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Hansard

Every contribution to the Official Report — chamber and committee — searchable in one place. Pulled from data.parliament.scot, indexed for full-text search, linked through to every MSP.

129

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415

MSPs ever elected

13

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2,355,091

Hansard contributions

1999–2026

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Official Report

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Showing 60 of 2,355,091 contributions. Latest 30 days: 148. Coverage: 12 May 1999 — 14 May 2026.

Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

General Question Time · Forth Valley College (Alloa Campus)

Does the minister accept that funding for Forth Valley College needs to increase year on year? Otherwise, we will be in the same position next year and the following year, with the Alloa campus facing the threat of closure. Does the Scottish Government accept that, if we are t...

Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Sport and Activity as a Force for Good

I am pleased to speak in Brian Whittle’s members’ business debate. When I saw the motion, I thought, “That’s the one I’ll make my final speech as an MSP in.” I know, from serving on committees with Brian over the past 10 years since he entered Parliament, that sport is an issu...

Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill

First, I acknowledge every person who has taken the time to contact me to set out their views on the bill. Without doubt, this bill has generated more correspondence than anything else that I have dealt with in the 12 years that I have been an MSP: several thousand constituent...

Alex Rowley Lab Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Social Care Workers

I hope that the minister agrees that we need to create a proper career structure for care workers across Scotland to make it attractive for people in Scotland to become carers. The story of care workers in Scotland so far is one of being undervalued and underpaid, with mixed t...

2. Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Social Care Workers

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on tackling the reported critical shortage of social care workers. (S6O-05588)

Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Mossmorran (Just Transition Fund)

Thankfully, we have not had too much party politicking in this debate—except from David Torrance and his friends on the Tory benches.I want to impress that what we need in Scotland is an industrial strategy. Like Willie Rennie, I live just a few miles from Mossmorran. I saw it...

Alex Rowley Lab Chamber

Topical Question Time · Palliative Care

I welcome the fact that the minister says that her officials are going to meet Marie Curie, because the organisation is very clear that the situation does not need to be this way and it is calling for legislation to enshrine in law a right to palliative care.Does the minister ...

Alex Rowley Lab Chamber

Topical Question Time · Palliative Care

Marie Curie said that, without action, the number of people dying in Scotland with unmet palliative care needs will continue to increase. I believe that, over the recent period, in relation to the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, most members in the ch...

2. Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Topical Question Time · Palliative Care

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to new figures on unmet need for palliative care that were published by Marie Curie on 16 February, showing that almost one in three people in Scotland die with unmet palliative care needs. (S6T-02900)

Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

General Question Time · Budget 2026-27 (Lochgelly)

After two decades of broken promises, I am sure that the health secretary will understand why the people of Lochgelly will be hesitant to welcome this project. However, I hope that we are going in the right direction and that it will happen. The other health centre in Fife tha...

Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

UEFA European Championship (Scotland) Bill

As Patrick Harvie said, the bill is largely technical, and it is difficult to get too worked up about the technicalities. Stephen Kerr mentioned the constructive approach that has been taken to the bill. I only wish that our politics and our Parliament could take that approac...

Alex Rowley Lab Chamber

Deputy First Minister Responsibilities, Economy and Gaelic · Mossmorran Task Force

As I understand it, the first meeting of the task force will be on 28 January in Fife. Does the Scottish Government believe that there is an industrial future for the Mossmorran site once we get past supporting—rightly—the workforce who are currently there? Has the Scottish G...

1. Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Deputy First Minister Responsibilities, Economy and Gaelic · Mossmorran Task Force

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress that it is making in supporting the Fife Council-led Mossmorran task force. (S6O-05355)

Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

There is a consensus here that more needs to happen around swimming. However, from the public’s point of view, the real challenge is not what we talk about in debates, but what happens outside them. That is a question that the public increasingly ask, not only about swimming, ...

Alex Rowley Lab Chamber

General Question Time · Scotland’s Rural College (Elmwood Campus)

Since SRUC took over the Elmwood campus, courses and facilities have been gutted. There has been a college in North East Fife since 1953. Will the minister agree to meet the local groups that have formed and that are concerned that there will be no future for the campus if SRU...

8. Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

General Question Time · Scotland’s Rural College (Elmwood Campus)

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the on-going reduction to both provision and facilities at the Elmwood campus of Scotland’s Rural College in Cupar, what its position is on the future of the college’s base in the North East Fife constituency. (S6O-05314)

Alex Rowley Lab Chamber

General Question Time · Forth Valley College (Alloa Campus)

The college projects that it will be millions of pounds in the red. A feasibility study will, in itself, still need resources. In its recent publication on the draft budget, Colleges Scotland highlighted that, under the current model, the college sector is unsustainable witho...

1. Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

General Question Time · Forth Valley College (Alloa Campus)

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it has taken to support Forth Valley College’s Alloa campus, in light of the recent reported concerns that it may be closed for financial reasons. (S6O-05275)

Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Veterans and Armed Forces Community

I have spoken in this debate on a number of occasions over the years, and I am pleased to do so again today. First, as others have done, I thank all those who have served in our armed forces over the years, and I thank those who are currently serving. As Paul Sweeney said, we ...

Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Topical Question Time · Salmon Farming (Mortality Figures)

Surely the Scottish Government must be concerned about the increasing levels of disease in the salmon industry, especially given the finding in the committee’s report from earlier this year that slow progress was being made on regulation. Does the cabinet secretary recognise t...

Alex Rowley Lab Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Housing to 2040 Strategy (Social Housing)

I asked that question because Dunfermline, in Fife, has the massive St Columba’s and Woodmill high school sites. Fife Council, which sold the sites for private housing development, told me that those sites will contain a small percentage of social rented housing. Along the roa...

4. Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Housing to 2040 Strategy (Social Housing)

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the availability of land for building social housing, in relation to its housing to 2040 strategy. (S6O-05217)

Alex Rowley Lab Chamber

Non-Domestic Rates (Liability for Unoccupied Properties) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

When a bill is passed, somebody could challenge it from outside but, as a member of this Parliament, I have always tended to think that, when the Presiding Officer says that it is legally competent, they must have taken legal advice, with the support being in place for them to...

Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Non-Domestic Rates (Liability for Unoccupied Properties) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Will the member take an intervention?

Alex Rowley Lab Chamber

First Minister’s Question Time · Mossmorran

I acknowledge the hard work and professionalism shown by the Deputy First Minister in mobilising the key stakeholders that will be required to begin dealing with the impact of the announcement. On Tuesday, at Fife College, I attended a meeting at which ExxonMobil was very clea...

6. Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

First Minister’s Question Time · Mossmorran

To ask the First Minister, in light of ExxonMobil’s announcement of the closure of the Mossmorran ethylene plant, what action the Scottish Government is taking to mitigate any damage this will cause to the Cowdenbeath area and the wider Scottish economy. (S6F-04483)

Alex Rowley Lab Chamber

General Question Time · Gynaecology Waiting Times (NHS Fife)

I have been contacted by a constituent, a 23-year-old woman, who has been advised that she might face a wait of more than a year for keyhole surgery that is needed to diagnose the source of on-going severe pelvic pain. Over the past year, the constituent has experienced two mi...

7. Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

General Question Time · Gynaecology Waiting Times (NHS Fife)

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address waiting times for gynaecological diagnostic procedures in NHS Fife. (S6O-05177)

Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

When I looked at the motion and the amendments for the debate, I could see in each a lot of positives on which we could agree. It would be great if political parties in this place were able to come together more. Daniel Johnson talked about a full and frank discussion, but we ...

Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

UEFA European Championship (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

There has been a consensus across the chamber that the 2028 tournament will be good for Scotland, good for Ireland, and good for the UK overall. In his opening speech, the minister talked about armistice day. Interestingly, this morning, I was reading the Central Fife Times,...

Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

General Question Time · Forth Valley College (Alloa Campus)

There has been a campus in the Alloa area since the 1960s, and it would be a disaster if it were to close. Does the minister recognise the massive financial pressures that colleges are under? Will he do more to ensure the future of colleges in Clackmannanshire and across the c...

Alex Rowley Lab Chamber

General Question Time · Social Care (Fife)

In Fife, over the past year, there has been a steady increase of 60 per cent in the number of people waiting for assessments. The number of people who have been assessed and need a care package has increased over the past year by 127 per cent. We talk about percentages, but th...

4. Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

General Question Time · Social Care (Fife)

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address reported rises in waiting times for social care assessments and packages in Fife. (S6O-05077)

Alex Rowley Lab Chamber

General Question Time · Patient Rights (Unfit-for-purpose Medical Centres)

According to NHS Fife, “The Initial Agreement Document (IAD) was approved by Scottish Government in January 2020”. In 2021, the then health secretary, in answer to a question from Annabelle Ewing about Lochgelly, told the Parliament: “I give the member an absolute confirma...

5. Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

General Question Time · Patient Rights (Unfit-for-purpose Medical Centres)

To ask the Scottish Government what rights patients have when their local medical centre has been deemed unfit for purpose by their national health service board. (S6O-05046)

Alex Rowley Lab Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Housing Emergency

—while working with local authorities at the local level.

Alex Rowley Lab Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Housing Emergency

Even if we were able to tackle the economic and financial challenges—and I believe that we need to look at every option to do so—there would still be major housing issues. I have read the Government’s housing emergency action plan and, believe me, I want it to deliver. I welc...

6. Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Housing Emergency

To ask the Scottish Government what the key barriers are to tackling Scotland’s housing emergency. (S6O-05023)

Alex Rowley Lab Chamber

Protecting Scotland’s Fire Service

When we are in a situation in which we need the fire service, we expect it to be there and to help us. The proposals before us put that at risk and we must put an end to them.

Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Protecting Scotland’s Fire Service

If the minister is tone deaf and cannot grasp the level of concern across the chamber from members about what is being proposed, I certainly hope that other ministers, cabinet secretaries and Government advisers are listening, because the situation is not acceptable. Siobh...

Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Water Industry Commission for Scotland (2022-23 and 2023-24 Audits)

I commend the Public Audit Committee for its excellent report and the detail that it has gone into. Richard Leonard has set it all out very well, so I will not simply repeat it. As others—Mark Ruskell, Sarah Boyack, Graham Simpson and Monica Lennon—have made clear today, the ...

Alex Rowley Lab Chamber

First Minister’s Question Time · Water Supply

In the past week, I and other MSPs who represent the east of Scotland, including the First Minister, had an online meeting with Scottish Water, at which we heard about the work that it is doing. That includes its efforts to get people to reduce water usage, which I support. I ...

6. Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

First Minister’s Question Time · Water Supply

To ask the First Minister, in light of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s warnings of water scarcity over the summer and the introduction of restrictions on water abstraction last week in some areas, including north Fife, what action the Scottish Government is taking...

Alex Rowley Lab Chamber

Finance and Local Government · Public Services (Empowering Local Communities)

The Scottish National Party Government published the Christie report back in 2011. The report’s main recommendations focused on reforming public services in Scotland through empowerment, collaboration, prevention and performance-focused efficiency. It recommended empowering in...

7. Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Finance and Local Government · Public Services (Empowering Local Communities)

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to encourage and support local authorities to empower and enable people and communities to have a greater say over the delivery of local public services. (S6O-04880)

Alex Rowley Lab Chamber

National Health Service Dentistry

What about the issue of large companies? As NHS Fife said, it has no control over them, and they seem to pull out of providing NHS dental treatment, which leaves communities with no access to services.

Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

National Health Service Dentistry

I thank the MSPs who signed my motion to enable us to have the debate, and I thank my business manager for allocating time for what I believe is an important issue that the Parliament and the Government must do more to address. I brought the debate to the chamber as a result ...

Alex Rowley Lab Chamber

Care Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would have voted yes.

Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Care Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would have voted yes.

Alex Rowley Lab Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Behaviour in Classrooms

The headline message this week from an Educational Institute of Scotland survey is that teacher workload is unfair and unhealthy. It is clear that contact time for teachers must be reduced, and that we need more additional support needs teachers and more teachers in general in...

3. Alex Rowley Lab Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Behaviour in Classrooms

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what support it is providing to teachers to help deal with behaviour in classrooms. (S6O-04754)

Alex Rowley Lab Chamber

Public Participation Inquiry

If I get a chance, I will come on to the media. First, the committee’s report is a good report, and I have no issues or problems with it, generally. As Jackson Carlaw said, it is not a panacea, but it is certainly a step in the right direction. However, as Stephen Kerr has sa...

Alex Rowley Lab Chamber

Public Participation Inquiry

It will have to be very brief, please.

Alex Rowley Lab Chamber

Public Participation Inquiry

I will take an intervention in a second. We need only look at some of the reporting on the by-election in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse. People are being interviewed on the doorstep and they are saying, “They all promise you the world when they are looking for your vote b...

Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Public Participation Inquiry

We have had an interesting debate today. In the lead up to the previous Scottish Parliament election, a survey by the Electoral Reform Society showed that two thirds of the people who were surveyed—that is 67 per cent—said that they had “little or no influence over decisions...

Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Teaching Workforce

We will not be able to tackle the workforce challenges in education until we tackle the massive issues in our schools, which this Government has failed to do. Jackie Dunbar said that STEM graduates are highly sought after, which is right. However, given the challenges that tea...

Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Community-owned Energy

Community Energy Scotland and the Scottish community coalition on energy have provided a briefing for the debate. The points that they make are well worth putting on the record. They say: “We have abundant renewables potential and considerable capacity in the pipeline; howeve...

Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Community-owned Energy

Does the cabinet secretary believe that councils have an important role to play in supporting community organisations?

Alex Rowley Lab Chamber

Island Communities

Will the minister and the cabinet secretary make representations to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care about the position of the care home on the Isle of Bute, which was highlighted by STV last week, given that that is an unacceptable situation? Interruption.

Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Island Communities

I live in Kelty and represent Mid Scotland and Fife, so members might ask, “What does he know about islands?” However, like Fergus Ewing, I have survived Up Helly Aa more than once, and I have had brilliant times staying on Bressay and enjoying the nightlife in Lerwick. I ther...

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Chamber

Meeting of the Parliament 25 March 2026 [Draft]

25 Mar 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament

Item of business

General Question Time

Forth Valley College (Alloa Campus)

Rowley, Alex Lab Mid Scotland and Fife Watch on SPTV

Does the minister accept that funding for Forth Valley College needs to increase year on year? Otherwise, we will be in the same position next year and the following year, with the Alloa campus facing the threat of closure. Does the Scottish Government accept that, if we are to grow the Scottish economy in the way that we need to, colleges across Scotland must be put on a more sustainable footing?

In the same item of business

1. Keith Brown (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) SNP

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported decision by Forth Valley College to retain its Alloa campus for 2026-27, what engagement it will hav...

The Minister for Higher and Further Education (Ben Macpherson) SNP

The member is right to emphasise that, because of the additional resource that the Scottish Government has provided to our college sector, the board of Forth...

Keith Brown SNP

I very much welcome the Scottish Government’s support in this matter, and especially its budget support, notwithstanding the fact that neither the Conservati...

Ben Macpherson SNP

My engagement and the Scottish Government’s wider engagement with the college have been enhanced by the work of Keith Brown, as the constituency MSP, in info...

Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab

Does the minister accept that funding for Forth Valley College needs to increase year on year? Otherwise, we will be in the same position next year and the f...

The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone) NPA

A brief response would be appreciated, minister.

Ben Macpherson SNP

Investment in our college sector has increased significantly in this financial year, and the Government is now taking part in a process that was formally ann...