Hansard

Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber

11 Jun 2026

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

As Willie Rennie referred to, the report by Professor Sir Ian Boyd will be shared publicly, alongside SRUC’s response, after its board meeting later this month. As Willie Rennie will do, the Government and I will consider that report carefully. I look forward to engaging with ...

Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber

11 Jun 2026

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

I thank Michelle Campbell for her kind words, and I welcome her to the chamber. I would simply emphasise that she raises important points that are relevant both to the two colleges that she mentioned, which are either in her constituency or serve her constituents, and to SRUC,...

Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber

11 Jun 2026

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

I refer to my first answer, but I recognise the importance of the Elmwood campus and that consideration of its future is relevant to skills provision, which was raised by the member, and the local community. If the member wants to write to me with feedback from their engagemen...

The Minister for Innovation, Technology and Tertiary Education (Ben Macpherson) SNP Chamber

11 Jun 2026

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

I thank Julie MacDougall for raising this important issue. Although SRUC is an autonomous institution with responsibility for its own decisions in relation to provision and facilities at Elmwood, I would expect it to take into account the needs of students, staff and the wider...

Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber

11 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Barra and Vatersay Community Campus

I underlined our commitment in my first answer: we are working closely with partners, as the majority funder, and we will consider the business case through a robust assurance and approval process once it is submitted.Let us not look back—let us look forward and work together....

The Minister for Innovation, Technology and Tertiary Education (Ben Macpherson) SNP Chamber

11 Jun 2026

General Question Time · Barra and Vatersay Community Campus

I welcome Donald MacKinnon to the chamber. I look forward to working constructively with him and I pay tribute to his predecessor, Alasdair Allan.In answer to his important question, the Barra and Vatersay community campus project was included in our programme for government, ...

The Minister for Innovation, Technology and Tertiary Education (Ben Macpherson) SNP Chamber

10 Jun 2026

Screen Sector

Considering the points that Q Manivannan has made, will they also share my praise for the programme and celebrate the fact that a second series of “Dept Q” is being filmed on the north-eastern side of Edinburgh, which is creating opportunities and showcasing more of Scotland t...

Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith) (SNP) SNP Chamber

14 May 2026

Oaths and Affirmations

In order to represent my constituents and serve the common good and the people of Scotland, I, Ben Macpherson, do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm, that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according...

Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith) (SNP) SNP Chamber

14 May 2026

Oaths and Affirmations

In order to represent my constituents and serve the common good and the people of Scotland, I, Ben Macpherson, do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm, that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according...

Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith) (SNP) SNP Chamber

14 May 2026

Oaths and Affirmations

In order to represent my constituents and serve the common good and the people of Scotland, I, Ben Macpherson, do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm, that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according...

Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

General Question Time · Forth Valley College (Funding)

Whether it is at the Alloa campus, Forth Valley College or other colleges across the country, as I said, this Government’s stepping up of support for our college sector is making all the difference for learners and institutions.I spoke earlier about the difference that has bee...

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

25 Mar 2026

General Question Time · Forth Valley College (Funding)

The member is generous in spirit, therefore he will want to be thankful for and warmly welcome the fact that the Scottish National Party’s 2026-27 budget includes a 10 per cent uplift for our colleges, reinforcing the Government’s on-going commitment to the college sector, to ...

Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

General Question Time · Forth Valley College (Alloa Campus)

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 announced on 12 March, along with the college sector and the Scottish Funding Council, to consider what our college sector ...

Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

General Question Time · Forth Valley College (Alloa Campus)

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 informing the Scottish Government and working collaboratively and proactively with it to promote the interests of the colleg...

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

25 Mar 2026

General Question Time · Forth Valley College (Alloa Campus)

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 Valley College has confirmed that the Alloa campus will remain open for the academic year 2026-27.In January, using the...

Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber

17 Mar 2026

Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill

Many of my constituents have been affected by the challenges of cladding remediation. Does the member, on behalf of her party, accept any responsibility for the then Conservative UK Government—her Government—being so unresponsive and inconsiderate about recognising the fact th...

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

17 Mar 2026

Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill

Will the member take an intervention?

Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber

12 Mar 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Budget 2026-27 (Apprenticeships)

Further detail would be required to answer that question properly, including what engagement there has been with the college and with Skills Development Scotland, and how those opportunities are being offered and facilitated. I am happy for the member to follow that up with me...

Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber

12 Mar 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Budget 2026-27 (Apprenticeships)

It is important to acknowledge that the latest school leaver statistics show that 95.7 per cent of young people entered a positive destination in 2025, which is the second-highest level on record.We are committed to ensuring that every young person can access the route that be...

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

12 Mar 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Budget 2026-27 (Apprenticeships)

We are providing around £198 million in 2026-27 to support 25,500 new modern apprenticeships, 5,000 new foundation apprenticeships and more than 1,200 new graduate apprenticeships and will continue providing support for more than 39,000 apprentices who are already in training....

Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber

12 Mar 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Defence, Aerospace and Space Sectors (Skills Shortages)

The member is right to highlight the importance of the sector and its future potential growth, the necessity of making sure that we are skilling workers in our rural and island communities across the country and ensuring that the workers in those communities have appropriate e...

Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber

12 Mar 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Defence, Aerospace and Space Sectors (Skills Shortages)

The member raises important points. I should note to the Parliament that I met the sector this year to discuss many of these issues. I am aware of the contribution that the sectors make, not just through my role as a Scottish Government minister but in my capacity as a constit...

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

12 Mar 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Defence, Aerospace and Space Sectors (Skills Shortages)

The Scottish Government is delivering a programme to reform the post-school education and skills system, in which the 2026-27 Scottish budget will invest more than £2.4 billion. There are more than 14,000 full-time-equivalent college students on engineering courses, and we are...

Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber

12 Mar 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Colleges (Borrowing Powers)

I reiterate that I was pleased to announce the beginning of the formal work on the college sector of the future workstream, which is an ambitious short-life workstream that will begin the work that we all need to do to design and deliver a sustainable college sector that is ab...

Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber

12 Mar 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Colleges (Borrowing Powers)

I fully agree that there is a significant opportunity to pivot from a sense of challenge and pressure to a sense of optimism and collective determination. Indeed, there is real ambition across the chamber, the sector and the SFC to pivot to that collective, positive and proact...

Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber

12 Mar 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Colleges (Borrowing Powers)

I appreciate those points and, as the Parliament would expect, I have had constructive engagement on them since taking up the post of Minister for Higher and Further Education, as did my predecessor.It is important that we consider the asks of the sector in a collegiate way, a...

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

12 Mar 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Colleges (Borrowing Powers)

The Scottish Government works closely with the sector and the Scottish Funding Council to create the conditions for the sector to deliver high-quality learning and training for people across Scotland. That includes exploring opportunities to support longer-term investment, whe...

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

12 Mar 2026

Edinburgh Medical School 300

I, too, pay tribute to Martin Whitfield for bringing this excellent motion to the chamber, and I commend all colleagues for their excellent and thoughtful speeches.As the Minister for Higher and Further Education, and as an Edinburgh constituency MSP, it is a real privilege an...

Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber

19 Feb 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Budget 2026-27 (College Sector)

I thank the member for both his fair criticism, on occasion, and the constructive approach that he and his party have taken to the budget process. Through that positive and constructive engagement, along with working together on the collective need of, and our responsibility f...

Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber

19 Feb 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Budget 2026-27 (College Sector)

I thank Mr Ross for raising the important point about how our college staff are paid and the funding that is provided by the Government to facilitate that through our valued stakeholders.Of course, a period of work on industrial relations was undertaken prior to my appointment...

Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber

19 Feb 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Budget 2026-27 (College Sector)

I had an excellent visit to New College Lanarkshire’s Motherwell campus in recent months, and I was struck by what a remarkable institution it is, by the good that it is doing in the community and by the skills that it is providing to the public and private sectors.The Scottis...

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

19 Feb 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Budget 2026-27 (College Sector)

The draft budget increases core capital and resource funding for Scotland’s colleges by £70 million—a 10 per cent uplift on last year. That provides a strong platform for the sector to support learners, deliver the skills that our economy needs and ensure that our colleges are...

Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber

19 Feb 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Apprenticeships (Care-experienced Young People)

I met relevant stakeholders recently to discuss traditional building skills. The member is right to highlight the need to retain the skills that we have now and pass them on to the next generation, as well as the need to meet the demand for those skills across the country. I w...

Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber

19 Feb 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Apprenticeships (Care-experienced Young People)

The member is right to highlight those issues. We have increased access in both college and university enrolment for those from a care-experienced background. However, I appreciate the point about retention and the wider responsibility that we, collectively as a Parliament and...

Ben Macpherson SNP Chamber

19 Feb 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Apprenticeships (Care-experienced Young People)

I thank Ariane Burgess for highlighting those important points about her region, the young people in it and those who are retraining.The modern apprenticeship demand assessment comprises three phases. The first is establishing a robust evidence base and sourcing and collating ...

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

19 Feb 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Apprenticeships (Care-experienced Young People)

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that care-experienced young people can access a variety of apprenticeships, including in rural and island areas. Skills Development Scotland, on behalf of the Scottish Government, provides enhanced contribution rates for care-ex...

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

12 Feb 2026

Edinburgh South Community Football Club and Grass-roots Football

I welcome this debate, particularly as I was formerly an under-12s player for Inch boys club. I also recognise the contributions that the Spartans Community Foundation has made in the north of the city. Is that not an example of what can be created when the council and other o...

Ben Macpherson SNP Committee

21 Jan 2026

Budget Scrutiny 2026-27

Just to build on that, I would say that all education spending is, arguably, preventative spending, in the way that my ministerial colleagues have set out. Indeed, the significant additional investment that we are putting into colleges will have a preventative impact later in ...

Ben Macpherson SNP Committee

21 Jan 2026

Budget Scrutiny 2026-27

PFI?

Ben Macpherson SNP Committee

21 Jan 2026

Budget Scrutiny 2026-27

Every area of skills is on my radar, but other ministers are also engaged with skills considerations for their particular portfolios. The provision of skills and higher and further education overlap across all policy areas; medicine, engineering and other aspects of skills pro...

Ben Macpherson SNP Committee

21 Jan 2026

Budget Scrutiny 2026-27

It is both. I have been a rural affairs and natural environment minister before, so I have engaged with such points. For context, one of the key reasons why we have skills shortages in many areas is that Brexit has affected the number of veterinary graduates and vets more gene...

Ben Macpherson SNP Committee

21 Jan 2026

Budget Scrutiny 2026-27

Ministers will be involved. I expect that Mairi Gougeon is strongly engaged in those discussions.

Ben Macpherson SNP Committee

21 Jan 2026

Budget Scrutiny 2026-27

What is the context of that question, convener?

Ben Macpherson SNP Committee

21 Jan 2026

Budget Scrutiny 2026-27

I was not dismissing them. I respect them deeply. I was just saying that, although there has been an uplift, we appreciate that the university sector would have liked more. There are real challenges, which is why we are working with the sector through a process in which we wil...

Ben Macpherson SNP Committee

21 Jan 2026

Budget Scrutiny 2026-27

Most stakeholders will say that they would have liked more. I do not think that I have ever come across a stakeholder in any sphere of public service delivery who has not said that they would have wanted more. I think that the budget is fair.

Ben Macpherson SNP Committee

21 Jan 2026

Budget Scrutiny 2026-27

I have had good engagement with Universities Scotland in recent weeks on the budget and on the legislation that the Parliament passed yesterday. It is fair to say that Universities Scotland would have liked more resource in the budget, but I think that it is a fair settlement,...

Ben Macpherson SNP Committee

21 Jan 2026

Budget Scrutiny 2026-27

I will absolutely endeavour to do that.

Ben Macpherson SNP Committee

21 Jan 2026

Budget Scrutiny 2026-27

I refer you to the letter that I sent to the committee, which details the agreements that we came to in our discussions in the chamber. As far as the legislation is concerned, as I think I said yesterday, the ink is still drying.We are now entering the very important implement...

Ben Macpherson SNP Committee

21 Jan 2026

Budget Scrutiny 2026-27

The tripartite group has spoken about a number of matters, and I think that it would perhaps be more helpful for the committee if I took away an action to assess the tripartite group minutes and identify what might be of interest to the committee in order to share that at this...

Ben Macpherson SNP Committee

21 Jan 2026

Budget Scrutiny 2026-27

Thank you. I appreciate that I cannot speak directly to years past on the previous fund, but, as the cabinet secretary has emphasised, there is an expectation that this uplifting resource will create not just an alleviation of some of the pressure, but an opportunity for progr...

Ben Macpherson SNP Committee

21 Jan 2026

Budget Scrutiny 2026-27

Sure.

Ben Macpherson SNP Committee

21 Jan 2026

Budget Scrutiny 2026-27

To be completely clear, I cannot recall directly whether those capital issues were raised with me in the meeting that I had in November. Alex Rowley recently asked me about the Elmwood campus—I think that it was two weeks ago at general question time—although that was more wit...

Ben Macpherson SNP Committee

21 Jan 2026

Budget Scrutiny 2026-27

I was busy with ministerial engagements and meetings. However, I had a very good meeting with SRUC here in Edinburgh at the King’s buildings—it was on 19 November, as I recall. SRUC then wrote to me on 20 November, raising matters in that correspondence that I am still conside...

Ben Macpherson SNP Committee

21 Jan 2026

Budget Scrutiny 2026-27

I caught some of the follow-up from last week’s session. I did not manage to watch it all, as I am sure colleagues will appreciate—

Ben Macpherson SNP Committee

21 Jan 2026

Budget Scrutiny 2026-27

Maybe that was more to do with the announcements that Ross Greer and I made on fair work. There was definitely a sense that the uplift in funding was important and welcome, although I appreciate that there are thoughts and concerns about what it means going forward.I refer bac...

Ben Macpherson SNP Committee

21 Jan 2026

Budget Scrutiny 2026-27

I was at the event that evening, too, and there was some jubilation in the room, I thought.

Ben Macpherson SNP Committee

21 Jan 2026

Budget Scrutiny 2026-27

For absolute clarity, colleges are crucial in tackling poverty. About a third of university entrants come from colleges, some people go straight on to college courses, and some attend college as part of an apprenticeship programme, so the impact of colleges is clear.

Ben Macpherson SNP Committee

21 Jan 2026

Budget Scrutiny 2026-27

We anticipate that about 30,000 new apprenticeship opportunities will be provided in the 2026-27 financial year, which is similar to the number in the previous financial year. As has been the case in previous financial years, we anticipate that most of those opportunities will...

Ben Macpherson SNP Committee

21 Jan 2026

Budget Scrutiny 2026-27

I am glad that you have emphasised the importance of apprenticeships, especially following the Parliament’s passing of a significant bill in that policy area yesterday. The budget will allow Skills Development Scotland and the SFC to support existing apprenticeships. It is ant...

Ben Macpherson SNP Committee

21 Jan 2026

Budget Scrutiny 2026-27

I do not want to speak on the SFC’s behalf—it is for it to articulate this—but it might choose to utilise some of that £8.2 million capital spend to support individual institutions in the shorter term with the challenges that they have. However, certainly, that capital resourc...