Chamber and committees

I, too, was going to ask the witnesses about women.

Given everything that you have said, is it fair to say that the new prison at Stirling and the two new women’s custody units have put a lot more focus on these issues, and that the fact that they are new facilities has been positive for the direction of travel?

I welcome the fact that the motion has been lodged by the Scottish Government, and that the debate is taking place in Government time. I also welcome the earlier statement from the First Minister.

I appreciate that there are those who say that this Parliament should not be debating international issues, but I believe that it is right that we are holding this debate, as it affects all of us and our security, and we cannot stay silent as we watch the carnage and the multiple breaches of international law.

The main argument against the Scottish Government’s position seems to be that now is not the time. Given the slaughter that we have all seen, now is the time—in fact, we should have recognised Palestine many years ago.

The UK Parliament voted in favour of recognition of the Palestinian state in 2014, in a non-binding vote. However, successive UK Governments have failed to recognise Palestine. As the cabinet secretary and Alex Cole-Hamilton have said, the state of Palestine has been recognised by 147 of the 193 member states of the UN, and it has been a non-member observer state since 2012. As Anas Sarwar pointed out earlier, France, Australia, Canada and the UK recently stated their intention to recognise Palestine by September 2025—this month. This debate is therefore timely, and I urge the UK Government to recognise the state of Palestine without condition.

The backdrop, of course, is the extensive media coverage of human suffering, the mutilation and slaughter of children, the levelling of Gaza and destruction of infrastructure, starvation, famine and a blockade. Nobody can say that they are not aware of the human misery. Since the horrific events of 7 October 2023, there have been at least 20 UN votes expressing concerns and condemnation of Israel’s actions and calling for a ceasefire and for self-determination of the Palestinian people—but Israel is not listening. Israel annexed land by force in 1948 and 1967; illegal Israeli settlements have been built on Palestinian land since 1967; and the Israeli state has a formal system of legalised discrimination against Palestinian people.

Over the past two years, there have been some of the highest known death tolls among journalists, health and humanitarian workers and UN staff. Hundreds of Palestinians have been detained and have been subject to arbitrary detention in the West Bank. Children in Gaza have borne the brunt of the war; thousands of children have been killed and many more are living with life-changing injuries. There are verified reports of children dying from starvation and disease.

Any plan for peace must include Palestinian voices. I hope that the political groupings come together—it would be disappointing if the vote today were not unanimous. The Scottish Parliament must support the Palestinians and must support recognition today.

In February, after years of the Scottish Government ridiculing those arguing for the public ownership of Ardrossan harbour, the Cabinet Secretary for Transport announced, during rural affairs portfolio questions, that the Scottish Government now supported it. The Scottish Government knew more than 10 years ago, when it decided to commission the two Arran ferries, that the ferries did not fit into Ardrossan harbour, that the Scottish Government did not own Ardrossan harbour, and that it was going to be very difficult to get a deal with the owners, but it spent years failing to take the necessary compulsory action. Does the cabinet secretary accept that the Scottish Government has failed the people of Arran and Ardrossan?

To ask the Scottish Government what it plans to do to ensure that children in care are not excluded from school, as set out in the Promise. (S6O-04860)

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I could not vote. I would have voted yes.

Can the minister outline how he believes that it will be possible to address on-going exclusions from school of care-experienced children, given the harm that it does to their lives? Does he believe that a legislative solution through the Government’s Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill, which seeks to fulfil the Promise, will be possible, or does he believe that other strategies will be effective?

I want to understand why you have chosen that particular cohort and focused the scope narrowly on the offenders who would require to be subject to notification provisions. Many other perpetrators will have contact with the criminal justice system, be convicted and appear in summary proceedings. Why should those individuals not be covered by the scheme?

Thank you.

As the minister said, early intervention is key. Will she outline what further work is being considered to identify potential young offenders and develop early intervention programmes? In particular, will she respond to concerns about the funding of the no knives, better lives campaign, about which I have written to her, as there are concerns that there have been restrictions on funding in recent years?

Two United Nations reports have highlighted the persecution of the Gypsy Traveller community in Scotland and the need for an apology and further action. The First Minister says that the Scottish Government will listen. The community is asking for restitution and reparations. Does the First Minister agree that, where there are human rights abuses, compensation is appropriate?