Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 21 May 2013
21 May 2013 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Public Science Engagement Initiatives
I do understand that, but I think that the member will also understand, because we have debated the subject before, just how important it is to inspire young people about science at the earliest possible stage. The later we leave it, the harder it gets. In order to do that, primary teachers must have confidence in their own ability to teach science and to inspire the youngsters in their charge as early as possible. The same advisory group recommended that primary schools be properly equipped for science. After all, one can only do so much with an old microwave oven, but the Government simply rejected that idea, saying that it was a matter for councils.
The group also recommended support for a science media centre in order to build public understanding and confidence in Scottish science and scientists—exactly the objectives that the minister talked about—but to that suggestion Scottish ministers responded that there is already a UK science media centre based in London, which has a list of Scottish scientists.
We can pass the Government motion today—after all, what is there to object to in it? However, in doing so, we are really damning the Government with faint praise for a faint-hearted effort. Until we have a Government that really understands that this nation’s future depends more on science than it does on “Brave” and Bannockburn, until we have ministers who respect the views of the science and engineering community on issues such as energy supply, and until we have an education system that values science at least as much as languages or Scottish studies, in truth we are kidding ourselves that we are protecting this country’s legacy and securing its future as a science nation.
The group also recommended support for a science media centre in order to build public understanding and confidence in Scottish science and scientists—exactly the objectives that the minister talked about—but to that suggestion Scottish ministers responded that there is already a UK science media centre based in London, which has a list of Scottish scientists.
We can pass the Government motion today—after all, what is there to object to in it? However, in doing so, we are really damning the Government with faint praise for a faint-hearted effort. Until we have a Government that really understands that this nation’s future depends more on science than it does on “Brave” and Bannockburn, until we have ministers who respect the views of the science and engineering community on issues such as energy supply, and until we have an education system that values science at least as much as languages or Scottish studies, in truth we are kidding ourselves that we are protecting this country’s legacy and securing its future as a science nation.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-06643, in the name of Dr Alasdair Allan, on supporting a science nation: celebrating Scotland’s public sc...
The Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland’s Languages (Dr Alasdair Allan)
SNP
Science, engineering and technology are shaping the world in ways that we would not have recognised just 10 or 15 years ago. The debate is timely, giving us ...
Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
The minister mentioned encouraging women into science. Why has he mentioned that only briefly? Why does his motion not elaborate on the problems that we face...
Dr Allan
SNP
To be fair to myself, I have only just mentioned the issue, so in saying that I have mentioned it only briefly the member does not take account of what I wil...
Neil Findlay
Lab
Could the minister tell us how much it costs for a child to get into Our Dynamic Earth?
Dr Allan
SNP
I will be honest and say that I do not have that figure before me. I understand that there is an entry charge, but I should say that, although the Government...
Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
Will the minister give way?
Dr Allan
SNP
I have already taken two interventions. If the member will allow me to make some progress, I may take one from him in a moment. Interruption. I beg your pardon?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
It is entirely up to members whether they wish to take interventions and at which points. If members wish to make progress, that is entirely their decision.
Dr Allan
SNP
I think that I heard a sedentary intervention, but I am prepared to take an intervention if the member has one.
Hugh Henry (Renfrewshire South) (Lab)
Lab
We have got all afternoon.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Could we stop having sedentary interventions? I would prefer it if members did not respond to them.
Dr Allan
SNP
Okay.The science centres attract around 650,000 visitors every year with a mix of exhibitions, shows and workshops for families, young people, school and nur...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Thank you very much, minister. Before we move on, I am pleased to advise the chamber that all members are now present. However, some clarification is require...
Hugh Henry (Renfrewshire South) (Lab)
Lab
The minister mentioned the big bang event on a couple of occasions. I suspect that the two hours and 50 minutes that we are devoting to this debate will be s...
Sandra White (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP)
SNP
The member has a business manager, who obviously meets the business team. Why did he not give the idea that he is putting forward to his business manager so ...
Hugh Henry
Lab
Sandra White might not understand how the Parliamentary Bureau works—I do not know—but she might want to talk to her business manager about in-built majoriti...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I would be grateful if members who wish to speak in the debate could press the request-to-speak buttons. That is particularly important for any member who ma...
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I apologise to the Presiding Officer and other members in the chamber for the fact that both I and Nanette Milne were late for the debate. Part of the explan...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I thank Liz Smith for the apology that she made on behalf of herself and her colleague Nanette Milne. I will look into the issue about the Business Bulletin,...
Stewart Stevenson (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
SNP
At the outset, I advise colleagues that I will not be deploying my ever popular Rev I M Jolly imitation this afternoon—others do it so much better than I do....
Iain Gray
Lab
Will the member give way?
Stewart Stevenson
SNP
Before coming to a former mathematics teacher, I want to give just a little story about my mathematics teacher, Doc Inglis. He was a wonderfully bluff Lancas...
Iain Gray
Lab
Perhaps the moment has passed, but I wanted to point out that it is not possible to talk in a vacuum because sound does not travel in a vacuum. The advantage...
Stewart Stevenson
SNP
The scream of Schrödinger’s cat no doubt—that is a rather private reference.
Neil Findlay
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
Stewart Stevenson
SNP
I will make some progress, if I may, before thinking about taking another intervention. The bottom line is that we need people who can inspire and link scien...
Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
Nokia once ran a series of advertisements in which an overblown voice-over followed ordinary-looking people doing ordinary things quite anonymously, such as ...
Clare Adamson (Central Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
Does Iain Gray recognise that part of the reason for teaching two foreign languages to pupils between primary 1 and primary 6 is that the changes that it mak...
Iain Gray
Lab
I do understand that, but I think that the member will also understand, because we have debated the subject before, just how important it is to inspire young...