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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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Showing 60 of 2,096,228 contributions. Latest 30 days: 3,758. Coverage: 12 May 1999 — 11 Jun 2026.
Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber
11 Jun 2026
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
11 Jun 2026
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
11 Jun 2026
General Question Time · Scotland’s Rural College (Elmwood Campus)
I will take a supplementary question from Willie Rennie.
Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber
11 Jun 2026
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
11 Jun 2026
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
11 Jun 2026
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
11 Jun 2026
General Question Time · Scotland’s Rural College (Elmwood Campus)
I will take a supplementary question from Michelle Campbell.
Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber
11 Jun 2026
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
11 Jun 2026
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
11 Jun 2026
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
11 Jun 2026
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
11 Jun 2026
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
11 Jun 2026
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
11 Jun 2026
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
11 Jun 2026
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
11 Jun 2026
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
11 Jun 2026
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
11 Jun 2026
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
11 Jun 2026
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
11 Jun 2026
General Question Time · Barra and Vatersay Community Campus
Please ask a question.
Donald MacKinnon Lab Chamber
11 Jun 2026
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
11 Jun 2026
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
11 Jun 2026
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
11 Jun 2026
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
11 Jun 2026
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
11 Jun 2026
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
11 Jun 2026
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
11 Jun 2026
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
10 Jun 2026
Screen Sector
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
10 Jun 2026
Screen Sector
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
10 Jun 2026
Screen Sector
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
10 Jun 2026
Screen Sector
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
10 Jun 2026
Screen Sector
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
10 Jun 2026
Screen Sector
Such as it is. Laughter.
Stephen Kerr (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con Chamber
10 Jun 2026
Screen Sector
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
10 Jun 2026
Screen Sector
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
10 Jun 2026
Screen Sector
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
10 Jun 2026
Screen Sector
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
10 Jun 2026
Screen Sector
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
10 Jun 2026
Screen Sector
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
10 Jun 2026
Screen Sector
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
10 Jun 2026
Screen Sector
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
10 Jun 2026
Screen Sector
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
10 Jun 2026
Screen Sector
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
10 Jun 2026
Screen Sector
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
10 Jun 2026
Screen Sector
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
10 Jun 2026
Decision Time
That concludes decision time.
The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber
10 Jun 2026
Decision Time
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
10 Jun 2026
Decision Time
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
10 Jun 2026
Decision Time
Your vote has been recorded.
Joe Long (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber
10 Jun 2026
Decision Time
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I was unable to vote. I would have voted no.
The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber
10 Jun 2026
Decision Time
Your vote has been recorded.
The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government (Jenny Gilruth) SNP Chamber
10 Jun 2026
Decision Time
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app would not connect. I would have voted yes.
The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber
10 Jun 2026
Decision Time
There will be a division.The vote is closed.
The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber
10 Jun 2026
Decision Time
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
10 Jun 2026
Decision Time
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
10 Jun 2026
Decision Time
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
10 Jun 2026
Decision Time
There will be a division.
The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber
10 Jun 2026
Decision Time
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
10 Jun 2026
Decision Time
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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Chamber

Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 26 May 2020

26 May 2020 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Covid-19 (Education)
Balfour, Jeremy Con Lothian Watch on SPTV

I return to a point that Mr Gibson made with regard to teachers who have children who are at school. Will teachers whose children are still at school go to school full time every week? How will they be expected to teach week in and week out, if they have childcare problems?

In the same item of business

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda Fabiani) SNP
The next item of business is a statement by John Swinney. The cabinet secretary, who is joining us remotely, will take questions at the end of his statement,...
The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills (John Swinney) SNP
I welcome the opportunity to update Parliament on the phased reopening of schools and early learning and childcare settings in Scotland, as set out in “Coron...
The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP
The cabinet secretary will now take questions on the issues that were raised in his statement. I intend to allow approximately 30 minutes for questions.
Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Con) Con
I thank the cabinet secretary for advance sight of his statement and add my thanks to the teachers, parents and young people who find themselves in the most ...
John Swinney SNP
Mr Greene has posed a range of questions and I will give some answers across them all. My view is that the 11 August date for the start of term is set in s...
Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab) Lab
I echo the cabinet secretary’s recognition of the efforts of parents and carers, teachers and young people themselves during the period of school closure. No...
John Swinney SNP
Earlier today, I published the latest scientific advice that we have; I hope that Mr Gray and parliamentary colleagues find that to be of assistance. I am co...
The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP
We move on to open questions. I have a lot of requests and we will also have quite a lot of remote contributions. Members should bear that in mind and try no...
Clare Adamson (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) SNP
I thank the cabinet secretary for his statement. I note his comments about the investment in digital and about vulnerable children. The barriers facing vuln...
John Swinney SNP
One of the key priorities of the locally delivered approach that we have taken in the national framework that I have set out to Parliament today is to ensure...
Jamie Halcro Johnston (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Con
The Scottish Government has announced that it is having to spend £9 million so that 25,000 laptops can be provided to disadvantaged children to support home ...
John Swinney SNP
That is the subject of active discussion with local authorities. The 25,000 laptops have been ordered and we await their delivery so that we can make them av...
Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab
Many parents made sacrifices to be able to afford to send their children on school trips this term. Many low-income families will have put themselves into de...
John Swinney SNP
I recognise the seriousness of the issue that Mr Bibby raises. I give an undertaking today that we will pursue that issue with our local authority colleagues...
Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP) SNP
I welcome the cabinet secretary’s statement. Given the difficulties for parents who are working if their children are at home, will this mean that the childr...
John Swinney SNP
On Mr Gibson’s first point, there has to be equity of access to education for young people. That is one of the fundamental principles of Scottish education; ...
Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green) Green
This coming term, from August, young people are set to spend less time in school than at any point in modern history, which the Deputy First Minister acknowl...
John Swinney SNP
There is a general view within Scottish education of the importance of our having reliable and certificated qualifications for all as part of the way in whic...
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con) Con
I return to a point that Mr Gibson made with regard to teachers who have children who are at school. Will teachers whose children are still at school go to s...
John Swinney SNP
Local discretion and planning is the most appropriate level at which those judgments should be made. A multiplicity of issues will affect the availability o...
Bob Doris (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) SNP
I welcomed the offer from the Scottish Government to support blended learning by providing laptops and broadband for young people who require them, because t...
John Swinney SNP
That is one of the issues that we are considering in relation to the other resources that are available to us, which I talked about earlier. We will actively...
Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (LD) LD
Scotland’s teachers work long hours at the best of times. How will the balance of blended learning work, given the demands of teaching children in the classr...
John Swinney SNP
The judgment on the need for local teachers to supplement the existing workforce will be arrived at at local authority level. I have indicated a number of ti...
Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Lab
In Edinburgh Southern, there are four schools with school rolls that are above capacity, and a further four that have rolls of more than 95 per cent. Even wi...
John Swinney SNP
We have committed to discuss those issues with local authorities. The Cabinet Secretary for Finance is sighted on the discussions that it has been agreed wil...
Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) SNP
I refer to the local phasing delivery plan. In my rural constituency, there is a key role for local bus companies in transporting pupils to school. Given tha...
John Swinney SNP
In one of the answers that the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity gave earlier this afternoon, he indicated that he and I are i...
Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con) Con
I remind members that my eldest daughter is a secondary school teacher. The cabinet secretary will be aware that many teachers have raised the issue of losi...
John Swinney SNP
One of the steps that I have taken during the crisis is to discuss with local authorities the need to maintain contact with some of the most vulnerable young...