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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.

129
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2,354,908
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1999–2026
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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
22 Mar 2016
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
16 Mar 2016
Scotland Bill
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
10 Mar 2016
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
08 Mar 2016
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
08 Mar 2016
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
08 Mar 2016
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
08 Mar 2016
Higher Education Governance (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
Will the cabinet secretary give way?
Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber
03 Mar 2016
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
25 Feb 2016
Annual Report
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
25 Feb 2016
Annual Report
I beg your pardon.
Annabel Goldie Con Committee
25 Feb 2016
Annual Report
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
25 Feb 2016
Petition
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
25 Feb 2016
Petition
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
25 Feb 2016
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
25 Feb 2016
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
11 Feb 2016
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
11 Feb 2016
Subordinate Legislation
So you do not expect the organisations to have to take on extra staff.
Annabel Goldie Con Committee
11 Feb 2016
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
11 Feb 2016
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
11 Feb 2016
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
11 Feb 2016
Decision on Taking Business in Private
I am a West Scotland MSP.
Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber
10 Feb 2016
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
04 Feb 2016
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
04 Feb 2016
Scottish Transgender Alliance and the Equal Recognition Campaign
Thank you very much indeed.
Annabel Goldie Con Committee
04 Feb 2016
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
04 Feb 2016
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
04 Feb 2016
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
04 Feb 2016
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
04 Feb 2016
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
04 Feb 2016
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
04 Feb 2016
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
04 Feb 2016
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
04 Feb 2016
Scottish Transgender Alliance and the Equal Recognition Campaign
That is very helpful.
Annabel Goldie Con Committee
04 Feb 2016
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
04 Feb 2016
Scottish Transgender Alliance and the Equal Recognition Campaign
Yes.
Annabel Goldie Con Committee
04 Feb 2016
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
04 Feb 2016
Scottish Transgender Alliance and the Equal Recognition Campaign
Good morning. I am a West Scotland MSP.
Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber
28 Jan 2016
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
20 Jan 2016
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
20 Jan 2016
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
20 Jan 2016
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
19 Jan 2016
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
07 Jan 2016
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
07 Jan 2016
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
06 Jan 2016
Age and Social Isolation
When does Mr Stevenson think the next time will occur?
Annabel Goldie Con Chamber
06 Jan 2016
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
06 Jan 2016
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
06 Jan 2016
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
06 Jan 2016
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
06 Jan 2016
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
10 Dec 2015
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
10 Dec 2015
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
03 Dec 2015
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
03 Dec 2015
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
03 Dec 2015
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
03 Dec 2015
General Question Time · Lobbying (Scotland) Bill
Sorry. I was not proposing to come in, Presiding Officer.
Annabel Goldie Con Chamber
02 Dec 2015
Named Persons
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
02 Dec 2015
Named Persons
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
02 Dec 2015
Named Persons
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
02 Dec 2015
Named Persons
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 08 March 2016

08 Mar 2016 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Higher Education Governance (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
Constance, Angela SNP Almond Valley Watch on SPTV

Not just now.

A key principle of the bill is to enable an approach to governance that is based on greater transparency, accountability and inclusivity to support continuous improvement in the operation of our higher education institutions and, crucially, create a consistent approach to governance matters for all our institutions. Providing for the election of a senior lay member on the governing body of each Scottish HEI is key to making those principles real. The role of senior lay member is a powerful one that is central to the governance of the institution, so the senior lay member must be elected by a franchise of staff, students and members of the governing body.

Removing the requirement for senior lay members in the ancient institutions would not be transparent or inclusive, as it would remove the right of staff to take part in that decision-making process, except in the University of Edinburgh, where the rector is elected by staff and students.

15:30  

In the same item of business

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith) Lab
The next item of business is stage 3 proceedings on the Higher Education Governance (Scotland) Bill. In dealing with the amendments, members should have the ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab
Group 1 is on the role of the rector. Amendment 27, in the name of Chic Brodie, is grouped with amendment 31.
Chic Brodie (South Scotland) (SNP) SNP
The bill, which I hope will receive full scrutiny after some years of enactment, has as its base democratic accountability. The purpose of amendments 27 and ...
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con
Mr Brodie has outlined today and at stage 2 that there are, at present, clear divisions and clear lines of responsibility between the senior lay governor and...
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD) LD
During stage 1 evidence, the cabinet secretary made it clear to the Education and Culture Committee that it was not the Government’s intention, through the b...
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning (Angela Constance) SNP
I thank Mr Brodie for his explanation of amendments 27 and 31. As he set out, amendment 27 would remove the requirement for the universities of Glasgow, Edin...
Liz Smith Con
The cabinet secretary has said many times that the diversity of the higher education sector is crucial. That is one of the reasons why we have different posi...
Angela Constance SNP
I am concerned that Mr Brodie’s amendments would confuse the role of rector and that of co-chair and would confuse the role of co-chair and that of senior la...
Chic Brodie SNP
We have not reached the detailed discussion of the further proposals that are attached to my amendments. If the Government proceeds with its proposal, it wil...
Angela Constance SNP
With respect, I do not believe that what Mr Brodie proposes would lead to any consistency. What the Government seeks to do in the bill is to reflect the Scot...
Liz Smith Con
The code of good governance is being reviewed. Would it have been sensible to await the results of that review before proposing the changes in the bill?
Angela Constance SNP
No. It is important that the code of governance is reviewed as appropriate, but the bill is high level and discrete in its proposition, and I refute the sugg...
Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con) Con
Will the cabinet secretary give way?
Angela Constance SNP
Not just now. A key principle of the bill is to enable an approach to governance that is based on greater transparency, accountability and inclusivity to su...
Annabel Goldie Con
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 sayin...
Angela Constance SNP
I say with the greatest respect to Ms Goldie that the questions are not unanswered. No one needs to be a member of a university governing body to understand ...
Chic Brodie SNP
I am even more confused now about what the senior lay member will do vis-à-vis what the rector will do in the ancient universities. Who will speak for the st...
The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab
The question is, that amendment 27 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No.
The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab
There will be a division. As this is the first division, I suspend the meeting for five minutes. 15:33 Meeting suspended. 15:38 On resuming—
The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab
We will now proceed with the division on amendment 27. For Brodie, Chic (South Scotland) (SNP) Brown, Gavin (Lothian) (Con) Buchanan, Cameron (Lothian)...
The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab
The result of the division is: For 20, Against 91, Abstentions 0. Amendment 27 disagreed to.
The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab
Group 2 is on the role of the chairing member and the co-chair. Amendment 28, in the name of Chic Brodie, is grouped with amendments 29, 1, 30 and 40.
Chic Brodie SNP
All my amendments in the group reflect the proposed roles of the chairing members, which I referred to earlier, and of the co-chairs, and embrace the changes...
Liz Smith Con
My amendment 1 is a very simple amendment that is intended to make it clear that the list of duties that is set out in section A1(2) is not in any way an exh...
Liam McArthur LD
My comments on Chic Brodie’s previous amendments apply equally in this instance. I will not repeat myself; we will support the amendments in this group as we...
Angela Constance SNP
I will deal with amendments 28 to 30 and 40 from Chic Brodie and amendment 1 from Liz Smith. The role of senior lay member of the governing body is central...
Liz Smith Con
Is it not the case that there is considerable confusion in the bill over the roles of the rector and the chair? That is the reason why we have a considerable...
Angela Constance SNP
No, we do not have a “considerable problem”. As I have said to Liz Smith and other colleagues, the difference between the role of the rector and that of the ...
Liz Smith Con
Is it not the case that the 18 higher education institutions have very different structures? The whole point of the bill is to allow them to have that divers...
Angela Constance SNP
As has been said a few times, the bill acknowledges the diversity of our institutions, which should be valued. However, we want a high level of consistency a...