Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 05 June 2013
05 Jun 2013 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Student Support
I thank Labour for bringing the debate, because it allows me to celebrate one of the great successes of the SNP’s second term: the implementation of the manifesto commitment to introduce a minimum income for students. We did what we said we would do, and in fact we went further, because we set the minimum income at £7,250. I note Mr Henry’s full-frontal attack on the National Union of Students. However, I will quote again what the NUS rightly said, which was that we have produced the “best support package” available anywhere in the UK.
The Labour Party seems to be hell-bent on telling people what they cannot have and what will be taken away from them. We have had Ed Balls saying this week that the Tory cuts will be sustained. If ever there was a shameful statement, it was that. [Interruption.]
The Labour Party seems to be hell-bent on telling people what they cannot have and what will be taken away from them. We have had Ed Balls saying this week that the Tory cuts will be sustained. If ever there was a shameful statement, it was that. [Interruption.]
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-06843, in the name of Hugh Henry, on student support. I invite those members who wish to participate in t...
Hugh Henry (Renfrewshire South) (Lab)
Lab
We have heard a lot recently about the Scottish Government’s determination to help students from lower-income households to succeed in higher education. Inde...
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning (Michael Russell)
SNP
I will start with two irrefutable facts: first, if you charge students fees, they will end up owing more money. That is the missing sentence from Mr Henry’s ...
Hugh Henry
Lab
Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?
Michael Russell
SNP
No. I want to make some headway.The second irrefutable fact is that if you vote against widening access, you will not widen access. Of course, that is precis...
Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?
Michael Russell
SNP
I will take Mr Findlay in just a minute. We wait with bated breath to see whether Labour will vote against widening access for the second time. Will Mr Findl...
Neil Findlay
Lab
I am sure that the cabinet secretary will want to correct the record rather than continue with a mistruth, because he knows that in the committee we wanted t...
Michael Russell
SNP
The merest sophistry as ever from Mr Findlay. I repeat: if you vote against widening access, you will not widen access. However, that is what Labour did. Int...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Order.
Michael Russell
SNP
I thank Labour for bringing the debate, because it allows me to celebrate one of the great successes of the SNP’s second term: the implementation of the mani...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Order.
Michael Russell
SNP
Presiding Officer, can the record note that Mr Findlay is enjoying himself by shouting, as usual?Now we have the Labour Party’s determination to take away fr...
Hugh Henry
Lab
Perhaps the cabinet secretary has not read the motion, because there is nothing in the motion that talks about that particular point; what it is saying is, “...
Michael Russell
SNP
There is no direct line from Ed Balls to Hugh Henry. That is yet another spending commitment made that has not been cleared by the shadow chancellor and whic...
Hugh Henry
Lab
More debt.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Order.
Michael Russell
SNP
Mr Henry continues to mutter and shout. That is Labour’s contribution to debate. All Labour members are prepared to do is mutter and shout.Let us look at stu...
Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
Will the cabinet secretary give way?
Michael Russell
SNP
No, I want to make progress.It is now estimated that the English and Welsh figures could climb to £50,000. That is the reality of the debate that we are havi...
Neil Findlay
Lab
Will the cabinet secretary give way?
Michael Russell
SNP
No, sorry. I want to finish my point.Labour’s way of opposing the agreements is therefore to vote against a bill that will widen access and to bring to the P...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I welcome the Labour Party’s scheduling of a debate on student support. This is not the first time that the Parliament has addressed the issue and I am sure ...
Neil Findlay
Lab
Is the member aware that the cabinet secretary wrote a book during the time when he was not here? Is he aware of what the cabinet secretary said about educat...
Murdo Fraser
Con
The cabinet secretary’s book is my constant bedtime companion; whenever I have difficulty sleeping, it is the first thing that I turn to. At that time, he ha...
Margo MacDonald (Lothian) (Ind)
Ind
Will the member give way?
Murdo Fraser
Con
I am sorry, but I have only five minutes. The member will forgive me if I go on to deal with my amendment.My amendment brings in the related issue of improvi...
Michael Russell
SNP
All the evidence shows it.
Murdo Fraser
Con
All the evidence is to the contrary. In England, applications from those from disadvantaged backgrounds are going up. Why would that be happening in England ...
Michael Russell
SNP
Will the member give way? That is a very—