Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 08 September 2016
08 Sep 2016 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Refugees
I know what the gentleman says, but the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees—its refugee agency—told the UK Government that it is pleased with the total number of refugees that the UK has agreed to accept, and with the complementary British contribution to Syria. Indeed, the financial pledge that the UK has made is 15 times greater than that of our immediate neighbour, France. Together with Germany, Norway, Kuwait and the UN, the UK co-hosted a conference in London in February, which managed to raise some $12 billion of aid in a single day, half of which is pledged this year.
Only this weekend, the Home Secretary announced an additional £10 million to help with language skills, which all of us understand to be crucial in any successful resettlement and integration. That funding is designed to provide a further 12 hours of language education for up to six months. In addition, the UK has afforded 1.6 million refugees access to clean water, and has delivered some 21.5 million food rations, 4.5 million medical consultations, 500,000 shelter interventions and nearly 6 million relief packages.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda Fabiani)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-01322, in the name of Angela Constance, entitled “Scotland welcomes 1,000 refugees”. Time is really tigh...
The Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities (Angela Constance)
SNP
Scotland has long been a country that welcomes refugees, from Europe in the first and second wars, and later from Vietnam, Bosnia, Kosovo and the Democratic ...
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green)
Green
Does the cabinet secretary see the need to underpin statutorily some of the support services and rights that refugees have? What consideration is she giving ...
Angela Constance
SNP
I am conscious and respectful of the amendment that the Labour Party has lodged, which reflects that party’s position, as stated in its manifesto, that it wo...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I should have said earlier that all those who would like to speak in the debate are invited to press their request-to-speak buttons now. 15:28
Jackson Carlaw (Eastwood) (Con)
Con
I speak in support of the amendment in my name. In substance, it is intended to remove any suggestion of conceit on the part of Scotland that the UK Governme...
Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green)
Green
Does Mr Carlaw believe that the 20,000 refugees is adequate in a situation in which more than 11 million Syrians have fled their homes, and the United Kingdo...
Jackson Carlaw
Con
I know what the gentleman says, but the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees—its refugee agency—told the UK Government that it is pleased with the t...
Gillian Martin (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP)
SNP
Will Mr Carlaw join me in asking the UK Government to expedite the applications of hundreds of unaccompanied children who are stuck at Calais, who have a rig...
Jackson Carlaw
Con
I thank Gillian Martin for that intervention and turn to the point about which she asks. The motion rightly mentions the humanitarian issue of unaccompanied...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I call on Pauline McNeill to speak to and move amendment SM5-01322.2, in the name of Alex Rowley. Up to seven minutes, please, Ms McNeill. 15:37
Pauline McNeill (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
This is a subject close to my heart and, as Jackson Carlaw has done, I commend the Scottish Government for choosing it for debate in this first week after th...
Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green)
Green
We welcome the opportunity to debate the Government’s motion, which quite rightly commends the efforts of everyone who has welcomed the first thousand Syrian...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
We move to the open debate. I again make a plea for brevity, as we are very short of time and I do not want to have to cut out any speakers. Speeches of up t...
Ivan McKee (Glasgow Provan) (SNP)
SNP
The current refugee crisis in Europe is the result of one of the most significant movements of people that we have seen in recent decades. Such movement, sad...
Rachael Hamilton (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
It is with pleasure that we take this opportunity in Parliament to welcome the 1,000 migrants, so that we can make our new friends feel at home, from the Hig...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
You must close now, please.
Rachael Hamilton
Con
—to deliver high-quality education for Lebanese and refugee children. To conclude—
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
No, please conclude now, Ms Hamilton.
Rachael Hamilton
Con
I would like to conclude by saying that we have a proud tradition of working with—
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
No, please conclude now, Ms Hamilton. Thank you very much. 16:03
Maree Todd (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the opportunity to celebrate the news that Scotland has welcomed over 1,000 refugees since last year. Let me be explicit: today in the chamber, we ...
Lewis Macdonald (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
It is a year since Alan Kurdi and his mother and brother drowned in the Aegean Sea. As has been said, their tragic deaths quickly came to symbolise the human...
Christina McKelvie (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP)
SNP
I start by agreeing with my colleague Maree Todd that we need to be careful about conflating migrants and refugees. They have two different statuses and the ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Christine Grahame)
SNP
Thank you very much. I call Graham Simpson, to be followed by Rhona Mackay. Both of you now have five minutes. 16:21
Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
Yesterday was the first anniversary of the UK Government’s commitment to resettle 20,000 of the most vulnerable victims of the Syrian conflict by 2020. Throu...
Ross Greer
Green
Will the member give way?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
The member is in his last minute.
Graham Simpson
Con
Pulling together in a spirit of solidarity is the way ahead. All Governments can do more. I believe that Angela Constance agrees with that and I hope that, e...
Rona Mackay (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
SNP
I will focus my speech on the plight of children—the innocent victims of war. Night after night on our TV screens we see boatloads of desperate people gamb...