Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 11 January 2017
11 Jan 2017 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
International Development
The Scottish Government’s strategy must always ensure a process of real due diligence to guarantee that our money reaches projects that help with peace and not with hatred, discrimination or violence.
Our amendment encourages the Scottish Government to support investment and economic growth in our partner countries. Contrary to the view that the minister expressed in his opening speech, international development aid can encourage and promote not only democracy but the development of international trade—it is not one or the other; it is both.
Securing trade agreements with developing nations can help to reduce poverty by stimulating economic growth, encouraging investment and creating jobs. We can benefit in Scotland by enhancing innovation, improving skills and strengthening the ties between nations to secure peace and stability, particularly in the most troubled parts of the world.
Our amendment is considered and draws fair attention to issues of real importance that we feel have not been properly considered in the development of the Scottish Government’s strategy or in its motion. I therefore urge the minister to reconsider his position, as I believe that there is common ground between us and that we could build a consensus today. If that is not possible, I urge all members to support the amendment in the name of Alexander Stewart.
15:26In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Christine Grahame)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-03303, in the name of Alasdair Allan, on welcoming “Global Citizenship: Scotland’s International Developm...
The Minister for International Development and Europe (Dr Alasdair Allan)
SNP
It is a great pleasure to lead this debate and to introduce members to “Global Citizenship: Scotland’s International Development Strategy”. That is, I believ...
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD)
LD
I am grateful to the minister for taking an intervention and for focusing his early remarks on the relationship that we have with Malawi. As the co-convener ...
Dr Allan
SNP
The member rightly points to the importance of networking groups in Scotland working with civic society, churches and others. The funding decisions to which ...
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)
SNP
I agree very much with what the minister has just said. Does he agree that we need both the longer-term investment to enable other countries and the shorter-...
Dr Allan
SNP
The member is right in saying that the constant challenge in international development is to ensure that we both respond to immediate need and think about lo...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I think, minister, that it will have to be terribly brief.
Dr Allan
SNP
It will be very brief indeed, in that case. I conclude by saying that I am delighted to present the Government’s—
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I did not mean as brief as that, but go for it.
Dr Allan
SNP
How brief is brief? Laughter. As I said, I will indicate some of the changes to our international development work that will support us in implementing our ...
Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I am delighted to lead for the Scottish Conservatives on this important issue and to move the amendment in my name. We in the Conservatives very much welcom...
Bruce Crawford (Stirling) (SNP)
SNP
I recognise your point that the issue is not specifically covered in the Government’s motion, but the minister outlined the position that the Government has ...
Alexander Stewart
Con
I was about to come on to that. I had written down the point, which was not in my original speech. On that very point, I acknowledge that the Scottish Parli...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I remind members not to use the term “you” in the chamber but to use either the member’s name or to say “the member”. 15:05
Lewis Macdonald (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
The Government’s motion talks about a “strong cross-party collaborative approach and support for international development in the Parliament”. There is bro...
Joan McAlpine (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the Scottish Government’s international development strategy and its £10 million funding commitment, alongside complementary funding streams such a...
Ross Thomson (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
I am sure that all members in the chamber today would agree that it is the responsibility of developed nations, such as our own, to contribute towards sustai...
Claudia Beamish (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
The member may have his own views on the issue, but I highlight the words of my colleague and friend, Anas Sarwar, who has said over many years that Gaza cit...
Ross Thomson
Con
I thank the member for her intervention but my point is not about the support that we give but about where it goes. It is right that we help the most vulnera...
Anas Sarwar (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
Ross Thomson
Con
I do not want to get dragged into a discussion about this; I am just making a brief point about the importance of following the public pound. I would like to...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
It is for the member to decide whether to take interventions, whether from back benchers or front benchers.
Ross Thomson
Con
The Scottish Government’s strategy must always ensure a process of real due diligence to guarantee that our money reaches projects that help with peace and n...
Stewart Stevenson (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
SNP
This debate is founded on principle. Page 17 of the document to which we are speaking today captures some of that principle when it says: “Our approach to i...
Claudia Beamish (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the Scottish Government’s new international development strategy. Internationalism is a proud facet of socialism, and Scottish Labour supports the ...
Kate Forbes (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP)
SNP
For two years, I used to pass a tarpaulin-covered shack on my way to school each morning. It was not a heap of rubbish—although you might be forgiven for thi...
Alison Harris (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
I am proud to stand here as a member of a party whose Government at Westminster leads the world in its support for the people of poor nations. Our UK Conserv...
Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
I confess that when the whip told me that I had to speak this afternoon, I had a slight sense of “Oh my goodness—not another debate on Brexit.” I gratefully ...
Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
The Government’s international development strategy document touches on a wide range of matters, but I will focus my brief comments on three main areas: firs...
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)
SNP
I am pleased to take part in today’s debate. In the 1980s, when I lived and worked for three years in Nepal, it was one of the six poorest countries in the w...