Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 04 October 2016
04 Oct 2016 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Higher Education and Further Education (European Union Referendum)
Bear with me—I will get there in a moment.
As mentioned by Liz Smith, even if we leave the EU it does not mean that we will leave Europe or become less European in our ambitions. Universities want to maintain the closest possible relationship with our European neighbours and continue to see the exchange of talent across political boundaries.
We have heard about non-EU nations that do research. Switzerland and Norway take part in horizon 2020, despite not being part of the European Union. A total of 13 associated countries contribute to framework programme budgets in proportion to their gross domestic product, which allows them to take part in research and apply for horizon 2020 projects with the same status as those from EU member states.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda Fabiani)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-01792, in the name of Shirley-Anne Somerville, on the implications of the European Union referendum for h...
The Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science (Shirley-Anne Somerville)
SNP
I welcome the opportunity to open this afternoon’s debate. The people of Scotland gave a strong and unequivocal vote to remain in the European Union. I beli...
Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green)
Green
The news on the funding status of students from the rest of the EU who are starting in 2016 is much welcomed, but we have already seen in evidence to the Edu...
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
I fully appreciate the point that Ross Greer makes. Staff and students in universities have made the same point to me when I have visited them, and they cont...
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
The minister knows that I agree with much of what she has said about post-study work visas, but there has been some indication that there will be a consultat...
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
It would be absolutely fantastic to have a consultation; and it would have been really good to have had the consultation before the four institutions in Engl...
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I want to be very clear at the start of my speech that further and higher education institutions in Scotland and, indeed, the UK are world class in terms of ...
The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills (John Swinney)
SNP
I wonder whether Liz Smith would like to reflect on something else that came from the Conservative Party conference: the Prime Minister’s remark that clinici...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I can allow Liz Smith some extra time for that intervention.
Liz Smith
Con
Thank you, Presiding Officer. I agree with the cabinet secretary, up to a point. We need certainty and we need the message to be absolutely correct. However...
Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
We recently celebrated the news that five of our universities continue to be rated in the top 200 in the whole world—an astonishing achievement for a country...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Come to a close, please.
Iain Gray
Lab
—and which we must now find ways to ensure survives the threat of Brexit.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
We move to the open debate. 16:17
Stuart McMillan (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP)
SNP
Scotland did not vote to leave the EU. We voted to remain. Scotland continually punches above its weight in research, which ensures access to competitive res...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I remind members that, as far as I am concerned, “in conclusion” and “finally” mean the same thing. 16:23
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con)
Con
I think we can all agree that Scotland has one of the very best higher education sectors in the world. It is a tremendous achievement, of which Scotland shou...
Stuart McMillan
SNP
On that point, will the member take an intervention?
Jeremy Balfour
Con
I am sorry, but I need to push on. As recently stated by Nick Hillman of the Higher Education Policy Institute, universities are international institutes—an...
Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Lab
I am very clear that universities do not need the EU for international collaboration, but they are already doing it. What is the upside for universities and ...
Jeremy Balfour
Con
Bear with me—I will get there in a moment. As mentioned by Liz Smith, even if we leave the EU it does not mean that we will leave Europe or become less Euro...
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
Will the member give way?
Jeremy Balfour
Con
I am sorry—I need to push on. It is possible for non-EU countries to contribute, based on their GDP. Clearly the UK will have to negotiate a new deal in ord...
Gillian Martin (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP)
SNP
For once, I will not speak about colleges. I think that everyone expects me to speak about colleges all the time because I worked in one. However, while the ...
Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Lab
One of the things that I have enjoyed most since becoming an MSP is the amazing visits that we get to go on. It is a huge pleasure and privilege for me to ha...
Liz Smith
Con
Notwithstanding the very considerable downsides that we on this side of the chamber have admitted to, there are upsides. For example, we can do a lot, in par...
Daniel Johnson
Lab
All that I heard was either about renegotiating our way back into programmes that we are in or about describing the international collaboration that we are d...
Jeremy Balfour
Con
Is the Labour Party in favour of Brexit? Are you now campaigning for no Brexit?
Daniel Johnson
Lab
We campaigned against Brexit—
Jeremy Balfour
Con
And now?