Miles Briggs
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party · Scotland
“Angela Constance: It was always going to be the case that the old hospital would continue to be used while the new hospital was being built, which means that important investment is required in that regard.”
“The Sunday Mail reported on 26 April that ministers had failed to sign off on the business case for the new Monklands hospital prior to the election, so it is important that the cabinet secretary publishes the information that Scottish ministers knew during that period and that she explains why there was no statement to the Parliament bef…”
“I am happy to furnish Mr Briggs with further information about the process. When we deal with any full business case, it is important that that is thoroughly examined and scrutinised, out of respect for those who have compiled it.”
“The Nuclear Industry Association estimates that Scotland’s civil nuclear industry could have supported more than 10,000 jobs if the sector had experienced the same growth as has been evident south of the border, in England. The Scottish Government must reflect on the opportunities that the country will miss out on in years to come.”
“Whatever views members may hold on the nuclear power sector, there should be broad agreement that Torness has been one of the most significant economic and industrial assets that our country has ever had.”
“With the ongoing instability in the middle east and the consequent volatility of global gas prices, households and businesses are vulnerable to price shocks. New nuclear energy would put energy back in our own hands, protect us from fossil fuel price volatility and deliver much-needed energy security.”
The complete record
Every one of 469 lines we hold for Miles Briggs, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 9 of 10.
“Jenny Gilruth: I echo Mr Briggs’s thanks to the NASUWT for its report. I met with it very recently and I engage with it regularly on the topic. The member talked about incidents involving the police. It would be difficult for me, as the cabinet secretary, to comment on specific incidents, because any issues that relate to criminality are a matter for the police. The member alighted on the challenges in relation to consequences—that was a key feature of the summits on behaviour that I held last year. As I said in a previous response, we will be publishing updated guidance on consequences. It is worth stating that there are consequences for our children and young people in classrooms every day—teachers use them regularly.”
“We should thank the NASUWT for the survey, which should act as a wake-up call for ministers. One of my greatest concerns relates to violence that was reported to the police, where 100 per cent of female teachers and 57 per cent of male teachers said that no action was taken against the pupil or parents. The quote says: “‘The police told me it would not be worth taking it further as nothing would happen due to their age. They also said ... it could make things worse for me in school once the individual knows there are no consequences. So I decided against making an official complaint to the police’”. What is the Scottish Government doing in relation to that policy? The police must be involved when extreme acts of violence happen in our schools. What is the Scottish Government’s position on what should happen?”
“As I said in my intervention on the minister, as an Edinburgh MSP, I have first-hand knowledge of how incredibly lucky parents and guardians in the capital are in still being able to access residential outdoor education experiences for our young people. I pay tribute to the City of Edinburgh Council for continuing to value and deliver residential outdoor education, given the huge financial pressures that the council faces. If the lowest-funded council in Scotland can deliver residential outdoor education, I am sure that we can get every other council in Scotland to deliver the policy and the benefits that it will bring.”
“As a member of the committee, I had the pleasure of taking part in its evidence taking on the proposal and of meeting and hearing from the fantastic and passionate people who work in the outdoor education sector across our great country. I have probably now heard too many stories from my colleague John Mason about seeing his teachers in their nightwear during his childhood outdoor educational experiences, but I am sure that we will have the pleasure of hearing more of that later. We all agree that it is unquestionably the case that young people receive positive educational, personal, character and mental health benefits as a result of undertaking residential outdoor education, and the bill will make a positive difference to the outcomes of all our young people.”
“I begin by paying tribute to Christina McKelvie. We were all shocked when we heard the news, and I want to send my condolences at this difficult time to fellow member of the Education, Children and Young People Committee Keith Brown, to all Christina’s family and friends, and to members across the chamber. I pay tribute to my friend and colleague Liz Smith, not only for the power of work that she and her parliamentary office have put into her Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill, but for her lifelong advocacy—as a teacher and as a member of this Parliament—of the benefits of outdoor education for our young people.”
“It is on that basis that I wish to reaffirm my commitment to working with the member in charge to find a constructive and affordable way forward that delivers for all our children and young people. 15:49”
“The bill presumes the delivery of residential outdoor education on a voluntary basis. However, as the convener pointed out, evidence to the lead committee makes it clear that, should the bill pass, it is likely that there would need to be a change in teachers’ contracts. It is also not for the Scottish Government to pre-empt any joint decision that would need to be made by the tripartite group, the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers, but it is certainly possible that the results of those negotiations could further increase the cost of delivery. Workforce capacity to respond to the bill would also need to be explored. Overall, the Government absolutely recognises the positive aims behind the bill, and I hope that I have been very clear throughout our engagement that that is our view.”
“I am keen to fully explore how the overall financial burden of the provisions could be reduced. My second point relates to equity. Through my conversations with stakeholders and further data gathering undertaken with the sector, I am aware that there is very limited capacity across centres in Scotland to host young people with complex additional support needs. In recent weeks, members have rightly raised their concerns about the need to support pupils with ASN, but if the bill is truly to deliver equitable opportunities for all our young people, and in a way that avoids any one learner with additional support needs being isolated, more time and more resources are required to deliver that universal provision. My third concern is about the implications for the workforce, which have been touched on already.”
“For those reasons, the Scottish Government has not lodged a financial resolution at this time. I am aware that that might frustrate members, but I remind members that Scottish ministers have a unique responsibility and accountability for the appropriate management of the budget. The financial resolution exists as an important and legitimate mechanism for that. Scottish ministers will lodge a financial resolution if and when affordability of the provisions and other practical challenges can be assured, up to six months following the conclusion of stage 1. I reassure members that, should the bill pass at stage 1, I will continue to work constructively with the member in charge of the bill. As recently as 13 March, we met to discuss the bill and touched on potential amendments.”
“Will the member give way? Natalie Don-Innes: I will take the intervention from Miles Briggs. Miles Briggs: I thank the minister for taking the intervention. Does she recognise that the second- largest council in Scotland, the City of Edinburgh Council, provides outdoor education to our young people? That brings huge benefits, but it is not a foreign concept. It is about trying to get all schools in Scotland to deliver it. Natalie Don-Innes: Absolutely, and I appreciate that lots of them do it. However, as I said, the bill would be unaffordable for the Scottish Government to fund. I ask members who support the bill as it currently stands from where they would seek to cut funding in education. Would it be from our teachers, our schools, our nurseries or our colleges?”
“During consideration of the SSI at the Education, Children and Young People Committee, it became clear that Conservative and Labour members of the committee have concerns in relation to the establishment of qualifications Scotland and the power that the instrument gives ministers to make early appointments to the new organisation’s board before Parliament has had the opportunity to deliberate on the Education (Scotland) Bill and decide what the make-up of the board should ultimately be. As Pam Duncan-Glancy said at the committee, it is odd that we are being asked to vote on an order when we do not yet know the shape of the board that the Government will then be asked to recruit to.”
“To ask the Scottish Government when ministers last met with the City of Edinburgh Council to discuss the reported financial pressures facing the capital. (S6O-04491)”
“I will take no lectures from the Conservatives—[Interruption.] Here we go, Presiding Officer. I just knew that that would be the reaction. I will take no lectures from the Conservatives about taking responsibility, because, fundamentally, we are in this situation, first, as a result of the actions of their Westminster bosses in wrecking the international student market through their migration policy. Let us also not forget that the Conservatives sought to vote down the budget, which will provide welcome additional funding for the university sector. Agricultural Support Payments 3.”
“The minister says that the system is not broken, but we now have a situation in which, because of a cap, the number of Scotland-domiciled students who are unable to go to a Scottish university has increased by 84 per cent. That is a broken system for any of our constituents. I will ask a question to be as helpful as I can to the minister. Will he commit to the Scottish Government commissioning an independent review of further and higher education to report before the summer recess—the point when he said that he wanted deliberations to take place— and then to having a cross-party discussion? Graeme Dey: We can stand here and bandy statistics back and forth. I can point to the fact that record numbers of Scots are going to university in Scotland, which is a success story.”
“Neil Gray: There are a number of issues in Miles Briggs’s question, for which I am grateful, and I am grateful to him for his recognition of the role that whistleblowers play. I have been absolutely clear—as, I believe, my predecessors were—on the culture that I expect within the health service around supporting people who come forward with concerns before the matter gets to the point of whistleblower status. There are very clear processes and protocols in place to support whistleblowers who come forward with their concerns, and I have a very clear expectation of how those are handled, both regarding the seriousness that is applied in ensuring that systems are safe, and regarding transparency in the public communications that Mr Briggs mentioned. As I have set out, we are working with our boards to ensure that that can be realised.”
“I remember the period well, because I served as shadow health secretary. I agree with Jackie Baillie about the actions that Jeane Freeman took and with the establishment of NHS Scotland assure, which we, on the Conservative benches, called for. I pay tribute to the whistleblowers who have raised many of the concerns. I also record my concern about some of the evidence that has been taken in private during the public inquiry. Patient safety must be paramount. How will the communication strategy that the cabinet secretary referred to provide the independence that is required for transparency? Too often, health boards go into lockdown when there is a problem. We need to ensure that, when concerns are raised, they are taken to the top—to the cabinet secretary’s desk. What work will be taken forward to make the process truly independent?”
“Everything that will be done will be done through the SFC; that is the conduit for this. In the context of further support for the University of Dundee, as I have said multiple times in the past few minutes, we are open to considering any approaches that come from the SFC, either directly on behalf of the University of Dundee or through its reading of the financial recovery plan and the situation there. As I indicated to Willie Rennie a moment ago, we expect to get further advice on that early next week.”
“If the proposals go forwards, they will result in 20 per cent of the university staff losing their jobs. These concerns became apparent last November. Does the Government intend to be directly involved in the development of a recovery plan? Specifically, in relation to the £15 million that the Government has made available, are ministers looking to offer bridging loans for other organisations? We are seeing university after university come forward with financial difficulties. The Government will need to respond to that. Graeme Dey: I think that Mr Briggs is aware that, for legitimate reasons—not the least of which is the preservation of Office for National Statistics classification, on which all institutions depend— there must be degrees of separation between Government and universities, because universities are autonomous institutions.”
“To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on state schools of the United Kingdom Government’s decision to make independent schools liable for VAT, how it plans to use any Barnett consequential funding resulting from this decision to support state schools. (S6O-04395)”
“To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report, “In Their Own Words: Children’s Experiences in Temporary Accommodation”, which was commissioned by Shelter Scotland and shows the impact that a stay in temporary accommodation can have on children’s safety, health and education. (S6T-02391)”
“I welcome the challenge, and I will continue to engage with the Auditor General on it and will be more than happy to engage with Mr Briggs on the matter, too. University of Dundee 3.”
“I want to meet the Auditor General alongside COSLA to ensure that we have a partnership approach to responding to the challenge that is put to the Government. I hope that Miles Briggs recognises the seriousness with which I take the report in relation not only to our investment in additional support for learning but to the experience of parents, carers, children and young people on the ground. To my mind, we need to better understand that, and that is one of the critiques in the report. There is an issue about the transparency of the spend and the granularity of how we quantify that. I am interested in pursuing that issue further with the Auditor General, because he raises a really important point about public spending, and, of course, significant funding is being provided to support additional support needs in our schools.”
“Today’s Audit Scotland report on additional support for learning sets out a pretty challenging picture for teachers and schools. The report states that the Scottish Government and councils must fundamentally rethink how they plan, fund and staff additional support for learning as part of core school education in Scotland. Does the Scottish Government accept the recommendations in the report, and will ministers urgently come forward with a plan on how the recommendations will now be actioned? Jenny Gilruth: I welcome Audit Scotland’s report on additional support for learning. It is challenging to the Government, and I accept that challenge as Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills.”
“The workforce is absolutely key not only to helping us deliver the Promise but in relation to a number of Government priorities. I am very pleased that a national social work agency will be established, as that is absolutely key to supporting our workforce—I am looking at Miles Briggs and I do not know whether he is entirely happy with my answer. I am more than happy to have a further discussion with him on the timelines of the national social work agency and what we think can be achieved by that.”
“It goes without saying that we all want to see the Promise delivered. However, I am sorry to say that the statement does not feel like the words of a Government that is on course to meet the Promise. For example, in it, the Government congratulates itself on homelessness legislation when the fact is that, over the past two years, there has been a 14 per cent increase in the number of care leavers under the age of 25 who have been made homeless or threatened with homelessness. That is a complete failure. Nowhere in the statement is the national social work agency mentioned, but the agency will be key to delivering the Promise. What is the vision for the national social work agency, and when will the agency be delivered? Natalie Don-Innes: I have been very clear when I have spoken previously in the chamber about the workforce.”
“I do not necessarily agree with the approach to the use of the apprenticeship levy that Miles Briggs has articulated, but, on his point about SMEs, there is undoubtedly more to be done. We repeatedly hear that one of the issues that puts SMEs off taking on an apprentice is the bureaucracy around it. We have been exploring whether there is an opportunity to do something on that to take some of the load off SMEs, because they are the bedrock of the Scottish economy. I look forward to continuing to engage with Miles Briggs on those matters.”
“Securing non-public money for colleges is an area that we are actively engaging with the college sector on, because there is a great opportunity there. Some colleges do very well in that space and others do much less so. There is an appetite from both national and local businesses for that sort of access. With regard to the influence that colleges can bring, we have to be careful. It is about ensuring that the employer voice is heard so that colleges and other training providers can understand what employers require colleges and other institutions to produce. That already happens in some localities but not so much in others, so we are trying to bring in a bit of standardisation on that.”
“The Scottish Conservatives would like to see additional reforms to make more private sector funding available to the college sector in the delivery of key sector courses. I have two questions for the minister. First, how does he envisage the employer network helping businesses to influence, secure and embed funded courses of the type that many employers are telling us are not currently being provided to upskill the workforce? Secondly, as employers in England can access support from the apprenticeship levy not only for training but for apprenticeship pay, is that a reform that ministers will look to introduce to help significantly increase the number of apprenticeships that small and medium-sized enterprises can deliver in communities across our country? Graeme Dey: There is a lot to unpack there.”
“I thank the minister for advance sight of his statement and for his engagement with members on the bill to date. There are some welcome reforms in the bill, which the Scottish Conservatives agree with, but we also want to see the Scottish Government move further. Yesterday, the Education, Children and Young People Committee heard from college leaders on the impact that the loss of both the skills boost fund and the flexible workforce development fund has had on upskilling and supporting key employers as well as on skill shortages, especially around social care. I hope that there is an opportunity to correct that with what the minister has announced. It is clear that we also need to see more business involvement in regional skills development work.”
“As I referenced in my previous response, we have been working closely with hospices to address the situation that has arisen— the double whammy, as Miles Briggs called it. We are creating a partnership group to drive that work, and I meet hospices regularly.”
“The fact is that the hospice sector is facing a double whammy of national insurance increases and meeting the agenda for change. The £5 million announced in the budget is welcome, but the sector is calling for £15 million to stand still. We know that £350 million is available in contingency funds in the Scottish Government’s NHS budget for the current financial year. If the issue is not addressed, hospices across Scotland—which are setting their budgets now—will see the disparity increase even further. Is the Scottish Government looking to provide the £15 million that the sector needs, and not just the £5 million that is currently in the budget? Jenni Minto: I thank Miles Briggs for his question and recognise the work that he does in supporting hospices in his region and across Scotland.”
“I have asked the chief statistician to write to Research Data Scotland so that it removes the health and wellbeing census from the data catalogue on its website. The sharing of that information is the salient issue that has been raised today. Data access requests by researchers in relation to the health and wellbeing census will be paused while we undertake our considerations. It is important that I have an opportunity to engage with the chief statistician on that data set. On Mr Briggs’s other question, it is my understanding that no direction was given to share the data. The data was shared as a matter of course, as many data sets across the Government are. Business Motions 17:09”
“We need to go back to the basics. The health and wellbeing census was organised and promoted to councils by the Scottish Government, although half of councils said that they would not participate in it. The results of the survey were given to the Government, which has collated the data. What questions has the cabinet secretary asked about why that data has been offered to researchers? What breaches of confidence in relation to freedom of information have there been? A number of members have asked about that, but they have not had a clear answer. Although she has said that she has now suspended that data collection and is investigating the matter, what independent investigation of the whole process will take place? Jenny Gilruth: I might have said this in a previous answer, but it is worth repeating.”
“I move amendment S6M-16330.4, to leave out from “welcomes” to end and insert: “acknowledges that more than a quarter of children in Scotland live in poverty; recognises that, while investment in tackling child poverty through education is important, it must be accompanied by a focus on improving educational standards; notes that, while the Scottish Government has spent £1 billion on early years and childcare, there remains a significant disparity in the availability of early years provision across Scotland, which risks deepening inequalities and limiting parental employment opportunities, and has long-term consequences for children’s development and educational outcomes; further notes with concern that education in Scotland has gone backwards in Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) international rankings; acknowledges that the attainment gap in primary pupils’ reading, writing, literacy and numeracy remains similar to pre-COVID-19-pandemic levels and has failed to close; regrets that the pledge to provide universal free school meals for primary pupils has not been fulfilled; expresses concern over the rising level of violence in schools, which negatively impacts both attainment and wellbeing; calls on the Scottish Government to provide greater support for teachers and local authorities to tackle this issue; further calls for a review of policies to improve the identification of and support for care experienced and young carer pupils in schools, ensuring that they receive the necessary assistance to succeed in education, and believes that the Scottish Government’s main priority should be ensuring that every child, no matter their background, has the best start in life.” The Deputy Presiding Officer: I call Pam Duncan-Glancy to speak to and move amendment S6M-16330.3.”
“There must be real action, which is why my amendment expresses concern over the rising level of violence in schools, which negatively impacts both attainment and wellbeing and calls on the Scottish Government to provide greater support for teachers and local authorities to tackle the issue.”
“Since I was elected, I have attended the young carers festival on many occasions, and heard at first hand what young carers would like. There is a blueprint, I think, to transform the options that are available to young carers that very much aligns with the work that is being undertaken through the Promise, as we have discussed with the responsible minister. I hope that the debate will see progress on that. The debate is welcome, but ministers have sidestepped the most pressing issue that teachers and pupils currently raise, which is violence and discipline.”
“I believe that there is a growing consensus across the Parliament that young people who live in deprived areas are more likely to play a caring and support role for a loved one. Children who live in families that have at least one disabled member are more likely to be in poverty than children in families with no disabled member, and research tells us that young carers are more common in families that have an unemployed adult or are on a low income. That is why, as we call for in our amendment, we want ministers to undertake a review of policies to improve the identification of and support for care experienced and young carer pupils in schools, ensuring that they receive the necessary assistance to succeed in education.”
“The cabinet secretary has mentioned several times her visits to schools, and I genuinely hope that she will make her next visit to Kirkintilloch high school to listen to those concerns and see how the Government’s relationships and behaviour in schools action plan will actually be delivered across all local authorities. We need that national leadership to make sure that the issue is addressed urgently. Many organisations that work with care- experienced young people and young carers have identified specific problems that they face in maintaining their learning, from acknowledging specific personal situations to identifying the holistic support that they require. That is why our amendment looks towards what we would like to happen.”
“That is why, for some time and especially following the pandemic, teachers have been expressing the fact that there have been behavioural changes. Bad behaviour from all pupils is brought into the classroom and there has been a lack of action to address that. Teachers at Kirkintilloch high school claim that pupils face “no consequences” for abusive or violent behaviour. Staff say that they have repeatedly raised concerns with management but have been “gaslit”, including by being told that their lessons were not exciting enough. From today, those teachers will refuse to cover classes and will not go on trips or support activities, although the action will stop short of a strike. Teachers and unions are losing confidence in the ability of ministers to provide leadership on this critical issue.”
“I would welcome a full debate in Government time on how ministers plan to address the situation in our classrooms. Martin Whitfield: I am grateful to Miles Briggs for taking my intervention. I do not disagree in any way, shape or form with his very eloquent description of the challenges that are being faced in our classrooms. However, I invite him consider whether those challenges relate only to the poverty that some children are suffering and growing up in, or whether there are other factors that play into the violence and the environment in schools, which perhaps extend beyond the remit of today’s debate. Miles Briggs: I absolutely agree. The issue transcends the debate and affects the whole pupil population.”
“That is why last week the Scottish Conservatives again brought forward a debate to demand action and why this week I am concerned to see that the issue is leading to teachers in East Dunbartonshire planning industrial action over the behaviour of pupils in the area. It is not the first time that school staff in Scotland have taken such a step; teachers at a school in Glasgow took strike action in 2022 over “violent and abusive” pupil behaviour. A 2024 survey of staff in Aberdeen found that many had experienced violence and more than a third had been physically assaulted. The Scottish Conservatives have brought forward debates on the issue and the Government has taken forward work on it, but it is the most pressing issue for teachers.”
“My colleague Roz McCall has consistently raised our concerns around early years and childcare provision, as it is clear that there remains significant disparity in provision across the country. That often risks deepening inequalities and limiting parental employment opportunities and has a long-term consequence for children’s development and educational outcomes. Many of the conversations that I have had with teachers and unions since taking up the role of shadow education secretary have focused on violence and disruptive behaviour in schools. They have also focused on the need for ministers to act and provide clear direction to restore discipline in schools, and to make sure that every classroom, wherever it might be in Scotland, is a safe learning environment for all pupils and teachers.”
“The Scottish Conservatives have acknowledged and welcomed some of the progress that has been made, and we have supported many of the policies that have been taken forward by ministers, from the child payment and free school meals to the development of after- school clubs, which is another area on which we would like to see more progress. I note the concerns from organisations that are disappointed that the pledge to provide universal free school meals for primary pupils has not been fulfilled to date. However, in the briefings, every organisation working on child poverty reduction measures and putting support in place has recognised that it is abundantly clear that we need to be able to see better delivery of more flexible childcare for parents so that they can access training opportunities or get into employment.”
“I welcome this debate, which is being held in Government time, and I will take the opportunity to do something that is unusual when debating education—I can see smiles from the Labour benches—and that is to thank the organisations that have provided helpful briefings ahead of the debate. We all agree that schools can help to play a crucial role in addressing child poverty. Although they cannot single-handedly solve child poverty, and should never be expected to, schools help to mitigate some of its impacts, to reduce household costs, to boost family incomes and to support children on lower incomes to learn, thrive and achieve their potential. Much of the Government motion relates to the social security budget.”
“A high number of military families have children in the independent school sector in Scotland. What discussions has the Scottish Government had on the impact of the UK Government’s introduction of VAT on school fees, and on this week’s news that the UK Government will also put VAT on school meals for those children? Graeme Dey: The member will be aware that although I have responsibility for veterans I do not have responsibility for schools. I will write to him with a detailed response. Mental Health Support in Schools 5.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the education secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding action to improve access to books for, and encourage reading by, children and young people. (S6O-04275)”
“To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the remit of the Scottish child abuse inquiry remains appropriate. (S6O-04241)”
“To date, SNP ministers have failed to put in place the measures that would allow teachers to act against those who are responsible for violence and threats in our schools. We need to acknowledge that, in recent years, the school environment has changed. We need clear national policies to be put in place to deliver for teachers and parents, and we need to ensure that we know what they can accept.”
“Above all, Scottish National Party ministers need to finally empower teachers to take action against disruptive pupils, knowing that ministers have their back. Yesterday, I heard a new term that teachers are using: “lappers”. Increasingly, pupils are turning up at school and simply walking around the school or running around the corridors. The situation in our schools will only get worse if we do not get a clear and robust response from ministers. We have called for that, and they said that they would deliver it, but we have not seen action. It is totally unacceptable that more and more pupils and teachers now fear—actually fear—going to school each day. We need an end to the acts of physical and verbal abuse against them.”
“That is why I call on ministers to set a clear national policy on what we should expect in every school—which, it is clear, is the direction that teachers want to see. That includes a ban on mobile phones in the classroom—full stop. It also includes a return to single-sex toilets and accessible toilets in all our schools, and the commissioning of a full independent review of the recording of data into incidents of attacks and violence against school staff. We want clear guidance and support for teachers. We need the restoration of a situation in which poor behaviour in our classrooms has consequences. The majority of our well-behaved pupils in Scotland cannot continue to have their education negatively impacted.”