Hansard

The Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid): NPA

The next item of business is a debate on motion S2M-5098, in the name of Nicol Stephen, on supporting positive transitions from school to work.

The Deputy First Minister and Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning (Nicol Stephen): LD

Today's debate is on the important issue of moving young people from school into further education, employment or training.The transition works well for the ...

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West) (Ind): Ind

A vocational element in education is important and every effort must be made to improve job and training opportunities for young people. However, does the mi...

Nicol Stephen: LD

I agree strongly with that point. As well as the basic academic skills, there must be an emphasis in our schools on physical activity and sport, drama and mu...

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): Con

Given what the Deputy First Minister has said about schools, can he say whether he supports the First Minister's proposals for science academies?

Nicol Stephen: LD

As I understand the situation, the proposals were made not by the First Minister but by the leader of the Labour Party. I look forward to seeing more of the ...

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): SNP

I want to take the minister back a couple of paragraphs in his speech, to the point when he referred to local authorities having the lead role. If local auth...

Nicol Stephen: LD

I could refer the member forward a few paragraphs in my speech, to the point when I will refer to leadership. It is important that the Executive, the private...

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): SNP

I appreciate the comments that the minister has made so far, but does he accept that if education is so important in tackling the problem, the absence of the...

Nicol Stephen: LD

I strongly disagree with that. It is correct that the lead minister on this issue is the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning. The Minister for Educ...

John Swinburne (Central Scotland) (SSCUP): SSCUP

Will the minister give way?

Nicol Stephen: LD

I am sorry, but I cannot because I am running out of time.The strategy commits us to setting national and local targets for tackling the problem by 2008. We ...

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): SNP

There is probably a lot of cross-party consensus on the issue, both on the importance of dealing with the problem and on the need to tackle it in a multifari...

The Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning (Allan Wilson): Lab

So why does the Scottish National Party propose to exacerbate the situation by spending £1.7 billion on writing off student debt?

Alex Neil: SNP

Obviously, arithmetic was not Allan Wilson's best subject when he left school. The reason for having policies such as ours is to tackle another issue that hi...

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): Con

I congratulate Alex Neil on what must be a record: he spoke for 10 minutes and 46 seconds but did not mention independence once. I hope that he will keep tha...

Jim Mather: SNP

Does Murdo Fraser concede that it is possible that the skills gap is a function of people being attracted out of Scotland by better terms and conditions else...

Murdo Fraser: Con

That is an interesting question. We still have a problem in that many high-level graduates are leaving Scotland to seek employment elsewhere; for example, Mr...

Fiona Hyslop: SNP

Will Murdo Fraser give way?

Murdo Fraser: Con

If Fiona Hyslop will forgive me, I will not give way at this point, as I need to make progress.Recently, there has been a large influx of workers from easter...

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (Sol): Sol

Although I welcome the debate, I must express my concern about the way in which we tackle the problem. We build piecemeal projects that are never extended an...

Christine May (Central Fife) (Lab): Lab

In time for reflection today, the Rev Malcolm Rooney spoke about arch enemies united, and I suspect that, regardless of our views on the solution, this subje...

Fiona Hyslop: SNP

Will the member give way?

Christine May: Lab

I am in my last minute, so I must continue.Murdo Fraser talked about skills academies and science academies. At Friday's business in the Parliament conferenc...

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): SNP

I welcome the opportunity to take part in the debate and I applaud the work that has been done by the Smith group, which has been ably led by Sir Tom Hunter ...

Christine May: Lab

Does Jim Mather agree that because the Executive is not a company it should not therefore be expected to behave as a company? However, if we extend his analo...

Jim Mather: SNP

A country has a responsibility to develop the capability of its citizens. The Governments in London and Edinburgh control economic management, social securit...

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): LD

I come from a singular part of Scotland and I realise that there are many different areas in Scotland. Does Jim Mather accept that the solution to the proble...

Jim Mather: SNP

I accept that many systems that have worked well in the central belt have not worked in the Highlands and I am not for one minute saying that we should not g...

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): Con

We all agree that the fact that many of our young people have no opportunity to create a meaningful life for themselves is quite shameful. People generally a...