Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 03 March 2021
03 Mar 2021 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Scotland’s Recovery
I make it clear to Parliament that not only does Scottish Labour support the Government, but it is our policy to make a positive case for the devolution of employment law. When we come to the chamber to agree with the Government, it is a shame that that is not enough for Sandra White and John Mason. They want to go back to the arguments of 2014, while we want to focus on the future.
We could talk about this Government’s record—I think that that is why I am getting some interventions. For example, the Scottish Government, local authorities, the national health service and other public bodies spend around £11 billion per year on goods and services. The financial clout of the state could be used for good, but the most recent annual report on procurement in Scotland shows that just 100,000 jobs were supported from £10 billion of public sector procurement contracts, and less than 1 per cent of small and medium-sized enterprises benefited from procurement spend. That is huge missed opportunity and it is not down to the Tories in Westminster; it is down to the SNP in Edinburgh. Scotland’s Government has missed a huge opportunity to act to bring about fair work in the economy—
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Ken Macintosh)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-24263, in the name of Monica Lennon, on Scotland’s recovery. 15:44
Monica Lennon (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
It has been said many times during the pandemic that we are all in it together. However, although Covid has thrown us all into the same storm, we are most de...
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)
SNP
Does the member consider that the UK Government should either increase the statutory minimum wage or allow us to do that?
Monica Lennon
Lab
Labour members want an increase not just to the statutory minimum wage but to the real living wage. I will come on to the importance of that in a moment. ...
Sandra White (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP)
SNP
I ask Monica Lennon to answer the question that John Mason asked. Also, can she tell Parliament why Labour did not support the inclusion of employment law in...
Monica Lennon
Lab
I make it clear to Parliament that not only does Scottish Labour support the Government, but it is our policy to make a positive case for the devolution of e...
The Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills (Jamie Hepburn)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Monica Lennon
Lab
I want to make some progress. We need progressive procurement. I hope that the minister will agree with that.
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
Will the member give way on that point?
Monica Lennon
Lab
I will continue. The public sector must not reward companies and organisations that engage in blacklisting, operate zero-hour contracts and pay below the l...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Thank you for speaking to time, Ms Lennon. Perhaps I should have made it clear at the beginning that, for once, we have plenty of time for people to take int...
The Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills (Jamie Hepburn)
SNP
I thank Monica Lennon for bringing the debate to the chamber and welcome her to her new role, although I know that it is not the one that she had hoped for. ...
Dean Lockhart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
The minister mentioned a wellbeing economy. However, under the SNP, Scotland has declined from 16th place to 21st place in the international rankings for wel...
Gillian Martin (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP)
SNP
Universal credit.
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
The very response that I might have given was made from the back benches. It is interesting that Mr Lockhart seeks to absolve his party of any responsibilit...
Maurice Golden (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
Allow me to welcome Monica Lennon to her new role as her party’s economy spokesperson. No one would have thought that the final year of this parliamentary s...
Monica Lennon
Lab
I agree that there is a need for speed in getting the funding and support from Government out to the front line, but is it a matter of regret to Maurice Gold...
Maurice Golden
Con
Furlough has been extended to September, there has been £407 billion of support for families, jobs and businesses throughout the crisis and, just today, an a...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
I very much welcome the debate, and I echo the welcome that has been offered to Monica Lennon in her new role. There is nothing in Monica Lennon’s motion wi...
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
I welcome Monica Lennon to her new role in the Scottish Labour Party and commend her for the fine challenge that she posed for Anas Sarwar. I know that we wi...
Annabelle Ewing (Cowdenbeath) (SNP)
SNP
I have a number of observations to make. At the outset, I make the perhaps obvious point that we are not yet out of the woods as far as the coronavirus pande...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Before I call our next speaker, I draw members’ attention to the fact that we have a substantial number of members standing down at the election and a dimini...
Richard Lyle (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP)
SNP
Hear, hear.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
We have a few such members here this afternoon, Mr Lyle. The first of those is David Stewart. 16:32
David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
I, too, congratulate my friend Anas Sarwar on his recent election as Labour leader. I wish him well for the future. He will be part of Scotland’s recovery. I...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Thank you, Mr Stewart. On behalf of all your fellow parliamentarians, I thank you for all that you have contributed, including to the corporate body, for whi...
Gillian Martin (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP)
SNP
What a lovely speech from Dave Stewart—I wish him all the best. I see him as a very good example of the character of the people he represents. I turn to the...
Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)
Con
I wish outgoing members who are delivering their last speeches all the very best. I also thank the Labour Party for giving us the opportunity to debate the C...
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)
SNP
I do not know whether that was Rachael Hamilton’s final speech, but I wish her well in her future career, whatever that might be. There is certainly a lot t...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I call Lewis Macdonald, to be followed by Sandra White. I understand, Mr Macdonald, that this is your last speech, too. 16:57