Ariane Burgess
Scottish Green Party · Scotland
“I want to briefly mention an issue that is connected to what David Barratt said about a national emergency briefing. In January, the UK Government published its national security assessment on global biodiversity loss, which states: “Collapse impairs an ecosystem’s ability to provide vital services including clean water, food production,…”
“In my rural and island communities, it is sometimes really hard for people to even find a bus. We need the clean heating systems that our EU neighbours have enjoyed for decades. We also need a thriving natural environment, which will be the key in supporting us to adapt to climate change.”
“The Scottish Greens campaigned on the idea of an agricultural transition insurance fund—we want to see £500 million of the agricultural budget put into it, because farmers need certainty. We are now in unknown territory when it comes to what we are doing in respect of our land use.”
“I sat on two committees in the previous session—the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee and the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee— that scrutinised the climate change plan, and we heard evidence from countless stakeholders that they did not feel confident that there was an adequate delivery plan in place.”
“We must support farmers to move to nature-friendly, regenerative farming. Those pioneers have moved away from nitrogen use, they understand soil biology and they are choosing smaller herds and mob grazing. We have legislated for regenerative agriculture, but we do not have the underpinning training.”
“I started working on climate change and nature restoration in New York City in the 1990s. When I came back to live in Scotland, I was heartened, because I had arrived in a country where the people, through the Parliament and the Government of that time, had recognised the science-based evidence on climate change.”
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Every one of 413 lines we hold for Ariane Burgess, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 5 of 9.
“To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government is still on track to restore 250,000 hectares of peatland by 2030. (S6F- 04446)”
“We also need to think about how we deliver better transport for islanders. It is great that under- 22s can now travel for free on the interisland ferries in Orkney and Shetland, but those communities face what the Government acknowledges are significantly higher transport costs compared with those paid by folk living in urban areas. In Shetland, the Scottish Greens propose a two- year pilot of free bus travel for all Shetlanders. Such a move would address the inequality that islanders face while providing a boost to their economy, and it would give us a robust pilot to understand the impact of free bus travel. That is the kind of thinking that we need from the Scottish Government. The Scottish Greens stand ready to work with it to build on what we have already achieved and to deliver even fairer and more sustainable travel for all. 16:35”
“Services are withdrawn at short notice, fares rise well above inflation every year and timetables are all but meaningless—I say that from personal experience. That makes it hard for people to leave their car at home and opt for the bus to commute to work or to an appointment. The only way that we can resolve that is by bringing buses back into public hands. As has been shown by Lothian Buses, doing so can drive revenue for local authorities and, at the same time, deliver better services for local people. Rural councils are starting to take that opportunity. Borders Council has seen a 70 per cent increase in the number of bus passengers since taking services in-house, which shows what Highland Council can expect now that it has taken 17 routes back into public ownership.”
“Although it is great to see communities coming together, it cannot and should not be left up to motivated volunteers to run critical public infrastructure. The Scottish Government has a responsibility to play its part in delivering buses for rural communities. In its new climate change plan, it lists free bus travel for under-22s and over-60s as a key method of cutting transport emissions, but it makes no commitment to go any further. That is not good enough. We need a Government commitment to provide reliable services, especially in rural areas. If buses do not turn up, people cannot get on. Private operators have shown time and again that they cannot be trusted to deliver reliable rural bus networks.”
“It not only meets local people’s needs but provides a social aspect, connecting people as they meet one another on the bus. Badenoch and Strathspey Community ConnXions, which is based in Aviemore, goes even further. I joined its service on a shopping day, when it brought people from all around the Strath to the local shops. Its users enthusiastically told me that they had been on a picnic outing to Loch Morlich the day before. Not only does its service take people to events but it organises its own opportunities for social interaction, with buses as the basis. Those examples demonstrate that, when buses are community run, they are more than just transport; they build community and place.”
“When it comes to buses, the Scottish Greens deliver. By granting under-22s free bus travel, we have seen hundreds of thousands more young people using Scotland’s networks. It has saved them money, allowed them to make the most of the opportunities in their local areas and beyond and reduced their climate impact. However, there is still so much more to do to improve bus travel. Of vital importance is the provision of reliable and joined-up rural and island bus services, ensuring that no community is cut off from the network and that everyone can choose public transport. I have seen superb work by communities to create their own bus services. The Finderne Development Trust in Moray runs a service that takes people from rural areas to Forres.”
“We can do more for our energy security and domestic bills by moving to renewables, rolling out clean heat sources such as heat networks, heat pumps and solar thermal, and properly insulating our homes. Let us focus on doing things that will bring real, positive changes for Scottish households. Let us stand up to the false narratives that are spread by the fossil fuel industry. Let us do better by our people and climate, and let us say no to Rosebank. 15:27”
“The SNP Government is not on the side of the working people or the climate. It has bungled Grangemouth in the face of pressure from a fossil fuel billionaire, and it appears set to make the same mistake off the coast of Shetland. Not only are we being fed myths about the economic upside of Rosebank, we are also being told that it will somehow boost our energy security and reduce our bills, but that is simply not the case. Ninety per cent of Rosebank’s production will be oil, which Equinor says will be sold on the open market, mostly to continental Europe. As for gas, estimates suggest that Rosebank will reduce the UK’s annual gas import dependency by a measly 1 per cent.”
“However, before a drill has even been operated, the Shetlanders have been short-changed. Businesses there have been passed over for contracts, helicopters have been set to operate out of mainland airports, and money derived from Rosebank oil and gas will end up in shareholder pockets in Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, not in our public purse, due to the UK’s general fossil fuel tax regime. Despite that exploitation of Scottish people and the severe consequences that Rosebank would have for the climate, the First Minister could not say at First Minister’s question time last week that the SNP opposes Rosebank, nor could the minister today, and in my region the SNP has even chosen an Equinor executive as a parliamentary candidate. Those two things tell us everything that we need to know.”
“My questions for members are these: why do we want to make the situation worse for ourselves, and how can we, in good conscience, stand here today and pursue supposed short-term gain over Scotland’s long-term health, wellbeing and prosperity? That is what Rosebank is. It is a desperate short-termist attempt by the fossil fuel industry to maintain share prices and mega pay packages. It comes at the expense of working Scottish people, both now and in the future, and it puts our collective future at great risk. As a Highlands and Islands MSP, I am proud to represent Shetland. Communities there have been promised a lot by Equinor as part of its bid to start up Rosebank—they have been promised a jobs bonanza, big contracts for highly skilled and experienced local engineering firms and lucrative helicopter traffic through Sumburgh airport.”
“We are at a watershed moment for the climate, not only in Scotland but globally. As I raised with the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy only last week, we face the very real risk that crucial tipping points will be surpassed, and Scotland will be on the front line of those changes. We rely on the gulf stream for our temperate, liveable climate, but, with the 1.5°C Paris target set to be missed, climate scientists are becoming increasingly agitated that that crucial current will collapse. Should that happen, our way of life in Scotland will change drastically. It will require decades of adaptation, which will cost a lot of money, to meet that challenge. Our economy, our homes and our food production—everything—will face huge alterations.”
“We need to ensure that the licensing scheme is workable and operable, that it gets to the right people and that people know how to do muirburn properly in order to help us to prevent wildfires.”
“Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is well enough equipped to carry out the work, and it has given us a list of the numbers of fires that it has been called out to deal with this year. Ariane Burgess made a point about muirburn. One reason why we must bring in a licensing scheme is to ensure that, when people carry out muirburn, they know the right conditions in which to do it, the right way to do it and the days when they should not do it. This is probably the right time to point out that, literally within hours of me pausing the licensing scheme earlier this year, a purposefully set fire on the Dinnet estate became out of control. The individual who set that fire did not have any training and did not have a licence to do it, because we did not have a licensing scheme. That indicates to me that we are on the right road.”
“Motivated by the climate-driven increase in wildfires earlier this year, I obtained data through a freedom of information request that showed that out-of-control intentional burning, such as muirburn, was the fourth most common cause of wildfires in Scotland over the past five years. However, the vast majority of wildfires recorded by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have no known cause. Given the growing threat that wildfires pose to communities and nature, will the minister commit to increasing funding and resources for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, in order to improve investigation and data collection, and better inform our prevention strategies?”
“We accept that the bill— The Deputy Presiding Officer: Ms Burgess, you will need to bring your remarks to a close. You are over your time. Ariane Burgess: We accept that the bill moves things marginally in the right direction, but the pace of change is glacial. However, we will not dismiss the improvements that have been made. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Please conclude, Ms Burgess. Ariane Burgess: For those reasons, the Scottish Greens will abstain on the bill. 18:11”
“I am also glad that ministers will make it easier for new hutting communities to be established on public land. However, this is not a time to pat ourselves on the back for making small changes at the edges. This is a moment for everyone to assess whether the bill addresses the fundamental purpose of land reform legislation. Without robust measures to challenge concentrated ownership, we are managing the symptoms while leaving the disease untreated. We are asking communities to continue their struggles without giving them the tools that they truly need. The Scottish Greens cannot vote for this bill with enthusiasm. This legislation falls far short of what Scotland needs. This Government has once again refused to stand up to the landed elites and vested interests, and communities are paying the price.”
“If Green amendments had been accepted, there would be legislation that places a limit on how much land an individual could own and requires them to demonstrate how they will use it for the public benefit. Secondly, there is nothing in the bill to require that land management plans be implemented by land managers. That is a crucial set of provisions that could become a box-ticking exercise. Thirdly, the measures do not tackle the concentration of land ownership—an issue that was consulted on by the Government, but never taken forward. I appreciate that some Scottish Green amendments were accepted by the Government at stage 3. In particular, there will be stronger requirements on large landowners to set out how they will manage their land for nature recovery. In an era of climate and nature emergency, everyone must play their part.”
“After many hours of deliberation across the past two weeks, it is clear that the bill has not progressed meaningfully from where it started. My central disappointment lies with part 1. The measures simply do not go far enough in addressing the issue at the very heart of land reform, which is that the majority of Scotland’s land is owned and controlled by a tiny minority. As stage 3 began, I made it clear to the Scottish Government that, in order to vote for the bill, I would need to be confident that I could look constituents in the eye and tell them that we had made significant progress and that the legislation had genuinely improved things. I regret that I am not in that position this evening. First, the legislation does not do nearly enough to ensure that public interest considerations are at the heart of the new measures.”
“At minimum, any land reform legislation that is worthy of support needs to challenge the imbalance of power that comes from monopoly land ownership; provide transparency over who owns Scotland; and enable more communities to have a say—and a stake—in the activities that take place around them. I thank stakeholders who have engaged with those questions over the past year of scrutiny of the bill. In particular, Community Land Scotland and Revive coalition members have been tireless advocates for ambitious legislation. My thanks go also to those stakeholders who, even though we fundamentally disagree on the issues at hand, took the time to meet me and my Scottish Green colleagues. I also thank the Parliament’s clerks and the bill team for their engagement on Green amendments.”
“Land is power, and those who have the land have the power. Nowhere is that more acutely felt than in the Highlands and Islands—the region that I represent—which has some of the most concentrated land ownership in Europe. Scotland has a population of 5.5 million, yet half our country is owned by just over 400 people—a truly tiny minority. They are aristocrats, absentee billionaires, international corporations and minor royalty from around the world. Some are so secretive that their neighbours do not even know who they are. The question at the heart of the debate is whether the bill will meaningfully address that inequality in land ownership.”
“Notwithstanding that, however, given some of the other funding streams that we have talked about, I want to ensure that that funding gets to where it needs to go and that we help to maintain those networks. I am more than happy to follow up with Ariane Burgess on how we go about that. Animal-related Activities (Licensing Regulations) 3.”
“I welcome the cabinet secretary’s response to Michael Matheson and I welcome the increased active travel investment, which was a key achievement of the Scottish Greens during our time in government. However, does the cabinet secretary recognise that that funding is not reaching recreational paths in the countryside, which are under increasing pressure? Will she therefore ensure that the new rural support plan will provide funding for outdoor access, as is now the case in Wales and used to be the case in Scotland until 2022? Mairi Gougeon: I thank Ariane Burgess for raising that point, which reiterates how important the issue is. Funding for access was devolved to local government in the concordat that was reached in 2008, so it remains the responsibility of local authorities.”
“Amendment 180 disagreed to. Amendment 287 not moved. Amendment 181 moved—[Edward Mountain]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 181 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division. The vote is closed.”
“For Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) 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) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) 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) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (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) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) 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) 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) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) 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) 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 28, Against 91, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment 178 agreed to. Amendment 179 moved—[Mairi Gougeon]—and agreed to. Amendment 57 not moved. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I remind members that, if amendment 58 is agreed to, I will not be able to call amendments 12, 180, 287, 181, 182, 288 or 183, due to pre-emption. Amendment 58 not moved. Amendment 12 not moved. Amendment 180 moved—[Edward Mountain]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 180 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“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) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) 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) 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) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) 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) 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 Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) 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) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) 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) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) The Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 90, Against 28, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment 55 disagreed to. Amendment 56 not moved. Amendment 178 moved—[Mairi Gougeon]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 178 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I could not connect. I would have voted yes. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Ms Burgess. I will ensure that that is recorded. For Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Ind) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Patrick Harvie] Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) [Proxy vote cast by Michael Marra] 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] Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) 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) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) 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) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Fulton MacGregor] Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) 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) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) The Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 29, Against 90, Abstentions 0.”
“The grant funding for the TS-Flow project is for the detailed design, environmental and technical feasibility studies to identify appropriate wet storage locations. It has identified four sites, with the Moray Firth FLOW-Park selected through that initial phase of work. That grant funding was awarded due to the importance of wet storage for the efficient build-out of floating offshore wind and the economic opportunity that it brings to Scotland, but it does not pre-empt any decisions on applications. Wildfire Summit 5.”
“Although the proposed FLOW-Park is not within the nearby Cromarty Firth freeport, it is clearly being driven by the industrial expansion that freeports enable. How does the Scottish Government justify supporting developments that risk displacing local jobs in fishing, tourism and nature conservation while creating ecological impacts that extend far beyond their boundaries? Gillian Martin: Ariane Burgess talked about Scottish Government support, but the proposal has not even reached the Scottish Government yet with regard to consent. As I said, it is at an early stage. She might be referring to the fact that Scottish Enterprise has provided grant funding to the temporary storage floating offshore wind project, TS-Flow—a joint industry project that is led by the Offshore Solutions Group and HR Wallingford.”
“In some ways, the bill could assist with that issue through the prior notification mechanism, but if communities are to make full use of lotting decisions, they also need to be informed about how and why any lotting decision has been made and the resulting impact on their potential ownership of the lotted land. Overall, however, I am interested to hear from the cabinet secretary when she winds up about the evidence base for the Government’s particular approach to lotting, given that the entire burden is now placed on the seller and that the Scottish Land Commission’s proposal would have created a forward-looking process that ensured community sustainability over the long term.”
“If prior notification and lotting provisions are to function effectively and deliver greater transparency and community ownership, it is important that communities are given access to as much information as possible. A case in point is the controversial sale of an estate in the Sleat peninsula in Skye by the Clan Donald Lands Trust. Clan Donald, the landowner, decided to lot the estate for commercial reasons, but neither it nor its agents gave the community access to the relevant information in a timely manner so that the community could make an informed decision about whether a purchase was possible. Ultimately, the community decided not to pursue a purchase, but it had not been given the proper opportunity to assess its options.”
“In discussions with the cabinet secretary, I have expressed my doubts about the effectiveness of lotting as the provision is drafted. To improve it, I have lodged amendments 392, 293 and 294, which would enable the commissioner to share the lotting report with local communities who might wish to purchase lots and make a more informed decision. I thank Community Land Scotland for providing support on the amendments. Access to the land and communities commissioner’s report will be vital in order for communities to decide whether they want to pursue a purchase of one of the lots. There is no reason why that report could not be shared with the local community by the land and communities commissioner or as defined by the prior notification process. The report would be shared with the landowner and Scottish ministers.”
“However, those points were reiterated in the letter that I sent on 26 September to the new Home Secretary, which not only talked about the issues around Cameron barracks, but set out the Scottish Government’s principled stance on asylum and migration. It is very important that, as we rightly discuss the concerns of local people and local services, we remind ourselves that we are talking about people who are fleeing war, persecution and unimaginable horror in different parts of the world. We can never forget our moral and international legal obligations in relation to those issues.”
“Forcing people who have fled war, persecution and violence into isolated institutional accommodation will do nothing to improve housing or community relations but everything to help private companies line their pockets with more cash. Will the cabinet secretary give an assurance that she will advocate for a migration and asylum policy that reflects Scotland’s values of compassion and dignity and that she will seek devolved powers to manage asylum accommodation in a way that respects local communities and the rights of displaced people? Shirley-Anne Somerville: I reassure the member that, when I met with the previous Home Secretary, not long after she came into office, I made exactly those points about the need for a different approach to asylum and migration. Unfortunately, the Scottish Government’s calls on that have been rebuffed.”
“15:45 I thank the Revive coalition for its support on my amendment, and I thank Community Land Scotland for its thoughtful discussion over many months about how we can work public interest considerations into the bill. I note that Mercedes Villalba’s amendments 76 and 76A seek a similar outcome and I will listen to her contribution with interest.”
“With increasing numbers of overseas investors looking to buy up Scotland’s rural land, any public interest test must take tax residency into consideration. In the original consultation for the bill, the Government asked respondents for their views on a proposal to explore the possibility of introducing a requirement that those who seek to acquire large-scale landholdings need to be registered in a European Union member state or in the United Kingdom for tax purposes. Sixty-seven per cent of respondents agreed with the proposal. It would start embedding the principle that there are restrictions to land ownership in Scotland, and that, ideally, landowners will be paying tax in this country and more broadly contributing to the collective wealth of the country.”
“It would require that the buyers of large landholdings are up front about how they intend to manage the land. The test would also introduce two key criteria. First, a prospective buyer who already owns more than 500 hectares would not be able to pass the test, unless it could be shown that their management of the land would have significant environmental or community benefit. That would help to end the growing concentration of power in our land ownership pattern. Secondly, ministers would have to consider the prospective owner’s tax residency— Edward Mountain: Will the member take an intervention on that point? Ariane Burgess: I will not take an intervention; I have a lot to get through and I think that we have time considerations.”
“Several variations of public interest amendments from several parties were discussed at stage 2, but none of those made it into the bill. The transfer test that was introduced by ministers is a disappointing watering down of the Scottish Land Commission’s original recommendations. In general, the bill as drafted has drifted away from the commission’s original premise for it. A critical element that is absent is ensuring that the buyers of a large landholding or lotted land will act in the public interest. Scotland has a deeply unfair concentration of land ownership in the hands of a minority, who are often absent and seek only to extract wealth for themselves, rather than redistribute it. My amendment 15 would introduce a public interest test on prospective buyers of large landholdings.”
“This bill has been long in the making. Yet, after many hours of deliberation, it seems that it has not progressed much further from where it started. I remain deeply concerned that these measures do not go far enough in addressing the issue at the heart of land reform, which is that the majority of Scotland’s land is owned and controlled by a minority. Let us see where we get to over the next two days. A key concern that I have about this legislation is that it does not do nearly enough to ensure that public interest considerations are at the heart of the new measures. The need for a public interest test has been discussed at length over the course of the bill’s progression. It formed part of the Scottish Land Commission’s recommendations for the legislation and it was included in the Government’s public consultation.”
“Will the minister clarify how children and young people from marginalised or rural backgrounds are being included in the youth reference groups and strategic boards that are shaping mental health policy? Tom Arthur: My clear expectation and intent is that our work in policy development should reflect the whole range of Scotland’s population, including those in different geographies, and should include consideration of issues that pertain to rurality. I am happy to follow that up in writing to provide Ariane Burgess with more specific detail.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what scoping work it has undertaken regarding dualling and electrifying the Highland main line. (S6O- 05043)”
“Businesses need a resilient and modern freight artery that links Inverness and Perth to the rest of Scotland, as well as to England and Wales. We should be making it easier for companies to choose the climate-friendly option and move more of their goods by rail. There is enthusiasm for doing so in industry circles. For example, a well-known supermarket already regularly uses the main line to move consumer goods. Imagine if major Scottish industries such as whisky and timber could also take advantage of an improved main line. It would mean fewer lorries on the A9, safer roads and lower carbon emissions.”
“We could significantly scale up the current 15 passenger services a day. For communities in the strath, that would mean real commuting options, with frequent, reliable services to Inverness. For the wider Highlands, it would mean faster, cleaner connections to the central belt. In turn, that would improve wealth distribution, reducing its concentration in the central belt and spreading it along the main line to the thriving city of Inverness, into the Highlands and beyond. Likewise, instead of talking about Highland depopulation, we could see an increase in the number of people moving north. All of that would make Scotland’s path to net zero emissions so much easier, while improving people’s lives. The economic opportunities from improving the main line cannot be ignored, either.”
“For most of its 118 miles, it is still single track, and the trains that use it run on polluting diesel. That means wasted minutes at every stop, unreliable timetables and a line that is unable to meet the needs of the people and the economy that it serves. It also produces more carbon emissions instead of cutting them. With anything that is almost 170 years old, there comes a point where change and renewal is needed. The evidence is clear that dualling and electrifying the line could cut journey times, improve reliability and reduce emissions, and it would be a game changer for our Highland communities. In 2024, the central belt to Inverness rail routes created £87 million of economic benefit. That could grow significantly with an upgrade, meaning that any work would soon pay for itself.”
“Every week when Parliament is sitting, I take the train from Inverness to Edinburgh, and every week I experience a journey that feels stuck in the past. It is slow, often overcrowded and punctuated by frustrating waits as the train stops in passing loops to let other services go by. A journey that should showcase modern, clean transport instead exposes how little has changed since the Victorian era. It is not good enough. That is why I am grateful to colleagues who supported my motion to allow this debate to take place, and to the Highland Main Line Community Rail Partnership, which has worked incredibly hard to push for an improved rail experience on the line. The Highland main line should be the backbone of the north for people and businesses, but that Victorian railway is delivering Victorian-era journey times.”
“Mark Griffin worked diligently on a wide range of issues, including emphasising issues to do with the housing emergency; Meghan Gallacher has introduced some welcome changes; and I share Richard Leonard’s concerns about the shameful condition of accommodation for agricultural workers, which must be acted on urgently. Renters, families, students and all who are at risk of homelessness are watching us tonight, and they need us to act with courage and integrity. Let the bill be the beginning, not the end. Let us deliver housing that works for people all over Scotland. 21:06”
“Ross Greer’s focus on fairer taxation would have provided tools to deal with that. [Interruption.] The bill is a test of our values. Will we side with working people and the vulnerable or with powerful interests? Too many Scots are in despair. Families are struggling with rents, students are in poor-quality overpriced housing and communities are being hollowed out by second homes. The Scottish Greens have put forward a vision of tenant empowerment, local accountability and community-led housing solutions. I championed tax relief for co-ops to make them viable, Maggie Chapman warned us not to reinforce inequality and Ross Greer challenged us to create a more just system. I, too, recognise the work of MSPs from other parties and thank them for it.”
“The Scottish Greens highlighted how second homes and long-term empty properties must be part of the solution. Unlocking those homes is essential for communities from which local people are priced out. We have been clear that we must support community-led housing and co-operative models and provide stronger powers for local authorities to tackle landlord inaction on safety issues such as damp and mould. I am concerned about some of the bill’s shortcomings. Exemptions risk creating a two-tier rent control system, and above-inflation rent rises are still possible. Tenants must wait until 2027 for full protection, even though they need that now. Students risk being abandoned to the wild west of unregulated accommodation, and we need stronger compulsory purchase powers for empty homes.”
“I thank my colleague Patrick Harvie, who introduced the bill and its key measures while serving as a minister. His work is a tangible demonstration of the fact that, when Scottish Greens are elected, they get things done. The bill offers real progress. It introduces powers for local rent controls to cap annual rent increases in designated areas. It strengthens rights around repairs and security of tenure. Scottish Green amendments also pushed the Government to make changes in key areas. The bill is a huge step forward for renters, although I am disappointed that it has been watered down in some areas. Improvements that were suggested by us in concert with experts such as Shelter Scotland and Generation Rent have not been agreed to.”