Elena Whitham
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“More homes Scotland will help to drive forward the Government’s core priorities of eradicating child poverty and growing our economy. To do that, we must focus on building more social homes and maximising investment in Scotland’s housing sector generally. We have a very strong record in Scotland in that regard.”
“Elena Whitham: I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests—I am a member of Shelter Scotland’s committee. Given that far too many children live in temporary accommodation, more homes Scotland must be integral to ending homelessness, and its creation is most welcome.”
“To ask the Scottish Government whether addressing affordable housing need and tackling homelessness will be more homes Scotland’s core mission. (S6O- 05714) The Cabinet Secretary for Housing (Màiri McAllan): Increasing the supply of affordable homes is key to addressing housing need and critical to tackling homelessness.”
“I thank my colleague Brian Whittle for securing this excellent debate. I rise to speak about sport being a force for good with a mixture of pride, gratitude and a sense of coming full circle.”
“It has a proud history, a trophy-winning junior team that inspires huge local pride and a vocal but good- natured rivalry with its next-door neighbour, Auchinleck Talbot Football Club.”
“It means recognising that participation looks different at different stages of life, whether that is walking football, which is delivered in partnership with Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland and supports people to stay active and connected, or inclusive cycling opportunities for those with learning disabilities, which is developed alongside…”
The complete record
Every one of 376 lines we hold for Elena Whitham, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 7 of 8.
“It is definitely not a nice-to-have option; it is institutionally critical. The BBC’s decision to cancel “River City” is more than just a scheduling choice; it is a cultural and economic setback that Scotland cannot afford. I remember well the show’s debut in 2002. Having managed to get my three-year-old down for the night in time, I sat down with a big cuppa and a cake of chocolate. I must say that, by the end of the show, I just loved it. My ex-husband not so much, but then he hated it whenever I watched “EastEnders”, “Neighbours” or any of the other “stories”, as my granny used to call them. Since then, “River City” has been a vital platform for Scottish storytelling. It has brought the lives, the struggles, the humour and the heart of everyday Scots into our homes, week after week.”
“I thank Neil Bibby for securing the debate and for bringing this important issue to the chamber. We are talking not only about the cancellation of a television programme but about the silencing of a cultural voice—one that has spoken to and for Scotland for more than two decades, and which has spoken to those of us on the west coast and in the central belt in a way that rings true to our own ears and our lived experience. I cannot overstate how vital it is for people to see themselves reflected in the media that they consume. I learned that when studying journalism and communications at university in Montreal in the 1990s. In that French-speaking part of Canada, we were taught that hearing authentic voices in our own language, and situated in the familiar, is key to cohesion and self-worth.”
“To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its consideration of a fisheries management plan for the future management of wild wrasse. (S6O- 04514)”
“It would be their role to challenge Governments, councils and employers and to drive the change that is required for rights to be respected, protected and fulfilled. Imagine a Scotland where there is no disability employment gap. We have heard about how devastating that gap is. Such a change is not one that can be overseen by a single minister, a single committee, a Parliament, a council chamber or a sector. This is a multisystemic failure that requires a whole-system, whole-community and whole- family approach. The human cost of the status quo is horrific, but it also has a cost to the public purse. We have a lot of good policies, but the implementation gap persists, along with the clear local accountability gap. That must change. [Applause.] 17:27”
“However, the vast amount of work that had been undertaken on the LDAN bill gave me huge hope that the system could finally be made to change so that people with learning disabilities or neurodivergence or who are autistic—or, indeed, people who have a combination of all those issues—could live their best authentic lives. I was devastated when the bill was not included in the programme for government and when a commissioner role was not to be created. I agree with Autism Scotland, Aberlour and others that creating a new commissioner would be a key driver for change and would ensure accountability through an independent role, with statutory powers and duties, that would champion the rights of all people with learning disabilities, autism or neurodivergence.”
“My inbox is full of families and adults crying out for support for themselves or their loved ones, whether that is the parents of a learning disabled young person on the cusp of transitioning into adult services who realise that there is little meaningful provision or opportunities on offer; parents who are in the situation that we were in of battling to have their young person’s needs assessed and acted on while trying to keep their own heads above water; or adults who, like me, realise that they are neurodivergent but find that waiting lists for assessment are either closed completely or require a co-occurring severe and enduring mental health condition—potentially giving rise to such a severe mental health condition, substance use or binge eating. I could go on and on. None of that is in any way acceptable.”
“That lack of seeing them for who they truly are, which would have enabled supports to be put in place, led us to a very dark place that involved complete school refusal and a retreat from the world at the age of 13. I cannot adequately describe the anxiety, the sleepless nights, the tears, the frustration and the palpable anger and impotence that we felt as parents. Our child was totally failed by a system that shut them out from being able to participate fully in their own life. They are not alone.”
“It came as quite a shock at first, when it was suggested to me by a specialist a few months ago, but, over the past few months, I have begun to understand myself through that lens better than I have ever done in my 50 years on this earth. However, my journey and my family’s journey to this time and place have been born of five years of immense struggles, tears, school avoidance, trauma and a colossal fight that seemed as if it was being fought on every front. It felt as if we were doing battle with the system and were taking on heavy casualties at every turn. My husband and I are parents to a wonderfully unique, funny, kind and intelligent young person who is autistic and who has ADHD. When I look back, it amazes me that the world could not see early on what is so blatantly obvious now.”
“I, too, thank Daniel Johnson for securing the debate, which enables us to discuss the implications of not introducing a learning disability, autism and neurodivergence bill timeously and helps us to focus our collective endeavours towards immediate actions that must take place across every part of our public services, and indeed at the heart of our communities, our workplaces and society at large. Karen Adam and others have listed many such actions that we can take. The status quo simply does not work for people with learning disabilities or neurodivergence. In turn, that means that it is not working for society as a whole, and we are all poorer because of that. I stand here as a not formally diagnosed but self-declared middle-aged woman with ADHD.”
“The route map to ending destitution is now in black and white, and Maggie Chapman powerfully outlined its key steps today. As the former COSLA community wellbeing spokesperson, I worked on the “Ending Destitution Together” strategy, and I am glad to hear that it is being refreshed. Nonetheless, I urge the Scottish Government and the UK Government to work together to flex powers under devolution and dispense with the hostile environment, and finally deliver for this marginalised, maligned and terrified group of people. 18:13”
“Eventually, we managed to help those women to secure all the necessary information and proof that enabled them to successfully challenge the original decision that had determined that they had no recourse to public funds—it was not backdated, though. Nonetheless, I will never forget the absolute joy and relief that was so very palpable in our refuge that day. That joy was replicated when both women moved into their own tenancies, away from abuse, with the necessary social security scaffolding and access to rights that we all take for granted. Both women went on to college and into employment and, more than a decade on, I have never, ever forgotten them. However, the system should not be so opaque, punishing and brutal, and direct and indirect discrimination should not be the norm.”
“We lost tens of thousands of pounds in revenue; anyone who knows anything about the third sector will know that that is not a sustainable position, but the alternative was unthinkable. I and my two refuge colleagues became experts in all things NRPF, and challenged decision after decision made by institutions that never seemed to apply the law in the same way twice. We got decisions overturned with regard to provision for the children, as we knew that the local authority had discretion and also obligations. We dug deep ourselves to help to feed and clothe the two families and searched out every type of support that we could find for them, all the while trying to ensure that their whereabouts never got back to their abusers on the grapevine.”
“All the agencies to which we would normally go in order to get support for women to access help were closing their doors in our faces, and we ended up using money from our own pockets to buy essentials to bridge the immediate gap. Our Women’s Aid collective took the decision that, as an organisation dedicated to supporting women to live free from abuse, we would shoulder the financial burden and forgo housing benefit and supporting people payments for the duration of their stay with us. It was either that or they returned to their abusers, and that was not an option for us. I want to underline today, in this place, just how difficult the next year was for us as a charity, but it was more so for those women and their kids.”
“Our Women’s Aid group was supporting two young Polish mothers who had fled domestic abuse, but the Department for Work and Pensions and the local council were telling us that they had no recourse to public funds because they were unable to satisfy the habitual residency test, as they had come from what were then still considered accession states that were not fully in the European Union—again, that is destitution by design. We had two women in their 20s, for whom English was their second language, with several young children, including a baby, who had not one penny to either of their names and only the clothes that they stood up in.”
“I point members to my entry in the register of members’ interests, as I am a member of Simon Community Scotland’s connect hub for women development board. Simon Community Scotland is an integral part of the fair way Scotland partnership, and the connect hub provides person- centred, trauma-informed support to women who are experiencing homelessness or insecure housing, some of whom find themselves with no, or limited, access to public funds. I became acutely aware of the flaws in our safety-net scaffolding many years ago while I was working in a women’s refuge.”
“I start by putting on record my deep thanks to Maggie Chapman for securing this debate and bringing to the chamber the urgent issue of the destitution that is experienced by people who find themselves classed as having no recourse to public funds or restricted eligibility for such funds. We are talking about people having their ability to access sufficient food, shelter, care and opportunity either denied or savagely curtailed. They are destitute by design. I also express my deep gratitude to Professor Jen Ang for everything that she has done over the years, but in particular for her recent legal briefing publication, “Ending Destitution in Scotland—A Road Map for Policymakers”, which was commissioned by I-SPHERE and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation as part of the fair way Scotland partnership.”
“We do not want to lose that iconic species, which draws many tourists from around the world. Closed-pen technology could directly address those concerns by minimising environmental impact and protecting Scotland’s wider marine ecosystems, fisheries and tourism industry. I ask the Government, as other colleagues have asked, to urgently work with the industry to innovate in that area. Companies are ready to start deploying such technology. Given our rapidly warming waters, which we have heard about, it is crucial. Industry can do as much as it can with the technology that it has today, but that does not address the fact that our waters are getting warmer, and industry will have to contend with that. Closed-pen technology could help in that respect. 16:02”
“When asked about the interactions between farmed and wild salmon and the delays in implementing the working group’s recommendation, the cabinet secretary told the committee that she recognises the “criticism that the progress is not fast enough”.—[Official Report, Rural Affairs and Islands Committee, 13 November 2024; c 44.] Stakeholders such as Open Seas have also stated that the open-net pens used in the marine stage of salmon farming can lead to impacts on the marine environment, with sensitive habitats and species being of particular concern. Open-net pens allow the free exchange of water but also allow discharges from the pens, including waste, chemical treatment and sea lice, and can lead to escaped salmon interacting with our wild and endangered salmon species. We should remember that wild salmon is a red endangered species.”
“I know that there has been significant investment by the industry to grapple with persistent welfare issues of farmed salmon and cleaner fish, but I believe that it is imperative and morally just that those animals are protected in the same way that we protect those that reside on the land. As someone who resides right beside a river that was once full of wild salmon—Tim Eagle said the same thing—I urge the Government to publish an updated timetable for the implementation of the agreed recommendations from the salmon interactions working group.”
“I encourage the Scottish Government to fully consider the committee report’s recommendations to bring forward additional regulation and official guidance under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 in order to set specific baseline standards for the welfare of farmed fish. Although I appreciate that there is an industry code of practice and an RSPCA Assured scheme that producers can sign up to, farmers raising terrestrial animals must comply with species- specific requirements under law, and additional detailed guidance is published for most species that describes how farmers can not only meet their legal responsibilities but go beyond that minimum to achieve higher welfare. Farmed fish are offered no such legal protection beyond not having to suffer unnecessarily.”
“However, that is not the case in English waters. For example, in response to that report, the Devon & Severn Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authority closed its wrasse fishery between April and mid-July to ensure maximum protection. There are real risks here. Not only are wrasse economically important to the salmon industry, but, as we have heard, they protect crucial habitats for spawning species, both commercial and non-commercial. There will be economic and ecological consequences if wrasse stocks should crash, so I therefore hope that the minister can confirm that future management of the fishery will respect the closed season indicated by the 2017 CFAS paper.”
“However, in response to a freedom of information request, the directorate has also pointed to a detailed paper on the subject, which was produced in 2017 by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, or CFAS, which sits within the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Entitled “Northern European Wrasse—Summary of commercial use, fisheries and implications for management”, it shows that the Scottish wrasse fishery is almost precisely open when it should be closed and closed when it should be open. Salmon aquaculture uses five wrasse species, three of which—corkwing, rock cook and cuckoo wrasse, which are easy for me to say—spawn exclusively during the open season. The Scottish fishery also opens for four of the five months when the two other species—goldsinny and ballan wrasse—spawn.”
“I will focus on three areas that are important to me: wrasse and lumpfish cleaner fish, the need for species-specific legal welfare standards for farmed fish and for wild-caught fish that the industry uses as tools in such settings, and the interaction of farmed and wild salmon. The committee’s report makes several recommendations on wild wrasse fishery, which is closely associated with the salmon aquaculture sector. I fully support the recommendations on data, transparency and a fisheries management plan. Our wrasse fishery is lightly regulated, but those regulations require a closed season between 1 December and 30 April each year. The marine directorate has said that the closed season should align with the spawning season, which is best practice for sensitive fisheries such as wrasse.”
“Salmon has become synonymous with Scotland, at home and the world over, whether it be through idyllic scenes of fly fishing for wild salmon on our rivers or from enticing restaurant menus that feature farmed salmon as part of our world-famous food and drink offer. During the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee’s follow-up inquiry, it was important that we kept sight of the significant value of our salmon to our economy and our communities. However, it was also imperative that we took a hard look at where improvements needed to be made, to protect not only the welfare of our fish and our planet but the reputation and longevity of our industry.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what work it is carrying out with local authorities regarding the wellbeing of school pupils and staff. (S6O-04472)”
“Empowering those individuals helps to reduce the stigma surrounding addiction and makes recovery journeys more accessible and sustainable. I briefly highlight that there are dual frustrations that I have felt for ever: an implementation gap and an accountability issue. That can be heard loud and clear in the panel’s report. We have brilliant policies, brilliant ideas and consensus, but we need a framework to assess how policies are being implemented on the ground, because it does not always feel like they are to the people who access the services. There is still much more work to do in that area. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I advise members that the time that we had in hand has now been pretty much exhausted, so members will now need to stick to their time allocations. I am sure that there is no one better to do that than Sue Webber.”
“That would ensure equal access to health and quality services. I whole-heartedly believe in the charter of rights that was drawn together by the national collaborative over many months. It should enable people to make their rights real, but, in order for it to do so, we need to have the underpinning of the human rights bill, which must be taken forward as soon as possible. It is also imperative that we continue to scrutinise the Right to Addiction Recovery (Scotland) Bill. All ideas must be considered. It is critical that more individuals with lived experience form a large part of the workforce. When I was the minister, I was privileged to attend graduation ceremonies for those who had completed their training, and they are now working on the front lines. That brings a depth of empathy and understanding that no policy can replicate.”
“It is incumbent on all of us to make sure that people across the country realise that there is a really potent supply out there at the minute. If that safer consumption facility had not been there, I am sure that some individuals would have lost their lives. I remain convinced of the need for more radical pilots, including more drug testing and different models of safer consumption facilities. The people’s panel recognised that in its recommendations and in its thoughts. As we have heard, it made 19 recommendations that provide a strong foundation for future policy discussions. I will focus on a couple of the recommendations that chime with my thinking. The panel strongly supports the passage of the proposed human rights bill for Scotland and the incorporation of the charter of rights for people affected by substance use.”
“How might we bring more such services to those communities? That is perhaps a bit more difficult. Elena Whitham: In my constituency, we have several recovery hubs, which are instrumental in allowing communities to come together. We should help to roll them out across the country as much as we can. We have heard about the roll-out of naloxone provision and the opening of the Thistle, Glasgow’s second—but its first official—safer consumption facility, which has already been having positive impacts. Since it opened, there have been more than 1,000 visits to the facility, although we have heard that, over the past few weeks, emergency services have been called out on several occasions. That tells me that the facility is helping to save lives, especially now, when there is a highly toxic drug supply in circulation.”
“That was a shift away from the all too often stigmatising nature of addiction services, where stigma and lack of autonomy had felt stubbornly baked in and intractable over many decades. I encountered that time and again when trying to help people to access vital services. Although great strides have been made in culture change, access to same-day treatment and increasing capacity in residential rehab—we exceeded our target to provide 1,600 placements last year—I recognise that we need to do more. We need an increase in stabilisation provision, as well. We have seen flourishing recovery communities across the country, and we cannot understate the positive impact that recovery hubs have at the heart of our communities. Carol Mochan: I did not have time to touch on the point that Elena Whitham is making about rural communities.”
“Coming from a background in which I worked directly with people who use drugs—and being an affected family member—I had already been able to see and tangibly feel the paradigm shift from treating drug issues as a criminal justice matter to seeing them through a public health lens, with an understanding of the underlying social determinants of health that are all too pernicious in our country. I recognised the transformational power that lay in the full implementation of the medication assisted treatment standards, whereby people were to be empowered by immediate access to treatment, including by being offered a range of options and the right to make their own informed choices.”
“I, too, thank the cross committee and the people’s panel for their work in this area. As Alex Cole-Hamilton said, we need to do more of that type of thing. The people’s panel was tasked with answering a pivotal and crucial question: what does Scotland need to do differently to reduce drug-related harms? I thought about that question night and day during my time as Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy. I came into that role two years into the Scottish Government’s national mission to save and improve lives.”
“That only deepens their isolation and makes it harder for them to access the help that they need. It is time to build a culture of understanding and empathy. We must see people for who they are—not just their condition— and offer them the dignity and respect that they deserve. Scotland needs a strategy that identifies alcohol-related brain damage early, treats it comprehensively and supports those affected through every step of their recovery journey. We must take a collaborative approach, working across sectors and communities to tackle the issue in a way that reflects our values of fairness, compassion and respect for all. This is not just a healthcare issue—it is a social issue and a human issue. It is the challenge that we must meet with urgency, determination and care. 18:14”
“It is essential that we work across sectors—health, housing, social services and justice—to provide a comprehensive solution to the problem. Prevention needs to be a key strand of the work. We must focus on public health strategies to reduce harmful drinking before it leads to brain damage. Prevention must be integrated into our public health campaigns, schools and communities, because we cannot afford to wait for the damage to be done before we act. We heard from Carol Mochan about some of the best-buy deals that we know affect ARBD. We think about minimum unit pricing, but we must also think about availability and marketing. Finally, we must ensure that people living with alcohol-related brain damage are not stigmatised. Too often, individuals with ARBD are misunderstood, blamed for their condition and excluded from society.”
“We must ensure that the intervention also includes provision of specialist rehab services. We have heard from members about how important that provision is. Whether specialist rehab services are provided by Penumbra or Simon Community Scotland and its managed alcohol programme, which is helpful in identifying people who have ARBD, we must ensure that they are supported and funded. Moreover, we must take a whole-community approach. Problematic alcohol use is not an isolated issue—it is interconnected with poverty, trauma, adverse childhood experiences, housing insecurity, mental health challenges and social isolation. Treating ARBD without addressing the wider societal factors will not yield lasting results.”
“Training for front-line staff must be a priority so that they can recognise the signs of ARBD, refer individuals for appropriate diagnosis and ensure that they are provided with the right support. As we have heard, there can be a partial recovery and a reversal of symptoms. Everybody should be offered the opportunity to realise that recovery if that is possible. Secondly, we must ensure that diagnosis is not a drawn-out process. Delays in diagnosis can lead to worsening symptoms and, ultimately, to irreversible damage. We need a streamlined pathway for diagnosing ARBD and providing timely intervention. The earlier the intervention, the better the chance of improving quality of life and recovery. That intervention needs to be holistic— physical, mental and social support should all be part of the care plan.”
“We must develop national treatment standards and a strategy that ensures that ARBD is identified early and treated comprehensively, and that support is available to those who need it most. This is not just about healthcare; it is about creating a society where no one is left behind, where individuals suffering from ARBD receive the care and support that allows them to rebuild their lives. First, we need to raise awareness across the healthcare sector. Many healthcare professionals, including GPs, emergency workers and even those working directly with alcohol and drug partnerships are not equipped with the tools to identify alcohol-related brain damage at an early stage.”
“Most of them were in their 40s and 50s, but the youngest person was 20, and what I witnessed trying to support him lives with me 20 years down the line. Alcohol-related brain damage is a hidden condition that services and folk alike are just not sufficiently aware of. As we have heard, it takes many forms, ranging from cognitive impairments to memory loss and difficulties with decision making and emotional regulation. It affects not just the individual but their loved ones. It can be a significant barrier to not only accessing and maintaining recovery but accessing many other services that people depend on. Despite that, too many people go undiagnosed and untreated, and they are left to struggle on their own. Urgent action is needed.”
“I thank Carol Mochan for bringing this important topic to the chamber for debate, as well as Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems and all the people on the front line for their tireless work in this area. We know that Scotland has long struggled with alcohol-related harms to the great detriment of our collective wellbeing, and we must not ignore the harmful impact on individuals and their families and on our society. One of the most insidious yet rarely acknowledged or understood consequences of prolonged problematic alcohol use is the damage that it can do to the brain. Some of the most harrowing cases that I encountered when I worked in the area of homelessness involved the people who were affected by that condition.”
“I also mentioned the £768 million investment, which will bring houses forward at a quicker pace. Our ending homelessness together plan is underpinned by a person-centred approach, and we expect local authorities to work to meet the needs of each household in relation to temporary and settled accommodation. For children and young people, that means reducing moves between properties, living in a home close to their school so that they can maintain social connections, and having access to outdoor areas and gardens. We will obviously consider the recommendations in yesterday’s report. Ukraine”
“That should be the rule, not the exception. Everyone who delivers temporary accommodation should be supported to view it through a children’s rights-based lens. Paul McLennan: I am aware that Elena Whitham was also at the event yesterday. As has been touched on by a couple of members, housing and homelessness obviously bring their own issues, but the points about health were raised in the discussions that we had yesterday, and they are important. The mental health issue was talked about as well. We have to make sure that there is not a long-standing impact. On the point about the quality of accommodation, we expect there to be high- quality properties that meet the temporary accommodation standards. We are talking about how we tackle the voids issue and how we bring empty homes back into use as quickly as possible.”
“I also attended the launch of the hard-hitting report. I thank Shelter for commissioning research that finally gives voice to what those of us on the front line supporting families in temporary accommodation have understood for years: children experience multiple negative impacts to their wellbeing through any period in temporary accommodation, but the impacts are worsened by long periods of poor and unsuitable placements, as well as by multiple moves. We urgently need more social homes. How can the minister and his ministerial colleagues use this critical report as a lightning rod to galvanise action across the sector to improve experiences now? Children need wraparound, personalised support, safe spaces to play in, and well-lit, fully furnished and safe accommodation near to their school and support network.”
“To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its national mission for tackling child poverty. (S6O-04345)”
“Following our recent consultation, work is on- going across the Scottish Government and with stakeholders to ensure that eligible young people continue to benefit from a person-centred support package that enables them to thrive into adulthood. We have not paused or put on hold priority for housing support for young people who are leaving care, and we remain committed to supporting care-experienced young people to flourish. Following the passage of the Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2025, work is continuing across the Scottish Government on the care leaver payment, which will provide a one-off £2,000 payment to young people who are moving on from care. The intention is to help to reduce the financial barriers that they might face as they transition into adulthood.”
“Following on from the issues that Miles Briggs raised, what work has been done in relation to homelessness prevention for our care- experienced young people? We must ensure that corporate parental responsibilities extend to the transition away from care and that young people are not funnelled down the homelessness route when they should be supported by their local authorities into adulthood and sustainable independent living, especially in light of the current housing emergency and the rise in care leavers experiencing homelessness. Natalie Don-Innes: The Scottish Government’s continuing care and aftercare policies help to provide young people with a supported transition from care. Eligible young people can live with their carers until they turn 21 and access support and assistance based on their individual needs.”
“Unfortunately, I cannot offer the assurance that she seeks that the Treasury is thinking again about the issue, despite numerous attempts by us to ask the UK Government to reconsider its allocation methodology more broadly, especially in relation to the recent announcements on the UK Government budget. Previously, we had seven-year certainty in our fisheries and marine funding and we received our fair share of the funding when we were members of the EU. However, since we left, we have received an annual allocation of £14 million for the marine fund Scotland. We can look at some relevant comparisons. Denmark, which has a smaller marine area and a smaller overall country size than Scotland, receives £25 million equivalent. Therefore, we are not receiving our fair share, and we will continue to press the UK Government for resolution.”
“Encouraging innovation and incentivising specific techniques and gear requires investment. Based on the European maritime and fisheries fund budget for 2021 to 2027 and on Scotland’s sea area, our funding share should have been about £62 million per annum, but our fishers were short changed by the UK Tory Government. Has the cabinet secretary had any indication that the new UK Government will rectify the situation, or will it be more of the same from lacklustre Labour for Scotland’s fishers, i.e. no positive change? The Deputy Presiding Officer: Ms Whitham, I remind you that nicknames are not permitted in discourse in the chamber. Mairi Gougeon: I thank Elena Whitham for raising that important point.”
“That has been operating for a long time in East Ayrshire, where local procurement for school meals proves what is the art of the possible. I thank the minister for highlighting that.”
“How is the Scottish Government supporting local areas to use community wealth building as a golden thread that runs through everything, including planning, economic development, procurement, further education, local development and community place plans? How is it ensuring that community wealth building is a practical place-focused model that sees a shift in the balance of power to communities, thereby enabling a greater stake for how local economies function for the benefit of all? I thank the minister for highlighting the excellent example of partnership working between Mossgiel farm and East Ayrshire Council in my constituency, which demonstrates what is possible when we look at public procurement in a different way.”
“It is not soft justice—it is smart justice. I look forward to hearing from colleagues across the chamber and from the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, who I know is as passionate about the issue as I am. 12:56”