Jackie Dunbar
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“I do not believe for one second that Reform UK cares about people like me; it cares about division and power, and crypto donations from dodgy billionaires. Reform UK does not represent me—it disgusts me. I am under no illusion that folk are frustrated at so much of what is happening, and not happening, in the world today.”
“Some folk who have never struggled before are now struggling, and some folk who have struggled their whole lives now doubt that things will ever get better for them. They are seeing the consequences of austerity, of a lack of investment in jobs and of a lack of spending in their local communities.”
“Anyway, I appreciate that the low-emission zones policy might inconvenience Baron Offord of Garvel, depending on which of his five cars he is driving at the time, but it will add years to the life expectancies of thousands of Scots.”
“At this point, I will take an intervention from any Reform MSP who wants to tell us whether they think that their party is too racist or not racist enough. George Adam: Oh—nothing! Jackie Dunbar: Perhaps I will use some different quotes: “I told you time and time again, I’m protecting the country”. “Enough is enough. I have had enough”.”
“The same folk who were leading the fight against “benefit scroungers” a decade ago when they were in the Conservative Party are now in Reform UK saying that we should “look after our own”. Maybe I am just not seeing what Reform MSPs are believing.”
“I wonder whether the MSPs who have been joining “street patrols” or the ones calling people “strangers” might see some similarities, too. I am not expecting them to stand up and hold their hands up, but those who are capable of quiet reflection may wish to try it.”
The complete record
Every one of 437 lines we hold for Jackie Dunbar, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 6 of 9.
“As we move towards electrification to facilitate the decarbonisation of our homes, it is vital that we ensure that clean heat is affordable and accessible. Will the cabinet secretary join me in calling on the United Kingdom Labour Government to act urgently to lower energy bills, alleviate fuel poverty and facilitate the investment and take-up of clean energy technologies? Gillian Martin: A country such as Scotland should not have fuel poverty. The Labour Government pledged to cut bills by £300, but now those bills are, on average, more than £280 higher than at the time of the general election. UK ministers should immediately deliver a social tariff in the form of an automatic and targeted discount on energy bills to address unaffordable bills at source.”
“To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the steps that it is taking to increase service capacity in GP practices within NHS Grampian. (S6O-04983)”
“The increased potential for wildfires in rural areas and their capacity for destroying livelihoods and natural environments that we in urban areas rely on—whether in a broad sense of offsetting our carbon emissions and supporting biodiversity, which our cities struggle to maintain, or closer to home in the sense of getting food into our shops and on to our tables—should concern us and should provoke action from us all. 13:24”
“I recognise that the Government is having to balance a lot of very important concerns when it comes to muirburn licensing, but I hope that consideration will be given to the issue and to how best to support those carrying out muirburn in any reviews of our wildfire policy. I welcome the cross-party nature of the debate and my colleagues’ calls for a collective effort to find a way forward for wildfire prevention and effective response, but that will be incomplete without direct engagement with Scotland’s gamekeepers—on-the-ground professionals whose knowledge can help us to build the resilience that we need in rural communities. Wildfires are a relevant issue to everyone in this country, and nowhere is immune from the risk, as Aberdeen knows.”
“From knowing where natural fire breaks have been placed to being intimately aware of the most effective access points for emergency vehicles, their input is not just nice to have, it is crucial for fast action and fire resilience. That expertise is crucial in fire prevention as well as for the response. Knowledge of how to safely carry out muirburn and prevent the build-up of dry vegetation is knowledge that we cannot afford to lose. We hear a lot about muirburn in wildfire discussions. Carried out responsibly in accordance with the muirburn code, it can be very effective in preventing wildfires from taking hold.”
“I spend a lot of time in Emma Roddick’s beautiful region, as well as in rural Aberdeenshire, and I have seen for myself the expertise that exists in people’s roles. Sadly, that expertise is often overlooked in a crisis, and that is to our detriment. However committed our fire brigade workers are, they will not know the ins and outs of what is happening with the ground where the most flammable vegetation is, and they will not know where the ground might be more resistant to catching, in the same way that someone who is out there every single day tending to it will. I support Emma Roddick’s comments about ensuring that the SFRS has the correct equipment available, but I urge our vital emergency services personnel to consider the value of what land managers and gamekeepers have to offer in a crisis, too.”
“I thank Emma Roddick for bringing this very important issue to the chamber for debate. It is important to remember that wildfire risk exists across Scotland. Nowhere is immune, and that will only become more obvious as we experience more frequent extreme weather events. Aberdeen is already familiar with the problem, with the Gramps—Tullos Hill—going up in flames again this year, and almost all of Scotland was categorised as having a high risk of wildfires in the summer months. A key difference when a fire takes hold in the city of Aberdeen, compared with one on Dava moor or elsewhere around the Highlands, is that there is peat in the Highlands, which can continue burning for days or, more often than not, weeks. Land managers and gamekeepers know that. They know where the peat is and they know how to deal with it.”
“Once met, the furlough grant entitles Alexander Dennis to recover 80 per cent of the basic wage costs of its manufacturing staff, which gives the company the much-needed flexibility that it needs to place employees on furlough in the period when materials for new orders are being sourced and ensures, crucially, that the facility will be operationally ready to commence work at the end of the 26-week period.”
“I very much welcome the announcement that 400 jobs have been secured as a result of the Scottish Government’s intervention and furlough support. Can the Deputy First Minister say any more about how the funding will be deployed to secure a future for the Alexander Dennis workforce? Kate Forbes: Some of the details about the furlough support are commercially sensitive, but the intention is for funding to be made available to Alexander Dennis once a certain threshold of new orders has been evidenced.”
“The big focus of the cashback for communities programme, which is receiving additional investment, is to bear down on preventative work. Police Stations 2.”
“The importance of reaching young folk who are at risk of joining gangs at an early age cannot be overestimated. What is the Scottish Government doing to support organisations that work to help and support those who are most at risk of becoming involved in crime? Angela Constance: I reassure members that the Scottish Government continues to tackle youth violence in all its forms, including through education programmes, effective consequences for offences, appropriate police powers, and sustained school and community engagement with young people. That work is backed by an investment of more than £6 million to implement the violence prevention framework, which includes actions to address the carrying of weapons in and around schools.”
“That is welcome, but having an adequate complement of staff in our schools is fundamental to driving the change in behaviour that we need to see. The budget sets out the extra provision of support that is available.”
“The importance of the contribution of pupils feeling supported towards improving their behaviour in schools cannot be overestimated. Will the minister speak further on how the Scottish Government’s 2025-26 budget is delivering measures to assist young folk throughout every stage of their school experience? Jenny Gilruth: As I alluded to in my statement, the budget makes provision for an extra £29 million in relation to additional support needs. I was very keen that that additionality was used to support, for example, additional specialist staff, whom we know make a real difference in our classrooms. However, the budget also provided for an uplift in funding to protect teacher numbers. Pupil teacher ratios in Scotland are lower than anywhere else in the United Kingdom.”
“I want Scottish Water, WICS and every aspect of water in Scotland to remain something for us to be proud of—well run, affordable, delicious and publicly owned. I hope that the work that we have seen from the Scottish Government and the committee to help WICS with its reset will ensure that, for years to come, Scotland’s water remains in Scotland’s hands. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you. We now move to closing speeches, and I call Alex Rowley to close on behalf of Scottish Labour. 16:37”
“All of those things were unacceptable. We expect our public bodies to have the highest standards, and that was not the case here. I am pleased that the Scottish Government has acted decisively by strengthening the WICS board, resetting the organisation from the top down and appointing interim members to get the organisation on a path to rebuilding public trust. The report is part of that process, too. Monica Lennon: Will the member give way? Jackie Dunbar: I am not sure whether I have time. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There is no time in hand. Jackie Dunbar: My apologies. I thank the Public Audit Committee for taking the time to consider all of this and for asking the difficult questions that need to be asked when public money is not being spent properly.”
“I have tried tap water in other places and it has not been that great. When we get to a tap in Scotland, especially in the north-east and the Highlands, and pour ourselves a glass of cold, crisp Scottish water, we soon find out that it is delicious. Having covered that off and said my piece about Scottish Water, I want to go on to the substance of the report. It highlights a number of failures at the Water Industry Commission for Scotland—which I am going to call WICS from now on, as I just stumbled over saying it. There were a number of financial management and governance failures at the commission; there was retrospective authorisation of high-cost training; there were improper staff gifts; there were weak financial controls; there were cultural issues with bullying; and there was a lack of challenge to leadership.”
“Clearly, we have a report in front of us that recognises what has not gone right—in this case, in the Water Industry Commission for Scotland. However, I want to make clear a few things that are undeniable. In Scotland, we have less pollution in our waterways than England has. A recent report found that 66 per cent—two thirds—of Scotland’s water bodies are of good ecological status, compared with just 16.1 per cent in England and 29.9 per cent in Wales. Moreover, water bills are lower. Water bills in Scotland average just £490 compared with £603 across England. In addition, Scottish Water being in Scotland’s hands is working because public ownership means not having to pay out millions in dividends. As a result, it costs folk less to have the cleaner water that we have in Scotland. My final point is that tap water in Scotland is tastier.”
“I, too, thank the committee for the hard work that was put into the report. We are here to discuss audits of the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, but it would be remiss of me not to reflect on some other aspects of water in Scotland, given the public coverage that there was over the recess. In case colleagues do not recall it, I remind them that the UK environment secretary, Steve Reed, made some very daft comments—in my opinion—about Scottish water. He claimed wrongly that pollution levels are worse in Scotland than in England. I would expect better from a UK minister than to share such misleading claims, to talk down Scotland and to talk down the value of Scottish Water being in public hands in the process. I am not going to suggest that everything to do with water in Scotland is perfect.”
“Whether it is phased out, is forced out or runs out, there will come a time when Aberdeen no longer has an oil and gas industry, but being home to a workforce that is so highly skilled offers us a golden opportunity to establish ourselves as a net zero capital.”
“Many young folk have a parent who works in the energy industry. If those jobs are not there when they grow up, there is a big question mark over what jobs there will be. The third priority is growing the economy. In Aberdeen, as I have already alluded to, the energy sector is the biggest part of our economy. Thousands of folk in our city work for energy companies and thousands more work in the supply chain, and the money that they spend supports a high proportion of other local jobs. For decades, the fortunes of Aberdeen have risen and fallen with oil prices and, throughout that time, we have considered what a future without oil and gas might look like.”
“Instead of that, we have a Labour Government that is still persevering with the two-child cap, which is forcing thousands of our bairns to go to bed at night hungry. Thank goodness that we will take a different path in Scotland, and that the Scottish Government will abolish the two-child cap. With that, alongside the baby box, the Scottish child payment, best start grants, 1,140 hours of free childcare a year and a continued investment in our nurseries and schools, we are ensuring that every child gets the best start in life. The second priority involves the climate emergency. Some may say that that is an issue for the world that our young folk will inherit. However, in Aberdeen—Europe’s energy capital and the future net zero capital of the world—the journey to net zero has already started and is already impacting on folks’ lives.”
“After a long recess away from Parliament, it is good to be back talking about our priorities and about what matters to my constituents and to folk across Scotland. The Scottish Government has four key priorities: eradicating child poverty; tackling the climate emergency; growing the economy; and sustaining public services. In Aberdeen we can see how those four priorities are interlinked and are combining to provide one single clear direction for the future of our city and our country. Let me talk through them in turn. We might think that the value of giving every child the best start in life and eradicating child poverty would be clear for everyone to see. However, if we truly want to protect children, we must start by protecting them from poverty.”
“We can make no better investment than in our young people—it is an investment in Scotland’s future. Today, we can help to build that future by passing the Education (Scotland) Bill and pushing on with improving our education system. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I call Davy Russell, who is this evening making his first speech in the Parliament. 20:29”
“The Scottish Government has been clear, time and again, that it will do everything that it can to close the poverty-related attainment gap. That is not only about an education bill and new organisations but also about the investment of billions in our schools estate and £1 billion in the Scottish attainment challenge, expanded free school meals and breakfast clubs, school uniform grants, the game-changing Scottish child payment and, before that, the baby box and best start grants. What a contrast to the United Kingdom Government’s continuing to balance its books on the backs of children through their shameful two- child cap—actually, something else for my list is that it is this SNP Scottish Government that is abolishing the two-child cap in Scotland.”
“Qualifications Scotland will be a new authority, with new governance arrangements, new people, including a headteacher, and a new ethos. Those changes might be seen as small to start with, but those small changes will add up and I am certain that, over time, they will mean substantial and tangible improvement for our pupils and teachers. The bill also seeks to create an independent inspectorate to ensure that every child gets the great education to which they are entitled. However, the whole bill—new qualifications authorities and inspectorates, and all the amendments that we have seen as the bill moved through Parliament—is only one step in a journey. The end of that journey is when every single child in Scotland has the best chance to succeed in life and poverty does not hinder their life chances.”
“I said that the system is great, not perfect. That is because there is always room for improvement, some of which will be directly achieved by the bill and some enabled by it. The most talked-about change that the bill will deliver is that the Scottish Qualifications Authority will be replaced with a new national qualifications body for Scotland, aptly called qualifications Scotland. Our committee heard a great deal about how the SQA could improve. We heard that our teachers felt that there was a disconnect between the SQA and their profession and that the SQA’s work did not seem to take account of the reality in our schools. The stand-out example for me was when qualification requirements were changed during an academic year. That is being changed.”
“I am pleased to stand tonight to speak in favour of the Education (Scotland) Bill. As deputy convener of the Education, Children and Young People Committee, I start as others have done by thanking everyone who has contributed to the bill and helped to shape it as it made its way through our Parliament. After months of scrutiny by the committee, I am looking forward to making the final few changes to the bill with the amendments that were in front of us today. Now we can get on with dotting the i’s, crossing the t’s, and driving forward with improving our education system. Although we are looking to improve it, we should not forget that our starting point is that we already have a great education system thanks to the hard work of teachers up and down the country and to the pupils, too, who I sometimes think do not get enough credit.”
“Amendment 134 disagreed to. Section 11—The teacher and practitioner charter Amendment 135 moved—[Pam Duncan- Glancy]—and agreed to. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I remind members that, if amendment 136 is agreed to, I cannot call amendment 137, due to pre-emption. Amendments 136, 138 and 139 moved—[Pam Duncan-Glancy]—and agreed to. Amendment 140 moved—[Pam Duncan- Glancy]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 140 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division. Members should cast their votes now. The vote is closed.”
“For Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Con) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Con) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Ross Greer] Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Rona Mackay] Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) The Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 49, Against 69, Abstentions 0.”
“On a point of order, Deputy Presiding Officer. I am finding it very difficult to hear what you are saying. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Ms Duncan-Glancy—you are not Ms Duncan-Glancy. [Laughter.] It is not even that late yet. I will try to speak up, Ms Dunbar. I cannot call amendment 131, which is pre- empted. Amendments 132 and 133 moved—[Pam Duncan-Glancy]—and agreed to. Amendment 134 moved—[Pam Duncan- Glancy]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 134 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“Although, in 2024-25, we received an update on the in-year position as part of the UK Government’s autumn budget process, which was welcome, an element of capital was subsequently reduced in early 2025, only six weeks before the end of the financial year. Therefore, we must always maintain an element of contingency to manage last-minute changes to our overall funding envelope, which consequently reduces investment opportunities.”
“The majority of the Scottish Government’s funding continues to be tied to decisions of the United Kingdom Government and is subject to high levels of uncertainty until very late in the financial year. Will the minister give a practical example of the consequences of Scotland’s funding being tied to Westminster? Ivan McKee: There is always uncertainty in our funding envelope until quite late in the year, given the way in which the devolved Governments’ finances work. Receiving clarity on the overall funding position from the UK Government as early as possible is beneficial for our planning, to avoid any last-minute budget reductions and reprioritisations.”
“Support will be available to them but, to be blunt, my priority is to find an avenue through this and to ensure that the company has a future. I have set out the way in which I think that that can be done.”
“The prospect of job losses is extremely distressing for workers and their families, and I welcome the Scottish Government’s urgency in addressing the matter. Can the Deputy First Minister provide an update on the Scottish Government’s latest engagement with the employees of Alexander Dennis and the trade unions to ensure that their voices inform the Scottish Government’s work? Kate Forbes: My approach has been to engage with the unions in an open manner. We have shared the progress that we have made and our thinking with them, and we have tested whether they would support the options that we have identified as a potential route forward, which I think is really important. We recognise that the workforce will be feeling uncertain.”
“We introduced amendments to the Housing (Scotland) Bill that will broaden ministers’ powers to impose timeframes on social landlords to investigate disrepair, such as damp and mould, and to start repairs, ensuring that homes are fit for purpose for families. That is before we even touch on the work that the Government has done to support the cost of living and to prevent homelessness in the first place. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Question 8 has not been lodged. That concludes portfolio question time. Before we move on to the next item of business, there will be a short pause to allow front-bench teams to change position. Public Service Reform Strategy”
“Jackie Dunbar: The impact that inadequate and unaffordable housing has on child poverty levels is clear. Can the cabinet secretary outline what action the Scottish Government is taking now and in the immediate future to work towards eradicating child poverty through improvements to housing? Màiri McAllan: We know how central housing is to tackling child poverty. That is why, as I indicated in my original response, we are investing £768 million this year to support the delivery of more than 8,000 affordable homes, with £16.3 million being made available in Aberdeen. Since the national housing emergency was declared, we have helped an estimated 2,669 households with children into affordable housing in the year ending December 2024.”
“To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting tenants in Aberdeen to protect and enhance their rights to a safe, secure and affordable place to live. (S6O-04830) The Cabinet Secretary for Housing (Màiri McAllan): The First Minister has been clear that housing is a priority for this Government. Having been appointed Cabinet Secretary for Housing, I am firmly committed to that and, as part of it, to supporting tenants’ rights. The Government has already started to take a range of actions to support tenants, including those in Aberdeen. That includes investing £768 million in affordable housing this year alone, introducing measures in the Housing (Scotland) Bill—some of which I have mentioned—in support of the introduction of longer-term rent controls, strengthening tenants’ rights and tackling disrepair in homes.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent report, “Energy Transition: 41st Survey”, by the Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, which reportedly demonstrates that the United Kingdom is losing the supply chain and skills necessary to deliver net zero. (S6O-04795)”
“Whatever form it takes, whether it is a museum or something else, we must ensure that Glover has a lasting and fitting legacy in Aberdeen. As our city looks beyond oil and gas, he is probably an example for someone who could help to build new industries. Some of that might involve tourism—in which case, we must get better at telling and marketing his story—or it might be done through entrepreneurship, and it is his spirit that we will need to tap into. I have spoken about the past; now, the question is, what will the future be? I thank Karen Adam again for giving me a chance to talk about Thomas Blake Glover today. 13:04”
“It was bought by Mitsubishi in 1996, restored to what it would have looked like in the 1850s, and was given to the Grampian Japan Trust to run as a museum. In 2006, it moved to being run by Aberdeen City Council, before eventually closing in 2012 due to low visitor numbers and rising costs. I remember being given a tour and hosting Japanese dignitaries there back in the day, when I had the privilege of being depute provost of Aberdeen. Money has been spent maintaining and repairing the house since, but 13 years later, the council is still looking for a suitable purpose for the building, and its condition is slowly getting worse. It needs to be lived in to survive, as is the case for all buildings—they decay much more quickly when unused.”
“However, let us start with Thomas Blake Glover. Karen Adam has already spoken about much of his life. It certainly was not boring or uncontroversial. He was an immigrant—well, an emigrant to us—he was an arms dealer; he was a criminal, due to the arms dealing, although he seems to have been forgiven as he sold only to the winning side and he commissioned warships for Japan in shipyards in Aberdeen; he ran a coal mine; he was a pioneer of public transport; he created jobs; and he owned a brewery. There is something there for everyone to have an opinion on. It is certainly not a life that deserves to be forgotten, and it is disappointing that Glover house, his parents’ former home that I mentioned, is now sitting empty.”
“We have a man who helped to shape Japan’s history by playing a role in its civil war, helping to rebuild its navy, introducing rail travel there— maybe, one day, we might even reintroduce rail services to his native Broch, as Karen Adam said—and playing an important role in the foundations of the two internationally recognised brands of Mitsubishi and Kirin. Thomas Blake Glover is a man whom we should be talking about. The extraordinary life that he lived lends itself to storytelling, but far too many folk have not heard of him. I hope that today's debate will help more people to hear and learn about Thomas Blake Glover. If we can have success with him, we can maybe move on to some of our city’s five Nobel prize winners, or the great minds that came through King’s and Marischal colleges during the Scottish enlightenment.”
“I congratulate my friend and colleague Karen Adam on securing today’s members’ business debate on Thomas Blake Glover. There is a very long list of folk from Aberdeen— whether they were born there, grew up there or lived there later in life—who have helped to shape the world as we know it today. We have a history of innovation, world-leading engineering and global influence, but we are absolutely dreadful at telling folk about it. We seem to not want to talk up our history or the folk who made it happen. Thomas Blake Glover is probably the best example of that in Aberdeen. He is at least somewhat known and spoken about, although a great part of that is due to the work of the Mitsubishi Corporation and its kind donations that saw his parents’ home in Bridge of Don, in my Aberdeen Donside constituency, turned into a museum.”
“To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any engagement it has had with the United Kingdom Government regarding the impact of the increase to employer national insurance contributions on the third sector in Scotland. (S6O-04762)”
“We will continue to make that position clear publicly and in our engagements with the”
“The extension of the energy profits levy, previously by the Conservatives and now by the Labour Government, has had an adverse effect on Scotland’s industry. Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce has said that 10,000 North Sea jobs have been lost since 2022 because of the levy. As Westminster policies inflict hardship on Scotland’s workforce, will the minister give details of any engagement between the Scottish and UK Governments on the issue? Alasdair Allan: Publicly and privately, the Scottish Government has made plain to the UK Government its position that the levy must have an end date and that we have concerns about the increase in the levy and the impact that it clearly has, as the member is only too aware, on investment decisions that are made in the sector in the north-east of Scotland.”
“Most recently, the group heard a presentation on potential solutions to issues with RAAC that do not require a full roof replacement. Lessons learned from the RAAC working group have been taken forward with the establishment of the cross-sector building safety forum, whose remit is to consider current and emerging building safety issues. If anyone is interested, minutes of all meetings of cross-sector working groups, including sub- groups, are on the Scottish Government website.”
“Will the minister provide an update on the work of the RAAC cross-sector working group and say how it can support the sharing of learning and best practice in the response by public bodies to RAAC? Ivan McKee: The cross-sector working group on RAAC was established just prior to the UK Government’s decision to close schools because of the condition of RAAC. The group brings together public bodies that are affected by RAAC, along with professional advisers and academics. It has created a network where relevant current information can be shared. For example, the Institution of Structural Engineers noted that there is no evidence to support the oft-quoted 30-year lifespan of RAAC. More recently, the focus has been on housing, with the housing sub-group meeting regularly.”
“The money that was provided allowed us to provide 60 per cent coverage for the directly employed staff, including those in NHS Grampian, and the remainder is having to be provided through savings or other efficiencies in services. I do not think that that is an acceptable position for Labour to defend. I do not want that tax on public services in Scotland to continue. The issue needs to be resolved at source at Westminster. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I encourage members to listen to the questions and the responses with a degree more respect than was the case for that exchange.”
“Reports earlier this year suggested that NHS Grampian faces additional costs to the tune of £20 million per year as a result of Labour’s careless decision to increase employer national insurance contributions. Will the cabinet secretary outline what assessment the Scottish Government has made of that issue in the light of what is already a difficult fiscal environment for NHS Grampian? Neil Gray: I thank Jackie Dunbar for her question, because she provides important context for the financial situation with which the Government is wrestling in relation to health services across Scotland. [Interruption.] We know that the increase in employer national insurance contributions is a tax on public services in Scotland.”