Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 08 March 2016
08 Mar 2016 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Higher Education Governance (Scotland) Bill
I am pleased to speak in this evening’s stage 3 debate on the Higher Education Governance (Scotland) Bill.
The bill is by no means perfect, and it would have been enhanced greatly if many of the amendments that we discussed this afternoon had been passed. However, the bill provides a real opportunity to improve and strengthen the democracy, transparency and accountability of Scotland’s vital university sector.
We know the contribution that our universities make to the academic, economic, social and cultural life of our nation, and the support that they provide to keeping tens of thousands of people in work across Scotland. However, there is no doubt that they could benefit from being more open and accountable. I therefore welcome the opportunities that the bill provides to address current shortfalls in university governance and to improve accountability and transparency in decision-making structures.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
The next item is a debate on motion S4M-15838, in the name of Angela Constance, on the Higher Education Governance (Scotland) Bill. I call the cabinet secr...
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning (Angela Constance)
SNP
For the purposes of rule 9.11 of the standing orders, I wish to advise the Parliament that Her Majesty, having been informed of the purport of the Higher Edu...
Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
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...
Angela Constance
SNP
Miss Goldie has raised that issue before at previous debates in Parliament, and that is a point on which I differ from her. I think that a higher education i...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
I call Iain Gray. We are quite tight for time, so Mr Gray has seven minutes. 18:29
Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
In all the different stages of the bill, it is important that we recognise that, whatever our views on the merits or demerits of the bill, it is good that we...
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
It will be no surprise that we do not support the bill. Not only do we continue to believe that there is absolutely no need for it, given the Scottish Govern...
Annabel Goldie
Con
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 ca...
Liz Smith
Con
I am afraid that I cannot help Annabel Goldie, because we have not had an answer to that question. It remains in the mists of time. I really do not understan...
Stewart Maxwell (West Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
For a relatively modest piece of proposed legislation, the Higher Education Governance (Scotland) Bill has generated considerable comment. Members of the Edu...
John Pentland (Motherwell and Wishaw) (Lab)
Lab
As we have heard, the passage of the bill has not been a great advert for the Scottish Government’s competence and grasp of educational matters, but then aga...
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD)
LD
Our university sector is genuinely world class, but that does not mean that our universities cannot be improved. Adapting to changing needs, expectations and...
Stewart Maxwell
SNP
Will the member give way?
Liam McArthur
LD
I do not really have time, I am afraid. All the evidence shows that the best-performing universities worldwide are those that exercise the greatest level of...
George Adam (Paisley) (SNP)
SNP
As I said in speaking to my amendments at stage 3, practically every single part of the bill has caused storm and fury. During stage 1, we discussed potentia...
Liz Smith
Con
Will the member take an intervention?
George Adam
SNP
Unfortunately, I have only about 10 seconds left. I believe in the bill; it is a way forward for our higher education institutions. I want to work with them...
Cara Hilton (Dunfermline) (Lab)
Lab
I am pleased to speak in this evening’s stage 3 debate on the Higher Education Governance (Scotland) Bill. The bill is by no means perfect, and it would hav...
Liz Smith
Con
Given what the member has just said, can she tell me why it took two hours and two minutes for Labour to make its first contribution this afternoon?
Cara Hilton
Lab
I confess that I am a wee bit confused by that intervention so I will pass. The bill will give staff, students and trade unions a real voice and a real say ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
We move to the closing speeches. 19:00
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
It has been quite a long day. When the cabinet secretary mentioned Thomas Carlyle, I thought that I would look up one or two quotes on my iPad. He said: “th...
Angela Constance
SNP
Will Mrs Scanlon give way?
Mary Scanlon
Con
Of course.
Angela Constance
SNP
I just wondered whether she had a quote about cheerful women.
Mary Scanlon
Con
The cabinet secretary is very knowledgeable about the time that Thomas Carlyle was writing, so she will know that we can assume that what he said applied to ...
Stewart Maxwell
SNP
Go on.
Mary Scanlon
Con
I would like to, but I just cannot. As we normally do on these occasions, I thank the clerks of the Education and Culture Committee and, in particular, I th...
Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
As Iain Gray set out at the beginning of the debate, Labour supports the general principles of the bill. The bill has the laudable aims of ensuring that the ...
Angela Constance
SNP
I thank members for today’s stage 3 debate and record my thanks to the Education and Culture Committee. Unlike Mary Scanlon, I will not embarrass its convene...