Meeting of the Parliament
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MEETING OF THE PARLIAMENT Wednesday 15 January 2003 (Afternoon) Session 1 £5.00 Parliamentary copyright. Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body 2003. Applications for reproduction should be made in writing to the Licensing Division, Her Majesty‟s Stationery Office, St Clements House, 2-16 Colegate, Norwich NR3 1BQ Fax 01603 723000, which is administering the copyright on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. Produced and published in Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body by The Stationery Office Ltd. Her Majesty‟s Stationery Office is independent of and separate from the company now trading as The Stationery Office Ltd, which is responsible for printing and publishing Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body publications. CONTENTS Wednesday 15 January 2003 Debates Col. TIME FOR REFLECTION .................................................................................................................................. 13933 COMMISSIONER FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE (SCOTLAND) BILL: STAGE 1 .......................................... 13935 Motion moved—[Karen Gillon]. Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab) .............................................................................................................. 13935 The Minister for Education and Young People (Cathy Jamieson) .......................................................... 13939 Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP) ......................................................................................... 13942 Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) ........................................................................................... 13944 Ian Jenkins (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD) ........................................................................... 13945 Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab) ............................................................................................................. 13948 Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD) .................................................................................................... 13949 Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD) ............................................................. 13949 Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) .................................................................................... 13951 Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP) ................................................................................................ 13951 Cathy Jamieson ....................................................................................................................................... 13953 Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab) ........................................................................................................... 13954 RAIL INDUSTRY ............................................................................................................................................. 13957 Motion moved—[Bristow Muldoon]. Bristow Muldoon (Livingston) (Lab) ......................................................................................................... 13957 The Deputy Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning (Lewis Macdonald) ..................... 13961 Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP) ..................................................................................................... 13964 David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con) ................................................................................................ 13966 Iain Smith (North-East Fife) (LD) ............................................................................................................. 13968 Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab) .................................................................................................... 13971 Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP) ........................................................................................ 13972 Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) ................................................................................. 13974 Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con) ..................................................................................... 13976 Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green) ............................................................................................................. 13977 Elaine Thomson (Aberdeen North) (Lab) ................................................................................................ 13979 Ian Jenkins (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD) ........................................................................... 13980 John Scott (Ayr) (Con) ............................................................................................................................. 13983 Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP) ................................................................................................ 13984 Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD) .................................................................................................................. 13986 PARLIAMENTARY BUREAU MOTIONS .............................................................................................................. 13989 Motions moved—[Euan Robson]. The Deputy Minister for Parliamentary Business (Euan Robson) ........................................................... 13989 DECISION TIME ............................................................................................................................................. 13990 GLASGOW TO BARRA AIR LINK ..................................................................................................................... 13992 Motion debated—[Mr Duncan Hamilton]. Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) .............................................................................. 13992 Mr Alasdair Morrison (Western Isles) (Lab) ............................................................................................. 13996 Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con) ................................................................................. 13998 Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD) ................................................................................................................... 14000 Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP) ..................................................................................................... 14001 Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con) .......................................................................................... 14003 Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) ................................................................................. 14004 John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD) ............................................................... 14005 Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP) ....................................................................................... 14006 Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) ............................................................................................ 14008 The Deputy Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning (Lewis Macdonald) ..................... 14009 13933 15 JANUARY 2003 13934 soldier who watched him dying on the cross. That Scottish Parliament same God continues to touch people‟s lives today through each of us. We are his instruments and, if Wednesday 15 January 2003 we allow him, he can do great things through us. I pray that the Scottish Parliament‟s deliberations (Afternoon) will be inspired by God‟s love for his people, especially the marginalised in our society. [THE PRESIDING OFFICER opened the meeting at 14:30] God of passionate life, fill us with your radiance, enkindle us with your love and touch us with your goodness. May the truth that we seek and accept shine through all that we are and do. Time for Reflection Amen. The Presiding Officer (Sir David Steel): To lead our time for reflection this afternoon, we welcome Sister Marie O‟Dea, the project leader of the Wayside day centre for homeless people in Glasgow. Sister Marie O’Dea (Wayside Day Centre for Homeless People): Good afternoon. I thank you for inviting me to share this time with you. The inspiration for my reflection comes from my time working with homeless people in London and Glasgow. Homeless, disillusioned, bereft of contact with family and friends and struggling with his dependence on alcohol, Jim was at his lowest ebb when he observed a child being chased by a dog. She was running towards him with her arms outstretched. Momentarily disregarding the consequences of his actions and what he may have been accused of, Jim took her in his arms and comforted her until the child‟s mother arrived to shake his hand and thank him for his efforts, saying, “I hope things will improve for you.” The little girl smiled and waved at Jim. At that moment he knew that life would get better for him because somebody had believed in him and trusted him. Jim‟s life changed. He sought help for his drink problem, got accommodation and eventually returned to work. Some of us here may have had experiences of people who have touched our lives and helped us to realise our self-worth and value as human beings. Over the years, I have been privileged to meet a number of homeless people who, despite their circumstances, have inspired and challenged me with their courage and thoughtfulness. Down through the ages, people from all walks of life have inspired and challenged others