The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 1830 contributions
Education, Children and Young People Committee
Meeting date: 18 May 2022
Stephen Kerr
Yes, they are nodding their heads. That is good.
Education, Children and Young People Committee
Meeting date: 18 May 2022
Stephen Kerr
Michael Marra has a supplementary question.
Education, Children and Young People Committee
Meeting date: 18 May 2022
Stephen Kerr
Cabinet secretary, thank you for the time that you have given us this morning. As convener of the Education, Children and Young People Committee, I would have you here more frequently, because I always enjoy your appearances.
Education, Children and Young People Committee
Meeting date: 18 May 2022
Stephen Kerr
I am very pleased to hear that you enjoy them as well. However, if, as is likely, we next see you at least six months from now, how should we judge your performance as cabinet secretary in relation to the topic of our inquiry? Will you give me and the committee two or three things on your list of objectives that we can measure you against six months from now?
Education, Children and Young People Committee
Meeting date: 18 May 2022
Stephen Kerr
Welcome back. The next item on our agenda is an evidence session on the Cross-border Placements (Effect of Deprivation of Liberty Orders) (Scotland) Regulations 2022. This morning we will take evidence from officials from the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland’s office. I welcome Nick Hobbs, who is the head of advice and investigations, and Maria Galli, who is the legal officer. Good morning.
The regulations that we are considering are described by the Scottish Government thus:
“The current process of placing authorities petitioning the Court of Session to recognise DOL orders cannot be sustained. It does not serve the interests of the child or young person at the heart of each application, and it places a burden on Local Authorities and on the court itself, when resources could be better directed elsewhere.”
You do not support the measure. Tell us why.
Education, Children and Young People Committee
Meeting date: 18 May 2022
Stephen Kerr
The Supreme Court ruled that the deprivation of liberty was in line with human rights, did it not?
Education, Children and Young People Committee
Meeting date: 18 May 2022
Stephen Kerr
In your statement, you mentioned local authorities having stretch aims or targets—let us call them targets. What is the Government’s stretch target for the fund if you are not prepared to commit to timetabling or signposting? By the way, Audit Scotland specifically said about the fund that
“the Scottish Government needs to be clearer about the anticipated pace of change, identify and measure against appropriate milestones, and consider the lessons about what works in determining how funding is directed.”
You seem to be saying that you are not prepared to say any of that—you are not prepared to give any milestones or measurements.
Education, Children and Young People Committee
Meeting date: 18 May 2022
Stephen Kerr
What does “long-term” mean?
Education, Children and Young People Committee
Meeting date: 18 May 2022
Stephen Kerr
I am not asking you to dictate to anybody or anything, but you have a responsibility. You are spending £200 million a year on the issue, and you have a responsibility to set out what your expectation is for the outcomes that we expect. On the stretch aims, what is your expectation for closing the poverty-related attainment gap this year, in the next five years or whatever? It would be helpful to the committee, and I think to the public at large, and certainly to Audit Scotland, if you would be more specific.
Education, Children and Young People Committee
Meeting date: 18 May 2022
Stephen Kerr
So far, one year into this parliamentary session, it is about £1 billion.