Summary

  • The Finance Committee takes evidence from Auditor General Caroline Gardner on the fiscal framework

  • This week’s portfolio questions focuses on education and skills

  • Transport Minister Humza Yousaf says "ScotRail has learned lessons" following a series of problems on Scotland's railways

  • The government leads a debate on the future of social security in Scotland

  • SNP MSP Bob Doris leads the mother of all member’s debates entitled ‘Year of the Dad’

  1. That's all for tonightpublished at 18:16 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    Holyrood

    That's all for Holyrood Live on Wednesday 23 November 2016.

    We'll be back tomorrow morning. Have a good evening.

  2. Granddad Iain Gray retweets Fathers Network Scot and Year of the Dadpublished at 18:16 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

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  3. Minister praises excellent work of Home-Startpublished at 18:14 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    Childcare and Early Years Minister Mark McDonald says celebrating dads should include step dads, foster dads, adoptive dads and granddads.

    Home-Start North volunteers and families in the gallery
    Image caption,

    Home-Start North volunteers and families in the gallery

    Mr McDonald says he is aware of the excellent work of Home-Start and the efforts of its staff.

    He says the Scottish government supports the work of Home-Start and has provided £197,000 in funding for 2016-17 to the charity.

  4. Year of the Dad campaign inclusive and includes all male role-models in children's livespublished at 18:12 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    Childcare and Early Years Minister Mark McDonald says this debate has been an important celebration of dads.

    Childcare and Early Years Minister Mark McDonald

    Mr McDonald says the Scottish government is clear that supporting dads is important for making Scotland the best place to grow up.

    The minister says Year of the Dad is inclusive and and includes all male role-models in children's lives. 

  5. Background: The Year of the Dad campaign launches at Edinburgh Zoopublished at 18:11 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    Fathers with children at launchImage source, Warren Media
    Image caption,

    The campaign was launched at Edinburgh Zoo in January

    The Year of the Dad campaign was launched at Edinburgh Zoo in January by Minister for Children and Young People Aileen Campbell.

  6. Here's that Mark Twain quote for my much loved daughter......published at 18:09 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    Mark Twain
    Quote Message

    “When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.”

    Mark Twain, Outstanding author

  7. Tory MSP says when he became a father he thought about all that his father has done for himpublished at 18:06 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    Tory MSP Finlay CarsonImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Tory MSP Finlay Carson

    Tory MSP Finlay Carson says he does not take the opportunity to tell his dad how he feels about him.

    Mr Carson says his father is 90 years old and has always worked hard.

    The Tory MSP qotes Mark Twain and says as a teenage you don't take the time to cherish the little moments in life.

    He says when he became a father he thought about all that his father has done for him. 

  8. Flexible working practices important for dadspublished at 18:06 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    SNP MSP Gillian Martin says she challenged her friend and colleague Bob Doris to carry out the debate with his son Cameron in a sling around his neck but he obviously forgot. 

    SNP MSP Gillian Martin

    Ms Martin says her member's debate last week focused on flexible working and MSPs discussed parents fitting their working lives around their families.

    She says it stands to reason that the highest earners go back to work and because of the gender pay gap that is likely to be the dad. 

    Ms Martin says this means the father may miss out on certain things and this should be considered when thinking about flexible working practices.

  9. Labour MSP Iain Gray sends soildarity to dads from Scotland's granddad sectionpublished at 17:57 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    Labour MSP and Granddad Iain GrayImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Labour MSP and Granddad Iain Gray

    Labour MSP Iain Gray sends soildarity to dads from Scotland's granddad section.

    Mr Gray praises Home-Start and the work they do which goes to the heart of families needs.

    Home-Start in East LothianImage source, Home-Start in East Lothian
    Image caption,

    Home-Start in East Lothian

    He says they are prepared to do anything to help.

    The Labour MSP praises Home-Start in East Lothian.

  10. More fathers than ever before are stay at home dadspublished at 17:57 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    Scottish Conservative Donald Cameron says debates like this give fathers in the chamber the opportunity to reflect on their experience but also the influence their own fathers have in their lives.

    Mr Cameron says many are not so fortunate and there are many young families struggling with issues such as post-natal depression, poverty and bereavement.

    Donald Cameron

    The Tory MSP pays tribute to Home-start for there work in this area and trying to help families deal with these issues.

    Mr Cameron says the stereotype of working father and stay-at-home mother is changing and more fathers than ever before are staying at home.

    He apologises for not being able to make the Homestart event tonight and not because of other parliamentary business but because it is his children's bath time. 

  11. Background: Charity launches 'Year of the Dad' in Edinburghpublished at 17:50 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    Scotland's first "Year of the Dad" was launched in Edinburgh in January.

    The charity Fathers Network Scotland (FNS) aims to highlight the positive contribution fathers make to children, families and society.

    Father with babyImage source, Thinkstock

    Events will include a conference held in collaboration with the Centre for Research on Families and Relationships.

    FNS said it would be "a day of reflection, dialogue and stimulation for academics, policy-makers, diversity and inclusion leaders".

    Fathers Network Scotland is also looking to recruit working dads to take part in research projects.

  12. The SNP MSP praises the foster and adoptive dads across Scotland.published at 17:49 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    SNP MSP Fulton MacGregor tells the chamber he and his partner are expecting and there is applause from the chamber.

    SNP MSP Fulton McGregor

    Mr MacGregor also mentions his son and how important he is in his political decision making.

    He says we must remember those who cannot become dads and those who were dads who have lost children.

    The SNP MSP praises the foster and adoptive dads across Scotland. 

  13. Bob Doris says his favourite time is 5.30am, as it's dad time with his sonpublished at 17:45 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    Mr Doris praises welcomes funding from the Scottish government's Children and Young People's Integration Fund for Home-Start to lead the development of more work with dads across its network in Scotland. 

    The STV AppealImage source, STV Appeal
    Image caption,

    The STV Appeal

    He also welcomes other funding opportunities to develop Year of the Dad activities, including the STV Appeal and the Cattanach Trust. 

    Mr Doris says his favourite time is at 5.30am, which is dad time with his son Cameron.

  14. Praise for HomeStart Glasgow Northpublished at 17:42 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    Home Start Glasgow NorthImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Home Start Glasgow North

    Mr Doris asks how do we engage with dads who need assistance?

    The SNP MSP also asks how we best celebrate fatherhood?

    Mr Doris went to Home-Start Glasgow North , externalfor the answers.

    He says Homestart helps dads become more confident and he praises the staff at Homestart Glasgow North.

  15. SNP MSP working through how two life events have changed himpublished at 17:40 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    SNP MSP Bob Doris welcomes those from Home-Start projects particularly Home-Start North volunteers and families who are in the gallery.

    SNP MSP Bob Doris

    Mr Doris says many of the volunteers seem to be inspirational women which led him to think about the dads.

    The SNP MSP says he has recently welcomed his first child but also lost his own father to terminal cancer.

    He says he is still working through how both these events have changed his life.

  16. Background: Home-Startpublished at 17:38 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    HomestartImage source, Homestart
    Image caption,

    Homestart

    Home-Start is one of the leading family support charities in the UK, external.

    Home-Start volunteers help families with young children deal with the challenges they face. We support parents as they learn to cope, improve their confidence and build better lives for their children.

  17. Background: What is year of the dad?published at 17:36 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    Year of the dad infographicImage source, yearofthedad.org

    A celebration of the difference a great dad can make! , external

    A year of celebration, insight and collaboration to promote the importance of fathers in child development and support men to be the dads they want to be. 

    Organised by Fathers Network Scotland, external in partnership with a range of organisations, it is supported by the Scottish Government and runs until the end of 2016.  

  18. Year of the dad member's debate beginspublished at 17:36 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    SNP MSP Bob Doris will now lead a debate focusing on the year of the dad. 

    Here is his motion: 

    Bob Doris motionImage source, Scottish Parliament
    Image caption,

    SNP MSP Bob Doris' motion

  19. The Scottish government motion as amended is agreed topublished at 17:35 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    The Scottish government motion as amended, with 92 MSPs for it and 30 against. 

    Government motionImage source, Scottish Parliament
    Labour amendmentImage source, Scottish government
  20. The Scottish Labour amendment is agreed topublished at 17:34 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    The Scottish Labour amendment is agreed to, with 92 MSPs agreeing to it and 30 against.

    Labour amendmentImage source, Scottish Parliament