Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith) Lab

The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-12385, in the name of Liz Smith, on science, technology, engineering and mathematics education in Scottis...

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

The Parliament has just debated energy policy, on which there were robust differences of opinion. However, there was agreement on all sides of the chamber ab...

The Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland’s Languages (Dr Alasdair Allan) SNP

As Liz Smith knows, the debate in some ways follows a members’ business debate five weeks ago in which a not dissimilar motion that Iain Gray lodged was disc...

Liz Smith Con

I absolutely agree with the minister, but does the fact that more pupils want to access STEM subjects—that trend is being manifested in higher and further ed...

Dr Allan SNP

I am glad that the member acknowledges that there are links between teacher numbers and the experience of young people in learning. I certainly acknowledge t...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

You are in your final minute, minister.

Dr Allan SNP

In that case, I will conclude by making it clear that we can agree to work together on many areas, and not least on an issue that is important to the Governm...

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab) Lab

The teaching of science is a subject that is close to my heart, but more important, it is central to the country’s economic future, as Liz Smith was right to...

Dr Allan SNP

I am sure that the member appreciates the difficulty of comparing one exam system with another, given the changes that have been made at that level in educat...

Iain Gray Lab

The figures that the minister quoted do not take account of the new curriculum moving through into higher and advanced higher levels. If we do not have enou...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

You have 30 seconds.

Iain Gray Lab

The Royal Society of Chemistry is right to suggest access to a science teacher for every primary school. In my constituency, Dunbar primary school has its ow...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

Draw to a close, please.

Iain Gray Lab

There is little to oppose in the Government’s amendment but, in truth, it reeks of complacency and abjures any self-criticism or even self-examination. It ig...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

You must close.

Iain Gray Lab

Science is always ill served by smug self-satisfaction, and we will pay a price for that in our future. I move amendment S4M-12385.1, to leave out from “whi...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

Thank you. I am afraid that we are very tight for time. Speeches should be four minutes, but if members take less than that, I might be able to call everyone...

Stewart Maxwell (West Scotland) (SNP) SNP

I am very well aware of the concerns that are raised in Liz Smith’s motion. The Education and Culture Committee has taken evidence on the matter. On the back...

Liz Smith Con

Does the member acknowledge that there are different trends in the STEM subjects in teacher numbers compared with some of the other secondary subjects? That ...

Stewart Maxwell SNP

I will try to come on to teacher numbers in a moment, if the member will excuse me. One of the recommendations in the final report from the commission for d...

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

Unlike my three Labour colleagues in front of me, each of whom is a distinguished scientist or engineer, I gave up science at 15 and have spent the past 50 y...

Christian Allard (North East Scotland) (SNP) SNP

I welcome this Conservative debate on education. I note that the Institute of Physics in Scotland has said that we should do more to encourage female scien...

Liz Smith Con

I entirely agree with the member: of course STEM cannot be taught to the exclusion of other subjects. However, among the main drivers are the needs of the ec...

Christian Allard SNP

Indeed—the needs of the economy. Tonight, in Edinburgh, the French ambassador to the UK will be meeting a lot of French companies that operate in Scotland. I...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

Will you come to a close, please?

Christian Allard SNP

We are investing a lot, and in the north-east of Scotland the Scottish Government is moving forward. Local authorities are also playing their part, and we as...

Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD) LD

I, too, welcome this debate. As Stewart Maxwell rightly pointed out, the issue has occupied the time of the Education and Culture Committee recently, and I a...

George Adam (Paisley) (SNP) SNP

I welcome the fact that we all recognise the importance of science education and how it can equip our young people with knowledge and skills to contribute to...

Liam McArthur LD

Will the member give way on that point?

George Adam SNP

Unfortunately I do not have much time. I would love to, but I cannot at this stage. In giving evidence, Stuart Farmer of the learned societies group said: ...