Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-14406, in the name of Liam Kerr, on free school meals for all primary pupils. I invite members who wish t...

Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con) Con

How times change. Do members remember the then First Minister promising in 2015 to completely close the attainment gap? Now, this Government simply aspires t...

Monica Lennon (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab

Made a request to intervene.

Liam Kerr Con

I will take Monica Lennon’s intervention later. Last week, John Swinney confirmed in this Parliament that he was scrapping the SNP’s pledge to introduce uni...

Monica Lennon Lab

I welcome Liam Kerr’s motion and hope that the whole Parliament will back it today. All primary school pupils in Wales and in London have free school meals b...

Liam Kerr Con

I absolutely agree with that—it is a good point well made. The amendment is as predictable as it is shameful and, indeed, ignorant. On 5 September, in this ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

I call Jenny Gilruth to speak to and move amendment S6M-14406.3. 15:04

The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills (Jenny Gilruth) SNP

Last night, I met the world schools debating champions at Bute house. Team Scotland was represented by Portobello high school, St Columba’s high school from ...

Liam Kerr Con

I share the cabinet secretary’s deep disappointment in the Scottish Government’s decisions, but can she help us to understand what representations she made t...

Jenny Gilruth SNP

I made strong representations to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government. If the member is interested, he can speak to her directly about that...

Pam Duncan-Glancy (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?

Jenny Gilruth SNP

Pam Duncan-Glancy is attempting to make an intervention. I am conscious of time, and I would like to make progress, but I am going to name Pam Duncan-Glancy,...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

You need to conclude, cabinet secretary.

Jenny Gilruth SNP

The reality is that austerity is a political choice. It matters not one iota whether it is red or blue. The result is less money for Scotland, less money for...

Pam Duncan-Glancy (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

I am pleased to open on behalf of Scottish Labour in the debate and to speak in support of the motion and the amendment in my name. I have said this before,...

Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) SNP

Will Pam Duncan-Glancy give way?

Pam Duncan-Glancy Lab

I am sorry, I do not have time. Young people from the most disadvantaged backgrounds are five times more likely to be unemployed. Those are not just numbers...

Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green) Green

I should start by thanking the Conservatives, not just for using some of their time this afternoon to debate free school meals, but because the topics of the...

Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD) LD

Marcus Rashford made a big impact on this whole debate in 2020 and before that. He has left a lasting legacy that has been credited, quite rightly, across th...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

You need to conclude.

Willie Rennie LD

It is not only our promise; it is the Government’s promise, and it is for the Government to deliver it. We deserve an answer from the Government today.

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

We move to the open debate. 15:23

Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con) Con

I declare an interest in that my eldest daughter is a teacher. She is head of guidance as well as being a physical education teacher. When I came into Parli...

Jackie Dunbar (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Brian Whittle Con

I am afraid that I do not have time. Ploughing that furrow simply digs a deeper and deeper hole for our educators, heaping ever more responsibility on to ou...

George Adam (Paisley) (SNP) SNP

I find myself back on the back benches, freed from the shackles of Government, able to say what I really mean and what I really want to say. However, you are...

Foysol Choudhury (Lothian) (Lab) Lab

In 2021, the First Minister, then Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, said that free school meals were a landmark policy. Successive First Ministers ...

Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills said that she wanted some context and to engage with the Opposition. Like Willie Rennie, I will take her back ...

Evelyn Tweed (Stirling) (SNP) SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Liz Smith Con

I will, in a minute. I presume that that is why the SNP made the manifesto commitment that it did in 2021. It made that promise, which we are debating this ...