Ben Macpherson
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“It would be helpful to understand from the member’s supplementary question what he means by degrees that “offer limited value”, so that we can understand the point that he is trying to make. Thomas Kerr: I will get a list over to the minister. I am always happy to educate the education front bench about pointless degrees.”
“I am sure that, collectively, we all want to congratulate the 2024-25 school leavers, 93.5 per cent of whom were in a positive destination nine months after leaving school. We will also, I am sure, want to recognise together the dedication of the practitioners who supported them to achieve that.”
“Can he guarantee that every pound that has been allocated to apprenticeships is being spent on apprenticeship training, rather than elsewhere in the education budget?”
“This year, building on previous work and initiatives, the Scottish Government has introduced a new Government-led skills planning model—which has been developed in close partnership with stakeholders, including those in industry—to ensure that our post-school education and skills system becomes even more responsive to Scotland’s strategic…”
“We want to support all our young people to choose a pathway that suits their strengths and enables them to fulfil their potential to the greatest extent, developing their skills and critical thinking. Our all-age careers support, delivered by Skills Development Scotland and other partners, promotes every pathway to our young people.”
“Ben Macpherson: Daniel Johnson knows that I like to be constructive in my dialogue in the chamber, but I must gently point out that one of the key problems that those in industry have emphasised to me is the impact of the national insurance increase, as well as other pressures and costs that have affected the number of apprenticeship star…”
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“The Government has engaged through headteacher round tables—for example, at Castlemilk high school—as well as with area leads for Developing the Young Workforce. If Zen Ghani would like any support from the Government to connect with Skills Development Scotland, the Scottish Funding Council or other stakeholders that may be of assistance in his constituency, we stand ready to help and serve.”
“Will he outline the work that has been done in my constituency of Glasgow Cathcart and Pollok, and the positive impact that it has had on local school leavers? Ben Macpherson: We absolutely recognise the important work that is taking place in constituencies such as Glasgow Cathcart and Pollok, in which our local authorities, schools and partners are working together to support young people into positive destinations. Data is not available at a constituency level but, in Glasgow City, 94.9 per cent of leavers—which is even higher than the national figure—entered an initial positive destination in the academic year 2024-25. That is a very strong position across the city—a significant part of which the member represents.”
“I am sure that, collectively, we all want to congratulate the 2024-25 school leavers, 93.5 per cent of whom were in a positive destination nine months after leaving school. We will also, I am sure, want to recognise together the dedication of the practitioners who supported them to achieve that. Those outcomes reflect sustained investment across our education system, including more than £1 billion through the Scottish attainment challenge and wider support for learning. We have strengthened employer engagement with schools and funded targeted support from professional careers advisers. There is more to do—always— but the foundation that we have is strong, as the figures show. Zen Ghani: I welcome the minister’s response and the positive work that has been done by schools across Scotland.”
“We are committed to working with industry to provide more apprenticeship support. I refer to the measures in our manifesto, which I discussed with the stakeholders I met this morning. There is growing demand for apprenticeships, and the Government wants to support our young people to achieve in the way that suits them best. However, it is not helpful for any member to come to the chamber and state that one avenue is potentially preferable to another. We are trying to create a situation with parity of esteem, in which everyone can fulfil their potential and best contribute to the economy and society.”
“Can he guarantee that every pound that has been allocated to apprenticeships is being spent on apprenticeship training, rather than elsewhere in the education budget? Ben Macpherson: The member needs to spend some more time understanding how we deliver the different opportunities within our system, through the Scottish Funding Council and Skills Development Scotland. Those streams— apprenticeships, college funding and university funding—are coming together, which will provide a better operational position for achieving parity of esteem between the different choices that people make and creating even more collaboration across the system. The apprenticeship levy is a subject that has been raised with me multiple times during my tenure in this role, including in the chamber.”
“It would be helpful to understand from the member’s supplementary question what he means by degrees that “offer limited value”, so that we can understand the point that he is trying to make. Thomas Kerr: I will get a list over to the minister. I am always happy to educate the education front bench about pointless degrees. Working-class communities such as mine have been shafted, with more money being spent on pointless degrees, rather than on useful skills and apprenticeships. Reform believes that money for apprenticeships should be ring fenced to ensure that it is not spent on pointless courses and that it actually assists our young people into learning. Does the minister accept that apprenticeship levy funding was intended to expand apprenticeship opportunities, not to plug wider budget gaps?”
“We want to support all our young people to choose a pathway that suits their strengths and enables them to fulfil their potential to the greatest extent, developing their skills and critical thinking. Our all-age careers support, delivered by Skills Development Scotland and other partners, promotes every pathway to our young people. We are investing £198 million a year in around 25,500 new modern apprenticeships, 5,000 foundation apprenticeships and more than 1,500 new graduate apprenticeships. We are committed to increasing apprenticeship opportunities to 150,000 over the course of this session of the Parliament, supporting our economy and our society. Universities are autonomous organisations. They choose which degrees they offer.”
“We are also undertaking a review of the contribution rates, so that, despite the external pressures—including the extra costs arising from reserved changes by the United Kingdom Government—we are looking to support employers to take on more apprentices.”
“Ben Macpherson: Daniel Johnson knows that I like to be constructive in my dialogue in the chamber, but I must gently point out that one of the key problems that those in industry have emphasised to me is the impact of the national insurance increase, as well as other pressures and costs that have affected the number of apprenticeship starts and the ability of employers to recruit more generally. One of the areas that we are focusing on, and where we have stepped up with additional funding, concerns how our college sector can play an even more pivotal role in delivering the apprenticeships that we need. We are working collaboratively with the college sector and have increased its budget by 10 per cent this financial year.”
“In 2025, Scottish Engineering estimated that we need to grow the engineering workforce by 46 per cent, but the number of engineering apprenticeship starts has fallen over the past 10 years. Moreover, last year, there were 24,849 modern apprenticeship starts, which was the lowest number since 2013-14 if we do not include the Covid years. Given the demand for skills and the fact that more young people are economically inactive, what is the Government doing to increase the number of starts, instead of that number continuing to fall?”
“This year, building on previous work and initiatives, the Scottish Government has introduced a new Government-led skills planning model—which has been developed in close partnership with stakeholders, including those in industry—to ensure that our post-school education and skills system becomes even more responsive to Scotland’s strategic skills priorities. The collaborative work is ongoing. For example, I held a round-table meeting with different organisations and business voices this morning. I will aim to update the Parliament on the work in the autumn. Daniel Johnson: I thank the minister for that answer, particularly the point about industry collaboration, because he knows that that is important to me. However, the overall numbers paint a dark picture.”
“We have also committed strongly, both socially and economically, to the contribution of our universities in teaching and research, not just in technical skills but in the necessity for critical thinking. As a philosophy graduate, I very much appreciate the importance of preserving investment in our humanities as well as skilling for our economic needs in order to meet our full potential. Universities are engines for unlocking collective and individual potential and opportunities, and they should not be underestimated in that regard. This gets to something that is important to consider— Q Manivannan: [Made a request to intervene.] Ben Macpherson: Do I get the time back in this debate as well?”
“Indeed, last week, I attended the college sector conference that Colleges Scotland organised, and we had a great discussion in the room about how we are working together. I appreciate that colleges, which are very important to me, are a pressing issue, but this is a debate on universities, so I will use my time to respond to the points being made on that issue. The budget settlement demonstrates our strong commitment to free tuition and widening access for those from the most deprived backgrounds. We have seen positive improvement there. Indeed, figures released today show the stark difference between the loans debt accrued by Scottish students and that of students in the rest of the UK. That investment makes a difference for the majority of young people who are studying.”
“Every university has been allocated a combined increase in teaching, research and innovation grant funding of at least 3.2 per cent for this academic year. Of course, we saw an increase of 10 per cent in the budget for our college sector as well. Meghan Gallacher: I visited Forth Valley College recently and I have seen the spreadsheets and the figures. It does not appear to be an increase—it looks more like flat cash. Can the minister give me more information on that? Ben Macpherson: That is not my understanding. Since my appointment in September, I have engaged extensively with Forth Valley College and I have a good working relationship with both the principal and the chair. We are working together proactively to seek solutions around the future of Alloa campus and more widely.”
“Those factors have been set out in our parliamentary committees, as members such as George Adam and Willie Rennie have referenced, and in the House of Commons Education Committee’s recent report on the financial crisis faced by English higher education providers. In that context, we in the Scottish Government know that we need to take action to support our universities and help to ensure that they are financially sustainable in the medium and long term. Ministers have listened closely to the sector in the development of this year’s budget, which is why we are investing £1.4 billion in the sector. That is a combined increase of more than £55 million in resource and capital funding via the Scottish Funding Council, which is equivalent to a 5 per cent uplift on last year’s budget.”
“Does the minister agree that that is not how our sector should be operating? Will he outline what he is going to do about it? Ben Macpherson: I thank Maggie Chapman for those additional points, on top of what she said in her opening remarks. I am aware that she has written directly to the Government on many of the points that she has raised. I advise her that there will be a written response from the Government to her letter—that is the most appropriate way in which to respond in detail to the substance of those important issues. As I was saying, the pressures are wide and complex.”
“Those policies include those set out in the immigration white paper and the major changes to the UK Government’s international visa compliance regime that have come into force this month, which are already causing difficulty and will confront us further as we go into the autumn. Maggie Chapman: I hear what the minister says about the wider financial constraints that the sector is facing. If universities decide that job cuts are the answer—I do not believe that they should be—surely the Government would expect them to do the appropriate assessments on the impacts of those cuts. However, I am hearing from staff at the University of Dundee and the University of Aberdeen that there has been no stress risk assessment or suicide risk assessment, and that staff have been put into discriminatory and non- voluntary redundancy pools.”
“In addition to the universities here in Scotland cited by members, cost reduction measures have also been announced at institutions including Ulster University, the University of South Wales, the University of Sussex and the University of Nottingham, in recent weeks, and, in recent days, the University of Sheffield. Universities are responding to a range of factors, including Brexit, high energy costs, inflationary pressures, the UK Government’s increase in national insurance contributions and the UK Government’s hostile environment policies, which are affecting student numbers.”
“Since being reappointed as minister with responsibility for tertiary education, I have welcomed the opportunity to meet again our national trade union bodies, Universities Scotland and principals, and to listen to their concerns, particularly the concerns of staff. I look forward to continuing that engagement during my tenure. There is no question but that universities across the United Kingdom and, indeed, more widely, are experiencing financial challenges for a range of reasons and, as a consequence, are having to consider the costs that are before them.”
“I will not be able to reply to all the points that have been made, but I will try to. I say to colleagues that what they have said in today’s debate has been heard and that not only is my door open but my mind is open to working with them on the issues that we face now, and on other issues—the challenges that are the subject of today’s debate will be some of the most pertinent and difficult that, collectively, we will need to wrestle with in this parliamentary session. As others have rightly emphasised, this is an anxious and unsettling time for many across the university sector in all 19 of our institutions. I recognise that and I understand those concerns.”
“As this is my first opportunity to speak in the chamber since the election, I put on record how proud and grateful I was to represent Edinburgh Northern and Leith for 10 years and how grateful I am to have been re-elected to represent Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith, which has a strong history of standing up for working people and social justice, which are relevant to the debate. I also pay tribute to Maggie Chapman, not just for bringing this important issue to the chamber today but for all that she has done over many years to champion the issues in the sector and for being a fair and proactive parliamentarian in this space. I look forward to working with her and colleagues on these really important issues. There have been some meaningful contributions from across the chamber.”
“If the member wants to write to me with feedback from their engagement with local farmers, that would be interesting and helpful to see. I also emphasise that SRUC has advised that animal care provision will remain on offer at its other campuses, with horticulture and gamekeeping provision remaining on offer at Elmwood. It is important that we recognise that. However, I would appreciate further engagement; indeed, I had the pleasure of meeting campaigners about Elmwood’s future in the spring, and they can engage with me further. The Presiding Officer: I will take a supplementary question from”
“Courses covering horticulture, animal care and green- keeping were unique local offerings at Elmwood. If Elmwood were to permanently close down, young people in Fife and the surrounding areas would either have to travel huge distances to study the same courses or be completely closed off from learning some of those vital skills. Will the Scottish Government provide assurances to the farmers and young people across my region that the bespoke courses and offerings at Elmwood will be preserved and that it will do everything in its power to ensure that the campus remains open and active? Ben Macpherson: I refer to my first answer, but I recognise the importance of the Elmwood campus and that consideration of its future is relevant to skills provision, which was raised by the member, and the local community.”
“I thank Julie MacDougall for raising this important issue. Although SRUC is an autonomous institution with responsibility for its own decisions in relation to provision and facilities at Elmwood, I would expect it to take into account the needs of students, staff and the wider community. I note that SRUC has stated its commitment to retaining a presence at Elmwood and that there are no plans for a closure of the campus. The Scottish Government also continues to work closely with the tertiary sector to secure a sustainable and successful future through its framework for universities and the college sector of the future workstream. Julie MacDougall: I have recently met farmers across the region who are seriously concerned about the lack of available opportunities for the next generation of skilled rural workers.”
“Ben Macpherson: I underlined our commitment in my first answer: we are working closely with partners, as the majority funder, and we will consider the business case through a robust assurance and approval process once it is submitted. Let us not look back—let us look forward and work together. Following his meeting tomorrow, Mr MacKinnon should keep in touch with the Scottish Government on the project. The Scottish Government's senior responsible officer will be in place shortly, so let us continue that engagement and deliver the project for the people we both serve. NHS Tayside (Recruitment Freeze) 3.”
“Donald MacKinnon: Although I welcome the minister’s commitment to the project, it is now 20 years since it was acknowledged that St Brendan’s hospital was in need of replacement. The people of Barra and Vatersay have had to deal with repeated false starts, delays and broken promises in that time. Meanwhile, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has warned that delays are increasing the risks associated with maintaining the existing school buildings, the replacement of which is an important part of the project. The Presiding Officer: Please ask a question. Donald MacKinnon: I plan to be in Barra tomorrow. Can the minister give me a timeline for the delivery of the long-promised campus project so that I can give my constituents in Barra the reassurance that it will finally become a reality?”
“I welcome Donald MacKinnon to the chamber. I look forward to working constructively with him and I pay tribute to his predecessor, Alasdair Allan. In answer to his important question, the Barra and Vatersay community campus project was included in our programme for government, and the Scottish Government remains firmly committed to its delivery, working in close partnership with the local council and NHS Western Isles. We have held a number of constructive meetings with the council and the national health service to progress that important project. Following our meeting in March, partners are now actively developing a business case. We look forward to the project continuing to move forward as quickly as practicable.”
“Therefore, we must ring fence resources for training and mentoring opportunities for women; provide resources for peer support networks; formalise rates of pay, policies on flexible work and inclusive workplace practices; and ensure that public funding bodies apply conditions to their funding and procurement practices to ensure that fair work for women and efforts to close the gender pay gap remain central focuses for our creative industries, including Scotland’s screen sector. I hope that we reach a point where the sector contributes £1 billion to the economy, but, more than that, I hope that our future generations see Scotland build a screen sector that is capable of seeing more of Scotland and the world. 18:22”
“Growth in the screen sector cannot just be measured in terms of investment and output; it has to include who gets to show up. When Screen Scotland invested in writers such as Alia Ghafar and Dawn Sievewright through its first draft programme, it was not just backing good scripts, it was backing the next generation of people who get to decide what Scotland looks like on the screen. That is important because, for many young people, including me, screen culture is often the first place where we get to see Scotland reflected back to us, and it shapes what we believe is possible and what we believe is not. The test for this Parliament is not whether Scotland’s screen sector can grow—it will. Rather, it is whether we build a sector that redistributes cultural power, or one that quietly concentrates it in the hands of those who are not here.”
“I was happy to see Channel 4’s creative hub open in Glasgow in 2019 and I note that it now has 26 full-time members of staff. We need to progress with creative origination or else any production will not be Scottish or represent growth; it will just be a statistic wearing a kilt. The workforce data tells a similar story. Around 87 per cent of screen workers have experienced a mental health problem. Factors including long hours, freelance insecurity and short-term contracts select for people with financial cushions and existing cover for their caring responsibilities, and they select against everyone else. According to recent reports, it will take until 2085 for gender equity to be achieved in the UK’s film industry, and the Equal Media & Culture Centre has reported high rates of sexual harassment and bullying in the industry.”
“One funded by advertising will have extremely negative consequences for commercial public sector broadcasting—that is an issue that has been raised with us. Screen Scotland has also increasingly emphasised creative origination, which involves more than just production taking place here in Scotland and means that stories are developed, owned and led here. That distinction matters enormously because we can grow output without growing control, and growth without authorship is, at the end of the day, dependency. Research that was commissioned by Screen Scotland found that, of the top 15 producers of programmes that were counted as Scottish by volume, only five were headquartered in Scotland, with the remaining 10 based in London.”
“I do not think that that is a soft concern alongside the economic argument—it is the economic argument. A screen sector that draws on the full range of Scottish life will make better work. That is not woke ideology; it is a question of craft. Recently, I lodged a motion following restructuring at BBC Radio Scotland in which, reportedly, the majority of those who were stood down were women. Despite BBC successes, a pattern nonetheless emerges about who speaks with authority in our cultural institutions and who is treated at times as replaceable. I think that that question travels through broadcasting, through screen and through culture. I am grateful for the inclusivity that BBC Scotland has shown in its programming and I acknowledge its importance in our culture. We need a strong, stable, well-funded BBC.”
“Navid came from India, arrived in Craiglang and, speaking little English, learned Scots from his neighbours until he became the beating heart of his community. I watched that show right before I came to Scotland, and I think that I understood something about what this country is and what it was capable of being. The screen, in some ways, taught me, before anything else did, that someone like me could belong here and be celebrated as almost an essential part of Scottish culture. I think, in some ways, that that is also what we are debating today. The screen sector is on track to reach £1 billion by 2030, but it is a sector that generates not just economic value but narratives. It decides whose lives are visible, whose voices carry, and whose experiences are treated as central and whose are, at times, treated as optional.”
“Considering the points that Q Manivannan has made, will they also share my praise for the programme and celebrate the fact that a second series of “Dept Q” is being filmed on the north- eastern side of Edinburgh, which is creating opportunities and showcasing more of Scotland to the world? Q Manivannan: I should say that that filming is happening during recess, so I will let the programme makers know that I am available if they need me. My office will be in touch. I have also been informed that I have a passing resemblance, when the right lighting hits me, to Ben Whishaw and the main character, but I will leave that with members. “Dept Q” features the Scottish actor Sanjeev Kohli, who played Navid in “Still Game”.”
“In order to represent my constituents and serve the common good and the people of Scotland, I, Ben Macpherson, do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm, that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law.”
“We are in a very positive and constructive dialogue with the sector as a whole and with Forth Valley College about the future of the Alloa campus. There is huge potential and there are economic opportunities. There is a need for more skills in the area, and that will have an impact on the community, so that the Alloa campus can have a bright future. The Government will keep working proactively to support the whole of our college sector, Forth Valley College and the people of Alloa. Sexual Crimes and Domestic Abuse 8.”
“Alexander Stewart: It is vital that the public is aware of the full picture, because, unless the Scottish Government can give concrete reassurances about the long-term future of the Alloa campus to its students and employees, it will be right back to square 1. Can the minister give any assurance about the long-term financial package that is required? Ben Macpherson: Whether it is at the Alloa campus, Forth Valley College or other colleges across the country, as I said, this Government’s stepping up of support for our college sector is making all the difference for learners and institutions. I spoke earlier about the difference that has been made for the Alloa campus and I said that it will stay open for this year.”
“The member is generous in spirit, therefore he will want to be thankful for and warmly welcome the fact that the Scottish National Party’s 2026-27 budget includes a 10 per cent uplift for our colleges, reinforcing the Government’s on-going commitment to the college sector, to people across the country and to the economy. As part of the annual allocation process, the Scottish Funding Council will publish indicative university and college allocations for the financial year 2026-27 during the coming days, and the Scottish Government’s increased support for our colleges will be reflected in those announcements.”
“Through the process of wider engagement with partners in industry and the public sector, which I mentioned in my first answer, it is clear that the need for skills in Clackmannanshire, Stirlingshire and Falkirk will increase in the period ahead as a result of the inward investment, the opportunities in the economy and the growth that we are seeing in the area, so Forth Valley College should have a positive future across the three campuses. It is important that all partners—with the Scottish Government at the heart of the process—work together constructively in the year ahead to develop the case for continued investment in the college so that it can realise its potential for the region and the people in the area.”
“Given the importance of further education to local skills, employability and economic growth, especially in our most deprived communities, what specific assurances can the minister provide that Clackmannanshire will continue to benefit from a high-quality, sustainable and diverse further education offering in the longer term? Ben Macpherson: My engagement and the Scottish Government’s wider engagement with the college have been enhanced by the work of Keith Brown, as the constituency MSP, in informing the Scottish Government and working collaboratively and proactively with it to promote the interests of the college and the people it serves and he serves.”
“The group expects to meet again in the summer to review progress and consider next steps. That represents a positive way forward for the potential of the Alloa campus. Keith Brown: I very much welcome the Scottish Government’s support in this matter, and especially its budget support, notwithstanding the fact that neither the Conservative Party nor the Labour Party made any budget proposals for increased college funding. What consideration did the Forth Valley College board give to alternative options across the wider Forth Valley College estate, including the Falkirk and Stirling campuses, before reaching its position? It seems that the board has focused only on the Alloa campus.”
“The member is right to emphasise that, because of the additional resource that the Scottish Government has provided to our college sector, the board of Forth Valley College has confirmed that the Alloa campus will remain open for the academic year 2026-27. In January, using the Scottish Government’s convening power, and working with the college principal and the wider college, we were able to bring together senior representatives from the public and private sectors to consider and explore how the college could strengthen its engagement with industry and ensure that the potential of the Alloa campus was fully realised. That was a very constructive discussion, which highlighted the strong commitment that exists across the region to creating a skills system that is responsive and resilient.”
“I believe that the bill provides a strong fiscal measure to support the delivery of our cladding remediation programme and that it contains appropriate safeguards to give confidence to our house builders. I commend the motion in my name and very much hope that members vote for the bill at stage 3. The Presiding Officer: That concludes the debate on the Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill at stage 3. Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3 18:18”
“We have taken considerable steps after listening to the industry and other stakeholders, and the bill now reflects the concerns that they raised with us. The evidence and responses that the committee gathered, alongside the Government’s evidence, which was informed by two public consultations, have been very helpful. I am grateful to the committee and MSP colleagues for that engagement. As I said in my opening speech, there is no free lunch when it comes to funding this vital work. The absence of the levy would mean either higher taxes for the general public or cuts to public spending, which, paradoxically, could have an impact on our affordable housing programme. I am sure that members would not want that. That would not feel fair or appropriate in the eyes of the Government or, I expect, members of the public.”
“As I said in my opening speech, I am pleased that the Government and the Parliament worked together to strengthen the bill. The Government has taken forward measures to increase the levy- free allowance to 29 units, which means that 85 per cent of developers will be exempt from engaging at all with the levy. Indeed, 89 per cent of developers in rural areas will not have to pay the levy. We have taken forward business impact assessments. We have indicated flexibility in relation to build to rent and purpose-built student accommodation in the initial period. Today, we have agreed to amendments to potentially give relief to first-time buyers. We have already delayed the bill’s implementation from 2027 to 2028. As I indicated earlier, that is almost two years later than the date on which the equivalent levy in England is being implemented.”
“How do we secure the necessary funding while ensuring that the levy operates in as frictionless a way as possible across the house-building industry? That has been the crux of the debate on the bill, and I am grateful for the contributions of members from all parties on getting the balance right. The Government has listened and has moved in line with a range of recommendations from members. Members asked for a sunset clause, and the Government has delivered that. Members asked for a closer link between the use of funds and the cladding programme, and that has been delivered to give the industry certainty on where the funds will be spent. Members asked for stronger reporting requirements, and the Government has delivered that.”
“As the pace of the programme ramps up, the conversation must turn to how we fairly fund that vital work. Based on the programme’s cost estimates, it is clear that the Scottish budget will bear the brunt of the costs over the lifespan of the programme. However, given the scale of the efforts that are needed to rehabilitate Scotland’s housing stock, the Government believes that it is right for the residential property development industry to contribute to the work. That view is shared by the UK Labour Government and the previous UK Conservative Government, in the light of the England-only building safety levy commencing operation in October this year. As I set out in my opening speech, the challenge in implementing a levy to help to fund the programme is one of balance.”
“18:14 Ivan McKee: At the outset, it is important that, as many members have done, we reflect on the tragedy of Grenfell and the lives that were sadly lost at that time as the reason why we find ourselves in a position of taking forward this remediation work. A range of views have been expressed throughout the bill’s consideration, but I believe that there is consensus among members on all sides of the chamber on our commitment to safeguard home owners and residents from the dangers that unsafe cladding poses. Members agree that it is right for the Government to take action, through the cladding remediation programme, to safeguard home owners in and residents of buildings with potentially unsafe cladding and ensure that an event such as Grenfell is never allowed to happen again.”
“Màiri McAllan: Will the member take an intervention? Meghan Gallacher: Apologies. I am in my last minute, otherwise I would have taken the intervention. What does the bill deliver? It will introduce a levy that will slow development, a policy that will reduce housing supply and a Government that will press ahead, despite clear warnings from the very sector on which it depends. At a time when Scotland faces a housing emergency, this is the wrong policy at the wrong time. For all those reasons, we cannot support the bill at decision time. The Presiding Officer: I call the minister to wind up.”
“I have now received a response from the Cabinet Secretary for Housing—for which I am thankful— confirming that there was, indeed, a disparity. The Government claims that those letters do not guarantee funding, but that is not how the two letters read that I have in front of me right now. One implies certainty; the other creates doubt. There are two different messages in those two letters, so there is no clarity, and it is home owners who are paying the price. People are stuck, unable to sell and unable to move on. Properties sit on the market for months, offers fall through and buyers walk away—not because they want to, but because they cannot risk the uncertainty. Who can blame them? There is no guarantee that remediation costs will be covered. There is only confusion, concern and the looming question of personal liability.”