Chamber
Plenary, 12 Dec 2002
12 Dec 2002 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Children and Young People (Services)
Good morning. Our first item of business is a debate on motion S1M-3698, in the name of Irene McGugan, on children's and young people's services in Scotland. I invite members who want to take part in the debate to indicate that now.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Sir David Steel):
NPA
Good morning. Our first item of business is a debate on motion S1M-3698, in the name of Irene McGugan, on children's and young people's services in Scotland....
Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I start with a quotation that is at the heart of the Executive's programme:"Ensuring every young person gets the best possible start in life."I am sure no on...
Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD):
LD
If Irene McGugan accepts that there is a link between poverty and children in need, would she care to comment on the difference between absolute poverty, whi...
Irene McGugan:
SNP
Robert Brown should be aware that redefining poverty does not make the least bit of difference. All those children are in poverty in Scotland today and littl...
The Minister for Education and Young People (Cathy Jamieson):
Lab
I acknowledge that, although the Scottish National Party motion and our amendment are not identical, they cover a lot of the same ground. That was meant to h...
Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I take the minister back to the issue of child poverty. Given what she has said, the minister presumably rebuts entirely the report of the Joseph Rowntree Fo...
Cathy Jamieson:
Lab
I will not set myself against the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. As Michael Russell will know, another report was published by the foundation this morning, whic...
Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab):
Lab
Does the minister agree that, although in some local authorities the number of vacancies for social work is unacceptably high, there was never a golden era o...
Cathy Jamieson:
Lab
A number of other members worked in the same area of social work in which I worked. None of us would recall that time as a golden age of social work. We reca...
Irene McGugan:
SNP
I accept all of what the minister said about the number of people on courses increasing and the number of social workers increasing, but why then did 17 of t...
Cathy Jamieson:
Lab
In a sense, Irene McGugan answered that question in her speech. She will know that the situation has not arisen overnight. There has been a lack of work-forc...
Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con):
Con
In many respects, the Executive is failing Scotland's children and the Scottish National Party has suggested few reasoned or reasonable alternatives. In a th...
Cathy Jamieson:
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
Bill Aitken:
Con
Give me a minute. In an intervention, Mr Russell highlighted the content of some of the reports that have been produced. It might have been advantageous for ...
Michael Russell:
SNP
I do not know in which parallel universe the member is living. Although we hope and expect to be in government, we are not in alliance at the moment. The Lab...
Bill Aitken:
Con
Mr Russell might not be responsible, but I assure him that I do not live in another universe. The fact that I live in the real world is sometimes a disadvant...
Michael Russell:
SNP
Will the member give way?
Bill Aitken:
Con
I will finish this point before I again give way.The only way in which Mr Russell would be able to achieve a reduction in class sizes would be by filling the...
Michael Russell:
SNP
I am sorry that Bill Aitken did not accept my intervention earlier because I frankly do not understand that last point, which was nonsensical. I am happy to ...
Bill Aitken:
Con
I assure Mr Russell that I will read with considerable interest whatever he sends me. Of course, I suffer from insomnia but I am sure that such reading will ...
Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab):
Lab
Is Bill Aitken saying that we should not invest £700 million in Glasgow's acute services?
Bill Aitken:
Con
I do not suggest that for a moment. We need to spend the money in a much more efficient and effective manner so as to improve patient care.
Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP):
SNP
Will the member explain how?
Bill Aitken:
Con
This is not a health debate. If members want to debate health, I will be delighted to do so on a suitable occasion.
Cathy Jamieson:
Lab
Bill Aitken said that today's debate is not on health, but I am sure that he would recognise that the health of our children is important. Does he recognise ...
Bill Aitken:
Con
I agree with the minister that the health of our children is a vital issue that should be addressed cogently and seriously. Where I take issue with the Execu...
Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab):
Lab
Why then did so many of those who contributed to both the national debate on education and the Education, Culture and Sport Committee's inquiry into educatio...
Bill Aitken:
Con
The usual suspects of course came up with that result. We must realise that the comprehensive education system needs to be looked at carefully. That realisat...
Cathy Jamieson:
Lab
I go back to the member's first point about the rise in the number of young people who are looked after in residential accommodation. Does the member recogni...
Bill Aitken:
Con
Yes, I freely concede that point. Nevertheless, it is depressing that there are so many looked-after youngsters in residential accommodation and that must be...