Chamber
Plenary, 27 Mar 2003
27 Mar 2003 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
First Minister's Question Time
Schools (British History)
The First Minister might be surprised to hear that I was present during the march that took place outside the chamber at half past 5 last Thursday. I assure him that although I did not take part, I felt that it was my duty as an elected member of Parliament to stand by to hear and see what was going on at that march. Does the First Minister agree—given this great country's history of sacrifice in opposing tyranny and oppression wherever it may occur—that it is high time that our young people were made fully aware of the sacrifice that has been made by the generations that preceded us and of the great and distinguished heritage of this country?
In the same item of business
5. Alex Johnstone (North-East Scotland) (Con):
Con
To ask the First Minister what commitment the Scottish Executive will give to ensure that British history is adequately covered in the curriculum in schools....
The First Minister (Mr Jack McConnell):
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Alex Johnstone:
Con
The First Minister might be surprised to hear that I was present during the march that took place outside the chamber at half past 5 last Thursday. I assure ...
The First Minister:
Lab
I announced towards the end of last year that I thought that it was important that we in Scotland acknowledge a variety of occasions in our history, includin...
Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP):
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Does the First Minister agree that anyone who studies British history should also recognise that Britain was first in the world in economic performance in th...
The First Minister:
Lab
Mr Wilson is full of contradictions; he has just made more. He has spent his four years in the Parliament—when the eyes of business were not upon him—critici...
Mrs Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD):
LD
Does the First Minister agree that one of the strands that goes through British history is the quest for justice? Four years ago, patients who had been infec...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
I am sorry—that was possibly wide of the original question. Does the First Minister want to respond?
The First Minister:
Lab
I confirm that Malcolm Chisholm will—as he has been doing over recent months—work extremely hard to ensure that we bring about a just conclusion to the matter.