Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda Fabiani) SNP

The next item is a debate on motion S5M-24338, in the name of John Swinney, on the Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Bill. 1...

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

It is my privilege to open the debate on the Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Bill. It has been a very challenging bill on a...

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab) Lab

The cabinet secretary has just commented on some survivors who are now elderly. The Government has already introduced the advance payment scheme, and at stag...

John Swinney SNP

To date, the advance payment scheme has made 560 payments to elderly and terminally ill survivors. It will remain open until the statutory scheme can accept ...

Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Con) Con

I pay tribute to members of the Education and Skills Committee, which I joined only last year, to its convener and to our clerks and our adviser, for their h...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I call Iain Gray. I understand that this is, indeed, likely to be his last speech in the chamber. 18:49

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab) Lab

Thank you, Presiding Officer. I speak in support of the bill, which finally promises some redress for people whom we collectively let down so badly for so lo...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I call Beatrice Wishart. 18:56

Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (LD) LD

I am not quite ready, Presiding Officer—I was quite taken by Iain Gray’s speech. The bill has been a long time coming. The journey so far has been long and ...

Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green) Green

I will not tell Iain Gray how old I was when he was first elected to Parliament, but I thank him for how much I have learned from him, particularly on the Ed...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

We move to the open debate, with speeches of up to four minutes, please. 19:04

Clare Adamson (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) SNP

I, too, pay tribute to Iain Gray. He and I share convenership of the cross-party group on science and technology, and one of the highlights of that was a vis...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Johann Lamont is next. This will be Ms Lamont’s final speech in the chamber. 19:09

Johann Lamont (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

Thank you, Presiding Officer—just when you have heard from one former Labour leader, another one pops up to say goodbye. We would have quite a lot of them if...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

The last contribution in the open debate is from Rona Mackay. 19:18

Rona Mackay (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) SNP

I congratulate Johann Lamont and Iain Gray on their very moving speeches. It is not an exaggeration to call them titans of the Labour movement. I wish them v...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

We now move to closing speeches. 19:20

Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Lab

In summing up the debate, we can all start from the position that was well outlined by the cabinet secretary, Jamie Greene, Iain Gray, Johann Lamont and othe...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I have been very lax with the timings tonight. Please do not take advantage, Mr Whittle. You have up to five minutes. 19:26

Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con) Con

I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak in the debate on what is a very important bill. We have tackled some extremely difficult topics in the lifetime...

John Swinney SNP

I am grateful to colleagues for their engagement on the bill and for the recognition that the Government has tried to engage constructively on all the issues...

The Presiding Officer (Ken Macintosh) NPA

That concludes our debate on the Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Bill. There are a few items before we turn to decision time.