Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott) Con

The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-13203, in the name of Jackie Baillie, on the future of Scotland’s economy. 14:41

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Lab

Today, Scotland remains a deeply unequal country, and that has a direct impact on our economy. Our objective to boost the economy at the same time as tacklin...

Mark McDonald (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Jackie Baillie Lab

In a moment. It is therefore in everyone’s interests to address the issue.

The Deputy Presiding Officer Con

I call Mark McDonald.

Jackie Baillie Lab

Our economy—

The Deputy Presiding Officer Con

I beg your pardon, Ms Baillie.

Jackie Baillie Lab

I am happy to give way at this point if that helps.

The Deputy Presiding Officer Con

Forgive me, Ms Baillie. I call Mark McDonald.

Mark McDonald SNP

I was perfectly happy to wait, but I thank the member for giving way. Has she had an opportunity to consider the call from the Scottish Trades Union Congress...

Jackie Baillie Lab

I thank the member for his intervention. We will have an opportunity tomorrow to debate the full devolution package. I will also be speaking then, and I look...

Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) SNP

Will the member give way?

Jackie Baillie Lab

I urge the SNP to use those powers now to tackle the inequality that hampers our economy and the life chances of too many people. OECD research has shown tha...

Kevin Stewart SNP

Will the member give way now?

Jackie Baillie Lab

On the basis that the member has a loud voice, I will give way.

Kevin Stewart SNP

There was I thinking that I was meek and mild.

Jackie Baillie Lab

Never!

Kevin Stewart SNP

On equality, does Ms Baillie agree that this Parliament should have welfare powers rather than see the constant cuts that are coming from Westminster, which ...

Jackie Baillie Lab

The record continues in the same groove. I would have more respect for the member’s position if we worked together to use the powers that we have now to make...

Stewart Stevenson (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP

Will the member, to inform my speech, give me the cost of employing a literacy teacher and the cost of employing a classroom assistant?

Jackie Baillie Lab

I am happy to tell the member that I am being advised that a classroom assistant costs £20,000 and, we think, £30,000 for a literacy teacher. I am happy to c...

Chic Brodie (South Scotland) (SNP) SNP

Will the member give way?

Jackie Baillie Lab

I need to make progress. The investment is not just in our most disadvantaged pupils, so that they get a better start in life, but in the future strength o...

The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning (Angela Constance) SNP

I very much welcome the opportunity to debate in tandem education, our economy and how we are to tackle inequality, because they are all inextricably linked....

Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab) Lab

Will the cabinet secretary give way?

Angela Constance SNP

Not just yet. I will address the errors in Labour’s assertion about young people’s achievements in examinations in recent years. At First Minister’s questio...

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab) Lab

Will the cabinet secretary give way?

Angela Constance SNP

In a moment. The Scottish Qualifications Authority’s data shows that, as expected, the total number of entries and passes at levels 3 to 5 dropped last year...

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

I think that the cabinet secretary is correct in her assessment of the number of presentations. Is that in itself one of the key issues, in that there are fe...

Angela Constance SNP

Ms Smith fails to understand that the overall purpose of the curricular reforms is to maximise the performance of children by the time they leave school. The...