Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott) Con

The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-02332, in the name of Fiona Hyslop, on the National Library of Scotland Bill.14:55

The Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs (Fiona Hyslop) SNP

I am pleased to open the debate on the general principles of the National Library of Scotland Bill. I thank the people who gave evidence and I thank the conv...

Stewart Maxwell (West Scotland) (SNP) SNP

On behalf of the Education and Culture Committee, I make clear from the outset our unanimous support for the general principles of the National Library of Sc...

Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab) Lab

I was going to whisper at the start of my speech, but that would have been a cheap and obvious libraries joke, and I would never indulge in such a thing.It i...

Fiona Hyslop SNP

In my opening remarks, I indicated that I would be willing to move the bottom end from seven up to nine. The range of board membership will be very similar t...

Neil Findlay Lab

That is helpful.Reform is also about meeting challenges and embracing wider societal and technological change, and it is clear that the NLS has been proactiv...

Fiona Hyslop SNP

With regard to a number of points that Neil Findlay has raised, it is important to look again at the functions of the NLS. If it did anything to jeopardise a...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith) Lab

You must come to a close.

Neil Findlay Lab

Parts of the bill are to be welcomed, but others raise questions about the role of libraries in general and the specific nature of the NLS. I raise those iss...

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

I apologise on behalf of my colleague Annabel Goldie, who is, sadly, not well today, and thank my colleague Alex Johnstone, who has come into the hot seat at...

Fiona Hyslop SNP

I remind the member that for the Public Service Reform (Scotland) Bill the Conservatives lodged an amendment that would have given ministers greater power to...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

You are in your last minute, Ms Smith.

Liz Smith Con

Thank you, Presiding Officer.I accept what the cabinet secretary said. Others were also a bit concerned about the issue. Ministerial power should be about be...

Clare Adamson (Central Scotland) (SNP) SNP

I am a proud Lanarkshire lass who was born in Motherwell, which is one of the burghs that were blessed with the gift of a Carnegie library. I spent much of m...

Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab

The National Library of Scotland is an extremely important resource for the people of Scotland, so any changes to its structure and operating procedures must...

Fiona Hyslop SNP

I will come back to the issue of charitable status in my closing remarks, but I ask the member to acknowledge that some of the comments that he referred to w...

Mark Griffin Lab

I take that on board, and I appreciate that OSCR has confirmed that the power of direction would not impede the library having charitable status.However, the...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

I am glad to hear it. I need to ask you to finish.

Mark Griffin Lab

That issue should be at the forefront of any changes to the library, and I hope that the cabinet secretary and the new board will give it due consideration.1...

Fiona McLeod (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) SNP

I begin by making two declarations of interest: as many members know, I am a member of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals; and,...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

We are slightly tight for time, so I ask members to stick to their six minutes, please, if they can.15:49

Margaret McCulloch (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab

As I worked in libraries for many years, I start by putting on record my appreciation for the good work of libraries across Scotland and for the National Lib...

Marco Biagi (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) SNP

I declare an interest, which has already been alluded to. As the MSP for Edinburgh Central, I am one of the ex officio members of the board of the National L...

Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD) LD

I congratulate the cabinet secretary on the tone and content of her speech, much of which anticipated comments that I was going to make, and I welcome the an...

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con) Con

Little did I think when I got up this morning that I would find myself speaking in a debate on the National Library of Scotland. Nevertheless, to my surprise...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

Can you come to a conclusion, please?

Alex Johnstone Con

Indeed. Much more could be said on the subject, but given my lack of expertise it would make good sense for me to thank the cabinet secretary for her concess...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

Given the lack of time, I am grateful to you.16:13

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (Lab) Lab

This has been a consensual debate, which has reflected the consensual nature of the committee’s discussions. I welcome Alex Johnstone to the world of culture...

Fiona Hyslop SNP

I thank the members who have spoken in the debate, and I would say that Alex Johnstone is living testament to the fact that libraries broaden the mind. I am ...