Willie Rennie
Scottish Liberal Democrats · Scotland
“Daniel Johnson’s remarks were powerful, and he identified an issue that is sometimes uncomfortable and that we need to address. The country faces difficult issues, and we do ourselves no favours by ignoring those issues. Some of the points that Daniel Johnson made about immigration were right, and we need to discuss them.”
“Again, Daniel Johnson highlighted that when he talked about comments on “fighting- age men”, “strangers” and “two-tier policing”. We know what those terms mean and what they are appealing to. Thomas Kerr: Will the member take an intervention? Willie Rennie: Yes, I will take an intervention from Mr Charmer himself.”
“I understand that a German company will now use the Dalzell plant as a jobbing mill, importing 4,000 tonnes of slab from a foreign supplier outside the UK instead of purchasing that slab from Scunthorpe. All that raises serious questions about an important part of the steel industry in Scotland.”
“It is important for the UK Government that there is learning from the process and that the circumstances of our Parliament—for example, when we re-form following an election—are not an afterthought in relation to the UK Government’s formulation of its approach to legislation and when it decides to introduce it.”
“So far, the Scottish Government has not been formally asked to provide support, but I advise the member and the chamber that the issue was part of my discussions with the UK Government minister yesterday. The legislation extends to Scotland, and the steel undertaking would capture the site.”
“Will that be repaid, and at what point? When will we have a proper functioning mill—the only wide-plate mill in the United Kingdom—at Dalzell? When will it have a constructive relationship with the Scunthorpe plant? All those issues should be at the front of the Government’s mind, but, as usual, it is not paying attention.”
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“That is exactly what this budget is about— delivering for and improving the lives of the people of Scotland. I want to remind Parliament of what the 2025-26 Scottish budget is delivering for Scotland. We believe that tackling poverty is an investment in the future of this country, and that is why eradicating child poverty is this Government’s number 1 priority. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s “UK Poverty 2025” report is clear that only in Scotland is the rate of child poverty set to fall by 2029. That is a great achievement that bucks the trend across the UK and it is thanks in part to measures such as our Scottish child payment. However, we are in no doubt that there is still much more to do. That is why, through this budget, we are developing the systems necessary to effectively scrap the impact of the two-child cap in 2026.”
“In line with our tax strategy, for the remainder of this session of Parliament, we will provide certainty for our largest source of tax revenue and will not introduce any new bands or increase the rates of Scottish income tax. We will also maintain our commitment that, in 2025-26 and until the end of this session of Parliament, more than half of taxpayers will pay less income tax in Scotland than they would pay in the rest of UK. The Scottish Fiscal Commission estimates that our choices on income tax since devolution will raise up to an additional £1.7 billion in 2025-26 compared with what the position would have been had we matched our policy to that in the rest of the UK. Thanks to the tax and social security decisions that we have taken, 60 per cent of Scots will be better off because they live in Scotland.”
“This is an important issue that formed part of our discussions during the budget negotiations. If the UK Government is more generous, will the cabinet secretary be prepared to increase the amount that is available for local government? Shona Robison: I can certainly give that commitment to Willie Rennie. In the meantime, I want to give some certainty around planning assumptions. Of course, the more money that we get from the UK Treasury for employer national insurance contributions, the more that I will distribute on a fair basis. Looking ahead, our tax policy decisions in this budget continue to deliver our progressive approach in Scotland while raising substantial revenues to support the delivery of our public services. We are asking those with the broadest shoulders to contribute more.”
“We need to work with local authorities to solve them, and the new assurance group gives us an opportunity to do that. Reading and Access to Books (Children and Young People) 2.”
“Every year, we undertake consultation in partnership with key stakeholders—including universities, as I mentioned—through the teacher workforce planning advisory group. I talked about the reduction in intake measures in recent years. I am currently considering advice on that. However, it is hugely important that we work with local authorities on areas where there are gaps. I remind Willie Rennie of a point that I have made in the chamber previously. Since the pandemic, we have seen far fewer teachers opting to tick the preference waiver payment box, which incentivises teachers to go anywhere in the country by giving them an up-front payment of £8,000. Fewer teachers are opting to move around the country—that creates challenges. Such challenges exist not only in education but in health and other parts of our public services.”
“The workforce planning has been dreadful for years, and the result is that there are thousands of teachers out there who just cannot get permanent work. Sometimes they are waiting on short-term contracts for up to seven years. When will the Government get on top of workforce planning to ensure that the current situation is not repeated, so that we get the right teachers in the right places? There are some places that have shortages in key subjects. When will we get the balance and the workforce planning right? Jenny Gilruth: I do not necessarily agree with Mr Rennie’s assertions about workforce planning. It is not the responsibility only of the Government, but of local authorities.”
“I gave extensive evidence to the Criminal Justice Committee at the start of this year, along with our psychiatric clinical lead colleague from Mr Gray’s health portfolio. I am happy to write to Mr Rennie with further detail, as a wealth of activity is taking place, which changes the support that is received by individuals while recognising that the job of a police officer is to be a police officer. Of course officers have duties of care, but it is not acceptable for police officers to be spending extensive time at accident and emergency departments. HMP Barlinnie (Replacement) 6.”
“Too often, the police have to step in where other public services are not able to provide support: either they are failing or they do not have the capacity. That is particularly the case with mental health services, and police officers can be tied up for hours supporting an individual who is going through a crisis. What particular support is the justice secretary making available through Police Scotland to ensure that services are there for people when they need them and that the police can be free to do their job? Angela Constance: I very much agree with the point that staff such as police in public protection roles often have to deal with issues that could have been resolved further upstream. A wealth of work has been undertaken, particularly the partnership work led by the partnership delivery group.”
“I still believe that the biggest challenges that we face in public services are sustainability, demand and the looming issue of national insurance contributions. We need a change there, and I hope that some Labour colleagues recognise the issues and will make representations to their colleagues at Westminster. We recognise the importance of the public service reform programme in driving future financial sustainability. Transforming how our services are designed and delivered is key to ensuring that they remain effective, efficient and responsive to the needs of Scotland’s people, with the capacity to react and flex to any challenges that may arise. 16:50”
“We have increased tax on the purchase of second or holiday homes; we are moving forward with proposals for a cruise ship levy, the consultation on which will be launched in February; and progress is on-going to give councils more direct power through our consultation on devolving parking fines to local authorities. Well-funded public services are the bedrock of our society, as Stuart McMillan said. Our amendment also mentions the Government’s trial of the four-day working week that was piloted by South of Scotland Enterprise and which demonstrated promising outcomes in terms of productivity, employee wellbeing and job satisfaction. We reiterate our calls to the Government to build on that trial, to support a better work-life balance and to position Scotland as a leader in progressive and innovative workforce policies.”
“Across the chamber, we all know and agree that children cannot learn properly when they are hungry. That roll-out of free school meals is an important step towards the Scottish Greens’ goal of universal free school meals. We have also secured a year-long regional trial for bus fares to be capped at £2, because we know that the cost of public transport is too high. That builds on our work in previous budgets to give everyone under the age of 22 free bus travel. As the climate is being put higher and higher up the agenda by many, we have worked to deliver record funding for major restoration and our environment. Those green projects are creating well-paid jobs in communities across the country, but in rural areas in particular.”
“Sue Webber mentioned potholes, which are a serious issue. The way that council roads departments are funded is pretty wild, in my opinion. They have to keep back some funding in case of a poor winter, but, if the winter is mild and that funding is not all used, we see a load of potholes getting fixed at this time of year—before the end of the financial year. Climate change and the quality of the surfacing that we are using are major issues; multiyear funding for local authorities would absolutely help with some of the issues. That was a very random piece of knowledge about road surfaces, I note. Not to allow the Lib Dems alone to have their way on their budget wins, I want to cover the Green impact on this year’s budget. We have secured the roll-out of free school meals for up to an additional 15,000 pupils.”
“Karen Adam is entirely correct that libraries are not just about books and that, although literacy is hugely important, their wider social and health benefits for communities, including, in my region, baby and toddler groups, knitting groups and anti-loneliness initiatives, are hugely important. I encourage others to speak in the members’ business debate on libraries next week. However, the issue highlights the fragility of services and the urgent need for real conversation about how we make those services sustainable for the long term. Although I do not have any library closures in my region, sport and community venues are being impacted. Some will be transferred to local groups, and, although we should empower communities wherever we can, in some places we are passing on to local groups the burden of a backlog in building maintenance.”
“We see many measures that will make staff’s lives, or jobs easier as well—I am demonstrating the pitfalls of writing notes and scribbling things down as I go. The roll-out of a health service app is long overdue. Many of the digital advancements that we have spoken about could revolutionise how the public interact with the NHS and how care can be delivered. Although many of the things that the First Minister announced yesterday are welcome, we need fundamental reform across the NHS to improve care and the experience of staff, which is hugely important. Karen Adam mentioned library closures in her constituency. My Green colleague Mark Ruskell has been working with local people on a campaign on library closures in Perth and Kinross.”
“If we have learned nothing else through the whole process, we know that we need to centre the voice of lived experience. If it is possible to get someone with lived experience as the chair of the expert panel, it is essential that we do so and that they are supported to ensure that they can be in the role for a long time. For that reason, I do not agree with Sandesh Gulhane that the money has been completely wasted. He conveniently forgot to mention the massive impact that years of Tory austerity, Brexit and the Tories’ disastrous fiscal policies have had on public services up and down the country. I welcome the measures that the cabinet secretary outlined for the hospital at home and rapid access for frailty systems and for ensuring that people can see a GP more easily.”
“Kevin Stewart is absolutely correct that we have spent far too much money on tackling crisis in social care. We must ensure that social care reform continues and that, despite what has happened with the national care service, it is not simply put in the “too hard to do” category. I also agree that we must ensure that the lived experience testimony and the work in that regard are not lost, so I was grateful to the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport for outlining how some of that will be retained. Kevin Stewart: I know that Ms Mackay shares my passion for listening to the voices of lived experience. Does she agree that the chair of the expert panel should be someone with lived experience? Gillian Mackay: Yes, absolutely.”
“I want to invest in order to create jobs and opportunities for the longer term, particularly for the communities that see wind farms from their houses but do not see direct benefits for themselves. I want that to change. I hope that the infrastructure investment plan, which will be discussed soon, will result in greater priority for special schools—such as Kilmaron school in Cupar—the Gilbert Bain hospital in Shetland and the Newburgh train station. Those are just some of the things that we have debated and discussed in the budget negotiations. I hope that members can see the real benefit of properly engaging in that process to make a difference to people’s lives. 16:44 Gillian Mackay: This has been a lively and diverse debate. I will start by reflecting on a few of the contributions to it.”
“There will be additional support for offshore wind skills through colleges, and we will have more skilled staff in the social care sector, which continues to be in crisis. That will be a big boost. On employer national insurance contributions, more compensation will come from the UK Government for local authorities. I will mention another area that is incredibly important. We have additional income from the offshore wind ScotWind round, and we will have additional resources from community benefits from other energy projects, particularly in the Highlands and Islands. I want those revenues to be invested in the economy instead of being used for day-to- day spending, no matter how valid that spending might be.”
“We have now agreed additional items, including those relating to the college costs for young people with additional and complex needs. There is a review under way on the provision of that service, but additional resources will be provided for the next two years to deliver some of the things that Pam Duncan- Glancy talked about in relation to her Disabled Children and Young People (Transitions to Adulthood) (Scotland) Bill. The bill did not make progress in the Parliament, but those things are still desperately needed. I hope that that will be one of many services across the country that will be developed over the next few years to give those young people the same chances that everyone else has.”
“We have been debating end-of-life care for some time, and the hospices told us bluntly, as Bob Doris highlighted, how desperate they were for additional resources in order to continue to provide services, especially with the increase in employer national insurance contributions that is coming down the track. We have secured an extra £5 million for them, which should make a real difference. My colleague Alex Cole-Hamilton has been talking a lot about long Covid clinics, because there are people whose lives have been devastated, who have failed to recover from the pandemic and who are still living with the effects to this day. We will now have dedicated clinics for the first time in Scotland. That was all agreed in the draft budget, which was published before Christmas.”
“How many times have we heard from constituents who are frustrated that they cannot see a dentist to get the essential dental treatment that they want, or from those who are waiting to see a GP and have had to make phone calls in the morning to try to get an appointment? We have heard from the people of Fort William, who have been desperate for a new Belford hospital, and from people in Edinburgh who have to go to St John’s hospital or Haddington to get their eyes treated, who are in desperate need of the eye pavilion. We have secured funding for all those things in the budget. We know that there is a housing emergency— we have debated that in the chamber. The fact that funding has been restored for the social capital budget is helpful, too.”
“If members have ever been to the Faroes, they will have seen a series of interconnected tunnels that have brought economic growth to those islands in a way that nobody would ever have imagined. That has been done through fixed links and tunnels, which have boosted the economy and created great opportunities for the people who live there. I want that for Shetland, and the budget will start the process of securing the fixed links that my colleague Beatrice Wishart talks about endlessly. We also want improvements to communications between the islands in Orkney, and those have also been secured in the budget.”
“There was complete silence, on the other hand, when Alex Cole-Hamilton was speaking about the provisions that we have managed to secure for those babies who are addicted when they are born. No one could criticise that contribution, or that change, because it means something to thousands of babies across the country, and it will ease their transition into this world. Sometimes, when we are debating politics—we all play politics—we should remember that it looks incredibly small in comparison with the situation of babies like that, who are born into this world in very challenging circumstances. I ask members to forgive me, therefore, for saying a bit more about some of the measures like that that we have secured in the budget process.”
“It was quite unnerving earlier, when Alex Cole-Hamilton sat down, to see that it was not only me who was applauding his contribution; there were some SNP members applauding, too. Sometimes, even I do not applaud his speech. It was also quite difficult to hear Bob Doris being nice to us—and, even more so, to hear Kevin Stewart paying us a compliment— Kevin Stewart: Come on—I am always nice to you. Willie Rennie: He is always complimenting us. I am afraid to disappoint those members: we are not suddenly the SNP’s best buddies, and we will remain its biggest critics in the Parliament on occasions. However, as Alex Cole-Hamilton said earlier, sometimes in the Parliament, in order to get things done, we just have to sit down and talk, and that is exactly what we have done through the budget process.”
“I recognise that some of the challenges that Mr Rennie has alluded to are multifaceted, but the important thing is that our children are engaged in their education and are back in school. That has been difficult for young people, particularly post- pandemic, and, as I said in my response to Mr Fraser, particularly for young people who went through the transition from primary into secondary and from broad general education into the senior phase during lockdown. We need to be cognisant of that in the support that we are providing. The Presiding Officer: That concludes topical question time. Storm Éowyn”
“Attending school is hugely important for the broader picture of improving attainment post- pandemic and trying to improve children’s health and wellbeing. That being said, families across Scotland are facing a number of different challenges. We need to be cognisant of that and support them in the best ways that we are able to. My view is that headteachers are currently doing that using a variety of methods. We have talked about PEF and how that is making a difference in our schools, and I know that headteachers are also engaged in a range of different measures. For example, across Fife—in Mr Rennie’s own area—the virtual school head teachers programme has been active online in helping some young people to come back to school post-pandemic.”
“Unauthorised absences are a widespread problem; it is not just a small group of young people who are persistently absent. We know that some families are finding it difficult to pay for holidays in peak periods, so they are taking their children out of school at other times of the year. What message does the cabinet secretary have for them and for the holiday companies that seek to exploit peak periods? Jenny Gilruth: The member raises a very topical matter in relation to parents choosing to take holidays during the school term. As a former teacher, I would not, of course, support that course of action. There are legal obligations on parents and carers to send their children to school during the school term, and that is for good reason.”
“The Crown Office is dealing with 14,000 to 15,000 cases per annum; it regularly publishes performance statistics in and around that, and there is an improving trajectory. Where we all share a sense of frustration is around mandatory fatal accident inquiries that relate to people in custody who die while in our care.”
“I hope that we all share a sense of anger and that, going forward, we can hang on to it. The question whether the responsibility for fatal accident inquiries should be removed from the Crown Office has not been at the forefront of my mind; my focus is on what I can do in the short and medium term, in the remaining time in this parliamentary session, to deliver for families. I am very focused on deaths in custody and fatal accident inquiries in relation to deaths in custody and on seeing those timespans become much shorter. I know that there has been an increase in the resource invested in the Crown Office—with good reason, because of the demand on its role in independently investigating deaths.”
“The decisions that we take in this Parliament matter, and that could hardly be more striking than it is today. It is very emotive to see the families here today—I am sure that we all feel for them. I have been frustrated and, frankly, annoyed that, for years, fatal accident inquiries have taken so long to begin. First, will the cabinet secretary consider removing the responsibility for fatal accident inquiries from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and ring fence the responsibility in a separate organisation? Secondly, can the cabinet secretary explain why it took almost three years for the prison suicide prevention strategy not to be renewed? It has taken all that time, when it was essential for it be renewed. Angela Constance: I have often heard Mr Rennie articulate his annoyance and frustration.”
“It is up to local authorities to decide whether to designate the whole authority or, as you suggested Mr Rennie, to apply it to much tighter areas, such as those you mentioned in your question. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Please speak always through the chair, minister. Social Security Access (Motherwell and Wishaw) 6.”
“Rachael Hamilton it is right to say that we should value the sector, especially in areas such as the Scottish Borders, but balance is important. We must ensure that there are sufficient homes for workers to be able to service the industry in order to keep it thriving. Does the minister think that control areas—which I support, although I do not support licensing—were designed with the east neuk and St Andrews in mind when the scheme was being put together? Paul McLennan: Mr Rennie makes an important point. Short-term let control areas were brought in separately to the licensing scheme and allow planning authorities to consider the impacts on the amenity and character of areas with high concentrations of short-term let accommodation.”
“I want to make sure that, if there is just 15 minutes in school being provided, the rest of the pupil’s week is populated with support and action, and that they move back to the school in a transitional way. That is important. 15:17”
“My final point is on an issue that was raised in the Education, Children and Young People Committee last week—part-time timetables for certain pupils. We heard that some pupils are getting timetables of as little as 15 minutes a week. Sometimes, that is because it is in the interests of the pupil, and that is fine. I get the impression that their getting 15 minutes in school is sometimes done only in the interests of the school. On other occasions, it is 15 minutes because that ticks a box when it comes to keeping the Promise, in that we should not have care- experienced young people being excluded from school. The experiences will vary from pupil to pupil and from school to school, but people attending the committee last week gave us clear evidence that, on many occasions, part-time timetabling is not being appropriately implemented.”
“I hear of too many occasions on which the teachers do not bother a second time, because they do not get the necessary support when they are challenged. I will move on to mobile phones. The evidence for a ban on phones in schools is pretty convincing. They are contributing to disorder and disruption in the class, and they are misused on many occasions. Once we are confident that learning and safety will not suffer—those are two important aspects—we should move towards a nationwide ban. If the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills needs that power, we should give her that power. Although it is fair that she has given the power to headteachers, that is clearly not enough, because they need to have the support from the centre to deliver something that, in many cases, will be quite controversial.”
“Just because we understand the causes of the violence, that does not make it any more acceptable. There must be consequences for that behaviour, because endless understanding without consequences, support and action does not help the perpetrator, let alone the victim, of that behaviour. Often, I get the impression that some people make excuses for those who engage in violence rather than taking the necessary action and providing support. My second observation is that teachers need to be empowered, supported and respected. When they are unreasonably challenged by parents, they must have the support of their management. Questioning by management of teachers and circumstances is fair—it is the right thing to do— but management must have the backs of teachers in issues of behaviour in the class.”
“It is too early to judge whether the Scottish Government’s action plan is working, as we have not even got through the first phase of the plan. However, I have not seen any evidence that the action plan is making a practical difference on the ground, so far. I continue to receive reports from parents who are frustrated, angry and feel powerless; from pupils whose education is disrupted; and from teachers who are really frustrated about the lack of support. We must start to see action in this area, or people will lose confidence in the plan’s ability to deliver. I will make some observations. As a liberal, I always want to understand the root causes of any behaviour and to provide support to address those causes. That is why I am a liberal. I want to be clear about this.”
“The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland was very critical of the facilities at Stratheden hospital in Fife, which Alex Rowley has just mentioned. The facilities there are overcrowded, cramped and outdated, and there is a lack of privacy and a lack of access to recreational and therapeutic activities. When will the money be forthcoming to build a new facility? Neil Gray: I thank Willie Rennie for setting out the situation. I accept some of what he has said. I say to Willie Rennie what I said to Alex Rowley: we will provide an assessment, based on the UK Government’s recent budget, as well as the spending review, to enable us to determine what capital programme we can bring forward. Neurodivergent Children and Young People (Support) 8.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding what funding will be available in the next financial year to support farmers to address water management issues impacting on agricultural land. (S6O-04222)”
“Willie Rennie will be well aware that that technology is moving very fast, but we are very focused on making sure that the Government and wider public services avail themselves of the advantages to efficient public service delivery that digital technologies and AI can offer. Local Government Finance 5.”
“Audit Scotland’s report was very critical of the failure to lead and invest in digital for the longer term. That is certainly the view of James Blackwood, the artificial intelligence lead at NHS Forth Valley, who has said that patients are missing out on advances in artificial intelligence. Why is the Government failing to lead in that important area? Ivan McKee: The Government is very focused on that. Only this morning, I had a call to engage with our digital directorate on the work that is being taken forward in Government and across the wider public sector to roll out digital solutions and to ensure that we make increasing use of artificial intelligence.”
“Liberty Steel, which is owned by Sanjeev Gupta, has failed to submit audited accounts for the past four years. Given her discussions with Scottish Enterprise, is the cabinet secretary aware of whether that company has breached the loan agreement with the Scottish Government? Kate Forbes: I am happy to ask one of my colleagues to pick that up. I am, rightly, entirely and completely recused from the issue because of the constituency interest that I hold in it. I will ask a colleague to pick the matter up with the member. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I apologise to those members whom I could not call to ask supplementaries. Contact Scotland BSL 3.”
“We know that there have been such issues, particularly post-pandemic. The Government’s research, which was published in late 2023, showed that there has been an increase in misogynistic behaviour, particularly from male pupils, which is often directed at their female teachers. It is hugely important that those issues are addressed. I have asked for further advice, and I would be more than happy to share some of that with Mr Rennie. It is important that all schools are aware of the different approaches that are at their disposal, either through the equally safe work or through the gender-based violence framework. Physical Literacy 5.”
“I am concerned about the level of violence and harassment against girls at school, but I am also concerned about the low take-up of the equally safe programme. Take-up was supposed to be up at around half of all schools by 2020, but it is at only a third of all schools. What is the cabinet secretary doing to improve the uptake of that programme so that we can tackle violence against girls? Jenny Gilruth: The member raises an important point, which was reported in the national press over the recess. I share his concerns, and I have asked officials for further advice. The equally safe strategy works alongside the gender-based violence framework, which was launched last March. It is important that those complementary pieces of work act in tandem to tackle issues relating to misogyny.”
“They are scared that somebody who requires to be deprived of their liberty would not be, perhaps because of more people being in secure care on offence grounds. As I have said, however, there are regular conversations between the Government, partners and heads of secure care to ensure that a situation such as that does not happen. I am positive that, if there were any moves or discussions around that, I would hear about it, and that is absolutely not the case. The interests of the child are absolutely at the heart of everything that we are doing, and I would be very disappointed if that was not the case.”
“I want to press the minister further on Martin Whitfield’s point. There is anxiety that those who might need a secure place on care or welfare grounds might be denied that place because of insufficient capacity. What independent processes are there, perhaps involving the Care Inspectorate, to ensure that we have a proper assessment of all the individual cases and that there is capacity for those who need it? Natalie Don-Innes: We have our secure care pathways and standards, which relate to what a child or young person should expect before, during or after they are in secure care. If somebody is there on welfare grounds, that would be relevant to them. I understand what Mr Rennie and Mr Whitfield are saying.”
“That is the way that we need to deal with the issue in the longer term, for future generations, and I am pleased that the First Minister’s door is open so that we can have those discussions. The Deputy Presiding Officer: We move to the open debate. I advise members, for their information, that speeches from back-bench members should be up to six minutes, except for SNP back benchers, who will be able to speak for up for four minutes. I advise members that there is no time in hand. I advise the First Minister that that was decided with the agreement of the party’s business manager and the Presiding Officer—a point of clarification that will, I am sure, be of interest to all members in the chamber. 15:50”
“Why is that? Why have we got that gap and what are we going to do to close it? On building more homes, the previous Government policy—although there is an indication that the Government is changing that policy—contributed to the emergency housing situation that we have now. I am pleased that we are seeing some signs of change in that so that we can get more warm homes for those children to make sure that they are living in better conditions. My final point is about my intervention earlier. My party and I have a lot more ideas about things to include in the budget to deal with many of these fundamental issues. The routes out of poverty lie in the foundations of the economy, the health service and the education service.”
“Take nursery education for two-year-olds, which is something that I used to plague the former First Minister, Alex Salmond, about repeatedly—almost weekly. The take-up of that opportunity is minuscule. We know that there are variations between one local authority and another but we are nowhere near getting it up to the levels that they have got to in England. Why is that? I believe that education is a route out of poverty, particularly for two-year-olds, before habits can be formed, when we can give them a good education to lift them up for the future. We need to make sure that the take-up rate increases. I am running out of time. On the topic of health, mental health and physical health issues prevent people from getting back to work. The level of economic inactivity in Scotland is way too high— much higher than it is in England.”
“I will talk about some of those issues, because it is important to air them. My concern is that the Government seems to think that it has made progress on the poverty- related attainment gap, but, when I look at the figures, they have broadly flatlined. There is some improvement at primary level; at secondary level, it is broadly the same as before. The Government is nowhere near closing the gap by 2026— nowhere near it—and we have to accept that. I know that the Government will argue that the target was to substantially close the gap rather than completely close it, but we are nowhere near meeting the clear ambition to close the poverty- related attainment gap that Nicola Sturgeon set out. Before, education was the centrepiece of the Government agenda. We need to accept that it has slipped and the Government needs to refocus.”