Hansard

The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick) NPA

The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-01197, in the name of Angela Constance, on reducing the time needed to find a permanent home for looked-a...

The Minister for Children and Young People (Angela Constance) SNP

Thank you for your generosity, Presiding Officer.As I am sure we are all aware, this week is national adoption week, which aims to raise awareness of the ben...

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Lab

The Parliament welcomed the steps taken by the Government to ensure that kinship carers receive the same benefits as foster carers, but that has not been imp...

Angela Constance SNP

As Ms Grant is well aware, local authorities are best placed to make decisions about financial support for kinship carers and children at local level. That i...

Gil Paterson (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) SNP

I know that the minister is aware that I adopted a daughter, so I have some knowledge of this issue. Does she agree that time still requires to be taken in p...

Angela Constance SNP

I am sure that Mr Paterson agrees that we can achieve thorough and timely assessments. I can imagine how adoptions, which birth parents often contest in the ...

Hanzala Malik (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

One of the issues facing minority communities, particularly visible minority communities, is that adoptions are not taking place within those communities—chi...

Angela Constance SNP

That is an example of the type of work that we hope is evident in the adoption and permanence plans that local authorities will have to provide to me by Apri...

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab

I welcome the debate and the chance to discuss improving Scotland’s adoption service and the opportunities and life chances of some of Scotland’s most vulner...

Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

There is no greater responsibility than bringing up children—and no greater responsibility for the state than ensuring that children who, for one reason or a...

The Presiding Officer NPA

I mention to members who will take part in the open debate that we have a little bit of time in hand, so if they wish to take interventions, I will ensure th...

Stewart Maxwell (West Scotland) (SNP) SNP

I begin by putting on record my admiration for the work that is done by all those people who are involved in caring for looked-after children in Scotland. Al...

The Presiding Officer NPA

The member should wind up.

Stewart Maxwell SNP

Thank you, Presiding Officer.Are we searching for the perfect outcome for children when the reality is that no child is brought up, even by their birth paren...

Claudia Beamish (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I welcome the opportunity to speak in a debate on an issue that is close to my heart, and I am encouraged by the cross-party agreement in the area.I want to ...

Annabelle Ewing (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP) SNP

I hear what the member says, but I understand that the Scottish Government funds the national advice and support service for kinship carers and that consider...

Claudia Beamish Lab

I thank the member for that helpful intervention. I completely accept that point, but when we consider the range of services that the Midlothian group and pe...

Annabelle Ewing (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP) SNP

I, too, am pleased to speak in this important debate on reducing the time needed to find a permanent home for looked-after children. As has been said, the st...

Richard Lyle (Central Scotland) (SNP) SNP

I could talk about this subject for hours but, in case the Presiding Officer is concerned, I assure her that I will stick to my six minutes.National adoption...

Anne McTaggart (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

I add my support for Monday’s launch of national adoption week, which I am sure every member will support. I also acknowledge the foster carers, kinship care...

Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) SNP

I refer members to my entry in the register of interests. The fact that I am a member of Aberdeen City Council will come up in my speech.When I joined Aberde...

Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD) LD

Last week, members discussed how we can best raise the ambition and attainment of our children and young people. It is not surprising that much of that debat...

George Adam (Paisley) (SNP) SNP

As Kevin Stewart did, I declare an interest as a councillor, but with Renfrewshire Council. As with other issues that we have discussed, I never really thoug...

Jean Urquhart (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) SNP

As other member have done, I welcome the debate and the minister’s clear commitment to changing for the better the lives of some of our children. I also ackn...

Sandra White (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) SNP

I have taken part in similar debates in previous sessions of the Parliament, and the issue does not seem to move on. Jean Urquhart mentioned that we have to ...

Jean Urquhart SNP

I agree with that. That is the point that I had hoped to convey, so I am sorry if it did not come across.Yesterday, the Education and Culture Committee heard...

Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I, too, declare an interest. I am a councillor and for four years—until May this year—I was on Renfrewshire Council’s adoption panel.During my time on the pa...

Clare Adamson (Central Scotland) (SNP) SNP

I declare my interest as a corporate parent, as an elected member of North Lanarkshire Council.The SNP Government has demonstrated its commitment to all of S...

Graeme Pearson (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

It is with trepidation and some humility that I speak in this debate. Trepidation because the subject matter is very important to us all—it is heartening to ...

Derek Mackay (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) SNP

The member makes some interesting points. In a spirit of consensus, Mary Fee, George Adam and others have complimented Renfrewshire Council on its leadership...