Neil Gray
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“I welcome the fact that, through the police and the courts, our justice system is ensuring that justice is done. Victims show enormous bravery and trust in our legal system in reporting crime, and I want that to continue.”
“The Scottish Government-funded Caledonian system is a good example of a community-based programme that aims to address the behaviour of men who have been convicted of domestic abuse, alongside providing support to affected women and children.”
“On the day after my appointment as justice secretary, I visited HMP Edinburgh to see the level of pressure that the Scottish Prison Service is facing due to an increasing prison population. It is clear that staff want to focus on rehabilitation and reducing reoffending but that it is increasingly difficult for them to do so.”
“Scotland shows a clear and persistent trend of increasing the length of average custodial sentences, including a 37 per cent rise between 2014-15 and 2023-24.”
“However, although the operational impact that will result from the changes is expected to be minimal, I still advise the Parliament to give legislative consent to the relevant sections of the bill.”
“I note my thanks and appreciation to the Parliament for expediting consideration of this legislative consent motion. It is regrettable that we are having to expedite scrutiny on an LCM, which is due to the UK Government’s timetabling for the National Security (State Threats) Bill.”
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“I encourage anyone who is eligible but who has not yet heard to check the NHS Inform winter vaccines page for more information. Members will remember that, at the peak of the season last year, we saw emergency hospitalisations increase significantly, with more than 6,500 adults being admitted to hospital as a result of flu. This year, given the early rise in cases among children and teenagers, I specifically encourage parents and carers to support children to have the vaccine when it is offered to them at school. That is also vital in helping to prevent transmission of the virus to older or more vulnerable family members and friends. Contrary to what we have heard in some quarters, vaccines are safe and effective and save lives, and I ask for the support of colleagues from across the chamber to reinforce that message.”
“As this year’s winter vaccine marketing campaign reminds us, “For some, flu hits harder”, and it can be extremely serious. Although it is too early to predict what the dominant flu virus strain will be this season or how the season will evolve, I am paying close attention to the data. With cases starting to rise and emerging evidence suggesting that this may be another particularly difficult flu season, I urge all those who are eligible for vaccination to come forward and make it a priority to get protected. No matter what, vaccination remains our best defence and one of our most important preventative public health interventions. Almost everyone who is eligible to receive a winter vaccination should now have been contacted with an appointment or a prompt to book one.”
“That planning document builds on experience of previous years and sets out what matters most: prioritising care for those who need it most; taking preventative measures to keep people well; ensuring that people receive the right care, in the right place at the right time; supporting the mental health and wellbeing of the workforce; and maximising capacity by improving patient flow and access, reducing delayed discharges and tackling long waits. Those principles will ensure that people continue to receive high-quality care even when demand increases and not only in winter but year round, including during periods of surge demand due to respiratory viruses, heat-related illness or major local events. Every year, when the temperature drops and winter arrives, viruses such as the flu are a concern.”
“On the contrary, we have been working since last winter to learn lessons and support NHS boards and social care partners to plan their own preparedness and response. We have worked with partners in both the NHS and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to agree local plans that are underpinned by our national principles, and I am pleased to share those more widely today through the publication of our document “Surge and Winter Preparedness in Health and Social Care Services—National Planning Priorities and Principles”.”
“Earlier this year, we published our operational improvement plan, service renewal framework and population health framework, which together set out the short, medium and long-term actions that we will take over the next 10 years. Fundamental to our approach is giving greater control to those who best understand our national health service and social care system: the committed workforce that runs those services every day. Our focus on winter this year is very much in line with that. It involves supporting services to plan for winter pressures in a way that best suits their local circumstances while ensuring consistency across the country through nationally agreed priorities and principles. However, today does not represent the start of our winter planning.”
“I thank Jackie Baillie for lodging the motion for debate. I agree with a substantial amount of what she has put on the record today. I provided a statement in the Parliament last week in response to the recent concerning reports on maternity services in Scotland. I am aware that families have been impacted by NHS failures and that stories were covered by the BBC “Disclosure” documentary. I have just met one of those families; they are in the public gallery. I put on record my deepest condolences to them and give my thanks for their bravery in speaking up about their personal experiences. I know how difficult that has been, but it helps to ensure that we can learn and make improvements. I am genuinely grateful to them for that, and I would be happy to meet them, if that is possible.”
“I have been heartened by my engagement, including with deep-end general practices, on how we can use that model to tackle health inequalities, and that engagement will continue. Baby Loss (Support) 8.”
“Before the Government proceeds with any new models of care, perhaps it should first strengthen core general practice to improve access and tackle health inequalities. Neil Gray: I confirm that we are doing both. Pending the Parliament’s support for the Government’s budget, we will, over the next three years, invest £531 million—the single biggest investment in core GP services—to expand those services and employ more GPs so that more people can be seen in general practice. We will also provide more flexibility for patients to ensure that they can get through the front door of the national health service as easily as possible. That is why we are piloting the walk-in clinics.”
“Pauline McNeill: Has the cabinet secretary looked at the evidence from England that shows that walk-in centres led by general practitioners were used primarily by younger, more affluent patients with minor self-limiting conditions? Instead of improving access to core general practice or easing pressure on accident and emergency services, such walk-in centres might, in fact, exacerbate health inequalities by directing investment towards relatively healthy individuals. I am sure that the Royal College of General Practitioners will have raised that concern with the cabinet secretary. It has argued that that approach does not necessarily offer the best value for money, and it has called for greater investment in core general practice services.”
“Improving access to primary care is a key Government priority, as we build on our on-going commitment through the service renewal framework to shift more care into community settings and make services more accessible for patients. As part of that, we will develop options to improve access to primary care, including through local walk-in models, which will be open Monday to Sunday and will provide more flexibility for patients. We will develop the proposals first through a pilot model, which will complement, not duplicate, current core general practice. The Government will set out further details as the plans develop.”
“By ensuring that services are designed and delivered in ways that are inclusive, equitable and responsive to all communities’ needs, the aim is to target support at those who face the greatest barriers to accessing care because of geography, socioeconomic status, disability, ethnicity or other factors. Success will result in people accessing care more quickly, closer to home and more equitably. With national health service boards and primary care delivery partners, we are developing GP walk-in proposals that will reflect local needs. I will respond not only to Mr Gibson but to other colleagues on that in due course.”
“North Ayrshire also has Scotland’s lowest healthy life expectancy—a shockingly low 52 years. Before the financial crash, an ambulatory care and diagnostic centre was discussed. Does the cabinet secretary agree that the three towns should be prioritised for a pilot GP walk-in centre? When will members be informed of which areas have been chosen? Neil Gray: I very much hear the case that Kenneth Gibson is making on behalf of his constituents. Like him, I share the aim of reducing health inequalities, as set out in the population health and service renewal frameworks, which I think is what he is driving at in his question.”
“Improving access to primary care is a key priority for this Government. It builds on our on-going commitment through the service renewal framework to shift more care into community settings and make services more accessible for patients. As part of that, we will develop options to improve access to primary care, including local walk-in models, which will be open Monday to Sunday and provide more flexibility for patients. We will develop those proposals first as a pilot model that will complement—not duplicate or replace—current core general practice. The Scottish Government will set out further details as those plans develop. Kenneth Gibson: Combined, Ayrshire’s three towns of Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston have 33,000 residents. With high levels of deprivation, it is one of the largest populations in Scotland without a hospital.”
“On the national treatment centre programme, Liam Kerr will be aware of the capital position that the Government faces on the health portfolio in particular. There is currently a pause, other than in areas that are currently in development or set out under ministerial priority. However, we await the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s budget statement later this month, and I remain hopeful that, through its provisions, there might be increased capital investment in our economy that would allow us to take forward those projects much more quickly.”
“The full implications of the failures of the Scottish National Party Government and NHS Grampian to manage the finances remain unclear—including whether there will be further delays to the Aberdeen and north centre for haematology, oncology and radiotherapy, which is known as the ANCHOR, and the promised national treatment centre. I have a straight question for the cabinet secretary: will the financial troubles delay the ANCHOR further, and when will we get the national treatment centre that we were promised? Neil Gray: No. Progress continues to be made on the delivery of the Baird family hospital and the ANCHOR, and I very much look forward to the additional capacity that that will bring.”
“NHS Grampian has been escalated to stage 4 of the NHS Scotland support and intervention framework, which allows it to receive support from the Scottish Government that is commensurate with its challenges. As a result of that escalation, the Scottish Government has set up an NHS Grampian assurance board, which frequently challenges NHS Grampian’s financial management and position. We have also provided funding for an interim director of improvement and a diagnostic report on NHS Grampian’s financial challenges, and we meet its representatives weekly to enable us to monitor progress against financial targets. Liam Kerr: Yesterday’s damning Audit Scotland report warned that contending with a £68 million overspend in 2025-26 will require NHS Grampian to make big changes to its health and social care provision.”
“The Deputy Presiding Officer: Karen Adam has a supplementary question, which should be related to the principal question, please.”
“How will the Scottish Government provide redress, in accordance with the Scottish public finance manual, for my constituent’s company for the unjustified wrong that was done to it? Neil Gray: I thank Murdo Fraser for his question and for the correspondence on behalf of his constituent. I have corresponded with both him and the First Minister on the matter in a constituency capacity. Mr Fraser refers to the situation relating to events in 2018, which involved a different service—endoscopy decontamination—and not to the situation that NHS Grampian is currently facing, which is to do with decontamination elsewhere. At my insistence, officials have met Mr Donnelly in order to explore whether anything further can be done to support him in his position. The advice that I have provided to Mr Fraser, on his behalf, still stands.”
“I expect that a comprehensive service review of NHS Grampian’s central decontamination service will be carried out. That review will examine the decontamination process and the supporting infrastructure—including the plant, machinery and engineering services—that underpins safe and effective operations. Murdo Fraser: My whistleblowing constituent Jason Donnelly had his company’s contract with NHS Grampian cancelled after he raised concerns about patient safety. The First Minister is on record, on two separate occasions, calling for an independent investigation into those matters on the basis of evidence that was provided following freedom of information requests. It is clear that there has been maladministration on the part of NHS Grampian.”
“Neil Gray: As I set out in my proactive statement to Parliament, the situation in Skye is improving because there has been increased workforce development and support for increased employment in Portree hospital to ensure that Sir Lewis Ritchie’s review can be honoured. I was able to meet local residents to provide reassurances on the commitment from NHS Highland of continued improvement locally. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Members have a number of supplementary questions, and I will try to take all of them.”
“However, a freedom of information response obtained by SOS NHS campaigners showed that there were no advanced nurse practitioners on duty at Portree community hospital on 53 of the 84 nights between 1 July and 22 September 2025. That includes 6 August, when thousands of people attended the Skye highland games in Portree. NHS staff are being left to work under extreme pressure to deliver on ministerial promises that ministers are not providing them with the resources to deliver on. Is it any wonder that, when communities such as those in the north of Skye get broken promise after broken promise from the Scottish Government, confidence in the future of our NHS is so low?”
“There is no doubt that, as is the case in other countries, our health and social care services continue to face challenges, not least post Covid. However, with record funding and a focus on reform and renewal, we are empowering our NHS to deliver high-quality care to people across this country. We are investing a record £21.7 billion this year, targeting areas with the longest waits, tackling backlogs and ensuring that patients get the care that they need faster. Our plans are delivering results. Last year, for example, the NHS performed a record number of hip and knee operations, and new figures show that the number of people on NHS waiting lists has fallen. Jamie Halcro Johnston: In his statement to Parliament on urgent care in the north of Skye, Neil Gray sought to assure local people that he would seek continued improvement.”
“For all the reasons that I have just set out, I support Emma Harper’s amendment, I ask members also to support all my amendments in the group, and I strongly urge MSPs from across the chamber to resist all the Conservative amendments.”
“He has not, however, attempted to change the requirements that are set out in paragraph 1(4) of proposed new schedule 2 to the 2003 act, which include that the person who is named possesses the “qualifications, knowledge and experience suitable for assessing the ... value of agricultural land”. Unlike the amendments that have been lodged by the Conservatives, Emma Harper’s amendment 347 is directly helpful to all sides. It clarifies the tenant farming commissioner’s ability to make codes of practice that include the process for a landlord to resume leased land or to bring a 1991 act tenancy to an end through an incontestable notice to quit.”
“It makes sense only if the aim is to protect landlords at the expense of tenants, because that is ultimately the effect of the change. Tim Eagle’s remaining amendments 333, 335 to 337, 343 and 344 are all consequential to his other amendments that I have just discussed. Edward Mountain takes a more direct route with amendment 96, which is an alternative to his amendment 97, which we have already debated in group 23. Amendment 96 would require the landlord to nominate as valuer a person who “is qualified to determine the open market value as defined by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors”.”
“Finally, Tim Eagle’s amendment 339 makes a final effort to dilute valuation fairness further for tenants, aiming to ensure that Scottish ministers are unable to modify the meanings of “improvements” or “high farming” for valuation purposes. Tim Eagle: We have been talking about hope value. As I understand it, some of the concern in TFAF was about the risk that anything that would allow hope value could stifle rural development. Does the cabinet secretary accept that point? I think that people are looking for comments today from the cabinet secretary to assure them that that will not go forward. Mairi Gougeon: I do not necessarily share the concerns in relation to that, for the reasons that I set out in my response to Edward Mountain and in the comments that I have just made. I turn back to Tim Eagle’s amendment 339.”
“Secondly, there is already provision for that in the bill. Paragraph 4(2)(c) of new schedules 2A and 2 confirm that a valuer “is to take no account of” the use of the land “for a purpose that is not one permitted by the lease”. Thirdly, should evidence show that there is an issue with that, the bill includes a power that would enable ministers to fix the problem. Tim Eagle’s amendments 338, 340, 341 and 342 focus on valuing a tenant’s interest in the lease rather than the land. That might seem reasonable, and some stakeholders in TFAF are attracted to it for that reason. However, the reality is different, because the amendments leave the judgment entirely to the valuer, and the amount of compensation that is paid to the tenant can be expected to be significantly lower.”
“Edward Mountain: When someone enters a lease, they enter it for the land for agricultural use. They do not enter it in the hope that a better value will come along if it is not an agricultural lease. That would be a bit like renting a Mini and hoping that it will turn into a Rolls-Royce. That is what I am trying to stop. I am trying to make sure that the tenant farmer gets compensation for exactly what they entered into, and not for the hope that it might change into something else. I am not sure why the cabinet secretary does not accept that. I would be grateful to hear her views. Mairi Gougeon: I will set out my views in relation to that as I continue with my comments. First, I have seen no evidence that any kind of hope value or development value is, in fact, an issue when assessing the value of land for the purposes of compensation.”
“Amendment 334 is a consequential amendment that would change the skills that a valuer would need to have to reflect the new requirement to value the lease rather than the land. Edward Mountain’s amendments in the group do not propose a new method and they aim to cut back the amount of compensation that is to be paid to the tenant. His amendments 215 and 216 propose that land that forms part of the resumption should be valued, but only as used at the time of the valuation. That approach is followed up in amendments 217 to 219, which would mean that the land could be valued only with its existing use. The member specifically excludes hope value and development potential from the valuation assessment. All of that is very technical, but we can let common sense be our guide in relation to this.”
“All that it would do is erode the hard-fought- for rights of Scotland’s tenant farmers. Tim Eagle’s amendments 331 to 334 seek to reverse the reforms in the bill and to make money for the landlord. Amendment 331 would reduce the compensation that is payable to the tenant as it would require other claims that are now paid separately to be deducted from the resumption payment. Amendment 332 would change the method of compensation so that it related only to the tenant’s interest in the part of the lease that was being resumed. That would move away from the capital valuation approach that is taken in the bill. That might seem reasonable, but the effect would be that the tenant would get less—perhaps much less—than under the bill’s provisions.”
“Amendment 328 would enable parties to contract out of the statutory one-year resumption notice period. Tim Eagle might suggest that that would enable both parties to make informed decisions, but it would also enable a landlord to apply more pressure to force a tenant to agree to a compensation value quickly on a timescale that suited the landlord. Although some tenant farmers and landlords have strong and successful relationships, that is not the case for everyone. We have to protect the rights of those tenant farmers who are pressurised into situations by aggressive parties. Amendments 329 and 330 are attempts to prevent a tenant from exercising their right to terminate their whole tenancy if their landlord serves them with a resumption notice. I do not know what Tim Eagle is attempting to achieve by that.”
“It means that ministers will be able to make regulations that create change or clarify the method for determining the amount of that additional compensation if it is clear that that is the right thing to do. The consequential amendment 364 will ensure that any resumption regulations are subject to the affirmative procedure. We need to take into account that these are significant powers and it is therefore right that they are subject to additional procedure. Amendment 365 provides for that, with the effect that the first use of either power will need to involve a super-affirmative regulation. Although some of Tim Eagle’s amendments 328 to 344 are, I think, genuine attempts to appease landlord elements of the sector, they have flaws, not least because some of them seek to circumvent the protection of tenants’ rights.”
“The amendment means that ministers will be able to make regulations that change or clarify that method if it is clear that that is the right thing to do. It also addresses the concerns of landlord stakeholders about the resumption value process for 2003 act tenancies and it will insert a new section into the bill to enable Scottish ministers to make provision through regulations for the compensation elements that are payable to a tenant farmer with a limited duration tenancy by their landlord when part of their land is resumed by the landlord. Amendment 345 also makes good on the promise that I made during stage 2 that I would work with stakeholders to ensure that additional compensation is paid to tenants who lose possession of their whole holding as a result of an incontestable notice to quit.”
“My amendments 345, 346 and 363 to 365 seek to ensure that the bill continues to provide a balanced solution for both sides while providing a transparent legal framework. 20:45 It is, of course, rarely possible to get total agreement on controversial issues. A bit of give and take is to be expected. However, it is also right that we keep these matters under review as we continue Scotland’s land reform journey, and it is for that reason that I am seeking new powers to provide for compensation for resumption under 2003 act tenancies or after an incontestable notice to quit. Amendment 346 makes good on the promise that I made during stage 2 that I would work with stakeholders to consider again whether the capital value method for fixing compensation is the right method when land is resumed from a limited duration tenancy.”
“Mairi Gougeon: Before I respond to Tim Eagle’s amendments and the others in the group, it is important to set out where we have reached for clarity for everyone in Parliament and for tenant farming stakeholders. I have listened carefully to stakeholders’ views and made changes where that is the right thing to do. There is a need to ensure fairness for tenant farmers who lose possession through a resumption or an incontestable notice to quit. In 1991 act resumptions, the measures in the bill are both right and fair. It is important to keep in mind that the capital value method has been used before with no challenges for similar claims. I have also listened to concerns from tenants about disturbance payments being too low, but the argument that the reorganisation payment should be changed has not been made.”
“It is not right that one organisation should have the power to veto all the other organisations’ sensible views. I turn to other amendments in the group. Amendment 328, in the name of Tim Eagle, allows flexibility for the landlord and tenant to reach an agreement, which is exactly what, in my mind, the bill should be encouraging. Amendment 338 is also a sensible amendment, and if the Parliament agrees to it, it will pre-empt my amendments 217, 218 and 219, and I am quite happy with that. However, if the Parliament does not pass 338, I am afraid that I will have to move my amendments individually. I will not comment on Emma Harper’s amendment 347, except to say that it adds little to the process.”
“Independent bodies all agree that the provisions on resumption of land in the bill are a mess and not fit for purpose. The cabinet secretary will be aware of a letter sent to her on 3 October by the heads of independent bodies including NFU Scotland, the Agricultural Law Association, Scottish Land & Estates, the Central Association for Agricultural Valuers, Scottish Agricultural Arbiters and Valuers Association and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. That letter details the drafting problems in this section, and stipulates that compensation should be in relation to the capital value of the land itself, not what it was rented for. The Scottish Tenant Farmers Association is the only stakeholder that has not offered support to the letter.”
“The reason for that is that people enter into agricultural leases to use the land for agriculture, not in the hope that there may be some development at a later stage that they can benefit from. To use that valuation would further undermine the confidence in the tenanted farming sector. I refer the Parliament and the cabinet secretary to my remarks in group 23 on the decline of the sector and the 29 per cent decline in holdings with rented land. Amendment 96 would insert further amendments to ensure that the valuer of land that is being resumed under the 2003 act tenancies is specifically qualified to determine the open market value as determined by and laid down by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors rather than simply appearing to the landlord to meet the requirements to be a valuer. That is about ensuring quality.”
“In the interest of brevity, I will simply say that I am content to support the cabinet secretary’s amendments and my colleague Edward Mountain’s amendments in group 25. However, I do not support Emma Harper’s amendment 347, as I think that it is excessive to add those provisions to the existing list of requirements in the tenant farming commissioner’s code of practice provided for in the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016. I move amendment 328. Edward Mountain: Amendments 215 to 219 would ensure that the compensation for resumption is on the basis of the value of the land if sold with vacant possession for its existing agricultural use rather than the hoped value if the land was sold for development.”
“Amendment would 334 delete that and instead requires them to be able to value the “tenant’s interest in a lease of agricultural land”. Amendment 338 would delete the existing functions of the valuer and instead require them “to ensure that compensation is fair” and that a tenant is left no better and no worse off than if the resumption not taken place. Amendment 340 would amend the part dealing with the amount payable by landlord to tenant. It deletes a part and highlights how the tenant’s interest in the resumed part of the lease is to be assessed. The bill valuer is to serve a notice on relevant parties specifying certain matters during resumption. Amendment 341 would delete some matters that need to be included in that.”
“Amendment 329 would remove the ability for a tenant to terminate their tenancy if they receive a notice of resumption within six weeks. That would add fairness to the legislation and would avoid landowners suffering due to a quick termination of a tenancy. Amendment 330 is consequential to amendment 329. The bill allows for tenants to be paid compensation following resumption in addition to existing additional payments. My amendment 331 would delete the ability to receive compensation in addition to an already achieved additional payment. My amendments 332, 333, 335 to 337, 339 and 342 to 344 would make minor drafting or wording changes. The bill notes that an independent adviser with knowledge of land valuation will be appointed to value the land. That person should be able to value agricultural land.”
“Amendments 91 to 94 disagreed to. Section 11—Resumption in relation to 1991 Act tenancies The Deputy Presiding Officer: Group 25 is on resumption and termination. Amendment 328, in the name of Tim Eagle, is grouped with amendments 329 to 336, 215, 216, 337, 338, 217 to 219, 339 to 344, 96, 345 to 347 and 363 to 365. If amendment 338 is agreed to, I cannot call amendments 217 to 219, because of pre-emption. Tim Eagle: My amendments in group 25 look to make improvements to the process of resumption and tackle some of the deficiencies that I see in section 11. Amendment 328 would insert timeframes that note when a notice of resumption needs to be given, which would give clarity and sufficient time for the tenant to be able to organise themselves. That would make the process fairer for both parties and less ambiguous.”
“For Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) 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) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Ind) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Patrick Harvie] Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) [Proxy vote cast by Michael Marra] Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Maggie Chapman] Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Fulton MacGregor] Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) 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 26, Against 90, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment 214 agreed to. Section 10A—Assignation of tenancy Amendment 91 moved—[Edward Mountain]. Section 10B—Assignation of limited duration tenancy Amendment 92 moved—[Edward Mountain]. Section 10C—Assignation of modern limited duration tenancy Amendment 93 moved—[Edward Mountain]. Section 10D—Assignation of repairing tenancy Amendment 94 moved—[Edward Mountain]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Does any member object to a single question being put on amendments 91 to 94? As no member objects, the question is, that amendments 91 to 94 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My apologies—my app did not connect. I would have voted yes. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Mr Gray. Your vote will be recorded. For 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) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) 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) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Ind) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) 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) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Patrick Harvie] Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) [Proxy vote cast by Michael Marra] Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Maggie Chapman] Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Fulton MacGregor] Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) Against Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) The Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 88, Against 25, Abstentions 0.”
“The decisions that we are making mean that we are in the best possible position to respond. I want to ensure that the review that we have commissioned from the Scottish Ambulance Service to ensure that those types of incidents are responded to properly is acted on as quickly as possible. The outcome of the review and the collaboration with the senior management team at SAS is happening now. An urgent implementation plan will be agreed and monitored to ensure that we can respond to the concerns that Jackie Baillie has raised.”
“Does the minister agree, or is Jeane Freeman wrong? Neil Gray: No. I will come back to the points that Jeane Freeman raised shortly. The pressures that we are facing in our hospitals are not unique to Scotland. They are pressures that all health systems across the United Kingdom have faced since Covid. Indeed, the deterioration of ambulance response times in England demonstrates the pressure that there is on all parts of the system. [Interruption.] I can hear Jackie Baillie chuntering away, but the category 1 and category 2 ambulance response times in England in September were the slowest since February 2025, and the category 3 and category 4 response times were the slowest since December 2024. The point that I am making is that that does not excuse the situation that we are facing in Scotland—far from it.”
“Jackie Baillie will also be aware of the work that is being done with local partners to reduce delayed discharge, so that more people can move back into their homes and be treated there in the longer term through the likes of the hospital at home work. Jackie Baillie: I am glad that the cabinet secretary acknowledges that there is a problem. In 2014, one in every 100 ambulances spent an hour stuck on a hospital forecourt. By 2025—this year—the figure was one in three. This week, 2,007 Scots waited for more than 12 hours in accident and emergency departments, and we are not properly in winter yet. At the weekend, former Scottish Government health secretary Jeane Freeman said that the Scottish National Party Government has failed to listen to NHS staff. That is why it is getting it so wrong.”
“The terms of reference required a full review of the management of those incidents in the past six months and the triage protocol for them, taking into account the escalation measures in times of higher demand, the capacity of the Scottish Ambulance Service’s integrated clinical hub to review a larger proportion of 999 calls and the processes for identifying patients who are outdoors on the ambulance control systems. Jackie Baillie is correct to say that turnaround times are affected by the pressures on hospitals. We know about some of the sites where particular challenges exist. Through the use of flow navigation centres and other triage work, work is being done to relieve the pressure on the Scottish Ambulance Service and hospitals.”
“Neil Gray: There are a number of points in Jackie Baillie’s question that I wish to cover. She is correct to point to the case of Charlie Fox’s suspected dislocated knee. Having suffered a knee dislocation 20 years ago, I recognise the trauma and pain that he will have been suffering, which makes the delay even more difficult to understand. Off the back of the other case that Jackie Baillie referred to—the case of Brooke Paterson, in October—we commissioned the Scottish Ambulance Service to undertake a review of the management of traumatic fractures of patients who were injured outside and could not be moved safely.”