Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 24 March 2026 [Draft]
24 Mar 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Restraint and Seclusion in Schools (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
I thank Fergus Ewing for that intervention. I cannot disagree with a single word that he said. In the work that I have tried to take forward with the minister Natalie Don-Innes, we have tried very hard to work on a cross-party basis, and that is definitely something that we should be looking to do.
To be clear, I note that no child should face restraint or seclusion unless there is truly no other option. For those reasons, putting the law into practice will be crucial.
The Scottish Conservatives are happy to support the bill. Scotland’s children deserve consistency, openness and safety in every classroom, and the bill is an important step towards making that happen.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-21120, in the name of Daniel Johnson, on the Restraint and Seclusion in Schools (Scotland) Bill at stage ...
Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Lab
I feel strongly that it is a basic human response that, when a child is in distress, hurt or injured, we want to help and protect them. That is one of the mo...
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills (Jenny Gilruth)
SNP
I thank Daniel Johnson for his commitment in bringing forward the legislation on restraint and seclusion that is before us today. I applaud his approach to w...
Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Con)
Con
I, too, pay tribute to Daniel Johnson, who underestimates his role in this matter. Those of us who have attempted to take through or have taken through a pri...
Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
There is a distinct air of the end of term all around us. There was a degree of chatter at the back of the chamber between the cabinet secretary and me and o...
Maggie Chapman (North East Scotland) (Green)
Green
I am grateful to Daniel Johnson for his work on the bill, and I pay tribute to him for that, but we should reflect on why it took a member’s bill to get us t...
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
I have met Beth Morrison on several occasions. I recall one particular occasion in the middle of winter in my office in Cupar. I said something that she disa...
Daniel Johnson
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
Willie Rennie
LD
Certainly.
Daniel Johnson
Lab
Just to update Willie Rennie’s characterisation, it should be noted in the Official Report that I was a very willing victim. Laughter.
Willie Rennie
LD
That is what all hostages say, so we should express our concern about Daniel Johnson’s future.Beth Morrison’s campaign has been going on for 11 years, and an...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
We move to the open debate.15:28
Paul McLennan (East Lothian) (SNP)
SNP
I thank Daniel Johnson for his work to introduce the bill. As the MSP for East Lothian, I am proud to support the bill on behalf of the children and young pe...
Douglas Ross (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I rise to make my final speech in the chamber. I chose to speak in this debate, on this subject, for a number of reasons. First, the member in charge proved ...
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I ask members to note my entry in the members’ register of interests.As we come to the conclusion of today’s debate, I rise to offer the full support of Scot...
Roz McCall (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
First, I congratulate Daniel Johnson, the non-Government bills unit and everyone involved in getting this important bill to this stage. I am deeply impressed...
Fergus Ewing (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind)
Ind
Does the member agree not only that Mr Ross is an outstanding and fearless parliamentarian—as we must all agree, whatever our views—but that he has, as I kno...
Roz McCall
Con
I thank Fergus Ewing for that intervention. I cannot disagree with a single word that he said. In the work that I have tried to take forward with the ministe...
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
I start by making it absolutely clear that all of Scotland’s children deserve and have the right to feel safe in our schools. They should not be restrained o...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
I call Daniel Johnson, the member in charge, to wind up the debate.15:51
Daniel Johnson
Lab
The challenge in summing up a stage 3 debate for my own member’s bill is to prevent that from becoming akin to a gushing Oscar acceptance speech. I will ther...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
That concludes the debate on Restraint and Seclusion in Schools (Scotland) Bill at stage 3. It is time to move on to the next item of business. There will be...