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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.

Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: Stage 3

This is my last speech to Parliament as a member, after 10 years. As a back bencher and a front bencher, as a party leader and a committee convener, I have always tried to speak out not only for the labour and trade union movement who sent me here, but for all of those oppress...

Richard Leonard Lab Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Water Supply and Waste Water Treatment Services

Last month, a report commissioned by Unison into Scottish Water questioned the regulatory framework. It warned of creeping privatisation, the ripping up of trade union policies and procedures, the outsourcing not only of major capital works but of day-to-day operations, and th...

5. Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Water Supply and Waste Water Treatment Services

I remind members of my voluntary register of trade union interests. To ask the Scottish Government whether it is content with the governance, accountability and delivery of both Scotland’s water supply and waste water treatment services. (S6O-05676)

Richard Leonard Lab Chamber

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Question Time · Michael “Mick” McGahey Bust

I simply ask, while there is still time, that this appeal be included in the corporate body’s legacy report to the next session of the Parliament.

Richard Leonard Lab Chamber

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Question Time · Michael “Mick” McGahey Bust

It was wonderful to see the magnificent Ian Homer Walters bust on display for the centenary of Mick McGahey’s birth, but I express my dismay to see him replaced a few weeks ago by a white marble cube. Mick McGahey was a self-taught, working-class visionary and a catalyst who r...

5. Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Question Time · Michael “Mick” McGahey Bust

I remind members of my voluntary entry in the register of members’ interests. To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will reinstate the bust of Michael “Mick” McGahey previously displayed in the garden lobby. (S6O-05643)

Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Alexander Dennis Ltd (Support)

I remind members of my voluntary register of trade union interests.Can I pay tribute to Kate Forbes, who, in my view, has been a breath of fresh air as an active and interventionist cabinet secretary for the economy.Yesterday, another vehicle manufacturer in central Scotland, ...

The Convener Lab Committee

Section 22 Report: “The 2024/25 audit of the Scottish Public Pensions Agency”

Thank you very much indeed. On that cheery note, I close the public part of this morning’s meeting.12:51Meeting continued in private until 13:00.

The Convener Lab Committee

Section 22 Report: “The 2024/25 audit of the Scottish Public Pensions Agency”

We have been up against the clock. I place on record my thanks to committee members for their discipline and co-operation. I understand that Dr Pathirana and his team have given evidence to the Finance and Public Administration Committee as well as the Public Audit Committee t...

The Convener Lab Committee

Section 22 Report: “The 2024/25 audit of the Scottish Public Pensions Agency”

Keep it moving, Jamie.

The Convener Lab Committee

Section 22 Report: “The 2024/25 audit of the Scottish Public Pensions Agency”

In a newspaper article.

The Convener Lab Committee

Section 22 Report: “The 2024/25 audit of the Scottish Public Pensions Agency”

I invite the deputy convener, Jamie Greene, to put the final series of questions to you.

The Convener Lab Committee

Section 22 Report: “The 2024/25 audit of the Scottish Public Pensions Agency”

I invite Joe FitzPatrick to put some questions to you.

The Convener Lab Committee

Section 22 Report: “The 2024/25 audit of the Scottish Public Pensions Agency”

Okay, well, we have that on the record. Thank you very much.

The Convener Lab Committee

Section 22 Report: “The 2024/25 audit of the Scottish Public Pensions Agency”

Are you saying that it was not a factor at all? Is it erroneous to assert that that was one of the reasons?

The Convener Lab Committee

Section 22 Report: “The 2024/25 audit of the Scottish Public Pensions Agency”

It may have been a factor. It is not erroneous to suggest that it may have been a factor.

The Convener Lab Committee

Section 22 Report: “The 2024/25 audit of the Scottish Public Pensions Agency”

Before we move on, I will take you back to the police scheme. In evidence that we took on 18 February, we were told that one factor that might have influenced your organisation in prioritising the police scheme was the fact that 87 per cent of all freedom of information reques...

The Convener Lab Committee

Section 22 Report: “The 2024/25 audit of the Scottish Public Pensions Agency”

We might get to that, but, in the interest of moving things along, I invite Graham Simpson to put some questions to you.

The Convener Lab Committee

Section 22 Report: “The 2024/25 audit of the Scottish Public Pensions Agency”

My final question is on your 17 February 2026 letter to Kenneth Gibson, convener of the Finance and Public Administration Committee. The annex to the letter discussed comparative rates of uptake and statements being issued and so on. In paragraph 5 of the annex, there was no m...

The Convener Lab Committee

Section 22 Report: “The 2024/25 audit of the Scottish Public Pensions Agency”

If I put my feet in the boots of a retired firefighter, I would find that zero per cent of them have been issued with remediable service statements.

The Convener Lab Committee

Section 22 Report: “The 2024/25 audit of the Scottish Public Pensions Agency”

You have mentioned the Finance and Public Administration Committee a couple of times. You had some correspondence with the convener of that committee, Kenny Gibson. In October last year, you said that your progress was “broadly comparable” with other schemes and that the agenc...

The Convener Lab Committee

Section 22 Report: “The 2024/25 audit of the Scottish Public Pensions Agency”

Lesley Fraser alluded to the fact that her understanding is that your progress is broadly in line with that of agencies in England and Wales. However, the Auditor General said that, although it is not the only UK pension provider facing this situation, there was “optimism bias...

The Convener Lab Committee

Section 22 Report: “The 2024/25 audit of the Scottish Public Pensions Agency”

Dr Pathirana, how do you respond to paragraph 23 of the Auditor General’s report, which I just read to Lesley Fraser?

The Convener Lab Committee

Section 22 Report: “The 2024/25 audit of the Scottish Public Pensions Agency”

Okay, but we take advice from the Auditor General, and he has laid before us, as members of the Parliament, a section 22 report—bear in mind that it was published just six weeks ago, so it is a very current analysis—in which he says, in paragraph 23 of his conclusion:“I am con...

The Convener Lab Committee

Section 22 Report: “The 2024/25 audit of the Scottish Public Pensions Agency”

I am sure that the Auditor General understands that. Nonetheless, he thought it right to lay before the Parliament a section 22 report, because, as he described when he gave evidence to us on 18 February, it is about not just the individual pensioner interest but the public in...

The Convener Lab Committee

Section 22 Report: “The 2024/25 audit of the Scottish Public Pensions Agency”

Okay, thank you. While you are on the microphone, director general, does the Scottish Government accept the findings, recommendations and conclusions in the Audit Scotland report?

The Convener Lab Committee

Section 22 Report: “The 2024/25 audit of the Scottish Public Pensions Agency”

Lesley Fraser, I do not know whether you can help to clarify the relationship.

The Convener Lab Committee

Section 22 Report: “The 2024/25 audit of the Scottish Public Pensions Agency”

I will begin where you finished. For our benefit, what is the relationship between you and the Scottish Government—the director general corporate? Our understanding was that you are an executive agency of the Scottish Government and therefore do not have a sponsorship team fro...

The Convener Lab Committee

Section 22 Report: “The 2024/25 audit of the Scottish Public Pensions Agency”

Our principal agenda item is consideration of the section 22 report, “The 2024/25 audit of the Scottish Public Pensions Agency”. From the SPPA, I welcome Dr Stephen Pathirana, the chief executive; Christopher Nairns, the chief operating officer; and Frances Graham, the chief t...

The Convener (Richard Leonard) Lab Committee

Decision on Taking Business in Private

Good morning. I welcome everyone to the 11th and final meeting in 2026 of the Public Audit Committee. Under agenda item 1, does the committee agree to take agenda items 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 in private?Members indicated agreement.

The Convener Lab Committee

“Best Value in policing: Joint Best Value audit of policing in Scotland”

Understood. Thank you very much for your time this morning, Alasdair Hay, Chris Brown, Don McGillivray, and director general Neil Rennick. I particularly thank you, chief constable, and deputy chief constable, for the time and the undertakings that you have given us this morni...

The Convener Lab Committee

“Best Value in policing: Joint Best Value audit of policing in Scotland”

That might be a question that, I presume, the Scottish Police Authority would also have some thoughts on.We have come to the end of our time. I thank you for the evidence that you have given us this morning. This is the second-last meeting in public of this parliamentary sessi...

The Convener Lab Committee

“Best Value in policing: Joint Best Value audit of policing in Scotland”

A very short final question.

The Convener Lab Committee

“Best Value in policing: Joint Best Value audit of policing in Scotland”

That leads us neatly on to the final series of questions, which will be put to you by the deputy convener, Jamie Greene.

The Convener Lab Committee

“Best Value in policing: Joint Best Value audit of policing in Scotland”

Absolutely—they are contained centrally in the report that is before us. They have been identified by HM inspectorate and the Auditor General.Colin Beattie has some questions.

The Convener Lab Committee

“Best Value in policing: Joint Best Value audit of policing in Scotland”

Thank you very much. Before I bring in Graham Simpson, I note that you mentioned capital constraints. At, I think, paragraph 24, the report points out that the move from local authority-controlled policing to a single Scotland-wide force—that was a policy decision; it was not ...

The Convener Lab Committee

“Best Value in policing: Joint Best Value audit of policing in Scotland”

Okay. Thank you. Would the chief constable or deputy chief constable like to comment on that?

The Convener Lab Committee

“Best Value in policing: Joint Best Value audit of policing in Scotland”

Okay. Mr Brown or Mr Hay—do you want to comment on where we are with the IT investments?

The Convener Lab Committee

“Best Value in policing: Joint Best Value audit of policing in Scotland”

Thank you very much for answering our questions on that incident. That is not why you are here, but it is of extreme public interest, so we wanted to cover some of that ground.If I may, I will take you back to the report on best value in policing and a matter that is perhaps f...

The Convener Lab Committee

“Best Value in policing: Joint Best Value audit of policing in Scotland”

On this theme, finally, the deputy convener has some questions.

The Convener Lab Committee

“Best Value in policing: Joint Best Value audit of policing in Scotland”

Thank you. Graham Simpson has a question or two in this area, so I will bring him in at this juncture.

The Convener Lab Committee

“Best Value in policing: Joint Best Value audit of policing in Scotland”

You pointed out the silence from the two clubs that were involved in that match. Do you think that the football authorities in Scotland are doing enough to hold the football clubs to account? How does that compare with England, for example, or other Union of European Football ...

The Convener Lab Committee

“Best Value in policing: Joint Best Value audit of policing in Scotland”

We heard in your opening statement, chief constable, about changes in the nature of crime and how you have to gear up accordingly. However, what was witnessed on Sunday was a good old-fashioned football pitch invasion, followed by violent conduct and disorderly and threatening...

The Convener Lab Committee

“Best Value in policing: Joint Best Value audit of policing in Scotland”

Before we get into the detail of the report, we want to speak about some more contemporaneous issues, as you are in front of a parliamentary committee. I should begin by declaring my interest as the convener of the Professional Footballers Association Scotland parliamentary in...

The Convener Lab Committee

“Best Value in policing: Joint Best Value audit of policing in Scotland”

Chief constable, over to you.

The Convener Lab Committee

“Best Value in policing: Joint Best Value audit of policing in Scotland”

Mr Rennick, does the Scottish Government accept the findings and recommendations of this report?

The Convener Lab Committee

“Best Value in policing: Joint Best Value audit of policing in Scotland”

Thank you. I ask each of you in turn to say whether you accept the findings and recommendations of the best value report. Mr Hay, you said in your opening remarks that you accept them. I do not know whether you want to confirm that.

The Convener Lab Committee

“Best Value in policing: Joint Best Value audit of policing in Scotland”

Over to you, chief constable.

The Convener Lab Committee

“Best Value in policing: Joint Best Value audit of policing in Scotland”

The substantive agenda item this morning is further consideration of the report “Best Value in policing: Joint Best Value audit of policing in Scotland”, which we took evidence on from the Auditor General and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland on 11 Februar...

The Convener (Richard Leonard) Lab Committee

Decision on Taking Business in Private

Good morning. I welcome everyone to the 10th meeting in 2026 of the Public Audit Committee. We have received apologies from Joe FitzPatrick.Agenda item 1 is for members to consider whether to take items 3 to 5 in private. Do we agree to take those items in private?Members indi...

Richard Leonard Lab Chamber

That sounds a bit more like some of the old ideology that I was referring to earlier on.Finally, let me turn to the Labour amendment, which highlights that there is a democratic deficit here. It is not just about seats on boards; I have never believed that nationalisation plus...

Richard Leonard Lab Chamber

If I have time.

Richard Leonard Lab Chamber

Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. Let me return to this point: because of persistent pressure from this Parliament’s Public Audit Committee, the Government has been required to bring in the accountants Grant Thornton to conduct a forensic audit to track down exactly wher...

Richard Leonard Lab Chamber

In fact, because of persistent pressure from this Parliament’s Public Audit Committee, the Government has been required to bring in the accountants—Interruption.

Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber

I remind members of my voluntary register of trade union interests.It never ceases to amaze me that something just as distinctively and as quintessentially Scottish as our islands and the ferry links to them, which are a social and economic necessity, have been treated so badl...

Richard Leonard Lab Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · NHS Agenda for Change Staff (Working Week)

When half an hour was supposed to be reduced from the working week on 1 April 2024, it was only partially implemented. When half an hour was supposed to be reduced from the working week on 1 April 2025, it was pulled. Now, on 1 April 2026, a full hour is supposed to be reduced...

6. Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · NHS Agenda for Change Staff (Working Week)

I remind the chamber of my voluntary entry of trade union interests. To ask the Scottish Government whether it is confident that the changes to the working week for national health service agenda for change staff will be fully implemented by 1 April 2026. (S6O-05592)

The Convener Lab Committee

“NHS in Scotland 2025: Finance and performance”

On that note of harmony, I will bring this morning’s session to a close. I thank Caroline Lamb, Christine McLaughlin and Fiona Bennett for their evidence this morning. I note that you are going to get back to us with more information about some things.As this is our final sess...

The Convener Lab Committee

“NHS in Scotland 2025: Finance and performance”

I have had an indication that Joe FitzPatrick is going to try our patience and ask a final question.

The Convener Lab Committee

“NHS in Scotland 2025: Finance and performance”

That is fine. Jamie Greene has a final question.

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Chamber

Meeting of the Parliament 04 March 2026 [Draft]

04 Mar 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament

Item of business

Ferries

Leonard, Richard Lab Central Scotland Watch on SPTV

If I have time.

In the same item of business

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-20957, in the name of Jamie Greene, on fixing Scotland’s ferries fiasco.15:57

Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (LD) LD

Presiding Officer, I have been accused, over the years, of banging on about ferries in the chamber, and that is absolutely right. If you had told me 10 years...

The Cabinet Secretary for Transport (Fiona Hyslop) SNP

This debate is helpfully timed to allow me to build on my statement yesterday to the Parliament. Yesterday, I chaired a meeting of the Ardrossan task force t...

Sue Webber (Lothian) (Con) Con

I am pleased to speak in support of the motion that was lodged by Jamie Greene on fixing Scotland’s ferry fiasco.For too long, Scotland’s islands and coastal...

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP) SNP

Will the member take an intervention on that point?

Sue Webber Con

I will not, Mr Gibson, as I have very limited time and quite a significant amount to carry on with.That figure will rise further now that the charter has bee...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

Ms Webber, you must conclude.

Sue Webber Con

In conclusion, it is time to stop Scotland’s ferry fiasco. It is time to restore trust.I move amendment S6M-20957.2, to insert at end:“; notes that the combi...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

I call Rhoda Grant, who joins us remotely, to speak to and move amendment S6M-20957.1.16:13

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Lab

As the cabinet secretary said, we had a statement yesterday that tried to draw a line under the ferry fiasco, but, sadly, it did not. We are still seeing pro...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

I call on Maggie Chapman to open on behalf of the Scottish Greens.16:17

Maggie Chapman (North East Scotland) (Green) Green

I am grateful to the Liberal Democrats for bringing this important debate to the chamber, because Scotland’s island and coastal communities deserve much bett...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

We move to the open debate.16:21

Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (LD) LD

Ferries are critical infrastructure for Scotland’s islands—islands that are, according to Scottish Government social media posts, “central to Scotland’s futu...

Fiona Hyslop SNP

Will the member give way on that point?

Beatrice Wishart LD

I do not have any time; I am going to continue.Yet the issues that respondents raised were the same in 2023 as those that Transport Scotland reported in 2025...

The Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity (Jim Fairlie) SNP

Will the member take an intervention on that point?

Beatrice Wishart LD

I have no time—sorry.A prior long-standing policy of allowing sharing of cabins offered many people a cheaper, more comfortable way to travel. However, that ...

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP) SNP

I first pay tribute to the cabinet secretary, Fiona Hyslop. Today we heard her last speech after 27 years serving her constituents in this Parliament, 17 of ...

Edward Mountain (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Con

I thank the Liberal Democrats, particularly Jamie Greene, for bringing the debate to Parliament. Over the past 10 years, he and I have shared many committee ...

Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I remind members of my voluntary register of trade union interests.It never ceases to amaze me that something just as distinctively and as quintessentially S...

Edward Mountain Con

It was the Government that failed.

Stuart McMillan (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) SNP

It was private ownership.

Richard Leonard Lab

In fact, because of persistent pressure from this Parliament’s Public Audit Committee, the Government has been required to bring in the accountants—Interrupt...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

Mr Leonard, please resume your seat for a second. I am looking at two members who are having a conversation across the chamber from sedentary positions, whic...

Richard Leonard Lab

Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. Let me return to this point: because of persistent pressure from this Parliament’s Public Audit Committee, the Govern...

Jamie Halcro Johnston (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Con

Will the member take an intervention?

Richard Leonard Lab

If I have time.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

Briefly, Jamie Halcro Johnston.

Jamie Halcro Johnston Con

I always enjoy listening to Richard Leonard speak. However, I tell him as an islander—I think that I speak on behalf of many islanders in the northern isles—...