Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-10922, in the name of Daniel Johnson, on ensuring that Scotland’s skills system is fit for the future. I ...

Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Lab

The skills debate has never been more prominent nor more important. That is not just because of recent publications and reports in Scotland. When we look glo...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I call the minister to speak to and move amendment S6M-10922.2. 15:39

The Minister for Higher and Further Education; and Minister for Veterans (Graeme Dey) SNP

I genuinely welcome Labour bringing this debate, although it is brief, to the chamber because it gives me an opportunity to outline the work that has been un...

Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con) Con

Will the minister take an intervention?

Graeme Dey SNP

I am sorry, but I do not have time. I apologise—I have five minutes. Withers found that there is confusion and duplication in our public body landscape but,...

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

I welcome this debate on the future of the Scottish skills agenda, although it is a pity that it is taking place in Opposition time and that it is so short. ...

Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD) LD

We will support the Labour motion, but I give credit to the minister following the Withers review. He has engaged in a positive fashion, and the omens are go...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

We move to the open debate. 15:53

Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

If we want an illustration of the lack of leadership and urgency from the Government in facing up to and tackling the skills shortages that we face today, an...

Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) SNP

The roll-out of the Scottish Government’s 10-year just transition fund is in its first years, and the substantial structural change that Labour’s motion call...

Pam Gosal (West Scotland) (Con) Con

I am delighted to contribute to this debate on the importance of Scotland’s skills landscape to its future economy. I will support the amendment in the name ...

Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

It is a pleasure to follow Pam Gosal in this debate, because she highlighted an issue that is so important—the fact that there are unconventional routes thro...

John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP) SNP

I thank Labour for securing the debate for the chamber. The motion calls for “structural change”, and that has been committed to, I believe. However, I alwa...

Graeme Dey SNP

I reassure John Mason that the points that he is making are perfectly valid and are informing a lot of our thinking around the national career service, in or...

John Mason SNP

That is great, and I am reassured by that. James Withers goes on to say: “different pathways are simply different: not better, not worse, just different.” ...

Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con) Con

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak in the debate. I thank the Labour Party for bringing such an important issue to the chamber. In my view, it is an ...

Graeme Dey SNP

Brian Whittle makes points about delivery on emissions targets. Why is it that the Conservatives oppose every measure that comes forward in the Parliament to...

Brian Whittle Con

If the minister had been listening, he would have heard that I said that that was a great idea. As I said, who will fit and service those heat pumps, let alo...

Maggie Chapman (North East Scotland) (Green) Green

Our economy is changing—indeed, it has to change. Living in the midst of a climate emergency, as we are, it has perhaps never been clearer that business as u...

Bob Doris (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) SNP

This afternoon’s debate has been fascinating. There has been a fair degree of consensus—well, in parts. In the first instance, we all accept that there is a ...

Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con) Con

I echo Murdo Fraser’s opening lament by noting that, in closing a debate as important as one that is about ensuring that Scotland’s skills system is fit for ...

The Minister for Small Business, Innovation, Tourism and Trade (Richard Lochhead) SNP

I think that one thing on which we can all agree is that this is a very important debate. I welcome the fact that the Labour Party has brought it to the cham...

Brian Whittle Lab

I am grateful to the minister for giving up some of his time. Would he agree that it is important that, in a marketing sense, we ensure that pupils at school...

Richard Lochhead SNP

Yes—of course that is important. We have to talk about what is happening in our schools as well as in the further and higher education system and in the wide...

Paul Sweeney (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

Will the minister take an intervention?

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

No—the minister is just about to conclude.

Richard Lochhead SNP

Colleges are training people to install air-source heat pumps and other equipment. A lot is happening. I hope that we can work together to build consensus an...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

I call Pam Duncan-Glancy to wind up the debate. 16:35

Pam Duncan-Glancy (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

It is a pleasure to close the debate for Labour today. We brought today’s debate before Parliament because the stakes to get skills right have never been hig...