Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith) Lab

The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-00955, in the name of Liz Smith, on Scotland’s colleges. 10:25

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

If there is a sector in Scottish education that has made the most substantial progress in recent years, it is the college sector. Its institutions have deliv...

Jamie Hepburn (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) SNP

I assume that the member’s inference is that her colleagues down south have levered in private finance to further education and have not, therefore, passed o...

Liz Smith Con

For the simple reason that the Scottish National Party Government will not accept the fact that it cannot just say that it does not approve of the principle ...

Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP) SNP

Does the member want further education students to pay in Scotland?

Liz Smith Con

There are many FE students who might have higher education places in colleges and, if they come from the rest of the UK, they will surely be paying.

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

I say to Mr Doris that interventions should be made officially.

Liz Smith Con

Along with many in the university sector and many public figures such as Lord Sutherland and Sir Andrew Cubie, the Scottish Conservatives have persistently a...

The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning (Michael Russell) SNP

In my statement to the chamber two weeks ago, I made clear the breadth and depth of Scotland’s post-16 education system. I also made clear the value that the...

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab) Lab

Will the cabinet secretary give way?

Michael Russell SNP

No—I will make progress.The college sector’s structure has lain largely untouched for many years. Now we have an opportunity and a pressing need for positive...

Liz Smith Con

Notwithstanding the cabinet secretary’s comment about cuts, why does the college sector—relative to the higher education sector—have to bear the brunt of cuts?

Michael Russell SNP

That is because we are focused on positive reform that builds on the fundamental changes to school education that are under way through curriculum for excell...

Ken Macintosh Lab

Will the cabinet secretary clarify his remark that students will not have to pay fees? Does he not actually mean Scottish students? After all, he has introdu...

Michael Russell SNP

I have frequently said that I wish that that had not been the case. I wish that the Labour Party had not so enthusiastically backed student fees south of the...

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab) Lab

Last week, The Herald contained a disturbing headline, indicating that 1,000 further education jobs have been lost in a year. Although that does not tell the...

Bob Doris SNP

I am confused. Mr Macintosh mentioned the “merger by fax” comment, but I understand that, last week, he asked the cabinet secretary to tell us which universi...

Ken Macintosh Lab

That is a pretty convoluted point, but I think that Mr Doris has just admitted that the University of Abertay Dundee will be closed. I think that that was wh...

Michael Russell SNP

I am very interested that Ken Macintosh wants to see more vocational education. I presume that he therefore endorses a point of view that was put forward las...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

Mr Macintosh, you are now slightly over your time, but I will give you some leeway because of the interventions that you have taken.

Ken Macintosh Lab

I am delighted that Mike Russell pays such close attention to Labour Party policy and its conference. The SNP has already adopted the sensible Labour Party p...

Chic Brodie (South Scotland) (SNP) SNP

I welcome the debate, but I am astounded by the claim from the Conservatives and Liz Smith that, in the one week since the spending review announcement, they...

Liz Smith Con

Will the member give way?

Chic Brodie SNP

No. I am sorry, but I have only four minutes.The professionals also recognise that, in a progressive country, change is a constant. As the cabinet secretary ...

Liz Smith Con

Will the member give way?

Chic Brodie SNP

No, sorry.Will the Conservatives accept that the reforms will result in even greater consultation and collaboration to produce greater partnerships that will...

Jenny Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab) Lab

When the cabinet secretary reported to us what the principals had been saying, he failed to report what they are saying about the cuts. The truth is that the...

Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Jenny Marra Lab

No, thank you.The SNP has made its choices in line with its own priorities. Those choices will curtail the choices of many other people; often, they will cur...

John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP) SNP

Will the member take an intervention?