Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-19253, in the name of Murdo Fraser, on backing Scotland’s colleges and apprenticeships. I invite members ...

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

Conservatives in Scotland believe that economic growth has to be the first priority of Government. That need has never been more urgent than now. The quarte...

Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

Colleges are fantastic institutions, as you have said. They are the skills engine for the Scottish economy. You have rightly identified the issues that are h...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Always speak through the chair.

Murdo Fraser Con

Alexander Stewart is absolutely right to point the finger at the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government cannot blame the situation on Westminster or a...

Lorna Slater (Lothian) (Green) Green

Will the member take an intervention?

Murdo Fraser Con

Yes, if I have time.

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

There is really not very much time in hand. It is up to the member.

Murdo Fraser Con

I will take a brief intervention.

Lorna Slater Green

It is on a point of agreement, I think. The member will recall that the Economy and Fair Work Committee heard evidence that apprenticeship and other college ...

Murdo Fraser Con

I absolutely agree with Lorna Slater’s point about the importance of apprenticeships in delivering skills for the future. The SNP’s response is to mess arou...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I call Richard Lochhead to speak to and move S6M-19253.3. Minister, you have up to five minutes. I apologise—I meant to call Ben Macpherson. You still have ...

The Minister for Higher and Further Education (Ben Macpherson) SNP

My colleagues and I welcome today’s debate, which is on matters that are important to all of us as we represent our constituents. We also welcome the opportu...

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

As Murdo Fraser said, it is encouraging to hear that from the minister. However, how does he square those words with the 20 per cent real-terms cut in the bu...

Ben Macpherson SNP

I will come on to the specifics in due course, but, in response to Ms Smith, and in general terms, I emphasise that our colleges, employers, universities and...

Pam Duncan-Glancy (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

Does the minister accept any responsibility at all for the state of Scotland’s colleges?

Ben Macpherson SNP

The Scottish Government is proud to work alongside Scotland’s colleges on how they are delivering as anchor institutions in our communities. Yesterday, I vis...

Lorna Slater (Lothian) (Green) Green

We can all agree on the vital importance of skills and training. We know that the ability to obtain them substantially determines a person’s opportunities in...

Craig Hoy (South Scotland) (Con) Con

Is Lorna Slater ashamed that the Government that she was a member of received £875 million, raised from Scottish employers through HM Revenue and Customs for...

Lorna Slater Green

I share Craig Hoy’s frustration with the lack of transparency around how apprenticeship levy funds are handled. However, he should note that those funds are ...

Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con) Con

Will the member give way?

Lorna Slater Green

I am sorry, but I need to make some headway. The courses are offered on limited and inflexible days, so apprentices’ work weeks are inefficient, and their t...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Ms Slater, you need to conclude.

Lorna Slater Green

—that people graduating from those courses do not achieve well-paid work. I move amendment S6M-19253.2, to leave out from “that future” to end and insert: ...

Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Lab

It gives me great pleasure to follow Lorna Slater, who gave several very useful insights. This is a useful debate and—dare I say it—it stands in contrast to ...

Brian Whittle Con

Will the member give way?

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

The member has only 30 seconds left to speak.

Daniel Johnson Lab

I reiterate Murdo Fraser’s point that we need to look at reform. Much as Lorna Slater said, we need to look at how we flex our training and apprenticeship sy...

Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD) LD

I feel so much better in this second Conservative debate, because the acceptable faces of the Conservative Party are back on the front bench again, giggling ...

Brian Whittle Con

Will the member take an intervention?