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Chamber

Meeting of the Parliament 04 December 2025

04 Dec 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Portfolio Question Time
Skills Development (North-east Fishing Industry)
Education and Skills
Lumsden, Douglas Con North East Scotland Watch on SPTV

Vocational qualifications are a vital route for young people to enter the fishing industry, thereby becoming the next generation of skippers, deckhands and engineers and taking on what is an important way of life in the north-east and other parts of Scotland. However, according to new figures that I have obtained from Skills Development Scotland, no new vocational qualifications have been awarded in sea fishing since 2019. There were no north-east starts at all last year, and fewer than five workboat diplomas were given out of a total of just under 90 maritime qualifications in the past five years. What is the Scottish National Party Government really doing to guarantee the future of a totemic industry for the north-east, and is the minister content to allow the skills pathway to decline and to take away a way of life with it?

In the same item of business

6. Douglas Lumsden (North East Scotland) (Con) Con
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting skills development to promote the future of the north-east fishing industry. (S6O-05256)
The Minister for Higher and Further Education (Ben Macpherson) SNP
One of the ways in which we support skills development in Scotland’s important fishing industry is through our marine fund Scotland. In the north-east, examp...
Douglas Lumsden Con
Vocational qualifications are a vital route for young people to enter the fishing industry, thereby becoming the next generation of skippers, deckhands and e...
Ben Macpherson SNP
To give some context in answering the question, I think it important to acknowledge that there has been a record number of vocational qualifications this yea...
The Deputy Presiding Officer LD
There are a number of supplementary questions. Before calling them, I remind members that the substantive question is on skills development in relation to th...
Colin Beattie (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) SNP
I welcome the commitments in this year's programme for government on improving careers support and advice. How is the Scottish Government engaging with stake...
The Deputy Presiding Officer LD
Minister, if you could tie your response to the substantive question, I would be grateful.
Ben Macpherson SNP
In order to make sure that individuals and our young people can access local industries, including our important fishing industry— Members: Ah!
Ben Macpherson SNP
—it is vital that we improve careers support for all ages. That is being taken forward as part of our reform agenda. The career services collaborative, for ...
Pam Duncan-Glancy (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab
The fishing industry in the north-east of Scotland will, of course, have to rely on the existence of apprenticeships and skills, but the Government is system...
Ben Macpherson SNP
We had significant discussion on the bill that the member mentioned at during its stage 2 consideration both yesterday and last week. I must say that I find ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer LD
I call Willie Rennie. Very briefly, please.
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD) LD
In the north-east of Fife, we have significant problems with recruiting crew for the local boats. The local schools used to provide courses for young people ...
Ben Macpherson SNP
I thank the member for raising those important points. His question builds on some of the discussion that we had at stage 2 of the Tertiary Education and Tra...
The Deputy Presiding Officer LD
Question 7 has not been lodged.