Meeting of the Parliament 16 December 2025 [Draft]
I am pleased to close the debate on behalf of Scottish Labour. I recognise that I have come somewhat late to the process at stage 3, but I have been following the bill because of my interest in it. We have heard a lot in the debate about the genesis of the bill, and how it has developed since the initial concerns that were raised at stage 1 through the work by a number of colleagues across the chamber to refine the bill and get it into the place that it is in today, as we consider it at this final stage.
I join colleagues in paying tribute to Liz Smith for her work and her dedication, for trying to improve the bill at each stage, and in recognising the significant challenges that remain and will have to be dealt with in the guidance that the Government will produce.
The first thing to say in summing up is that we all recognise the significant impact and contribution that outdoor education and residential outdoor education make to children and young people in Scotland. We join in paying tribute to all those who have joined us today in the public gallery, who are specialists and experts in that field and who have given evidence at every stage of the bill as to the impact of their work.
We have heard a lot today about the importance of protecting those organisations and specialisms, and about the challenges that have been posed, not least by the pandemic. We need to ensure that we have a strong sector of outdoor residential education in Scotland. That is very important.
It was nice to hear some snippets of personal experience from people who have undertaken outdoor education. I say to Ross Greer that another interesting fact about Castle Toward is that it served as HMS Brontosaurus in the second world war, and that Winston Churchill was a frequent visitor—something that Ross Greer can perhaps share in his next engagement with Piers Morgan.
However, what is important is that everybody recognises the value of the bill. That said, it is clear that significant challenges remain, not least those that have been outlined in relation to the financial considerations and the pressure that is on local authorities.
In my exchange with the minister, I referenced some of the remaining concerns of school leaders. Those are focused on a number of challenges to do with staffing, including ensuring sufficient staffing and cover; ensuring that a significant contribution is made by those parents who can do so; and ensuring that people do not feel that they cannot make that contribution.
The minister and I were councillors in Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire. I do not know whether the minister served on the Renfrewshire Educational Trust when she was a councillor, but very often it was such bodies that were required to provide the additional funding that was often required for residential outdoor trips. What is clear is that we need to get the balance right between those who can make a contribution and those who need that additional support, which will come from the Government. I recognise much of what has been said about the challenges in the financial memorandums leading up to this position.
Some of the concerns that have been raised by school leaders and teachers are perhaps reflective of wider issues that exist in Scottish education. After 18 years of the current Government, there are a number of significant challenges, which we will debate on other days. However, those are the issues that are at the forefront of the minds of many headteachers and teachers, and I think that that is being reflected. I think that they would say that they absolutely recognise the importance of outdoor education and the importance of doing something about it, but that does not negate the other challenges that they have to deal with on a daily basis. The member has absolutely recognised that in terms of her leadership on the bill.
I am conscious of time. We will of course support the bill. The principle is absolutely right. What we must do now, as with any legislation, is ensure that the guidance is robust, the data is well gathered and the finance is appropriate in order to support local authorities and individual schools to be able to deliver a meaningful outdoor residential experience for every child in Scotland, and to ensure that that can be done for many generations to come.
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