Holyrood Week: What the Glasgow MSPs have been up to in Parliament

On Tuesday at Topical Questions Pauline McNeill, Labour MSP, asked about reducing the number of female prisoners held on remand highlighting that one in four were on remand and many go onto to either be not guilty or not get a jail sentence.

MSPs responded to the First Minister’s latest covid update.

John Mason, Shettleston SNP MSP. asked when people could sing in church again. Nicola Sturgeon said it would be in Level one, which could be mid-July.

Bob Doris, Maryhill and Springburn SNP MSP, asked about the importance of people taking up the vaccine to prevent further outbreaks and lockdowns.

Following a statement by Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville on the scrapping of the SQA , SNP Kelvin MSP, Kaukab Stewart, asked how the views and experience of teachers would be included.

Bob Doris asked if there would be more emphasis on continuous assessment and less reliance on a one-off, high-stakes exam, in a new system.

MSPs debated the extension of the covid emergency laws for three days at Holyrood.

Pam Duncan-Glancy, Labour MSP wanted assurances that disabled people would be involved directly in a consultation on a permanency Bill. Deputy First Minister John Swinney agreed.

She also called for the evictions ban to cover all covid restrictions levels and for a public inquiry to be held as soon as possible for full scrutiny of decision making.

John Mason again raised the issue of laws affecting churches and said: “The state must be very wary of interfering with the churches or, for that matter, with any religion.”

Annie Wells, Conservative MSP, said there was not enough time to debate the emergency bill. She said: “The bill is being rushed through at incredibly short notice.”

Pauline McNeill noted the impact on musicians.

She said: “I speak on behalf of thousands of musicians, solo artists and bands from various sectors who feel forgotten about. Their livelihoods have been lost and their mental health is in steep decline.”

Patrick Harvie, Green MSP, welcomed the move from loans to grants to help with rent arrears.

He said: “There was a suggestion that people facing the prospect of losing their job over the coming months would be willing to take on debt in the interests of their landlords, but that clearly would not work.”

Bob Doris led a member’s debate on celebrating the 40th anniversary of MND Scotland.

During Education Questions on Wednesday, Paul Sweeney, Labour MSP asked the government to “ scrap pre-moderation, allow teachers to professionally determine grades without constraints and introduce a no-detriment appeals process.”

The Education Secretary said that was against what teachers had asked for.

Pam Duncan Glancy, responded to a Child Poverty statement and called for a minimum income guarantee to help “people in single-parent families, people of colour and families that include disabled people”.

On Thursday at First Minister’s Questions Anas Sarwar, Glasgow MSP and Scottish Labour leader raied businesses frustration with restrictions.

He said “Will the First Minister change her approach, engage and listen to them and adopt a can-do approach to this new stage of our pandemic response?”

Nicola Sturgeon replied: “What I will do is avoid easy slogans such as “can-do approach”. It is really important that we continue to move forward cautiously.”

John Mason asked the First Minister if food and drink exports to the EU down by 47% meant Scotland should have the choice of independence. She agreed.

Pauline McNeill asked if the First Minister would speak to McVitie’s owners over the closure of the Tollcross factory.

Annie Wells asked how long it would take for a review into cervical cancer records would take after it was revealed tests had been missed and one woman died.