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Hansard

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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Hansard contributions

1999–2026

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Official Report

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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

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

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

General Question Time · Scotland’s Rural College (Elmwood Campus)

I will take a supplementary question from Willie Rennie.

Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber

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

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

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

General Question Time · Scotland’s Rural College (Elmwood Campus)

I will take a supplementary question from Michelle Campbell.

Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

General Question Time · Barra and Vatersay Community Campus

Please ask a question.

Donald MacKinnon Lab Chamber

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Such as it is. Laughter.

Stephen Kerr (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con Chamber

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

That concludes decision time.

The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber

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

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

Your vote has been recorded.

Joe Long (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I was unable to vote. I would have voted no.

The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber

Your vote has been recorded.

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government (Jenny Gilruth) SNP Chamber

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app would not connect. I would have voted yes.

The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber

There will be a division.The vote is closed.

The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber

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

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

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

There will be a division.

The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber

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

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) 01 December 2021

01 Dec 2021 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament

Item of business

Ventilation in Schools

Stewart, Kaukab SNP Glasgow Kelvin Watch on SPTV

I thank our colleagues in the education sector for their continuing hard work.

16:28

In the same item of business

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-02326, in the name of Michael Marra, on action on active ventilation in schools. Members who wish to spea...

Michael Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I am pleased to bring this important debate to the chamber today. On examination of the facts and the overwhelming weight of the data, Labour considers the a...

Shirley-Anne Somerville SNP

Clearly, local authorities are using different monitors, so they will have different criteria, but certainly the expert advice is that a CO2 concentration of...

Michael Marra Lab

That is a wide variety—between 800 and 1,500 parts per million. One could pick a figure in between, as many councils have had to do. There was no answer in t...

The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills (Shirley-Anne Somerville) SNP

The safety of children and young people, and, indeed, all education staff remains our absolute overriding priority, particularly as we approach winter. Venti...

Oliver Mundell (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Con

Is the cabinet secretary confident that, where stubbornly high levels have been identified, action has been taken locally? Has she been reassured?

Shirley-Anne Somerville SNP

We continue to seek and receive reassurances. It was reassuring to receive reports that only in relatively few cases were the recommended CO2 levels exceeded...

Michael Marra Lab

The minister said on the record that “very limited” action would be taken. Essentially, the recommendation is to open a window. Does she expect us to be in s...

Shirley-Anne Somerville SNP

As I said, what I have done and will continue to do is listen to the experts. I encourage Michael Marra to read in great detail the expert evidence that was ...

Oliver Mundell (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Con

I am grateful to my Labour colleague Michael Marra for bringing this debate to the chamber and giving Parliament the time to discuss the issue. We will suppo...

Michael Marra Lab

Will the member reflect on the question that I put to the cabinet secretary, which was whether we will be in this situation next year? With regard to the sch...

Oliver Mundell Con

I agree with that point. The sad thing, which I was going to come to later, is that we should not be in that position this year, either. I am not a “Game of ...

Shirley-Anne Somerville SNP

I suggest that what might also give reassurance to parents, staff and young people is if we listen to the expert advice that is given to us by, for example, ...

Oliver Mundell Con

My understanding of the advice is that no one has said that those measures would not be an improvement; they have said that they are not the full answer. The...

Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD) LD

I thank Michael Marra for being so assiduous on the issue of ventilation in schools. Today’s debate will help us to flush out many of the issues at the heart...

Shirley-Anne Somerville SNP

We have made it clear that, if areas in schools cannot be ventilated appropriately, they should not be used, or alternative methods can be used. I said that ...

Willie Rennie LD

The science therefore does support the use of air purifiers, despite the cabinet secretary’s constant dismissals. The message to schools is clear: their opti...

The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone) NPA

Please close, Mr Rennie.

Willie Rennie LD

We, too, have a duty to go further. We know that the omicron variant is posing greater threats to us, so the Scottish Government needs to step up, evolve its...

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Lab

We are now almost two years into the pandemic, yet the only advice that we can offer children and teachers who are freezing in school is to wear outdoor clot...

Kaukab Stewart (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) SNP

There can be no question but that ensuring the safety of children and young people, as well as all educational staff, is of paramount importance to everyone ...

Michael Marra Lab

The same evidence from the NASUWT said that CO2 monitors are not available in many classrooms. They are held centrally and appear occasionally. What kind of ...

Kaukab Stewart SNP

I thank Michael Marra for that question. I was about to go on. I have already said that there is excellent good practice. Councils need to share that best pr...

Oliver Mundell Con

How does Kaukab Stewart explain to my constituents in Dumfries who are sat right now in the high school why, when her Government has been in power for 14 yea...

Kaukab Stewart SNP

I can remember standing at a hustings 20 years ago, talking about the private finance initiative. I was a teacher and I was accused of trying to take away ne...

The Presiding Officer NPA

Please could you close, Ms Stewart?

Kaukab Stewart SNP

I will. I have spoken to colleagues, teachers and headteachers alike, and I have to say that, in the majority of cases, I concur that mitigations and adapta...

The Presiding Officer NPA

Thank you, Ms Stewart.

Kaukab Stewart SNP

I thank our colleagues in the education sector for their continuing hard work. 16:28

Pam Gosal (West Scotland) (Con) Con

I am grateful for the chance to contribute to the debate. The unmistakeable truth is that, although we have made good progress in our battle against the pand...