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Hansard

Every contribution to the Official Report — chamber and committee — searchable in one place. Pulled from data.parliament.scot, indexed for full-text search, linked through to every MSP.

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1999–2026

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Official Report

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Showing 60 of 2,354,908 contributions. Latest 30 days: 0. Coverage: 12 May 1999 — 25 Mar 2026.

Karen Adam SNP Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Older People’s Housing

Over the past five years, in representing Banffshire and Buchan Coast, I have met many older constituents who are deeply worried about the future of such complexes. Those cases have touched my heart, and they are urgent. Those people want to stay independent and they want home...

3. Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Older People’s Housing

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that older people’s housing, including sheltered housing, is prioritised in local housing planning and delivery. (S6O-05711)

Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Oil and Gas Supply Chain (Job Losses)

It is Labour’s reckless decision to continue the energy profits levy, but it was started by the Tories, and it is causing hundreds of job losses. Experts are warning that it is going to cost thousands more. It is going to undermine energy security and the just transition that ...

Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP Chamber

First Minister’s Question Time

Presiding Officer,“Labour are doing to Aberdeen what Margaret Thatcher did to Middlesbrough, and it’s utterly shameful.”Those are the words and assessment of GMB general secretary Gary Smith on the impact of the Labour United Kingdom Government’s policies on the north-east and...

Karen Adam SNP Chamber

General Question Time · Bus Services (Rural and Coastal Constituencies)

A survey that I recently carried out in my constituency of Banffshire and Buchan Coast showed extremely low satisfaction with the local Stagecoach bus services, because of repeated cancellations, poor communication and concerns about accessibility. Many people told me that the...

5. Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP Chamber

General Question Time · Bus Services (Rural and Coastal Constituencies)

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the reliability and accountability of bus services in rural and coastal constituencies. (S6O-05631)

The Convener SNP Committee

Decision on Taking Business in Private

We will now move into private session to consider the remaining items on our agenda.10:00Meeting continued in private until 12:04.

The Convener (Karen Adam) SNP Committee

Decision on Taking Business in Private

Good morning, and welcome to the 8th meeting of 2026, in session 6, of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. We have received apologies from Marie McNair.Our only public agenda item is to agree to take in private, in the committee’s remaining meetings durin...

Karen Adam SNP Chamber

Does the member agree that the two-child benefit cap and a restriction in public service spending would affect the poverty-related attainment gap?

Karen Adam SNP Chamber

I understand what the member says about time, but things have changed so much in the past six years since Covid. Also, young people just do not know what type of roles and jobs will be available in the future. They might be in school right now, but the jobs that they will be g...

Karen Adam SNP Chamber

I identified in my opening remarks that we are not saying that the situation is perfect. There are areas that need improvement. The cabinet secretary said that herself. However, it is not blanket failure—absolutely not.I have lived experience of things that have not gone well,...

Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP Chamber

This debate cannot be reduced to the idea that Scottish education is simply failing, because that is just not true. Yes, there are pressures; yes, there are areas where improvement is needed; and yes, Opposition parties are right to raise those concerns. However, they should a...

Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Future Farming Investment Scheme

Does the minister agree that the £21.4 million investment, which will be augmented by at least a further £14.25 million this financial year, in addition to the most generous direct support package in the UK, highlights that positive action is being taken to invest in our rural...

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

As no other members wish to comment, that concludes consideration of the instruments.Before we move into private to consider the remaining items on our agenda, I note that, although there will be further meetings in private to consider our draft reports, this is expected to be...

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Do any other members wish to comment?

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Do members agree to write to the Government to ask about that?Members indicated agreement.

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Welcome back. Our third agenda item is consideration of six Scottish statutory instruments under the negative procedure. I refer members to paper 3. Do members have any comments to make about any of the instruments?

The Convener SNP Committee

“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”

That is really interesting, and it is great to hear that that work is on-going.That brings us to the end of the evidence session. I thank our witnesses very much for joining us. I suspend the meeting briefly before we move to our next agenda item.11:10Meeting suspended.11:18On...

The Convener SNP Committee

“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”

I was also thinking about the preventative work that you have spoken about and that early-years intervention. That would be covered as well.Another side—which you touched on, Jemina—is the education of perpetrators. In what you have said today, I hear trauma for deaf mothers a...

The Convener SNP Committee

“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”

Before we move on, I will pick up on a point that Tess White made. The committee highlighted in our post-legislative scrutiny of the British Sign Language (Scotland) Act 2015 that there should be parity with Gaelic. I am paying attention to what you have said about that. If th...

The Convener SNP Committee

“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”

We will now move on to questions from Rhoda Grant, who joins us online.

The Convener SNP Committee

“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”

Would Lucy like to come in at this point?

The Convener SNP Committee

“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”

That is great. Thank you. We will move on to questions from Marie McNair.

The Convener SNP Committee

“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”

I am cognisant of the fact that we are now an hour into this evidence session, and we still have half an hour to go, so I just want to check whether we are okay or whether anyone needs a comfort break. Do we need to suspend briefly for a few minutes, or are we all good?

The Convener SNP Committee

“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”

That is great, thank you so much, Lucy.10:15

The Convener SNP Committee

“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”

That is really interesting, Jemina, because if you do not have the language for it, how do you communicate it? That is a really pertinent point. Thank you for that.

The Convener SNP Committee

“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”

I understand that things such as sexual health, women’s hormones and sexual consent are often taboo to talk about, but coercive control is quite hard to describe in the hearing world as it is. We know that those discussions are often hard to have in the public space, so should...

The Convener SNP Committee

“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”

We will now move on to questions from Paul McLennan.

The Convener SNP Committee

“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”

Thank you for that, Lucy. Some of the most disturbing evidence that you have presented relates to children being used as interpreters. When the police arrive on the scene, children as young as six or seven are having to communicate between their mother and the police and descr...

The Convener SNP Committee

“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”

We move to questions from Maggie Chapman.

The Convener SNP Committee

“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”

I realise that you might not have the information to hand, but is the lack of interpreters due to the density of the population being in the central belt or is to a lack of access to education?

The Convener SNP Committee

“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”

Thank you all very much. We will move on to questions. Jemina, you touched on this in your opening statement. Given the shortage of interpreters, what specific approaches would most effectively improve access to qualified BSL interpreters in domestic abuse and justice settings?

The Convener SNP Committee

“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”

Our second agenda item is a consideration of the findings of a joint research report on the perspectives of deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on deaf families, by Professor Jemina Napier, Dr Claire Houghton, Lucy Clar...

The Convener (Karen Adam) SNP Committee

Decision on Taking Business in Private

Good morning and welcome to the seventh meeting in 2026, in session 6, of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. We have no apologies this morning. Pam Gosal and Rhoda Grant join us remotely.Our first agenda item is a decision on taking in private agenda ite...

The Convener SNP Committee

Neurodivergence

That is a great point on which to end. I thank the minister and his officials for attending the meeting.We will go into private to discuss the remaining agenda items.12:17Meeting continued in private until 12:41.

The Convener SNP Committee

Neurodivergence

I have a final question, which is about employment—I recognise that it is not specifically connected to your portfolio. People with lived experience of being neurodivergent have told us about their experiences in the workplace and in trying to access work. Most of them really ...

The Convener SNP Committee

Neurodivergence

Rhoda, do you want to ask your questions on criminal justice?

The Convener SNP Committee

Neurodivergence

We move on to questions from Marie McNair, who will be followed by Paul McLennan.

The Convener SNP Committee

Neurodivergence

Thank you very much for that really helpful feedback.

The Convener SNP Committee

Neurodivergence

How will the new £7.5 million of funding for neurodevelopmental assessments reduce waiting times and when will you see measurable improvements?

The Convener SNP Committee

Neurodivergence

Thank you. We now move to members’ questions, and I will kick us off. What concrete actions does the Scottish Government intend to take to ensure that a functioning, consistent neurodevelopmental assessment pathway is available to people across Scotland?

The Convener SNP Committee

Neurodivergence

Welcome back. Our next agenda item is our final evidence session in our inquiry into neurodivergence in Scotland. I welcome to the meeting Tom Arthur, who is Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing. The minister is accompanied by Georgia de Courcy Wheeler, who is CAMHS a...

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

That brings this agenda item to a close. I thank the minister and her officials once again for joining us. We will suspend briefly for a changeover of witnesses.11:06Meeting suspended.11:09On resuming—

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

We move on to questions from Tess White.

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

We will move to Rhoda Grant, please.

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Rhoda Grant has a supplementary question.

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

We move to questions from members, and I will kick us off. What specific progress has been made on the human rights bill?

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Welcome back. Our fourth agenda item is to take evidence on Scotland-specific issues raised in the concluding observations and recommendations of the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The Scottish Government published its high-level action plan ...

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

That concludes consideration of the instruments. We will suspend briefly to set up for our next agenda item.09:47Meeting suspended.09:57On resuming—

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Our next item of business is consideration of three negative Scottish statutory instruments. As no member has indicated that they have comments, are members content not to make any comments to the Parliament on any of the instruments?Members indicated agreement.

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

That concludes this agenda item. I thank the minister and officials for their attendance.

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Do members agree to delegate to me approval of the publication of a short factual report on our deliberations on the affirmative instrument that we have considered today?Members indicated agreement.

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

We move to agenda item 3, which is the formal consideration of motion S6M-20605. I invite the minister to move the motion.Motion moved,That the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee recommends that the Legal Aid and Advice and Assistance (Fees) (Miscellaneous Am...

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

We now have questions from Paul McLennan.

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Thank you. We will move on to questions from Maggie Chapman.

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Our second agenda item is consideration of a draft affirmative instrument. I welcome to the meeting Siobhian Brown, Minister for Victims and Community Safety, who is accompanied by the following Scottish Government officials: Ciaran McDonald, legal aid reform team leader, and ...

The Convener (Karen Adam) SNP Committee

Decision on Taking Business in Private

Good morning, and welcome to the sixth meeting in 2026, in session 6, of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. We have received apologies from Pam Gosal, and Maggie Chapman and Paul McLennan are joining us remotely.Our first agenda item is a decision on tak...

Karen Adam SNP Chamber

Public Services (Funding)

Will the member take an intervention?

Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP Chamber

Public Services (Funding)

I am grateful to have the opportunity to debate the motion, and I thank Alexander Burnett for bringing it to the chamber. However, there is something quite ironic about the subject of the debate, and I will not shy away from calling that out.We cannot let the Conservatives off...

Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP Chamber

First Minister’s Question Time

This week, Scotland reaches a milestone as more than 50,000 households receive support to live in a warmer home, with homes now being cheaper to heat. Meanwhile, the Scottish National Party Government published plans that could mean that communities across Scotland see more mo...

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Chamber

Meeting of the Parliament 04 March 2026 [Draft]

04 Mar 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament

Item of business

Education

Adam, Karen SNP Banffshire and Buchan Coast Watch on SPTV

This debate cannot be reduced to the idea that Scottish education is simply failing, because that is just not true. Yes, there are pressures; yes, there are areas where improvement is needed; and yes, Opposition parties are right to raise those concerns. However, they should always be honest enough to recognise the good that is being done, too. If everything is framed through a negative lens, all that it does is risk demoralising teachers, support staff, pupils and families who are living the daily reality of school life.

The truth is that the picture is more mixed than that. There is record funding going into education, continued investment to tackle the poverty-related attainment gap, support for additional support needs, and progress in outcomes, too. That does not mean that the job is done; clearly, it is not. As the cabinet secretary said, there is always room for improvement. However, that does not mean that it is a story of blanket failure.

I look at this through my own lens. I have children who have been through the school system, as I am sure that many of us have.

In the same item of business

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-20956, in the name of Willie Rennie, on judging the Scottish Government on its education record. I invite...

Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD) LD

This is a significant moment, not only because it is the annual Liberal Democrat debate in this chamber, which I know that everyone has been desperate to hea...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

They will be able to do so only if you move the motion, Mr Rennie.

Willie Rennie LD

I move,That the Parliament notes that since 2016, the Scottish Government’s key commitments and targets on education have either been missed or abandoned; fu...

The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills (Jenny Gilruth) SNP

In what is all but guaranteed to be the last education debate in this session of Parliament, I begin by paying tribute to Scotland’s children and young peopl...

Willie Rennie LD

We will do everything that we possibly can to get this Government on the right track, which is why we voted for the budget.Does the education secretary not r...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

I can give you the time back, cabinet secretary.

Jenny Gilruth SNP

I will come to the points that Mr Rennie has addressed in his motion, but I have more praise for him first, which it is important for him to hear.I am also g...

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD) LD

The cabinet secretary talks about increased teacher numbers, but does she realise that three quarters of newly qualified teachers are struggling to find perm...

Jenny Gilruth SNP

I very much recognise that point, and I know that Mr Cole-Hamilton recently raised it at First Minister’s question time. To give him some assurance, I note t...

Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Con) Con

I thank the Liberal Democrats for using their party business time today to bring this debate to the chamber. I will not necessarily love bomb Willie Rennie a...

Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I thank Willie Rennie and the Liberal Democrats for bringing today’s debate—which is, I believe, the last education debate of the current session of Parliame...

Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP

This debate cannot be reduced to the idea that Scottish education is simply failing, because that is just not true. Yes, there are pressures; yes, there are ...

Willie Rennie LD

If Karen Adam does not think that it is blanket failure, will she identify some failure in what has happened in the past 10 years?

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

I can give you the time back.

Karen Adam SNP

I identified in my opening remarks that we are not saying that the situation is perfect. There are areas that need improvement. The cabinet secretary said th...

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

Presiding Officer,“There is no doubt that Scottish education can rightly claim many distinguished achievements in its long history, for which we have been ad...

Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests.It is very powerful to follow what might be Liz Smith’s last contribution on education. I ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

I am almost tempted not to say, “Through the chair”, given those remarks, but please speak through the chair.

Martin Whitfield Lab

One of the enduring tests of education is not simply that we affirm but whether we are prepared to examine claims rigorously rather than just accept them unc...

Paul McLennan (East Lothian) (SNP) SNP

I thank the Lib Dems for securing this debate. I am delighted to speak just as we have agreed to the 2026-27 budget, as the cabinet secretary referred to. Th...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

We come to closing speeches.15:32

Paul O’Kane Lab

I will pick up on a theme that I started with, because it came up a number of times in the debate: reflecting not only on the previous five years of this Par...

Karen Adam SNP

I understand what the member says about time, but things have changed so much in the past six years since Covid. Also, young people just do not know what typ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

I can give you the time back for that, Mr O’Kane.

Paul O’Kane Lab

Of course I recognise what Karen Adam says about the challenges. Any Government has to deal with shocks and other such issues, but we are reflecting on almos...

Roz McCall (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

We all remember the “judge me” pledge that was made in 2015 by the then First Minister, and it has already been referenced today. Nicola Sturgeon asked to be...

Karen Adam SNP

Does the member agree that the two-child benefit cap and a restriction in public service spending would affect the poverty-related attainment gap?

Roz McCall Con

That is something that comes up regularly. Although I understand the Government’s position on that, we are talking about educational attainment and the situa...

Jenny Gilruth SNP

In this debate, I was keen to praise the positive behaviour of children. If everything is framed through a negative lens, all that it does is risk demoralisi...