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Every contribution to the Official Report — chamber and committee — searchable in one place. Pulled from data.parliament.scot, indexed for full-text search, linked through to every MSP.

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1999–2026

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Official Report

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Showing 60 of 2,096,228 contributions. Latest 30 days: 3,758. Coverage: 12 May 1999 — 11 Jun 2026.

Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber

General Question Time · Scotland’s Rural College (Elmwood Campus)

As Willie Rennie referred to, the report by Professor Sir Ian Boyd will be shared publicly, alongside SRUC’s response, after its board meeting later this month. As Willie Rennie will do, the Government and I will consider that report carefully. I look forward to engaging with ...

Willie Rennie (Fife North East) (LD) LD Chamber

General Question Time · Scotland’s Rural College (Elmwood Campus)

The minister will know that Professor Sir Ian Boyd has been commissioned by the board of SRUC to produce a report into the future of the institution in north-east Fife and Cupar for the longer term—a vision that has been long awaited. That report has now been handed over to th...

The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber

General Question Time · Scotland’s Rural College (Elmwood Campus)

I will take a supplementary question from Willie Rennie.

Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber

General Question Time · Scotland’s Rural College (Elmwood Campus)

I thank Michelle Campbell for her kind words, and I welcome her to the chamber. I would simply emphasise that she raises important points that are relevant both to the two colleges that she mentioned, which are either in her constituency or serve her constituents, and to SRUC,...

The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber

General Question Time · Scotland’s Rural College (Elmwood Campus)

That is a little bit off the main question. Minister, do you wish to respond?

Michelle Campbell (Renfrewshire North and Cardonald) (SNP) SNP Chamber

General Question Time · Scotland’s Rural College (Elmwood Campus)

First and foremost, I thank the minister for his dedication to this area. I am glad to see him return as the minister.The sustainability of Scotland’s college sector is vital in strengthening our skilled workforce and supporting our young people into positive destinations. I h...

The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber

General Question Time · Scotland’s Rural College (Elmwood Campus)

I will take a supplementary question from Michelle Campbell.

Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber

General Question Time · Scotland’s Rural College (Elmwood Campus)

I refer to my first answer, but I recognise the importance of the Elmwood campus and that consideration of its future is relevant to skills provision, which was raised by the member, and the local community. If the member wants to write to me with feedback from their engagemen...

Julie MacDougall Reform Chamber

General Question Time · Scotland’s Rural College (Elmwood Campus)

I have recently met farmers across the region who are seriously concerned about the lack of available opportunities for the next generation of skilled rural workers. Courses covering horticulture, animal care and green-keeping were unique local offerings at Elmwood. If Elmwood...

The Minister for Innovation, Technology and Tertiary Education (Ben Macpherson) SNP Chamber

General Question Time · Scotland’s Rural College (Elmwood Campus)

I thank Julie MacDougall for raising this important issue. Although SRUC is an autonomous institution with responsibility for its own decisions in relation to provision and facilities at Elmwood, I would expect it to take into account the needs of students, staff and the wider...

Julie MacDougall (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Reform) Reform Chamber

General Question Time · Scotland’s Rural College (Elmwood Campus)

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update regarding the future of the Elmwood campus of Scotland’s Rural College in Cupar. (S7O-00052)

Angela Constance SNP Chamber

General Question Time · NHS Tayside (Recruitment Freeze)

We are committed to building on progress. There is always more to do. Since July last year, long waits have fallen significantly, with new out-patient waits of more than a year down by 76 per cent and in-patient day-case waits of more than a year down by almost half. That has ...

Heather Anderson (Dundee City West) (SNP) SNP Chamber

General Question Time · NHS Tayside (Recruitment Freeze)

I thank Mr Marra for his interest in waiting times across NHS Tayside, and I share some of his concerns. However, I am very conscious that the Scottish National Party Government has achieved month-on-month reductions in waiting times for 11 months in a row. I would appreciate ...

Angela Constance SNP Chamber

General Question Time · NHS Tayside (Recruitment Freeze)

I very much appreciate Mr Marra’s concern, even if I nonetheless believe that it is somewhat misplaced. He might be relieved to know that NHS Tayside is making very clear progress in specialties including gynaecology, for example, where the number of people waiting has reduced...

Michael Marra Lab Chamber

General Question Time · NHS Tayside (Recruitment Freeze)

I find deeply disappointing the idea that the Government does not have any position on a recruitment freeze in NHS Tayside for critical posts involved in care. The cabinet secretary should know that there are significant delays—for instance, in gynaecological care and women’s ...

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Care (Angela Constance) SNP Chamber

General Question Time · NHS Tayside (Recruitment Freeze)

The Scottish Government leads on the co-ordination of national activity designed to grow and retain the national health service workforce in line with service need. Decisions on the staffing of individual services are matters for health boards, which should ensure that they ha...

Michael Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber

General Question Time · NHS Tayside (Recruitment Freeze)

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of NHS Tayside’s recruitment freeze on patient care and waiting times across Dundee and the wider Tayside region. (S7O-00051)

Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber

General Question Time · Barra and Vatersay Community Campus

I underlined our commitment in my first answer: we are working closely with partners, as the majority funder, and we will consider the business case through a robust assurance and approval process once it is submitted.Let us not look back—let us look forward and work together....

Donald MacKinnon Lab Chamber

General Question Time · Barra and Vatersay Community Campus

I plan to be in Barra tomorrow. Can the minister give me a timeline for the delivery of the long-promised campus project so that I can give my constituents in Barra the reassurance that it will finally become a reality?

The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber

General Question Time · Barra and Vatersay Community Campus

Please ask a question.

Donald MacKinnon Lab Chamber

General Question Time · Barra and Vatersay Community Campus

Although I welcome the minister’s commitment to the project, it is now 20 years since it was acknowledged that St Brendan’s hospital was in need of replacement. The people of Barra and Vatersay have had to deal with repeated false starts, delays and broken promises in that tim...

The Minister for Innovation, Technology and Tertiary Education (Ben Macpherson) SNP Chamber

General Question Time · Barra and Vatersay Community Campus

I welcome Donald MacKinnon to the chamber. I look forward to working constructively with him and I pay tribute to his predecessor, Alasdair Allan.In answer to his important question, the Barra and Vatersay community campus project was included in our programme for government, ...

Donald MacKinnon (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (Lab) Lab Chamber

General Question Time · Barra and Vatersay Community Campus

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the current status of the Barra and Vatersay community campus project. (S7O-00050)

Angela Constance SNP Chamber

General Question Time · Patient Waiting Times (Moray)

Orthopaedics remains a priority as we continue to focus on the reduction of long waits, which means that in-patient and day-case waits of more than 52 weeks have reduced by almost half. We are also increasing orthopaedics capacity through our national treatment centres, includ...

Laura Mitchell SNP Chamber

General Question Time · Patient Waiting Times (Moray)

I recognise the progress that has been made in recent months to tackle the longest waits for secondary-care patients. However, I have been contacted by several constituents who continue to face lengthy waiting times for orthopaedic surgery. Will the Scottish Government set out...

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Care (Angela Constance) SNP Chamber

General Question Time · Patient Waiting Times (Moray)

My commitment to tackle long waits is unwavering. To date this year, we have invested an additional £100 million to increase capacity and support boards, including NHS Grampian, to build on the progress that we have made in reducing long waits. We have made real and sustained ...

Laura Mitchell (Moray) (SNP) SNP Chamber

General Question Time · Patient Waiting Times (Moray)

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce waiting times for patients in Moray. (S7O-00049)

The Presiding Officer (Kenneth Gibson) NPA Chamber

General Question Time

The first item of business is general question time. In order to get in as many people as possible, I would prefer short and succinct questions and answers to match.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Clare Adamson) SNP Chamber

Thank you, cabinet secretary. That concludes the debate, and—this is my first time saying this—I close this meeting.Meeting closed at 18:45.

Màiri McAllan SNP Chamber

It is right to say that, with any kind of disruption—even when Glasgow’s streets are being showcased in international film and TV—we must be considerate of businesses. I am always interested in hearing about ways in which we can do that better.However, there is another angle t...

Paul Sweeney (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab Chamber

I very much share the sentiments of the cabinet secretary and, indeed, all members who have spoken in the debate. However, I want to sound a note of caution in relation to the frequent closure of streets in Glasgow. We know that Glasgow is a very Atlantic-oriented city that of...

The Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic (Màiri McAllan) SNP Chamber

I thank and congratulate Alyn Smith for securing this member’s business debate, and I also thank members for their speeches. As Stephen Kerr has just reflected, this debate has been positive, and it has given all members—including me, as the new Cabinet Secretary for Education...

Stephen Kerr Con Chamber

I thought that he gave a very good speech. I think that we are aligned on the idea about brass nameplates. It is important that we extract investment into Scotland. We both live in a place that is benefiting from inward investment and the exciting future that Stirling has in t...

Alyn Smith SNP Chamber

Such as it is. Laughter.

Stephen Kerr (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con Chamber

I enjoyed the debate and all the speeches; what a contrast from the previous couple of hours. I congratulate Alyn Smith on securing the motion for his first members’ business debate. I hope that this does not destroy his credibility with his colleagues—

Jenni Minto (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) SNP Chamber

Meal do naidheachd—congratulations—to my colleague Alyn Smith on securing this members’ business debate on the importance of the screen industry in Scotland.As members will know, I believe that my constituency is Scotland’s most beautiful, because of its land and seascape and ...

Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

I congratulate Alyn Smith on securing the debate. I am pleased to speak in support of the motion and to recognise the work of Screen Scotland and the wider screen sector, particularly in creating opportunities for new talent. The fact that, 31 years ago, its closest predecesso...

Q Manivannan Green Chamber

I should say that that filming is happening during recess, so I will let the programme makers know that I am available if they need me. My office will be in touch. I have also been informed that I have a passing resemblance, when the right lighting hits me, to Ben Whishaw and ...

The Minister for Innovation, Technology and Tertiary Education (Ben Macpherson) SNP Chamber

Considering the points that Q Manivannan has made, will they also share my praise for the programme and celebrate the fact that a second series of “Dept Q” is being filmed on the north-eastern side of Edinburgh, which is creating opportunities and showcasing more of Scotland t...

Q Manivannan (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green) Green Chamber

I thank Alyn Smith for securing this debate. I shall begin with a wee bit of a disclosure. I have been informed of a television show called “Dept Q”, which was filmed in and is set in Edinburgh, but it has nothing to do with my office. I was not consulted or invited to auditio...

David Torrance (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) SNP Chamber

I thank Alyn Smith for securing this debate. The motion recognises something that is truly worth celebrating—Scotland’s screen sector is growing and it is doing so in places that we might not expect, such as Kirkcaldy and across Fife, where creative ambition, technical skill a...

Michael Marra Lab Chamber

I absolutely agree with Mr Melville, and he is right to highlight the cinema in Arbroath. I also point to the independent cinema in Montrose, which is supported by the local port authority on a sponsorship model; it helps to provide the facilities through the funding that it g...

Lloyd Melville (Angus South) (SNP) SNP Chamber

Mr Marra and I represent the north-east of Scotland, so we also represent the Chalmers cinema in Arbroath. Does he agree that it is incumbent on all of us who want Scotland's screen sector to progress to support independent cinemas by watching films there as often as possible?

Michael Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber

I thank Alyn Smith for bringing the debate to the chamber; it is very welcome. As he outlined, the screen sector is very important for the whole of Scotland, and he rightly highlighted his own constituency’s particular assets in that respect.The sector makes a significant cont...

Alyn Smith (Stirling) (SNP) SNP Chamber

I am delighted to lead my first members’ business debate in the chamber on a subject of great importance not just to Stirling, but to Scotland and, indeed, to all of our constituencies and constituents. It is a success story, and something for us to celebrate, because we are a...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Clare Adamson) SNP Chamber

The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S7M-00188, in the name of Alyn Smith, on growing Scotland’s screen sector. The debate will be concluded without any question being put.I call Alyn Smith to open the debate.Motion debated,That the Parliament wel...

The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber

That concludes decision time.

The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber

The result of the division on motion S7M-00294, in the name of Anas Sarwar, on an inquiry to restore public trust in Scottish politics, as amended, is: For 71, Against 50, Abstentions 0.Motion, as amended, agreed to,That the Parliament believes there is a need to restore publi...

Speaker unknown Chamber

ForAdam, George (Paisley) (SNP)Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP)Ahmed, Irshad (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab)Anderson, Heather (Dundee City West) (SNP)Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire West and Levern Valley) (SNP)Barratt, ...

The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber

Your vote has been recorded.

Joe Long (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I was unable to vote. I would have voted no.

The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber

Your vote has been recorded.

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government (Jenny Gilruth) SNP Chamber

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app would not connect. I would have voted yes.

The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber

There will be a division.The vote is closed.

The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber

The final question is, that motion S7M-00294, in the name of Anas Sarwar, on an inquiry to restore public trust in Scottish politics, as amended, be agreed to. Are we agreed?Members: No.

The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber

The result of the division on amendment S7M-00294.3, in the name of Russell Findlay, is: For 53, Against 70, Abstentions 0.Amendment disagreed to.

Speaker unknown Chamber

ForAhmed, Irshad (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab)Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab)Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)Bannerman, Max (Highlands and Islands) (Reform)Baxter, Andrew (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (LD)Beresford, Senga (South Scotland) (Reform)Bibby, Neil...

The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber

There will be a division.

The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber

The next question is, that amendment S7M-00294.3, in the name of Russell Findlay, which seeks to amend motion S7M-00294, in the name of Anas Sarwar, on an inquiry to restore public trust in Scottish politics, be agreed to. Are we agreed?Members: No.

The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber

The result of the division on amendment S7M-00294.2, in the name of Ross Greer, is: For 70, Against 53, Abstentions 0.Amendment agreed to.

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Committee

Equal Opportunities Committee 16 January 2014

16 Jan 2014 · S4 · Equal Opportunities Committee

Item of business

Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Neil, Alex SNP Airdrie and Shotts Watch on SPTV

Schedule 2 to the bill amends the Gender Recognition Act 2004 to enable marriages that are solemnised in Scotland to continue when one or both parties change their gender and both parties wish to remain married. The amendments to the 2004 act define a marriage solemnised in Scotland as “a protected Scottish marriage”. That definition includes a marriage solemnised overseas through UK consular services when the couple elect Scotland as the relevant part of the United Kingdom. Schedule 6 to the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 introduces new provisions in relation to such consular marriages.Amendment 53 amends the interpretation section of the 2004 act. That ensures that marriages that are solemnised under the new provisions in schedule 6 to the 2013 act are, for the purposes of schedule 2 to the bill, included as having been solemnised in Scotland, as long as the couple elected Scotland as the relevant part of the United Kingdom.Finally, schedule 2 to the bill will continue to cover UK consular marriages when the couple elected Scotland and that took place under the current provisions of the Foreign Marriage Act 1892. Despite the rumours, I was not around at the time of that act being passed.I move amendment 53.Amendment 53 agreed to.Amendments 54 to 56 moved—Alex Neil—and agreed to.

In the same item of business

The Convener Lab

The second item on the agenda is stage 2 of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill. This is our second meeting at stage 2. I welcome Alex Neil, t...

The Convener Lab

We start with amendment 47, which was debated at our previous meeting. As members know, the Presiding Officer has determined that the potential costs that ar...

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing (Alex Neil) SNP

Thank you, convener, and happy new year to everybody here. It might be helpful if I say a few words on why the Government has not produced a financial resolu...

Alex Johnstone Con

I note the cabinet secretary’s comments with interest, but believe that there are still issues to be discussed. I therefore reserve my position in order perh...

The Convener Lab

The first group is on review of effects of introduction of same-sex marriage. Amendment 48, in the name of John Mason, is the only amendment in the group.

John Mason SNP

As is clear from the heading of the amendment—“Review of same-sex marriage”—it calls for a review, after five years, to see whether things have gone as expec...

Alex Neil SNP

I do not agree with amendment 48. The Government supports post-legislative scrutiny of legislation. We have, for example, recently responded to an inquiry by...

John Mason SNP

I am a little disappointed that there is no sign of movement from the cabinet secretary. He says that something that is not a sunset clause“could be perceive...

The Convener Lab

The question is, that amendment 48 be agreed to. Are we agreed?Members: No.

The Convener Lab

There will be a division.ForJohnstone, Alex (North East Scotland) (Con)Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)AgainstAllard, Christian (North East Scotland) ...

The Convener Lab

The result of the division is: For 2, Against 4, Abstentions 0.Amendment 48 disagreed to.Sections 22 to 27 agreed to.Schedule 2—Change of gender of married p...

The Convener Lab

The next group is on applications for gender recognition certificates by long-term transitioned persons. Amendment 50, in the name of the cabinet secretary, ...

Alex Neil SNP

Amendments 50 and 74 to 76 relate to persons who are long-term transitioned to an acquired gender. Persons who are acquiring a new gender can apply to the ge...

The Convener Lab

The next group is on further minor amendments and corrections. Amendment 51, in the name of the cabinet secretary, is grouped with amendments 52, 54 to 56 an...

Alex Neil SNP

Amendments 51, 52, 54 to 56 and 67 relate to the change of gender of married persons or civil partners. They are, for the most part, technical amendments tha...

The Convener Lab

The next group is on meaning of “protected Scottish marriage”: consular marriages. Amendment 53, in the name of the cabinet secretary, is the only amendment ...

Alex Neil SNP

Schedule 2 to the bill amends the Gender Recognition Act 2004 to enable marriages that are solemnised in Scotland to continue when one or both parties change...

The Convener Lab

The next group is on successful applications: when full gender recognition certificate to be issued and when interim gender recognition certificate to be iss...

Alex Neil SNP

Amendments 57 to 66, 69, 71 and 73 are designed to ensure that the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, which was passed at Westminster, and this bill work ...

The Convener Lab

The next group is on issue of full gender recognition certificate by sheriff where spouse has not declared consent to marriage continuing. Amendment 68, in t...

Linda Fabiani (East Kilbride) (SNP) SNP

Amendments 68, 70 and 72 implement one of the recommendations that the committee made in its stage 1 report. It recommended that“the requirement for spousal ...

Marco Biagi SNP

I speak in support of this group of amendments, which as Linda Fabiani has pointed out would implement a recommendation that the committee came to unanimousl...

John Finnie Ind

I share the views of the two previous speakers, and I will support Linda Fabiani’s proposal, which was delivered in a very measured way and which shows that ...

Alex Johnstone Con

I agree in principle with the amendments, and I wish to support that principle. However, I seek some reassurances in a key area. My concern is that the remov...

Alex Neil SNP

I agree that Linda Fabiani introduced her amendments in a measured and comprehensive way, but I have to be honest and say that they do not reflect the Govern...

Linda Fabiani SNP

A number of interesting comments have been made. I say to Alex Johnstone that, as there would be a non-contestable right of divorce, I do not think that the ...

Alex Neil SNP

If they are agreed to.

Linda Fabiani SNP

Of course, cabinet secretary.If the amendments are agreed to, I would be happy for the Scottish Government to tidy up the wording at stage 3. I therefore pre...

The Convener Lab

The next group is on appeals against issue of gender recognition certificate. Amendment 29, in the name of the cabinet secretary, is the only amendment in th...

Alex Neil SNP

I have only very short introductory remarks to make on the amendment.The bill provides that, when an applicant to the gender recognition panel secures a gend...