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 304 contributions
Education, Children and Young People Committee
Meeting date: 2 March 2022
James Dornan
But your evidence suggests that that has worked well and that the Government has been working with you on this. What makes you think that, if this legislation is passed, the Government will stop working well with the universities and colleges?
Education, Children and Young People Committee
Meeting date: 26 January 2022
James Dornan
I would like to come back on that point. First, I am a non-drinker, so I do not go up to the bar to buy doubles for my mates. However, what we have said highlights the difficulties, because we are talking about changing the whole culture for people of a certain generation who think that they are doing the right thing but are doing the wrong thing. I agree with everything that has been said on that point. If any legislation is introduced, education has to be a massive part of it—if not beforehand, certainly as the measures are introduced.
Education, Children and Young People Committee
Meeting date: 26 January 2022
James Dornan
I can see the benefit of legislation with regard to the message that it sends out about the importance that we are giving to the issue, but what sometimes happens is that, in doing these things for the right reasons, we create a rod for our own backs. I worry that a bill on spiking would be a very complex piece of legislation, because where would we draw the line? Earlier, someone said that spiking drinks with alcohol is still by far the most common form of spiking. What would happen if you bought your mate a double without his permission, for example? Where would we draw the line? How would we target those who need to be targeted? I think that there would be difficulties with that.
In the past, I have supported legislation in order to send out a strong message. I can see that it would be useful to send out a strong message here, but I worry about the practical difficulties.
Education, Children and Young People Committee
Meeting date: 19 January 2022
James Dornan
I have a short question about the terrible option of going back the way and schools having to provide more hybrid and remote learning. Greg Dempster, if that happens again, how prepared are schools to take up that challenge?
Education, Children and Young People Committee
Meeting date: 19 January 2022
James Dornan
It is usually a good plan, right enough. [Laughter.]
Education, Children and Young People Committee
Meeting date: 19 January 2022
James Dornan
No.
Education, Children and Young People Committee
Meeting date: 19 January 2022
James Dornan
Before I finish, I welcome Douglas Hutchison to Glasgow. You have a big challenge ahead of you, but I am sure that you will be more than capable of meeting it.
Education, Children and Young People Committee
Meeting date: 12 January 2022
James Dornan
I am asking for a response from the cabinet secretary.
Education, Children and Young People Committee
Meeting date: 12 January 2022
James Dornan
The cabinet secretary has kind of answered the question that I was going to ask. The reality is that Mr Kerr, Mr Marra and Mr Rennie have all asked for extra money. Surely the cabinet secretary’s role in the budget process is to argue in Cabinet for as much as she can. At that stage, the Scottish Government has to say, “This is the money we’ve got, and this is how we’re going to spend it. If you want to spend it in any other way, please tell us where you’re going to get that money from in the budget.” There has been no sign of that from any of the three previous speakers.
Education, Children and Young People Committee
Meeting date: 12 January 2022
James Dornan
Good morning. Like most education stakeholders, I look forward to the announcement that you will make in May regarding the multiyear funding plans for further and higher education. How can you ensure that those packages, whatever they may be, will support the colleges and universities in addressing long-term sustainability challenges such as rising staff costs and pension costs?