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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“To return to the situation in Fife, the education director is clear that, having looked at what has happened in Edinburgh and Glasgow, and in the Borders, they see a significant improvement in performance in areas such as maths if the use is limited to an hour. I think that there are, again, questions about exactly how much these devices are used. They can also provide instant feedback and make sure that parents are able to see instantly how their child is performing at school with the portfolio system that is in place. All of that should be thoroughly investigated before we take any legislative steps to control the use of mobile phones. Pam Gosal: The member says that we should take our time, but the problems are happening right now and we need to act now.”
“Those are some of the group’s practical concerns, but it has a wider concern about the evidence that has been drawn on to justify the roll- out of these devices. I have pursued the matter with Fife Council on a number of occasions and it is quite firm that it believes that there are some significant advantages. However, that has to be countered with the experience of countries such as Sweden, which has decided to roll back the use of these devices and return to physical books, because there have been concerns about the impact on learning and performance in the Swedish education system. Equally, we have heard education leaders across the United Kingdom express such concerns.”
“Unplug.Scot is concerned, first and foremost, about parental consent, because parents are being encouraged—and almost coerced—into signing a form to say that their child can bring their digital device home. Parents have no choice about whether those devices will be used in the classroom, but they have an option to sign to bring them home. If they refuse to sign, they are warned that their child might lose out, with no justification as to how they are going to lose out or what other steps will be taken to make sure that they do not lose out. The group is concerned that there is no equality impact assessment on the roll-out of these devices, and it is not convinced about the robustness of the filters that are used on them or whether virtual private networks can be used to circumvent those devices, too.”
“Willie Rennie: We have looked at the issue of mobile phones, and I have been clear about the damaging effects that I think that they have in the classroom. However, we need to broaden the debate slightly. We see the roll-out of digital devices in the school environment, and there are big questions about whether children, and which age group, should be using those devices, and how they should do so. On Monday, I met with a group called Unplug.Scot, because in Fife there has been an accelerated roll-out of digital devices from primary 5 onward. The group is deeply concerned about a number of practical things; I will go through some of those first and then go on to the wider issues around the use of digital devices and mobile phones.”
“In following that fine contribution, I, too, pay tribute to Audrey Nicoll. I have always genuinely enjoyed listening to her contributions, especially given their precision. The lack of aggression in her contributions was commendable, and she has added considerably to the chamber over the past five years. I also pay tribute to Pam Gosal for leading this debate. We do not know whether any of us will be back in Parliament, but I welcome her contribution. Finally, I pay tribute to you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Your contribution has been notable, in particular in making the case, right up to the end of the session, for the Lochgelly health centre—it must get built, or I know that you will be on our backs. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Hear, hear.”
“The Deputy Presiding Officer: We move to the open debate. 16:25”
“My final point is about the exemption for hospital and medical visits, which has been raised in particular by my colleagues from the Highlands and Islands, where there are long distances that require overnight stays. People making such visits should be given exemptions. Every council that implements the levy should—because they will have the power to do so—give exemptions. I hope that the minister makes it clearer to local authorities that, although they have flexibility and they have the choice, they should provide the medical visit exemption. He should encourage them to do so. We will support the bill, because it is a good bill that improves the original one and because, although it will give local authorities the power to charge a levy, that does not mean that they have to use it.”
“I urge caution on local authorities in using the power. The economy is struggling, as we have all seen, and any additional cost—particularly in comparison with other parts of the world—can act as a disincentive. Act with caution. Secondly, if the powers are going to be used, make sure that the money that is accrued from the levy goes into tourism. I have heard scary stories about what some local authorities are planning to use that money for, and it does not sound like tourism to me. We need to ensure that the money is ring fenced for the direct benefit of the tourism sector, because we need to keep the confidence of that sector for the longer term if we are going to grow our relationship with it.”
“It will improve a piece of legislation that had a flaw: none of us in the chamber had identified the need to give local authorities the flexibility that they required to ensure that the levy, when applied, is easy to implement. We have now given local authorities that flexibility. However, just because local authorities have flexibility and power does not mean that they have to use it. It is not a compulsory power; they can choose to implement it or not. I urge them to consider carefully the wider economic circumstances that we now face. We are all having to consider that. Of course we would like more money for public services, but we all must consider the damage that can be done to important sectors by constantly ramping up tax—the message that it sends about our belief in the sector and wider sectors in the economy.”
“Marc Crothall from the Scottish Tourism Alliance, as well as Fiona Campbell from the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, are professional advocates for their sector, and their sector should be proud of what they do for it. They have managed to elevate the sector to an industry that is respected for its economic contribution, as well as for its contribution to good employment. The sector has been transformed in recent decades. It is now something that we can all be incredibly proud of, with great visitor attractions and high-standard accommodation and restaurants. The sector is a good one, which is due in part to the contribution and advocacy of Marc Crothall and Fiona Campbell. This is a good bill. It is not just a technical bill— it is more than that.”
“I commend Tim Eagle, who is having a gossip with Fergus Ewing at the back of the chamber, for resisting the temptation to add lots of bells and whistles to the bill. He was restrained. That was important because, when the minister came to us, he asked for an expedited process. He asked for our good will, because we knew that the parliamentary timetable was incredibly tight and that adding another bill into that mix could endanger other pieces of legislation. I commend all the members who took part—the committee members and the various spokespeople—for keeping it tight. Of course, there was a debate about some elements, including the medical exemptions, which I agree with and which I will return to later. We managed to get through the bill at speed, which is what the industry wanted. The industry has behaved incredibly professionally.”
“I do not have a lot of time left, but I recognise the anxiety of many unions across the board, which came together throughout the process to express concerns about workload and definitions. We need to consider their concerns, which we have reflected in the stage 3 amendments. This issue is part of a wider debate. This session of Parliament has been dominated by debates about behaviour, violence, ASN and absence, and restraint and seclusion are part of that mix. We need to consider everything in the round to ensure that our classrooms are a safe place to be, as well as a good place to have a great education. The Deputy Presiding Officer: We move to the open debate. 15:28”
“We need to think very carefully about that, because if we go down the route that the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland highlighted in her evidence to the Education, Children and Young People Committee, which would involve putting other areas on a statutory footing, that would introduce significant complication into our law. Elevating a very complex set of issues by putting them on the statute book is not a simple matter. We need to consider all that. I fully understand that, when particular cases are brought forward, they should be elevated to a higher status than that of others, because they are incredibly important. However, we need to look holistically at how we drive forward guidance and legislation to ensure that they are complete and are considered in the round.”
“The first phase was to develop guidance that involved the adoption of best practice, understanding what the young people experience and considering what the response from the educational establishment should be. The second phase was to bring that into law. The fact that there was a need to do so says something about how we view guidance. Often, guidance is produced, it sits on a shelf and it is ignored, along with all the other guidance that has been produced. If we feel the need, on every occasion, to put something into law, we need to consider carefully how we bring together guidance, because it is often viewed by professionals—not only in the education world but across every part of our public sector—as having a somewhat diminished status.”
“[Laughter.] Willie Rennie: That is what all hostages say, so we should express our concern about Daniel Johnson’s future. Beth Morrison’s campaign has been going on for 11 years, and anyone who is involved in politics knows that that is a long time. It is a tremendous commitment that has, I am told, involved her speaking to 3,000 families and bringing together people from across the country who have had similar experiences to hers. In a recent communication to us, she said: “The children aren’t naughty, they’re scared”. That offers a different perspective on how we should view restraint and seclusion. The campaign has involved two different phases.”
“I have met Beth Morrison on several occasions. I recall one particular occasion in the middle of winter in my office in Cupar. I said something that she disagreed with, and I was left in no doubt about the truth of the situation and how I needed to amend my views. Therefore, although I congratulate Daniel Johnson on introducing the bill, I know that, in reality, he did not really have any choice. Once Beth Morrison had made her mind up that a bill was required, it was going to happen and Daniel Johnson would just be a victim along the way. Daniel Johnson: Will the member take an intervention? Willie Rennie: Certainly. Daniel Johnson: Just to update Willie Rennie’s characterisation, it should be noted in the Official Report that I was a very willing victim.”
“We can carry on as we are, with services that are failing to meet demand and lives that are being limited and, sometimes, tragically lost, or we can draw on the amazing talents of these young people, and adults, who are amazingly resilient. They have been through so much that they could make a great contribution to our society. Those are the choices that we have. Do we want those with care experience to contribute and be great people, or do we want those lives to be limited and lost? That is why we cannot afford to fail. We absolutely must deliver the Promise. The Presiding Officer: We move to the open debate. 18:14”
“In the evidence that they gave in committee, they made it clear that they are stretched to breaking point, so if we load many more responsibilities on them, we should not be surprised if that puts the system under greater strain. The bill must be followed by the resources and the experienced people who will be needed to deliver it. Too often, I see a system that is run on a crisis basis and that is able to respond only when a child is in crisis. When a child is in crisis, it is almost too late—it is never too late, but it is almost too late— and we cannot afford to allow that to continue, because we cannot fail. When it comes to the future of these young people, we have two choices.”
“I am particularly pleased about the provisions in three important areas, which came about as a result of amendments: the provisions on places of safety, as an alternative to a police station; the provisions on family group decision making, on which I am grateful to Children First for its support and guidance; and the provisions on a register of premature deaths, in relation to which I am grateful to Duncan Dunlop. Although the provisions on that that we have included in the bill are not everything that he wanted, they are a step in the right direction. The Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill is a good bill, but we must heed the warning that we have been given. All the fine ambitions and good intentions will not matter a jot unless we deliver. COSLA and social workers gave us a stark warning.”
“We have been able to learn from them and, as a result, we have developed a commendable bill. I recommit myself and the Liberal Democrats to the Promise. It is important to say that—it is important for people to hear that we are not going cold on the Promise and that we will stay resolute to it. On its own, the bill will not deliver the Promise, but it will help on independent advocacy, the children’s hearings system, aftercare, the right to return, kinship and foster care.”
“I think that she came into her own during the pandemic. I know that I have probably tested her patience at times. At one point, she called me a “pathetic attention seeker”. I have three older sisters, and that was probably the only time that they have ever agreed with her. I compliment her on her time in Parliament and in Government, and I wish her well in the future. I thank the officials. It has been a difficult process, but they have been resilient throughout, and I have appreciated the advice that they have provided. I also thank the care-experienced community and all the various groups that have provided excellent support and guidance. They do not always agree with one another, but that is fantastic, because it gives a great feeling that a thousand flowers will bloom through the process.”
“Having responsibility for the Promise is probably the most difficult job in Government. It encapsulates everything that the Government does and it reaches every corner of its work. To be a junior minister in charge of that enormous responsibility was a gigantic task. I have seen the minister grow in strength and authority as the bill has progressed, and I think that she has become an outstanding minister. I know that she doubts herself, but she should not, because she has risen to the challenge and navigated a really difficult bill in such a way that it is now in decent shape. I thank her for that. The minister also had the former First Minister breathing down her neck throughout the process. I want to take the opportunity to pay tribute to Nicola Sturgeon for her commitment to the Promise.”
“There would be an understanding for businesses that, as part of a review in future, there could be consideration of whether a technological option would allow the payment to go to the local authority, which would reduce the administrative burden on our businesses across Scotland. In this day and age, businesses need as few restrictions and burdens as possible.”
“I will correct Tim Eagle: the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats also made representations to the minister about having flexibility on that. We were clear—I was at the meeting—that the desire was to have a tight and neat bill so that we could get it through in a tight parliamentary schedule. I am glad that that has been done and I am grateful to Tim Eagle for not adding bells and whistles to the bill. I hope that we can move forward, pass the bill and fix the problem. Tim Eagle: There is no doubt that we will fix the problem today. Willie Rennie is right that we all want the bill to be passed, because that is the right thing to do. However, there are little things that we could have added—the bells and whistles, as he says. Amendment 33 would be one of those bells and whistles.”
“We are trying to get a culture that is right, balanced and appropriate and that looks after young people, while providing a good educational environment and ruling out inappropriate restraint and seclusion. It is about ensuring that we have clear guidance on and understanding of what can and cannot be done. That is why it is important to have the appropriate consultation when we go through the processes in relation to the guidance. The trade unions also have a concern about the wide definition of seclusion. That is why it is important that we have consultation and engagement. In the stage 3 debate next week, I will come back to the issues of workload, resource and culture, which I have already referred to, but I will support the amendments in the group.”
“They believe that, in some cases, specialist equipment could be excluded from use and could be classed as an inappropriate restraint. Jenny Gilruth: This morning, I met the EIS and AHDS, as well as the other teaching trade unions, and I talked to some of their concerns in this area. It is the case that, through the statutory guidance that will be in place, there will require to be a level of consultation with the trade unions. I very much hope that the trade unions will engage with the Government in order to resolve some of their concerns, which Mr Rennie has rightly raised today. Willie Rennie: They would very much welcome that. This is an issue of culture in our schools, which has been evolving over time. We are adapting to high demand with regard to additional support needs and behaviours in schools.”
“I am a strong supporter of the bill. The amendments in this group are proportionate and balanced. We have to recognise that there is anxiety and concern among staff and unions, in particular the Community union, the Association of Headteachers and Deputes in Scotland, the Scottish Secondary Teachers Association, School Leaders Scotland and the Educational Institute of Scotland. They would have liked amendments to have been lodged at stages 2 and 3 in addition to the ones that have been lodged. I am speaking in the absence of some such amendments. In particular, the unions have concerns about the definitions. They believe that there is a degree of ambiguity in the definition of restraint and that it is subjective. They therefore have anxiety about how it will turn out in practice.”
“I appreciate that the cabinet secretary does not direct Scottish Water’s affairs, but I appeal to Scottish Water, through her, to review its decision to delay the sewerage upgrade scheme for Pittenweem in my constituency by two whole years. Pittenweem is already subject to flooding and to sewage being dumped into a very pretty part of the country. I urge Scottish Water to review its decision to delay. Can the cabinet secretary perhaps have a little word? Gillian Martin: Willie Rennie’s comments are now on the record, but I will pass that to my officials. I will write to Scottish Water and ask it about that particular instance.”
“That the Parliament agrees that, under Rule 12.3.3B of Standing Orders, the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee can meet, if necessary, at the same time as a meeting of the Parliament between 9.00 am and 1.00 pm on Tuesday 24 March 2026. That the Parliament agrees that, under Rule 12.3.3B of Standing Orders, the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee can meet, if necessary, at the same time as a meeting of the Parliament between 9.30 am and 1.00 pm on Tuesday 24 March 2026. That the Parliament agrees that, under Rule 12.3.3B of Standing Orders, the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee can meet, if necessary, at the same time as a meeting of the Parliament between 9.00 am and 12 noon on Tuesday 24 March 2026.—[Graeme Dey] The Presiding Officer: The question on the motions will be put at decision time.”
“The next item of business is consideration of seven Parliamentary Bureau motions. I ask the minister, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, to move motions S6M-21128 to S6M-21131, on approval of SSIs, and motions S6M-21132, S6M- 21134 and S6M-21135, on committee meeting times. Motions moved, That the Parliament agrees that the Scottish Landfill Tax (Standard Rate and Lower Rate) Order 2026 (SSI 2026/97) be approved. That the Parliament agrees that the Scottish Aggregates Tax (Miscellaneous Amendment) Regulations 2026 [draft] be approved. That the Parliament agrees that the Investigation and Commencement of Repair (Scotland) Regulations 2026 [draft] be approved. That the Parliament agrees that the Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Act 2025 (Consequential Provision) Regulations 2026 [draft] be approved.”
“They have been detained but not convicted, sentenced or found to have committed a criminal offence following an examination of the facts. Remand prisoners across the UK are able to vote, so the order provides for the voting rights for those who are subject to temporary compulsion orders to be the same as those for remand prisoners. The order is also temporary. It applies only to elections between 7 May 2026 and 28 February 2030. That will allow the arrangements to be consulted on by the next Government and revisited by the next Parliament. In the light of some recent ill-informed commentary, I must also stress that people are not excluded from participating in elections on the basis of mental capacity. I invite members to approve the order. The Presiding Officer: The question on the motion will be put at decision time.”
“Yes, all of that is fine, but what about compulsory voting? [Laughter.] Graeme Dey: Out of respect for my good friend John Mason, I will let that one slide. On a serious point, the order will mean that, if a person who has been detained on a mental health ground has been sentenced to 12 months or less or has received a mental health detention rather than a prison sentence, they will be able to vote if the maximum sentence or sentences possible would have amounted to 12 months or less. That is in line with the law that is in place for prisoners, and we envisage that about 20 people—20 people—might be impacted. One aspect relating to consistency with prisoner voting concerns people who are subject to temporary compulsion orders. They are in a similar position to a remand prisoner.”
“The First Minister has already indicated that it will be looked at. Many in the palliative care sector hold very deeply and powerfully to their independence when it comes to what they provide, so we need to bear that in mind when we look at the future funding of palliative care. I suspect that the issue will no doubt find its way into manifesto developments, but it will also be a key priority for the Parliament when it reconvenes in the next session.”
“As the former Deputy First Minister leaves the Parliament, I wish her well for the future and thank her for her public service over a couple of decades. Yesterday, the chamber was divided on Liam McArthur’s Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, but it was absolutely united on palliative care, and we need a step change in that area. What new information can the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government tell us today to show that the will of the Parliament is respected by this Government? Shona Robison: First, I thank Willie Rennie for his kind remarks, although his talking about a couple of decades made me feel rather old. Willie Rennie raises a very important point, and there is clearly a need for us to look at the funding for palliative care, because the Parliament was of one voice last night.”
“Richard Lochhead: I will ensure that I convey Willie Rennie’s comments to Mairi Gougeon, the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, who often discusses those issues with her UK counterparts. As a former fishing minister, I know very well how, over the years, the cost of fuel has fluctuated, which has caused particular challenges for Scotland’s fishing fleets. We continue to pay close attention to that. I associate myself with members’ comments about my colleague the Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes, given that this is her last question time session. I commend her contribution to public service and the Scottish Parliament. I will also be leaving the Parliament and will be joining her in post-politics life. I do not take any offence at Willie Rennie not mentioning that. Dumfries Town Centre (Support) 6.”
“I join other members in paying tribute to Kate Forbes as she leaves this Parliament. She was cheered on by Richard Leonard and the Conservatives, but there was silence from the Scottish National Party benches. I do not know whether that tells us anything. We are paying the price of the folly of Donald Trump’s decision to bomb Iran, and that was also cheered on by the Conservative Party. My concern, which I hope that the minister will take on board, is about the fishing industry, which is facing significant increases in bills for running fishing boats. I hope that those representations are made strongly when the minister speaks to the UK Government, because the sector is already under quite a lot of strain.”
“My question is: if we were not raising the money through the building safety levy, which part of the Scottish Government’s budget would he propose that we take it from? Willie Rennie: Liz Smith was right. The housing sector in Scotland is different, and the market is different. We have been starved of investment, so we need to act incredibly sensitively over the next period. I would have more sympathy for the Government’s position if it had powered on and used the £100 million sum of money that it received from the UK Government to tackle some of the cladding issues that the home owners are desperate to get resolved. The Cabinet Secretary for Housing (Màiri McAllan): Will the member take an intervention?”
“That has undermined the very bill that it is trying to pass. Surely the minister must understand that the sector sees the bill not in isolation but as part of a cumulative impact on the sector. The issues around the housing emergency, the home energy standards, accessibility, all the various taxes and regulations and the problems with planning come together to create that impact on the sector. The minister referred to that in his speech, but he seems to be blind to the impact that the bill is having on the sector. Ivan McKee: I know why Willie Rennie is going down the track that he is going down, but he knows very well that this is not something that is unique to Scotland—it is happening across the rest of the UK as well.”
“That contribution shows why tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of people across Scotland are delighted that Patrick Harvie is no longer a housing minister in this Government. He almost single-handedly starved Scotland of £3.4 billion of investment in housing. Everybody who wants a home should make sure that Patrick Harvie is never in government again. Of course we need to remember where this idea came from—the appalling tragedy at Grenfell—but we also need to remember the anxiety that residents who are trapped in properties surrounded by dangerous cladding now feel. They feel incredibly anxious. I know many of them, and that is why I feel particularly strongly that this Government has put us in a bind by introducing a bill that was so flawed that it has had to introduce extensive exemptions for numerous sectors.”
“I am pleased, however, that the General Dental Council has expanded its opportunities for dentists from overseas to sit exams, which I hope will improve the circumstances in Fife on which Mr Rennie has commented. Cost of Living (Support for Families) 2.”
“The Scottish National Party Government cannot blame anybody but itself for the problem, which has been a long time coming. The Cupar dentist, in my constituency, has been on emergency service only for a year—and the problems go back way before that. When can my constituents expect a full-time dentistry service in Cupar? Jenni Minto: As Willie Rennie will recognise, NHS Fife works very closely with dentists across Fife. Over the past three years I have been making changes to dentistry to allow for an improvement and an increased workforce. I would point out, very quietly, that the decision made under Brexit has impacted on a number of areas, with fewer dentists from overseas coming to Scotland.”
“The drivers in this plan are very similar to those in the previous plan, and that is because stakeholders have told us that those are the right areas to focus on. I welcome Mr Rennie’s comments on the Wise Group funding and on RISE, which is a very good example of the college sector coming forward with a proactive suggestion that is to do not only with skills but with childcare and transport. That is the way in which the plan has been developed, and that is the way in which the Government and ministers have worked together with others to tackle barriers in order to make the most of employability efforts and the most of our college sector. I hope that, when Mr Rennie has more time to go through and reflect on the plan, he will see more examples of that.”
“The cabinet secretary should have admitted that the Government has failed to meet its target on the poverty-related attainment gap and has also failed to meet the interim target on child poverty. However, I welcome the Wise Group’s relational mentoring service, work on the ready for industry, success and excellence—RISE—programme in colleges and the new flexible workforce development fund. Are those developments an indication of a new direction of travel for Government policy on tackling child poverty, with a focus on work and employment? Shirley-Anne Somerville: That focus has always been there, as is demonstrated by the fact that previous plans have also looked at the root causes of poverty and how to tackle them.”
“These are important matters that we can work collectively on with the college sector and the SFC with a view to making a significant positive difference.”
“Ben Macpherson: I fully agree that there is a significant opportunity to pivot from a sense of challenge and pressure to a sense of optimism and collective determination. Indeed, there is real ambition across the chamber, the sector and the SFC to pivot to that collective, positive and proactive mindset. However, we do need to think the matter through carefully and consider the fiscal framework and the effects on the Scottish Government’s borrowing capacity. Of course, if we had more capacity to borrow, that would be beneficial, but I do not want to get into a constitutional debate. We have an opportunity, which the Government is open-minded about exploring, along with the other considerations that we will undertake.”
“There is an opportunity here. With the £70 million upgrade agreed in the budget, plus the agreement to review the credit system, and the agreement that we have with the colleges on a review of the overall arrangements, we have a real opportunity to inject more optimism into the sector—optimism that it desperately needs. I support Douglas Ross on this issue: we need to allow colleges to keep their surpluses and to borrow, and I urge the minister to consider that in the last few weeks of this parliamentary session. I also hope that, in the next parliamentary session— if more of us come back—we will be able to come forward with a positive plan for colleges, because we desperately need them to thrive.”
“Bus services in North East Fife are constantly being chopped and changed, leaving people stranded who are desperate to get to work and secure their employment. Why has it taken since 2019 to utilise the regulatory powers that the minister has just set out? When are we going to get a move on and implement those powers? Jim Fairlie: The powers are there for local authorities to use as they see fit. All the powers have been delivered. Whether through franchising or local partnership, the powers are there for local authorities, and it is up to them to decide the best system to use in their area. Energy Project Objections 6.”
“I encourage the cabinet secretary to investigate the work of the charity ELibraries for Schools, which is working to create a national children’s digital library. The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills is familiar with its work, and I encourage the culture secretary to facilitate a discussion between councils, trusts and the charity to see what can be done together to improve the service. Angus Robertson: That is a helpful intervention. The key operative intervention is with the Scottish Library and Information Council, which does a lot of the co-ordination work across library provision in Scotland. I have taken a note of Mr Rennie’s point, and I will raise it. I will be happy to report back to Mr Rennie.”
“The Deputy Presiding Officer: They will be able to do so only if you move the motion, Mr Rennie. Willie Rennie: I move, That the Parliament notes that since 2016, the Scottish Government’s key commitments and targets on education have either been missed or abandoned; further notes that these include free laptops for all pupils, free school meals for all pupils up to P7, 3,500 more teachers, reduced class contact time for teachers and the closing of the poverty- related educational attainment gap by 2026; believes that abandoning or missing these important targets and commitments has had a real impact on pupils, teachers and parents; further believes that the Scottish Government has let Scottish education down with rising levels of classroom violence, a lack of additional support for pupils and record numbers of recently qualified teachers leaving the profession; notes that teachers are once again considering industrial action, and asserts that Scotland and Scottish education deserve better.”
“There will be a debate in the run-up to the election—which I hope will be a positive one— about behaviour, additional support needs, parity of esteem between vocational and academic qualifications, and the need to improve knowledge in the curriculum and tackle workload. I hope that we will have a positive debate on all those issues, as we have had at various hustings with various educational audiences. However, today’s debate is about judging, because we were asked to judge Nicola Sturgeon on her record on education. Everyone in the Parliament, regardless of which party they are in, must recognise that Nicola Sturgeon and the Scottish Government have failed to deliver on the promise to substantially eliminate the poverty- related attainment gap. Every member should vote for our motion today, because that is exactly what has happened.”