Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 21 January 2016
21 Jan 2016 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Youth Awards and Youth Work
That is 10 seconds going on a minute and a half, I guess, based on what happened earlier.
The Dame Kelly Holmes Trust transforms the lives of disadvantaged young people. It is an important initiative that is being taken forward in conjunction with employers such as BP and local authorities, which seems to me to be the kind of partnership that people want.
So far in the debate, no points have been made about young people’s mental health. It is essential that voluntary organisations that promote mental health, such as Mind Your Head in Shetland, are supported because of all the work that they do with youth volunteering. They make an essential and positive impression on a very difficult issue. Young people benefit from such organisations, as well as from the awards that the minister has rightly raised this afternoon.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-15380, in the name of Aileen Campbell, on celebrating the success of Scotland’s young people and youth wo...
The Minister for Children and Young People (Aileen Campbell)
SNP
This debate is, as the motion suggests, an opportunity for us to highlight the contribution that youth work and, specifically, youth awards make to our socie...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
I apologise to you for the distractions during your speech, minister. 16:13
Cara Hilton (Dunfermline) (Lab)
Lab
I am pleased to open this short debate for Scottish Labour. I would like to begin by joining the minister in welcoming the success of Scotland’s young people...
Aileen Campbell
SNP
Will the member take an intervention? Jean Urquhart (Highlands and Islands) (Ind) rose—
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
From whom are you taking the intervention?
Cara Hilton
Lab
I will take the intervention from the minister.
Aileen Campbell
SNP
I record our willingness to work with Cara Hilton and others on that. We want to capture all the achievements that young people take from the youth awards. T...
Cara Hilton
Lab
I very much welcome the minister’s comments. We are not talking about a stand-alone certificate, as the amendment possibly implies. I hope that the minister ...
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I welcome the debate. Scottish Conservatives fully support youth awards in Scotland, which help young people to be successful, confident, effective and respo...
Linda Fabiani (East Kilbride) (SNP)
SNP
This is a really interesting subject. Every one of us who has the privilege of representing people in Scotland could reel off loads of examples in which youn...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
Right, on you go then. We will see whether the lights resume. We expect them to kick back in. Keep going, please.
Linda Fabiani
SNP
I do not consider it a criticism that aspects for further development are mentioned in the report. It is an opportunity that we can use. We must try very har...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
You should draw to a close, please.
Linda Fabiani
SNP
I also want more of a focus on building stuff around the youth award work that is there for those who, for whatever reason, choose not to participate. Again,...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
Can you close, please?
Linda Fabiani
SNP
Certainly. My last point is that very good work is being done. The young people and organisations involved are fabulous, and the professionalism of the staff...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
Well done. That was a valiant effort in extraordinary circumstances. Mr Smith, if you can see, you may have four minutes or thereby. 16:32
Drew Smith (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
I read Education Scotland’s report with interest, and I wondered whether I should declare an interest as a recipient of the Rotary International youth leader...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
Well done—an excellent speech in very difficult conditions. 16:36
Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
It has always been said that I could speak in the dark, and it is literally true that I am doing so this afternoon. Drew Smith is quite right that it is diff...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
You are in your final 10 seconds.
Tavish Scott
LD
That is 10 seconds going on a minute and a half, I guess, based on what happened earlier. The Dame Kelly Holmes Trust transforms the lives of disadvantaged ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
Graeme Dey has four minutes or thereby. 16:41
Graeme Dey (Angus South) (SNP)
SNP
Although I absolutely acknowledge the success of the awards network and formal youth work in general, I will focus my speech—given the clock, it will be curt...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
Thank you for your brevity—I appreciate it. 16:43
Jackson Carlaw (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
This has been quite a debate and it has at times been full of all the atmosphere and excitement of a Barry Manilow concert, or at least what I imagine that t...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
I trust that you are not challenging the chair, Mr Carlaw.
Jackson Carlaw
Con
I compliment the opening speakers on their briskly delivered speeches. In the past few years, a number of strategies have been launched in Scotland concerni...
Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
Members will know how keen I always am to find opportunities to celebrate the success of Scottish Government initiatives. On many occasions I struggle to fin...