Hansard

The Presiding Officer (Ken Macintosh) NPA

The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-08855, in the name of Keith Brown, on the Scottish Government’s support for veterans and the armed forces...

The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work (Keith Brown) SNP

As a nation, we are very proud of our military history. It is particularly timely to reflect on that history now, as the period of remembrance has just drawn...

Mike Rumbles (North East Scotland) (LD) LD

With reference to the veterans first point centres, does the minister have any comment to make on the closure of the first point centre in Grampian because o...

Keith Brown SNP

I am not sure from the nature of the question whether Mike Rumbles is aware of how veterans first point was established. The Westminster Government provided ...

Maurice Corry (West Scotland) (Con) Con

I thank the cabinet secretary for introducing the debate. Particularly at this time of year, it is right that we pay tribute to the important part that the a...

Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I very much welcome the opportunity to speak in a debate about armed forces veterans and the work of the Scottish veterans commissioner, and to talk about so...

Bruce Crawford (Stirling) (SNP) SNP

We are now in the 100th year since the first world war drew to its conclusion. Therefore, it is appropriate to take just a little time in this important deba...

Edward Mountain (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Con

I, too, thank the Government for bringing forward this motion for debate. Like Keith Brown and Maurice Corry, I am a veteran, and my son is a serving soldier...

Graeme Dey (Angus South) (SNP) SNP

In contributing to previous debates on this subject I talked about my late grandfather, who stimulated my interest in the military and veterans from a young ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda Fabiani) SNP

I have a bit of time in hand, so I am happy to be generous with speeches and interventions. 15:36

Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Lab

I echo the welcome for the debate from members around the chamber. As I prepared for the debate, my thoughts turned to my grandfather, who died just over a ...

Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) SNP

First, I associate myself with the cabinet secretary’s remarks about the disgraceful proposal to close Glencorse barracks in my constituency. We have debated...

Mike Rumbles (North East Scotland) (LD) LD

I am pleased to speak in this debate on Scottish Government support for our veterans, and I am happy to follow Christine Grahame, who mentioned Glencorse bar...

Bruce Crawford SNP

I am glad that Mike Rumbles raised the issue of sincerity, because I understand why he has directed his attack at the Scottish Government. Surely there is al...

Mike Rumbles LD

I will pursue that issue, and I will show members why I blame the Scottish Government in a moment. Let me focus on the service that was available in Grampi...

Tom Arthur (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) SNP

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak in the debate and I thank Keith Brown and the Scottish Government for bringing the motion to Parliament. The debat...

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Con

I welcome the opportunity to speak on such an important issue and to commend our courageous veterans. My family does not have a long history in the armed fo...

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP) SNP

Given that many of us were laying wreaths on Sunday to pay tribute to the fallen and to those who have served their country and defended its values, it is ap...

Keith Brown SNP

On the point that Richard Lochhead was making about the preponderance of veterans in his constituency, I add that they also tend to be extremely highly quali...

Richard Lochhead SNP

The cabinet secretary has made a very good point that I will certainly take away with me. It is clearly the case that our veterans play a crucial in Moray’s ...

Mark Griffin Lab

I start this closing speech by restating the point that I made in my opening speech about our continued support for our armed forces personnel and veterans. ...

Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con) Con

I am pleased to close the debate for the Scottish Conservatives. For the avoidance of doubt—if there was any—I confirm my party’s support for the Government ...

Gillian Martin (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) SNP

As the convener of the cross-party group on women in enterprise, I invite the member to come along and hear from WES about its other work.

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

There is an offer that you cannot refuse.

Liam Kerr Con

And I do not intend to refuse it. I would be delighted to come along. A number of members referred to employment and education, as did Mr Eric Fraser’s thir...

Christine Grahame SNP

It was a horse.

Liam Kerr Con

Yes, that was the joke. It was a horse. I am glad to see that Christine Grahame is listening. Demonstrating what not to do, Jock instructed the horse to mov...

Keith Brown SNP

I thank those members who have spoken for an interesting and stimulating debate on what, by consensus, seems to be regarded as an extremely important issue. ...

Maurice Corry Con

Christine Grahame’s point about Women’s Enterprise Scotland was very interesting. There is also Recruit for Spouses. I wonder whether there might be some sor...

Keith Brown SNP

I would be happy to look into that. As the member says, there is symmetry between Recruit for Spouses and Women’s Enterprise Scotland. There are also the two...