Davy Russell
Scottish Labour · Scotland
“More than that, I hope that the Scottish and UK Governments will be prepared to work together to come down on retail banking conglomerates like a ton of bricks if banks will not independently curtail their detrimental closures of high street branches.”
“However, it is only in the longer term that we will see the full extent of the economic impact to Larkhall’s high street, which has always punched well above its weight— similar to Rutherglen, to be fair—as an independent hub for retailers.”
“I promise them that the customers they will see are those who are vulnerable in our society. They may be older or have a disability. They might want to send money abroad or they might be desperate to seek a line of credit or forgiveness for being overdrawn, while they are being punished by penalties that they cannot afford to pay.”
“I must thank Clare Haughey for bringing this debate to Parliament, as bank closures have also been a big issue in part of my constituency. I will also mention Councillor Ricky Nelson, who has worked closely with me on the issue. In January, the Bank of Scotland branch in Larkhall closed.”
“They were committed to the closure, apparently in the interests of shareholders, while putting the interests of vulnerable customers at the bottom of the pile.”
“I think that many constituents would find that those billions of pounds would be better spent on the national health service, schools and lowering energy costs, rather than rewarding shareholders and awarding bankers bonuses. The bank’s motto should be “Didn’t care, didn’t listen, won’t care, don’t care”. I have one more thing to say.”
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“It is abysmal for young people with additional support needs in particular. It is not appropriate that, when it comes to exams, the one-stop solution for young people with additional needs is to simply get more time in the exam hall. For the young people who struggle most with that format, having to sit in the exam hall for even longer than everybody else is not a solution and often makes things worse. We now have alternative data sets. Once we resolved the issues in 2020, we had a comparison between what happens when teachers use their professional judgment to issue grades for their young people and what happens through the exam system.”
“Teachers and young people have not been talking to us about the specifics of where the accreditation function sits; the most common piece of feedback that we received from those who are directly involved in the system was a desire for a change of personnel at the top of the organisation, and that is what we already have, with a new chair, a new chief executive and a new leadership culture that is being developed as a result. I want to talk about the next steps. Now that we have addressed the questions of structure, we need to move on to how to reform our qualifications and inspection systems. Scotland’s exam system is still stuck in the Victorian era. We still have a high-stakes, end-of-term exam model that is largely unchanged from when it was set up about 150 years ago. There are problems with that for a whole range of reasons.”
“The chief examiner will be accountable to the expert group on standards, and the chief accreditation officer will be accountable to the accreditation committee. We have just agreed to separate their roles in law and to require them to act independently of each other. That addresses form, but we need to be honest that the Parliament was not yet ready to make a decision on function in terms of the scope of accreditation. However, we have agreed a clear process for that going forward, and I think that we have struck the right balance. The claim that what we have agreed to today does not meet the demands that have been set out by teachers and young people in particular rings a bit hollow.”
“My promise to you is simple: I will be your voice in the chamber, and I will never stop fighting for a better, fairer and more hopeful future for us all. [Applause.] The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Mr Russell. We move to closing speeches. I call Ross Greer to close on behalf of the Scottish Greens. 20:36 Ross Greer: I congratulate Davy Russell on making his first speech in the chamber. I find that, nine years in, the novelty and privilege of being in the chamber have certainly not worn off yet. I start by re-emphasising the point about the robust governance mechanisms that we have put in place around accreditation for qualifications Scotland. Whereas the SQA has, until very recently, had just a chief executive, qualifications Scotland will at all times have a chief executive, a chief examiner and a chief accreditation officer.”
“As I said on the night that I was elected, the only thing greater than being elected as my community’s MSP was the feeling when my grandson was born, which was 10 weeks ago, on the night that I started my political journey. Holding him in my arms reminded me of exactly what is at stake here. It is not just about policy or politics— we can get by without that—but about the kind of Scotland that we want to pass on to our children and grandchildren. I entered the Scottish Parliament not with the answers but with a deep- rooted belief in public service, a commitment to listening and an unshakeable resolve to stand up for the people who sent me here. To the people of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, I thank you for putting your trust in me, and I will work every day to earn it.”
“I started my career as a roads apprentice in Hamilton before working my way up to director level. Until the by-election, I had the honour of representing His Majesty as a deputy lord lieutenant of Lanarkshire. My life has been spent serving my community, but throughout my life I did not expect to become a politician. However, I knew that the opportunity to be Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse’s voice in the Scottish Parliament would be the best way that I could serve my community again. Mine is a story not of privilege but of standard education through the two good schools that I went to. Perseverance, hard work and further education—that is the spirit that I bring to the chamber.”
“A new direction is desperately needed to deliver the education system that young Scots deserve, but the SNP is just rebranding its failing institutions. We cannot tackle tomorrow’s challenges with today’s complacency. A good education is a key driver of efforts to reduce child poverty. The status quo is not good enough, and I cannot sign off on more of the same, so I will vote against the bill. The SNP has wasted an opportunity to do right by Scotland’s young people. Building a better future for the next generation is one of the most important missions of any Government. That starts with education, because education is not just about exams; it is about equipping young people with the confidence, curiosity and character to thrive in this world. I was born in Quarter, which is near Hamilton. I still live there today.”
“Scotland maintained its high standing in the world for education right into this century. However, on the SNP’s watch, standards have been plummeting, attainment is declining, violence is rising in our classrooms and kids’ backgrounds are holding them back from reaching their potential, because of the SNP’s failure to close the attainment gap. Trust in our education system is on the floor after the SQA’s shameful attempt to downgrade the results of working-class pupils during the pandemic—a move that was signed off by John Swinney, who is now First Minister. The SNP needs to give itself a shake and ask itself, where did it all go wrong? On its watch, education has been—and still is—a shambles. The educational bus has no engine, no steering wheel and an extremely poor driver who has lost his way.”
“[Applause.] On the campaign trail, I had hundreds of conversations with people across my community, and education was one of the big issues that came up time and again. I heard from parents, teachers and even grandparents who were worried about the state of our schools and who feared that the next generation was being deprived of the opportunities that previous generations had. Scotland’s education system was once the envy of the world. An old friend of mine, Len Murray, a former lawyer who passed away a few years ago, said something during an immortal memory that stuck with me. He said that, in the years “of the great Scottish Enlightenment … in the ... 18th century … Scotland produced more men of letters, more men of learning and more men of science than did any other nation on earth.” That was as good as it got.”
“Thank you, Presiding Officer, for giving me the opportunity to make my first speech. Being elected as the member of the Scottish Parliament for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse is one of the biggest honours of my life. I will start my speech by paying tribute to my predecessor, Christina McKelvie. While chapping doors during the election campaign, I spoke to many people across our community and, as members might expect, I heard plenty of different views on the various political parties and the characters within them. However, regardless of where I went or who I spoke to, I heard genuine warmth and affection for Christina. She was a passionate MSP and a friend to many across the chamber. She served my community with distinction and will always be fondly remembered.”
“Amendment 160 disagreed to. Amendment 161 not moved. 19:15 Amendment 162 moved—[Pam Duncan- Glancy]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 162 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division. Members should cast their votes now. The vote is closed.”
“For Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Con) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (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) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) 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) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (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) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Con) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab) 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) 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) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (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) [Proxy vote cast by Ross Greer] Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Rona Mackay] Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (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) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (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 48, Against 69, Abstentions 0.”
“Section 19—Corporate plan of the Accreditation Committee Amendments 158 and 159 not moved. Section 20—Annual report of the Accreditation Committee Amendment 160 moved—[Pam Duncan- Glancy]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 160 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“When I was explaining the thinking behind my amendment 297, I omitted to say to him that its aim is to ensure that we do not have a high turnover—for example, because individuals on a one-year PGDE course suddenly find that there is a hard cut-off date, just as they have got their feet under the table. I drafted amendment 297 to include not only those who are currently undertaking teacher training but those who have recent experience of doing so, so that we can ensure that we give individuals an opportunity to make a full contribution and that there is a managed transition period—for example, between appointments. I press amendment 155. Amendment 155 agreed to. After section 16 Amendment 157 not moved. After section 17 Amendment 318 moved—[Jenny Gilruth]—and agreed to.”
“I confirm my support for amendments 301 and 302, which would require the teacher and practitioner interest committee to consult teaching trade union representatives in every case in which the committee considers that to be appropriate. I would, of course, expect that to happen in any case, but I thank Ms Duncan-Glancy for her amendments in that respect. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I call Ross Greer to wind up and to press or withdraw amendment 155. Ross Greer: I appreciated Martin Whitfield’s metaphor about the provisions that had been inserted into the bill by amendment, but which had then been left flying free and needing somewhere to land.”
“I am not precluding the establishment of such a committee in the future—as I have set out, there is a way in which that can be done—but what comes first will be important as regards keeping the focus in the initial days resolutely on learners and teachers. Amendment 298 would restrict membership of the teacher and practitioner interest committee to those who teach, or who have taught, in schools or colleges, aside from one member of qualifications Scotland. I am unable to support amendment 298, because there is a range of other educational environments and establishments where various teacher training providers or practitioners will deliver learning for qualifications Scotland’s qualifications—for example, in community settings. It is essential that we do not exclude those practitioners and others from the committee’s membership.”
“Pam Duncan-Glancy: The cabinet secretary must recognise that parents and carers also want to advocate for the needs of learners, including children and young people. Having that interest committee would not dilute the fact that there was a learner interest committee and a practitioners interest committee. It would simply give parents and carers an opportunity to influence and have their say in the qualifications body, too. Jenny Gilruth: I hear the points that the member makes. My point was about the chronology of the establishment of qualifications Scotland. We want that organisation to be resolutely focused on learners and teachers.”
“I am unable to support that, because it has always been the Government’s position—and I hope that it is the view of members in the chamber—that restoring trust and accountability directly to learners and teachers will be the absolute priority for qualifications Scotland at the beginning of its tenure. That is why the learner and teacher interest committees should be the initial focus for qualifications Scotland, and it is why those respective committees are in the bill. In practice, there will be nothing to prevent qualifications Scotland from establishing a parents and carers committee, and it may wish to undertake that once it has embedded the learner and teacher committees. However, I am not of the view that that requirement should be stipulated in the bill.”
“The provisions were originally included as a safeguard to ensure that Scottish ministers would have a role in deciding on membership in order to ensure that a range of different voices were represented on the committees and, in effect, to act as an additional control, alongside the provisions in the bill, to ensure that qualifications Scotland makes effective appointments. Given the importance of building trust in the new qualifications organisation and the fact that the interest committees will be an integral part of that, I believe that it is right to have that safeguard. I therefore urge members to resist amendments 290, 294 and 300. Amendment 296 would add a requirement for qualifications Scotland to establish a parent and carers interest committee.”
“I also support her amendments 255, 275, 293 and 299, which will ensure that equal opportunities are encouraged when members are appointed to the two interest committees. However, I am unable to support Ms Duncan- Glancy’s amendments 290, 294 and 300, which would eliminate any requirement for the Scottish ministers to be consulted on the appointment of members to any committees. In that regard, I make it clear that it is only in relation to the two interest committees that are set out in the bill that such a requirement will exist. I believe that it is right that ministers are consulted on the membership of the two interest committees.”
“With the assistance of the Government and its drafting team, which I thank, I lodged amendments 291 and 292, which will give the provision somewhere to live in the bill and ensure that it survives in the act, if the legislation travels that far. Jenny Gilruth: I am grateful to members for setting out the purpose of their amendments. I support all of Mr Greer’s and Mr Whitfield’s amendments in the group, and I thank them for their engagement on those provisions since the conclusion of stage 2. I support Ms Duncan-Glancy’s amendment 293, which will ensure that, when members of the learner interest committee are appointed, regard is had to the desirability of including groups that are typically underrepresented in such forums.”
“Martin Whitfield: My two amendments in the group—amendments 291 and 292—are the result of something that we have seen on a number of occasions. The stage 2 amendment 226, which was agreed to, inserted into schedule 1 a new subparagraph that requires membership of the qualifications Scotland learner interest committee to include children and young people, regardless of whether they are undertaking or have recent experience of undertaking a qualifications Scotland qualification. The reason for that was that it is important that young people are not just at the table but part of the decision-making process. Unfortunately, however, during the bill’s journey at stage 2, that provision lost its commanding paragraph and it now flies around unaided.”
“Although Scottish Labour does not accept that accreditation should be placed within qualifications Scotland, I recognise the important role that transparent reporting plays in developing an internal system of governance, so I support Mr Greer’s amendment 155. The measures that are proposed in my amendments in the group will not slow the system but strengthen it, by placing decision makers face to face with the realities of disadvantage, additional needs and front-line teaching. If interest committees are to be more than a tick-box exercise, they must be free from ministerial micromanagement and rich in the diversity of voices that make up Scottish education today. My amendments would achieve exactly that, and I invite members to support them.”
“Amendment 293 seeks to instruct qualifications Scotland to actively pursue equal opportunities in relation to the learner interest committee and to ensure that there are seats on it for young people with care experience, those from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds and those with educational support needs. In relation to the teacher and practitioner interest committee, amendment 298 clarifies that registered teachers must be classroom teachers and not managers with little front-line contact, and amendment 299 seeks to apply the same equal opportunities duty to that committee. Amendments 301 and 302 seek to ensure that education trade unions will be consulted whenever their professional insight is relevant, which will, in practice, be most of the time. I turn to the other amendments in the group.”
“The amendment also provides a safeguard to prevent the 2020 exam fiasco from happening again. That definition underpins the remaining amendments in the group. Independence comes next. At present, every appointment to an interest committee requires ministerial consultation. Amendments 275, 290, 294 and 300 would remove that requirement. Qualifications Scotland should be free to recruit the expertise that it needs without political gatekeeping. Parliament would retain oversight through annual reporting. I turn to membership. Amendment 296 seeks to establish a dedicated parent and carer interest committee. Parents are a child’s first educators and their perspective deserves its own forum.”
“We would certainly not want to have a hard cut-off date, which would result in a constant turnover of individuals. I envisage taking a pretty broad approach to the definition of those who are training to be teachers. Parliament can continue to scrutinise that as we move forward and set up the committees, but I was reluctant to define that any more specifically here in case we inadvertently ended up excluding any of the individuals whom we would like to be appointed to perform that role on the interest committee. I move amendment 155. Pam Duncan-Glancy: Amendment 255 seeks to supply a bill-wide definition of equal opportunities that mirrors the protected characteristics that are listed in the Equality Act 2010 and adds to the list socioeconomic disadvantage and care experience, which evidence tells us still shape success in education.”
“Martin Whitfield: My question is about how we define a teacher in training. We have four-year degree courses and one-year postgraduate courses. There is then a period of training for probationary teachers, which is followed by on- going training as teachers go through the early years of their career. What does the member envisage his amendment covering? Ross Greer: My intention would be to take as broad a definition as possible, particularly because, as the member has said, individuals can be in teacher training through the one-year postgraduate diploma in education route. We would not want to see a very high turnover of individuals in that role; we would want to give them the opportunity to build up experience and confidence in that setting, and to be able to give their perspective.”
“The ultimate intention is to prevent senior management within the organisation ever being able to act as a block between the interest committees—which I hope will have full and frank advice to give—and the board of the organisation. We have seen a total disconnect between learner panels and the board of the SQA, and amendments 295 and 303 would create a mechanism by which we can eliminate that by giving the committees that option. Amendment 297 would ensure that teachers in training are represented on the relevant interest committees. I particularly thank Peter Bain of School Leaders Scotland for suggesting that amendment after SLS made a compelling case for the particular perspective that those who are in teacher training can provide and for the value of ensuring that there is a space for them.”
“Rather than making that part of a single annual report, I want to achieve more buy-in from those who have engaged in the process in good faith and want to see on what basis qualifications Scotland has made the decisions that it has made. Amendments 295 and 303 would require qualifications Scotland to convene meetings between the board and the respective interest committees—for learners and for teachers and practitioners—when that has been reasonably requested by those committees and when qualifications Scotland thinks that it is appropriate to do so. Those amendments are designed to further empower the committees and to create a direct line of communication and accountability between the committees and the board.”
“In effect, it would require qualifications Scotland to prepare and publish reports summarising the advice that had been provided by its interest committees and the accreditation committee, along with its response to that advice. The first report would have to be published within 12 months of the proposed new section coming into force, and each subsequent report would have to be published within 12 months of the previous report, although that would be the minimum threshold. Where necessary, information should be provided more frequently. The purpose of amendment 155 is to increase accountability and transparency with regard to the advice that is provided by those committees, how that has fed into qualifications Scotland’s decision- making process and what the outcomes are.”
“Amendment 156 agreed to. The Deputy Presiding Officer: At this point, I will suspend the meeting briefly for a comfort break. I would be grateful if members were back in the chamber at 5 minutes to 7. 18:43 Meeting suspended. 18:59 On resuming— The Deputy Presiding Officer: We resume proceedings with group 10, which is on interest committees of qualifications Scotland. Amendment 155, in the name of Ross Greer, is grouped with amendments 255, 275 and 290 to 303. Ross Greer: Amendment 155 seeks to add a new section to the bill, which would be entitled “Reports of advice to Qualifications Scotland from certain committees”.”
“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) (Con) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) 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) 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, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) 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) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) 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, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Ross Greer] Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Rona Mackay] Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) 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) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Con) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) 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) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (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) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) Abstentions Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab) 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) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (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) Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) The Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 98, Against 0, Abstentions 21.”
“Amendment 152 disagreed to. Amendments 153 and 154 not moved. After section 15 Amendment 156 moved—[Willie Rennie]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 156 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) (Con) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (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) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) 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) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) 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) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (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) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Con) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab) 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) 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) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (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) 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) [Proxy vote cast by Ross Greer] Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Rona Mackay] Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (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) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (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 49, Against 69, Abstentions 0.”
“I would also emphasise that every inspection report will be published, as they are today, so they will be available to the public and to parliamentarians from publication. I believe that the provision enabling the chief inspector to lay inspection reports would be much more proportionate and would be used to ensure that reports of significant or wider interest could be brought to the attention of Parliament. I therefore urge members not to support those amendments. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I call Pam Duncan-Glancy to wind up and to press or withdraw amendment 152. Pam Duncan-Glancy: I have no further comments. I press amendment 152. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 152 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“Scottish ministers are accountable to the Parliament, and qualifications Scotland will be accountable to Scottish ministers, so it is right that ministers lay the submitted annual reports on the body’s behalf. On Mr Kerr’s amendment 47, I will repeat the position that I set out at stage 2. It is difficult to envisage that the Parliament would have the capacity to make use of individual inspection reports on every establishment that is inspected— based on current practice, around 250 a year are expected, and that number that could well change or increase over time, depending on independent decisions that the chief inspector reaches. I contend that it would be far preferable for Parliament to focus on the overall report on the performance of Scottish education, which has already been allowed for.”
“Although I support that approach for the chief inspector, whose office will be independent of ministers, I cannot support Pam Duncan-Glancy’s amendments 152 and 153, which similarly require the laying of qualifications Scotland’s annual report to the Parliament at the same time, or amendment 160, which similarly requires the laying of the accreditation committee’s report to the Parliament at the same time. That is because it is well-established practice for non-departmental public bodies to submit their annual reports to Scottish ministers first, because that is whom NDPBs are ultimately accountable to. Ministers, in turn, will lay the reports before the Parliament. I see no reason to deviate from that process, especially as it is guaranteed that a copy of the report will be laid before the Parliament.”
“At times, the bill leans too heavily on the idea that ministers know best. However, in education—as in any public services—those who inspect must be accountable to those who represent the public, not simply those who hold office. Amendment 47 makes that accountability clear, and I urge colleagues across the chamber to support it. Jenny Gilruth: I am grateful to Ms Duncan- Glancy and Mr Kerr for setting out the purpose of their respective amendments in the group. I am pleased to support Ms Duncan-Glancy’s amendment 247, which requires any report produced by the chief inspector under section 40 to be laid before the Parliament at the same time as they share it with Scottish ministers. That is consistent with changes that were made at stage 2 in respect of sections 38 and 39.”
“Too often in recent years, we have seen agency reports drip-fed to the Parliament after ministers have had the opportunity to interpret—or sometimes spin—them for their own purposes. That is not accountability; that is control. If the Parliament is to be taken seriously as the democratic overseer of national education policy, it must be in full and simultaneous possession of the facts. Amendments 152 and 160 reinforce that principle, and I support them. Accountability is the recurring theme in the amendments that I have lodged or expressed my support for today. We need accountability to Parliament, not to Government. If we are to earn the trust of teachers, parents and learners, we must design a system that reflects the principles of good governance: openness, scrutiny and public reporting.”
“It would ensure that the chief inspector, who will hold vital responsibilities for school inspections, performance evaluations and, potentially, qualification accreditation—although we just had a vote in which that proposal was defeated—would have to present their findings to the Parliament for open scrutiny. That is how trust is rebuilt in the system. I also speak in support of amendments 152 and 160, in the name of Pam Duncan-Glancy. The amendments would ensure that both qualifications Scotland and the accreditation board would lay their annual reports before the Scottish Parliament at the same time as they submitted them to Scottish ministers. That provision is important not only for transparency but for equality of information.”
“In today’s proceedings, we have dwelt on the importance of cultural change, and the change in wording would signal that the new system that we are creating is one in which transparency is built from the start and in which independent oversight means real independence backed by real obligations to report in public and to the Parliament. Let us recall the reasons why we are here. The Muir report identified serious failings in how Education Scotland and the SQA operated, particularly their lack of visible, independent scrutiny. Professor Muir wrote that there is a clear need for more effective and transparent accountability across national agencies and for Parliament to have a greater role in holding them to account. Amendment 47 answers that call.”
“That one- word change—from “may” to “must”—is a deliberate and necessary shift in power and accountability. It would ensure that the chief inspector was directly answerable to the Scottish people’s elected representatives—an issue that is subject to amendments in a later grouping—not merely to ministers or officials and certainly not just to a closed loop of Government insiders. The principle is simple: parliamentary scrutiny must be the norm, not the exception. That is not a procedural footnote; it is a cultural statement.”
“Unfortunately, I cannot support amendment 47, in the name of Mr Kerr, as I recognise that there are times when it would not be appropriate for an inspection report that is compiled by the chief inspector to be published, owing to potential safeguarding issues that might arise, based on the publication of one specific report. Timely access to information is the foundation of effective scrutiny. I will therefore move amendment 152 and invite members to support it and amendments 153, 160 and 247. I move amendment 152. Stephen Kerr: Amendment 47, to which Pam Duncan-Glancy has just referred, is straightforward, but its implications are anything but trivial. It would require that the chief inspector of education “must” report to the Scottish Parliament, not simply that they “may”.”
“Amendment 160 would apply the identical standard to the accreditation committee’s annual report, ensuring that Parliament would see without delay how standards were being upheld. Amendment 247 extends the principle to any report that is produced by the chief inspector of education in Scotland. If a document is important enough for ministers, it is important enough for the legislator that is charged with scrutinising it. Those provisions would create no extra work and incur no extra cost, as the reports are already going to be written. The amendments would simply draw Parliament into the light, put it on an equal footing with the executive and allow members to question the bodies concerned while the information was fresh.”
“Amendment 148 agreed to. Amendment 150 moved—[Ross Greer]—and agreed to. Amendment 151 not moved. Section 15—Annual report of Qualifications Scotland The Deputy Presiding Officer: Group 9 is on the laying of reports. Amendment 152, in the name of Pam Duncan-Glancy, is grouped with amendments 153, 160, 47 and 247. Pam Duncan-Glancy: Transparency must run the length of this reform. If Parliament entrusts bodies with authority over Scotland’s education, Parliament should receive their reports at exactly the same time as ministers do—no earlier and no later. That is the simple purpose of my four amendments in the group. Amendments 152 and 153 would require qualifications Scotland to lay its annual report before the Scottish Parliament at the same time as it submitted that report to ministers.”
“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) (Con) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (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, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) 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) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) 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, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Ross Greer] Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Rona Mackay] Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) 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) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Con) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) 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) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (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) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) Against Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab) 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) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (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) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) The Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 96, Against 22, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment 147 disagreed to. 18:30 The Deputy Presiding Officer: I remind members that, if amendment 148 is agreed to, I cannot call amendment 149, due to pre-emption. Amendment 148 moved—[Ross Greer]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 148 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) (Con) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (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) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) 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) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) 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) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (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) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Con) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (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) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (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) 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) [Proxy vote cast by Ross Greer] Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Rona Mackay] Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (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) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (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 48, Against 70, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment 146 agreed to. Amendment 147 moved—[Stephen Kerr]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 147 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I had difficulty connecting there. I would have voted yes. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Mr Russell. I will make sure that that vote is 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) Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (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) (Lab) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) 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) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Ross Greer] Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Rona Mackay] 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) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (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) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (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) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab) 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) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) 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) (Con) 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) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East 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) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Con) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) The Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division on amendment 146 is: For 90, Against 27, Abstentions 0.”