Chamber
Plenary, 26 Mar 2003
26 Mar 2003 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Commissioner for Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill
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 years, been able to work together on children's issues. I am not Margaret Ewing, who, as Margaret Bain, championed the cause for a children's commissioner when she was in Westminster.
I am absolutely delighted that we can have this debate and that we are considering the bill. One of the things that delights me most about the bill is the fact that it is underpinned by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. I support many articles in that convention, but article 12, which says that we must listen to and hear what young people say, is one of the most important and is fully integrated into the bill.
We all know that young people have strong opinions, not just on what happens to them but on the world around them. Recent events have shown just how articulate young people can be on all sorts of important issues. I am glad that that underpins the Commissioner for Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill.
I am also glad that the establishment of the commissioner's post comes from a positive desire, rather than, as Jackie Baillie said, as a reaction to a terrible situation in which other agencies have failed our children. We know that failures in the past have motivated many of us towards the appointment of a commissioner. It is exceptional that we are appointing a commissioner for all the positive reasons.
In the past few weeks, as we have come to the end of the parliamentary session, I have been asked by journalists and members of the public which of the achievements of the past four years we in the Parliament are most proud of. I am sure that many other members have been asked that question, too. The appointment of a commissioner for children and young people in Scotland in our first Parliament in 300 years must rank near the top of our list of such achievements.
If my reading of the business bulletin is correct, the Commissioner for Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill will be the final piece of legislation to be passed in the first session of the Parliament. That will be a fitting end to the first session.
I wish any future commissioner well and I wish her or him many happy hours of debating with the young Scots of Scotland what they want. I would like to issue the first invitation to the commissioner. When she or he takes up the appointment, I ask her or him to come to the big sister room of Westerton junior youth club to hear the demands for leisure facilities for young people in Westerton.
I am absolutely delighted that we can have this debate and that we are considering the bill. One of the things that delights me most about the bill is the fact that it is underpinned by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. I support many articles in that convention, but article 12, which says that we must listen to and hear what young people say, is one of the most important and is fully integrated into the bill.
We all know that young people have strong opinions, not just on what happens to them but on the world around them. Recent events have shown just how articulate young people can be on all sorts of important issues. I am glad that that underpins the Commissioner for Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill.
I am also glad that the establishment of the commissioner's post comes from a positive desire, rather than, as Jackie Baillie said, as a reaction to a terrible situation in which other agencies have failed our children. We know that failures in the past have motivated many of us towards the appointment of a commissioner. It is exceptional that we are appointing a commissioner for all the positive reasons.
In the past few weeks, as we have come to the end of the parliamentary session, I have been asked by journalists and members of the public which of the achievements of the past four years we in the Parliament are most proud of. I am sure that many other members have been asked that question, too. The appointment of a commissioner for children and young people in Scotland in our first Parliament in 300 years must rank near the top of our list of such achievements.
If my reading of the business bulletin is correct, the Commissioner for Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill will be the final piece of legislation to be passed in the first session of the Parliament. That will be a fitting end to the first session.
I wish any future commissioner well and I wish her or him many happy hours of debating with the young Scots of Scotland what they want. I would like to issue the first invitation to the commissioner. When she or he takes up the appointment, I ask her or him to come to the big sister room of Westerton junior youth club to hear the demands for leisure facilities for young people in Westerton.
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...