Hansard

The Presiding Officer (Alex Fergusson) NPA

We come to a members’ business debate on motion S3M-7806, in the name of Sarah Boyack, on Edinburgh employment services facing a funding cut. The debate will...

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab) Lab

I thank colleagues for supporting my motion and for ensuring that the issue is raised properly in Parliament.We are in the middle of a recession, and the sit...

The Presiding Officer NPA

The debate must conclude by 5 minutes past 2.13:29

Shirley-Anne Somerville (Lothians) (SNP) SNP

I congratulate Sarah Boyack on lodging her motion and allowing MSPs to discuss this important issue for Edinburgh. However, we need to put the debate into so...

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab) Lab

One of my favourite quotes from the economist Keynes is:“Take care of employment and the budget will take care of itself.”That is an oversimplification, but ...

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD) LD

I add my thanks to Sarah Boyack for securing this important debate. I also thank the unions, the partnership workforce, the people from the connected service...

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green) Green

I thank Sarah Boyack for bringing the topic to the chamber for debate.I ask the Government to think carefully about what will happen about four years down th...

Ian McKee (Lothians) (SNP) SNP

I, too, very much welcome the debate and congratulate Sarah Boyack on securing it. She was my political opponent in the first Scottish parliamentary election...

The Presiding Officer NPA

I call Margo MacDonald, after which I will ask the minister to wind up the debate.13:52

Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind) Ind

I will take as short a time as possible, Presiding Officer.

The Presiding Officer NPA

You can take just about as long as you like.

Margo MacDonald Ind

Are you feeling well, Presiding Officer? Gosh, things have changed—and I thought it was all the same.

The Presiding Officer NPA

You have up to five minutes, Ms MacDonald.

Margo MacDonald Ind

I want to support most of what has been said by my Edinburgh colleagues, in particular Dr McKee and Malcolm Chisholm, and Robin Harper—och, I may as well chu...

The Minister for Housing and Communities (Alex Neil) SNP

I congratulate Sarah Boyack on securing the debate and on the tone that she adopted in introducing it, and I pay tribute to the work of Tom Buchanan, the cha...

Margo MacDonald Ind

I greatly appreciate the effort that has been made on apprenticeships, but many of the schemes that the motion refers to are ones that are needed to prepare ...

Alex Neil SNP

I am coming to that. The apprenticeships are extremely important because, no matter how much preparation young people do, if the apprenticeships and jobs are...

Robin Harper Green

Will the minister take an intervention?

Alex Neil SNP

I do not have time.I recognise the importance of the Edinburgh Capital City Partnership. Edinburgh will benefit substantially from the additional measures th...

Margaret Smith LD

Will the minister give way?

Alex Neil SNP

I do not have time.The Government recognises the importance of the Capital City Partnership and I and John Swinney have been working closely with the City of...