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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“I, too, thank the Liberal Democrats for bringing forward this important debate, and I express my gratitude to staff across health, education and the third sector who work with dedication to support people with neurodevelopmental conditions. There is little doubt that, across Scotland, there is a fundamental gap in how we identify, assess and support those with neurodevelopmental conditions, particularly autism and ADHD, which is causing real harm. Constituents have contacted me and my colleagues, seeking support and direction. We have heard from Alex Cole-Hamilton that that is the case for him, too. There is a lot to cover in this debate and, although I will try not to repeat what others have said, I wish to highlight a few key points that are essential. Demand for assessments is rising, and existing systems are unable to cope.”
“I commend the Centre for Good Relations for the key role that it has played in facilitating the forum’s work and emphasise my belief that that kind of collaborative approach should be core to how the Scottish Government funds rural development. I have had numerous conversations with the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands about the need to fund soft infrastructure work. I trust that the debate today demonstrates to her and the minister the need to act on that. The debate is about building a nature-positive future that allows rural people to continue to make a living using their skills and knowledge while healing the land that we all depend on. Let us support the forum’s approach and expand it to other sectors that work with Scotland’s land and sea. 17:56”
“That means investing in skilled development and providing structured training routes into the sector. I urge the Scottish Government to ensure that wild deer, which are currently overabundant on our hills, are treated as a viable and sustainable source of protein. Aligning deer management with the aims of the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022 offers the opportunity to put healthy, locally sourced venison on the menu in Scotland’s schools, hospitals and other public kitchens. We have already heard this evening from two members about the incredible efforts on Jura and in the primary schools in Argyll and Bute.”
“They came together under the common ground accord, which sets a standard for respectful behaviour throughout the upland deer management sector, and encourages participants to keep an open mind, listen to understand, engage honestly and work towards mutually beneficial solutions. Although upland deer managers benefit from deer management groups, lowland areas, as we have already heard, often lack that structure. We must do more to support lowland stalkers through local forums, regional co-ordination and tailored support. We must also recognise that managing deer for ecological recovery, if we are serious about restoring our degraded natural systems and meeting the target of protecting 30 per cent of Scotland’s land for nature by 2030, will require more trained stalkers, not fewer.”
“That means changing how we work on the land and doing so in a way that supports those who live and work there. Just as we invest in roads and bridges to connect communities, we must invest in the soft infrastructure of trust. We need forums such as the Common Ground Forum to bring people together to share knowledge, build understanding and co- operate on solutions to shared challenges. I recently had the opportunity to participate in a meeting of the Common Ground Forum. About 80 stalkers, conservationists, estate workers and contractors came together to speak openly about the need to evolve practices. Many of them work alone, yet the forum creates space for them to exchange information, debunk misinformation and get up to speed with new techniques and technology.”
“By bringing together deer managers, conservationists and rural landowners, the forum has created space for trust, dialogue and shared purpose in one of the most sensitive and contested areas of land use—deer management. Deer management is not a marginal issue. Effective, ecological and sound deer management is central to our ambitions for nature restoration and climate action. As the Scottish Fiscal Commission has outlined, if we are to meet our climate targets, Scotland will need to spend around £11.5 billion in public investment up to 2050 on land use, land use change and forestry. That is significantly more per capita than in the rest of the United Kingdom, because we have peatland to restore, forests to plant and more land under active management.”
“Before I begin, I apologise to Elena Whitham and other members for missing the beginning of her speech. It has been a long day—I was in the chair at 8 o’clock this morning, dealing with stage 2 of the Housing (Scotland) Bill. However, I would not have missed this debate for anything. I am absolutely delighted to speak in support of the motion and the recognition of the work of the Common Ground Forum through the nature of Scotland award for innovation. The debate is an important and timely acknowledgement of a quiet but transformative piece of work that has begun to shift the tone and approach in Scotland’s upland deer management sector.”
“To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to improve transport infrastructure in the Highlands and Islands, particularly in response to the reported request from Highland Council for additional support to run its six ferry services. (S6O-04702)”
“That has already damaged the social fabric of islands and communities by drawing young people and local talent away to the central belt and beyond. The Scottish Government has begun its journey towards rectifying that situation. I welcome the policy efforts, particularly the islands plan and the carbon-neutral islands project. I have met a number of the carbon-neutral islands project teams. The work that they are doing is fantastic, and it is great to see that the Government recognises the need for multiyear funding for the project, as that will allow us to roll out the work that it is doing to other communities. That is a good starting point when it comes to addressing the challenges that are presented by the climate emergency and depopulation, but we need more changes to be delivered more rapidly.”
“We need to start to think about policies for our island and rural communities that are different from those for urban parts of Scotland, because the circumstances are very different. Having said that, I will go back to my notes. Scotland’s inhabited islands are at a critical point in their 5,000 year history, having supported communities since at least the late stone age. In many places, the effects of climate change and depopulation could bring their long human history to an end. Rising sea levels, increasingly extreme storms and the unpredictability of our weather patterns could push island populations to the brink over the next few decades. Their resilience to handle what is likely to be significant change has been undermined by years of little recognition and support from the UK and Scottish Governments.”
“However, I want to see power devolved to our island communities at the most local level. If communities are going to tackle the climate and nature emergency, they must have power in their hands. As I have just said, each island is different, and they face very different circumstances. When I went to the top of a tiny hill on Benbecula and looked down over the sunlit water, I noticed that Uist looks like fragile lace that has been laid across the Atlantic Ocean. The island may be completely overtaken by flooding in the not-too- distant future, and the local authority is having to consider how it will handle rehousing people. I want us to get to a point where we are designing Scotland with islands and rural communities first.”
“I extend my apologies to everyone in the chamber for being late to the debate. I am grateful that today we are discussing and debating the need to empower Scotland’s islands. During the four years and a bit that I have been in this role, I have recognised that Scotland is not an island nation, but a nation of islands. As colleagues have said, every single island in Scotland is different and unique. I have found that an incredible thing to understand, having travelled from the southern tip of the Western Isles to the northern tip in my very first summer recess, and having travelled to Orkney in that same recess. I took in a lot of islands in that time, and I really saw the differences. I want to convey to members that it is fantastic that we have had power devolved to Scotland, and we now have that power.”
“We need urgent assurances from Ofgem and the UK Government that no tenant will be penalised for the inaction or delays of energy companies, that there is a robust and fully funded plan to support those who are affected, especially those who lose heating or hot water, and that no one will be left in the cold because of a failure to consult or prepare. This is a matter of energy justice. It is about ensuring that the transition to smart technology does not leave behind the people who need the most support. I urge colleagues from across the chamber to stand up—as they have said they will—for our rural and island communities and demand a fair, inclusive and properly resourced transition. 18:34”
“Many of its members report that energy suppliers simply do not have the capacity to replace all RTS meters by the 2025 deadline. Worse still, suppliers are not engaging proactively with tenants for whom a smart meter is not a viable option. What happens after the switch? As other members have said, some tenants are being moved on to more expensive or unsuitable tariffs, often without clear information or consent. Citizens Advice Scotland has already seen cases of people falling into energy debt because their new smart meters do not work properly. That is not just inconvenient; it is pushing people into poverty.”
“Given the low uptake of smart meters in Scotland— particularly in the northern isles and the Western Isles, where fewer than 10 per cent of households have one—it is fair to assume that a disproportionate number of RTS meters are in my region. One constituent of mine waited nine months for a resolution that came only after his energy supplier was forced to prove to the data communications company that all other options had failed before it was allowed to install a cellular system. Other constituents have seen action from their energy companies only after I—and my colleagues across the chamber, I am sure— contacted the companies on their behalf. That is not a system that is working for people—it is a system that is failing them. The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations has raised urgent concerns.”
“I, too, thank Beatrice Wishart for bringing this important and urgent debate to the chamber. I speak on behalf of my constituents in the Highlands and Islands, many of whom are deeply concerned about the looming switch-off of the radio teleswitch service and the risks that it poses to their wellbeing. It is not just a technical transition but the result of a decision that was made in Westminster with little regard for the unique challenges that rural and island communities in Scotland face. Our most vulnerable residents—older people, those in low- income households and social housing tenants— are being left to bear the brunt. As of April this year, more than 390,000 RTS meters were still in use across Great Britain.”
“The Scottish Greens want a clear-cut policy that delivers for fishers and for the environment that they operate in, which is why we want science to lead policy and a quota system that promotes low- impact fishing techniques and benefits Scotland’s communities, and why we want the EU, the UK and Scotland to come together to properly address overfishing. In that way, we can deliver for coastal communities, the environment and the economy. 16:53”
“It would be more helpful to fishers if we focused on the delivery of the duties that are contained in that act, which is where I turn to the Scottish Government. Although I agree that Parliament should have an annual debate on the issue and that Scotland needs a seat at the fisheries table, I do not accept that the blame for the damage to our fishing sector sits entirely with the UK Government. For years, we have had a series of ministers tell this Parliament that fisheries management is complex. That is being used as an excuse not to do the hard yards required to deliver the change that is needed. The Scottish Government spends £80 million a year on the marine space and fisheries. Where is the money going if it is not being used to overcome the complexities that stand in the way of change?”
“I share the concern in the Conservative motion that the UK Government plans to give the EU multiyear access to our fish stocks. Although the current annual system of negotiations is onerous, it allows a near constant assessment of fish stocks. Those stocks could be under serious strain and could face decimation if there is no on-going process of evaluation. However, where I cannot support Tim Eagle’s motion is where it gets into the weeds of Brexit. The Conservatives seemingly want to blame the common fisheries policy for all the ills of the fishing industry, yet they conveniently forget that a Conservative UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, largely based the UK Fisheries Act 2020 on the very same policy that they are trashing today.”
“The loss of just one vessel is enough to impact an entire community, so the human cost of the loss of 200 in little more than a decade is devastating for Scotland, not just in a social sense but economically. That situation should concern us all and it tells us something about the status quo: it simply is not working—not for fishers, not for communities and not for our precious seas. Neither today’s motion nor the amendments to it address that adequately. We urgently need to move from an extraction- based economy to a sustainable and regenerative one. The motion and amendments all still back extraction at all costs, but that offers a boom-and- bust scenario in which we fish, fish and fish until there is nothing left.”
“Scotland’s seas and the communities that rely on them are at a critical juncture, and the climate crisis has heated our oceans, and will continue to do so, destabilising and damaging the building blocks that entire ecosystems rely on, and ultimately harming the livelihoods of fishers. At the same time, Government is failing to adjust to this new reality and to deliver a viable future for the industry. We are already seeing the consequences of that situation. According to recent official statistics, 326 jobs on Scottish fishing vessels were lost between 2022 and 2023, and that came on top of the loss of almost 200 vessels in the North East and Highlands and Islands regions between 2008 and 2022.”
“To ask the First Minister whether he will provide an update on when the Scottish Government expects to respond to the Loch Long salmon farm planning application. (S6F-04007)”
“Islanders must be able to feel that their communities and culturally valuable identities are secure, that they can afford the cost of living, access decent jobs that support people to work with, rather than against, nature, and get good education for their kids. They must also know that the Scottish Government is doing everything that it can to tackle the climate emergency. As I have said in the chamber before, if we can get it right for islanders, we can get it right for everyone in Scotland. 18:59”
“Although we cannot solve the climate crisis overnight, we can end the near daily human rights injustices that islanders have to put up with— whether that is lack of affordable housing or having to live in damp and mouldy homes, poor access to the internet, or overtourism hoovering up vital resources such as food and accommodation. To solve those issues, I would like the Scottish Government to properly invest in our island communities; to pursue net zero through continuing to support the carbon neutral islands initiative and rolling out its findings to other islands; to design services for islands and communities first; and to put human rights front and centre in its island-related policies.”
“I share both the pride and the concern contained within it, but I must say that there are two common threads that it does not mention, both of which underpin the unique challenges facing islanders. Those are the climate crisis—which I was glad to hear Jamie Halcro Johnston mention in his contribution—and the human rights crisis. Our rapidly changing climate is a major barrier for island economies. To take just one example, more frequent bad weather is one of the biggest reasons why the ferries do not run on time. When they are not running as they should be, islanders are stuck away from home and left out of pocket; fresh food and other vital goods do not arrive; and business supply chains are thrown into disarray.”
“The islands show us that we can all live in ways that work with, rather than against, nature, and in ways that offer a constructive community and cultural identity and a true sense of place and belonging, which can sometimes be lacking in other parts of Scotland. I have been lucky enough to see that for myself, be that at Aird Fada seaweed farm on Mull, which is a community- owned project that produces foodstuffs as well as non-plastic packaging, and offers career opportunities to young people; or Hope Cohousing in Orkney, which is a community-led initiative that has shown a great deal of heart in its bid to build a supportive community for island elders. All of that brings me to the motion that we are discussing today.”
“I thank Jamie Halcro Johnston for securing this debate. I am sorry that I could not be in Parliament today for the round-table event and tonight’s wonderful celebrations. It is often said that Scotland is an island nation, but it is not. It is a nation of islands—790 to be exact, some supporting populations of 21,000 and others with as few as seven people. Then there is, of course, the uninhabited majority, which are home to vital ecosystems made up of Scotland’s flora and fauna. Not only do the islands offer invaluable glimpses into our past, with sites such as Skara Brae in Orkney showing that the history of people in Scotland stretches back at least 5,000 years, but they show us what our future can be, for both our islands and those living on the mainland.”
“In response to the inquiry that the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee undertook on aquaculture, we set out a number of measures that we are looking to take. Moreover, we set out in that response that we received a report on the issue that the University of Glasgow produced just last year. On the back of that report and in light of that evidence, we are undertaking an appropriate assessment ahead of the wrasse fishery opening in May this year. I assure Ariane Burgess and other members that we are taking the matter seriously. We must do what we can to ensure that we are protecting this species. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Question 4 has been withdrawn. Agricultural Land (Development) 5.”
“Dr David Bailey, who was commissioned by NatureScot in 2019 to examine whether wrasse fishing could affect protected features, has said that as a “first measure”, closing protected reefs to wrasse fishing would reduce the risk to protected features, “ensure that at least some wrasse populations survive, and allow the ecological effects of wrasse fishing to be assessed”. Does the cabinet secretary agree that it is important for the sake of our aquaculture industry, our marine environment and the commercial species that depend on them that at least some wrasse populations survive? Mairi Gougeon: Wrasse is of course a very important species, as I hope that I outlined in my previous response.”
“I am sure that we would all like to thank her warmly for her services to the public sector and wish her all the very best for the future. I move, That the Parliament nominates Paul McFadden to His Majesty The King for appointment as the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman under section 1 of the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002. The Presiding Officer: Thank you, Ms Burgess. I will take this moment to remind all members that, when they are participating in parliamentary business remotely, it is preferred if cameras are in use at all times. We will move to decision time momentarily. Decision Time 17:00”
“He previously served as the acting Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman and Northern Ireland Local Government Commissioner for Standards, with oversight of Northern Ireland’s public services and local government conduct, serving as deputy ombudsman, deputy commissioner and judicial appointments ombudsman. Prior to taking up the role in Northern Ireland, Paul established and headed up the SPSO complaints standards authority, implementing an improved culture and streamlined complaints-handling system across Scotland’s public bodies. The panel believes that Paul’s blend of skills and ombudsman experience will make him an excellent Scottish Public Services Ombudsman. Before concluding, Presiding Officer, I take the opportunity to mention the outgoing ombudsman, Rosemary Agnew.”
“The ombudsman also has a statutory duty to publish standardised complaints-handling procedures for the public sector and monitor and promote best practice in complaints handling. The ombudsman carries out independent reviews of decisions that councils make on community care and crisis grant applications. The ombudsman is also the independent national whistleblowing officer for the national health service in Scotland. The nominee, Paul McFadden, is currently the chief ombudsman for the Legal Ombudsman for England and Wales, a post that he has held since January 2021. Although Paul is unable to be in the chamber today, because of a work commitment, he is represented by two family members. Paul McFadden has two decades of senior experience in ombudsman and investigation roles in Scotland and across the United Kingdom.”
“As a member of the cross-party selection panel that was established by the Presiding Officer under our standing orders, I am delighted to speak to the motion in my name to invite members of the Parliament to agree to nominate Paul McFadden to His Majesty the King for appointment as the new Scottish Public Services Ombudsman. The Presiding Officer chaired the selection panel and the other members were Jamie Greene, Fulton MacGregor, Carol Mochan and Michelle Thomson. The role of the ombudsman is important and it covers a wide range of statutory functions. The ombudsman investigates complaints about most organisations that provide public services in Scotland when a member of public claims to have suffered injustice or hardship as a result of maladministration or service failure.”
“Motion agreed to, That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill. The Presiding Officer: That concludes decision time. Meeting closed at 17:35. 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. Published in Edinburgh by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP All documents are available on the Scottish Parliament website at: www.parliament.scot Information on non-endorsed print suppliers is available here: www.parliament.scot/documents For information on the Scottish Parliament contact Public Information on: Telephone: 0131 348 5000 Textphone: 0800 092 7100 Email: sp.info@parliament.scot”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I could not connect. I would have voted yes. The Presiding Officer: Thank you, Ms Burgess. We will ensure that that is recorded. For Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Con) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (Con) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Against Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Abstentions 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) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) 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) 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) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Rona Mackay] Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Jamie Hepburn] 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) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division on motion S6M-16789, in the name of Liz Smith, on the Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill at stage 1, is: For 64, Against 1, Abstentions 53.”
“Ariane Burgess: That is an increasing barrier to community land ownership. One route to addressing that is to have a new public body to oversee Scotland’s carbon credit market. Ahead of stage 2, I would like to explore with the cabinet secretary how we can address some of the growing concerns about the bill, with a view to addressing the issue more substantially in the next parliamentary session. Finally, I thank the many stakeholders who have shared their views over the past year and who have taken the time to meet me and my colleagues, and I thank the committee clerks and Scottish Parliament information centre colleagues who have kept members such as myself, who were not on the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, abreast of the discussions that have taken place. 16:03”
“The bill should also be updated to make it clear that LMPs should not only take into consideration how biodiversity can be enhanced, but support efforts to restore natural processes at scale. The Scottish Rewilding Alliance submitted important evidence on that. I, like others, am disappointed that the review of the legislation on the community right to buy has not been aligned with the bill. Community Land Scotland raised important concerns about the time that is given to communities to prepare applications. The bill presents us with an opportunity to tackle the issue of increasing off-market sales of land, particularly for the purpose of engaging in the trading of carbon credits on the financial market. Mercedes Villalba: Will the member take an intervention? The Deputy Presiding Officer: The member is concluding.”
“Cross-compliance can help in that regard, and Mark Ruskell will say more on that in closing. It should also be made clear how plans have taken the views of the community into account. Community consultation should not simply be a tick-box exercise, but should be given serious consideration. The five-year limit timescale for plans also needs to be reconsidered, particularly for plans involving changes in land use that would benefit the environment. From tree planting to habitat restoration, several years—in fact, decades—are often needed for those changes to take root. We need longer duration of LMPs and we need their objectives to be locked in for successive owners. We have seen that approach being taken in relation to forest dedication schemes, and we need the same here.”
“Lotting provisions must also include safeguards to prevent lots simply being brought back together at a later date. I also question the rationale for not including contiguous landholdings. It must be clear that lotting decisions are made on the basis of achieving the public interest test, and I am keen that we see a definition of the public interest test spelled out in the bill. Land management plans, commonly known as LMPs, are an idea with much potential, particularly for progressing action to meet our climate ambitions and to restore Scotland’s nature. However, some key changes are required to strengthen those provisions. First, we need to see a requirement for LMPs to be implemented, otherwise the process will be reduced to a bureaucratic exercise.”
“On lotting decisions, I firmly believe that a lower threshold is the only way that the bill would have a significant chance of diversifying land ownership in Scotland. However, as it stands, the lotting process is somewhat orphaned in the bill. What will ministers take into account when making lotting decisions? How will we know that the decisions are of benefit to the public as a whole? That brings me to the matter of the public interest, which I know that the committee has discussed at length. I agree with those witnesses who have suggested that the transfer test in the bill must be replaced with a public interest test, and I urge the cabinet secretary to continue her consideration of that. That is what the Government consulted on, and it was supported by 72 per cent of respondents.”
“There is a strong case for the thresholds for lotting and the creation of land management plans to be harmonised; indeed, the Scottish Land Commission recommended that change. Further, the thresholds for both should be significantly reduced. Committee witnesses suggested that a 500 hectare threshold would exclude around 96 per cent of all agricultural holdings, so crofters and family farms would be exempt. I understand concerns about the cost of creating plans, but are those costs not already part of the cost of business for many large landowners? Are we suggesting that landowners do not carefully plan how they use their land and think carefully about the future of their businesses? Douglas Lumsden: Will the member take an intervention? Ariane Burgess: I do not have time to take an intervention. I apologise for that.”
“The Scottish Greens support the principles of the bill at stage 1 but, as the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee and many stakeholders outside the chamber noted, the proposed legislation before us is disappointingly lacking in ambition. There are still many barriers that need to be addressed for the Parliament to achieve its goal of diversifying who owns land in Scotland. Although there remains much unfinished business in land reform, several improvements can be made to the bill at stages 2 and 3. I will run through several of those and my colleague Mark Ruskell will pick up on additional areas in his closing remarks. The first improvement relates to thresholds. I note the broad consensus in the committee’s stage 1 report that the thresholds in the bill need to be revised.”
“The bill is the latest step in Scotland’s land reform journey. As we heard from the cabinet secretary, Scotland is an outlier when compared to many of our European neighbours. Ownership of land is highly concentrated. Although the Parliament has made great strides in rectifying that since devolution by granting the right to roam and the community right to buy, we are still only at the start of the land reform journey. The bill is part of other work that is on-going to address fairness in land ownership and how public money is deployed. It also links with steps to tackle the climate and nature emergencies that are set out in the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024 and the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill.”
“According to the capacity assessment that has been made, there are sufficient assessors in that regard at the moment, but we continue to closely monitor that and will continue to discuss it with UK Government colleagues.”
“I extend my condolences to the families and friends who lost their loved ones in the Grenfell tower fire. It is a tragedy that should never have been allowed to happen. When we discussed cladding last year, I highlighted the shortage of skilled, qualified fire safety professionals. Although the approach that the minister has set out is welcome, how is the Scottish Government working to ensure that existing skills gaps do not hold up works to make buildings safe? Paul McLennan: That very valid point about skills has been made in committee and discussed in the chamber, and it is a key thing that we have taken forward in discussions with our colleagues in the UK and Welsh Governments and the Northern Ireland Executive.”
“Let me be clear that there is still time to turn this round. However, to do that, we must be bold enough to change course, and that starts with one decisive action—pausing the expansion of salmon farms until we fix the serious problems in the industry. Other countries have raised their standards, and Scotland must do the same. We have a choice—to let destruction continue unchecked or to stand up and protect what is precious. I believe that we can choose a different and better future, but that choice must start now. The Presiding Officer: We move to the open debate. 15:44”
“Scotland has fallen behind countries such as Iceland, Norway and Canada, where stricter regulations and tougher enforcement hold salmon farms to account. The salmon farming industry boasts of economic benefits, yet in 35 years it has directly created just 253 full-time jobs in the Highlands and Islands. Let us be clear that this is not a jobs boom; it is a false promise. Meanwhile, the industry’s pollution threatens the real livelihoods of our coastal communities—the fishers, the marine tour guides and the small businesses that rely on healthy seas. While Scotland claims to be a world leader in aquaculture, other nations are already far ahead in regulating salmon farming to protect their environment and wildlife. When did we decide that corporate profits were worth more than our environment—our wild rivers and sea bed—and our future?”
“We do not even have public data on how many wrasse are being caught and where. With colleagues, I have called for effective monitoring of marine discharges—the chemicals, waste and pollution that flow into our seas. Years are going unchecked, yet the numbers are not small, given that the waste from one farm can be equivalent to that of a town of 49,000 people. How have we allowed an industry to grow so huge without even knowing its full impact? With colleagues, I have called for accountability on farm escapes. Recently, Iceland fined a company more than £650,000 when 80,000 farmed salmon escaped, yet the same incident in Scotland had no consequences. It took two years even to come to light, because there is still no legal requirement for transporters to report farmed fish escapes.”
“However, just this week, reports revealed that one farm completed the required sea lice count while another that is less than 3km away claimed that it could not do so due to the weather. The system is failing, and the Government’s assurances about future enforcement simply carry no weight. With colleagues, I have called for greater welfare protections for our fish, which can feel pain just as other animals and our pets do. Our neighbouring nations have moved towards higher welfare standards while Scotland clings to voluntary schemes that leave millions of fish unprotected. I have called for greater protections for cleaner fish—the wrasse and lumpfish that are used to control lice. Those species are taken from the wild and placed into cages by the millions, only to die in appalling conditions. That is wholly unethical.”
“Either we force the industry to change or it will be finished. With colleagues, I have called for stronger regulation, transparency and accountability. The committee heard clear evidence of farmed salmon dying in shocking numbers. Mortality rates have soared from 7 per cent a decade ago to 25 per cent today. That means that one in four farmed salmon die before they reach harvest. When we add the freshwater stage into the reporting, one in three salmon suffer and die before they reach people’s plates, yet the Government still refuses to implement comprehensive mortality reporting, ignoring cleaner fish and the freshwater stage entirely. Without full transparency, how can we possibly hold the industry to account? The Government insists that missing data and no counts will not be tolerated in the future.”