Plenary, 16 Nov 2006
Meeting date: Thursday, November 16, 2006
Official Report
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Minister and Junior Minister
The next item of business is consideration of motions S2M-5158 and S2M-5159, in the name of the First Minister, on the appointment of a minister and junior minister.
First, I record my personal thanks to Peter Peacock for the contribution that he has made to Government in Scotland. I am sure that everyone in the chamber will want to wish him a full recovery. [Applause.]
As Peter recuperates and gets back to full health, he can reflect on the many outstanding improvements in education in Scotland since devolution. There have been dramatic improvements in attainment in primary and secondary schools, and more young people go to university and college. There are more teachers in our classrooms, smaller class sizes and more schools of ambition. Peter can also be proud that Scottish schools are leading the way in the United Kingdom on enterprise education and the quality of school meals. Everyone in the chamber should be proud that the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development rates our 15-year-olds as among the best performing in the world. Only three countries have significantly higher attainment in maths, science and literacy.
Peter Peacock has, rightly, received almost universal praise this week for his work as Minister for Education and Young People, but I also put on record my appreciation for his work and achievements as a minister in finance, local government, public services, Europe and, of course, promoting Gaelic.
Although I am very sorry that Peter Peacock has had to stand down from the Cabinet, I am delighted that, in Hugh Henry, we have an outstanding deputy minister to promote to the post. Hugh has already served the Government well in both the Health Department and the Justice Department and he was instrumental in securing reforms to our court system and in tackling knife crime and antisocial behaviour. I know that he will wish to continue the Government's programme of improvement and investment in education and to enhance our school building programme. I am delighted to propose that the Parliament agrees that Hugh Henry be appointed as a minister. I understand that there are many teachers in his immediate and extended family who might keep a close eye on him in that position. I am sure that, given other aspects of Hugh's past, in addition to being a teacher, he will bring a disciplined approach to the portfolio. He will know how to stop anybody selling newspapers outside the schools.
In proposing that Hugh Henry becomes Minister for Education and Young People, I also praise the work of Johann Lamont and, of course, Malcolm Chisholm on the Planning etc (Scotland) Bill, which the Parliament has discussed over the past day and a half. Having discussed the matter with Johann Lamont on Tuesday, I know how much she enjoyed the planning brief and how much of a wrench it is for her to move on from that, but I am sure that she will be an excellent Deputy Minister for Justice.
I also propose that the Parliament agrees that Des McNulty be appointed as a junior Scottish minister, specifically to the post of Deputy Minister for Communities. He has built up the role of the Finance Committee to make it one of the most important committees in our young Parliament. He has taken forward a number of inquiries that are of considerable relevance to his new role and his committee has produced significant reports that help us to understand, in particular, how our growing economy enables the pursuit of social justice and the end of poverty.
I commend the motions to the Parliament and hope that members will welcome and support the appointments.
I move,
That the Parliament agrees that Hugh Henry be appointed as a Minister.
That the Parliament agrees that Des McNulty be appointed as a junior Scottish Minister.
The questions on the motions will be put at decision time.