Hansard

The Presiding Officer (Ken Macintosh) NPA

Good afternoon. The next item of business is a statement by Mark McDonald on the child protection improvement programme. The minister will take questions at ...

The Minister for Childcare and Early Years (Mark McDonald) SNP

A year ago, the then Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning set out the Government’s intention to implement a child protection improvement pro...

Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

I thank the Scottish Government for early sight of the statement and for its constructive engagement on what is obviously a very serious issue on which I am ...

Mark McDonald SNP

I am grateful to Liz Smith for her constructive and consensual approach to the steps that I have outlined. Liz Smith will be aware of the evidence that Aile...

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab) Lab

I, too, thank the minister for early sight of his statement. We certainly welcome any progress towards protecting our children, and the two reports that have...

Mark McDonald SNP

I thank Iain Gray for his comments on the Government’s approach to the recommendations. On the 2014 Brock report and the subsequent statement, if he looks at...

Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) SNP

As a former social worker, I am glad to see that children and families are at the heart of the Scottish Government’s child protection improvement programme. ...

Mark McDonald SNP

The children’s hearings improvement partnership was asked to scrutinise the impact of recent legislative and practice changes on the children’s hearings syst...

Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Con

I was interested in the minister’s response to Liz Smith about the PVG scheme. First, I ask him to clarify the timescale for the review of that scheme. Secon...

Mark McDonald SNP

As Donald Cameron knows, I said at the Health and Sport Committee that, if legislation is required off the back of the review, we expect to pass it by 2019. ...

Rona Mackay (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) SNP

I welcome the setting up of a working group to consider how joint inspections might better focus on outcomes for children. Can the minister outline his views...

Mark McDonald SNP

I want to ensure that joint inspections of services for children and young people are underpinned by prevention, early intervention and partnership working. ...

Monica Lennon (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab

In his statement, the minister said: “We must also continue to invest in activity that supports families and intervenes early to prevent difficulties from a...

Mark McDonald SNP

I point to headcount in relation to the Scottish social service workforce, particularly in children’s services. Data collected for us by the Scottish Social ...

James Dornan (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) SNP

The minister will be aware that the Education and Skills Committee has begun its own exercise to take stock of the reforms to the children’s hearings system....

Mark McDonald SNP

I welcome the committee’s interest in and input to the child protection improvement programme. I will be more than happy to engage with the committee and pro...

John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Green

I thank the minister for early sight of the report and commend its good work, which will clearly enhance children’s rights. As he will be aware, I am hoping ...

Mark McDonald SNP

I thank John Finnie for his question, although I should correct him—I think that he mentioned section 11 of the 1937 act, when what we are looking at is sect...

Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD) LD

I, too, thank the minister for early sight of the statement and welcome his willingness to accept the recommendations. I also put on record my thanks to Cath...

Mark McDonald SNP

If Liam McArthur wishes to write to me with any specific questions about funding implications as a result of actions that the Government is taking forward, I...

Christina McKelvie (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP) SNP

Violence against women and girls has significant consequences for the lives of children and young people. I see from the minister’s statement that the Govern...

Mark McDonald SNP

Last month, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and I met groups representing children and victims of domestic abuse to discuss how the law can be reformed to ...

Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con) Con

I thank the minister for the advance copy of his statement. I also remind the chamber that I am a councillor in the City of Edinburgh Council. A lot of the ...

Mark McDonald SNP

Jeremy Balfour is correct in saying that, as well as strategic leadership, in the form of local authority officers, there is political leadership and directi...

Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Lab

There are a number of recommendations that will place additional responsibilities on the Care Inspectorate; indeed, the minister has spoken of an “expanded r...

Mark McDonald SNP

I had discussions with the Care Inspectorate before we produced the recommendations, so I am confident that it is in a position to accommodate the role that ...

Richard Lyle (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) SNP

The minister has explored the range of areas on which the programme focuses. I have, however, a question on a particular area. Can the minister outline what ...

Mark McDonald SNP

I want all children and young people to be able to benefit from the opportunities that the internet has to offer. However, we must also ensure that they are ...

Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Con) Con

Figures that have been published by the Scottish guardianship service have highlighted that 40 per cent of the 262 unaccompanied children that it has registe...

Mark McDonald SNP

The approach that we will take will be to ensure that we raise awareness among the public and professionals about the services that are available to children...