Plenary Session - Scottish Parliament: 6th December 2012

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk - Scottish Parliament Plenary Afternoon Session. 2.30 pm Ministerial Statement: Rail followed by Scottish Government Debate: The Modernisation of Scotland's Career Services S4M-05109 Angela Constance: The Modernisation of Scotland's Career Services—That the Parliament agrees that the modernisation of Scotland's career services is vital to economic recovery in Scotland and to improving people's ability to manage their careers throughout their lives; agrees that Skills Development Scotland's service modernisation is in line with the Scottish Government's careers strategy, published in March 2011, which focuses on offering a modern service for all Scotland's people, making use of the latest technology, training and labour market information to ensure that individuals get the support that they need to enable them to succeed in their careers; also agrees that this supports delivery of Opportunities for All and plays a key role in ensuring that Scotland's young people make a successful transition from education into the world of work, and further agrees that the Scottish Government's commitment to continue working with a wide range of partners, including employers and individuals, will help to achieve its shared ambitions for young people across Scotland in the short, medium and long term. The Presiding Officer has selected the following amendments S4M-05109.2 Neil Findlay: The Modernisation of Scotland's Career Services—As an amendment to motion S4M-05109 in the name of Angela Constance (The Modernisation of Scotland's Career Services), leave out from first "agrees" to end and insert "acknowledges that, at a time of high and rising unemployment, careers information, advice and guidance is increasingly important to young people in school and those seeking opportunities post-school; believes that web-based services should be viewed as useful information tools that complement and supplement the careers advice and guidance system rather than as a replacement; is concerned at what it understands are the very low levels of registration by school pupils on the web-based system, My World of Work, and believes that the red, amber and green method of categorising pupils is resulting in many receiving little or no careers guidance; notes the reduction of 20% in frontline staff and the decline in opening hours of careers offices; further notes the results of two recent careers staff surveys that have raised serious concerns about the new service model, and urges the Scottish Government to reconsider its careers strategy and to work with Skills Development Scotland, careers staff, trade unions, academics and other stakeholders to carry out a full and rigorous assessment of the services being provided." S4M-05109.1 Liz Smith: The Modernisation of Scotland's Career Services—As an amendment to motion S4M-05109 in the name of Angela Constance (The Modernisation of Scotland's Career Services), insert at end ", and recommends that the most significant progress is likely to be made if there is more personalised careers guidance available to all pupils in the early years of secondary school that is in line with the main principles of the curriculum for excellence and actively involves other partners such as local businesses, colleges and universities."