Results 1-20 of 1,205 for speaker:Karen Whitefield

Scottish Parliament: Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Bill (19 Nov 2009)

Karen Whitefield: I am pleased to speak on behalf of the Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee. With few exceptions, there has been a great deal of consensus on the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Bill. That has not necessarily been characteristic of our committee's discussions in recent months, but the bill's basic principles—to improve communities' ability to contribute meaningfully to...

Scottish Parliament: Student Support (28 Oct 2009)

Karen Whitefield: Like others, I welcome the cabinet secretary's announcement. I am pleased that she has responded to representations from Opposition parties and the NUS and will provide an additional £2 million for child care. Discretionary funds that support students with child care responsibilities or those in hardship often make the difference for such students between staying in university or college...

Scottish Parliament: Colleges (Economic Recovery) (1 Oct 2009)

Karen Whitefield: I apologise for joining the debate late. I was meeting Nelson McCausland, Northern Ireland's Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, who is paying visits to various Government ministers this afternoon. I hope that members are not offended that I have come along to the debate a little late in the day. I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the vital role that colleges play in...

Scottish Parliament: Colleges (Economic Recovery) (1 Oct 2009)

Karen Whitefield: A review would be helpful, because the issue is important. The facilities for child care at Motherwell College are impressive, but all 300 child care places are currently filled, and the college is turning away potential students not because it cannot meet their educational needs, but because it cannot meet their additional support needs and the child care needs. We need to address that. I...

Scottish Parliament: Girlguiding (10 Sep 2009)

Karen Whitefield: I am not quite sure how I follow that. As others have done, I congratulate Jeremy Purvis on securing tonight's debate in recognition of the 100th anniversary of girlguiding in Scotland. As he said, last weekend marked the beginning of Girlguiding Scotland's centenary year. As other members have mentioned, 100 years ago some subversive and radical young girls attended the 1909 boy scouts'...

Scottish Parliament: Girlguiding (10 Sep 2009)

Karen Whitefield: I knew that was going to happen. The guides are lucky that I am taking part in this debate tonight. However, I am going to be really very nice about them. As I joined the explorers and have subsequently enjoyed a lifetime's involvement with the Girls Brigade, I might not know a lot about the guides, but I know quite a lot about the value of uniformed youth organisations, and the real...

Scottish Parliament: Children's Hearings (Legal Representation) (Scotland) Amendment Rules 2009 (SSI 2009/211) (9 Sep 2009)

Karen Whitefield: On a point of order, Presiding Officer. During the minister's winding-up speech, he advised the chamber that he had provided the Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee with his legal briefing. I have a copy of the letter, which totals three pages, from the minister that was provided to the committee in advance of its meeting yesterday. It gives an explanation of his reasoning for...

Scottish Parliament: Children's Hearings (Legal Representation) (Scotland) Amendment Rules 2009 (SSI 2009/211) (9 Sep 2009)

Karen Whitefield: On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Is it appropriate for a member of this Parliament to provide inaccurate information suggesting that an approach was made to me, as the convener of the Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee, offering briefings on the SSI? I have asked the minister to write to me confirming when those approaches were made—no such approaches were made....

Scottish Parliament: Children's Hearings (Legal Representation) (Scotland) Amendment Rules 2009 (SSI 2009/211) (9 Sep 2009)

Karen Whitefield: One of the few things on which Adam Ingram and I will agree this afternoon is that it is truly regrettable that it has become necessary to debate this motion to annul in the Parliament. I firmly believe that, had the minister shown a willingness to listen and respond to the serious concerns that have been raised by the chairs of Scotland's children's panels and by the majority of members of...

Scottish Parliament: Children's Hearings (Legal Representation) (Scotland) Amendment Rules 2009 (SSI 2009/211) (9 Sep 2009)

Karen Whitefield: No, I am not going to give way. I am sure that the member is going to speak. Would it not have been much more effective to engage with stakeholders on the issue and deliver appropriate change in partnership with them? That is what the previous Administration did in 2002. We did not rush in and draft a change that would have had unforeseen consequences. Yesterday, the minister claimed that the...

Scottish Parliament: Children's Hearings (Legal Representation) (Scotland) Amendment Rules 2009 (SSI 2009/211) (9 Sep 2009)

Karen Whitefield: I stress that panel members and volunteers are asking the Parliament to respond to their concerns. We should take a breath and ensure that we get any changes to the children's hearings service right, so that we can ensure that it continues to be the jewel in the crown of our legal system.

Scottish Parliament: Insulin Pump Therapy (3 Sep 2009)

Karen Whitefield: The Government is currently undertaking work to review the Scottish diabetes framework. I do not expect the minister to tell us what will be in the revised document, but can she give us an assurance that there will be concrete measures in the revised framework to ensure the roll-out of insulin pumps throughout Scotland?

Scottish Parliament: Insulin Pump Therapy (3 Sep 2009)

Karen Whitefield: I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate on insulin pump provision, which is an important issue, and I congratulate Dave Stewart on securing the debate and on his dogged determination to raise the profile of diabetes in the Parliament and to highlight the need for insulin pumps. He secured a members' business debate on increasing access to insulin pumps last year; tonight's debate...

Scottish Parliament: First Minister's Question Time: Child Protection (Inter-agency information) (3 Sep 2009)

Karen Whitefield: To ask the First Minister what plans the Scottish Government has to improve inter-agency information sharing following the significant case review and review for chief officers reports into the death of Brandon Muir. (S3F-1843)

Scottish Parliament: First Minister's Question Time: Child Protection (Inter-agency information) (3 Sep 2009)

Karen Whitefield: Has the First Minister considered the recently published report, which stated: "In the short three week period when Cunningham resided with Heather Boyd and her children, the authorities, while active in personal engagement with the family, were not able to assemble, process or assess all the available information on Boyd or Cunningham. The Inquiry revealed gaps and inaccuracies, some caused...

Scottish Parliament: Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1 (2 Sep 2009)

Karen Whitefield: I welcome the opportunity to speak on behalf of the Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee in the stage 1 debate on the Schools (Consultation) Scotland Bill. Before commenting on the stage 1 report, I thank those who helped the committee to scrutinise the bill so effectively. In particular, I thank those who gave written and oral evidence to the committee. We considered an...

Scottish Parliament written answers — Children with Disabilities: Children with Disabilities (18 Aug 2009)

Karen Whitefield: To ask the Scottish Executive how the needs and rights of children with disabilities are being taken into account in the work of the National Child Protection Guidance Working Group.

Scottish Parliament: Supporting Social Work (24 Jun 2009)

Karen Whitefield: I congratulate Christina McKelvie on securing the debate. There is no doubt that social workers and social work staff perform a vital job in our society. Social work services, from the provision of care in the community to criminal justice and child protection services, aim to protect the most vulnerable and marginalised in our society and to enhance the lives of those who require support and...

Scottish Parliament: School Building Programme (17 Jun 2009)

Karen Whitefield: The Scottish Government established a joint working group with COSLA to formulate a schools estate strategy. That group has not yet published its findings. Would it not have made more sense for the cabinet secretary to wait until the publication of the strategy, or is the point of today's statement more about getting the cabinet secretary off the hook and covering up the bad publicity over...

Scottish Parliament written answers — Young Offenders: Young Offenders (12 Jun 2009)

Karen Whitefield: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to produce national guidance to ensure consistency in approach, values and practices of secure units for young people.