Chamber
Plenary, 26 Mar 2003
26 Mar 2003 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Commissioner for Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill
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 Parliament. It has been a great pleasure to work alongside him. Members who know him well know about his idiosyncratic approach to deciding how to vote in any committee. Most of the time, one is on tenterhooks wondering whether he will vote with one or against one. Sometimes he manages to do both. He will be greatly missed by many of us.
The bill illustrates two aspects of the Parliament, one of which is a determination to achieve things for the people of Scotland. Brian Monteith was right to say that, when the committee received the Executive's memorandum about a children's commissioner, it decided that the best way to tackle that important issue would be to work across the parties to see whether progress could be made in such a way that there was no division in the Parliament. By and large, we have achieved that and the bill is testimony to that.
I will not echo every thank you that the convener gave, although I agree with them all, but I want to pick out three people in particular who should be thanked. The first is the convener, Karen Gillon, who steered the process through. She did that first as deputy convener and then as convener of the committee—although she has been absent on two occasions for the best of reasons. Latterly in particular, she has had a difficult task in getting the bill through in the time available and she has done remarkably well. I also pay tribute to Jackie Baillie and Irene McGugan, who took on the burden of the work connected with the bill by being involved in the long, detailed and never-easy negotiations with the non-Executive bills unit and the Executive. They did exceptionally well. Those people and the committee have shown that, where there is a will, things can be done.
The other thing that the bill says about the Parliament is the historical continuity in which we stand. The last bill that we will pass today, on a fairly remarkable afternoon, is a thoroughly modern bill, which, as Fiona McLeod indicated, has its roots in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It is particularly important to reflect on that today, at a time when the rights of children in other parts of the world are being threatened. What we do here this afternoon is concerned not only with Scotland, but with showing the determination of many people to support the rights of children throughout the world. We are taking a thoroughly modern and contemporary action.
Only an hour ago, we were repealing one part of the Theft Act 1607, which was passed before the Act of Union 1707. Members all know this, so perhaps there is no need for me to repeat it, but the bit of that act that we repealed was concerned with the theft of fish and bees. However, members will be pleased to know that the bit about the stealing of bees has been retained on the statute book—I mention that in case any members were thinking of trying to get away with stealing bees this afternoon.
The bill illustrates two aspects of the Parliament, one of which is a determination to achieve things for the people of Scotland. Brian Monteith was right to say that, when the committee received the Executive's memorandum about a children's commissioner, it decided that the best way to tackle that important issue would be to work across the parties to see whether progress could be made in such a way that there was no division in the Parliament. By and large, we have achieved that and the bill is testimony to that.
I will not echo every thank you that the convener gave, although I agree with them all, but I want to pick out three people in particular who should be thanked. The first is the convener, Karen Gillon, who steered the process through. She did that first as deputy convener and then as convener of the committee—although she has been absent on two occasions for the best of reasons. Latterly in particular, she has had a difficult task in getting the bill through in the time available and she has done remarkably well. I also pay tribute to Jackie Baillie and Irene McGugan, who took on the burden of the work connected with the bill by being involved in the long, detailed and never-easy negotiations with the non-Executive bills unit and the Executive. They did exceptionally well. Those people and the committee have shown that, where there is a will, things can be done.
The other thing that the bill says about the Parliament is the historical continuity in which we stand. The last bill that we will pass today, on a fairly remarkable afternoon, is a thoroughly modern bill, which, as Fiona McLeod indicated, has its roots in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It is particularly important to reflect on that today, at a time when the rights of children in other parts of the world are being threatened. What we do here this afternoon is concerned not only with Scotland, but with showing the determination of many people to support the rights of children throughout the world. We are taking a thoroughly modern and contemporary action.
Only an hour ago, we were repealing one part of the Theft Act 1607, which was passed before the Act of Union 1707. Members all know this, so perhaps there is no need for me to repeat it, but the bit of that act that we repealed was concerned with the theft of fish and bees. However, members will be pleased to know that the bit about the stealing of bees has been retained on the statute book—I mention that in case any members were thinking of trying to get away with stealing bees this afternoon.
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...