Chamber
Plenary, 26 Mar 2003
26 Mar 2003 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Commissioner for Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill
I am pleased to support the bill. I remember Jackie Baillie's reaction the first time I announced my support—I swear that I saw her face change. My support did not seem to be quite right and she was rather surprised because I, like Karen Gillon, had been in the sceptical camp. However, the bill and the preceeding inquiry convinced me that the bill was the right way to proceed.
The bill needed to be limited in its ambition. A number of people felt and still feel that the bill should go further, but it has struck the right balance in seeking to provide for a commissioner for children and young people who will, in general, seek to safeguard children's rights.
The bill is a model for future committee bills, especially given the way in which its market or consumers—the children—were consulted. We should pay due regard to the work of the clerks and the parliamentary officers in helping to organise that consultation.
For Conservatives, one of the advantages of committee bills is that they allow us to have a hand in shaping the legislation that reaches the statute book while we are in Opposition. Of course, we will not need to use committee bills for that after 1 May. [Members: "Hear, hear."] I was just trying to lighten the debate a little there—[Laughter.]—and I appreciate the laughter, canned or otherwise.
The bill has achieved what it set out to do—it does what it says on the tin. There was, initially, some disagreement in the Education, Culture and Sport Committee, but we have achieved what committees are often conceived to do: we achieved consensus. In this case, consensus was not achieved by sacrificing principles, but by debating and discussing the issues and finding out what we agreed on. That is what consensus should be about.
It is important that we pay tribute to the non-Executive bills unit, which worked so hard for the committee, and to the clerks that supported the committee. We should also pay tribute to Jack McConnell who, after some lobbying, decided that it was better that he did not take it upon the Executive to take charge of the bill. It was good that he did not do that, because I fear that it might then have become a more partisan project, which would not have benefited Scotland's children.
For all those reasons, I am pleased that the bill has reached this stage. The bill has good intentions behind it; I think that it will live up to those intentions and that it is worthy of Parliament's support.
The bill needed to be limited in its ambition. A number of people felt and still feel that the bill should go further, but it has struck the right balance in seeking to provide for a commissioner for children and young people who will, in general, seek to safeguard children's rights.
The bill is a model for future committee bills, especially given the way in which its market or consumers—the children—were consulted. We should pay due regard to the work of the clerks and the parliamentary officers in helping to organise that consultation.
For Conservatives, one of the advantages of committee bills is that they allow us to have a hand in shaping the legislation that reaches the statute book while we are in Opposition. Of course, we will not need to use committee bills for that after 1 May. [Members: "Hear, hear."] I was just trying to lighten the debate a little there—[Laughter.]—and I appreciate the laughter, canned or otherwise.
The bill has achieved what it set out to do—it does what it says on the tin. There was, initially, some disagreement in the Education, Culture and Sport Committee, but we have achieved what committees are often conceived to do: we achieved consensus. In this case, consensus was not achieved by sacrificing principles, but by debating and discussing the issues and finding out what we agreed on. That is what consensus should be about.
It is important that we pay tribute to the non-Executive bills unit, which worked so hard for the committee, and to the clerks that supported the committee. We should also pay tribute to Jack McConnell who, after some lobbying, decided that it was better that he did not take it upon the Executive to take charge of the bill. It was good that he did not do that, because I fear that it might then have become a more partisan project, which would not have benefited Scotland's children.
For all those reasons, I am pleased that the bill has reached this stage. The bill has good intentions behind it; I think that it will live up to those intentions and that it is worthy of Parliament's support.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S1M-3862, in the name of Karen Gillon, that the Commissioner for Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill be...
Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab):
Lab
It is with great pride and honour that I will move the motion on behalf of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee. I begin with some wise words from Sir ...
Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
A guid Tory.
Karen Gillon:
Lab
The words good and Tory are not ones that I would naturally put together, but let us move on.Sir Walter Scott stated:"Children know—instinctive taught, the f...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Mr Murray Tosh):
Con
I call Nicol Stephen to speak for the Executive. I will give everyone else a notional five minutes, but we have a bit of time in hand.
The Deputy Minister for Education and Young People (Nicol Stephen):
LD
I congratulate Karen Gillon and the other members of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee on the work that they have done in progressing the bill to es...
Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
Anyone who needs to be convinced of the varied nature of the legislation that the Parliament is passing could do worse than look at our business programme fo...
Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
I am pleased to support the bill. I remember Jackie Baillie's reaction the first time I announced my support—I swear that I saw her face change. My support d...
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab):
Lab
I welcome all converts, even Brian Monteith, but I doubt that I will ever again be surprised by his actions.What do children have to do with politics? In som...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Con
It might be of assistance if I say that five members have indicated that they would like to speak in the debate. It is possible that we will reach decision t...
Ian Jenkins (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD):
LD
I intend to be kind to the younger people, as every other member of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee is younger than I am.I am grateful to the mini...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Con
Contrary to what I said before, I call Fiona McLeod, to be followed by Donald Gorrie.
Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
Yes indeed, I am not Mike Russell. Nor am I Irene McGugan; Irene and I are often confused with each other and I am delighted that we have, over the past few ...
Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD):
LD
As someone who—before the Parliament was set up—was involved with the various youth organisations in planning to achieve what we are achieving today and some...
Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I echo the minister's tribute to Ian Jenkins, who is the only member of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee who is choosing not to return to the Parli...
Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West):
*
Is that a capital offence?
Michael Russell:
SNP
It is not a capital offence as yet—although, with the present Prime Minister, one never knows what will happen next.There is a historical continuity in this ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Con
I have received a request late in the day from Robin Harper, who wants to contribute. There is time in hand, so I will allow Robin Harper to speak.
Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green):
Green
As someone with an involvement in youth work from the age of 16, and as a former member of the children's panel and a member of the cross-party group on chil...
Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab):
Lab
I thank all the members who have contributed to this afternoon's debate. Karen Gillon has already given thanks and appreciation to the list of all the folk w...