Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 18 December 2024
18 Dec 2024 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Education (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
I am pleased to open on behalf of Scottish Labour. I thank my committee colleagues and all the organisations, individuals, pupils, parents and teachers and staff in schools across the country who gave evidence to the committee on the bill.
It is fair to say that education reform has been keenly anticipated for some time. Sadly, the bill falls short of expectations, recommendations and the hopes of many people for change. Scottish Labour agrees with teachers, parents, pupils, trade unions, the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland and countless experts on reviews that the SQA needs to be abolished, the inspectorate needs to be independent and the curriculum in the senior phase needs to align with what young people want and need from the education system.
The bill before us today was an opportunity to do that—to bring about necessary reform and, crucially, to restore trust in the qualifications and other education bodies in Scotland—but, without amendment, I worry that that opportunity could be missed.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-15876, in the name of Jenny Gilruth, on the Education (Scotland) Bill at stage 1. I advise members that t...
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills (Jenny Gilruth)
SNP
I am pleased to present the Education (Scotland) Bill and set out its general principles to Parliament. I start by thanking the Education, Children and Young...
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
We will support the bill at stage 1. However, I hope that the cabinet secretary understands that there are deep concerns and that the bill will require funda...
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
Mr Rennie will know from our meeting yesterday that I am very open to engaging with the Opposition parties on a range of amendments. The fundamental point th...
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
I agree with Jenny Gilruth about the need for a change of culture. Does that mean that she can assure the Parliament that, when the new bodies are formed, th...
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
The member raises an important point, which was addressed when I gave evidence to the committee in October. We are talking about people’s employment rights, ...
Pam Duncan-Glancy (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
Given that accreditation will remain within the qualifications body, does the cabinet secretary believe that the proposed structure is sufficient and will be...
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
We discussed that at the education committee in October. The member raises an important point about accreditation. In recent times, there have been some chal...
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind)
Ind
Does the cabinet secretary agree that a lot of the issues around independence and separation arise because of the attitude of people as much as the legal lines?
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
I am more than happy to speak to the member about that. Perhaps he can give me more detail on it outwith the debate. However, I recognise the challenge in re...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I invite members who wish to speak in the debate to press their request-to-speak buttons. 15:01
Douglas Ross (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I am pleased to speak on behalf of the Education, Children and Young People Committee about our scrutiny of the Education (Scotland) Bill. As the relativel...
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Will the member give way?
Douglas Ross
Con
Yes.
Martin Whitfield
Lab
I am very grateful to Douglas Ross for taking an intervention. Was he as disappointed as I was by the Scottish Government’s response to the committee’s repor...
Douglas Ross
Con
I was warned within an inch of my life to be very careful about the speech that I am delivering as the convener of the committee. Perhaps I may intervene lat...
Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Con)
Con
I, too, thank the clerks to the Education, Children and Young People Committee for the power of work that they have put into the Education (Scotland) Bill to...
Pam Duncan-Glancy (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
I am pleased to open on behalf of Scottish Labour. I thank my committee colleagues and all the organisations, individuals, pupils, parents and teachers and s...
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
I hope that the member heard, at the committee and in the chamber today, my willingness to engage on amendments. Is it the Scottish Labour Party’s position t...
Pam Duncan-Glancy
Lab
I will come on to explain the position that my party will take this evening, and I will allude to the committee’s recommendations. Reform is essential. Last...
Sue Webber (Lothian) (Con)
Con
You will recall that some of the evidence that we heard at committee was that, at some point, we have to say no to some of the many interest groups being inc...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Always speak through the chair.
Pam Duncan-Glancy
Lab
The member makes a very good point, but the fact of the matter is that there is no guarantee of any particular representation on the committee as the bill st...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I call Ross Greer to open on behalf of the Scottish Greens. 15:26
Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green)
Green
The bill has certainly been a long time coming. I thank everyone who has been involved, not just in the stage 1 process, but in the years of work that brough...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I call Willie Rennie to open on behalf of the Scottish Liberal Democrats. 15:32
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
There is no doubt that our education system is in crisis, and it has been the top subject of political debate for many years. However, the inspectorate has p...
John Mason
Ind
Would the member accept that the work was reviewed externally?
Willie Rennie
LD
The process was reviewed externally, but the involvement of the Welsh representative in the details of the review was not substantial. I hope that John Mason...
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
Will the member take an intervention?