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Every contribution to the Official Report — chamber and committee — searchable in one place. Pulled from data.parliament.scot, indexed for full-text search, linked through to every MSP.

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Showing 60 of 2,354,908 contributions. Latest 30 days: 0. Coverage: 12 May 1999 — 25 Mar 2026.

Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Bill

I am delighted to participate in this afternoon’s proceedings on the Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Bill, which is the final piece of legislation that we will deal with in this session. From the contributions that have been made, there is a clear consensus that ...

Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

This is not my final speech—I understand that that will take place next week—but, in a sense, the bill encapsulates a journey for me that has involved a marked change in my views since 1999 and a significant development in the life of this institution. In a way, the bill bring...

Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

Scottish Fiscal Commission Bill: Stage 3

I was struck by the cabinet secretary’s comment that if further borrowing powers emerge, he might be prepared to look at this issue again. Is that not to concede in principle that Jackie Baillie’s amendment 29 is sensible? The whole point about the Fiscal Commission is that we...

Annabel Goldie Con Chamber

Higher Education Governance (Scotland) Bill

On the issue of the model of governance, as proposed by the bill, I have, in vain, asked the Scottish Government to give me an example of where that model can be found anywhere in the world. Silence prevails. Can the member help me? Is she aware of the existence of such a mode...

Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

Higher Education Governance (Scotland) Bill

The cabinet secretary advocates a raison d’être for her bill, particularly in relation to what she considers to be the role of the chair. Is she aware of the following definition? It comes from the European Institute of Business Administration: “A good chair knows who she wor...

Annabel Goldie Con Chamber

Higher Education Governance (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

I seem to be one of the few members of this Parliament who have served on a university court. I am listening with care to what the cabinet secretary is saying, but I have to tell her that I am unclear about how an elected rector with an accountable mandate to voters in the ins...

Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

Higher Education Governance (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Will the cabinet secretary give way?

Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

Families Affected by Murder and Culpable Homicide

I, too, am very pleased to participate in this members’ business debate, and I, too, thank Graeme Pearson for securing parliamentary time for such an important and worthwhile topic. Crime, from antisocial behaviour and housebreaking to the unimaginable horrors of child abuse,...

Annabel Goldie Con Committee

I think that it would be appropriate to add that information because the debate was important. It enjoyed the unanimous support of the committee. My second point is a tediously pedantic one on spelling. In paragraph 25, under the “Other activities” heading, the third line rea...

Annabel Goldie Con Committee

I beg your pardon.

Annabel Goldie Con Committee

I have a couple of points. Under the heading “Female Genital Mutilation”, would it be appropriate to make reference to the members’ business debate that our colleague John Mason secured and the meeting that we had thereafter with some representatives of relevant bodies?

Annabel Goldie Con Committee

I infer from what the clerk has helpfully advised that to not actively keep the petition open would perhaps by default allow it to fall. That would be unfortunate because it seems to me that there is a legitimate issue of concern here. As the environment becomes ever more p...

Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con) Con Committee

I have a technical question. What is the status of a petition at the end of a parliamentary session? Does the petition remain alive or does it fall?

Annabel Goldie Con Chamber

Scottish Elections (Dates) Bill: Stage 3

Goodness. It seems like only seconds since I was here, but here we go. I could say that this has been a profound and extensive examination of the bill that is before us. However, it is clear—not for the first time with a bill—that it may be short and straightforward, but impo...

Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

Scottish Elections (Dates) Bill: Stage 3

We in Parliament debate many highly charged and contentious issues, which are robustly discussed. However, the Scottish Elections (Dates) Bill is not one of them. As has been said, it is a short and straightforward bill. The twin proposals to shift the Scottish Parliament and...

Annabel Goldie Con Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Given the delightfully flexible drafting of the regulations, I suppose that the phrase “from time to time” can mean now and again when it comes up the minister’s humph to do it. Regardless of the phrasing, I would like to know what the sanction would be if the Scottish ministe...

Annabel Goldie Con Committee

Subordinate Legislation

So you do not expect the organisations to have to take on extra staff.

Annabel Goldie Con Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Finally, there will obviously be an additional financial and administrative obligation on the smaller listed authorities. Has there been any attempt to quantify what that will mean for those authorities?

Annabel Goldie Con Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Thank you. That is helpful. I know that, during the consultation, some concerns were raised about data protection issues because of the smaller size of some of the listed authorities. How will those concerns be addressed?

Annabel Goldie Con Committee

Subordinate Legislation

I have three pretty simple questions, cabinet secretary. First of all, how many additional listed authorities will now be brought under the provisions of the Equality Act 2010?

Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con) Con Committee

Decision on Taking Business in Private

I am a West Scotland MSP.

Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

Female Genital Mutilation

I am pleased to contribute to this debate to mark international day of zero tolerance for female genital mutilation, and I pay tribute to Margaret McCulloch for securing the parliamentary time for this important and deeply disturbing issue. The campaign against FGM was origin...

Annabel Goldie Con Committee

Scottish Transgender Alliance and the Equal Recognition Campaign

I should declare that I was not a member of the House of Lords at that time.

Annabel Goldie Con Committee

Scottish Transgender Alliance and the Equal Recognition Campaign

Thank you very much indeed.

Annabel Goldie Con Committee

Scottish Transgender Alliance and the Equal Recognition Campaign

You do not think that there would be any particular difficulties if the laws were slightly different.

Annabel Goldie Con Committee

Scottish Transgender Alliance and the Equal Recognition Campaign

Would your ideal be to see the same changes north and south of the border?

Annabel Goldie Con Committee

Scottish Transgender Alliance and the Equal Recognition Campaign

Thank you, convener. James, what engagement have you had with the Scottish Government about your campaign for the changes that you seek to the 2004 act? Was your contact with the Scottish Government before or after the recent report from the Women and Equalities Committee?

Annabel Goldie Con Committee

Scottish Transgender Alliance and the Equal Recognition Campaign

I was going to ask the same question in the context of hospitalisation. I presume that some arrangement currently exists.

Annabel Goldie Con Committee

Scottish Transgender Alliance and the Equal Recognition Campaign

Were such identification to be possible and the law to be changed to achieve that, would that create any issues? I am just trying to think this through. For example, in the unfortunate event that someone were the subject of a conviction before a criminal court with a custodial...

Annabel Goldie Con Committee

Scottish Transgender Alliance and the Equal Recognition Campaign

I will follow up that point in a moment, James. First, Allison Ewing wants to come in.

Annabel Goldie Con Committee

Scottish Transgender Alliance and the Equal Recognition Campaign

That is very helpful. I understand the logic and the personal sentiment behind what you have said, but are there any potential risks in adding a gender-neutral option to legal documents such as birth certificates or passports?

Annabel Goldie Con Committee

Scottish Transgender Alliance and the Equal Recognition Campaign

The recent report from the Women and Equalities Committee at Westminster did not focus on trans people with non-binary and non-gender identities, but it certainly recommended that the UK Government should look at that aspect and at the need, perhaps, to create a legal category...

Annabel Goldie Con Committee

Scottish Transgender Alliance and the Equal Recognition Campaign

That is very helpful.

Annabel Goldie Con Committee

Scottish Transgender Alliance and the Equal Recognition Campaign

That is helpful. I simply wondered how, if we were to move to a system based on self-declaration, we would manage a situation in which someone subsequently decided that they had acted in error, had made a mistake or regretted what they had done. Would the change of law have to...

Annabel Goldie Con Committee

Scottish Transgender Alliance and the Equal Recognition Campaign

Annabel Goldie Con Committee

Scottish Transgender Alliance and the Equal Recognition Campaign

Following on from John Mason’s questions, is there any evidence of anyone who sought gender change under the 2004 act wanting to change their status after that?

Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con) Con Committee

Scottish Transgender Alliance and the Equal Recognition Campaign

Good morning. I am a West Scotland MSP.

Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

I welcome today’s stage 1 debate on the Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Bill and echo the thanks that have already been expressed to the Justice Committee, for a substantial and thorough report, and to the witnesses and stakeholders who assiduously helped to infor...

Annabel Goldie Con Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · City Deals Programme

A number of existing city deals in England have involved agreements with central Government and devolution of powers over areas such as skills and transport. What measures has the Scottish Government taken to deliver more local powers in city deal areas in Scotland?

9. Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · City Deals Programme

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to maximise the economic growth potential and investment opportunities made possible by funding from the United Kingdom city deals programme. (S4O-05272)

Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Infrastructure Investment Plan (Climate Change)

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. In view of your initial injunction to members, I note that the first question and answers have taken three minutes. How do you propose to ensure that the 10 questions that are listed get into the slot that has been allocated?

Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

Apologies (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

This is de minimis; it is just a point for clarification. In relation to section 2, I presume that in the fourth line from the end where the word “proceeding” occurs it should be in the plural and be “proceedings”. Can the minister confirm that that is the case?

Annabel Goldie Con Chamber

Scottish Elections (Dates) Bill: Stage 1

It is clear that the bill will gain broad support today. It is also important that it has COSLA’s approval, as the minister suggested to the committee that it has. That buy-in is important because local authorities will have to deal with electoral administration and their elec...

Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

Scottish Elections (Dates) Bill: Stage 1

I, too, offer my thanks to the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee for its work in bringing forward the stage 1 report. Mr Stevenson offered a quotation on brevity, and I will use the adage from “Hamlet”: “Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit, And...

Annabel Goldie Con Chamber

Age and Social Isolation

When does Mr Stevenson think the next time will occur?

Annabel Goldie Con Chamber

Age and Social Isolation

That point is well made and is acknowledged in the report. I return to the significance of the report. Age Scotland considers that the committee is the first ever to set up an inquiry into social isolation, which demonstrates that the Parliament is taking the issue seriously ...

Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

Age and Social Isolation

All the razzmatazz of Christmas has come and gone. Some memories will fade, as with some presents, such as the jumper that gets lost at the back of the wardrobe, but other images will stick with us. Like Jenny Marra, I found poignant the television advert that features an elde...

Annabel Goldie Con Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Short-term Sentences (Consultation)

The nub of the issue is that Governments must neither obstruct nor compromise the freedom of judges to impose a custodial sentence of any length where the judge considers that that is how best to serve the interests of justice and the victim. Will the cabinet secretary guarant...

7. Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Short-term Sentences (Consultation)

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its response to the consultation on the presumption against short-term sentences. (S4O-05210)

Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Knife Crime (West Scotland)

Given the fact that the Scottish Government’s data confirms a continuing reliance by judges on short and medium-term sentences for persons who are convicted of carrying offensive weapons and that that clearly has a deterrent effect, will the minister confirm that such sentence...

Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc (Scotland) Bill

I welcome the stage 3 debate on the Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc (Scotland) Bill and I share in the tributes that have already been paid to the Justice Committee, Patricia Ferguson and the many witnesses and stakeholders who helped to inform the legisla...

Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Because of the very nature of what a fatal accident inquiry is, is it not reasonable that both the family and the Scottish Legal Aid Board may have no idea about the facts that may be adduced in the course of the inquiry, so the family may be at a genuine disadvantage if it is...

Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

First Minister’s Question Time · Defence Review

I am glad that the First Minister acknowledges that the long-term future of the Lossiemouth air base is being secured as a consequence of the strategic defence and security review. Given her opening remarks this morning, does she welcome the fact that the review underlines th...

Annabel Goldie Con Chamber

General Question Time · Winter Weather (Protection of Vulnerable People)

The National Records of Scotland document “Winter Mortality in Scotland 2014-15” said that 22,011 deaths were registered in Scotland in the four winter months from December 2014 to March 2015, compared with 18,675 deaths in the winter of 2013 to 2014. It is clear that for an a...

6. Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

General Question Time · Winter Weather (Protection of Vulnerable People)

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it will take to protect vulnerable people affected by the weather this winter. (S4O-04899)

Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

General Question Time · Lobbying (Scotland) Bill

Sorry. I was not proposing to come in, Presiding Officer.

Annabel Goldie Con Chamber

There are concerns and we need more information. In order to address the growing opposition and the deep concerns of many families and professionals, the Scottish Government must provide answers and transparency; it is unacceptable to leave everyone in the dark. Will the Scott...

Annabel Goldie Con Chamber

I am sorry, but I am very tight for time. I planned this as a six-minute speech and I have had my time cut back. Finally, I want to turn to a very important point. The very nature of the named person legislation is that it floods the system with many children who do not need ...

Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

Some may argue that, as the named persons policy is enshrined in statute, the train has left the station and is now clattering down the rails. However, it is a controversial measure, and it is the duty of this Parliament to monitor the progress of the train and, indeed, consid...

Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

Will the minister simply specify what, at the moment, precludes authorities from intervening where they believe a child to be at risk?

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Chamber

Meeting of the Parliament 02 December 2015

02 Dec 2015 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament

Item of business

Named Persons

Smith, Liz Con Mid Scotland and Fife Watch on SPTV

I have every kind of evidence. We have seen in the newspapers that many parents are fed up with being told what they have to agree to. The Scottish Government seems to think that that is not an issue, but it is a huge issue, because the named person system is not being introduced by consent but is being imposed. The Scottish Government keeps telling us that the named person system is a right, but the fact of the matter is that parents cannot opt out of it. That is the issue.

I listened very carefully to the instructions about what we legally can and cannot say in the debate. I know that the Scottish Government has to answer some other questions when it comes to the legal proceedings and that we cannot talk about that. However, I ask the Scottish Government to consider the fact that the Information Commissioner’s Office has admitted that, as a result of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, practitioners can share information, including confidential information, without parental consent.

The ICO has also acknowledged that the bar of intervention has altered from “at risk of significant harm” to merely “wellbeing”. I cannot comment any further on that at this time, because it is part of legal proceedings. However, what is really at issue, of course, is the problem about the definition of “wellbeing”. That problem runs through the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, and it is an increasing problem in the Education (Scotland) Bill, which is currently at stage 2 in committee.

In the same item of business

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith) Lab

Before we start the debate, I need to remind members that legal proceedings are on-going in relation to the legislative competence of the named persons provi...

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

Three years ago, when Parliament first debated in earnest the SNP’s plans to introduce named persons, concerns were raised across the chamber not just about ...

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

Will Liz Smith give way?

Liz Smith Con

I ask Mr Chisholm to let me make a bit of progress. Of course those children need help, and of course every effort must be made to assist local authorities,...

Mark McDonald (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) SNP

Liz Smith will be aware of the pathfinder project in Highland Council’s area, the outcomes of which were a 75 per cent time saving for professionals, a 50 pe...

Liz Smith Con

Mark McDonald will be aware that the conclusion of the pathfinder study was that there is no proof that those outcomes were due to the named person policy or...

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

That assertion is disgraceful.

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

Order, please. We cannot have sedentary interventions.

Liz Smith Con

No, it is not disgraceful. That is exactly what is happening in our schools. At the end of the day, and despite all the protestations that we are hearing ju...

Dr Allan SNP

We have already heard about the example from Highland Council, which of course was using a system similar to the named person system prior to the pilot. Has ...

Liz Smith Con

I have every kind of evidence. We have seen in the newspapers that many parents are fed up with being told what they have to agree to. The Scottish Governmen...

The Minister for Children and Young People (Aileen Campbell) SNP

What element of SHANARRI does Liz Smith disagree with?

Liz Smith Con

How on earth can the minister accept that SHANARRI is an acceptable way of assessing a child? Interruption.

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

Order, please. Minister, please stop shouting from a sedentary position.

Liz Smith Con

The minister is perhaps getting a little uptight. Perhaps that is exactly what many parents feel. The practice of the policy is flawed, but that is as nothi...

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

Will Liz Smith take an intervention?

Liz Smith Con

I will continue for a minute, if I may. Perhaps the cabinet secretary can answer this point. The essential trust that is the crucial ingredient on which to ...

Angela Constance SNP

How do we assess the needs of a child? Do we assess all children in a fair and professional manner or do we make some lazy assumptions about which children a...

Liz Smith Con

I think that some teachers in our schools might take great exception to what the cabinet secretary has just said. They are professionals who are trained to d...

The Minister for Children and Young People (Aileen Campbell) SNP

I am proud that this Parliament took the groundbreaking Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill through the Parliament last year. The Children and Young Pe...

Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con) Con

Will the minister simply specify what, at the moment, precludes authorities from intervening where they believe a child to be at risk?

Aileen Campbell SNP

We have child protection laws in place, but the system that we are talking about has been proven to demonstrate good, positive outcomes for children, which M...

Ruth Davidson (Glasgow) (Con) Con

Will the minister give way?

Aileen Campbell SNP

Of course, if the member wants to talk about her article.

Ruth Davidson Con

Does the minister acknowledge that in that article I referred to the testimony of senior members of Scotland’s police force, which was that the approach will...

Aileen Campbell SNP

Police Scotland has been a full and constructive member of the GIRFEC programme board and has been supportive of the named person approach, as it said many t...

Liz Smith Con

Will the minister take an intervention?

Aileen Campbell SNP

I have taken two already; I must make progress. We cannot predict which mum might suffer post-natal depression or which family might suffer bereavement, and...

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab) Lab

We often begin such debates by congratulating the relevant party on bringing it forward. I cannot do that today because this is a calculatedly unhelpful deba...

Liz Smith Con

Does Iain Gray approve of the Hopscotch play that has been taken around our primary schools?