Young People in Scotland: Employment Opportunities

Debate between Lord Sarwar and Lord Weir of Ballyholme

Monday 14th September 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Sarwar (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend for that question and agree with her wholeheartedly. I repeat what I said to the noble Lord: we stand ready to work with the Scottish Government on these issues. I will give the example of an area that is of course of real importance to my noble friend: the Western Isles. There we have a particular challenge, with a ferry service that is not competent, meaning that there is loss of trade almost every week. Services are being taken away—for example, around our skills system—and resources are being taken away from the university based there and in the highlands. In addition, too many young people are being forced to leave the Western Isles because they cannot get adequate housing to bring up their young families. This shows that we need a joined-up approach, and the Government stand ready to do that. However, I again urge the Scottish Government to take much more action on all these issues, rather than undertaking stunts in other parts of the country such as the one they engaged in today.

[Lord Weir of Ballyholme (DUP)]

My Lords, I welcome the Minister to his place. To some extent he has touched on this in his previous answer, but does he agree that the Scottish First Minister would be better placed dealing with practical priorities such as co-operating with the UK Government on issues such as youth unemployment, rather than engaging in performative pantomime politics such as meeting the leaders of Plaid Cymru and Sinn Féin today?

[Lord Sarwar (Lab)]

I emphasise again that of course, I and the First Minister of Scotland have a different view on the constitution of the UK and the constitution in Scotland. However, to be honest, the most meaningful thing the First Minister of Scotland, and indeed the First Minister of Wales and the First and Deputy First Ministers of Northern Ireland, can do is deliver for their populations. When in Scotland we have rising youth unemployment, ever-longer NHS waiting lists and too many children leaving school without the opportunities they deserve, those are the issues the Scottish Government should be grappling with every day, rather than gathering in Cardiff to sign a piece of paper and perform a stunt, acting against the interests of the good people of Scotland.