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Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 6 July 2025
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Displaying 1122 contributions

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Education, Children and Young People Committee [Draft]

Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) (Scotland) Bill

Meeting date: 7 May 2025

Willie Rennie

Are you satisfied with that, Mr Boyle?

Education, Children and Young People Committee [Draft]

Education (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Meeting date: 7 May 2025

Willie Rennie

I accept what the minister has said about the amendments being strictly necessary—I think that those were the words that she used. However, sufficiently senior people in the education world have concerns that the issue is not getting sufficient focus from the inspectorate just now. Although it is possible to evaluate safeguarding, that is not necessarily happening consistently enough to satisfy those individuals.

Perhaps we do not have to put it into the bill, but I hope that the cabinet secretary takes away the fact that there needs to be a discussion with the inspectorate about the role that it plays in safeguarding and the resource and priority that it gives to safeguarding in inspections. After all, the people who have raised those concerns are not insignificant. They are concerned that local authority systems—not at the child protection level but at the level below—are not sufficiently robust. I hope that the cabinet secretary takes away the fact that there are concerns out there and that priorities need to change.

Education, Children and Young People Committee [Draft]

Education (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Meeting date: 7 May 2025

Willie Rennie

That is a very fair point, and we should consider it in the discussions that I hope that the cabinet secretary will be prepared to have.

I move amendment 308.

Education, Children and Young People Committee [Draft]

Education (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Meeting date: 7 May 2025

Willie Rennie

On this occasion, I think that this is about people, because we are talking about short-term measures. We are considering the current board. I would not want there to be any period of uncertainty here. I think that Shirley Rogers is impressive—indeed, she was impressive when she came before the committee—and I would not like her to think that her job might come to an end. I want her to crack on and make the changes that we want to see. If I had been asked the question a year ago, I might have agreed with you, but not now.

Education, Children and Young People Committee [Draft]

Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) (Scotland) Bill

Meeting date: 7 May 2025

Willie Rennie

Again, you are taking this on. They are going to be your costs.

Education, Children and Young People Committee [Draft]

Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) (Scotland) Bill

Meeting date: 7 May 2025

Willie Rennie

You have heard Mr Yeates say several times that the transition cost is £30 million, which is much more than what the Government is saying the cost is. Why have you not challenged that figure? Do you agree with the £30 million?

Education, Children and Young People Committee [Draft]

Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) (Scotland) Bill

Meeting date: 7 May 2025

Willie Rennie

I admire your certainty but, as you might imagine, we have doubts. We have differing reports from various people whom we respect because we have dealt with them in other spheres, and they all say broadly similar things. However, you are certain that you are fine.

Education, Children and Young People Committee [Draft]

Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) (Scotland) Bill

Meeting date: 7 May 2025

Willie Rennie

What I hear from some employers and other people is that you are quite a difficult organisation to deal with.

Education, Children and Young People Committee [Draft]

Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) (Scotland) Bill

Meeting date: 7 May 2025

Willie Rennie

You do not accept any of the quotations that I have read out.

Education, Children and Young People Committee [Draft]

Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) (Scotland) Bill

Meeting date: 7 May 2025

Willie Rennie

Why do you not publish that?