The Scottish Government

Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning

Friday, November 30, 2007

In May of this year the people of Scotland voted for a new approach and better future for Scotland. Now we are asking you to take part in a National Conversation on whether more powers would be beneficial for our country.

For example, skills for work is a devolved area, but the UK Government often leads in the design of employment and skills policies. UK Government employment and benefit-related policies generally address the wider skills needs of the UK but don't always take account of what's best for Scotland.

We recently launched the first ever skills strategy for Scotland 'Skills for Scotland' to address Scotland's skills issues, some of which are different from those in the rest of the UK. Further transfer of powers in the area of employment services could provide greater coherence and accountability for delivery of employment and skills development policy.

We just have to look to small independent countries across the water to see that further powers could help Scotland become smarter.

We could deliver a more comprehensive early years strategy if we had more say over reserved areas. The ability to set maternity and paternity leave, for example, would allow us to support parents in those crucial early years. We need only look to Iceland to see the benefits. It can set maternity and paternity rules which currently give fathers three months leave when mothers decide to return to work. This not only makes the return to work easier for mothers but also ensures fathers take more interest in their child's upbringing.

Our National Conversation is the first step to exploring what extra powers could do for Scotland - I for one am convinced we would thrive and compete on the world stage, providing a better standard of living and quality of life for families.

This blog is now closed to further comments.

Comments

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• 31. geedee - Lothian

  Wednesday, October 17, 2007 22:53

  I think it wud be a great idea to teach more about Scotlands past at secondary school history lessons. I left school 11 years ago at 16 and did an engineering programme and then got a job. There were no problems there. However what bothers me now is the history lessons I got while at school. Most of the subject was on Egyptian history, during the time of the Pharaohs. I never thought much about it at the time. When ive been on holiday to places like America and Australia the poeple there seem really interested in hearing great stories about Scotland. I found I knew more about the pyramids than my own country. Ive bought a some books in the last few years and there is so much about Scotlands past that I find far more interesting and entertaining. I think it would have been far better to learn about that while at school. I was just wondering if it was the same for others, or has it changed since?

• 32. Gordon Murray - Livingston

  Sunday, October 21, 2007 16:33

  31. geedee - Lothian
  Wednesday, October 17, 2007 22:53
  
  I'm told that the reason that Scottish history is not taught in our Schools is that it is too boring.
  
  My 12 year old niece refused to recite Burns in class because it had been instilled into her that this was written in 'bad language'. To her this was being asked to swear in front of a grown up and very rude.
  
  Like you I learned Scottish history not in school but from listening to BBC Radio Scotland and Jimmy McGregor, who seemed always to be talking about the place I happened to be travelling through at the time.
  
  This got me interested and set me off to learn more.
  Now with the internet it is much easier.
  
  In all my years I never recieved any schooling in my own history except about the losers, William Wallace a rough brute and outlaw was hung drawn and quartered as a traitor, Robert the Bruce spend most of his days hiding in caves watching spiders and died a leper apparently. Flodden field, the Covenanters were only briefly touched upon, as were Mary Queen of Scots, and 'Bonny' Prince Charlie and Culloden.
  How England came to our rescue and created Great Britain when 'everyone in Scotland' lost their money trying to sell woolly jumpers to American Indians at Darien, because Scotland was so primitive and barren where not even trees can grow over most of the country.
  The Romans had ignored Scotland because it was not worth conquering and simply built fortified walls to keep us savages out of the civilised Roman Empire on the other side in England. Finishing up with Shakespeare's MacBeth.
  
  What they all had in common was that throughout history we Scots have been a bunch of losers, according to my teachers.
  
  I wondered why the Scottish schools curriculem concentrated on only the negative aspects of our story and ignored the rest, surely we were good at something?
  
  It took me until my twenties and thirties to learn the extent to which I had missed out, but at school I did the history of the 'British Monarchy' from Ethelred the unready, Alfred and his burnt cakes, 1066, the Tudors, right up to the Windsors, but somehow excluding the Saxe-Coburg-Gothas.
  
  I never learned that eg Scotland had it's own kings at the time of Henry VIII or about the Rough Woo-ing.
  
  Similarly, I was taught the reason that shipbuilding in Scotland ended was because the Clyde was too narrow to launch the big ships that Asian countries could and that Scottish workers were too expensive and inefficient.
  
  In my forties now I sometimes wonder if there may have been a political agenda at work to reinforce the message that as Scots we should be thankfull we have Great Britain to thank for our warm houses and colour TVs.
  
  With the broadcasting review underway I hope that in future we might see more programs in the mould of 'Scotland's Story', or currently 'The Highland Clans' which I have found to be entertaining, informative and believe might serve to illuminate the lessons of our youngsters in schools and convince our educators that Scottish history and culture need not be regarded as 'too boring'.

• 33. S.E.J - Glasgow

  Monday, October 22, 2007 12:01

  I must agree with Gordon Murray.
  
  I am attending college now after leaving a sixth year of High School. The only time we were ever taught anything abou Scotish history, to my recolection, was in 1st year as an introduction to history.
  
  The only way I have ever heard about Scottish history was learning from my parents, grandparents, and any friends who happened to be interested in that subject in their own time.
  
  I am also shocked at how anyone could say that Rober Burns was, 'bad language'. It is an integral part of Scottish Culture. Anyone who denies his place in our history and denies anyone learning or reading his poems is scandelous.
  
  Teach future Scottish High School student, or even primary school students, our history. For as the old saying goes. "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it."

• 34. Dave McKinnon - Glasgow

  Tuesday, October 23, 2007 14:05

  Well, I got taught plenty about Scottish history at my school - in fact, arguably schools today teach too much Scottish history and then don't mention anything that Scotland did as part of Britain.
  All this nonsense about how we don't get Scottish history at school is completely false. It's just that history needs to be taught in an interesting way to get the attention of kids.

• 35. Richard Sharp - Gold Coast, Australia

  Thursday, October 25, 2007 03:12

  I am a Scotsman living in Australia and have done so since I was 14. I am extremely proud to be Scottish and would very much love to see our country be independent.
  
  If Scotland was its own nation again I would be the first one on the plane back home to help in any way possible to ensure the success of an independent Scotland.
  
  As the world becomes a smaller place, lets not allow our proud nation to dissappear.
  
  For as long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any condition be brought under English rule.
  It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.(from Declaration of Arbroath, 1320)

• 36. Stay in Australia - Fife

  Friday, October 26, 2007 15:54

  #35
  
  Richard Sharp
  
  I am sure you would have made a life for yourself no matter where you settled and I am sure you are a very nice person. However, thanks to you and others like you, I am sure, Scots are broadly welcomed in every country in the world.
  
  You are mistaken in suggesting that Scotland's identity has been submerged by the UK. I was born Scottish, lived in Scotland all my and raised my family here. 'Scottishness' exists in the mind and in the heart, and is above petty nationalism. Being a part of the UK no more diminishes my love and pride in being Scottish than being a minor member of the European Union, which is the option on the SNP's table, would.
  
  I'll take my chances with the UK thanks.
  
  If the price of your return ticket is that my security is abandoned to the whims of the SNP, then, no offence intended, I hope you never make!!
  
  If, however, you would like to see how Scotland has progressed since you left, you are more than welcome.
  
  PS ASalmond wants independence for Scotland, but wants to keep the Queen as our, (his), head of State? SIR Alex perhaps, or maybe King Alex.

• 37. Jackie Gordon - Fife

  Friday, October 26, 2007 20:38

  Why don't you come clean and say what you really think? You hate the English.

• 38. jackie e - grangemouth

  Friday, October 26, 2007 23:18

  I have just watched newsnight on bbc2, and again I thought that the scotish are getting taking for a ride, I really dont no much about politics but i no when it stirs my insides, from a young age I was allways aware that as scotish we were seen as the under dog and different, well I would like to say that we should no longer be the under dogs, and have the courage to go for it on our own!!!! yes we may make a few mistakes but thats life we are all only humam NOT MACHINES!! and I for one will back our fight for freedom 110%. As i thing we all should!!
  
  I think sometimes its not all about politics because i dosnt make a great deal of differance who is in government, what makes the difference is that we all stand together for a better Scotland for our kids!!! And that means being independant, and showing our kids the true meaning of independance instead of dependace!!!

• 39. Gordon Murray - Livingston

  Saturday, October 27, 2007 11:56

  36. Stay in Australia - Fife
  Friday, October 26, 2007 15:54
  
  Thanks to Scots like you, all over the world we are considered English. Which is fine, if you don't mind that sort of thing.
  
  Petty nationalism as you put it, is Rule Britannia, 'putting the Great back into Britain', Britain for the British, keeping a nuclear stick and a military with which to 'coax' other peoples into conforming with the 'ideals' of the British Empire, the original 'white settlers'.
  
  (Curious how often the spreading and maintenance of democracy and British- now American-ideals seem to coincide with the availability of valuable exploitable resources.)
  
  How would you say Scotland has 'progressed' in the modern era, since the end of WWII?
  
  How do you measure our national or international successes:
  On industrial achievements; economic statistics; military campaigns; integrity, capability and accountability of our parliamentarians and political system; sporting prowess; artistic flair; medical provision; care for our weaker and vulnerable residents; academic brilliance; quality of housing and infrastructure; tackling crime and the rehabilitation of offenders; our legal and criminal justice system; aid to poorer nations or communities; quality of life indices?
  
  Compare those with, since we've mentioned them, England and Australia.
  
  So how have Australians done on their own compared with when they were ruled by Whitehall in London as part of the British Empire and Commonwealth?
  
  What arguments did the UK government put to the people of Australia to encourage them to remain under London rule?
  How were these recieved, and how do they differ from those now being given to us in Scotland?
  
  Is the story of Australia, from the latter part of the 20th century on, about 'petty natonalism'?
  
  

• 40. The Director - London

  Saturday, October 27, 2007 23:10

  The SNP have done a marvelous job in the business of Governance. There will , all in good time be a referendum placed before the citizens of all Scotland.
  For now is the formation of modern era Scottish Politics that shall take Scotland forward as a self determined Sovereign Nation State.
  People are wrong to presume that there is a sole reliance on the Scottish Oil Industry to rebuild Scotland. Today we have a wide diversity of industries and modern technology forms as well as a strong agriculture and manufacturing base that will all combine to take the country forward.
  On the subject of Oil, I shall state that there are new oil reserves on the other coastline waters of Scotland hat have yet to be extracted. Yet I do believe that it would be appropriate that one day in the future that the Scottish Oil would indeed be controlled by an Independent Scottish Government. If the Oil Industry was renationalised, as in countries like Russia and Venezuela, then the Scottish Government would ascertain greater fiscal revenue which in turn can compliment for the future as well as for the sustained development of new technologies and businesses throughout Scotland.
  A country where there is the realisation of the aspirations of the Citizen of Scotland and one where there is a positive culture of entrepreneurship and enterprise that is World Class.
  I do believe that there should be a program of renewal of the Social fabric of depleted areas in Scotland as well, where there can be new development to bring Scotland social housing which has been in neglect by westminister for so long , to a modern decent standard.
  I would thus campaign to see ghastly estates be redeveloped to fit the modern criteria of decency and dignity for the many,no matter to what social strata the derive from.
  There shall be no barriers to talent being developed either, and this applies to business, sport and those that want to help move Scotland forward. There lies much work ahead, but with rigour and determination a Modern Scotland shall emerge that would proudly sit amongst other self determined nation states at the United Nations.
  I would like to see Regional Ambassadors appointed to have their own commission offices in each of the world's continents promoting Scotland's economic and social interests.
  Most of all I believe in n Education and Healthcare system that shall be a basic human right that is fit for purpose in a modern world and that is amongst the finest in the world.
  By investing today both fiscally and through resolute policies we collectively build a better Scotland for tomorrow.
  I would like to see economic regeneration of the rural areas as well, this can be good to introduce new tourism industry initiatives. I would like to equally see a strong revived Shipbuilding Industry that can procure major contracts from Europe, South America and the Far East. The sad truth is that Westminster has neglected Scottish Industry for too long. It is why the Government of today shall rebuild these sectors to be Global economic winners and not losers.
  Yes, in part this requires vision but most of all it require strong leadership and one that is refreshing in style and substance of Governance for the Scottish people of all denominations.
  Thus over the next two years, there shall be continued progress and one that I believe the intellectual and political argument shall be won.
  On a concluding note about the Scottish position on proliferation. Under International Law and the Geneva Protocols if in the event of a War it is Illegal to use Nuclear weapons on Nation states that do not have such munitions. Thus there is a case for the Disarmament of the Nuclear Portfolio in Scotland, because under International Law they cannot be used in any case. The SNP is right to look at the modern considerations that prevail, proliferation is not the route forward for Scotland and the First Minister is absolutely correct in his perception on this issue. And in relation to the Scottish Energy Portfolio, well this is a mixed portfolio and is not just reliant on Oil. Equally there shall be a phasing out of Nuclear Power stations within Scotland to more clean and environmental friendly portfolios.
  I do believe that in time the people of Scotland shall see a vision and confidence within Government of how the country is managed as well as Governed and at the appropriate time there shall be a referendum. This first term in office is about good leadership as well as substance and winning for the Scottish people be that in Westminster or in Europe, in any case Scotland shall move forward with confidence.

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