Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 09 February 2016
09 Feb 2016 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Colleges
The investigation highlighted the unacceptable behaviour of a few people in the college sector, but we should remember that not everyone in the sector should be tarred with the same brush. However, it is required that good guidance be enforced in order to ensure that public funds are not diverted for the benefit of individuals by public figures who should be setting an example to the communities in which they work.
I commend the good work that was done by the Auditor General in bringing her report to the Public Audit Committee for its scrutiny.
16:40In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-15584, in the name of Paul Martin, on the Public Audit Committee’s three reports: “Report on Scotland’s c...
Paul Martin (Glasgow Provan) (Lab)
Lab
On behalf of the Public Audit Committee, I welcome the opportunity to highlight our work on the colleges sector, which has been a major component of the comm...
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning (Angela Constance)
SNP
I welcome the opportunity to set out the success of Scotland’s colleges, to reflect on the need for stronger accountability and to look to the future of this...
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate. Colleges are critically important institutions that provide vocational education and improve employabi...
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
When the Auditor General for Scotland says that this case was among the most serious failures of governance that she has ever seen in her time, the Scottish ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
We come to the open debate. Members have been advised that speeches would have to be of four minutes. I can give members very slightly longer than that. 16:35
Colin Beattie (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP)
SNP
The Auditor General’s report “Scotland’s colleges 2015” confirmed that college finances were sound, that planning for mergers was good and that, overall, the...
Nigel Don (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP)
SNP
I am very grateful to the member for taking an intervention. As a member of the Public Audit Committee, I sat there thinking all the things that he has just ...
Colin Beattie
SNP
The cabinet secretary mentioned that the college governance task force is looking at such issues as training of board members, so I hope that that will be ad...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Could you draw to a close, please?
Colin Beattie
SNP
The investigation highlighted the unacceptable behaviour of a few people in the college sector, but we should remember that not everyone in the sector should...
James Kelly (Rutherglen) (Lab)
Lab
I thank the Public Audit Committee for the in-depth work that it carried out on the reports on Coatbridge College and North Glasgow College. I think that the...
Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
This debate would not be happening were it not for Audit Scotland and Caroline Gardner, the Auditor General for Scotland. It is on days like this that a numb...
George Adam (Paisley) (SNP)
SNP
I am not a member of the Public Audit Committee, but I sat on it during the first year of this session, and I am only too aware of its work programme. I appr...
Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (Lab)
Lab
I, too, thank the Auditor General for illuminating the entire saga, and I thank the Parliament’s Public Audit Committee for the thorough and analytical repor...
Stuart McMillan (West Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
As someone who studied at college before attending university, I have a huge amount to thank further education for. I was happy to support the proposals for...
Liz Smith
Con
In her opening speech, the cabinet secretary was quite correct to say that this is a response to three serious reports. Stuart McMillan has eloquently explai...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Before I move on, I point out that Mr Kelly was mentioned in Liz Smith’s speech but unfortunately was not in the chamber. I remind members that they should c...
Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak in the Public Audit Committee’s debate on Scotland’s colleges. I pay tribute to the Auditor General, her staff ...
Angela Constance
SNP
Once again, I want to reinforce how important the work of Audit Scotland is in helping us to focus on the actions that we can and should take. When I was fir...
Nigel Don
SNP
Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?
Angela Constance
SNP
I am running out of time, but I will take a brief intervention.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Be very brief.
Nigel Don
SNP
I am grateful for the cabinet secretary’s comments about governance. Was she as surprised as I was at the very limited powers that OSCR seemed to have to dea...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Cabinet secretary, I can give you a few seconds more.
Angela Constance
SNP
Yes, and Government officials remain in contact with OSCR to deal with any outstanding concerns that it has in relation to the powers that it has or does not...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Cabinet secretary, I must ask you to conclude.
Angela Constance
SNP
Seeking that approval is a term and condition of grant, and ministers now have far more explicit powers to remove incorporated college boards for serious or ...
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
This has been an excellent debate. In all the years that I have been on the Public Audit Committee, it is the first debate that that committee has had in the...