Hansard

The Presiding Officer (Ken Macintosh) NPA

Our next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-14509, in the name of Kate Forbes, on a digital society for all: working together to maximise the benefit...

The Minister for Public Finance and Digital Economy (Kate Forbes) SNP

I am pleased to debate how Scotland can become a digital society for all and how we are already well on our way to doing so. I thank the members who signed t...

The Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills (Jamie Hepburn) SNP

She did.

Kate Forbes SNP

Good. Mandy, who uses a tablet, was the recipient of the service user achievement award for pioneering the system by tutoring her neighbours in the technolog...

Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Con) Con

My point is less about the delivery of the infrastructure and more about the skills that are required to use it. If it is true that one in five people in Sco...

Kate Forbes SNP

That is a vitally important point. Digital skills are not just something that we should deliver to a particular section of the society. By the time that we g...

Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Con

I take this somewhat belated opportunity to welcome Kate Forbes to the front bench. Representing my home constituency, she will be well aware of the problems...

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

The member appears to have cast doubt on the delivery of the R100 programme to 100 per cent of Scottish premises by 2021. On what basis does he claim that on...

Donald Cameron Con

Quite simply, that is based on the Audit Scotland report that I mentioned. I will move on and provide some local examples. It is easy to talk about digital ...

Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I welcome Kate Forbes to her new ministerial role and wish her well. Today, almost every aspect of society has been transformed by technological advancement...

Kate Forbes SNP

I recognise the comments that the member has made about infrastructure. What is his view on how we ensure that, where there is adequate infrastructure, those...

Colin Smyth Lab

Kate Forbes raises a very important point, which I will deal with in my speech. A large number of groups, whether it is because of income, disability, age or...

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green) Green

As others have done, I welcome Kate Forbes to her position. I think that this is the first time that I have been in a debate with her in her new role in the ...

Mike Rumbles (North East Scotland) (LD) LD

On behalf of the Liberal Democrats, I welcome Kate Forbes to her new role. We wish her well because she knows, as we all do, that delivering the Scottish Gov...

Richard Lyle (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) SNP

What a shame.

Mike Rumbles LD

I point out to Mr Lyle that, in my amendment, I was trying to be helpful to the Scottish Government. Its target is for 100 per cent coverage by December 2021...

Stewart Stevenson SNP

No, it was not.

Mike Rumbles LD

I have read the manifesto; I am not sure whether the member has done so. I am sure that the Scottish Government could bring forward the date, if it had the ...

Kate Forbes SNP

Like Mike Rumbles, I believe that universal connectivity is vital. However, my question to him, which is put in a constructive spirit, is about the fact that...

Mike Rumbles LD

The minister makes a good point. In the same spirit, I say that there is no point in educating people and helping them if they cannot access the service firs...

Richard Lyle SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Mike Rumbles LD

Not on this point. I would rather make my point first; I am running out of time.

Richard Lyle SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda Fabiani) SNP

Mr Lyle, please sit down.

Mike Rumbles LD

If I had more time, I would be delighted to.

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Mr Lyle, the member has said that he does not wish to take an intervention. Please respect that.

Mike Rumbles LD

I say to Richard Lyle that I would certainly take his intervention if I had more time. As I was saying, there is no need to remind me that this is a reserve...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

We now move to the open debate. Speeches should be of up to six minutes, please. We are a bit pushed for time; no extra time can be allowed. 15:37

Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP) SNP

I am pleased to speak in today’s debate as a representative of the South Scotland region, which is a rural area that has faced challenges in digital competen...

Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Con) Con

I welcome Kate Forbes to her role. The renewed focus on the digital economy, connectivity and digital inclusion is welcomed by the Conservatives. After I was...