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Every contribution to the Official Report — chamber and committee — searchable in one place. Pulled from data.parliament.scot, indexed for full-text search, linked through to every MSP.

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Showing 60 of 2,354,908 contributions. Latest 30 days: 0. Coverage: 12 May 1999 — 25 Mar 2026.
The Deputy Presiding Officer: Con Chamber
29 Mar 2007
The Future of Scotland
Order.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Murray Tosh): Con Chamber
29 Mar 2007
The Future of Scotland
Order. The member is clearly not giving way.
The Deputy Presiding Officer: Con Chamber
28 Mar 2007
Scottish Public Services Ombudsman
Quickly.
The Deputy Presiding Officer: Con Chamber
28 Mar 2007
Scottish Public Services Ombudsman
I am afraid that the member has only one minute left.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Murray Tosh): Con Chamber
28 Mar 2007
Scottish Public Services Ombudsman
The next item of business is a debate on motion S2M-5785, in the name of John Scott, on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, on the reappointment of the Scottish public services ombudsman.
The Deputy Presiding Officer: Con Chamber
28 Mar 2007
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill
You will now be winding up for the Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill Committee, Mr Morgan.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Murray Tosh): Con Chamber
28 Mar 2007
Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill
We come now to the winding-up speeches.
Murray Tosh: Con Committee
27 Mar 2007
Legacy Paper
It is a common error. Well spotted.
Murray Tosh: Con Committee
27 Mar 2007
Legacy Paper
Yes.
Murray Tosh: Con Committee
27 Mar 2007
Legacy Paper
As far as the textual changes are concerned, they cover the points that were made last week.
Murray Tosh: Con Committee
27 Mar 2007
Legacy Paper
Convener, I am momentarily stunned by your suggestion that we might all be gathered here again for a further four years.
Murray Tosh: Con Committee
27 Mar 2007
Instruments Not Laid Before <br />the Parliament
Will we deal today with the Inshore Fishing (Prohibited Methods of Fishing) (Firth of Lorn) (No 2) Order 2007 (SSI 2007/240), or is the letter that was faxed to the committee about the order just for information?
Murray Tosh: Con Committee
27 Mar 2007
Executive Responses
We have not really been consulted—we have just noticed that it is happening on the way past. If we had been consulted and somebody could have said whether it is good practice, that might have been a better position for the Executive to find itself in. However, it is clearly ju...
Murray Tosh (West of Scotland) (Con): Con Committee
27 Mar 2007
Executive Responses
It is an interesting comment, and the conclusion is clearly that the Executive should amend primary legislation rather than tinker with secondary legislation, draw inferences and go beyond its powers.
The Deputy Presiding Officer: Con Chamber
22 Mar 2007
Education
Members should not intervene from a sedentary position. I have never had the pleasure of expelling a member from the chamber and it would be embarrassing for us all if I were to begin with a member of the Cabinet.
The Deputy Presiding Officer: Con Chamber
22 Mar 2007
Education
Order.
The Deputy Presiding Officer: Con Chamber
22 Mar 2007
Education
Mr Henry, the member is not giving way.
The Deputy Presiding Officer: Con Chamber
22 Mar 2007
Education
That just goes to show that one should never ask a question until one knows what the answer is.
The Deputy Presiding Officer: Con Chamber
22 Mar 2007
Education
The minister is back in time for the closing speeches. That is, of course, good practice that the Presiding Officers encourage at all times.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Murray Tosh): Con Chamber
22 Mar 2007
Education
We come to the closing speeches. I call Frank McAveety to close for the Labour Party.
Murray Tosh: Con Chamber
22 Mar 2007
Crichton University Campus
That suggestion sounds perfectly sensible. I do not know whether ministerial guidance is necessarily the right mechanism to use, but I have no doubt that the minister can play a very important role.This issue poses a very significant challenge to the minister's political skill...
Murray Tosh (West of Scotland) (Con): Con Chamber
22 Mar 2007
Crichton University Campus
As a former member for the South of Scotland, I would have wished to participate in the previous debate on the subject that was held some weeks ago, which was initiated by Dr Elaine Murray but, as members will recall, personal circumstances prevented my being in Parliament. I ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer: Con Chamber
22 Mar 2007
Scotland in the United Kingdom
I express my regrets to the three remaining members who wished to speak in the debate, but we must move to closing speeches.
The Deputy Presiding Officer: Con Chamber
22 Mar 2007
Scotland in the United Kingdom
No, the member was nodding to my visual signal that he has only five minutes in which to speak.
The Deputy Presiding Officer: Con Chamber
22 Mar 2007
Scotland in the United Kingdom
We come now to open debate. I will not be able to call all the members whose names are on my screen, but we will see what we can get through.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Murray Tosh): Con Chamber
22 Mar 2007
Scotland in the United Kingdom
You must be quick.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Murray Tosh): Con Chamber
21 Mar 2007
Park-and-Ride Sites (South Edinburgh)
The final item of business is a members' business debate on motion S2M-5715, in the name of Mike Pringle, on the lack of park-and-ride sites in south Edinburgh. The debate will be concluded without any question being put.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Murray Tosh): Con Chamber
21 Mar 2007
Cairngorms National Park Boundary Bill: Stage 1
The next item of business is a debate on motion S2M-5758, in the name of John Swinney, that the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Cairngorms National Park Boundary Bill.
Murray Tosh: Con Committee
20 Mar 2007
Legacy Paper
Subject to a pronoun check.
Murray Tosh: Con Committee
20 Mar 2007
Legacy Paper
The last sentence of paragraph 26 is clear to us, but it would be better if it started, "The Executive's views". There is also a pronoun problem in paragraph 24. This is not just pedantry—the wording makes us wonder what exactly is meant. I think that "they" refers not to the ...
Murray Tosh: Con Committee
20 Mar 2007
Legacy Paper
Yes. We should replace the pronoun with "IRIS".
Murray Tosh: Con Committee
20 Mar 2007
Legacy Paper
The middle sentence in paragraph 18 also needs to be adjusted. It is clear to us that we mean that IRIS should have an enhanced role but, as it is written, the sentence suggests that the committee should have an enhanced role.
Murray Tosh: Con Committee
20 Mar 2007
Legacy Paper
I think it is the Borders, Euan.
Murray Tosh: Con Committee
20 Mar 2007
Legacy Paper
I do not think that you need to identify the solutions. You could just express your concerns and the future committee could consider them.
Murray Tosh: Con Committee
20 Mar 2007
Legacy Paper
But you will have to express the thought for members of that committee to be able to do that.
Murray Tosh: Con Committee
20 Mar 2007
Legacy Paper
Perhaps you would like to draft a paragraph for inclusion in our report. We could consider it next week.
Murray Tosh: Con Committee
20 Mar 2007
Legacy Paper
Perhaps it is up to the committee clerks to understand what we mean when we say that something is defective, or that it is defective but does not affect an instrument's validity. There is a distinction to be made in that respect.
Murray Tosh: Con Committee
20 Mar 2007
Legacy Paper
But we already cover that. Our reports already draw attention to defective drafting and, with regard to the more minor cases, say that they do not affect the validity of the instrument. We could abbreviate that to a reference to "technically defective drafting" to signal insta...
Murray Tosh: Con Committee
20 Mar 2007
Legacy Paper
But surely the Latin terms that we use have become loan words or phrases, and are therefore perfectly acceptable—quod erat demonstrandum.
Murray Tosh: Con Committee
20 Mar 2007
Legacy Paper
Oh, I see. It is not obvious that the dash introduces the italicised subheadings on the next page.
Murray Tosh: Con Committee
20 Mar 2007
Legacy Paper
There might be a continuity problem in paragraph 10, which ends with a dash.
Murray Tosh: Con Committee
20 Mar 2007
Legacy Paper
Stewart Maxwell's suggestion is good, but we should also say that our handling of such issues has improved. Perhaps we should have started inviting officials earlier in this session of the Parliament; their evidence has benefited us recently.
Murray Tosh: Con Committee
20 Mar 2007
Legacy Paper
We should nod in the direction of Executive officials and ministers, who are perhaps more used to reading comments in the Official Report that are critical and express frustration. When things work well, we should acknowledge that.
Murray Tosh: Con Committee
20 Mar 2007
Legacy Paper
The phrase "the Committee's success" gives the impression that we made a point and the Executive gave way, but the approach has been more constructive. There has been improved understanding on the part of many Executive bill teams.
Murray Tosh: Con Committee
20 Mar 2007
Legacy Paper
We note that there were a number of bills to which the committee lodged amendments or to which the Executive lodged amendments in response to our comments. It might be appropriate to add that we have had a reasonably good dialogue with the Executive recently and that ministers...
Murray Tosh: Con Committee
20 Mar 2007
Instruments Subject <br />to Annulment
There is a gender point there, which you might wish to raise and pursue, convener.
Murray Tosh: Con Committee
20 Mar 2007
Instruments Subject <br />to Annulment
We should do so as a courtesy to Mr Ewing.
Murray Tosh: Con Committee
20 Mar 2007
Instruments Subject <br />to Annulment
The issues raised in our briefing on the orders relate to the breach of the 21-day rule. In the circumstances, we can probably accept the explanation given. Mr Ewing's point was about the failure to consult adequately the Mallaig and North West Fishermen's Association and the ...
Murray Tosh: Con Committee
20 Mar 2007
Instruments Subject <br />to Annulment
You could be in trouble for considering that point to be minor.
Murray Tosh: Con Committee
20 Mar 2007
Instruments Subject <br />to Annulment
We wondered about that.
Murray Tosh: Con Committee
20 Mar 2007
Executive Responses
I take it that you are ruling that that is an acceptable parliamentary term, convener.
Murray Tosh: Con Committee
20 Mar 2007
Executive Responses
That strengthens the argument for a single procedure, does it not?
Murray Tosh: Con Committee
20 Mar 2007
Executive Responses
I agree. There is a slight difference in that the Executive has explained that, when an instrument contains negative procedure and no procedure, in the event that it is annulled the Executive may implement the no-procedure elements of the package from the same date if it so wi...
Murray Tosh (West of Scotland) (Con): Con Committee
20 Mar 2007
Executive Responses
I am happy with what is recommended.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Murray Tosh): Con Chamber
15 Mar 2007
Red Deer (Rum)
The final item of business today is a members' business debate on motion S2M-5492, in the name of Jamie McGrigor, on Rum's red deer. The debate will be concluded without any question being put.
The Deputy Presiding Officer: Con Chamber
15 Mar 2007
Custodial Sentences and Weapons (Scotland) Bill
We come to closing speeches. We are behind the clock, so I am obliged to Jeremy Purvis for waiving his second speaking slot.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Murray Tosh): Con Chamber
15 Mar 2007
Custodial Sentences and Weapons (Scotland) Bill
The next item of business is a debate on motion S2M-5632, in the name of Cathy Jamieson, that the Parliament agrees that the Custodial Sentences and Weapons (Scotland) Bill be passed.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Murray Tosh): Con Chamber
15 Mar 2007
Scotland Malawi Partnership
The final item of business this morning is a members' business debate on motion S2M-5725, in the name of Karen Gillon, on Malawi. The debate will be concluded without any question being put.
The Deputy Presiding Officer: Con Chamber
15 Mar 2007
Custodial Sentences and Weapons (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
Group 9 is on the cross-border transfer of prisoners. Amendment 12, in the name of the minister, is grouped with amendment 14.
The Deputy Presiding Officer: Con Chamber
15 Mar 2007
Custodial Sentences and Weapons (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
If amendment 67 is agreed to, amendments 29 and 30 are pre-empted.
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Chamber

Plenary, 22 Mar 2007

22 Mar 2007 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Education
Tosh, Murray Con West of Scotland Watch on SPTV
Mr Henry, the member is not giving way.

In the same item of business

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Trish Godman): Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S2M-5775, in the name of Hugh Henry, on celebrating success in Scottish education.
The Minister for Education and Young People (Hugh Henry): Lab
I am delighted to open a debate that gives us an opportunity to put on record all the significant developments that are taking place in Scottish education.As...
Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): SNP
If such substantial progress has been made since the Labour-Liberal Executive came to power, can the minister explain why in 1997 there were 1,707 teachers i...
Hugh Henry: Lab
The Executive has delivered on its commitment to bring in more teachers. Indeed, by August, we will have met our target of 53,000 teachers in Scotland. As th...
Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): Con
The minister is not the only one who visits schools in Scotland; as he would expect, we all do. Secondary schools have been telling us that a quarter of prim...
Hugh Henry: Lab
We can address some of the issues that still have to be tackled. The fact is that Scotland's performance ranks in the top third of Organisation for Economic ...
Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): SNP
Does the minister agree that it is unfortunate that many of the rural schools in Moray that have received excellent inspection reports in recent years have b...
Hugh Henry: Lab
Any such decision—and, indeed, the quality of education in the area—is a matter for the local authority in Moray. However, we are determined to raise standar...
Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): SNP
I greatly appreciated the minister's list of visits to schools in marginal constituencies with Labour members who are in their final days in office.The SNP i...
Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind): Ind
Does the member have any information on the geographical location and sociological demographics of the classes that she describes as being too big?
Fiona Hyslop: SNP
Margo MacDonald makes a good point. Indeed, in the debate on the Crichton campus at lunch time, the issue was raised in relation to Dumfries and Galloway. Pe...
Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): LD
Will the member give way?
Fiona Hyslop: SNP
I want to move on.We should be introducing a baccalaureate as a group award in highers for top performance, first in languages and then in science, to encour...
Mr Davidson: Con
Will Ms Hyslop enlighten us on the science baccalaureate? What plans does the SNP have to fill the current shortages in science teachers at the top end of sc...
Fiona Hyslop: SNP
The SNP plans to maintain teacher numbers in the face of falling school rolls. We will encourage people to become teachers, particularly early years, science...
Hugh Henry: Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
Fiona Hyslop: SNP
I am in my last minute.The extra cost of PPP finance means that schools will lose at least £900,000 that could be spent on more books, better equipment and m...
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): Con
Like Fiona Hyslop, we all believe strongly in the pursuit of educational excellence. I thank her for her kind words about the Children (Scotland) Act 1995. I...
Hugh Henry: Lab
I pay tribute to Lord James for the contribution that he has made to public life in Scotland over many years. He has played a distinguished role not only in ...
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: Con
There have been substantial improvements to Scottish education since before that time. Those improvements have been steady and we must learn from them. Howev...
Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): LD
Will the member take an intervention?
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: Con
I will take a brief intervention, but I have quite a lot to say.
Margaret Smith: LD
Does the member agree that it is important that Scottish history be taught in our schools, if for no other reason than to remind children of the important ro...
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: Con
I thank Margaret Smith and Hugh Henry very much for their kind words.I support the teaching of history in schools, although not for the reason that Margaret ...
Iain Smith (North East Fife) (LD): LD
I am pleased to follow Lord James Douglas-Hamilton in the debate, because that gives me an opportunity to pay tribute to him after his final speech in this p...
Margo MacDonald: Ind
Will the Treasury have an interest in whether the PPP-style mechanism can be replaced with another one, or will it be something that is just for the Scottish...
Iain Smith: LD
My understanding is that the Scottish Parliament does not have the power to create the bonds that the SNP proposes to have, which means that the policy would...
Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): SNP
We are going to abolish the council tax, not cap it.
Iain Smith: LD
Whether it is the council tax or the local income tax that is capped, it will starve local authorities of resources. Worse than that, the SNP will put all th...
Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): Lab
I start by adding to the tributes to Lord James Douglas-Hamilton. Some 30 or so years ago, Lord James was my MP, although I am afraid that I did not vote for...