Sharon Dowey
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party · Scotland
“There should be an outright ban, across the whole country, on phones in schools, with no exceptions, exemptions or compromise. The Scottish Government has said that headteachers have the power to impose a ban in any case, but we must go further and give them our full support.”
“Ayr diving club has been in existence since 1964 and uses one of only four diving facilities in the whole of Scotland. It is the only one on the west coast, with the other three being on the east coast.”
“This extremely important subject is more pressing than many of the things that we debate in Parliament, and I thank Pam Gosal for bringing it to the chamber. We know that schools, and the teachers and pupils in them, face a range of challenges, which we also know are not exclusive to Scotland.”
“The position should be obvious to us all: phones in schools fuel distraction and conflict, pose nightmare scenarios for teachers and inflict harm in almost every area of the school, from classrooms and corridors to the playground. That is not the children’s fault, nor is it exclusive to them.”
“As a parent, I instinctively know that the concerns relating to smart phones are completely legitimate. Anyone with eyes and ears can see the harm and distractions that those devices cause for young people, and there is also hard evidence.”
“They go back to having a life that is not lived on the tiny screen in front of them. From the minute a pupil walks into a school, there should be no mobile phones in sight. That is what the teachers want and what the children need. That is why I am delighted to give this motion my full and unequivocal support.”
The complete record
Every one of 344 lines we hold for Sharon Dowey, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 2 of 7.
“Throughout the debate, we have heard from members across the chamber about the sheer importance of the role that policing plays in our society. We have rightly heard about officers’ bravery, selflessness and commitment to keeping us, our friends, our family and our neighbours safe, but we have also heard how brutally undervalued they are. It is hard to think of a job in modern Scotland that is more dangerous and less rewarded and appreciated than that of a police officer. Some reasons for that are not necessarily the fault of the Scottish Government alone. Police officers operate in a dangerous world, where people are less respectful and more prepared to take dangerous action against them. In addition, crime is evolving, and the range of threats that the police and the people they protect face is growing at an alarming rate.”
“Will the First Minister explain how the Scottish Government calculates and allocates funding to rape crisis centres, why there is such a stark disparity in staffing levels between centres that provide the same service and what immediate action will be taken to ensure that the STAR Centre receives the funding that is needed to meet demand?”
“Recently, I met staff at the STAR Centre, a rape crisis centre in Kilmarnock that supports survivors aged 13 and above across Ayrshire. Despite covering a large area, the centre has fewer than three full-time members of staff. The centre cannot meet demand and finds it a challenge to advertise its service widely because of its concern that survivors will be stuck for months on the growing waiting lists. By contrast, other centres across Scotland that support significantly lower populations employ several times more staff. That raises serious questions about how funding is allocated.”
“I meet the director general of NHS Scotland regularly, and the cabinet secretary and I met NHS Ayrshire and Arran today to discuss the report on Crosshouse hospital that Healthcare Improvement Scotland has just released.”
“Concerns have also been raised about the maternity unit at Crosshouse university hospital, with Healthcare Improvement Scotland finding that it fell short of standards in 16 areas. These issues keep happening across Scotland and we need action now. What discussions has the minister had with the chief executive of NHS Scotland about the matter? Has the national review of maternity care that was announced last year started? Is there an escalation procedure to ensure that issues that are found are dealt with immediately? When will the review conclude? The Presiding Officer: I call the minister to respond in relation to the substantive question. Jenni Minto: The maternity and neonatal task force, which, as I said, had its first meeting last week, has been set up to review and consider evidence on the situation in maternity healthcare.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent report by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales showing that business confidence in Scotland has fallen for the sixth consecutive quarter and is lower than the United Kingdom average. (S6O-05454)”
“However, addressing some questions and points that have been raised about the bill could help to strengthen it and further the positive impact that it could have on Scotland. Before we get there, I reaffirm that we support the principles in the bill. We appreciate the severity of the matter, we appreciate the survivors for sharing their experiences with us, and we agree with Ash Regan that solving these problems should be of the utmost importance. 16:56”
“Proper enforcement requires resources, so I urge the SNP Government to finally ensure that our police force is sufficiently resourced. The vast majority of sex workers are pushed into the trade by a range of disastrous circumstances. Venessa MacLeod was sold into prostitution at the age of just 17 because she risked becoming homeless and a friend took advantage of her. Human trafficking and exploitation, poverty, lack of opportunity, substance abuse, family breakdown and a lack of decent housing are all contributing factors. As a result, it is welcome that Ash Regan has included in her bill a right to support for those who are in or exiting the industry. As I said at the beginning of my speech, the bill is not perfect. Voices have raised serious concerns, and we must not dismiss them.”
“I am glad to see that Police Scotland is supportive of the bill, but the police must also fret about their capabilities when it comes to acting on any new laws, given the most recent estimate that more than £321 million would be required to enforce the bill. We now have another budget and, again, the police will not receive the uplift in funding that they need. Our hard-working justice sector has been struggling for years under this SNP Government. Audit Scotland recently reported that “there is no evidence that 16,500 police officers … are the right numbers to deliver an effective police service for the future.” In statistics that were published just today, we see that, once again, the number of police officers in Scotland has dropped. Ten years ago, Scotland had 17,263 officers. The latest figures show that we now have only 16,416.”
“It is absolutely right that the burden of criminality is taken away from vulnerable people at one end of the scale, many of whom are victims of serious crime, and moved on to the powerful, coercive and opportunistic users at the other end. There is evidence from other countries that many of the measures proposed in the bill would have a positive impact, but there is also evidence that, if they are not implemented properly, the bill might not have the meaningful impact that it is designed to have. As things stand, the incidence of crimes associated with prostitution is rising, and many victims of human trafficking and coercion are victims of sexual exploitation. We must ensure that, along with creating a new offence, our authorities have the power and the tools to enforce it.”
“We believe that much of the bill will support that cause, even if there is room for improving and tightening up some of the ideas within it. I thank Ash Regan for bringing this important bill to the chamber. As we are nearing the end of this parliamentary session, I am concerned that we may not have enough time to work out the required amendments, but I am disappointed that the SNP Government is prepared to reject the bill without trying. Given that the SNP has brought bills to the chamber that have required hundreds of amendments, as Liam Kerr said earlier, SNP members could at least try if they wanted to.”
“During the scrutiny of the bill, I and my colleagues on the Criminal Justice Committee heard of the trauma and devastation that involvement in prostitution can cause. This morning, Ash Regan shared with us the experiences of some survivors of prostitution. Those experiences struck me, and I believe that it is important that we listen to survivors. Venessa MacLeod recounted that she felt little more than “an object, an item of purchased property that men felt entitled to use however they wanted.” She wrote of her experience, which left her feeling so severely traumatised that she was “stuck in a never-ending cycle of fear, flashbacks and panic.” Eradicating prostitution is clearly not an easy task, but, as elected representatives, we are duty bound to try our best.”
“Angela Constance: Ms Dowey makes the underlying point that it is important that people understand more about how sentences are applied in this country and that, if a person is given a short-term sentence of just below four years, they will have an automatic release point that is less than that sentence. I agree with the point that more transparency and public awareness are needed on that. It is not the Government’s intention to create a hierarchy of offences. All offences have consequences for victims and communities. I am of the view that, in this instance, we can justify exemptions around violence against women and girls because of the historical barriers to not reporting it. Given the progress that has been made as a result of growing confidence in the justice system, we do not want to step back from that.”
“We have seen the High Court of Justiciary impose four-year custodial sentences for knife assaults that have caused severe injury, permanent disfigurement and even cases in which emergency brain surgery was required. Can the cabinet secretary confirm whether, under her proposals, offenders who are convicted of crimes of that gravity could be released after serving only around 30 per cent of their sentence? If so, how can she possibly expect the public to have confidence in the justice system when judges impose four years only for offenders to be released after little more than a year?”
“Angela Constance: To be brief, as Ms Dowey is a member of the Criminal Justice Committee, she will be well aware that the policy on which evidence was provided to the committee is, at its heart, all about the assessment of risk and needs of transgender prisoners and, indeed, of all prisoners, because there are particular requirements for the Scottish Prison Service and, therefore, for ministers to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all prisoners.”
“I recently received a letter from Angela Constance, the justice secretary, in which she said two things: that the Scottish Government accepts the Supreme Court ruling and that the guidance for prisons “does not need to be changed.” I will clarify that. The Scottish Government accepts the Supreme Court ruling on sex, but it also thinks that it is perfectly fine for male prisoners to be housed alongside vulnerable women. How can the Scottish Government justify holding that ludicrous position?”
“Amendment 46 disagreed to. 15:30 Amendment 47 moved—[Mercedes Villalba]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 47 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division. The vote is closed.”
“For Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Ind) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) The Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 24, Against 86, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment 63 disagreed to. Amendment 46 moved—[Mercedes Villalba]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 46 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“For Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Ind) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) The Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 44, Against 68, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment 23 agreed to. Amendment 63 moved—[Tim Eagle]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 63 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“For Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Ind) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) Against Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) The Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 85, Against 27, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment 22 agreed to. Amendment 23 moved—[Lorna Slater]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 23 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division. The vote is closed. Edward Mountain: On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My device would not connect. I would have voted no. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Mr Mountain. Your vote will be recorded. Sarah Boyack: On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I have just checked and it did work, but it asked me twice to vote. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I believe that your vote was recorded, Ms Boyack.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would have voted no. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Ms Dowey. Your vote will be recorded. For Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) Against Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Ind) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) O'Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) The Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 69, Against 43, Abstentions 0.”
“In response to one of my questions, she said that the Scottish Government is not against more transparency about, and scrutiny of, the apprenticeship levy, so I hope that the Government will support my amendments. I move amendment 87. Daniel Johnson: I begin by saying that I support much of what Miles Briggs has just set out. We could have a long discussion about John Mason’s point about making different choices or about the nature of the Barnett formula or the block grant adjustment, but the reality for employers is a simple one. They are being asked to pay a sum of money that was meant to enable them to fund skills development and that should have been under their direction, but they cannot do that. Worse than that, the way it all works actually deters them from undertaking certain work on skills, which they prefer to do in”
“The amendment sets out that “The Scottish Ministers must, for each financial year, prepare a report on the use of funding allocated for skills and training.” Why is that important? Previously, colleges have benefited from the flexible workforce development fund, for example, which was positively evaluated and provided a great return on investment, using funding from Scotland’s share of the levy. I believe that more transparency would allow colleges and employers to see the returns that come to Scotland, where the levy is being both raised and spent, and the additional opportunities that are being created for learners. The amendments in this group deal with the levy and are really important. I know that from debates and from questions that I have asked, specifically when the Deputy First Minister has been in the chamber.”
“Each financial year, the Scottish ministers would have to “prepare a report on the use of funding allocated to skills and training that is derived from” the associated block grant adjustment. The report would include “the total amount of funding allocated by the Scottish Ministers that was derived from the block grant adjustment associated with the apprenticeship levy” in each financial year. Perhaps most importantly, and I do not see why ministers would not support this, amendment 90 would provide annual reporting on funding for skills and training, which would deliver better understanding of where the apprenticeship levy is going—where it is being spent, Mr Mason.”
“Having listened to ministers and the reasoning behind their not supporting my amendment 123 at stage 2, I have tried to help them and, therefore, have lodged a suite of amendments that seek to provide different options to improve annual reporting on the apprenticeship levy and how it is spent in Scotland. Amendment 87 would insert a requirement for the Scottish ministers, each financial year, to “seek information from the United Kingdom government on the amount of funding provided through the block grant adjustment as a result of the apprenticeship levy established by Part 6 of the Finance Act 2016.” Amendment 88 would establish an annual report on the use of apprenticeship levy funding in Scotland.”
“The money is not being diverted. The whole point of devolution and the Scottish block grant is that we get a certain amount of money and we decide in this Parliament how we will spend it. That does not mean that the money is being diverted; it just means that we make different choices. Miles Briggs: That is exactly why we need more transparency on where the funding has gone. I am sure that Mr Mason would support that principle, especially given his work on different Scottish Parliament committees. Transparency around public funds is surely something that we all agree on and would want to strengthen our systems in regard to.”
“However, in England, levy-paying employers access their own digital accounts to spend funds directly on apprenticeships. That is another reform that we would have liked to see in the bill, but it has not been included. HMRC data shows that at least £875 million was raised by Scottish employers under the apprenticeship levy between 2020 and 2024. However, data shows that only £704 million has been spent on graduate, foundation or modern apprenticeships by Skills Development Scotland, the Scottish Funding Council or the Student Awards Agency Scotland, which means that there is a £171 million black hole in what should have gone on apprenticeship funding and which has been diverted elsewhere. John Mason: I thank Miles Briggs for giving way and I think that he knows what I am going to say, because we had this debate at stage 2.”
“Businesses and industry leaders across Scotland have argued for some time that we need stronger transparency in how the levy is applied and spent in Scotland. As I said at stage 2, the ability to follow funding that is raised by businesses in Scotland from the apprenticeship levy through our training system in Scotland is not easy—in fact, it is often impossible. The apprenticeship levy is a UK-wide tax on employers and is collected by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. It came into force in 2017 and is set at 0.5 per cent of an employer’s annual wage bill. It is collected across the whole UK, but the way that funds are used and allocated differs. In Scotland, levy receipts go to the Scottish Government via the block grant.”
“Amendment 86 disagreed to. The Presiding Officer: That concludes this group. Before we move on to group 10, we will have a 10-minute comfort break. Members should be back in the chamber for 17:40. 17:29 Meeting suspended. 17:44 On resuming— After section 5 The Presiding Officer: Thank you, colleagues. We resume with group 10, which is on skills funding and apprenticeship levy funds. Amendment 87, in the name of Miles Briggs, is grouped with amendments 88, 90 and 91. I will give Mr Briggs a moment. Miles Briggs: My amendments 87, 88 and 90 build on amendments that I lodged at stage 2, when I hoped that ministers would acknowledge the cross-party support that exists for more transparency on the apprenticeship levy.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would have voted yes. The Presiding Officer: Thank you, Ms Dowey. We will ensure that that is recorded. For Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Jackie Dunbar] Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) Abstentions Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Ind) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 28, Against 72, Abstentions 18.”
“We should also reflect on the power imbalance that often exists in relation to child sexual exploitation, which is also a causal factor in underreporting. I do not want to prejudge the outcome of the review, but as I have set out today, I will give Ms Dowey and MSPs a fuller update in February, when I have received an update from the agencies on their progress in relation to their statutory responsibilities and the review that I announced in December. The Presiding Officer: That concludes topical questions. Point of Order 14:36”
“The serious organised crime task force has acknowledged that the scale of child sexual abuse and exploitation is hidden and underreported and that national monitoring is weak. Given that the Government admits that it does not know the true scale of the abuse, what specific evidential threshold from the national review does the cabinet secretary need to establish a full national inquiry into grooming gangs in Scotland? The Presiding Officer: I note that we have only been able to engage with Ms Dowey’s audio. We will certainly look into that issue, but I would be grateful if the cabinet secretary could respond to the question. Jenny Gilruth: The first part of Ms Dowey’s question related to the way that we record and report the crimes that we have discussed today.”
“We are also putting in £3 million to continue tackling retail crime. However, all that is put at risk by Sharon Dowey’s support for £1 billion of tax cuts. None of that funding would be possible—[Interruption.] The Presiding Officer: Thank you. Shona Robison: —if we were to cut taxes by £1 billion. All of it would go—police funding, college funding, NHS funding and local government funding—so the hypocrisy from Tory back benchers in asking for more money is incredible and they will have no credibility whatsoever with the public.”
“The Government has already disgracefully cut 1,000 police officers from Scotland’s streets. Police Scotland asked for £104 million simply to stand still and stop numbers falling further, yet the SNP budget delivers far less than that. How does the finance secretary justify choosing a budget that means fewer police numbers, overstretched officers, slower response times and compromised public safety? Shona Robison: We have allocated more than £1.7 billion for policing in Scotland in 2026-27—an uplift of 5 per cent. That includes an additional £59 million of resource to the Scottish Police Authority to maintain capacity and capability in policing. We are increasing police capital funding to £86.3 million to invest in essential infrastructure technology and continue the delivery of the SPA’s estates masterplan.”
“The point that she makes about the impact of drugs on families, communities and prisons should not be considered in isolation. I will look at the information that she has requested. We have certainly been engaging with the organisation, and we gave a full response to the independent inquiry. Not Proven Verdict (Impact of Abolition) 7.”
“Evidence to the Criminal Justice Committee shows that drug misuse in prisons disrupts family visits and support services. The serious organised crime task force has noted concerns from the Council of Europe’s anti-torture committee—the Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment—about the impact of drugs on staff and inmates in Scotland’s prisons. Many families do not believe that the situation is improving. The Deputy Presiding Officer: A question, please. Sharon Dowey: With that in mind, will the cabinet secretary consider publishing those findings in full? Angela Constance: You will have to forgive me, Presiding Officer: Ms Dowey is so softly spoken that I did not grasp all of the question.”
“The cabinet secretary has acknowledged that this episode became about her conduct rather than the victims and survivors of grooming gangs. Given the damage that that has caused to trust in her Government, will she now apologise directly to those victims for allowing her actions to distract from their need for justice and protection? Angela Constance: I am sure that I am on record as saying—if I am not, let me say again today—that the last thing that I would ever want to do would be to add to the distress that victims and survivors have already experienced in their lives. I go back to the point that Mr Greene made, which all politicians should reflect on, which is that what we say matters. However, what also matters is what we do.”
“In response to the Government’s 2025 legal aid discussion paper, the co-convener of the Law Society of Scotland’s legal aid committee, Ian Moir, said: “at a time when legal aid is burning to the ground, the Scottish Government has put in an order for a bucket rather than calling the fire brigade. The measures outlined are nowhere near good enough, in either scale or timeline. Additional financial support is needed now”. We need an urgent review of the whole legal aid system, and that needs to be matched by definitive action. It is time to listen to the experts and those worst affected. There may not be time in this parliamentary window, but it should be a major priority for the next Scottish Government, or the system risks collapsing altogether.”
“It should also ring alarm bells for ministers that many of the lawyers who still sign up for legal aid work, often out of a sense of duty rather than for reward, are due to retire. They are unlikely to be replaced, as younger lawyers coming through the system can pursue far more lucrative disciplines. In short, it is a failure of management and planning on the Scottish Government’s behalf. As it stands, nobody is happy with how the system operates. The legal firms are under stress and cannot manage the workload, the courts are in crisis of their own and struggling to process demand, and the people who need access to civil legal aid for some of the most desperate situations that they will ever face are being failed. Despite that, those who are in charge have simply not done enough to sort the situation out.”
“All the same, it is hard to see how the Scottish Government can ignore the warnings for much longer. Fewer and fewer lawyers are willing to put themselves forward to provide legal aid services, because it simply does not make any business sense. When I asked the Minister for Victims and Community Safety in October 2024 about the chaos engulfing legal aid, she told me: “the Scottish Government cannot compel private solicitors to undertake work.”—[Official Report, 9 October 2024; c 18.] That is obvious, but it should then be obvious to the Government that lawyers have no duty to work in legal aid to their own deficit. Therefore, it falls squarely on the Government to fund the service adequately to ensure that legal aid becomes work worth doing.”
“They said: “We will engage with both legal professionals and victim support organisations to review the Legal Aid system”. However, here we are, almost eight years on from the original review publication, debating the same issues. Understandably, there is huge frustration in both legal and political circles that, irrespective of what the committee’s report recommends, nothing is likely to change any time soon. The clock has run out, and all that the committee can do is hope that whoever makes up the next Scottish Government will revisit the issue and decide to implement the suggestions. None of this is to say that we do not recognise that this is a highly complex matter. Civil legal aid costs significant sums of money, with spending on the rise, and the types of cases in which it is involved are sensitive and complicated.”
“We now know from this committee report and from speeches by members from around the chamber that the system for legal aid in Scotland is in deep crisis. That should not be news to any of us. It is what we have been told over many years by legal teams that are in charge of implementing the system and by the many people across Scotland who face significant struggles in accessing legal aid, despite being entitled to it. It should not be news to the Scottish Government, either, which, knowing the problems across the legal system, undertook a review of legal aid in 2018. The review produced clear results and a number of recommendations. Indeed, in the Government’s 2021 programme for government, ministers promised action on this very topic.”
“However, in terms of visibility, we are looking at having more workers on our transport network and at the idea of safety officers, particularly on our bus network. There is also the legislation that has just been laid before the Parliament on the enforcement of bus pass suspension measures. Those are all actions that are being taken by our Government. We are also providing funding to Police Scotland to allow it to do what Sharon Dowey is asking for—that is, its job, which is all about enforcing existing legislation. Programme for Scotland’s Childminding Future (Support) 3.”
“Recent reports from across Scotland highlight a rise in antisocial behaviour, and not just on our transport network. The reason for that is simple: there is no deterrent in place. There are hardly any consequences for perpetrators, and they know it. How can the cabinet secretary assure transport workers and the public that those responsible will face real consequences? Just writing a letter and having more talking shops will not cut it. Fiona Hyslop: I do not think that Sharon Dowey listened to my first answer, in which I talked about looking at legislation on fixed-penalty notices and what can be done in relation to enforcement. Enforcement is an operational matter for Police Scotland, as I am sure that Sharon Dowey understands.”
“We, in this country, can only do our bit while hoping that international agencies and foreign Governments step up, too. Police in Scotland require more specialist skills, digital forensics and sustained investment. The Scottish Government must match its words with actions, to ensure that we have enough officers and capability in the wider justice system to hold to account those who are responsible. Nobody is safe from cybercrime: from huge companies such as Jaguar and Marks and Spencer to small Scottish businesses; from major Government agencies, such as the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, to our smallest local authorities; and from wealthy individuals who are robbed of thousands to vulnerable people who lose everything that they own. That is why the problem deserves our utmost commitment and attention. 15:52”
“Recent events brought together about 200 women and girls in the hope of guiding them towards a career in that area. We, in the chamber, are all well aware that, if we want the very best people to be involved, we cannot afford 50 per cent of the population thinking that it is not a subject area for them. Cybercrime targets the most vulnerable people in our society. The despicable criminals who indulge in it do that on purpose. Their merciless exploitation of elderly people—taking advantage of the possibility that they are not up to date with technology or that they may be susceptible to being tricked—is inexcusable. Similarly, those who target young girls online in the hope of exploiting them sexually deserve the most severe punishments.”
“Hundreds of incidents were prevented—often ones that would have involved elderly and vulnerable customers transferring money or handing over sensitive data to people who wanted only to exploit them and cause them harm. The Edinburgh-based Cyber and Fraud Centre Scotland, which is headed by Jude McCorry, has done some great work to raise awareness and encourage businesses to work together to avoid themselves and each other being scammed. Its cyber and fraud hub has helped more than 500 victims over the past year, has prevented hundreds of thousands of pounds from being lost and, in some cases, has helped people to recover what was lost. The organisation has also done great work on encouraging women to get involved in cybersecurity.”