Hansard

The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone) NPA

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-13091, in the name of Liam Kerr, on supporting Scotland’s colleges. 16:26

Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con) Con

Scotland’s colleges are the linchpin on which the future of Scotland depends. That is perhaps a bold statement, but it is backed up by a Fraser of Allander I...

Michelle Thomson (Falkirk East) (SNP) SNP

Will the member give way?

Liam Kerr Con

If I have time, I will. Presiding Officer?

The Presiding Officer NPA

We have no extra time.

Liam Kerr Con

If we have no extra time, I will, regrettably, not take Michelle Thomson’s intervention. Four years ago, the SFC said that because of “tensions in governan...

Michelle Thomson SNP

Oh, I am sorry—I did not see that the member was allowing me to intervene. I greatly appreciate it. I was merely going to make the point that I, too, am gre...

Liam Kerr Con

I think that we need to stay on the point, in particular when time is constrained. The fact is that colleges and their talented students and staff are crucia...

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

The First Minister has been clear that the Government that he leads will be committed to attempting to engage constructively with other parties in the chambe...

Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con) Con

Will the minister take an intervention?

Graeme Dey SNP

Apologies. I am not going to, because I have only five minutes. I want to focus on the substance of the issue for colleges: the challenges and opportunities...

Liam Kerr Con

I am afraid that the minister is rather missing the point. I specifically did not talk about funding; I talked about all the reports giving alternative solut...

Graeme Dey SNP

The point, as Liam Kerr well knows, is that we are bringing to a head a lot of the outcomes and suggestions from the reports. I will try to cover that in thi...

Pam Duncan-Glancy (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

Just yesterday, we had the opportunity to debate colleges in Scotland, and I am pleased that we have the same chance to do so again today. In my role I have ...

Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green) Green

Last night, Pam Duncan-Glancy’s colleague Richard Leonard made the interesting suggestion that the money that is currently being allocated by enterprise agen...

Pam Duncan-Glancy Lab

I thank the member for that intervention and note that he voted for the budget that has delivered savage cuts to colleges across Scotland, so I will take no ...

The Presiding Officer NPA

You must conclude, Ms Duncan-Glancy.

Pam Duncan-Glancy Lab

I would envy the position of the minister, because I would relish the opportunity to serve in government and make the changes that need to happen. Scottish L...

Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green) Green

I will start with an admission that much of what I am about to say is exactly the same as what I said last night, when we covered similar issues. The Scotti...

Sue Webber (Lothian) (Con) Con

Will the member take an intervention?

Ross Greer Green

I am afraid that I have only four minutes, so I will not be able to.

Pam Duncan-Glancy Lab

Will Ross Greer give way?

Ross Greer Green

I will, given that Ms Duncan-Glancy took an intervention from me.

Pam Duncan-Glancy Lab

Ross Greer mentioned fair work and ending zero-hours contracts, so does he support Labour’s new deal for working people?

Ross Greer Green

I do not know whether Ms Duncan-Glancy has seen the news today, but her party has just watered down its new deal for working people, to the point that Unite ...

Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD) LD

If only Ross Greer and his party had been in government for the past two and a half years, we might have seen a bit of a difference. The Government’s policy...

The Presiding Officer NPA

We move to the open debate. 16:51

Sue Webber (Lothian) (Con) Con

I have always been impressed by the work that is being done in our colleges. Those institutions are critical to the economic and social wellbeing of our coun...

Graeme Dey SNP

If I can contradict what I said at the start of my contribution, I ask where, if the member wants more money for the flexible workforce development fund and ...

The Presiding Officer NPA

Please conclude, Ms Webber.