Pam Gosal
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party · Scotland
“I am pleased to deliver one of the final members’ business debates of this parliamentary session on a very important subject. Before I start, I would like to say a few words about my time in the Parliament over the past five years. I hope to return in May.”
“For someone who did not come from a political background or even have any friends or family in politics, it has been the absolute honour of my life to serve the country in which I was born and brought up. Here’s to not writing me off just yet. I hope to be back after 7 May. I will now turn to the subject of the debate.”
“Special thanks go out to Sam Rice from Smartphone Free Childhood and Kids for Now, to Nova Eden from One Collective Power, which provided presentations to the round-table meeting, and to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, who attended as well.”
“Businesses in my West Scotland region are under immense pressure thanks to increased employer national insurance contributions from the UK Labour Government, the failure of the Scottish National Party Government to fully pass down rates relief, and ever-increasing retail crime.”
“I declare an interest as a former trading standards officer. We are all devastated by the fire that took place on 8 March on Union Street in Glasgow, yet it turns out that the shop where the fire began was not listed on the mandatory register, as is required for a business to sell nicotine products, and was thus selling vapes illegally.”
“Ivan McKee: As I indicated, it is the responsibility of local authorities to take forward enforcement measures, and it is also their responsibility to provide the resources to do that.”
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“We need to be able to trust that apprentices across the same discipline, within different employers or even sectors, are all broadly working to the same standards, so we need to take action on frameworks, but frameworks themselves are important. Willie Rennie: If this provision is not in the current legislative arrangement, why is it necessary to include it now? What will actually change? What has been prevented from happening before that will be enabled now that it is in the legislation? Ben Macpherson: As I said, first, the bill gives any person the power to request a framework to be prepared, which is a change, and, secondly, it gives ministers the power to set out in regulations the process to be followed by the SFC in response. The bill will help to provide the ability to give the SFC stronger direction on what needs to be done.”
“I cannot support these amendments because frameworks are, in themselves, fundamental to the operation of apprenticeships in Scotland. They can define the competency and professional standards expected of those who are delivering, assessing, verifying and assuring the quality of apprenticeship programmes. Frameworks also set out the role of employers and industry, and they specify the qualifications that are required for each apprenticeship type, supporting transparency and—crucially—quality of delivery. Removing the frameworks would place their development and quality assurance outside the statutory protections that are provided by legislation and could result in an unhelpful free-for-all.”
“I have appreciated discussions with Universities Scotland and others on that issue in recent weeks. Work on fixing those issues was already going on before the bill got to this stage and it will continue before the bill comes into force, but the bill will further assist with that work. The existence of frameworks is not, in itself, the problem. However, the process of developing graduate frameworks needs to be much more efficient, and frameworks should be shorter and simpler. The bill gives any person the power to request that a framework be prepared, and ministers have the power to set out in regulations the process to be followed by the SFC in response. We could therefore, for example, require that a request to the SFC be responded to within a certain timeframe, which would speed things up.”
“The bill includes a carefully framed definition that does not exclude the range of possible arrangements that would otherwise come within an apprenticeship. We do not want to limit future innovation, for example, to enable shared apprenticeships with multiple small employers. We must also reiterate that apprentices are given the full protections of an employee under employment rights legislation. The minimum wage for apprentices is set by the UK Government, and that already does—and will continue to—apply to Scottish apprentices. Amendment 76 is not only unnecessary but could be limiting, so I cannot support it. Amendments 77, 79 and 81 seek to remove the requirement for Scottish apprenticeship frameworks. I acknowledge that there is frustration, especially among universities, with the pace of delivery of new graduate apprenticeships.”
“In my view, that is a better place for specification, because it will allow for further change in the future and will allow us to engage and consult on what should be set out. Miles Briggs’s amendment 76 proposes that a Scottish apprenticeship must involve “a paid contract of employment” and that the apprentice must receive “no less than the minimum wage for apprentices”. In practice, almost all apprentices will have a contract of employment. The bill already requires apprentices to work for reward, and whether a contract provides adequate pay and conditions for periods of learning will depend on its specific terms. As I indicated at stage 2 in response to very similar amendments, we expect that the vast majority of apprentices will be under a contract of employment.”
“I am grateful to him for emphasising those points. Brian Whittle’s amendment 40 also appears to entirely exclude apprenticeships from the definition of work-based learning, which is, unfortunately, inconsistent with the fundamental aims of the bill. Moving on to Willie Rennie’s amendment 84, I am grateful for his comments today and for the exchanges that we have had on this point in meetings in recent weeks. Amendment 84 would change the definition of work-based learning to align it to “industry capabilities and skills”. Work- based learning, as defined in the bill, is not limited to traditional industry sectors. It can also be aligned to a wide range of public sector occupations and pathways. The Scottish ministers will be able to set out further in regulations the requirements of—and activities that will constitute—work-based learning.”
“Ben Macpherson: If Daniel Johnson wants to make this clearer, I will be happy to take his intervention. Daniel Johnson: I will try to be helpful. One of the interesting points in the Withers report was the need for consistent terminology about different levels of learning. I am interested in how the Government seeks to address that. In my view, a higher should be called a higher, whether it is a vocational, technical or academic qualification. Is the Government thinking about ensuring that we encourage parity of esteem by having consistent understandings about levels of attainment, regardless of the mode of learning? I am interested in the Government’s view. Ben Macpherson: Daniel Johnson raises very important points. A determination to achieve greater parity of esteem is at the heart of the process and of the Withers report.”
“My concern has been that the OECD 2024 report, “Innovation in career pathways across five countries”, identified foundation apprenticeships as a critical entry point to a wider apprenticeship network, but the Government will be taking that option away. Does the minister agree that it is problematic and concerning that the OECD report was not used in the formulation of the bill? 16:00 Ben Macpherson: Again, I will be absolutely clear that nothing in the bill takes away the provision of foundation apprenticeships as they are right now. The terminology will change to “work-based learning”—that is it. It will continue to be possible to deliver what is delivered by foundation apprenticeships now should the bill be passed and implemented—I want to be absolutely clear about that. Daniel Johnson: Will the minister take an intervention?”
“We want good practice to continue and grow. However, we should also acknowledge that there are many employers who do not like the term and description of “foundation apprenticeship”. That is because school pupils are not in a contract of employment and foundation apprenticeships are perceived by some as devaluing apprenticeships, notwithstanding their value and what they achieve for many people. That is one reason why we were careful not to use the term “foundation apprenticeship” in the bill. Miles Briggs: Throughout our conversations, I have found the minister’s point to be problematic. From speaking to the industry and to young people who are in foundation apprenticeships, I do not think that such stigma exists.”
“In speaking to those amendments, I will group them together where possible. Brian Whittle’s amendments 30 and 32—I assume that they will be moved—seek to bring back the provisions in Pam Duncan-Glancy’s amendments at stage 2. Amendment 30 seeks to add foundation apprenticeships to the definition of “Scottish apprenticeship”. As I explained at stage 2, the bill has separate provisions for work-based learning that were expanded on at stage 2 to allow for the current arrangements for foundation apprenticeships to continue. The bill, as drafted and amended at stage 2, will allow the current arrangements for foundation apprenticeships to continue—I hope that that is absolutely clear to the Parliament. I am sure that we will all agree that foundation apprenticeships are excellent for many of the people who engage with them.”
“Ultimately, it wants a system that is much more responsive and that adapts to the modern needs of employers. It takes a long time to develop new frameworks or to change existing frameworks for apprenticeships. Some higher education institutions have had to go down alternative routes rather than using the graduate apprenticeship to seize opportunities that exist in the economy for particular areas of study or work-based learning. My plea to the minister is to stick with the framework in existing legislation, in order to allow greater flexibility in the system, rather than to put frameworks in the law and potentially embed the slow and unresponsive system that exists at present. Ben Macpherson: Several amendments in the group revisit amendments that were lodged at stage 2.”
“As we debate stage 3, there is a lack of focus in the bill on the frameworks to support and protect apprenticeships—it has fallen short in that area. I will listen to what the minister has to say in deciding whether to move amendments 76, 78, 80 and 82, in my name. However, for now, I intend to move them. Willie Rennie: I have been working with Universities Scotland on my five amendments in this group. Universities Scotland is concerned that adding the terminology of “frameworks” into legislation when it was not previously there might embed the slow, overly bureaucratic and unresponsive apprenticeship framework system that—in Universities Scotland’s experience—we currently have. Universities Scotland is not against frameworks; it thinks that there should be an opportunity to have frameworks but that they should not be stipulated in law.”
“I am concerned about the loss of foundation apprenticeships, which is something that I want to highlight, as will Brian Whittle when he speaks to his amendments. We want to give the Parliament the opportunity to retain foundation apprenticeships as part of the bill. Given that the bill is still relatively vague in this area, there is no confidence that it will provide the certainty and the sound footing that are necessary for the continued delivery of foundation apprenticeships, which are internationally recognised and are a real Scottish success story. The Government should have paused to consider what is essential if we are to meet the ambitions of our Scottish education system and to deliver on its key education priorities.”
“From the outset, the Scottish Conservatives have expressed our concern that the bill could jeopardise foundation apprenticeships by removing them from the apprenticeship family as they stand and reclassifying them as as-yet- undefined work-based learning courses. Taking out formally assessed Scottish Qualifications Authority work placements and leaving a school- based skills-for-work type of course on its own would not achieve the same outcomes as a foundation apprenticeship. Every MSP will have met people who are undertaking foundation apprenticeships and will have seen the huge opportunities and pathways into work that they provide. I have raised this issue privately and publicly with the minister.”
“Miles Briggs: Following some debate and discussion at stage 2, I lodged a number of amendments to look towards a definition of a Scottish apprenticeship. Specifically, I stated during stage 2 that I felt that the bill had missed an opportunity to provide improvements to the terms and conditions for apprentices and also to develop clear pathways to employment. As the bill stands, there is no requirement for an apprentice to have a contract of employment or to be paid rather than receive other forms of reward. There is also no specific reference to the development and demonstration of competence in key areas, which is where I had hoped that the Government would work more with us to look for solutions.”
“There is a lot of good work taking place on campuses to tackle gender-based violence in our colleges and universities but there is still progress to make. Amendment 29 will help in that regard and I urge all members to support it. Amendment 29 agreed to. Section 4—Scottish apprenticeships The Deputy Presiding Officer: Group 8 is on Scottish apprenticeships and work-based learning. Amendment 30, in the name of Brian Whittle, is grouped with amendments 76 to 79, 31, 80, 81, 32, 82, 83, 34 to 38, 84, 40, and 85. I call Brian Whittle to move amendment 30 and to speak to all the amendments in the group. In the absence of Mr Whittle from the chamber, I will have to call Miles Briggs to speak to amendment 76 and other amendments in the group.”
“In particular, it makes clear that, in order to receive public funding, higher and further education institutions must take action to prevent gender-based violence against students and staff and to support those who are experiencing or who have experienced it. For those reasons, I am happy to support amendment 29. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you. I call the minister to wind up. Ben Macpherson: I will wind up by again paying tribute to Fiona Drouet and EmilyTest, along with other organisations, and campaigns such as “Sex? On campus!”, which have raised these issues for some years. We have spoken about these issues as a Parliament through, for example, the 16 days of activism that we mark in various ways in this institution and through seeking to support those whom we represent.”
“Thank you, Presiding Officer. I apologise for being late. I thank the minister for lodging the amendment, which is similar to one that I lodged at stage 2. A couple of weeks ago, the minister and I met Fiona Drouet from EmilyTest. Fiona’s daughter Emily took her own life after suffering abuse from her partner, who lived in the same University of Aberdeen halls as she did. Fiona has been clear that, had the university staff been better trained to identify and respond to the signs of abusive behaviour, there might have been an opportunity to intervene. Although amendment 29 is not exactly what Fiona and I had hoped for, it includes some important and welcome elements.”
“To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to Police Scotland figures showing a 10 per cent increase in reported domestic abuse crimes over the past 12 months. (S6F-04560)”
“Businesses today are under immense pressure from many factors, including increased employer national insurance contributions from the United Kingdom Labour Government, a failure of the SNP Government to pass on rates relief, higher material costs due to inflation, parking charges, and an increase in break-ins, shoplifting and other forms of retail crime. Let us be clear: business growth does not come from Governments. However, Governments need to provide the right environment for businesses to thrive. Unfortunately, as we can see, more regulations and taxes will only hinder growth and make operations more expensive. All of us in the Parliament have a duty to support business growth and keep taxes low. 17:55”
“As they did during Covid, many of them, even today, still go out of their way to check on their local customers who are elderly and housebound. We also have many young entrepreneurs stepping into the world of business, including Leah Mitchell of Rise & Reform Pilates in Lenzie, Eilidh Sirel of Florella Studio in Milngavie and many more who are creating businesses from scratch. However, for such businesses to thrive, we need local councils and the UK and Scottish Governments to support enterprises.”
“Even though small business Saturday takes place on the first Saturday of December, it is a year-round movement that recognises businesses that make a difference in our communities, so it is important for us to support such businesses throughout the year. My West Scotland region has many amazing small businesses that serve as the backbone of not only our local economies but our communities, including by employing local people. That is why, for the past three years, I have been hosting my own small business awards to recognise the work that they do. As I do not have a lot of time in the debate, I will mention only some of the great businesses in my area. Cafe Crème in Bearsden, Gavin’s Mill in Milngavie, No. 40 by Bruin in Bearsden, Mahony’s steak house in Bishopbriggs and Billington’s of Lenzie all offer unique services in the area.”
“That has included trying to cut red tape in my years as a trading standards officer and, later on, working on inward investment, helping businesses through the 2008 financial crisis and onwards. Today, as an MSP, I stand in the chamber to be the voice for businesses. Small businesses are the backbone of the Scottish economy. According to the Federation of Small Businesses in Scotland, micro and small businesses represent 98 per cent of all enterprises in Scotland, employing more than 900,000 people, with a turnover of £93 billion annually. Small business Saturday celebrates our small businesses and encourages people to show their support by spending and shopping locally.”
“I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests. Before I begin, I thank my colleague and friend Rachael Hamilton for bringing this important debate to the chamber. Business has been in my DNA from a young age. When I was growing up in Glasgow, my parents started with a small grocery business in Argyle Street. I remember my mum not only running a small business but bringing up me and my siblings in the shop. It was a community hub where people could come together to share their problems. My parents laid the foundations for me not only to run the family business but to understand the issues that businesses face and help them with my more than 30 years of experience.”
“To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress Scotland is making towards becoming a good food nation. (S6O- 05295)”
“It is important to remember that Scotland’s deaf community is one of the most marginalised communities in our country. I hope that Parliament comes together in welcoming the report and agreeing to its recommendations. Although I was pleased to hear some warm words from the Deputy First Minister in her opening speech, I hope that they are followed by some concrete actions to make the lives of deaf people a little bit easier. 15:36”
“Even when there is an interpreter, many deaf survivors feel more comfortable speaking to someone else whose first language is BSL. However, in order to have a better picture of the extent of the problem, we need proper data. That is why my bill would place a duty on public authorities and third sector organisations to collect data such as disability status. I am pleased that that element of my bill received strong support during the consultation process as well as during the evidence that was given to the Parliament’s Criminal Justice Committee. On Tuesday, I asked the Deputy First Minister whether she believed that better data collection would help us to better understand the full extent of the problem. I was pleased that she agreed, and it is now incumbent on the Scottish Government and MSPs of all parties to support my bill.”
“The barriers are even bigger for deaf women in rural areas, who are forced to travel for hours to access such support. Those women have also been let down by the justice system. While putting together my Prevention of Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill, I met a survivor who had slurred speech. When the police arrived at her home, her abuser told authorities that she was drunk, so she was not taken seriously. The police and women’s aid organisations do not always have interpreters, as many interpreters do not feel comfortable taking on such cases. I clearly remember Lucy Clark, a deaf advocate and survivor of domestic abuse, telling the committee that finding an interpreter is always at the forefront of deaf women’s minds.”
“I was shocked to hear in evidence to the committee that deaf women often assume that domestic abuse is a normal behaviour. Such sentiments were also expressed at an event that I attended a couple of weeks ago, which was sponsored by East Dunbartonshire Women’s Aid and was entitled, “Empowering deaf women to report domestic abuse”. We were told that deaf women do not know the meaning of words such as “coercion” and “consent”. We were told that there are only three BSL-trained domestic abuse advocates in Scotland, all of whom are based in Dundee. I was told by representatives of East Dunbartonshire Women’s Aid that funding remains a major issue for many women’s aid organisations, which makes it extremely challenging to recruit independent domestic abuse advocates who are skilled in sign language interactions.”
“One of the pupils we spoke to said that it was extremely difficult to keep up with the work and, therefore, she failed her exams. Many deaf pupils wish to study in mainstream schools, but the status quo is simply not acceptable. Too many deaf children are leaving school without the language and support that they need and are thus being set up to fail in later life. That is not just a future risk—it is happening now, and the consequences are lifelong. That is why I hope that the Scottish Government takes important steps to invest in deaf education, such as by increasing the number of qualified teachers. I turn to the issue of deaf survivors of domestic abuse. Deaf women are more likely to experience domestic abuse than hearing women.”
“I will focus on two areas: first, the experience of deaf children when it comes to education; and secondly, issues relating to access to justice, particularly for deaf women who experience domestic abuse. Deaf children face many barriers to things that their hearing peers take for granted. For instance, they often arrive at school without any well- developed language. That is unacceptable, which is why I am pleased that the committee agrees that deaf children should be able to learn their native language of BSL as early as possible. In the committee’s private sessions, we heard from deaf pupils and their parents, who said that, in many cases, pupils placed in mainstream schools faced difficulties because there were not enough BSL specialists. Teachers were not properly equipped to deal with those pupils’ needs.”
“I am pleased to open the debate on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives and also to speak as a member of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. I thank the committee and its clerks for putting together the report, and I also thank everyone who provided evidence to the committee as part of our inquiry, which we began early this year. According to the latest Scottish census, there are just over 117,000 BSL users in Scotland, which amounts to 2 per cent of the population. In 2015, the Scottish Parliament passed the British Sign Language (Scotland) Act 2015, which has increased BSL visibility, improved access to services for BSL users and delivered greater empowerment of the deaf community. However, as the evidence sessions and the report that we are debating today have made clear, some challenges remain.”
“However, if there are organisations that might be in a position to access multiyear funding, I would advise the member to communicate that. I am sure that they are aware of that multiyear funding, but my hope is that more cultural organisations in all parts of the country will make use of it. I believe that its introduction is transformational for the culture sector, and I have no doubt that organisations in the member’s region will be keen to make use of it. European Union-United Kingdom Trade and Co-operation Agreement (Impact on Touring Artists) 7.”
“As an MSP representing East Dunbartonshire, I have met representatives from many amazing organisations specialising in the arts, such as Creative Spark Theatre Arts, Kirky Cinema and many more, which do fantastic work involving people of all ages. One key theme is the need for long-term sustainable funding. Will the cabinet secretary commit to establishing a stable, long-term funding framework instead of relying on short-term, project-by-project allocations that sometimes fail to generate sustainable benefits? Angus Robertson: That is the driver behind the introduction of multiyear funding, the point of which is to fund more organisations and to do so on a longer basis than an annual application process. There are other pots of funding that can be accessed, as I have outlined.”
“They were somebody’s daughter, sister, mother and friend—most important, they were somebody whose life has been lost and whose family has been shattered. Last week, in response to a question that I asked him on the subject, the First Minister indicated that he had attended similar events in his constituency. However, I was disappointed that not one single SNP MSP attended the vigil outside the”
“As if that was not shocking enough, we keep seeing younger and younger girls being victims of this terrible violence. Sex-based violence is not just a global phenomenon; it affects women in Scotland, too. The domestic abuse figures that are released by the Scottish Government remain appalling. With almost 64,000 incidents reported to Police Scotland in one year—that amounts to one incident every 10 minutes—we clearly need to do better. At the same time, the numbers of cases of sexual assault, rape and attempted rape have also risen in the past year. That is just the tip of the iceberg, because the majority of cases go unreported. On Thursday, along with the Women’s Rights Network Scotland, I sponsored a vigil to commemorate the 46 women who have been killed by men in Scotland in the past five years.”
“Every year since I entered the Parliament in 2021, I have spoken in debates on sex-based violence and on the 16 days of activism. However, sadly, things are not any better today—in fact, they are getting worse. The theme of this year’s 16 days of activism is “UNiTE to end digital violence against all women and girls”. With technology playing a more prominent role in our lives, digital hate is constantly on the rise. What can start as a seemingly harmless message, comment or post can spiral into something dangerous. From misogynistic comments to private photos being shared without consent and deepfakes that include the faces of women and girls on naked bodies, the internet is becoming an increasingly dangerous place for women and girls.”
“In April, the Supreme Court was clear: the meaning of “sex” in the context of equality legislation is based on biology. What further action will the corporate body take to ensure that the court’s judgment is followed throughout the parliamentary estate as we go forward? Jackson Carlaw: For the avoidance of doubt, corporate body staff have not been asked to monitor or police use of facilities, but the corporate body has a responsibility to fulfil its legal obligations as an employer, a service provider, a workplace provider and an organisation that is subject to the public sector equality duty. Recognising that the Supreme Court’s judgment had immediate legal effect, officials took urgent steps following its publication to review the judgment in detail and consider its implications for services and facilities at Holyrood.”
“I do not dismiss that part, but the main issue is the disruption to class activities, particularly at secondary level, and the cost if a class has to stay overnight on a residential trip. We are continuing to look at that, but I must advise the member that it is a pretty tricky area. It is more complex than whether we can get a bus to get pupils to the Parliament and back. So far, if we cannot do that, we have parliamentary staff going out to schools in the likes of Shetland and Orkney to deliver contact and tell them all about the Parliament. Of course, that can be done online, too. We will continue to see what can be done.”
“What consideration has the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body given to introducing a scheme that helps schools to reclaim travel costs, ensuring that every child, no matter where they live, can experience their Parliament? Christine Grahame: I do not have details of what those costs might have been for the school in Ardrossan and for Loretto in Edinburgh, or why they did not have other means of getting here. I know that other schools come here on buses from their local authorities. I do not know about those things but I can have a look at the issue. You mentioned the UK Parliament—we looked into that scheme. The UK Parliament offers to pay up to 85 per cent of the travel costs, to the value of £2,400. However, even then, it welcomes a very small number of Scottish schools, because the travel costs are only part of the problem.”
“For some, it is simply impractical to get local transport to Edinburgh and back within the school day, and they cannot afford residentials. Due to barriers such as those, our staff travel to schools throughout the year and provide online sessions for those who want them. Last year, they delivered sessions to almost 350 school classes across Scotland. Pam Gosal: Educational visits to the Parliament give pupils a vital first-hand look at democracy in action. However, earlier this month, primary 7 pupils from Stanley primary school in Ardrossan missed out, just as Our Lady of Loretto primary school in Dalmuir did, because travel costs made their trips unaffordable. Access to the Parliament is becoming a postcode lottery. At Westminster, schools can reclaim up to 85 per cent of travel expenses. In Scotland, there is no such support.”
“To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what action it is taking to ensure that visits to the Scottish Parliament are inclusive and accessible to all school pupils. (S6O-05189) Christine Grahame (Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body): I know that, like the corporate body, Pam Gosal values the impact on people when they come into this building and experience the Parliament. Indeed, I am aware that she has raised the question previously with the corporate body. For many people and schools, coming to Edinburgh is not realistic, given the distance and barriers that are linked to that. In our research, teachers told of the struggle to take pupils out of school because of lost learning time or because the teachers were needed to cover other lessons.”
“I highly doubt that the money that is raised from this terrible scheme will be enough to make up for the SNP-run Glasgow City Council’s financial mess, and those who lose out will be families, businesses and communities. I hope that, in closing, the cabinet secretary expresses her opposition to this outrageous proposal. 13:05”
“Local businesses are unhappy at the proposed congestion charge, and so are major wholesalers and cash-and-carry suppliers that are based in Glasgow, as any additional costs would be passed on to the customers. That puts local businesses at a disadvantage during an already difficult trading period. Stuart Patrick of the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce said: “We are very concerned about the possible displacement of businesses out of Glasgow”, and called on the SNP Government to do more to improve transport links. Businesses are already suffering from the poor decisions that have been taken by the Scottish Government and the UK Labour Government, and the last thing that they need is more tax. I do not see people paying every single time they drive into Glasgow.”
“We often hear about how important free flow and connectivity are for areas to allow social and economic growth. However, the proposal is nothing but a money-making scheme that will hinder connectivity. What comes next? If all councils start charging like this, why would anybody leave their area? Would we live in silos? Is that the sort of Scotland that the SNP is aiming for? The SNP likes to bang on about inclusion and integration, but now it risks creating divisions in Scotland. This is, yet again, another saga in its war against motorists. Like my colleague Jackson Carlaw, I hope that the cabinet secretary will use her powers to intervene and stop this ridiculous development. However, it is not only individuals who are opposed to the plan—businesses are too.”
“Let us be clear about who the proposals would affect—those of us who are travelling into Glasgow for work or hospital appointments, or to check on elderly relatives, drop off kids at school, attend university or college or simply enjoy a day out. Any charge for non-residents is seen as an unfair additional tax. Those who would be most acutely affected would be those on low incomes, shift workers, minimum-wage workers and the elderly who rely on their cars due to unreliable public transport. That is why I launched a petition calling on Glasgow City Council to ditch the proposal. It has received hundreds of signatures so far. Why is it that hard-working families and communities will be forced to pick up the bill for the SNP-run Glasgow City Council’s financial mismanagement?”
“I thank my colleague Jackson Carlaw for bringing this important topic to the Parliament. This issue affects not only those in Glasgow but everyone outside of Glasgow, including those in my region of West Scotland. The Scottish National Party-run Glasgow City Council is looking to propose an at- city-boundary congestion charge and a toll on those using the Clyde tunnel, which would result in motorists from other local authority areas being charged each time they drive into the city. People on the ground are not happy with that development. During the past month, I have knocked on thousands of doors in East Dunbartonshire, and have found that many residents are very concerned.”
“To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government plans to commemorate the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. (S6F-04480)”
“To ask the Scottish Government what correspondence it has had with the UK Government regarding support for Scottish farmers ahead of the upcoming UK budget. (S6O-05196)”
“I think that I have been very clear in the responses that I have given today, and the responses that I gave last week, on the action that we are undertaking in Scotland to understand the true scale of child exploitation and child abuse, to support victims who have experienced them, and to move forward in the best way possible for our children and our young people.”