The SNP has today called on opposition leaders to follow the example set by the First Minister and correct the mistakes that they have made in the Chamber.

Producing just some of the examples of uncorrected factual inaccuracies by both Ruth Davidson and Johann Lamont, the SNP have now invited these MSPs to live up to the same standard and correct their own errors with the Parliament’s Official Report at the first opportunity.

Johann Lamont has erroneously claimed on more than one occasion that the Chinese steel contract for the Forth Replacement Crossing was valued at £800m, when in reality the value was only 5%-10% of this.

For her part, Ruth Davidson has listed a number of college courses which she claimed were “no longer available under the Education Secretary’s stewardship,” despite the courses still being available at a number of colleges.

Commenting, SNP MSP Dennis Robertson said:

“The people of Scotland rightly expect the highest standards of accuracy from their elected representatives – that is why SNP MSPs have apologised and accepted responsibility for inadvertent mistakes they have made.

“It is time for the opposition to conform to these same high standards.  Both Johann Lamont and Ruth Davidson have made factually incorrect claims in the Chamber, but neither of them have ever taken the opportunity to correct them.

“The First Minister gave just two examples of times where Ms Lamont and Ms Davidson have demonstrably given an inaccurate statement to Parliament. They must now both seek to correct these inaccurate statements immediately – otherwise they will lack credibility and will be open to entirely accurate charge of hypocrisy.”

Notes:

LAMONT CLAIMS ON FORTH CROSSING STEEL COSTS

(Official Report, 9 February 2012) Johann Lamont … Alex Salmond went to China and pulled off a master deal—the Chinese got an £800 million steel contract and we got two pandas…

(Official Report, 9 February 2012) Johann Lamont: … Alex Salmond is spending £800 million on steel—[Interruption]—and from that contract not a single job is being created in Scotland, at a time when 200 people are losing their jobs every day.

The total value of the principal contract for the Forth replacement crossing is £790 million, of which the steel component actually represents 5 to 10 per cent.

She has not corrected the record or acknowledged her comments misled Parliament.

Construction is supporting 1,200 direct jobs with more in the supply chain.

RUTH DAVIDSON COLLEGE CLAIMS

(Official Report: 15 November 2012) Ruth Davidson: I will give a few examples of courses that are now no longer available under the education secretary’s stewardship: higher national certificate in diagnostic imaging—gone; higher national diploma in human resource management—gone; HND in technical support—gone; HND in network computing—gone; qualifications in healthcare and nursing—gone. Mike Russell has labelled those subjects “hobbies”, which they are anything but.”      

HND Technical Support

Colleges running same course:

Kilmarnock College
City of Glasgow College
Cardonald College
Langside College
Anniesland College
North Glasgow College
Edinburgh College
Forth Valley College
West Lothian College
Aberdeen College
Stow College

Cumbernauld College

Dumfries & Galloway College

Reid Kerr College – HND Computing Technical Support

James Watt College – NC Computing Technical Support

Adam Smith College

Lews Castle College

College that offers a similar course or includes a module that covers it:

Angus College

Perth College

HND Network Computing

Colleges running same course:

City of Glasgow College

Edinburgh College

Stow College

Adam Smith College

Colleges that offers a similar course or includes a module that covers it:

Cardonald College – HND Networking with Forensic Security
Anniesland College – covered in HND Technical Support
Forth Valley College – HND Computing: Technical Support (Includes Microsoft Certification)
West Lothian College – HNC Computing

Motherwell College

Dumfries & Galloway

HND Human Resources

College running same course:

City of Glasgow College

College that offers a similar course or includes a module that covers it:

Inverness College – CIPD Human Resources Practice and HNC Business

Edinburgh College – CIPD Intermediate Diploma in Human Resources Management
Cardonald College – HND Business
Langside College – HND Business
Anniesland College – HND Business
North Glasgow College – Business Foundation Degree
Forth Valley College – HND Business

West Lothian College – HND Business

Ayr College – HND Business Management

Kilmarnock College – HNC Administration and IT

Perth College – Business HND

Stow College – HND Business

Clydebank College – HND Business

Carnegie College – CIPD Certificate of HR Practice

HNC Diagnostic Imaging

Colleges that offers a similar course or includes a module that covers it:

Stow College – Access to Health Studies: Radiography
Perth College – Applied Sciences: Pathway to Medicine HNC