Anne McTaggart: I wish a speedy recovery to Kezia Dugdale and, in her absence, I thank John Park for stepping up to the plate. As we heard earlier, Kezia Dugdale has worked tirelessly on bringing the subject for debate. The Scottish Labour Party has consistently championed the living wage, first by implementing the changes for our lowest-paid workers in local government and then by arguing for its...
Anne McTaggart: 4. To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to offer access to training and education to the 21,280 people reported in The Herald on 27 October 2012 as being on college waiting lists. (S4O-01449)
Anne McTaggart: I understand that the cabinet secretary has been asked on several occasions to provide the Parliament with information on the number of individuals on college waiting lists. It took an article by The Herald finally to reveal the scale of the problem that we face. Despite the cabinet secretary’s protests, it is clear that such numbers are available and that thousands are being left without...
Anne McTaggart: I am delighted to contribute to the debate on the 2014 Commonwealth games and I thank John Mason for bringing to the chamber the issues of Glasgow’s preparation for the event and the legacy that the games will leave behind. I, too, am excited by the huge opportunities that hosting the Commonwealth games will bring to the city of Glasgow and all of Scotland. Already, we can see sport and...
Anne McTaggart: I thank Liz Smith for bringing the debate to the chamber. I am pleased to have the opportunity to represent the concerns of many students in Glasgow about funding and support for access to further education. For so many young people, a college education is both an opportunity to develop key life skills and a route into employment. With one in four young people out of work, it is important...
Anne McTaggart: If the cabinet secretary is saying that the figure of more than 21,000 is not to be relied on, he should note that the specific figure in the article was 21,548. The cabinet secretary also said that “the concept of waiting lists ... is utterly false.”—[Official Report, 24 October 2012; c 12504.] Those are the cabinet secretary’s words.
Anne McTaggart: I will continue, Presiding Officer. This is the reality of the Scottish Government’s savage cuts to the further education sector in Scotland. Another concerning consequence of the Scottish Government’s attack on colleges is the falling numbers of female students, who often rely on the availability of evening and weekend courses to balance family commitments and responsibilities. The...
Anne McTaggart: 5. To ask the Scottish Government, further to the First Minister’s meeting with the Chinese ambassador to the United Kingdom in June 2012, what representations it has made to China regarding the treatment of the Tibetan people. (S4O-01500)
Anne McTaggart: The minister will be aware of the recent and increasing instances of self-immolation as a form of protest in Tibet and will recognise how tragic the consequences of that have been for the families of those who have died in the struggle against Chinese oppression. Does the Scottish Government intend to raise the issues of Tibet and Chinese human rights abuses in any future meetings with the...
Anne McTaggart: I am delighted to contribute to this important debate on business tourism, and I thank Fergus Ewing for securing time for us to raise some of the key issues to do with visitor numbers and the economic benefits that business tourists can bring to Scotland. I begin by highlighting the excellent record of Glasgow City Council in attracting corporate and commercial visitors to our city. Glasgow...
Anne McTaggart: I sure do acknowledge that and congratulate Mr Robertson on it. It is clear that, to realise our ambition, we must build transport links for our visitors that are faster, cheaper and more efficient. We must focus on connecting travel hubs with our city centres and on building a comprehensive network and onward connections so that many of our towns and cities can benefit from high visitor...
Anne McTaggart: What impact will the transfer of financial resources and responsibilities to Scotland’s new police and fire services have on local government budget settlements? Furthermore, how will the Scottish Government ensure that any initial or subsequent adjustments to the figures are redistributed in a way that is transparent and accountable both to local government and to residents and businesses...
Anne McTaggart: I am delighted to contribute to this debate on the Camphill movement in Scotland, and I thank Alison McInnes for securing time in the chamber to highlight the valuable work that Camphill and its many volunteers and staff undertake. I also welcome the Camphill staff who are in the gallery. As we have heard, Camphill is an international organisation that supports people who have mental and...
Anne McTaggart: I am delighted to take part in this key debate on the outcomes of the UN climate change negotiations, and I welcome the opportunity for members in the chamber to consider carefully the impact of the international agreements in a distinctly Scottish context. It is clear that the serious environmental challenges that we now face must be tackled by means of international co-operation, and that...
Anne McTaggart: I am delighted to contribute to the debate on the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth games and I join other members in congratulating the organisers and supporters on the fantastic progress that has been made. I am a proud Glaswegian, so I look forward to welcoming athletes and supporters from all over the Commonwealth to the city. I firmly believe that the event provides a unique and special...
Anne McTaggart: I welcome the opportunity to discuss the important contribution that migrants make to Scotland’s unique social and cultural identity. I thank Christina McKelvie for securing time for a debate to celebrate international migrants’ rights day, which is held on 18 December annually. I wish her a speedy recovery and thank Sandra White for stepping in as cover. I am confident that the majority...
Anne McTaggart: Violence against women is too often a hidden problem in Scottish society, and the work of campaigns to promote zero tolerance of domestic, sexual and physical abuse is invaluable in the wider effort to tackle sexism and promote a fairer and safer society. I thank Malcolm Chisholm for bringing the debate to the chamber to celebrate the progress that has been made as a result of 20 years of...
Anne McTaggart: I welcome the opportunity to discuss the Scottish Government’s proposals on planning reform and I am keen to contribute to the debate on ensuring an efficient, fair and transparent planning system for local authorities, developers and the communities that they serve. As the planning minister Derek Mackay has recognised, the Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006 was a significant improvement in...
Anne McTaggart: We always welcome extra additions to our local authorities. Any reform to current procedures must be accompanied by additional support, which the minister has talked about. However, as John Pentland mentioned earlier, we must ensure that that is cost effective if we are to ensure that there is a win-win situation and that local government is not affected to its detriment. It is right that we...
Anne McTaggart: I am delighted to contribute to this debate on the Scottish coal industry’s importance to the wider Scottish economy, and I thank Adam Ingram for securing it. In the face of new and emerging technologies, coal’s importance as an energy source can often be forgotten or marginalised. However, as the motion states, more than 4,000 people are directly or indirectly employed in an industry...
