Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 10 January 2023
10 Jan 2023 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Shared Parenting
I was reluctant to intervene, because it is quite an awkward situation in which to make an intervention.
Does the member agree that part of the issue that we are talking about comes back to my point that it is a societal issue in that, with parental leave, there is an expectation that mothers will do the main caring and, similarly, when people separate, there is an expectation that the mother will do all the caring? That is a barrier to gender equality. Does the member agree that we need a societal and cultural change in that regard? I agree with Stephen Kerr’s point that it should not all be about Governments intervening.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
The final item of business tonight is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-06610, in the name of Fulton MacGregor, on a programme promoting the benefits ...
Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP)
SNP
I am delighted to bring to the chamber this debate on shared parenting, in my capacity as convener of the cross-party group on shared parenting. I am pleased...
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD)
LD
I congratulate Fulton MacGregor on bringing this debate. He will recall the work that we did during the previous session of Parliament, when I brought forwar...
Fulton MacGregor
SNP
I am glad that the member has taken the opportunity to intervene, because he spoke to me earlier to say that, had it not been for other commitments, he would...
Bill Kidd (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP)
SNP
I am sorry to see people leaving as I stand to speak, but there you go. I thank Fulton MacGregor for bringing the debate to Parliament and for his importan...
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
I am delighted to follow Bill Kidd, who gave an excellent speech in support of Fulton MacGregor’s motion. Parenting is likely to be the most important role ...
Bob Doris (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP)
SNP
I am enjoying Stephen Kerr’s speech. He mentioned “good parenting”. As a father of two, I know that there is no such thing as perfect parenting, and in the c...
Stephen Kerr
Con
I completely agree with Bob Doris—parenting is a work in progress. We learn all the time from our children—and, in my case, grandchildren—about how to be bet...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
I congratulate Fulton MacGregor on securing the debate. I also acknowledge the work of Shared Parenting Scotland, which helps parents to work together despit...
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con)
Con
I am happy to speak in this members’ business debate on an important topic that deserves more consideration than it often gets, so I thank Fulton MacGregor f...
Bob Doris (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP)
SNP
Presiding Officer, thank you for affording me the right to make this speech. I had not intended to speak, but this is a high-quality debate and I wanted to p...
Fulton MacGregor
SNP
I was reluctant to intervene, because it is quite an awkward situation in which to make an intervention. Does the member agree that part of the issue that...
Bob Doris
SNP
I agree absolutely with Fulton MacGregor on that point. In that sense, maybe it is an equalities issue. That is why we must ensure that dads are performing a...
The Minister for Community Safety (Elena Whitham)
SNP
I congratulate Fulton MacGregor on securing this important debate, which gives me my first chance as a minister to respond to a debate. What a wonderful deba...