Holyrood, made browsable

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
Current MSPs
415
MSPs ever elected
14
Parties on record
2,096,198
Hansard contributions
1999–2026
Coverage span
Official Report

Search Hansard contributions

Showing 60 of 2,096,198 contributions. Latest 30 days: 3,026. Coverage: 12 May 1999 — 10 Jun 2026.
Maurice Corry Con Committee
24 Mar 2021
Continued Petitions
Thank you, convener, for all your work. I reiterate what my colleague Tom Mason said. The two periods that I have been on the committee have been thoroughly enjoyable; I have enjoyed it all since the start. I, too, thank the clerks and support teams for the immense work that ...
Maurice Corry Con Committee
24 Mar 2021
Continued Petitions
Yes, exactly, if you would not mind.
Maurice Corry Con Committee
24 Mar 2021
Continued Petitions
I will be very quick. You talk about the cabinet secretary and that is fine, but in the case of the COVID-19 Committee it would also be worth writing to Michael Russell, because he is the cabinet secretary that the committee works with. His remit is constitution and legislatio...
Maurice Corry Con Committee
24 Mar 2021
Continued Petitions
Further to the point about the COVID-19 Committee, it is very important that you write to the convener, Donald Cameron, on the point that we discussed. That would be of benefit and a quick way to try to get some resolution. The matter can then be raised at the COVID-19 Committ...
Maurice Corry Con Committee
24 Mar 2021
Continued Petitions
Until 5 May, we will meet only in emergency. The committee is still there, but it is slimmed down. It will meet only if emergency regulations and Scottish statutory instruments need to be approved.
Maurice Corry Con Committee
24 Mar 2021
Continued Petitions
I thank Jackie Baillie for her input—there are always some wise words spoken. It is a very difficult question. I agree with my colleague Gail Ross that we are between a rock and a hard place. I am on the COVID-19 Committee and these sorts of issues come up every week. The late...
Maurice Corry Con Committee
24 Mar 2021
Continued Petitions
I have nothing further to add, and I agree with my colleagues regarding the process and the situation. I also note Gail Ross’s interesting comment that the petitioner may come back if we close the petition. I think that we are in a position where we must close it, as there is ...
Maurice Corry Con Committee
24 Mar 2021
Continued Petitions
I, too, know Marion Brown from my work as a regional MSP—I have had several meetings with her. I understand Jackie Baillie’s point of view, and I know that she has had a lot to do with the petition, for which I thank her. I have concerns about the points that have been raised ...
Maurice Corry Con Committee
24 Mar 2021
Continued Petitions
I thank Finlay Carson for that summary and I am glad that John Scott is going to speak later. I concur with what Finlay Carson has said. We should keep the petition live and include it in our legacy paper for our successor committee. I suggest that we seek an update from the C...
Maurice Corry (West Scotland) (Con) Con Committee
24 Mar 2021
Continued Petitions
I thank the petitioners for keeping going with this long-standing petition. It is immensely important that we get it resolved as soon as possible. John Scott’s point is valid, and I support having a new petition for the compensation factor—that is an excellent point. I am eno...
Maurice Corry Con Chamber
24 Mar 2021
Portfolio Question Time · Organised Sport (Accessibility)
There is understandable concern that Covid-19 has exacerbated inequality of access to sport for children from disadvantaged communities, at the same time worsening the impact on their mental health and wellbeing. Will the minister give details about how the Scottish Government...
3. Maurice Corry (West Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber
24 Mar 2021
Portfolio Question Time · Organised Sport (Accessibility)
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure wider accessibility to organised sport for children and young people once restrictions on this are lifted. (S5O-05148)
Maurice Corry (West Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber
24 Mar 2021
First Minister’s Question Time · Health Records (Veterans)
On leaving the British armed forces, many veterans experience long delays in their general practitioner surgeries getting access to their military health records. That could delay GPs’ diagnosis of any health issues. Will the First Minister ensure that that matter is addressed...
Maurice Corry (West Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber
23 Mar 2021
Churches (Support During Lockdown)
I wish the cabinet secretary and her family well as she moves on to other spheres of life. As I know well, there are responsibilities that no doubt come with a young family. I say an enormous thank you to the cabinet secretary for her work to help us with the veterans communit...
Maurice Corry Con Committee
18 Mar 2021
Subordinate Legislation
That is fine. Thank you very much.
Maurice Corry Con Committee
18 Mar 2021
Subordinate Legislation
That is fair enough. I understand that, and I will accept that response. My final question is for Dominic Munro. What difficult issues have you been addressing with the hospitality sector to assist it in relation to your work on the exit strategy?
Maurice Corry Con Committee
18 Mar 2021
Subordinate Legislation
Thank you, cabinet secretary. My second question is for Professor Leitch. Are you happy with the speed at which Scotland will be opening up and the strategy behind that, as announced by the First Minister on Tuesday?
Maurice Corry (West Scotland) (Con) Con Committee
18 Mar 2021
Subordinate Legislation
First, I wish the cabinet secretary well in his retirement. No doubt we will bump into each other on the Kyles of Bute, around Colintraive, or wherever it may be in Argyll and Bute. Happy retirement; I hope that you enjoy it. I thank you for your input and all the work that yo...
Maurice Corry (West Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber
17 Mar 2021
Clydebank Blitz (80th Anniversary)
Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. I apologise to Gil Paterson and other members for having to leave after my speech and before the end of the debate. On behalf of the Scottish Conservatives, I wish Gil Paterson well in his retirement. I know how hard he has worked in th...
Maurice Corry (West Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber
16 Mar 2021
People with Learning Disabilities (Support during Pandemic)
Thank you very much for allowing me to speak in the debate, Presiding Officer. I thank Jackie Baillie for her unstinting support for the subject of this debate and for the learning disability sector. I know that she does an enormous amount of work, and I commend her for that....
Maurice Corry Con Committee
11 Mar 2021
Annual Report 2020-21
I think that we have all noticed that, more and more, the committee’s deliberations are being broadcast. We have seen references to the committee nearly every week. That shows how valuable the committee is.
Maurice Corry Con Committee
11 Mar 2021
Annual Report 2020-21
I concur with all the points that the convener, Monica Lennon and Mark Ruskell have made. It is important that we recognise the work that goes on behind the scenes, led by Sigrid Robinson and her team, because we could not do our work without them. Mark Ruskell made an intere...
Maurice Corry Con Committee
11 Mar 2021
Subordinate Legislation
Thank you both. I appreciate your answers. It is good to get some meat on the bones.
Maurice Corry Con Committee
11 Mar 2021
Subordinate Legislation
With regard to the rhythm of vaccinations and concentrating on seafarers, can you give us a timescale for getting to that stage?
Maurice Corry Con Committee
11 Mar 2021
Subordinate Legislation
Thank you, cabinet secretary. Professor Leitch, to come back to your concept of rhythm—Inaudible.—and the 4.5 million doses per month, are you able to do that?
Maurice Corry Con Committee
11 Mar 2021
Subordinate Legislation
From your point of view, given your expertise, how far up the list would you put seafarers, once we get into a so-called rhythm?
Maurice Corry Con Committee
11 Mar 2021
Subordinate Legislation
We take that advice, cabinet secretary. Professor Leitch, the Singapore Government has sorted it out so that seafarers can now return to sea vaccinated. Can the same procedure be done for our seafarers in Scotland? They are rotating in and out of the country, back to their sh...
Maurice Corry Con Committee
11 Mar 2021
Subordinate Legislation
Is the transport secretary in the Scottish Government taking that case forward?
Maurice Corry (West Scotland) (Con) Con Committee
11 Mar 2021
Subordinate Legislation
My questions are on driving tests and vaccinations for seafarers. Cabinet secretary, key workers such as nurses, carers and occupational therapists require a driving test to help with their work and they are needed, particularly in remote areas of the country. Can they not ha...
Maurice Corry Con Committee
10 Mar 2021
Next Steps
Are any areas jumping out at you in relation to that question at the moment?
Maurice Corry Con Committee
10 Mar 2021
Next Steps
Plenty of lessons learned and things like that will be produced, with a sort of post-exercise report, we might say. That is fine. Thank you for those answers—that was kind of you, First Minister. This question is for Dr Smith. Inclusion Scotland suggested that the easing of s...
Maurice Corry Con Committee
10 Mar 2021
Next Steps
Would you support an inquiry, as was recommended by the Law Society of Scotland, into the fitness of the legislative and policy framework to deal with the future public health crises that may arise?
Maurice Corry (West Scotland) (Con) Con Committee
10 Mar 2021
Next Steps
First Minister, what value has the report from the citizens panel had in the Government’s consideration of future strategy? Can you point to anything in it that you would particularly like to pursue from among the panel’s recommendations?
Maurice Corry Con Committee
10 Mar 2021
Continued Petitions
Yes, I intend to do that either today or tomorrow—we have two meetings this week. Such issues are discussed weekly, and we can get the message right to the top of the house by raising the issue with Professor Leitch, the adviser to the Scottish Government, and the Cabinet Secr...
Maurice Corry Con Committee
10 Mar 2021
Continued Petitions
I understand and agree with the points that my colleagues have made. Gail Ross raised some pertinent points. The establishments that we are discussing promote health and wellbeing. People come together. They have not seen each other for ages and may be lonely at the moment b...
Maurice Corry Con Committee
10 Mar 2021
Continued Petitions
I agree with my colleagues’ comments, and I agree particularly with what Finlay Carson said. I picked up on the point about cottage hospitals, because I am involved with one of ours in my area. Its reopening is so important for the delivery of care. As a councillor, I was chai...
Maurice Corry Con Committee
10 Mar 2021
Continued Petitions
I beg your pardon; I slipped up. As you said, convener, through the SPSO, there is already an external regulatory body for the NHS. Further, the ombudsman is seeking additional powers anyway, which would be welcomed by the Scottish Government. Changes to NHS oversight are al...
Maurice Corry Con Committee
10 Mar 2021
Continued Petitions
It is an interesting petition. I thank the petitioner for lodging it. I declare an interest. When I was a councillor on Argyll and Bute Council, I was the chair of the integration joint board and oversaw its operation throughout Argyll and Bute, which is, of course, a very rur...
Maurice Corry Con Committee
10 Mar 2021
Continued Petitions
I agree with everything that Gail Ross has said. At this stage I am quite content to recommend that we close the petition under rule 15.7 of standing orders.
Maurice Corry Con Committee
10 Mar 2021
Continued Petitions
I agree with my colleagues. Gail Ross has hit the nail on the head, in that there has been a significant increase in the ownership of dogs during the Covid lockdown, and we have to think about what will happen when people go back to work. She made a good point on that. I am c...
Maurice Corry Con Committee
10 Mar 2021
Continued Petitions
I fully agree with what my colleagues have said. In particular, I agree with what Gail Ross said about the alarming fact that no PVG checks are required. Of course, as she said, that will be addressed under the 2020 act. I advocate that we keep the petition open and include it...
Maurice Corry Con Committee
10 Mar 2021
Continued Petitions
I thank Audrey Baird and Fiona Baker, who are constituents of mine. I know the project and the petition very well from the excellent work that they have done in bringing the issue to our attention and to the attention of the public. I ask that we continue the petition. I do no...
Maurice Corry (West Scotland) (Con) Con Committee
10 Mar 2021
Continued Petitions
I agree with my colleague Gail Ross. I also very much agree with what Rhoda Grant said. I would like the petition to be continued into the new parliamentary session so that our successor committee can keep a check on progress.
Maurice Corry (West Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber
10 Mar 2021
Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would have voted yes.
Maurice Corry Con Committee
04 Mar 2021
Next Steps
I am not particularly happy with that answer, but we will drill down into that issue in the future.
Maurice Corry Con Committee
04 Mar 2021
Next Steps
What would Shelter Scotland advise the Government to do about dealing with credit rating agencies?
Maurice Corry Con Committee
04 Mar 2021
Next Steps
Focusing hard on the effect on credit ratings, which seems to be a big issue, what would you advise the Government to do through legislation to rectify the hardship that people are feeling?
Maurice Corry Con Committee
04 Mar 2021
Next Steps
Thank you for that. Alison Watson, you said that one of the key weaknesses in the housing sector clearly relates to evictions and rent arrears. How would you advise that that be dealt with within the extension of the Covid legislation?
Maurice Corry Con Committee
04 Mar 2021
Next Steps
Your survey results are clear that there was a detrimental effect on adults, and, from what you know, there was a similar effect on children.
Maurice Corry Con Committee
04 Mar 2021
Next Steps
What did Inclusion Scottish do about that? How powerful was your argument to the Scottish Government in trying to ensure that your wishes were implemented? What effort was made?
Maurice Corry Con Committee
04 Mar 2021
Next Steps
Yes, I do. My first question is for Iain Smith. Do you know why the provisions in the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020 relating to the assessments of adults requiring support were suspended but those relating to children were not?
Maurice Corry Con Committee
04 Mar 2021
Next Steps
What are the key issues that you would want to be addressed if you could do that now?
Maurice Corry Con Committee
04 Mar 2021
Next Steps
Police officers, including special constables, have been on the front line in responding to the Covid-19 outbreak since its outset, but do you feel that your members were given adequate training on enforcing the new legislation?
Maurice Corry Con Committee
04 Mar 2021
Next Steps
Therefore, there has been no progress on that.
Maurice Corry (West Scotland) (Con) Con Committee
04 Mar 2021
Next Steps
The response to the pandemic has operated on a four-nation basis. Is there anything that we can learn from the legislative processes and the scrutiny that takes place in Cardiff, Belfast and Westminster? 11:00
Maurice Corry (West Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber
04 Mar 2021
International Women’s Day 2021
It is a privilege, as a father of three daughters, for me to join in this debate and celebrate the important, upcoming event of international women’s day next week. It is indeed fortuitous that this is also fairtrade fortnight, given that women are a large part of the workforc...
Maurice Corry (West Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber
04 Mar 2021
First Minister’s Question Time · Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Cyberattack)
A Helensburgh-based constituent of mine who is seeking to develop their electrical business has been unable to make any progress on their planning application with the council because the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, having been subject to a cyberattack in late Dece...
Maurice Corry (West Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber
03 Mar 2021
Autism and Learning Disabilities
I declare that my wife is an ASN teacher at a primary school in Helensburgh, so I hear a lot about the fantastic work that they do in supporting children with all sorts of difficulties. An area of concern is higher and further education, in which there is definitely a gap beca...
Maurice Corry Con Committee
25 Feb 2021
Ministerial Statement
I want to talk to Professor Leitch about cluster zones springing up. There have been very recent significant rises in case numbers in Edinburgh and the Lothians and in the Dunbartonshire and Stirling area. Case numbers are rising in more deprived parts of those areas. What act...
Maurice Corry Con Committee
25 Feb 2021
Ministerial Statement
Thank you for your response to my questions on childcare by family members, such as grandparents. They were much appreciated. What is the Scottish Government’s contingency plan for dealing with any reduction in the production of vaccine, particularly the Pfizer-BioNTech vacci...
← Back to list
Committee

Public Petitions Committee 24 March 2021

24 Mar 2021 · S5 · Public Petitions Committee
Item of business
Continued Petitions
Care Homes (Designated Visitors) (PE1841)
Corry, Maurice Con West Scotland Watch on SPTV
Thank you, convener, for all your work. I reiterate what my colleague Tom Mason said. The two periods that I have been on the committee have been thoroughly enjoyable; I have enjoyed it all since the start. I, too, thank the clerks and support teams for the immense work that they do, which has been wonderful. It is such a special committee because it is, as we know, unique. Other parts of the world—such as the Government of Western Australia—have been asking to see how we work and our systems. As has been said, the committee reflects the words, “the people’s Parliament”; it really is an emphatic message. Thank you once again, Johann. May God be with you, and all best wishes to you and your family in your retirement.

In the same item of business

The Convener Lab
The final continued petition on our agenda is PE1841, which was lodged by Natasha Hamilton on behalf of the Care Home Relatives Scotland group. The petition ...
Jackie Baillie Lab
Thank you, convener, for giving me a second opportunity to speak this morning—I promise that I will not go on too long and test your patience. Having faile...
Gail Ross SNP
I want to thank our co-opted member, Jackie Baillie, for her kind words. She has contributed so much on many petitions, even in the short time that I have be...
Maurice Corry Con
I thank Jackie Baillie for her input—there are always some wise words spoken. It is a very difficult question. I agree with my colleague Gail Ross that we ar...
The Convener Lab
Will the COVID-19 Committee continue to meet?
Maurice Corry Con
Until 5 May, we will meet only in emergency. The committee is still there, but it is slimmed down. It will meet only if emergency regulations and Scottish st...
The Convener Lab
It may be that, if we were agreeing to write to the cabinet secretary, we could write to the COVID-19 Committee and say that this is an urgent issue that the...
David Torrance SNP
As do my colleagues, I think that the issue is very difficult; however, I do not think that the committee can take the petition any further because by the ti...
Tom Mason Con
On balance, I think that we will have to close the petition. The situation is changing month by month as we go forward, and any legislation on the matter wou...
Maurice Corry Con
Further to the point about the COVID-19 Committee, it is very important that you write to the convener, Donald Cameron, on the point that we discussed. That ...
The Convener Lab
Thank you. People have wrestled with this petition. I go back to my earlier point about the frustration that the petitioners expressed. Everybody agreed that...
Maurice Corry Con
I will be very quick. You talk about the cabinet secretary and that is fine, but in the case of the COVID-19 Committee it would also be worth writing to Mich...
The Convener Lab
We can certainly copy him in to the correspondence. That would make sense.
Maurice Corry Con
Yes, exactly, if you would not mind.
Jackie Baillie Lab
Although I am disappointed by the committee’s conclusions on closing the petition, I understand and support the actions that you will take in writing to the ...
The Convener Lab
Thank you. We hope that, because the issue has been aired and commented on in the committee, it has been heard publicly. If there were a request for it, the ...
Tom Mason Con
As you said, convener, I am leaving the committee in a very short time. The success of the committee—it has, undoubtedly, been a success—has been thanks in n...
The Convener Lab
Thank you very much. I have never been accused of being balanced in the past, so that is a great compliment.
Maurice Corry Con
Thank you, convener, for all your work. I reiterate what my colleague Tom Mason said. The two periods that I have been on the committee have been thoroughly ...
The Convener Lab
Thank you very much. I will call David Torrance and then I will give the deputy convener the last word before we move into private session. That is much more...
David Torrance SNP
Thank you very much, convener. It has been a privilege to be on the committee once again in this parliamentary session. The committee has worked really well,...
The Convener Lab
Thank you very much, David. I appreciate your very kind words. We go finally to Gail, our deputy convener.
Gail Ross SNP
It has been an absolute privilege to serve on the committee. The subjects and information that we have had before us mean that I have learned about many diff...
The Convener Lab
Thank you very much, Gail. We look forward to seeing what the new Public Petitions Committee does. If it is as focused on what the petitioners are trying to ...