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Showing 60 of 2,095,827 contributions. Latest 30 days: 2,655. Coverage: 12 May 1999 — 09 Jun 2026.

Christian Allard SNP Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Oil and Gas Sector (Training and Support)

I thank the cabinet secretary for her answer, but can she give us some more detail on how the training to work in tourism, food and drink, and life sciences is made accessible to people in order to create a sustainable, diverse economic future for the north-east?

3. Christian Allard (North East Scotland) (SNP) SNP Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Oil and Gas Sector (Training and Support)

To ask the Scottish Government what training and support it provides to people no longer working in the oil and gas sector. (S4O-05688)

Christian Allard SNP Chamber

Will the member take an intervention?

Christian Allard (North East Scotland) (SNP) SNP Chamber

I did not sign the motion, because although I read the report and thought that it was very good, I think that something is missing: it needs a stronger emphasis on where people buy their food every day. People buy their food from the major retailers. We need to take a stronger...

Christian Allard (North East Scotland) (SNP) SNP Chamber

Schools Autism Awareness Week

I, too, thank Mark McDonald for bringing the debate to the chamber because, at the end of the day, the Parliament has maybe not been as good as it could have been regarding the autism awareness week initiative from the National Autistic Society Scotland. Such initiatives have ...

Christian Allard SNP Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Education (Spending Per Pupil)

I thank the cabinet secretary for that interesting answer. Will she outline whether total revenue spending on schools in Scotland has risen since the Scottish National Party came into government in 2006-07?

9. Christian Allard (North East Scotland) (SNP) SNP Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Education (Spending Per Pupil)

To ask the Scottish Government how much it spends per pupil, and how this compares with England. (S4O-05664)

Christian Allard SNP Committee

The third line of paragraph 17 refers to “Europe’s response to the migration crisis”. Are we not going to say that we passed that on to another committee?

Christian Allard SNP Committee

On paragraph 17, we do not say that we gave—

Christian Allard SNP Committee

I accept what—

Christian Allard SNP Committee

Right. I should have come to the meeting more prepared, then, because I find it strange that he did not say it.

Christian Allard SNP Committee

Not in this session.

Christian Allard SNP Committee

So the cabinet secretary did not talk about Polmont to the committee afterwards.

Christian Allard SNP Committee

This committee heard about it.

Christian Allard SNP Committee

I just find it strange, because the committee heard about it and therefore it should be in the report.

Christian Allard SNP Committee

We were told during—

Christian Allard SNP Committee

I find it strange that paragraph 13, which relates to women offenders, does not mention Polmont at all.

Christian Allard SNP Committee

I am still on page 4, convener.

Christian Allard SNP Committee

The end of paragraph 12 mentions “the inability of the single police and fire services to recover VAT.” Can we make it clear that that refers to recovering VAT from the United Kingdom Government?

Christian Allard (North East Scotland) (SNP) SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

I welcome the policy objective regarding flexibility of faith. It is very welcome that the objective understands that prisoners will change during their time in incarceration.

Christian Allard (North East Scotland) (SNP) SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

I welcome the orders. Let us not forget that this committee was very much involved in the primary legislation, so I am very happy to send them off.

Christian Allard SNP Chamber

Does Tavish Scott agree with me that the Government in England at least took the decision in 2005, while the then Minister for the Environment and Rural Development in the Scottish Government sat on his hands?

Christian Allard SNP Chamber

I say to farmers: be more French. I will tell those who come to the Parliament tomorrow that that is important. We need CAP reform. We need a payment for farmers. We should buy local and trust our Scottish farmers.

Christian Allard SNP Chamber

For many years, I have told farmers in the north-east that they should take their lead from their French counterparts. Elaine Murray and Tavish Scott talked about France. I remind Mr Scott that Scotland, unlike France, is not a member state.

Christian Allard SNP Chamber

We heard it here first: Alistair Darling is not part of the Scottish Labour Party—that is incredible. It would be good if it is made very clear in the closing speeches that we all stand for farming and for making sure that farmers get help, whatever happens in the future. A...

Christian Allard (North East Scotland) (SNP) SNP Chamber

I want to make a point to Alex Johnstone, who is a farmer. He talked about using the market and making sure that in the far future our farming communities and farming industry will not need so much help. However, we need to be very careful about that because this is not the ti...

Christian Allard SNP Chamber

Will the member take an intervention?

Christian Allard SNP Chamber

Will the member take an intervention?

Christian Allard (North East Scotland) (SNP) SNP Chamber

Will the member give way?

Christian Allard SNP Committee

Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006

That goes against the idea of having child-centred legislation. If children are excluded from mediation for most of the time, is that the right way to go about it?

Christian Allard SNP Committee

Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006

So they are excluded most of the time.

Christian Allard SNP Committee

Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006

I heard what was just said about children’s voices not being heard in mediation. That is very important. We have talked about being child centred. How can there be mediation if the children are not involved? If there is a way to involve children in mediation, I would like to h...

Christian Allard SNP Committee

Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006

My question is on what is being discussed.

Christian Allard (North East Scotland) (SNP) SNP Committee

Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006

I am a North East Scotland MSP and a committee member.

Christian Allard (North East Scotland) (SNP) SNP Chamber

Families Affected by Murder and Culpable Homicide

I thank Graeme Pearson for bringing the subject to the chamber for debate. I read his motion, although I did not sign it. In his speech, he only really talked about the motion at the end. I absolutely agree with what he said in the rest of his speech. I know that he has vast e...

Christian Allard SNP Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Delayed Discharge (NHS Grampian)

I thank the cabinet secretary for her answer, which was welcome news indeed. What impact have junior doctors had on making this welcome reduction? How much has protection of the existing deal for junior doctors helped NHS Grampian’s recent success?

12. Christian Allard (North East Scotland) (SNP) SNP Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Delayed Discharge (NHS Grampian)

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in tackling delayed discharge in the NHS Grampian area. (S4O-05606)

Christian Allard SNP Committee

I am quite happy with that.

Christian Allard SNP Committee

I do not know what other committee members think about our needing to know who the individual is. There is a place for the Justice Committee and there is a place for the Justice for Megrahi campaign. If I was involved with the Justice for Megrahi campaign, I would be intereste...

Christian Allard SNP Committee

Christian Allard SNP Committee

Each time we agree about the process, there is a question of identifying somebody—

Christian Allard SNP Committee

I have been very clear, convener—

Christian Allard SNP Committee

I have made my point clearly.

Christian Allard SNP Committee

I am happy to leave the petition open.

Christian Allard SNP Committee

Christian Allard SNP Committee

I am happy to leave it at that.

Christian Allard SNP Committee

I am happy that you have rephrased your question, convener, but I will leave the matter at that.

Christian Allard SNP Committee

This is not about individuals. We made that very clear at our last meeting. I repeat: this should be about process, not individuals. We should leave the matter open, and leave it at that.

Christian Allard SNP Committee

Before I am attacked further, convener, I will repeat exactly what I said: this should be about process. We are agreed on that.

Christian Allard SNP Committee

Christian Allard SNP Committee

As we said at our previous meeting, this should be about process, not individuals. I am therefore quite happy to leave the matter open and take no further action.

Christian Allard SNP Committee

I am happy to leave the petition open.

Christian Allard SNP Committee

Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Not for the first time, I agree with Elaine Murray. The matter relates to sexual offences in which, unfortunately, the victim is more likely to be of a specific gender. Elaine Murray talked about misconceptions. The policy memorandum to the bill talks about “certain ill-found...

Christian Allard SNP Committee

Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

I want to share a small worry about telling youngsters that such a website exists. A revenge porn website should not get any advertisement from anybody. 12:00

Christian Allard SNP Committee

Police Scotland

Thank you very much for that evidence.

Christian Allard SNP Committee

Police Scotland

Do you have any feedback on how the people who did that whistleblowing have been protected after making the disclosure?

Christian Allard SNP Committee

Police Scotland

Were they all of the whistleblowing type, or were they general comments?

Christian Allard SNP Committee

Police Scotland

That is the policy. Can you tell us the number of whistleblowers—or whatever you want to call them—that there have been or the number of disclosures that have occurred since the inception of Police Scotland?

Christian Allard SNP Committee

Police Scotland

I put it to the SPA that the issue is about encouraging whistleblowing, and we have heard from the chief constable about what happens afterwards, once people have made the commitment to be a whistleblower. Does the SPA have any views on how the policy should concentrate on enc...

Christian Allard SNP Committee

Police Scotland

One thing that we could have learned from elsewhere is, first, to answer the question and, secondly, to answer the question about whistleblowing. Thank you very much for your comprehensive answer. However, in your whole answer I did not hear the word “whistleblowing”. I do not...

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Chamber

Meeting of the Parliament 23 March 2016

23 Mar 2016 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament

Item of business

Portfolio Question Time

Oil and Gas Sector (Training and Support)

Fair Work, Skills and Training

Allard, Christian SNP North East Scotland Watch on SPTV

I thank the cabinet secretary for her answer, but can she give us some more detail on how the training to work in tourism, food and drink, and life sciences is made accessible to people in order to create a sustainable, diverse economic future for the north-east?

In the same item of business

3. Christian Allard (North East Scotland) (SNP) SNP

To ask the Scottish Government what training and support it provides to people no longer working in the oil and gas sector. (S4O-05688)

The Cabinet Secretary for Fair Work, Skills and Training (Roseanna Cunningham) SNP

The Scottish Government fully recognises the severe challenges that face the oil and gas sector at this time, and it is doing all that it can to support oil ...

Christian Allard SNP

I thank the cabinet secretary for her answer, but can she give us some more detail on how the training to work in tourism, food and drink, and life sciences ...

Roseanna Cunningham SNP

Aberdeen and the north-east are central to driving future growth and prosperity in Scotland, which is why we have invested so much money in the Aberdeen city...

Lewis Macdonald (North East Scotland) (Lab) Lab

The cabinet secretary said that 2,500 people have been supported through the three very welcome PACE events that have been held so far under the auspices of ...

Roseanna Cunningham SNP

I do not have information on how many people have gone on to secure employment out of that particular 2,500, but many will have. The fact that not everybody ...