Chamber
Plenary, 26 Feb 2004
26 Feb 2004 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Young People
My interests are as registered in the register of members' interests. I welcome the debate this morning. Having read the Executive's motion, I see that it touches on many areas that impact on young people.
Although the First Minister has restated continually that education is a key priority and although he talks about youth crime, it is obvious that the Executive is failing to deliver on its promises, such as its manifesto pledges on primary school pupil attainment in reading, writing and mathematics. The fact is that young people, parents, teachers and taxpayers are getting a raw deal. Teachers involved with children are getting a raw deal through more bureaucracy and paperwork, and violence against them has soared under Labour, regardless of whether the Minister for Education and Young People blames the statistics. Parents of children are getting a raw deal as they have little input in their child's education and few have genuine choice. Children, parents and taxpayers are getting a raw deal, because there have been record levels of investment with little to show for it apart from increases in violence, truancy and indiscipline. There is now an attack on a member of school staff every 12 minutes of the school day, which is unacceptable.
Most important is the fact that young people feel alienated because attainment remains too low and violence against pupils is too high. Now it appears that the First Minister is warming to the Prime Minister's plan to allow random drug tests. We will be very interested to hear the First Minister's answer to Keith Raffan's question later to see whether it mirrors the reply that the Minister for Education and Young People gave Parliament this morning. It is the latest Labour plan, which can easily damage trust between teachers and pupils if applied inappropriately. Carrying out tests without parents' authorisation could be a questionable policy.
The best way for young people to get a better deal is for the Executive to understand that the current monolithic state structures need real, radical reform. If the Executive is serious about giving young people a better deal in education, it must give parents choice and head teachers more power through the schools passport policy. If the Executive is serious about tackling the problems of crime and disorder, it must deal effectively with young offenders, particularly those who offend persistently. That requires early intervention and the identification of parents who might be struggling to cope and whose children are therefore most at risk of becoming involved in crime.
Although the First Minister has restated continually that education is a key priority and although he talks about youth crime, it is obvious that the Executive is failing to deliver on its promises, such as its manifesto pledges on primary school pupil attainment in reading, writing and mathematics. The fact is that young people, parents, teachers and taxpayers are getting a raw deal. Teachers involved with children are getting a raw deal through more bureaucracy and paperwork, and violence against them has soared under Labour, regardless of whether the Minister for Education and Young People blames the statistics. Parents of children are getting a raw deal as they have little input in their child's education and few have genuine choice. Children, parents and taxpayers are getting a raw deal, because there have been record levels of investment with little to show for it apart from increases in violence, truancy and indiscipline. There is now an attack on a member of school staff every 12 minutes of the school day, which is unacceptable.
Most important is the fact that young people feel alienated because attainment remains too low and violence against pupils is too high. Now it appears that the First Minister is warming to the Prime Minister's plan to allow random drug tests. We will be very interested to hear the First Minister's answer to Keith Raffan's question later to see whether it mirrors the reply that the Minister for Education and Young People gave Parliament this morning. It is the latest Labour plan, which can easily damage trust between teachers and pupils if applied inappropriately. Carrying out tests without parents' authorisation could be a questionable policy.
The best way for young people to get a better deal is for the Executive to understand that the current monolithic state structures need real, radical reform. If the Executive is serious about giving young people a better deal in education, it must give parents choice and head teachers more power through the schools passport policy. If the Executive is serious about tackling the problems of crime and disorder, it must deal effectively with young offenders, particularly those who offend persistently. That requires early intervention and the identification of parents who might be struggling to cope and whose children are therefore most at risk of becoming involved in crime.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
NPA
The first item of business this morning is a debate on motion S2M-943, in the name of Peter Peacock, on a better deal for young people, and on two amendments...
The Minister for Education and Young People (Peter Peacock):
Lab
I have made clear in the chamber before how much the Executive values the rich contribution that Scotland's young people make to our national life. We value ...
Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP):
SNP
The minister may be aware of the concerns that have been expressed on a number of occasions about the restrictions that the Data Protection Act 1998 could pl...
Peter Peacock:
Lab
Absolutely. We are investing, through the modernising government fund, to enable secure sharing of data among service providers while protecting people's rig...
Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP):
SNP
Although between 2001-02 and 2002-03 the number of children who were referred for offences seems to have dropped, there was an increase of more than 10 per c...
Peter Peacock:
Lab
There are many things that we seek to do for those young people, through the work of Margaret Curran and others. One reason why we introduced the fast-track ...
Mr Keith Raffan (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD):
LD
Will the minister give way?
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con) rose—
Con
Fiona Hyslop:
SNP
Will the minister give way?
Peter Peacock:
Lab
As I have already given way to Fiona Hyslop, I will give way to Lord James.
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
I call Fiona Hyslop.
Peter Peacock:
Lab
No, I am giving way to Lord James.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton:
Con
I am happy to allow Fiona Hyslop to intervene.
Fiona Hyslop:
SNP
Thank you very much, gentlemen. I appreciate what the Executive is saying about looked-after children. However, we seem to be setting lower standards for loo...
Peter Peacock:
Lab
I take the rare opportunity to agree with Fiona Hyslop, at least on her first point. We are saying clearly that we are not doing enough for those young peopl...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
Not in the least this morning. We have time.
Peter Peacock:
Lab
In that case, I am happy to give way to Lord James Douglas-Hamilton.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton:
Con
Before the minister finishes his speech, will he state his position on the mandatory drug testing of young children in schools?
Peter Peacock:
Lab
We take extremely seriously the issues of drug use and drug supply in schools. We want those issues to be tackled in the most effective ways possible. Lord J...
Mr Raffan:
LD
I wanted to ask about truancy. There are some excellent anti-truancy projects, not least the one in Alloa, of which the minister might be aware. Will he say ...
Peter Peacock:
Lab
I take this opportunity to agree with Keith Raffan. One thing that we are seeking to address much more effectively in schools is the whole business of truanc...
Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab):
Lab
The minister might be aware that there are some difficulties in accessing child psychological services. That has become an on-going problem for a number of y...
Peter Peacock:
Lab
Karen Gillon raises an important point. As part of the overall system, child psychologists are crucial at certain periods. A lack of child psychologists in t...
Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP):
SNP
The debate is welcome. It is important that we focus on the positive contribution that the overwhelming majority of young people make to society as well as o...
Mr Raffan:
LD
I agree with Nicola Sturgeon on the cycle of reoffending. Does she, too, think it interesting that the former chief inspectors of prisons for England and Wal...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
Keith Raffan's point is extremely valuable and important. Later, I will talk about what I consider to be the formidable expert opinion in Scotland in support...
Karen Gillon:
Lab
I welcome the SNP's support for Airborne. Unfortunately, that support was not evident in the constituency when Airborne was facing a difficult move to Braidw...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
Last year was the second best year for participation in the Airborne Initiative, but the fact that the programme has had problems and has found it difficult ...
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con):
Con
My interests are as registered in the register of members' interests. I welcome the debate this morning. Having read the Executive's motion, I see that it to...
Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD):
LD
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton refers in his amendment to the schools passport policy. How much money from scarce public resources would go to the substantial s...