Colin Beattie: I have not spoken to the college unions, but I can quote Jim Ewing, chair of the Edinburgh merger partnership board. He said in The Scotsman: “Working together as one college will provide more opportunities for students, staff and the community, and reflects the growing desire of the Scottish Government for colleges to work together to deliver a smarter, more economical model going...
Colin Beattie: I think that I have taken enough interventions for the moment. Edinburgh College is now the largest further education institution in Scotland and among the largest in the UK. It is better placed to serve the economic and skill needs of the growing Lothians population, and it will be no surprise that the first of the new college’s key principles is to put students first. The Scottish...
Colin Beattie: Regardless of what some people might think, the situation is the result of Westminster cuts. I am sure that those who are involved, whether they are teachers, students or college staff, are tired of negativity. I applaud the cabinet secretary and the Government for doing a remarkable job protecting Scottish further education in a situation of ever-reducing resources.
Colin Beattie: Will the cabinet secretary outline what impact the public health supplement has had on businesses and how the proceeds from the supplement will be spent in the coming year?
Colin Beattie: Will the cabinet secretary outline how the draft budget will invest in the college estate in 2013-14?
Colin Beattie: What gives the minister greater confidence that we are in a safer position than the Department for Transport?
Colin Beattie: I am pleased to have been given the opportunity to speak about Skills Development Scotland, and especially the my world of work website. That is an innovative and modern approach to career advice. I enjoyed visiting the website and taking the visual my DNA quiz, which described my aptitudes. I am glad that there are still some options open to me. We never know where we will end up in this...
Colin Beattie: Let me begin by stating the obvious: water is a basic commodity that is perhaps taken for granted by most residents in Scotland. I certainly have the expectation that, when I turn on the tap, water will flow. There are some people whom I know who take the view that water, by its very nature and origin, should be free and that the imposition of charges by Scottish Water is somehow immoral or...
Colin Beattie: I frequently listen to the Opposition parties seemingly minimising the impact of Westminster budget cuts on the Scottish economy and the consequent pressures that are placed on the Scottish budget. The Scottish Government’s ability to maintain spending levels across the board at the same levels as hitherto is simply not possible. We cannot spend more than the allowance that we receive from...
Colin Beattie: Yes. According to the figures that I have, the three-year housing budget has increased by almost £200 million, with an increase in the additional investment. While I applaud the Scottish Government’s efforts to stimulate growth and create jobs, I can only regret that it does not have the powers fully to manage the economy. Those powers, alas, remain in the hands of a Westminster elite that...
Colin Beattie: 16. To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the results of the Bank of Scotland’s December 2012 survey of purchasing managers. (S4O-01724)
Colin Beattie: I was pleased with the news of positive growth to start the new year.
Colin Beattie: Does the cabinet secretary agree that, despite the negativity of the no campaign’s rhetoric on an independent Scottish economy, companies are still actively investing in Scotland?
Colin Beattie: 8. To ask the Scottish Government what events it will hold to promote the year of natural Scotland. (S4O-01796)
Colin Beattie: Does the minister agree that having themed years, such as the year of natural Scotland, the year of creative Scotland and the year of homecoming, brings greater interest to Scotland from the international tourism market?
Colin Beattie: What policies will be brought into place to ensure that NHS boards will share good practice on enhancing performance reporting to monitor patients and waiting lists?
Colin Beattie: 6. To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to improve the quality and consistency of sentencing and enhance the availability of prisoner rehabilitation programmes. (S4O-01900)
Colin Beattie: Does the cabinet secretary agree that the levels of recidivism among male and female offenders are too high and that there is a need to be open to more innovative methods of rehabilitation in order to decrease the likelihood of reoffending?
Colin Beattie: 7. To ask the Scottish Government how it will strengthen the shift towards sustainable and renewable energy use in the manufacturing sector. (S4O-01951)
Colin Beattie: Does the minister agree that clear benchmarks are essential to measuring success in transitioning to energy efficiency? Has the Scottish Government considered the type of measurements that should be used to track positive shifts towards clean energy?