet secretary to confirm that the meeting that he and I were supposed to be having at this very minute is, therefore, postponed.
Michael Russell
SNP
I am happy to say that it is not postponed and the member is now late for it. My officials are leading that meeting and, with the permission of the chamber, ...
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD)
LD
I certainly agree with all that the cabinet secretary said about Marine Scotland and scientific advice. However, I point out the danger that, sometimes, ther...
Michael Russell
SNP
I very much agree with Liam McArthur. As the environment minister, I dealt with aspects of the fisheries portfolio, and he puts his finger on a key issue: al...
Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
I entirely agree with the cabinet secretary, but the response to the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine demonstrated a divergence between public opinion, whi...
Michael Russell
SNP
The member makes an important point. I was just about to talk about the sciencewise expert resource centre for public dialogue in science and innovation, whi...
Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
Not me.
Michael Russell
SNP
It was not Mr Findlay, apparently. He is unable to decide whose evidence he can support: mine or that which is still to come from Dr Allan. I am sure that Mr...
Michael Russell
SNP
The objections from Labour members to support for the Tory amendment are quite extraordinary. The evidence base shows that they always support the Tory party...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Thank you, cabinet secretary. I think that we are all very pleased to see Dr Allan.I call Neil Findlay to speak to and move amendment S4M-05154.2. Mr Findlay...
Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome Dr Allan, who has just parachuted in from afar.Science plays a vital role in influencing all that we do as a society and a central part in supporti...
Elaine Murray (Dumfriesshire) (Lab)
Lab
I wonder why Mr Findlay did not include in that list Mary Fairfax Somerville, after whom committee room 2 is named. She was a well-known female Scottish scie...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I thank the member for that intervention. What do you have to say, Mr Findlay?
Neil Findlay
Lab
I thank Dr Murray for that question—I believe that she was a scientist herself. However, I was referring to the list of the top 10 members of the Scottish sc...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
I strongly agree with the member’s point about the need to attract and retain women in STEM subjects, but I am curious about why, in neither his amendment no...
Neil Findlay
Lab
I will come on to that. The issue has a critical role to play because if we take only or largely a male perspective on policy, our policy process is much the...
The Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland’s Languages (Dr Alasdair Allan)
SNP
Does the member acknowledge that the benefit that Scotland reaps in research funding is due not to any act of charity but to the excellence of Scottish insti...
Neil Findlay
Lab
Absolutely. We recognise that and hope that that will continue. However, these are legitimate questions to ask.A recent Universities Scotland briefing paper ...
Dr Simpson
Lab
The member may wish to note that the Wellcome Trust stopped paying for research—at 100 per cent—in Ireland after it became independent.The other point that n...
Neil Findlay
Lab
As always, Dr Simpson adds weight to the debate. I am sure that I do not need to add anything further. Those doubts were raised by one of the UK’s most respe...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I very much welcome this debate on the role of scientific evidence and advice in public policy, and I welcome the minister to his place. I am sorry that the ...
Patrick Harvie
Green
I am sure that the member is aware that the basic mechanism of the greenhouse gas has been identified for more than 150 years. There has been no lack of cons...
Murdo Fraser
Con
I do not want to depart into a debate about climate science. I was simply making the point gently—although I seem to have hit a raw nerve with Mr Harvie in d...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
The member must close now.
Murdo Fraser
Con
Too often, the committee heard the message that youngsters are not getting proper advice about the opportunities that are available in new industries and in ...
George Adam (Paisley) (SNP)
SNP
My dad was an armature winder and engineer. He repaired the electric motors in generators and was a proud tradesman who had learned his trade on a very pract...
Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
Scotland should certainly aspire to science-based policy making, especially given our historical record in science, whether we mean Hutton working out the ag...
Patrick Harvie
Green
Iain Gray mentioned genetic modification. Rightly, my party is willing to be faced with questions if we assert something that is not scientifically valid. Ho...