Chamber
Plenary, 26 Jan 2000
26 Jan 2000 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Further and Higher Education
As you know, it is normal practice for the media to be given a statement in advance so that they can edit it. However, they are not given it—or should not be given it—earlier than the spokespeople of the different parties. I do not know who has suggested that the media were given the statement earlier than that—if that has happened, that would be a matter of concern. However, as far as I am concerned, any mechanics of briefing are perfectly in order, as long as the briefing does not precede any courtesy to other MSPs.
We will now move on to the statement. I call Mr McLeish.
We will now move on to the statement. I call Mr McLeish.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Sir David Steel):
NPA
Our next item of business is a statement by the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning—
Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP):
SNP
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. In my letter to you yesterday, I expressed concern about the volume of announcements in relation to the statement by ...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
As I indicated in my letter, I am constantly concerned if information from the Executive that should come to the Parliament is made public instead through th...
Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I heard your reply to Mr Swinney's point of order. Yesterday, in the maelstrom of information on this matter, a journ...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
As you know, it is normal practice for the media to be given a statement in advance so that they can edit it. However, they are not given it—or should not be...
The Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning (Henry McLeish):
Lab
With your permission, Presiding Officer, I will make a statement on the partnership response to the Cubie committee proposals on student funding. In our "Par...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
I repeat that we can debate this matter tomorrow—we require short, sharp questions today.
Mr Swinney:
SNP
I thank the minister for his statement and for his usual courtesy of making it available in advance. First, will the minister comment on a constituency case ...
Henry McLeish:
Lab
With the greatest courtesy that I can muster towards John Swinney—who is also a very courteous man—I am not convinced that he listened to my statement. We ar...
Mr Swinney:
SNP
Answer my questions.
Henry McLeish:
Lab
This is an important point, and no amount of guffawing from Opposition members will shift me from giving an exposition of the true picture. Some of the Oppos...
Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan) (SNP):
SNP
What about the other questions?
Henry McLeish:
Lab
Alex Salmond can add up. I think that Mr Swinney asked three questions—
Mr Salmond:
SNP
What about his constituent?
Henry McLeish:
Lab
Mr Salmond is getting very upset and excited. If he will calm down, I will take him through the three questions. In John Swinney's first question, he made a ...
Mr Monteith:
Con
I, too, thank the minister for making his statement available prior to our opportunity to ask questions, although I cannot say that the statement shed a grea...
Henry McLeish:
Lab
I will ignore that political comment and address the first point. There seems to be a fundamental confusion in the mind of Brian Monteith. We are establishin...
David McLetchie (Lothians) (Con):
Con
We want a system that is fair to all Scottish students.
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
Order. Sixteen members wish to ask questions, so if we can have short exchanges, I will extend the time a little to allow in as many members as possible.
George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD):
LD
On behalf of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, I welcome the minister's statement. I wish to raise two points with him. The first concerns the funding of stude...
Henry McLeish:
Lab
I point out to George Lyon that, in the first instance, we wanted a UK-based scheme for Scotland-domiciled students. That is still the case, but there is out...
Dr Richard Simpson (Ochil) (Lab):
Lab
Will the minister tell us whether Scottish students studying in England whose family incomes would make them eligible for the new access bursaries, were they...
Henry McLeish:
Lab
We have received initial comments from a number of organisations, including the Committee of Scottish Higher Education Principals, and students. We want to t...
Ms Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (SNP):
SNP
I realise that it is not my job to provide answers, but George Lyon asked for a legal settlement to Henry McLeish's dilemma. I have the answer—it is called i...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
Order. May we have a question, please? Interruption.
Ms MacDonald:
SNP
Please tell those bad boys to be quiet. They are terrible.
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
Let us have a question, Margo.
Ms MacDonald:
SNP
Can the minister explain which factors guided the Executive's decision to abandon Cubie's relatively fair idea that graduates should start paying back their ...
Henry McLeish:
Lab
I am quite happy to discuss the implications of independence for our students, but the first consequence of such a settlement would be that 20,000 English st...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
I call Malcolm Chisholm.