Hansard

The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick) NPA

The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-09376, in the name of Angela Constance, on the European youth guarantee. There is sufficient time in han...

The Minister for Youth Employment (Angela Constance) SNP

I am very pleased to have the opportunity to open this debate on the European youth guarantee. As we have seen from the labour market statistics over the pa...

Jenny Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab) Lab

The minister presented a very robust welcome of the European youth guarantee in her opening remarks, but that view is not shared right across the Scottish Na...

Angela Constance SNP

I refute that entirely. If Ms Marra reads the entire quote that was attributed to Mr Smith, she will see that he was concerned about the lack of budget assoc...

Jenny Marra Lab

Will the minister give way?

Angela Constance SNP

I will in a moment. Our youth employment Scotland and community jobs Scotland initiatives, together with our support to encourage employers to take on gradu...

Jenny Marra Lab

I thank the minister for giving way. She—I am sorry. I will let the minister continue for now, if that is okay.

Angela Constance SNP

Well, that was easy. I thank the member. The point that I was trying to make is that key to our interventions is that we are targeting young people early, b...

Jenny Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab) Lab

The European youth guarantee began as a campaign by the Party of European Socialists, of which the Labour Party is a member, back in May 2012, one year after...

Angela Constance SNP

For the record, I think that I said that we could not deliver the European youth guarantee in full without having the full range of powers over employment se...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith) Lab

Time can be reimbursed for interventions, Ms Marra.

Jenny Marra Lab

We absolutely support the European youth guarantee. I thought that I had been quite clear about that, but maybe I can reassure the minister. Right now, we h...

Angela Constance SNP

It is important that Ms Marra acknowledges that, although we do not know the destination of a very small proportion of young people, despite Skills Developme...

Jenny Marra Lab

One person lost is one person too many. If the Government is to guarantee opportunities to all 16 to 19-year-olds, it is simply not good enough that 17,000 p...

Angela Constance SNP

For the record, Ms Marra should accept that the Audit Scotland report acknowledges the huge achievements of the modern apprenticeship programme. For clarity,...

Jenny Marra Lab

I thank the minister for her clarification—I know what the purpose of an apprenticeship is. In its report, Audit Scotland says that it has doubts about the l...

Maureen Watt (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Jenny Marra Lab

I have already taken three or four interventions, thank you. Interruption.

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

Order, please.

Jenny Marra Lab

I invite Maureen Watt to say that the SNP did not take that position.

Maureen Watt SNP

I thank Jenny Marra for giving way so that I can clarify the position. If she reads the Official Report and sees what the cabinet secretary said on the matte...

Jenny Marra Lab

If the SNP members were completely committed to this, they would have voted for the amendment this morning. It is easy to blame others for your own failure,...

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Con

The Public Audit Committee had a good meeting with the Auditor General for Scotland this morning on modern apprenticeships—I note that my committee colleague...

Angela Constance SNP

The evidence shows that 92 per cent of those who undertake modern apprenticeships are in employment six months after the completion of their apprenticeships....

Mary Scanlon Con

Absolutely. I have become a total anorak on the Audit Scotland report, so I remind the minister that 92 per cent of those who responded to Skills Development...

James Dornan (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Mary Scanlon Con

Be quick.

James Dornan SNP

Thanks very much, Mrs Scanlon. Will you accept that the Auditor General or one of her staff said that at least 50 per cent of former apprentices responded to...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

I remind members to speak through the chair, please.

Mary Scanlon Con

The Auditor General’s staff member said that they would clarify in writing to the committee the exact number of respondents. We previously had a £60 million...