Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott) Con

Good afternoon, everyone. The first item of business this afternoon is a debate on motion S4M-10214, in the name of Angela Constance, on improving entreprene...

The Cabinet Secretary for Training, Youth and Women’s Employment (Angela Constance) SNP

I am very pleased to open this debate on promoting entrepreneurship among women and young people. If we are to achieve our potential as a nation, it is impor...

Jenny Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab) Lab

On the very important point about women in business, does the cabinet secretary agree that any policy to encourage enterprise—for females or anyone—has to be...

Angela Constance SNP

I am glad that Ms Marra could turn up to this afternoon’s debate. Once again, we are revisiting some well-rehearsed arguments about college reform. As Ms Mar...

Jenny Marra Lab

Will the cabinet secretary give way?

Angela Constance SNP

No, thank you. I am still answering Ms Marra’s question. The move towards full-time courses with recognised qualifications has been to the benefit of young ...

Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Lab) Lab

Will the cabinet secretary give way?

Angela Constance SNP

No. I must point out that part-time courses and, indeed, older learners are not being excluded as a result of that. If people are serious about women taking...

Jenny Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab) Lab

First of all, Presiding Officer, I apologise for being slightly late in getting to the chamber this afternoon. This is not the first time that we have come ...

Angela Constance SNP

Does Ms Marra acknowledge that the head count has reduced because the number of full-time equivalents and full-time courses has increased? Does she also ackn...

Jenny Marra Lab

The cabinet secretary can dance on the head of a pin on the issue, but any member of the Parliament who speaks to people in their communities who are on wait...

Fiona McLeod (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) SNP

Does Ms Marra not accept that the number of full-time equivalents is the accepted measure of how many people are at college? That is the measure that is acce...

Jenny Marra Lab

I accept the information that the Scottish funding council has given me, which is that there are 140,000 fewer college places. The environment is much more d...

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

As the first man to speak in the debate, which I suspect will have its own gender imbalance, I feel a little outnumbered. However, I am sure that the Presidi...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Con

Do not count on it.

Murdo Fraser Con

I welcome the Scottish Government’s giving us the opportunity to debate the important issue of improving entrepreneurship. It is fair to say that, as a count...

Willie Rennie (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD) LD

It is a pleasure to take part in the debate. I am not especially qualified to do so, as I am not a woman or young any more, but I am ready to stand beside Mu...

Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) SNP

I will speak about the early part of the Government motion, which states: “That the Parliament recognises the positive impact of entrepreneurial activity by...

Christina McKelvie (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP) SNP

There are now more female than male graduates, so it is shocking that young women should still be victims of outdated and ingrained chauvinism. At least half...

Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Lab) Lab

I very much welcome the strategy and the opportunity to debate it. I am pleased to see the cabinet secretary in her place, focusing on the gender aspect of h...

Dennis Robertson (Aberdeenshire West) (SNP) SNP

I got slightly concerned as I listened to Murdo Fraser because I actually agreed with him on most aspects. It is worrying that the convener of the Economy, E...

Jenny Marra Lab

The member makes an interesting point about Germany. Does he agree that the German situation has been helped by legislative measures that put the onus on bus...

Dennis Robertson SNP

The Scottish Government has done an absolutely wonderful job of promoting apprenticeships. There are more than 25,000 apprentices. More can always be done, b...

Joan McAlpine (South Scotland) (SNP) SNP

In their speeches—particularly those about their own constituents—members have shown that there is absolutely no lack of talent and ambition among our young ...

Dennis Robertson SNP

Did the women to whom Joan McAlpine refers do that by choice or because they felt that it was the only opportunity given the stereotypical aspects of the trade?

Joan McAlpine SNP

I would say that the women to whom I am referring, who run their own beauty and hairdressing businesses, did that by choice. They felt very passionate about ...

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (Lab) Lab

The cabinet secretary said at the beginning of her speech that the enterprise journey begins in school, and I think that we all agree with that. In fact, t...

Angela Constance SNP

I point out that the youth unemployment rate remains at 18.8 per cent, whereas the unemployment rate for women is 5.9 per cent. I do not think for one minute...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Con

You may take some extra time, Mr Chisholm.

Malcolm Chisholm Lab

Okay. I say, just to finish the point, that if we could have 50 per cent of the funding for women under 25 at the childcare academy and 50 per cent for those...