Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Christine Grahame) SNP

The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-03303, in the name of Alasdair Allan, on welcoming “Global Citizenship: Scotland’s International Developm...

The Minister for International Development and Europe (Dr Alasdair Allan) SNP

It is a great pleasure to lead this debate and to introduce members to “Global Citizenship: Scotland’s International Development Strategy”. That is, I believ...

Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD) LD

I am grateful to the minister for taking an intervention and for focusing his early remarks on the relationship that we have with Malawi. As the co-convener ...

Dr Allan SNP

The member rightly points to the importance of networking groups in Scotland working with civic society, churches and others. The funding decisions to which ...

John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP) SNP

I agree very much with what the minister has just said. Does he agree that we need both the longer-term investment to enable other countries and the shorter-...

Dr Allan SNP

The member is right in saying that the constant challenge in international development is to ensure that we both respond to immediate need and think about lo...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I think, minister, that it will have to be terribly brief.

Dr Allan SNP

It will be very brief indeed, in that case. I conclude by saying that I am delighted to present the Government’s—

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I did not mean as brief as that, but go for it.

Dr Allan SNP

How brief is brief? Laughter. As I said, I will indicate some of the changes to our international development work that will support us in implementing our ...

Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

I am delighted to lead for the Scottish Conservatives on this important issue and to move the amendment in my name. We in the Conservatives very much welcom...

Bruce Crawford (Stirling) (SNP) SNP

I recognise your point that the issue is not specifically covered in the Government’s motion, but the minister outlined the position that the Government has ...

Alexander Stewart Con

I was about to come on to that. I had written down the point, which was not in my original speech. On that very point, I acknowledge that the Scottish Parli...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I remind members not to use the term “you” in the chamber but to use either the member’s name or to say “the member”. 15:05

Lewis Macdonald (North East Scotland) (Lab) Lab

The Government’s motion talks about a “strong cross-party collaborative approach and support for international development in the Parliament”. There is bro...

Joan McAlpine (South Scotland) (SNP) SNP

I welcome the Scottish Government’s international development strategy and its £10 million funding commitment, alongside complementary funding streams such a...

Ross Thomson (North East Scotland) (Con) Con

I am sure that all members in the chamber today would agree that it is the responsibility of developed nations, such as our own, to contribute towards sustai...

Claudia Beamish (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

The member may have his own views on the issue, but I highlight the words of my colleague and friend, Anas Sarwar, who has said over many years that Gaza cit...

Ross Thomson Con

I thank the member for her intervention but my point is not about the support that we give but about where it goes. It is right that we help the most vulnera...

Anas Sarwar (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

Will the member take an intervention?

Ross Thomson Con

I do not want to get dragged into a discussion about this; I am just making a brief point about the importance of following the public pound. I would like to...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

It is for the member to decide whether to take interventions, whether from back benchers or front benchers.

Ross Thomson Con

The Scottish Government’s strategy must always ensure a process of real due diligence to guarantee that our money reaches projects that help with peace and n...

Stewart Stevenson (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP

This debate is founded on principle. Page 17 of the document to which we are speaking today captures some of that principle when it says: “Our approach to i...

Claudia Beamish (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I welcome the Scottish Government’s new international development strategy. Internationalism is a proud facet of socialism, and Scottish Labour supports the ...

Kate Forbes (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) SNP

For two years, I used to pass a tarpaulin-covered shack on my way to school each morning. It was not a heap of rubbish—although you might be forgiven for thi...

Alison Harris (Central Scotland) (Con) Con

I am proud to stand here as a member of a party whose Government at Westminster leads the world in its support for the people of poor nations. Our UK Conserv...

Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (LD) LD

I confess that when the whip told me that I had to speak this afternoon, I had a slight sense of “Oh my goodness—not another debate on Brexit.” I gratefully ...

Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

The Government’s international development strategy document touches on a wide range of matters, but I will focus my brief comments on three main areas: firs...

John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP) SNP

I am pleased to take part in today’s debate. In the 1980s, when I lived and worked for three years in Nepal, it was one of the six poorest countries in the w...