Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Christine Grahame) SNP

The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-17280, in the name of Tavish Scott, on education. 15:49

Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (LD) LD

We are debating education on the 20th anniversary of the Scottish Parliament, after 12 years of Scottish National Party Government and four years on from the...

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills (John Swinney) SNP

Let me begin by setting out the areas on which I agree with Tavish Scott. I agree that education is the central purpose of this Government. It is the purpose...

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab) Lab

Will the cabinet secretary give way?

John Swinney SNP

I ask Mr Gray to forgive me. We also see funding being targeted directly to individual schools through pupil equity funding. I hear the criticisms that Mr S...

Oliver Mundell (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Con

Will the cabinet secretary give way?

John Swinney SNP

I had better give way to Mr Gray first.

Iain Gray Lab

Mr Swinney must know that Universities Scotland tells us that its funding is 11 per cent lower than it was just a few years ago. How can what he has just sai...

John Swinney SNP

It is true because rising levels of total resource are going into the university sector. I will now give way to Mr Mundell.

Oliver Mundell Con

I hear what the cabinet secretary says about pupil equity funding. Does he recognise that there is still a problem for small schools in my constituency, many...

John Swinney SNP

PEF reaches 95 per cent of schools in Scotland. I appreciate that there are challenges around the distribution mechanism, and my officials are engaged with l...

Johann Lamont (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

Will the cabinet secretary give way?

John Swinney SNP

If Johann Lamont will forgive me, I will give way to her during my closing remarks. Those positive destinations are at a record level because of the appropr...

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab) Lab

It is worth going back to what the First Minister said, when she started in office, about education being a priority. Key interventions were mentioned in her...

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

The 2015 OECD report that examined Scottish schools said some very interesting things, and it is in that context that I will address Tavish Scott’s motion, w...

John Swinney SNP

Liz Smith alights on a point that I simply find difficult to comprehend about the Conservative’s stance. The Conservatives have long argued—I respect their p...

Liz Smith Con

Yes, I absolutely will, cabinet secretary. That is the same question that you asked in the previous debate, which I answered. I fundamentally believe in a co...

Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green) Green

Like colleagues, I am grateful to Tavish Scott for bringing a debate on education before Parliament this afternoon. It is a continuing frustration for many ...

Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD) LD

Four years ago, like Liz Smith, I was a member of this Parliament’s Education and Culture Committee. Since then, the committee has gained in skills what, in ...

Jenny Gilruth (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) SNP

I was going to start by saying that, perhaps for the first time in his life, Tavish Scott is right. However, I found his speech rather depressing. Nonetheles...

Oliver Mundell (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Con

Will the member take an intervention?

Jenny Gilruth SNP

I will in a second. Although all teachers should have a baseline understanding of ASN from either their postgraduate or BEd qualifications, all young people...

Oliver Mundell Con

Will Ms Gilruth clarify when the issue of additional support needs was suddenly bumped up the Government’s agenda? Why has it taken until today for it to rec...

Jenny Gilruth SNP

I do not accept Oliver Mundell’s point. The Education and Skills Committee has already carried out an inquiry into the issue, so I am not sure why he thinks ...

Alison Harris (Central Scotland) (Con) Con

Here we are again. We are only two weeks into the month of May, and this is the second debate on education to have been led by Opposition parties in those 14...

Jenny Gilruth SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Alison Harris Con

No. I am sorry. I have only four minutes. That is approximately a 75 per cent drop, which is incredible. However, when faced with those facts, the SNP rever...

Jenny Gilruth SNP

Taking modern languages is no longer compulsory to S4.

Alison Harris Con

I am sorry—could you please be quiet, Ms Gilruth? I am not taking interjections from you. We have heard the First Minister refuse to answer questions on sub...

Johann Lamont (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

I welcome the opportunity to participate in this debate. Anybody who knows me knows that, at my very core, I want to build consensus. I want people to agree ...