Skip to main content
Loading…

Chamber and committees

Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

Filter your results Hide all filters

Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 12 July 2025
Select which types of business to include


Select level of detail in results

Displaying 876 contributions

|

Meeting of the Parliament

Topical Question Time

Meeting date: 28 May 2024

Foysol Choudhury

This is not the first time that there has been flooding on the Edinburgh city bypass. It should be a high priority for flood protections, but the flood resilience strategy consultation neglects our transport network in building new resilience to flooding. What risk assessment has the Scottish Government carried out? What investment will it make to ensure that our roads and railways are not closed and that people’s lives are not disrupted as we increasingly experience disruptive and damaging extreme weather?

Meeting of the Parliament

Europe Day 2024

Meeting date: 23 May 2024

Foysol Choudhury

Yes, I would support that but, if we cannot rejoin those programmes, we need to look at other options, such as what Welsh Labour has managed to do with the Taith scheme. Our Government should make that a priority, too. Redoing the Brexit debate will not solve the cost of living crisis, but we can renegotiate the deal to better serve working people.

Although Scotland and the United Kingdom are no longer part of the European Union, we are still European. Our shared history and culture transcend any political institution. With the future being more uncertain than ever, we must have a collaborative relationship with our European partners. We must never forget what happened in the past when that co-operation was absent.

13:15  

Meeting of the Parliament

Europe Day 2024

Meeting date: 23 May 2024

Foysol Choudhury

I congratulate Alasdair Allan on bringing the debate to the chamber.

As we mark the 74th Europe day, we must never forget why integration was pursued in Europe. In 1950, in the aftermath of the second world war, which caused so much death and destruction, Robert Schuman, the French foreign minister, called for European integration, so that war would become

“not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible”.

We should still abide by that important principle for peace in Europe, and the events of recent years show that co-operation is more important than ever. The invasion of Ukraine goes against everything that we have pursued for the past 74 years. It is imperative that our support for Ukraine remains steadfast and that a peaceful Europe remains the norm.

The motion mentions the festival of Europe that took place earlier this month. At the festival, I spoke on a panel with Ben Macpherson and Christine Jardine MP. I urged that, rather than bickering about Brexit once more, we should build a new productive relationship with Europe—one that is built on our shared values of democracy, equality and the rule of law and that delivers for working people.

There are several ways that we can do that. The motion highlights Scotland’s loss of access to EU programmes and what they can do for communities. The loss of Scotland’s membership of the Erasmus scheme, which allowed thousands of Scottish students to study in Europe, is regrettable. Scotland should look at emulating the success of Welsh Labour’s Taith scheme, which has allowed Welsh students continued access to educational exchanges.

Culture has also suffered as a result of Brexit. Performers and artists from Scotland are held back by the high costs of touring in Europe, and vice versa. If artists cannot come here, brand Scotland is threatened, as is our status as a leading country for culture.

An incoming Labour Government could institute a new touring agreement with the European Union so that artists can tour without expensive visas. The Scottish Government should look to co-operate on that issue, rather than being stuck on the constitutional issue.

Meeting of the Parliament

Post Office (Horizon System) Offences (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Meeting date: 23 May 2024

Foysol Choudhury

On a point of order, convener. I was unable to connect. I would have voted yes.

Meeting of the Parliament

Portfolio Question Time

Meeting date: 23 May 2024

Foysol Choudhury

I have been contacted by many constituents, particularly taxi drivers, whose cars come up as being eligible to drive in low-emission zones when checks are made online. However, when they contact their councils or their taxi offices, they are informed that their cars are, in reality, not eligible. Can the cabinet secretary assure me that the Scottish Government is taking action in order to ensure that the information on the LEZ vehicle eligibility checking service is accurate?

Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee

Office for the Internal Market (Annual Report)

Meeting date: 16 May 2024

Foysol Choudhury

Does the Government need to improve messaging or engagement?

Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee

Office for the Internal Market (Annual Report)

Meeting date: 16 May 2024

Foysol Choudhury

Good morning. I have a few small questions. First, are the regulations in the UK different from what we have in Scotland, in general? In your view, what are the barriers for businesses that want to trade in Scotland if the regulations are different?

Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee

Office for the Internal Market (Annual Report)

Meeting date: 16 May 2024

Foysol Choudhury

I do not want to go on the data, but do businesses understand the new regulatory development and how it might affect them?

Meeting of the Parliament

Portfolio Question Time

Meeting date: 16 May 2024

Foysol Choudhury

A 2022 national partnership for culture report found that 73 per cent of primary school teachers feel unprepared by their initial teacher education to teach music. The same percentage of primary teachers also reported feeling underresourced to deliver culture as part of the curriculum. In the light of the reduction in the number of music specialists, as highlighted by Miles Briggs, what action is the Scottish Government taking to ensure that primary school teachers have the skills and resources to support culture?

Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee

Continued Petitions

Meeting date: 15 May 2024

Foysol Choudhury

I think that we should keep the petition open until the review is concluded. Maybe the convener will want to organise a committee visit to Venice as well. [Laughter.] However, I feel that we should wait until Creative Scotland’s review is concluded.