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.”
The complete record
Every one of 318 lines we hold for Pam Gosal, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 6 of 7.
“Last week, I was at the UK Supreme Court and witnessed a monumental legal judgment on the definition of the word “woman”, which was issued thanks to the excellent work of For Women Scotland. In recent days, statues have been defaced, death threats have been issued against women’s rights campaigners, and the deputy convener of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee, Maggie Chapman MSP, has been seen on video accusing the Supreme Court judges of bigotry, prejudice and hatred. That is shocking behaviour and has been condemned by the Faculty of Advocates. Does the cabinet secretary condemn that behaviour? What action is being taken by the Scottish Government to guarantee the safety of women?”
“The Deputy Presiding Officer: Before I call the next speaker in the open debate, I am minded, given the number of colleagues who still wish to participate, to accept a motion without notice, under rule 8.14.3, to extend the debate by up to 30 minutes. I invite Daniel Johnson to move the motion. Motion moved, That, under Rule 8.14.3, the debate be extended by up to 30 minutes.—[Daniel Johnson] Motion agreed to. 17:40”
“In response to that point, the minister said that “the data is weak, and more work needs to be done to improve that.”—[Official Report, Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee, 3 December 2024; c 16-17.] Data collection was also mentioned in today’s committee session with the Scottish Human Rights Commission. Those figures are shocking, and those people should no longer be let down. In closing, I express my disappointment at the Scottish Government’s delay in introducing this vital legislation. More needs to be done, and I hope that warm words are turned into actions and that the Scottish Government provides clarity on its commitment to legislate in this area.”
“People with real-life experience of learning disabilities said that they felt that they were at the bottom of the pile when it came to Scottish Government priorities. We also heard that people with learning disabilities are more likely to be domestically abused. In fact, the minister said at committee, in response to one of my questions, that “around 90 per cent of women with learning disabilities will experience gender-based violence.” However, as I noted at that meeting, of the 64,000 incidents of domestic abuse that were recorded by Police Scotland last year, we do not know how many involved a victim with learning disabilities.”
“I spoke to a witness who said that black and minority ethnic people with learning disabilities faced more discrimination, with multilayered intersectional aspects. She said that she was discriminated against at work but did not know whether that discrimination came about because of her colour or her ability. She said that there was a lack of resource tailored towards BAME people with learning disabilities. In one of the public evidence sessions on the learning disabilities, autism and neurodivergence bill, witnesses told us that the consultation was excessive. Many charities and individuals had to sacrifice a lot of time and resources to respond to the consultation only for the bill to never be published by the Scottish Government.”
“Two other areas were highlighted by witnesses during the committee’s sessions on the learning disabilities, autism and neurodivergence bill. One was the lack of assessment and diagnosis for learning disabilities, which has been mentioned today, and the second was the lack of adequate training for public bodies such as the police and councils. Witnesses said that such training was weak and not adequate or uniform. Many witnesses said that, because of the lack of training, they felt stereotyped and more likely to face discrimination. Many survivors of domestic abuse who have learning disabilities said that they felt that they were not taken seriously when speaking to the police, as it was difficult for them to show emotion or to articulate what they wanted to put across.”
“In today’s committee session with the SHRC, witnesses said that there was a clear absence of impact from the Scottish Government’s successive policies and plans when it comes to people transitioning from institutionalisation to independent living. It is estimated that neurodevelopmental conditions affect between 10 and 15 per cent of the Scottish population. However, those conditions are significantly underdiagnosed. Neurodivergence and learning disabilities often co- occur, with an estimated 37 per cent of autistic people having a co-occurring learning disability. A total of 66 per cent of autistic people in Scotland say that they feel socially isolated, while the same percentage of autistic adults have considered suicide during their lifetime.”
“I, too, thank Daniel Johnson for bringing this very important issue to the chamber. I am pleased to speak on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives on this subject, which has also been a topic of interest for the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee, of which I am a member. So far, the committee has held three sessions on the learning disabilities, autism and neurodivergence bill, and today we held a session with the Scottish Human Rights Commission. The evidence on the bill included private and public sessions with people with real-life experiences of learning disabilities, as well as a public session with the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport.”
“However, it is our duty to work across party lines to do everything that we can to protect survivors and to seek justice for those who have lost their lives. That is why I support the general principles of the bill before us. 15:54”
“That is why I have lodged my proposed domestic abuse (prevention) (Scotland) bill, which would introduce a domestic abuse register. Last week, I spoke to a woman who was a survivor of domestic abuse. She said that the abuse that she had faced from her partner forced her to move homes and to leave everything behind, just to escape from him. Eventually, her abuser was arrested and convicted, but it turns out that he had abused women before and after dating the woman I spoke to. A domestic abuse register could easily prevent more victims falling into the hands of domestic abusers. I hope that the cabinet secretary will consider supporting my proposed bill in order to stop this horrible crime at its source and to protect victims. I once again emphasise that there is no easy solution to eliminating domestic abuse.”
“There were no domestic homicide and suicide reviews in place in Scotland. Emily’s mother, Fiona, launched EmilyTest, a charity aiming to remove the scourge of gender- based violence at institutions of higher education. I have been in touch with Fiona, who has welcomed the publication of the bill. She has said: “These reviews have the power to change that for others and as a family, we greatly welcome their implementation. They will ensure bereaved families are not left to navigate systems that are alien to them completely on their own. The reviews will ensure vital lessons are learned and that lives are protected in the future.” However, while the bill is a step in the right direction, more needs to be done, especially when it comes to preventing abusive behaviour from happening in the first place.”
“Today, however, I will focus on part 2 of the bill, which will put in place a new robust review process following the death of a partner, ex- partner or child where abuse is known or suspected. A panel will be responsible for reviewing those deaths, whether they are homicide or suicide. Presiding Officer, I am sure you are aware of the case of Emily Drouet. Emily was an 18-year- old student at the University of Aberdeen when, in 2016, she took her own life because she experienced physical assault and threatening messages from her on-and-off boyfriend, who was also a student and lived in the same university halls as Emily. Emily tried to get help, but nobody was listening. As the cause of her death was classified as suicide, her abuser received only 180 hours of community service.”
“In the year ending December 2024, 2,409 crimes relating to the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 were recorded, compared with 1,963 in the year ending December 2023, which is an increase of almost a quarter. As for homicide figures from the past 10 years, 60 women were killed by a partner or ex-partner in that time. As has been outlined by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, the Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill includes two parts. Part 1 modernises procedures in criminal courts, which is very much needed, as victims have now been waiting years for justice due to delays in the court system.”
“As many members already know, I take the issue of domestic abuse extremely seriously. From a young age, I remember my mother helping women in distress who would come to our shop on Argyle Street in Glasgow. I was young and did not understand what was happening, but, I later realised that they were survivors of domestic abuse. Unfortunately, to this day, domestic abuse has not been eliminated. The latest Scottish Government statistics show that more than 64,000 incidents of domestic abuse were recorded by Police Scotland in the year 2023-24. That is one incident every 10 minutes. Those figures also represent a 3 per cent increase on the previous year.”
“The round table will take a long view on the experience of women in Scotland and will serve as a discussion of what it means for women to speak up in some of the most challenging places in the world. I encourage all members in the chamber to attend. In closing, I hope that, when I give a similar speech this time next year, things will have changed for the better. Here’s hoping. 18:06”
“The SNP Government’s culture of secrecy and its embrace of gender ideology have led to underreporting, with health boards either not holding or refusing to provide data on sexual assaults and rapes in hospitals; to no uniformity, with some local authorities and schools embracing single-sex spaces and others not; to no accountability, with female nurses being punished for refusing to share changing rooms with male colleagues; and to no transparency, with organisations being financially blackmailed for not subscribing to gender ideology and woke politics. Shortly after the debate, I will be hosting a round table on amplifying women’s voices, with speakers including international lawyers, academics, women refugees, and anti-poverty activists.”
“Why is it that women are always the ones who have to compromise for men? Let us be very clear: I am a woman. This is what a woman looks like. I want my dignity to be respected. Why should someone who is not a biological female be allowed to tell me what a woman is? How can we speak about women’s equality when we cannot even define the word “woman”?”
“In Iraq, it will soon be legal for a nine-year-old girl to get married. In Iran, women can no longer show their hair. Female genital mutilation remains common in many countries. The list goes on and on when it comes to taking away women’s rights. While those terrible behaviours and scenes are unfolding right in front of our eyes around the world, I stand here today with a heavy heart, aware that women’s rights here in Scotland are slowly being taken away. In the national health service, women are forced to change in front of biological males. In schools, girls are filmed using unisex toilets. Female prisoners are being housed with criminal males. Biologically male officers are allowed to strip search women. Males have been allowed to enter centres that are designated for women, such as rape crisis centres.”
“I thank Audrey Nicoll for bringing the motion to the chamber. I also take this opportunity to thank all the excellent organisations that have the courage to stand up for women’s rights, including For Women Scotland, Women’s Rights Network Scotland, Sex Matters, Murray Blackburn Mackenzie and many more. However, I am disappointed and surprised that there has been no Scottish Government debate on the issue this year. Every year, I am honoured to speak in the debate on international women’s day. This year’s theme is accelerate action, with the call “for increased momentum and urgency in addressing the ... barriers ... that women face”. However, how can we celebrate every year when, in many respects, we are going backwards, and when women’s rights are being diluted? In Afghanistan, women’s voices are banned from being heard in public.”
“As our motion states, the Scottish Government must “urgently issue a directive to all public sector organisations requiring that adequate single-sex spaces for biological women and girls are provided on their premises in line with legal obligations.” As we have just celebrated international women’s day this past weekend, I hope that the Parliament will unite and back the Scottish Conservative motion in the name of my colleague Russell Findlay, to support single-sex spaces and services. 15:36”
“Not only did it launch a costly legal challenge against the UK Government to defend the doomed legislation, but it is now arguing in court that men can become pregnant. Women are still being punished for their sex- based rights. We all know about the case of Sandie Peggie, who was suspended from NHS Fife simply for saying that she felt uncomfortable changing in front of a trans-identified male. The Scottish Conservatives are the only party that is standing up for the rights of women and girls.”
“The SNP pushed through legislation without thinking of the consequences, and certainly without thinking about keeping women and girls safe. If the SNP had its way, men could simply declare that they are women without going through any medical interventions or diagnoses. SNP members even voted down amendments to prevent dangerous criminals such as rapists from obtaining gender recognition certificates. They said that dangerous men would never pretend to be women in order to gain access to women’s spaces. How wrong they were. About a month after the bill was passed came the case of Isla Bryson, in which, shamefully, a double rapist was placed in a women’s prison. Thankfully, the previous Conservative UK Government vetoed that dangerous legislation. Instead of learning its lesson, however, the SNP has continued only to undermine women.”
“When Nicola Sturgeon became the first female First Minister in 2014, she was seen as a trailblazer for women. Unfortunately, under her Administration, women were thrown under the bus through the introduction of the terrible Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill. Now she has decided to stand down. Normally, we would wish any departing MSP well. However, women and girls will never forget the deep divisions in our country that she created, fostered and encouraged. I remember, two years ago, sitting through long committee meetings at which my colleague Rachael Hamilton and I were the only members who opposed the general principles of that bill. Standing right here in the chamber during the stage 3 debate on the bill is a memory that I will never forget.”
“Some of those girls were so scared that they refused to go back to school. Imagine if that had happened to your daughter. Unisex toilets pose a threat to female pupils and school staff alike, yet one in 20 schools in Scotland currently offers only unisex facilities, and no single-sex toilets at all. Many times, opponents of unisex toilets are branded as transphobic. However, as I have previously said in the chamber, raising concerns over unisex toilets is not transphobic—it is common sense. How much clearer does the evidence need to be? We need single-sex spaces in order to protect our women and girls. In other parties, those concerns fall on deaf ears. However, I will continue to fight for the rights of women and girls, with all my heart. How did we get here?”
“I thought you were going to give me a minute more, Deputy Presiding Officer. I was really excited there. As we just marked international women’s day on Saturday, this debate, which has been brought by the Scottish Conservatives, could not be more timely. Since being elected to Parliament in 2021, I have made the protection of women and girls my number 1 priority. Shortly before Christmas, I hosted my own round table on the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. One of the speakers was a teacher who spoke about how boys had taken advantage of unisex toilets to slip their cameras under the stalls to film girls using them. Shortly after that, it emerged that a hidden camera, which contained hundreds of images of naked girls, had also been found in a unisex toilet in a Dundee high school.”
“To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what assessment it has made of the potential impact on agriculture in Scotland, including in the West of Scotland region, of the United Kingdom Government decision to change the inheritance tax system for family farms. (S6O- 04413)”
“No surprise here—nothing changes—that the SNP Government has failed on many levers. It has failed on transport, energy, housing, a skilled workforce and taxation—the list goes on and on. Disappointingly, all those failures by the SNP have stifled growth, but here is a newsflash: not only the SNP is to blame. Members: Oh!”
“The SNP’s failure to pass down business rates relief will be the death knell for many businesses, while costs for businesses that are lucky enough to survive mean that it will be more difficult for them to employ people. The SNP’s damaging high-income tax regime has cost the economy £800 million, because the Scottish tax base has grown at a slower rate than the tax base of the rest of the United Kingdom. A faster- growing economy could raise tax revenues and go a long way in funding better public services and strengthening the economy. Members of the Government might be congratulating themselves, but it is high time for us to teach the SNP a lesson or two about how growth is created. Wealth and economic growth do not come from Governments—they come from businesses. Nevertheless, businesses need the proper levers and environment to thrive.”
“The cabinet secretary mentioned a step change, and I hope that those issues and that step change are included in her closing speech. Last week, we had the privilege of meeting Fiona Campbell from the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers. She spoke extensively about the damage that will be done by the SNP Government’s short-term-let licensing scheme and the visitor levy. Those ridiculous regulations place a burden on small businesses by turning them into tax collectors, with business owners having to do all the work. The smallest mistake could lead to those small businesses breaking the law, resulting in small business owners being fined for unclear Scottish Government regulations. Those absurd regulations have made investment in Scotland extremely difficult. Is that really how we should treat our job creators? Let me turn to jobs.”
“My colleague Alexander Stewart said that the Scottish Financial Enterprise chief executive, Sandy Begbie, highlighted that cutting taxes to at least the same rates as those in the rest of the UK could lead to greater investment and a larger tax base. My colleague Murdo Fraser spoke about the importance of ferries to the growth of the whisky industry, and said that the reliability of the ferry service and the roads linking one place to another are critical for transport. My colleague Sue Webber is absolutely right that investment is linked to the availability of skilled labour, and that the SNP has managed to make Scotland a less attractive place for skilled workers, with its income tax rates being the highest in the UK. It is in the Scottish Government’s gift to make a change to address all those issues.”
“I start by reminding members of my entry in the register of members’ interests regarding property. I am pleased to close the debate on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives. The cabinet secretary and SNP members have claimed throughout the debate that Scotland is open for business and investment. However, as already extensively stated by my Scottish Conservative colleagues, Scotland under the Scottish National Party is indeed not open for business. Even though, for foreign direct investment in the UK, Scotland is second to London and is the home of emerging sectors such as renewables technology and life sciences, Scottish industry remains concerned that the SNP Government’s anti-business policies, along with the higher income tax rates, will deter investment.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to update its guidance on the use of mobile phones in classrooms. (S6O-04370)”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I am sorry about that; I was trying to put my vote through and I was running in to the chamber at the same time. I was going to vote no. The Presiding Officer: Ms Gosal, in this instance, I will accept your point of order, and we will record your vote, but I ask all members to ensure that they are somewhere where they can vote. This will not happen again.”
“To ask the First Minister whether he will provide an update on the Scottish Government’s plans to update the School Premises (General Requirements and Standards) (Scotland) Regulations 1967. (S6F-03808)”
“Pam Gosal: Does the minister agree that his Government has stifled Scotland’s economic growth? Tom Arthur: Growth comes from business but also from social and sectoral partnership and from the widest possible engagement. The 1980s’ hyperlibertarian approach that was implicit in the member’s comments is completely out of date and misses the point. We are talking about a constructive partnership between business, the third sector and Government. That is what will drive and sustain the local and regional economic growth from which everyone can benefit.”
“Local businesses are vital to generating community wealth. Unfortunately, confidence among Scotland’s small businesses has fallen to its lowest level since the height of the pandemic. Both the UK Labour Government and the Scottish National Party Scottish Government have presided over high-tax regimes by, respectively, imposing hikes in national insurance and by refusing to fully pass on business rates relief. I remind the minister that Governments do not create growth, which comes from businesses. The latest double whammy of high taxes— The Deputy Presiding Officer: Please ask a question. Pam Gosal: —from the Scottish and UK Governments means that the pillars mentioned by the minister are already crumbling. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Please ask a question.”
“As I keep saying, we cannot square that circle. If Ms Gosal wants to go to a college and sympathise with officials about more funding, I hope that she would be good enough to be honest with them and say, “By the way, if we had got our way, there would be even less money available.””
“Earlier this week, I visited West College Scotland in West Dunbartonshire in my region. I witnessed the excellent work that it does in training apprentices in various fields, such as engineering, nursing, construction and building. As the minister knows, apprenticeships play an important role in Scotland's economy. However, college officials expressed concern about uncertainty when it comes to funding. The minister has just said that there will be no immediate change to funding arrangements of college or university students. Therefore, can he guarantee that further education institutions will get the funding that they deserve? Graeme Dey: We all know where this is going, but it is a bit rich for a Conservative member to rock up here today and talk about more money for colleges and universities when her party wants money for tax cuts.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported guidance issued by Rape Crisis Scotland, and its definition of the word “woman”. (S6O-04303)”
“With £30 million wasted on the doomed national care service—[Interruption.] Members should listen to this. There was £300 million on two delayed ferries and more than £300,000 to defend the outrageous Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, and the list goes on and on. Had the SNP made better decisions, Scotland could be the most prosperous part of the United Kingdom. Instead of learning its lesson, the SNP has introduced another high-tax budget that does little to right the 18 years of wrongs. Therefore, I will not vote for it today. 15:32”
“We have proposed a set of bold common-sense solutions that would support the aspirations of families and businesses across Scotland and let people keep more of the money that they earn. Those include cutting income tax to 19 per cent on earnings up to £43,662, which would save the average worker £222 a year; exempting all pubs and restaurants from business rates; and cutting taxes for home buyers to help people to climb the property ladder. Those proposals would mean that six in seven Scots would pay less income tax than their counterparts in the rest of the United Kingdom. At the same time, nearly 3,500 pubs and 3,000 restaurants would save an average of more than £15,400 and £20,000 respectively. That would be a true budget for growth. The SNP’s 18 years in power can be summed up in two words: financial mismanagement.”
“Recently, I met representatives of the hospitality industry, who said that the SNP’s failure to extend full business rates relief to pubs and restaurants would be the death knell for many of them. One said that many restaurants have been forced to move from a seven-day working week to a three-day one because of soaring costs, which has led to a hiring freeze for many businesses, taking vital jobs out of the market. Labour MPs at Westminster have imposed punishing taxes on businesses while Labour MSPs here at Holyrood are sitting back and allowing the SNP budget to pass without the slightest protest. Even worse, the Liberal Democrats will be voting yes at decision time—so much for opposition. Once again, the Scottish Conservatives are the only party standing up to the SNP and the left- wing Holyrood consensus.”
“Under the SNP, everything from Scotland’s roads to our schools to our hospitals is declining. The budget sets out no serious plans to fix that but continues to tell people that they must contribute more and get less. For business, the SNP budget is no better. Andrew McRae, from the Federation of Small Businesses, said that the budget will be “a bitter pill to swallow” for small retailers. Not only are businesses being harmed by the UK Labour Government’s national insurance rises, but the SNP has once again failed to pass on business rates relief to many of them. Let us not forget that that vital support has been funded by the UK Government since 2022-23 but has never been fully passed on by the SNP.”
“Instead, under its so-called “progressive” income tax regime, Scotland remains the highest-taxed part of the United Kingdom. Everyone who earns more than £30,000 a year pays more income tax in Scotland than they would south of the border. That means that teachers, nurses and police officers all pay more. That is not progressive; it is unfair, and it is tanking our economy. In the words of Sandy Begbie from Scottish Financial Enterprise, “higher income tax rates in Scotland have led to less rather than more money for public services, while also deterring investment and harming economic growth.” Not only that, but the public services that Scots receive in return are getting worse every year. A recent poll found that 49 per cent of Scots feel that they are not getting value for money for their bigger tax bills. Who can blame them?”
“Every year, the budget is a chance for the SNP Government to set a new direction for Scotland’s finances—to put more money back into the pockets of hard-working people, and to give businesses the support that they desperately need to thrive and to grow our economy. Instead, after 18 years, the SNP Government has produced yet another budget that is more of the same: high tax and low growth. It is the same stifling agenda that has cost Scotland’s economy £11 billion since 2011. That means that Scotland has £624 million less to spend on public services every single year than we would have had if we had grown at the same rate as the rest of the UK. The SNP has never understood that you cannot tax your way to growth—that is common sense.”
“We were keen for access-to-cash rules to be updated to be made stronger, and new rules on that were introduced a few months ago by the regulator. A banking hub will be introduced in Helensburgh, for example. That might not go all the way to satisfy the concerns—I absolutely understand that—but regulation of the banks is a reserved matter. I know that the banking hub in Forres, in my constituency, has been popular. Those measures have resulted from on-going dialogue between the Scottish Government and others, including the UK regulator, LINK and others who have a say in the matter. I urge the member to contact LINK if she has further concerns that those measures do not go far enough.”
“My West Scotland region is not immune to Bank of Scotland branch closures. Closures are expected in Bishopbriggs, Kirkintilloch, Alexandria and Helensburgh. In Helensburgh, that will represent the closure of the last in-person bank branch. That will be devastating for many of my constituents, especially the older constituents who are unable to use online banking. What is the Scottish Government doing to fight digital exclusion and to ensure that people have access to the banking services that they require locally? Richard Lochhead: I very much identify with the member’s concerns, not least because my constituency was one of the hardest hit—if not the hardest hit—in the whole of Scotland by bank closures in recent years. On what the Scottish Government has done, we spoke to the regulator at a round-table meeting.”
“I reiterate the importance of advocating for the inclusion of women in the journey towards net zero. 13:02”
“To this day, we tell our sons that they should be scientists, doctors or engineers, but it is not often that we tell that to our daughters. I hope that that attitude changes. We must not forget the importance of investing in the circular economy, and that can happen with the help of businesses. I take this moment to recognise the work that is done by a local business in my area, Gavin’s Mill, in Milngavie. It is a shop and cafe that also operates as a registered charity. It is led by two wonderful women, Julie Hall and Sue Milne, and it engages in sustainability by promoting fair trade, climate justice and education and training, and by serving sustainable and local food. It is an excellent example of how an organisation can promote sustainability, and I hope that more will follow.”
“In my speech on that topic in 2023, I expressed my disappointment in the Government’s decision to roll back funding that it had announced for Scotland’s colleges and universities, yet the latest budget has allocated a real-terms resource funding cut to colleges and universities. I hope that that decision is reconsidered. Universities and colleges do a lot to encourage female entrepreneurship and participation in STEM. For example, West College Scotland’s female boss enterprise challenge empowered young women to become entrepreneurs and to pitch their ideas in front of judges. Education in STEM must start from a young age. Schools should be encouraging girls to take up STEM subjects. To do so, schools need the resources to recruit teachers who will inspire pupils to love those subjects. Most importantly, we need a change of attitude.”