Siobhian Brown
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“However, because their grandparents were advised by the local authority to care for them under a section 11 order rather than a section 17(6) order, they are not eligible for the payment, as the minister pointed out. In my view, that is a technicality.”
“The Care Leaver Payment (Scotland) Regulations 2026 state that, to be eligible for the care leaver payment, a young person must have been looked after under section 17(6) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 on or after their 16th birthday, and they must also have left care or continuing care on or after 1 April 2026.”
“Young people who are subject to an order under section 11 of the 1995 act are not looked after for the purposes of section 17(6) and are therefore not eligible for the payment. Duncan Dunlop: I thank the minister for that clarification. I would like to raise a specific example.”
“More broadly, however, we have to recognise the vital role that kinship carers play in caring for children and young people. That is why, earlier this year, we published “Scotland’s vision for kinship care: our offer of support for families”, following the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Act 2026, and int…”
“My personal favourite— The Presiding Officer: This is great, but it is general question time, and we need questions. Kate Campbell: Sorry. It is for the children, Presiding Officer. Being less tired was another good reason.”
“Kate Campbell: Last week, I was at Sanderson’s Wynd primary school to speak to the primary 5s and 6s, who are doing a module on democracy and decision making. I got the notification that I had been selected to ask a general question just as I was heading off to the school.”
The complete record
Every one of 364 lines we hold for Siobhian Brown, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 7 of 8.
“Maggie Chapman: Last month, six protesters were arrested for protesting against a supermarket stocking Israeli-produced goods. One of those people, a woman in her 60s, remains on remand. Firearms officers turned up at that protest, as they have done at other protests where there has been no public safety threat at all. That follows instances of protesters being denied their right to assembly and protest, and people of colour being treated differently from white people. Does the minister agree that a review of Police Scotland’s guidance on the policing of protests to ensure the facilitation of the rights to protest and freedom of expression would be helpful? Does she believe that firearms should not be deployed for such incidents and that, at a time of overcrowding in our prisons, remanding people for peaceful protest is not appropriate?”
“The operational policing of protests and demonstrations is rightly a matter for Police Scotland. We support Police Scotland, as a rights-based organisation, to take appropriate and proportionate action in response to any criminal offences and maintain public order at or around those events. Police Scotland’s priority will always be public safety. The right to peaceful public assembly and freedom of expression are important rights that the Scottish Government is committed to uphold. That is why we have funded the Centre for Good Relations to run training courses to upskill stewards and marshals involved in facilitating marches, parades and protests. That training is available free of charge and has received very positive feedback.”
“The Scottish Government is aware of calls for guidance and further advice on battery energy storage systems, including in relation to fire safety. The Scottish Government’s planning department is in the process of commissioning independent consultants to prepare planning advice on BES systems. That work has progressed with input from Heads of Planning Scotland and the industry. The intention is that the advice will set out information on the relevant regulatory regimes that are applicable in Scotland and on their interface with the planning system, recognising the long- established principle that the planning system does not seek to duplicate other regulatory controls. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There are a couple of supplementary questions, but they will need to be brief.”
“Brian Whittle: As the minister will be aware, the number of applications for battery energy storage systems across Scotland has increased dramatically, and many communities have expressed concern about the potential implications for fire safety. Developers currently have to rely on the fire service in England for guidance on their plans, as the SFRS has not issued any such guidance. Does the minister consider that to be acceptable? If not, will she instruct the SFRS to produce Scotland-specific guidance on fire safety for battery energy storage sites? Siobhian Brown: I know that, through regulations, the issue is both devolved and reserved, but the SFRS provides guidance under the National Fire Chiefs Council’s grid scale planning guidance.”
“The Scottish Government has allocated to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service £412.2 million for 2025-26, to ensure that it is properly resourced to keep Scotland safe and exercise all its statutory functions. The budget is £18.8 million higher than the budget for last year. Although, clearly, decisions on how that budget is spent are a matter for the SFRS board and the chief fire officer, the SFRS will continue to respond to planning consultations when required. The SFRS aims to review planning documents if it is appropriate to do so for firefighting and fire safety operations, and it will continually review and develop its operational response to any new and emerging technology or site, to keep communities safe and ensure the highest level of preparedness.”
“The information that I used in that debate was provided by Police Scotland’s national rural, acquisitive and business prevention team as part of the update that it gave to my officials. Although such updates provide snapshots of rural crime over a period, they are issued to my officials by that team, and the numbers that were quoted are not official police statistics. You may want to get in touch with that team, which can give the statistics to you. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Always speak through the chair, please.”
“Finlay Carson: In the minister’s contribution to my colleague Rachael Hamilton’s member’s debate on rural crime and equipment theft, she referred to statistics that had been provided by Scotland’s national rural, acquisitive and business prevention team as part of a regular SPARC update. Although those figures provide a snapshot of rural crime, they are not official police statistics. Why were official figures not used? Does that not suggest that the Scottish Government does not take the rural crime issue as seriously as it should do? Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government absolutely recognises the harm that is caused to individuals and communities by rural crime. I wrote to Rachael Hamilton this morning in response to her letter on the issue.”
“Rural crime impacts individuals, communities and businesses, and the Scottish Government fully supports efforts to tackle it. The Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime, which is chaired by Police Scotland, brings together key justice and rural sector partners to provide a robust multi-agency approach to preventing rural crime and to support actions that are taken at a local level. In 2025-26, the Scottish Government will increase police funding to £1.62 billion, including £57 million in additional resource funding to strengthen front-line services. That investment will allow Police Scotland to enhance community policing, thereby ensuring that communities receive the best possible service from Police Scotland and its work to prevent criminal activity.”
“It had its first meeting on 25 February. As the facility establishes itself, regular engagement with the community and businesses will continue. The focus remains on strengthening partnerships with stakeholders before implementing any new actions. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I will allow a brief supplementary, but it will need to be brief, as will the response.”
“Siobhian Brown: I know that public injecting around the car park to which Ms Wells referred has been an on-going issue. The Thistle facility is specifically aimed at addressing that issue. The Glasgow health and social care partnership has acknowledged the issue, and it continues to engage with the community to tackle it. A spokesperson stated: “We are aware of the public injecting near the Thistle facility, which has been an on-going concern. This is precisely why the facility has been established in this location. Orion kits are available through all needle exchange services in Glasgow, and providing clean needles and injecting equipment is one of the harm reduction interventions offered by the Thistle.” In addition, a community engagement forum has been established to address those local concerns.”
“Public support is vital, and Police Scotland encourages the public to report concerns to it or to Crimestoppers. Annie Wells: Approximately two weeks ago, discarded needles and burnt spoons were discovered in a car park across from the Thistle drug consumption facility. Local community representatives have raised serious concerns about the facility’s impact and, in particular, about the risk of children coming into contact with discarded syringes. The finding of that material contradicts official statements, which have downplayed the issue of drug-related litter. Will the minister clarify how the Government intends to address those reports and outline its plan to maintain a safe environment for residents and visitors? I have seen the situation at first hand, and it is not getting any better in the places that I have visited.”
“The Thistle operates like any other national health service facility and works closely with community safety partners to prevent and address antisocial behaviour. Through the Thistle oversight group and community engagement forum, the community safety partnership, the alcohol and drug partnership and other stakeholders support the local community and encourage reporting of any concerns. The CSP reports that there has been no increase in antisocial behaviour and that there has been a decrease in drug paraphernalia. Police Scotland reports that there has been a reduction in local drug dealing. Glasgow City Council collects discarded needles when such needles are reported. Local policing actively responds to reports to deter criminal activity and enhance public safety.”
“The Deputy Presiding Officer: I appreciate your point, Mr Ross. It is not a point of order and therefore is not something on which the chair can rule. I will allow a brief pause to allow for a changeover of members on the front benches before we move to the next item of business. Scottish Enterprise Funding (Arms Companies)”
“The Scottish Government notes that the bill has been introduced, and we will consider carefully its content. Douglas Ross: On a point of order, Presiding Officer. At the previous justice and home affairs portfolio question time, I asked about police dog Zara being put down by Police Scotland, and the minister promised to write to me about the lack of insurance for police dogs. I use my point of order to gently remind the minister that I still have not received a response, and I have followed up the matter with her. Presiding Officer, is there any guidance that ministers should respond to commitments to update members between one portfolio question time and another on the same topic? It would be useful to have a timeframe, particularly given that the same question might have been raised today.”
“Maurice Golden: This morning, I launched my proposed dog abduction (Scotland) bill at Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, with the wonderful Cooper, who is available for rehoming. The bill seeks to deter and punish those who are involved in snatching people’s pets. Does the minister agree that it could also help to ensure more clarity and certainty in law for police and courts when advising the public, investigating cases and bringing prosecutions? Siobhian Brown: I have met Maurice Golden to discuss his bill. I appreciate that the theft of a much-loved pet can be a traumatic experience for owners. It will be for the Parliament to consider the details of Maurice Golden’s recently introduced member’s bill. This morning, I was listening to conversations about the police in that regard, so I take that on board.”
“A range of legislation is in place in Scotland to address crimes involving animals. That allows for relevant police and prosecutorial action to be taken, and it provides significant sentencing powers to the court. When sentencing, courts have wide discretion to consider the facts and circumstances. For example, that includes taking into account the harm arising from a dog theft such as the impact on the dog’s health and wellbeing as well as the distress caused to the owner. Under the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020, the Scottish Government is progressing a review of the requirement for any additional animal welfare, animal health or wildlife offences.”
“Bill Kidd: With phase 6 funding ending next March, will phase 7 funding be in place in this parliamentary session? If so, when will the new application process open? Siobhian Brown: We are working with stakeholders to consider a seventh phase of the cashback for communities programme, and we will announce plans for that later this year. As I said, the current phase of the programme is set to end next March, so the plans will be in place by then. Through various projects, the programme supports young people who are at risk of entering the criminal justice system and the communities that are most affected by crime. Since its inception, the programme has committed £130 million to supporting around 1.3 million young people across all 32 local authorities in Scotland. Crimes involving Animals (Justice System Handling) 8.”
“During the current phase 6 of the programme, which runs to March 2026, we are providing funding of up to £20 million to 29 partner organisations, with the projects aiming to reach around 34,000 children and young people. In 2023-24, we supported more than 15,000 young people to reduce their involvement in the criminal justice system and improve their wellbeing or move towards a positive destination. The annual impact report, which was published last December, shows that the programme exceeded all its targets. Key outcomes included 4,300 young people reporting reduced involvement in antisocial or criminal activity; more than 8,300 reporting improved health and wellbeing; and more than 64,000 volunteering hours to support local communities.”
“Enforcement is a matter for Police Scotland, and local policing teams are best placed to identify misuse and to work to prevent future incidents. The police can enforce the law in relation to illegal riding on pavements using road safety, public disorder and dispersal powers, which include being able to seize vehicles, if appropriate. Police Scotland seized 281 dangerous e-bikes between January and September 2024. Seizing vehicles as part of hard deterrence and enforcement action is happening nationally, with stepped-up patrols warning illegal and reckless bikers that their vehicles will be seized. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There are a number of supplementary questions. I will get in as many as I can but they will need to be brief.”
“Yesterday, the group published a wide-ranging report, and I am considering its recommendations along with our lead partners, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and Police Scotland. Kevin Stewart: In Aberdeen and other cities, there has been a rise in the number of masked individuals zooming around on e-bikes, often clearly engaged in illegal activity. Although the actual numbers might be small, their visibility is great and is creating serious concern for ordinary folk. What measures are being taken to tackle that menace? Siobhian Brown: We support Police Scotland and its partners in dealing with the misuse of vehicles, including e-bikes, and any nuisance and danger that is caused by it.”
“We support Police Scotland and local authorities to invest in prevention, early intervention and diversionary activities to reduce antisocial behaviour. In 2025- 26, we have increased police funding to a record £1.62 billion. Our budget makes an additional £3 million available for Police Scotland to work alongside the retail sector to tackle shoplifting and other retail crime. At national level, we fund initiatives and local multi-agency response work to target issues relating to violence reduction; such issues are also tackled through our cashback for communities programme. I commissioned the independent working group on antisocial behaviour because I am committed to ensuring that there is a strong response to antisocial behaviour that puts victims and communities at the centre of support.”
“However, it is important to recognise that no single action will provide an easy resolution to the problem of pyrotechnic misuse at football matches. Emma Caldwell (Public Inquiry) 4. The Deputy Presiding Officer: To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the establishment of the Emma Caldwell public inquiry. (S6O-04357)”
“The Scottish Professional Football League Trust is developing a pyrotechnics education programme to be delivered through clubs to those with football banning orders or club bans for pyrotechnics misuse. John Mason: I thank the minister for that answer and for her letter to me of 11 February on similar subjects. In the letter, the minister particularly mentioned prevention. Some of her answer just now suggested that there may be greater punishment after the event. Can we not do more to search for and stop pyrotechnics going into football grounds in the first place? Siobhian Brown: The stop and search powers came into effect in relation to possession in June 2023. We have asked Police Scotland and the pyrotechnics working group to give full consideration to the matter and to establish the effectiveness of the powers under the legislation.”
“The misuse of pyrotechnics is a serious issue that will require collective and concerted effort to eradicate. Police Scotland, football authorities and Scottish Government officials have been working in partnership to develop a cohesive response to the issue. That includes joint participation in the pyrotechnics at football short-life working group that was established by Police Scotland and me. I look forward to hearing about the progress that the group makes. In addition, we provided stop and search powers under the Fireworks and Pyrotechnics Articles (Scotland) Act 2022. We are exploring options, including for how existing available measures such as football banning orders could be utilised to greater effect, and whether further measures are needed.”
“Progress has been made; the key achievements include the introduction of a single corporate name for online child sexual abuse and its use as a standard flag on common computer applications and databases, alongside the introduction of a national crime recording system. Dedicated analytical capacity has also been provided to examine online child sexual abuse. Clearer internal strategic governance has been put in place, and strategic threat assessments of online sexual abuse have been produced, increasing responses to investigation.”
“The Scottish Government needs to take a bold stance against perpetrators of such crimes and to provide sufficient deterrent to ensure that would- be perpetrators think twice. What specific actions is Police Scotland taking to keep our children safe from harm? Siobhian Brown: I recognise the concerns that have been raised about the increase in crimes related to indecent images of children. It may be helpful for me to highlight some of the things that Police Scotland is doing in relation to the recommendations from a strategic review of its response to online child sexual abuse, which was published in February 2020.”
“We also supported the establishment of the national child sexual abuse and exploitation strategic group to increase cross-sectoral working to address the risk of child sexual abuse and exploitation. Roz McCall: The minister will be aware that more than 3,000 crimes involving images of child sexual abuse have been recorded by Police Scotland over the past five years. In the past two years alone, those reports have reached record levels—more than 700 such offences have been recorded in each of the past two years. Last year, Childline delivered to young people 903 counselling sessions relating to blackmail or threats to expose or share sexual images online, which was a 7 per cent increase on the figure for 2022-23.”
“The issue that the member raises is a deeply concerning one. We are raising awareness of how to stay safe online and are providing support to help young people to navigate online spaces and use screen time in a safe way and to help parents and carers to ensure that they have the information that they need to guide young people and recognise risks. The Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise and I have formed a new online safety task force to operate alongside the strategic group, which will identify actions to address online harm. As part of that work, last month we wrote to the United Kingdom Government to urge it take more action to protect children.”
“To do that effectively, they share intelligence on organised crime groups that operate across borders and provide specific information to the rural and farming community on how best to secure equipment and prevent its theft, as well as addressing the other crimes that are noted in the strategy.”
“The strategy adopts a holistic approach. Among other things, it aims to ensure that those members are alert to and understand local and national concerns that relate to rural and environmental crime and promote and improve rural community and environmental wellbeing whereby people can flourish and feel safe. The strategy sets out seven rural crime priorities, each with its own action plan. Those include the theft of agricultural and forestry machinery, plant and quad bikes and all-terrain vehicles. As I have suggested, only by working in partnership can we hope to tackle this menace. SPARC and the local partnerships recognise the crucial role of working together towards a common goal.”
“I move on to the work that the Scottish Government and partners are doing to prevent rural crime and mitigate its impact. Disrupting organised crime and diverting individuals away from it remains a priority for the Scottish Government and partners on the serious organised crime task force. However, in a rural setting, much of the work that is aimed at preventing organised crime is done through the work of the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime, which has been mentioned several times. The Scottish Government continues to work with partners across SPARC and through the continued expansion of the local partnerships against crime across Scotland. This sort of theft is a priority for the group. The rural crime strategy for 2022 to 2025 was launched on 24 June 2022. All members of SPARC were involved in its drafting.”
“I am sure that insurers could help, because they will know what they are insuring and whether a theft was in a rural or urban area. We should therefore start with the insurers. Siobhian Brown: I thank Christine Grahame for highlighting that valid point. Douglas Ross highlighted important issues about good partnership working, which is important. Having antisocial behaviour in my remit, I am acutely aware— The Deputy Presiding Officer: Minister, I encourage you to speak into the microphone. Siobhian Brown: I am acutely aware of how important it is to have partnership working with local authorities and local police—with lots of stakeholders—because they know the area best. Douglas Ross has highlighted some important work that is going on in his constituency.”
“The Deputy Presiding Officer: Minister, I can give you the time back. Siobhian Brown: I am not aware specifically of what the cabinet secretary has commented on, but I am happy to raise the issue with her. I am sure that she will be happy to send a letter to the UK Government, if that would be worth while. Christine Grahame mentioned Police Scotland’s differentiating urban and rural crime in its data categories. That is a very valid point. Christine Grahame will know that that is an operational matter for Police Scotland, but I am happy to raise the matter to see whether Police Scotland has any concerns or is progressing any work in that area. Christine Grahame: I appreciate that it is a matter for Police Scotland. I mentioned that when I addressed the point.”
“Rachael Hamilton: In past question-and- answer sessions in the chamber, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, Angela Constance, has very much welcomed that act and said that the Scottish Government was working with the Home Office. That is exactly the point that I made to Rhoda Grant: all that the Labour Government needs to do is publish the consultation responses and take forward secondary legislation through regulations; the Scottish Government can then enact the intention of the 2023 act. It is a really simple thing for the Government to do. We need to consider it because of that cross-border movement. Not only farmers but criminals move their equipment, and I do not want farmers to be left behind. It is really important that we replicate the act in Scotland.”
“Perhaps because it was a private member’s bill, Scottish Government officials were not aware of it until we were approached by Police Scotland in late May 2023, when we found that there was insufficient time to fully consider the implications of the bill for Scotland, given where it was in its passage through Westminster. There are no immediate plans to replicate the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 in Scotland, although the Scottish Government is awaiting further information on the impact of the act in England and Wales, as that could influence future decisions. Rachael Hamilton mentioned in her motion several initiatives that are working well and I am always happy to meet the member and stakeholders to discuss how we can improve things with respect to rural crime.”
“We have rightly spent some time discussing the theft of farm machinery, and I would like to spend a few moments talking about the work that the Scottish Government and our partners are doing, but I will address some of the points made by members before I get into that. Rachael Hamilton and Rhoda Grant raised the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023, so it might be helpful to give members a bit of insight into where the Scottish Government is on that. It was a private member’s bill that received Government and cross-party support down south. It was given royal assent on 20 July 2023 and it commenced in January 2024. It prohibits the sale of prescribed equipment without an immobiliser or a unique identifier.”
“I am grateful to Rachael Hamilton for securing the debate and giving me an opportunity to respond. Rural crime, such as the kind that has been outlined by members and by the member in her motion, is a serious issue. It can have hugely detrimental effects on communities, businesses and individuals. Our farms are the lifeblood of our communities. Those businesses, some of which have existed for hundreds of years, should not have to put up with that kind of crime, which is almost exclusively perpetrated by organised crime groups seeking high-value items that can be resold to fund other activities.”
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“Then they were gone.” The victims in the town of Lockerbie are not forgotten; they are remembered through the actions of the people in the town who lived through that horrendous act of terrorism and by those in succeeding generations. We also remember Flora, and all the other victims on board Pan Am flight 103, through the enduring human spirit of people such as Dr Swire and many others who ensure that we do not forget the horrific events of that fateful night. Meeting closed at 17:30. This is the final edition of the Official Report for this meeting. It is part of the Scottish Parliament Official Report archive and has been sent for legal deposit.”
“I hope that that information has reassured members that processes are in place to allow any alleged miscarriage of justice to be fully investigated and that those processes have been used in this case. I finish by commending the people of Lockerbie, all of whom were affected by the tragedy. The town will, unfortunately, always be known for what happened more than 36 years ago. However, in their own individual ways, the people there have shown a determination to look to the future while acknowledging and reflecting on the past. That has been achieved through the connections made with families in America who were affected by the loss of life and through the work of community groups in the Lockerbie area. Sherwood Crescent in Lockerbie was devastated by the disaster. At the time, one of the residents there said: “They were here one minute.”
“An application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court was refused by that court in July 2022. Although the appeal court has already heard and rejected two full appeals against Mr Megrahi’s conviction, it remains open to his family to submit a further application to the commission. That would probably be on the basis that there had been new evidence that the appeal court had not heard when it considered a previous appeal against conviction, to support a claim that there had been a miscarriage of justice. That is an essential element of how the Scottish justice system operates, and it is available to anyone who has unsuccessfully appealed against their conviction to the High Court.”
“In 2002, the Scottish appeal court, sitting at Camp Zeist in the Netherlands, heard his first appeal and refused it. Thereafter, the commission referred the relevant conviction of Mr Megrahi to the appeal court twice, and each time appeal proceedings were heard. It might be helpful to put on the record that Mr Megrahi abandoned his second appeal in 2009, shortly before he was released on compassionate grounds. As Christine Grahame said, Mr Megrahi died in Libya in 2012. A second, and posthumous, application to the commission was made by Mr Megrahi’s family in 2017, which resulted in his conviction being referred back to the appeal court in March 2020. The appeal court fully considered the case and published in January 2021 its judgment on that appeal, which upheld Mr Megrahi’s conviction.”
“The commission has extensive powers to obtain documents from any person or organisation and to request that evidence be given under oath. Under the statutory test set by the Parliament, the commission can refer a person’s conviction to the appeal court for a fresh appeal if, after considering the application, it thinks that “a miscarriage of justice may have occurred” and that “it is in the interests of justice” for the case to be referred back to the appeal court. Christine Grahame: Will the minister take an intervention? Siobhian Brown: I will, if the member could give me just a moment, please. When a case is referred to the appeal court for a fresh appeal, it will be for the appeal court to determine whether to quash or to uphold the person’s conviction or sentence. Three appeals have been made on behalf of the late Mr Megrahi.”
“I am sure that members will understand that it would be inappropriate for me, as a Scottish minister, to make any comment on the criminal cases that followed the disaster. However, the motion refers to concerns that Dr Swire and others have expressed about the criminal justice process. It is therefore important that I confirm to the Parliament the checks and balances that exist in the Scottish justice system. The processes for investigating and determining alleged miscarriages of justice operate independently of the Scottish ministers. The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission is an independent public body, which, as the motion notes, has responsibility for investigating cases when it is alleged that a miscarriage of justice might have occurred in relation to a conviction or a sentence.”
“Their rapid response, along with that of the people of Lockerbie, in extraordinary circumstances, demonstrated remarkable professionalism, kindness and humanity in the face of one of the worst terrorist attacks on Scottish soil. Although the events of 21 December 1988 have had a lasting impact on the town, I know that, following the disaster, links were forged between Lockerbie and other affected communities. They include the establishment of a scholarship programme involving Syracuse University and Lockerbie academy. Ms Grahame’s motion highlights the work of Dr Jim Swire, who lost his daughter Flora in the disaster. Dr Swire’s steadfast commitment to his cause, in memory of his daughter, is a testament to the endurance of the human spirit.”
“I thank Christine Grahame for bringing the debate to the chamber. I know that, over many years, she has spoken with passion and dedication on issues relating to the Lockerbie disaster. I know that she will continue to pursue them, but this might be one of the final occasions on which she brings discussion of Lockerbie to the Parliament, because she intends to stand down next year. The Parliament will be poorer as a result. I also thank Emma Harper and Colin Smyth for their powerful personal contributions. I begin by offering my continuing sympathy to everyone who lost loved ones on that awful night all those years ago, on Pan Am flight 103 and in the town of Lockerbie. We should also remember the emergency workers from around the town, and further afield, who responded in the immediate aftermath of that atrocity.”
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“We must always honour those words as part of our duty to remember the Holocaust and other genocides, while also aspiring to a better future, in which nobody need live in fear simply because of who they are and the group to which they belong. Therefore, it is paramount that we support one another while resisting any and all voices that seek to divide us, and that we instead work in harmony for a caring and inclusive world that provides opportunities for all to flourish. Meeting closed at 18:23. This is the final edition of the Official Report for this meeting. It is part of the Scottish Parliament Official Report archive and has been sent for legal deposit.”
“The remarkable courage of all survivors in the face of such dire circumstances and their unwavering sacrifice in sharing their testimonies is a display of selflessness for which all of us should be forever indebted. I sincerely hope that as many members as possible can join us tomorrow night at the commemoration. The responsibility of building a better future is incumbent on all members and on everyone in our diverse communities. I have been particularly struck in my conversations with Jewish and Muslim communities about how antisemitism and Islamophobia continue to impact on their daily lives. To them, I say, “Scotland is, and always will be, your home.” Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel once said: “To forget would not only be dangerous but offensive; to forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time”.”
“The Scottish Government’s aspiration is that our children and young people feel equipped to go out into the world as citizens of the tolerant and inclusive Scotland that we all want to be part of. Tomorrow, I will have the honour of participating alongside the First Minister at the Scottish ceremony for Holocaust memorial day, which has been expertly organised by our friends at the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. It is deeply saddening that the ceremony will be without Henry Wuga, who, as Jackson Carlaw said, tragically passed away last year. The loss of his devotion in support of Holocaust memorial day will be immeasurable. However, I am humbled that I will have the opportunity to share a platform with a number of truly inspiring individuals, including Holocaust survivor Alfred Garwood MBE, and Smajo Bëso, who escaped the Bosnian genocide.”