Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-19756, in the name of Daniel Johnson, on Scotland’s skills system. I invite members who wish to participa...

Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Lab

Interruption. Apologies, Presiding Officer. There were some odd flashing lights on my console—hence my swift manoeuvre. I have a speech prepared, but I firs...

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic (Kate Forbes) SNP

I am listening to the member with interest, and he will know that I believe that the scale of opportunity in Scotland is such that we need to have a skills p...

Daniel Johnson Lab

That intervention from the Deputy First Minister ignores the fact that the number of people who are economically inactive is higher in Scotland than in the U...

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

Excuse me—I lost my voice slightly at Hampden last night, as I am sure much of the country did, across different parts of our society. What we witnessed last...

Daniel Johnson Lab

Does the minister not at least agree that the fact that 4,500 fewer people than the Government’s own targets are getting an apprenticeship means that young p...

Ben Macpherson SNP

I have stated before, as have colleagues, that we have an ambition to grow the number of modern apprenticeships, graduate apprenticeships and foundation appr...

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

I agree entirely with what the minister has just said. Nonetheless, I was at a conference at Edinburgh Napier University on Monday at which people were sayin...

Ben Macpherson SNP

That is a significant point that gets to the heart of the skills agenda that we are undertaking through a programme and a set of primary legislative changes....

Pam Duncan-Glancy (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

Will the minister take an intervention?

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

The minister is concluding.

Ben Macpherson SNP

This year, we also have a record number of more than 110,000 vocational and technical qualification awards. There is more to do. That is why the primary leg...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

I remind members who wish to participate in the debate but have not already pressed their request-to-speak buttons to please do so now. 15:15

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

When I saw that it was to be Labour business today, I thought that Daniel Johnson might have chosen to debate next week’s tax rises by the Chancellor of the ...

Ben Macpherson SNP

I challenge Mr Fraser and colleagues on that. The current system is working very well for many people, including many employers and many learners. Is it nece...

Murdo Fraser Con

I say to Mr Macpherson that he should go back and review the evidence to which I referred, because it gives a somewhat different picture. Part of my concern...

Kate Forbes SNP

Will the member give way?

Murdo Fraser Con

I think that I am in my last minute.

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

You are.

Murdo Fraser Con

I apologise to the Deputy First Minister. Whereas employers in England can directly access those funds, that is not the case in Scotland. The latest data sh...

Lorna Slater (Lothian) (Green) Green

The Economy and Fair Work Committee has heard over and over again about the advantages of workplace learning, not only for traditional vocational careers but...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

You need to conclude.

Lorna Slater Green

Not only are most apprentices men, but women apprentices are consigned to lower-paying sectors and lower-paying jobs. It is worth prioritising and correcting...

Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD) LD

The good news is that there is huge demand for apprenticeships. It is fantastic that so many people are willing to learn and that we have excellent people wh...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

We move to the open debate. 15:28

Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab

When I looked at the motion and the amendments for the debate, I could see in each a lot of positives on which we could agree. It would be great if political...

Jamie Hepburn (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) SNP

I thank Daniel Johnson for the debate. It is enormously important that we discuss this issue in the chamber, to ensure that not only our young people, but th...

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab

MSPs have described how they feel that Scotland’s skills system is failing too many young people and is holding back our economic growth. There is a need for...

Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con) Con

As always, I am delighted to speak in support of our education and skills sector. It is great to see Labour at long last accepting what I and my colleagues o...

Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) SNP

It is a great pleasure to speak about the vital work that is under way across our education and skills system, which is helping people of all ages to reach t...