Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) Thursday 3 June 2021 Session 6 © Parliamentary copyright. Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Information on the Scottish Parliament’s copyright policy can be found on the website - www.parliament.scot or by contacting Public Information on 0131 348 5000 Thursday 3 June 2021 CONTENTS Col. FIRST MINISTER’S QUESTION TIME ..................................................................................................................... 1 Scottish Qualifications Authority ................................................................................................................... 1 Covid-19 (Government Response) ............................................................................................................... 5 Green Recovery............................................................................................................................................ 9 European Union Settlement Scheme ......................................................................................................... 11 Schools (Maximum Class Sizes) ................................................................................................................ 12 Forced Adoption Apology ........................................................................................................................... 13 Police Officers (Burn-out) ........................................................................................................................... 16 Ferry Services (Stornoway to Ullapool) ...................................................................................................... 16 Police Officers (Body-worn Cameras) ........................................................................................................ 16 Covid-19 Vaccine (Minority Groups)........................................................................................................... 17 Covid-19 Delta Variant (NHS Dumfries and Galloway) .............................................................................. 17 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Waiting Times) ................................................................. 18 Euro 2020 Fan Zone (Covid-19 Tests) ....................................................................................................... 19 Just Transition (Oil and Gas Sector) .......................................................................................................... 19 Covid-19 Quarantine (Overseas Energy Workers) ..................................................................................... 20 EDUCATION ..................................................................................................................................................... 22 Motion moved—[Shirley—Anne Somerville]. Amendment moved—[Oliver Mundell]. Amendment moved—[Michael Marra]. Amendment moved—[Ross Greer]. The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills (Shirley-Anne Somerville) ............................................... 22 Oliver Mundell (Dumfriesshire) (Con) ......................................................................................................... 30 Michael Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab) ................................................................................................ 34 Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green) ......................................................................................................... 37 Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (LD) ................................................................................................... 41 Jackie Dunbar (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) ................................................................................................ 43 Pam Gosal (West Scotland) (Con) ............................................................................................................. 45 Kaukab Stewart (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) ................................................................................................... 48 Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab) ..................................................................................................... 50 Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) ................................................................................ 53 Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con) ......................................................................................................... 55 Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) .............................................. 58 Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) ................................................................................................ 61 Jim Fairlie (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) ............................................................................. 64 Gillian Mackay (Central Scotland) (Green) ................................................................................................. 67 Stuart McMillan (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) .................................................................................... 69 Sue Webber (Lothian) (Con) ...................................................................................................................... 72 Ross Greer ................................................................................................................................................. 74 Michael Marra ............................................................................................................................................. 77 Meghan Gallacher (Central Scotland) (Con) .............................................................................................. 81 The Minister for Higher Education and Further Education, Youth Employment and Training (Jamie Hepburn) .................................................................................................................................................. 85 DECISION TIME ................................................................................................................................................ 90 1 3 JUNE 2021 2 Scotland who were so badly let down by the SQA Scottish Parliament and its exam grade disaster last year. It will also not be shared by the thousands more who are Thursday 3 June 2021 facing what looks like another year of grades chaos and confusion. [The Presiding Officer opened the meeting at Last night, Leon Cameron of Glasgow Youth 12:00] Council said: First Minister’s Question Time “We are extremely angry at the people with authority— the Scottish Government, the SQA—that they keep saying that everything is ok, when it is not. They are clearly in The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone): denial over this issue.” Good afternoon. I remind members that social distancing measures are in place in the chamber He continued: and across the Holyrood campus. I ask that “We have been put through hell.” members take care to observe those measures, including when entering and exiting the chamber. The First Minister said that she would answer all Please use the aisles and walkways to access questions on the issue clearly. Does she agree your seat and when moving around the chamber. with Leon Cameron that her Government and the SQA are in denial? Scottish Qualifications Authority The First Minister: I do not agree with that. It is 1. Douglas Ross (Highlands and Islands) my duty to persuade young people and their (Con): Does the First Minister have full confidence parents across the country that although no in the Scottish Qualifications Authority? Government can take away all the impacts on our young people of a global pandemic, this The First Minister (Nicola Sturgeon): Yes, I Government—working with teachers, local do. On this year’s qualifications, it is important that authorities, representatives of pupils and parents I and the Government recognise, first of all, that and, of course, the SQA—is doing everything that this is a really anxious and difficult time for we can, in a highly challenging set of pupils—and, indeed, their parents—across the circumstances, to deliver fairness for pupils. That country. It is really important that we and the SQA work will continue. continue to listen. We are doing our utmost to continue to deliver fair grades in what are very The alternative certification model was difficult circumstances. developed by the national qualifications group, which brought together teacher representatives, If there are further questions on the issue today, parents and pupils. We are often asked, rightly, to I will try to answer them all as clearly as possible, listen to teachers. The Educational Institute of because scrutiny and understanding are Scotland said that the model gives pupils important. However, I will try to stay away from “the best opportunity to demonstrate what they have partisan politics, not least because many of the learned.” arrangements that we are putting in place are very similar to those that are being put in place in I and the Government will continue to listen to England and in Wales under Governments of young people. That is why, for example, the SQA different parties. That reflects the fact that this is a has put in place an appeals process that gives difficult situation. every young person a direct right of appeal, free of charge. In setting that important context as we go—as I am sure that we will—into the detail, I can perhaps There have been some very difficult decisions to do no better than