Colin Beattie: How will the new national qualifications enable young people to develop the skills that they need for moving into further education, employment or training?
Colin Beattie: I am delighted to speak about the bill. I am a member of the Education and Culture Committee, so I have been very much involved with the bill. As Stewart Maxwell said, the committee agreed on the basic principles of the bill, and it is evident that there is widespread support from children’s charities and public bodies. Barnardo’s Scotland, in its written submission to the committee,...
Colin Beattie: Again, I refer to the Children 1st survey, which shows that 60 per cent of kinship carers thought that a kinship care order would be a good thing. A further 27 per cent wanted more information. It was no surprise that 60 per cent said that they would apply for a kinship care order. We must remember that, before the SNP’s election victory in 2007, there was no support for kinship carers in...
Colin Beattie: 7. To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to revitalise Prestwick airport. (S4O-02683)
Colin Beattie: Does the cabinet secretary agree that bringing the airport into state ownership could improve the Scottish economy through increased business and tourism?
Colin Beattie: The inquiry has in some respects been difficult for the Education and Culture Committee. I for one hoped that, somewhere among the wealth of information and evidence provided, a magic bullet would be found that would point to a clear and simple solution, but alas that was not the case. What is clear is that successive Governments have rightly placed a high priority on children in care....
Colin Beattie: The Scottish economy is one of the most fundamental issues that underpins and drives the need for independence, especially when taken in the context of the performance of the UK economy as a whole. The Scottish recovery, which is strongly influenced and guided by the Scottish Government, has its roots in long-term, sustained growth, unlike the rather shaky and uncertain economic management...
Colin Beattie: The points that I am raising from what the IFS has to say are interesting, because it is very critical of what the UK Government is doing. I would like to focus on the key successes in the Scottish economy in recent times, which must be considered in the context of Scotland providing 9.9 per cent of UK taxes but receiving only 9.3 per cent of public spending in return. As recently as...
Colin Beattie: 7. To ask the Scottish Government how it is promoting national libraries day 2014. (S4O-02883)
Colin Beattie: Does the cabinet secretary agree that libraries provide an essential foundation to our local communities, and that events such as the love your library programme, which is being held throughout Midlothian in the week including 3 to 8 February, are crucial in promoting library services to the general public?
Colin Beattie: 3. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its foreign language engagement strategy. (S4O-02899)
Colin Beattie: As convener of the cross-party group on Germany, I have noted that the number of school pupils presented for German exams and the number of German-speaking foreign language assistants in Scottish schools have declined over the past decade. What is the Scottish Government doing to reverse that specific trend?
Colin Beattie: I start by extending my thanks to official report staff for producing the Official Report of yesterday’s Education and Culture Committee meeting so promptly. It has been very useful. I know that there is a high level of consensus that the curriculum for excellence will provide substantial benefits to Scotland’s educational system and will prepare our young people for a life very different...
Colin Beattie: Overall, curriculum for excellence provides the vehicle to ensure that our teaching profession has the opportunity to fully develop the potential of our young people.
Colin Beattie: Governments across the world are looking for reliable sustainable energy options. Our impact on the environment from carbon-based energy is undeniable. I will focus on geothermal energy in my speech; I cite the Scottish Government’s publication “Towards Decarbonising Heat: Maximising the Opportunities for Scotland: Draft Heat Generation Policy Statement for Consultation” in that regard....
Colin Beattie: Does the cabinet secretary agree that we must continue in the spirit in which curriculum for excellence was created, which was one of co-operative working across all the parties to support Scotland’s pupils and teachers as they take the curriculum forward and deliver lasting improvements in Scottish education?
Colin Beattie: Can the cabinet secretary confirm how much has been provided from the Scottish public sector purse to support the screen sector in the past three years?
Colin Beattie: Does the minister agree that what disabled people need is the money to live on, and that continuous welfare cuts—
Colin Beattie: I apologise.
Colin Beattie: Does the minister agree that what disabled people need is the money to live on and that continuous welfare cuts from successive UK Governments are holding disabled people back?