Hansard

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...