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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 Minister for Youth Employment (Angela Constance) SNP Chamber
02 May 2013
Blacklisting
Like other MSPs, I commend Neil Findlay for securing this well-attended and well-supported debate.For the record, I restate the Scottish Government’s position, which is that blacklisting is wholly unacceptable. The Scottish Government endorses the Health and Safety Executive’s...
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning (Angela Constance) SNP Chamber
17 Dec 2014
Historical Child Abuse
On 11 November, my predecessor, Michael Russell, stood in this chamber and spoke of “the moral imperative” that compels all of us to face up to and act on the reality of historical abuse of children and the current risks of child abuse. In his statement, Michael Russell laid...
Angela Constance SNP Chamber
20 Feb 2025
Independent Review of Sentencing and Penal Policy
I have always vowed never to be one of those politicians who only tell people what they are really thinking after they have left office. Therefore, I will not permit Opposition politicians to put words into my mouth and I put on record—right here, right now—what I have said be...
Angela Constance: SNP Committee
20 Jan 2009
Justice and Home Affairs in Europe
Can the cabinet secretary give us any indication of the EU's likely priorities for the Stockholm programme?
Angela Constance: SNP Committee
20 Jan 2009
Justice and Home Affairs in Europe
Thank you. What action is the Scottish Government taking to ensure that an effective contribution is made to the formulation of the Stockholm programme?
Angela Constance: SNP Committee
20 Jan 2009
Justice and Home Affairs in Europe
Will you say a bit more about the input that is expected from stakeholders? What are the subsequent timescales, other than from Friday onwards?
Angela Constance (Livingston) (SNP): SNP Chamber
22 Jan 2009
Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
I am grateful for the opportunity to speak in today's debate, and I extend a warm welcome to residents of Burnside village, near Broxburn, in my constituency, who join us in the public gallery. My constituents' lives were turned upside down by severe flooding last August. I am...
Angela Constance (Livingston) (SNP): SNP Chamber
07 May 2009
Climate Change (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
I am grateful for the opportunity to speak in this debate, as I truly believe that the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill will be part of this Governments—and, indeed, the Parliaments—lasting legacy. Like many members, I have received a sizeable number of representations in suppor...
Angela Constance: SNP Chamber
07 May 2009
Climate Change (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
I accept that the voluntary agreement is resulting in reduced use of plastic carrier bags, but I am concerned that that may be counterproductive and that we will merely replace the lightweight carrier bags with which we are all familiar with heavier plastic, paper, cotton or j...
Angela Constance SNP Committee
22 Nov 2011
Protection of Vulnerable Groups
That is the thrust of our on-going dialogue with BT, as part of which we are having some challenging discussions. BT is under no illusions about my and this Government’s dissatisfaction with the state of affairs, and it continues to work intensively with us to resolve the issue.
Angela Constance SNP Chamber
15 Sep 2011
Scottish Executive Question Time · Schools (Anti-sectarianism)
I appreciate Ms Beamish’s interest in the area; I am aware that she is a former schoolteacher. I reassure her that I have begun conversations with the Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, Roseanna Cunningham, on a number of fronts. I do not want to leave the member...
Angela Constance SNP Chamber
02 May 2013
Blacklisting
I will let Neil Findlay in once I have made a bit of progress.We are pleased by the rigour that the Scottish Affairs Committee is applying to its investigation. As a Government, we have read the committee’s interim report with great interest. In that report, the committee conc...
Angela Constance SNP Chamber
02 May 2013
Blacklisting
I will come on to the point about action that can be taken. There have been significant regulatory changes since 2009.On Mr Findlay’s first point, I reassure him that, as a Government, we are looking forward to the Scottish Affairs Committee’s final report, which we will look ...
Angela Constance SNP Chamber
02 May 2013
Blacklisting
I understand Mr Smith’s point and there is no doubt in my mind that there are many people who have been adversely affected by blacklisting. However I hope that he understands the point that I am making and accepts it in the spirit in which it is intended. It is appropriate for...
Angela Constance SNP Chamber
09 May 2013
Youth Employment
I hope that Mr McArthur is fully aware of the European youth guarantee, which the European Commission proposed, and that there is a political agreement between member states—although only the UK Government and the Czech Republic have exercised their right to decline to partici...
Angela Constance SNP Chamber
17 Dec 2014
Historical Child Abuse
I appreciate Ms Fabiani’s long-standing interest in the matter of time bar. It is important to stress that there is no time bar for criminal cases—I am sure that Ms Fabiani and others recognise and understand that. Nevertheless, it is important that the Government acknowledges...
Angela Constance SNP Chamber
07 Oct 2015
Portfolio Question Time · University and College Union (Meetings)
I have been aware of the press coverage of the potential closure of the religious studies department at the University of Stirling. I am also aware that it is the only place to study religion without being in a faculty of Christian theology. Obviously, universities are autonom...
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning (Angela Constance) SNP Chamber
08 Oct 2015
Further Education (Glasgow)
I am grateful for the opportunity to make this statement on the important matter of college governance in Glasgow. Members will be aware that this morning I laid an order before the Parliament to remove from office the chair and members of the board of Glasgow Clyde College an...
Angela Constance SNP Committee
25 Nov 2015
Section 22 Reports
My predecessor, Mr Russell, senior civil servants, and the funding council were clear about the conditions on, and expectations around, use of strategic funds that were to be made available to support voluntary severance schemes. The detail is that payments were not to be in e...
The Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities (Angela Constance) SNP Chamber
23 Feb 2017
General Question Time · Tackling Islamophobia
We invested more than £500,000 in 2016-17 to promote interfaith relations and engagement between civic Scotland and different faith communities. We are developing an ambitious programme of work following the report of the independent advisory group on hate crime, prejudice and...
Angela Constance SNP Committee
20 Apr 2017
Destitution, Asylum and Insecure Immigration Status
I met Robert Goodwill at the end of last year—it was last October, I think—to discuss a range of issues. Primarily, I wanted to tell him that the Syrian resettlement programme in Scotland had worked well. At that time, more than a quarter—about a third—of people who had come t...
Angela Constance SNP Chamber
25 Oct 2017
Portfolio Question Time · Young People’s Social and Human Rights
I agree with Ms Lennon that such devices have no place in Scotland. She might be aware that Annabelle Ewing, the Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, wrote to all local authorities and to public bodies on the matter. Crucially—given the member’s constituency intere...
Angela Constance SNP Chamber
30 Nov 2017
General Question Time · Asylum Accommodation and Support Services Contract
I am grateful to Mr Harvie for his question. I have written to the UK Government on at least three occasions to express our concerns about the current contract, and in my meetings with two immigration ministers I have raised the desirability of having a public sector-led contr...
Angela Constance SNP Chamber
06 Dec 2017
Portfolio Question Time · Child Poverty
I assure Mr Tomkins and the rest of the members in the chamber that the delivery plan will account for and articulate the action that we are taking and will take to close the poverty-related education attainment gap. We always welcome the work of the Joseph Rowntree Foundatio...
Angela Constance SNP Chamber
16 May 2018
Portfolio Question Time · Equality Act 2010 (Bank Closures)
I very much share the concerns that the member has articulated, and I know that they are shared by many members across the chamber. In my view, it is unacceptable that disabled people could in effect be excluded from conducting their financial affairs in bank facilities becaus...
Angela Constance SNP Committee
12 Sep 2018
European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018
I think that it would be quite timely, convener. Good morning, cabinet secretary. I am very interested in intergovernmental relations and how they could be improved in a spirit of respect and reciprocity. You mentioned that the JMC has begun to at least moot this subject, alth...
Angela Constance (Almond Valley) (SNP) SNP Chamber
25 Sep 2018
UK Trade Arrangements: Scotland’s Role
The point has been made repeatedly throughout today’s debate that trade agreements are not just about how many goods at what price. In today’s world, trade agreements reach far and wide. They encroach on public policy and impact deeply on our day-to-day lives, cutting across b...
Angela Constance SNP Committee
03 Oct 2018
Pre-budget Scrutiny 2019-20
Yes. I want to discuss relationships and working together. The cabinet secretary is perhaps aware that, in July, the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee at Westminster produced a report that concluded that, 20 years after devolution, Whitehall still has ...
Angela Constance (Almond Valley) (SNP) SNP Committee
29 Nov 2018
Article 50 Negotiations (Withdrawal Agreement)
It seems to me that the deal is designed to achieve one thing and one thing only, and that is to end freedom of movement, apparently once and for all. That is not something that we in this Parliament have asked for. Specifically, do you know what percentage of Scotland’s popul...
Angela Constance SNP Committee
29 Nov 2018
Article 50 Negotiations (Withdrawal Agreement)
It is actually 100 per cent. Our population growth over the next 25 years is entirely reliant on migration. To press you further, do you know by what percentage Scotland’s working-age population would decline without EU migration?
Angela Constance SNP Committee
29 Nov 2018
Article 50 Negotiations (Withdrawal Agreement)
From your answer, what we are sure of is that it all seems rather uncertain. We know that, without EU migration, Scotland’s working age population will decline by 3 per cent. Will that have a positive or negative impact on Scotland’s public finances?
Angela Constance SNP Committee
29 Nov 2018
Article 50 Negotiations (Withdrawal Agreement)
Forgive me for stopping you there, but I must point out that you are giving evidence to a Parliament in a country where 62 per cent of people voted to remain, and to the Scottish Parliament’s Finance and Constitution Committee, which has thoroughly explored the demographic ris...
Angela Constance SNP Committee
29 Nov 2018
Article 50 Negotiations (Withdrawal Agreement)
I am asking about the risks to our budget as a result of a declining working-age population, to which you have given no consideration.
Angela Constance SNP Committee
29 Nov 2018
Article 50 Negotiations (Withdrawal Agreement)
However, the committee conceded that it had not done any modelling for Scotland—
Angela Constance (Almond Valley) (SNP) SNP Committee
29 Nov 2018
Article 50 Negotiations (Withdrawal Agreement)
It seems to me that the deal is designed to achieve one thing and one thing only, and that is to end freedom of movement, apparently once and for all. That is not something that we in this Parliament have asked for. Specifically, do you know what percentage of Scotland’s popul...
Angela Constance SNP Committee
29 Nov 2018
Article 50 Negotiations (Withdrawal Agreement)
It is actually 100 per cent. Our population growth over the next 25 years is entirely reliant on migration. To press you further, do you know by what percentage Scotland’s working-age population would decline without EU migration?
Angela Constance SNP Committee
29 Nov 2018
Article 50 Negotiations (Withdrawal Agreement)
From your answer, what we are sure of is that it all seems rather uncertain. We know that, without EU migration, Scotland’s working age population will decline by 3 per cent. Will that have a positive or negative impact on Scotland’s public finances?
Angela Constance SNP Committee
29 Nov 2018
Article 50 Negotiations (Withdrawal Agreement)
Forgive me for stopping you there, but I must point out that you are giving evidence to a Parliament in a country where 62 per cent of people voted to remain, and to the Scottish Parliament’s Finance and Constitution Committee, which has thoroughly explored the demographic ris...
Angela Constance SNP Committee
29 Nov 2018
Article 50 Negotiations (Withdrawal Agreement)
I am asking about the risks to our budget as a result of a declining working-age population, to which you have given no consideration.
Angela Constance SNP Committee
29 Nov 2018
Article 50 Negotiations (Withdrawal Agreement)
However, the committee conceded that it had not done any modelling for Scotland—
Angela Constance (Almond Valley) (SNP) SNP Chamber
11 Dec 2018
Ultrasound Scanner (60th Anniversary)
This year is the 60th anniversary of the publication of a landmark paper that highlighted to the medical world the possibilities of ultrasound. It is my great privilege to lead tonight’s debate, which recognises the importance of that groundbreaking work to Scotland’s heritage...
Angela Constance (Almond Valley) (SNP) SNP Committee
27 Feb 2019
Common Frameworks
I will pick up on the issues around intergovernmental relationships and the mechanisms that support that. I heard with interest what you said about the work around common frameworks being a long-term piece of work that was never intended to be done and dusted by Brexit day. Th...
Angela Constance SNP Committee
15 May 2019
Trade Negotiations
Given that it was one of Westminster’s committees—the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee—that raised concerns that, 20 years into devolution, there is still a lack of understanding and appreciation of the devolved settlement, and given that past behavio...
Angela Constance (Almond Valley) (SNP) SNP Committee
19 Jun 2020
Brexit
Mr Russell will remember the findings from Westminster’s Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, which concluded that, despite 20 years of devolution, Westminster did not understand the devolved settlement, never mind paying due respect to it. Is the cabin...
Angela Constance SNP Committee
09 Mar 2021
Drugs Policy
I appreciate that question from Mr Whittle. He is absolutely right that we need to take a whole-system approach to the issues. The Government has some experience in this area—for example, through the work that was done in and around improvement sites in our health service, on ...
Angela Constance SNP Committee
09 Mar 2021
Drugs Policy
Yes, I have engaged with the Lord Advocate and the law officers, as you would expect. The Government’s policy position remains the same. The law officers are fully aware of the Government’s policy position. Those committee members who were involved in the Scottish Affairs Comm...
The Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs (Angela Constance) SNP Chamber
09 May 2023
Trauma-informed Justice for Victims and Witnesses
It is a privilege to lead this debate, which is my first as Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs. I want to pay tribute to my predecessor, Keith Brown, and I look forward to working with all members of the Parliament at what is a pivotal moment in the delivery of Sco...
Angela Constance SNP Chamber
22 Jun 2023
Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill
I once again thank all members for their contributions throughout the journey of the bill. I think that we have, by and large, demonstrated that we can disagree agreeably. However, I point out to colleagues that the vast majority of the Government amendments that I lodged at s...
Angela Constance SNP Committee
21 Jun 2023
Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill
Convener, I am not gonnae breenge into Northern Irish affairs. With respect to—
Angela Constance SNP Committee
21 Jun 2023
Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill
As the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, I trust our court system and our system of prosecution. While we will continue to seek to engage the UK Government on further amendments, as you would expect us to do, the bottom line is that the UK Government can proceed ...
Angela Constance SNP Chamber
28 Jun 2023
Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill
Mr Mountain, I am trying very hard not to have a politicised debate, given the matters that we are discussing. I am aware of the sensitivity of the issues for many members across the political divide, but I have a duty, as a member of this Parliament, to point out issues regar...
Angela Constance SNP Committee
27 Sep 2023
Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
I think that that predates my time as Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs. I do not know the answer to that question, and I do not know whether the officials can say whether there was another working title. In general, it is not uncommon for proposed legislation tha...
The Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs (Angela Constance) SNP Chamber
03 Oct 2023
Scotland’s Prison Population
Over the course of this year, the prison population has risen by about 600 from 7,303 to, as of yesterday, 7,937, which is an increase of about 9 per cent. That represents a significant challenge, and further increases will have a serious impact on those who work in our prison...
Angela Constance SNP Chamber
19 Dec 2023
Topical Question Time · Police Scotland (Building Closures)
I will, of course, leave it to the Deputy First Minister to outline this Government’s budget, which will prioritise public services, in the not-too-distant future. As Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, I am aware that the number 1 priority of any Government is to ...
Angela Constance SNP Committee
11 Jan 2024
Management of Transgender Prisoners
I stress to Ms McNeill that I would not narrate this as an SPS decision as such, and I would not narrate it as a position that anybody is comfortable with, necessarily. Sometimes, as Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, I feel the frustration of not being able to ta...
Angela Constance SNP Committee
07 Feb 2024
Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
I very much agree, Mr Swinney. There are benefits in taking a more inquisitorial approach as opposed to an adversarial approach. As I alluded to earlier in the proceedings, I have spent some time engaging with other jurisdictions. I am not for a minute suggesting that a lift a...
The Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs (Angela Constance) SNP Chamber
18 Apr 2024
Prison Officers Association (68 Is Too Late Campaign)
I welcome the opportunity to respond to this important debate and I place on record my thanks to Pauline McNeill for lodging the motion and to the members who have made a valuable contribution this afternoon. I also pay tribute to members who have worked on a cross-party basis...
The Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs (Angela Constance) SNP Chamber
02 May 2024
Unborn Victims of Violence
I, too, welcome the opportunity to participate in the debate. First, I thank and commend the convener and members of the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee for their consideration of the petition from Ms Nicola Murray. I welcome Ms Murray to her Parliament. ...
Angela Constance SNP Chamber
15 May 2024
Portfolio Question Time · Police Officer Numbers
I dispute that our police service is underfunded, because we have continued to increase investment in Police Scotland year on year since 2016. I have already outlined the significant work in and around recruitment that will progress this year. It is a sorry state of affairs w...
Angela Constance SNP Chamber
16 May 2024
Prison Population
It is almost exactly a year to the day since we were engaged in the stage 2 proceedings on the Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill, when I was the newly appointed Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs. One of the issues that we were debating concerned the po...
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Chamber

Meeting of the Parliament 02 May 2013

02 May 2013 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Blacklisting
Constance, Angela SNP Almond Valley Watch on SPTV
Like other MSPs, I commend Neil Findlay for securing this well-attended and well-supported debate.

For the record, I restate the Scottish Government’s position, which is that blacklisting is wholly unacceptable. The Scottish Government endorses the Health and Safety Executive’s comments; condemns any form of blacklisting of employees by employers for raising concerns about safety standards at work; and is totally opposed to blacklisting or the compilation of a blacklist on such a basis.

First of all, I want to address the most prominent issue that has been raised by Neil Findlay and other members. Although we as a Government acknowledge the call for a Scottish Government inquiry, we believe that it is appropriate for the Scottish Affairs Committee to conduct and conclude its inquiry into this issue. As we know, matters of employment law are reserved to the UK Government and the Scottish Government is not at this time convinced of the merits of holding another inquiry while the Scottish Affairs Committee’s investigation is on-going and its recommendations are pending.

In the same item of business

The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott) Con
The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S4M-05594, in the name of Neil Findlay, on blacklisting: a Scottish and United Kingdom huma...
Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab) Lab
I declare an interest in that I am a member of Unite the Union and was previously a member of the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians.In the...
Anne McTaggart (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab
I am delighted to take part in this debate on the subject of the blacklisting of Scottish construction workers. I thank my colleague Neil Findlay, not only f...
Christina McKelvie (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP) SNP
I commend Unite’s campaign and put on record my personal thanks to Stewart Hume and Greig McArthur, who have given me updates on a daily basis on the campaig...
Neil Findlay Lab
I am very pleased that Christina McKelvie supports changes to the procurement process. Given that she referred to a “live conspiracy”, does she support my ca...
Christina McKelvie SNP
I do not think that that is an unreasonable request, but now that we have the interim report from the House of Commons Scottish Affairs Committee we should a...
Drew Smith (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab
I congratulate Neil Findlay not only on securing the debate but on the campaigning that he has done on the issue. Presiding Officer, I draw your and other me...
The Deputy Presiding Officer Con
Due to the number of members who still wish to speak, I am minded to accept a motion without notice to extend the debate by up to 30 minutes.Motion moved,Tha...
Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con) Con
I welcome the fact that Neil Findlay has been able to bring this matter before the chamber today, not least because it gives me an opportunity to speak from ...
Neil Findlay Lab
That hits the nail on the head, to use a phrase from construction. This lot has to get its act together and get its house in order. The member mentions an in...
Alex Johnstone Con
I am not in a position to give that commitment at the moment. I retain an open mind on the suggestion and look forward to hearing the contributions to this d...
Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab) Lab
I, too, congratulate Neil Findlay on securing the debate and on all the work that he is doing to ensure that this Parliament takes meaningful action so that ...
Stewart Stevenson (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP
Along with others, I congratulate Mr Findlay on securing time for the debate and on the powerful illustrations of abuse that he brought to us, as other membe...
John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP) SNP
Does Mr Stevenson accept that many of the allegations against the individuals who were placed on the blacklist were made by other individuals? The blacklist ...
Stewart Stevenson SNP
John Wilson helpfully makes the point for me. If there is to be an accusation made and a sanction laid, that must be done in an open and transparent way that...
Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab
I refer members to my entry in the register of interests. I welcome the debate and join other members in thanking my colleague Neil Findlay for bringing it t...
John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP) SNP
I declare that, as my entry in the register of members’ interests shows, I am a member of Unite. I have been a member of the trade union movement for almost ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer Con
You must draw to a close, please.
John Wilson SNP
In closing, I say that it is quite clear that the practice has gone on for too long. Workers who have been denied the basic right of employment must be compe...
The Deputy Presiding Officer Con
You must close, please.
John Wilson SNP
We must look closely at those contracts and end them as soon as possible.13:16
Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab) Lab
I have a registered interest: I am a member of Unite.I am grateful for the opportunity to speak in this important debate, which comes at an apposite time, ju...
John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Ind) Ind
I, too, add my congratulations to Neil Findlay not only on securing the debate but on his on-going work on blacklisting and other worker-related issues. Than...
John Pentland (Motherwell and Wishaw) (Lab) Lab
I declare an interest as a member of Community union.I thank Neil Findlay for securing the debate and for campaigning on the issue. There is significant comm...
The Minister for Youth Employment (Angela Constance) SNP
Like other MSPs, I commend Neil Findlay for securing this well-attended and well-supported debate.For the record, I restate the Scottish Government’s positio...
John Finnie Ind
Does the minister accept that human rights are a devolved issue?
Angela Constance SNP
Absolutely. As members of the Scottish Parliament, we are all very aware of the high standard that has been set for the Scottish Government and the Scottish ...
Neil Findlay Lab
Will the minister give way on that point?
Angela Constance SNP
I will let Neil Findlay in once I have made a bit of progress.We are pleased by the rigour that the Scottish Affairs Committee is applying to its investigati...
Neil Findlay Lab
Justice is devolved, too.Will the minister confirm that, although the Scottish Government does not see any merit in having an inquiry now, as the report is a...