Emma Roddick
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“Knowing all that I know about the high rate of comorbidity of ADHD and hypermobility, it did not come as a surprise when I was told in January this year that my mental health diagnosis, which came with a great deal of difficulty, stigma and, as it turns out, the wrong treatment over years and years, was misdiagnosed neurodivergence.”
“It might be that no one beyond the person’s GP is needed to manage the post-diagnosis situation. All that might be needed is guided self-management and the awareness of what their diagnosis is, which will give them the necessary confidence to ask for adjustments at school or the workplace.”
“A child with ADHD who can be managed with some changes to their school day should just have those changes made. Not dealing with those people creates urgent cases that never needed to become urgent.”
“I can now access the right people and I can read about my condition, not a label. What I cannot do is get help from the NHS. I have been advised to go private, which is something I hate seeing in a letter that is headed “NHS”.”
“I congratulate and thank Helen McDade for securing this important debate. I am glad to see that there are cross-party contributions this evening.”
“When someone feels like they do not fit in and they do not know why, they can start to resent the world and their peers, who think that the person is difficult and unfriendly instead of just quiet and busy thinking about 12 things at once.”
The complete record
Every one of 407 lines we hold for Emma Roddick, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 4 of 9.
“Animal welfare charities are raising concerns about the severe distress that fireworks cause to many animals. The Scottish Animal Welfare Commission has said that the delay in implementing the licensing scheme will prolong the period of unacceptable risk to animal welfare. Will the Scottish Government consider early implementation of licensing and restrictions on the days when fireworks can be used and sold in order to protect animals? The First Minister: Those issues will be kept under review, as I said to Ash Regan. The Minister for Victims and Community Safety has liaised with the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission on our work to mitigate the impact of fireworks, including on how noise affects animals.”
“Following my initial letter on 26 September, I have written to the Home Secretary again today to flag up the concerns that remain, and we are keen to work with her during the process. The member is quite right to point out, as she has done on numerous occasions, that Scotland— and, indeed, the Highlands—has a long history of welcoming refugees and asylum seekers. If the Scottish Government were going to implement a policy that delivered for local communities and asylum seekers and ensured community cohesion, it would not go about it in this way. That is exactly why there is an intense level of frustration in the Scottish Government. In saying that, we stand ready to work collaboratively with the UK Government, should it wish to do so.”
“I am sure that the cabinet secretary shares my frustration that elected members at all levels were made aware of the decision to use Cameron barracks as asylum accommodation only through the media yesterday morning. That is a clear example of the disastrous management that is under way at the Home Office as it battles to outdo far-right parties with failing policies. Over the past day, Inverness politicians have been receiving confused correspondence from constituents as the UK Government seems to be going out of its way to contribute to the hostile environment that it inherited from the Tories. Will the cabinet secretary advise what engagement she has had, and anticipates having, with the evidently chaotic Home Office? Shirley-Anne Somerville: I agree that proper engagement on this is critical at all levels of government.”
“To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its approach to considering a hypermobility pathway for healthcare, in line with that being brought forward in Wales. (S6O-05004)”
“Although the number of house fires has reduced, other incidents, such as flooding and wildfires, which is what we are talking about, have increased. That is why it is right that the fire service is carefully considering how to adapt to the changing risks to remain effective and efficient, with firefighters in the right place at the right time. MyCare (Accessibility) 3.”
“It is clear that the climate emergency is changing our weather and that the dry summer this year brought about unprecedented wildfires. What support is the Scottish Government giving to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to cope with the changing needs of our communities? Siobhian Brown: We will continue to support the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to deliver the high standard of services that are required to keep Scotland safe. That includes the implementation of its wildfire strategy and an overall budget increase of £18.8 million for this year. The emergencies that the SFRS has responded to have changed significantly over the years. For example, dwelling fires have reduced by more than 20 per cent since 2013.”
“To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the distress brief intervention programme. (S6O-04985)”
“The investing in communities fund targets the most disadvantaged communities to deliver projects, services and activities that address poverty and disadvantage. We are providing more than £9 million in funding this year, which makes an enormously valuable contribution to organisations such as New”
“The retail sector is vital to Scotland’s economy and supports our local communities with services, amenities and employment opportunities. Can the Deputy First Minister say any more about what the Scottish Government is doing to support Scottish businesses and regenerate our local areas, in particular through the investing in communities fund, which has provided £336,000 for New Start Highland in my constituency? Kate Forbes: I am a big fan of New Start Highland—I saw some of its representatives at an event on Monday. The member is absolutely right to talk about how critical the retail sector is. It is right at the heart of our agenda for economic growth. We have provided funding for the Scotland Loves Local campaign, the regeneration funding that I mentioned and, of course, the competitive non- domestic rates regime.”
“To counter the points that Edward Mountain made earlier, I note that there is an ever-upward drag of open market rents because adverts will push as high as they possibly can. I press amendment 139. 18:15 The Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 139 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division. The vote is closed.”
“Fines cannot just be brushed off as an acceptable cost of doing business. Provision of accurate information is vital for renters. They should have access to clear, accurate and up-to-date information. To address the cabinet secretary’s specific point about my amendments on fines, I note that they would not fix the fine level at £2,000. They clearly use the words “an amount not less than £2,000”, so they could provide the sliding scale that she seems determined to maintain. We should also use the bill to rebalance the ever-upward creep of open market rents and ensure that we collect and use real rental data to present a much more honest and reliable picture of the rent levels that tenants are exposed to. That ask comes directly from tenants and tenant organisations, given their experience and analysis of open market rents.”
“However, when I lodged those amendments— first, in response to Meghan Gallagher—I had not been invited to the round table that she was invited to—which, I understand, did not actually take place, due to a lack of interest. I also had not had sight of the cabinet secretary’s letter on data; I saw that only after I had lodged my amendment 151. Had that letter been sent to me, I would not have lodged the amendment. I will not be moving it, because I have subsequently seen that letter and I am reassured by it. On Emma Roddick’s amendment 149, I am persuaded. Ms Roddick often manages to persuade me on things, and she has done so today. The Presiding Officer: I call Maggie Chapman to wind up and to press or withdraw amendment 139. Maggie Chapman: Fines should be a genuine disincentive to landlords to behave inappropriately.”
“I encourage members across the chamber to support my amendments and to do what they can to ensure that, down the line, these provisions result in real positive change in the data so that we, Government, landlords and lobby groups can rely on it when making better law and policy in the future. Regardless of policy disagreements, we can surely agree that we need solid data and evidence to back up the decisions that we make. The Presiding Officer: I call Graham Simpson to speak to amendment 151 and other amendments in the group. Graham Simpson: Edward Mountain said that he is looking forward to getting an explanation of amendment 151. It states that ministers must, by regulation, make provisions that require councils to publish data on rent. Amendment 263 is a linked amendment. Data is a good thing.”
“My hope is that we would look at situations and localities where we can get a good picture of what is going on across the country by collecting that data. I imagine that, depending on the purpose and the reason for needing the data, it would be best to have it as an annual event—at least for a few years—to get that body of evidence. However, as I said, it would depend. The important part is that the process would be open for consultation, engagement and, importantly, parliamentary scrutiny. I am grateful to the cabinet secretary for discussing the issue over the summer and reaching a position that gives ministers the power to design a process to collect better data in the future.”
“It is also difficult for people to challenge the Government when the data is not there to back up either side of the argument. Edward Mountain: The member is right and has correctly construed that I would not have supported her amendment at stage 2. I want to get an indication from you of where you are going with this. Are you—sorry, Presiding Officer. I will correct myself before you correct me. Is the member looking to do this on an annual basis or every few years? Would there be a standard form? I am looking for some guidance that she would expect the Government to follow when collecting that data. Emma Roddick: It is a tough question, because I am not the Government and I do not know what the Government is going to do with this.”
“I was not sure about the amendment before, but I am quite taken by it now—as I said, I can change my mind. Has Emma Roddick liaised with the Scottish Association of Landlords on the amendment? What is its view? Emma Roddick: I do not believe that I have had correspondence with the association specifically. However, during stage 2, landlord and tenant round tables took place in the Parliament that discussed the much more forceful amendments that I had lodged at that point, and there was widespread support from both sides. Even back then, with those very different amendments on data collection, pretty much everyone agreed that, under the current system, in which we are guessing and people are having to put forward views, it is difficult for the Government to uphold the decisions that it has made.”
“However, I recognise that that would be a significant new responsibility for landlords and could require more resources from the Government to manage the returns, which is why my more specific amendments at stage 2 were rejected. Therefore, I have brought this forward as a regulation-making power, which means that it could be used if considered necessary and after engagement with those affected. My consequential amendment 262 would ensure that any regulations that were made under this section would be subject to the affirmative procedure, so that Parliament would have the opportunity to scrutinise them fully. I suspect that Edward Mountain would have disagreed with my initial proposals, just as the Government did, but I hope that that provides him with the reassurance that he was looking for. Graham Simpson: I have just one question.”
“Unlike the existing powers in the bill, that would make it an on-going duty for landlords, rather than being instigated through a request by the Scottish ministers or the council. The requirement to provide the same information could not be imposed more than once a year, regardless of who was asking. The amendment outlines what the regulations could cover, such as when and how information is provided, how it is used and shared, and how the process is enforced, including an appeals process. That approach would give clarity about what is expected of landlords and would reduce the need for repeated requests from the Government and, therefore, repeated answers from landlords.”
“I know from Scottish Land & Estates that there are concerns about the system of rent caps not taking into account private landlords in rural areas who have protected their tenants for many years and are now renting below the market rate. I do not know how common that is, and we will never know if we do not ask and require answers to be given. We also do not know the full scale of the exorbitant rents that exist. We usually know of them only once they are challenged. My amendment 149 would allow the Scottish ministers to set up a process, through regulations, requiring landlords to provide information about their property or tenancy either to ministers or to the local authority.”
“As anyone who took part in stage 2 knows, I have been really keen to see data collection strengthened. We, in this Parliament, often find ourselves—there are similar situations in councils across Scotland—debating private rented sector policy using data that has been scraped from Zoopla or estimated by people on either side of the debate, meaning that the data naturally differs wildly. That serves nobody, and we end up taking positions that are based on anecdotes and guesses when the information is out there to be captured. What are people charging tenants, and for what kind of property? I strongly believe that an accurate picture of that will lead to better policy and greater confidence in decisions that are taken, whether someone agrees with them or not. There are examples of that in the debates about this bill.”
“What is not helping us in relation to recruitment is, as I have already set out, the housing situation—which we are investing in and supporting in communities around Skye and in other parts of rural and island Scotland—as well as the very restrictive migration situation that has been perpetrated by the Labour United Kingdom Government, in which we have seen a 77 per cent reduction in the number of health and care visas that have been offered over the past year.”
“The implementation of the Ritchie recommendations is badly needed, and I am glad to hear of progress, although I recognise that the time between now and the publication of the recommendations in 2018 has meant a loss of trust and continued frustration about services. Recruitment and retention of staff will be critical to ensuring that future work is successful. Will the cabinet secretary speak to how that will be prioritised and what the key barriers are to securing a full workforce? Neil Gray: I absolutely understand that issue and reflected in my statement on the frustrations and the time that it has taken to get to this point. Emma Roddick is absolutely right about recruitment. The recruitment processes are under way, and we expect the full staff complement to be in place by the end of the year.”
“To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill aims to give school pupils an independent right to opt in, but not opt out, of religious observance. (S6O-04955)”
“The Scottish Government has access to the wealth of knowledge, experience and volunteer willingness that exists out there, which it can grab hold of to tackle the increasing intensity and frequency of wildfires. I hope that it sincerely and enthusiastically makes use of that, and that the cross-party consensus that I hope we are about to hear results in real, concentrated action. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I advise members that there is an awful lot of interest in the debate. I am keen to ensure that everybody who has requested to speak has an opportunity to do so for the four minutes that they are entitled to. Members will need to stick to four minutes, even with the motion without notice to extend the debate that I confidently predict will be necessary. 12:58”
“Knowing more about that reality—rather than different sectors pointing fingers at one another—would be invaluable. Even my generous seven minutes is not long enough to cover all the points that have been raised by stakeholders reacting to today’s debate, but I look forward to hearing everyone else’s contributions. The debate has attracted one of the largest volumes of correspondence that I have had about a members’ business debate. My excellent motion-drafting skills might have played a part in that, but I suspect that the bigger reason is the genuine and deep-rooted willingness of people on the ground—gamekeepers, non-governmental organisations, the public and lobby groups—to play their part in wildfire prevention and tackling incidents.”
“I am not one to call for action plans, strategies or other Government stratagems, but the lack of a Scottish wildfire plan seems to be a screaming gap, given the massive co-ordination between authorities that is needed to manage not only risk but active incidents. The kit that is available to fire services to tackle wildfires must be considered in the context of their work with other people on the ground, and all parties should be part of the necessary discussions on what further SFRS equipment could be helpful and complementary to local efforts. I have already shared with Government the suggestion of one constituent that we need more data and strong evidence about land use and the vegetation that was on the ground at the time that a wildfire caught and spread.”
“A constituent of mine suggested that responsibility should sit with NatureScot and another told me that it really does not matter, and that whoever can react should be given the resources to do so. Management of fuel load comes up frequently, too, and I hope that the minister will respond to demands from gamekeepers to ensure that muirburn licences are attainable to help with wildfire prevention. Mutual aid provided by land managers in a crisis is invaluable. Those people know about the land, access to it and the risk factors involved. As the Government responds to cross-party calls for more action on wildfires, it will need to include those voices in plans and policies.”
“That building of resilience and use of existing expertise and roles that are based on the ground where the wildfires take place will undoubtedly support faster and more effective reactions when fires are spotted. Another issue is raised with me frequently. Who should have easy access to a helicopter? Among the various suggestions that have been made, one is that NatureScot is not quick enough to react because landowner insurance can cause issues. Given the risks in allowing fires to spread, looking at how the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service can more quickly and reliably get access to helicopter support in tackling blazes seems overdue. Scottish Land & Estates has suggested that the fire service should have its own helicopter capabilities.”
“As the chief executive officer of the CNPA, Grant Moir, told me, the recreational fires that were agreed as being appropriate 25 years ago are no longer so. The risk of wildfires has increased, their intensity when they catch is greater and the incidence of uncontrolled fires, thanks to folk taking risks, is simply too high. The CNPA is doing a lot that could be replicated elsewhere and it is leading the way. We do not need to reinvent any wheels. Under its climate adaptation fund, it has so far provided grants of more than £600,000, including for fire management equipment and training for estates and contractors. With Scottish Land & Estates, it is working to replace equipment that was damaged in the Dava fires.”
“The Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity has heard from me on numerous occasions about the potential for a Scotland-wide ban on disposable barbecues, particularly over the summer months, and I hope that, when he sums up, he will lay out any limitations on the Government doing that and say what his suggested way forward is. It is not enough to say that the issue is complex and leave it alone. We need to take action here. If we are unsure about devolved competence, we must test it and not just abdicate responsibility. The temporary fun of a disposable barbecue is not worth the danger to life, whether human or animal—wild or livestock—the risk to the environment, or the potential damage to rural businesses and homes.”
“The fires destroyed woodland and killed thousands of animals, and reportedly people could smell them from as far away from the site as Orkney. A common theme in what folk have been calling for is action against the irresponsible tourism and camping that are so often linked to these events. Even when the exact cause is not known, as at Dava, the remains of glass bottles, burned tinfoil and campsites that are spotted among the devastation infuriate locals, especially victims of the blaze. The Cairngorms National Park Authority is leading the way, with Scotland’s first fire management byelaw—to restrict open fires and barbecues—currently waiting for sign-off from ministers. I am glad that such steps are being taken to protect our national park, but I and many others in the Highlands would like that action to be replicated across the region.”
“The less we do to limit our impact on climate change, the more it is going to cost us in lives and livelihoods, and financially. These are expensive events to tackle and recover from. The overall efforts to decarbonise transport, housing and energy are not separate from what I am about to speak to, and neither is restoring biodiversity. However, in the rest of my speech, I will focus on the reality that, regardless of what I hope will become an escalation in efforts worldwide to address our impact on the climate, we need to get better at preventing and reacting to wildfires. I have had many constituents write to me about wildfires. Some have personally been heavily impacted by them and others are simply devastated by what they have witnessed, particularly at Dava moor this summer.”
“First, I recognise that, as I speak, there is a crowd of people outside the Parliament from the climate mass lobby. I know that a number of my constituents have made the journey from the Highlands and Islands in order to have their voices heard. While I am in the chamber, leading what I know is a very important debate, I recognise what they are doing as well, and I apologise that I cannot be with them today. The increasing intensity and frequency of wildfires is expected given climate change and the related extreme weather events that we are seeing. I am clear that effort is needed to tackle climate change if we want this world to remain habitable for our species and to mitigate the impacts of wildfires, flooding and other events on our infrastructure, communities and natural environment.”
“We deserve a Government that is up front and accountable and that listens to us instead of just pushing us around and expecting us to accept it. The UK Government needs to get that the Highlands and Islands, Argyll and Bute and Scotland as a whole are not a dumping ground for risky operations and dangerous material. We are communities with a right to a safe environment and a secure future. We deserve better. We deserve accountability, and we deserve to be treated with respect. 16:53”
“The message to the Highlands was loud and clear: “This is a part of the country that is a convenient place for dangerous games, far from anyone who might complain or be worth listening to.” The danger has not gone away. It is in the secret transport of nuclear waste on our roads and rails, often right through our towns and cities, without us knowing. We are left completely in the dark and are forced to accept those risks with no say in the matter. That is not transparency. It is treating us like we do not matter. The people of Scotland, especially those of us who live in the Highlands and Islands, have a right to feel safe in our own homes, despite what is going on. We deserve to know what risks are being managed in our backyard.”
“When we hear about category A incidents, near misses and radioactive contamination, we are talking not just about technical failures but about a complete breakdown of trust. The UK Government has one job here: to keep us safe. However, time and again, it has been shown that it does not care enough. Reports of contamination in Loch Long are not just a news story; they represent a real threat to our environment, to the people of Argyll and Bute and to all of us who treasure our wild spaces. It is not just a Faslane problem. It is a story that has played out before. I ask members to think about Gruinard island off Ross-shire. Back in the 1940s, the UK used it as an anthrax test site and left it poisoned and closed off for decades—a literal scar on our landscape.”
“I thank Bill Kidd for securing time for this debate. It goes to the heart of how the UK Government treats the people of Scotland. Nuclear weapons are designed to be destructive. Their use is unforgivable, and I would far rather see them removed from Scotland and the whole world entirely. However, as they are currently in Scotland, there are other issues that we have to pay attention to. Bill Kidd is right that there is a lack of transparency and scrutiny on the wider impacts of radioactive waste. The motion talks about some really concerning incidents. However, they are not just one-off mistakes but parts of a bigger, much more worrying pattern. Locals should not have heard about those events through social media gossip and uncertain media reports.”
“The stories from Tomatin and Raasay show us what is possible when we invest in our people and in our products. The Scottish Government’s export plan is helping businesses to thrive despite all the challenges, but we must be clear that it is not a fair fight. Our businesses are being forced to run the race with a significant weight around their ankles, with that weight in the form of Brexit and damaging economic decisions from Westminster. The UK Government must stop ignoring reality. It is time for the Government to start listening to Scottish businesses and the Scottish Parliament, to reverse those damaging policies and to fully address the continuing impacts of Brexit by rejoining the European Union. 16:06”
“Does it really believe that Brexit is going well, that the national insurance hike is beneficial and that the tariffs are fair, or will it follow the First Minister’s example and take action to support businesses through all that? Daniel Johnson: First, I believe that the Prime Minister spoke with the President when he was first elected a number of months ago, so the First Minister is following his example. The member has now called twice for the increase in employer national insurance contributions to be reversed. What would she cut, especially given that that increase led directly to £5.4 billion being added to the Scottish budget? Emma Roddick: I would cut the funding that the UK Government itself has had to pay out for the national insurance hike. Those hikes are cyclical and we are not seeing any benefit from that at all.”
“There is no one deal that can undo poor decisions such as Brexit. I would much rather that the decisions on engaging and negotiating deals were taken here in Scotland, where we know what our needs and priorities are. That goes beyond big industries such as whisky. I have heard from numerous small businesses that are struggling with red tape and confusion related to the post- Brexit realities—and that is before we even get to the nonsense that is Labour’s national insurance hike, which has caused further expense and uncertainty at an already difficult time. Businesses in Scotland deserve better. They deserve a little consideration and reflection from the UK Labour Government.”
“However, the reality is that there is no deal with Trump that could undo the damage of Brexit. The Tories and Labour are stubbornly ignoring that reality as if it were ancient history, rather than a set of extremely damaging daily realities that constantly hammer key industries in this country. Jamie Greene: I agree with some of what the member is saying, but the problem is that we are talking about the volatility of geopolitics. Mr Trump might agree to reduce the 10 per cent tariff to 5 per cent, but, equally, he might wake up tomorrow and increase it to 15 per cent or even 50 per cent. We would have to deal with that. Therefore, is it not more important that the Scottish Government does not put all its eggs in one basket? Emma Roddick: That is very much what I am getting at.”
“Our whisky industry must be supported to reap the rewards of its own success, which has been built up over decades. According to the Scotch Whisky Association, the current 10 per cent tariff is costing the whisky industry £4 million a week in lost exports. That is a large number, but it is more than just a number. Take the example of Raasay: how many more homes, even given the extra cost of building in island communities, could that money fund? In Tomatin, what exciting new venture could the distillery have the time and the space to explore as a business? I do not envy the First Minister his role in engaging with the current US Administration, but, as a Highlands and Islands MSP, I appreciate the value of having a leader who is willing to work hard, engage and do what he can to get a good deal for whisky.”
“During my tour of Tomatin distillery—which, incidentally, is a nice option for anybody visiting the Highlands who would like a short respite from the very welcome disruption caused by the on- going A9 dualling works on the Tomatin to Moy section—I heard the business’s values coming through very strongly. It hires locally and grows its own, and the result is a valuable product with a great story. It provides an opportunity for folk in the area to take up well-paid skilled employment and stay locally. Those are the kind of success stories that we are seeing thanks to local investment and a focus on quality. Imagine how much more those communities could thrive without the handbrake of Brexit slowing them down. People across the world love those success stories, and they will pay for them.”
“With my region being what it is—it includes Orkney, the Highlands, Islay and Moray—I represent a lot of areas with distilleries, and I have tried to engage with the staff and owners of many of them. Each of them is very different, but there are some patterns. I recently visited Tomatin distillery, which is an excellent example of a key local employer in a rural area. Last year, I heard a similar story in Raasay. Folk have moved back to that island community to take up jobs in the distillery, and some of them have even been supported with new housing. Communities should never be reliant on one sector to survive, but the whisky industry is often a great option for young people who want to explore hospitality, marketing or tourism roles.”
“The Deputy Presiding Officer: The member is about to conclude. Emma Roddick: Thank you. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The member has concluded. 16:09”
“However, all of that, and whatever we will do in the future, pales in comparison with what would be possible with independence. What has been done under devolution is impressive but it is incomplete. Although it is fantastic to see that the UK Government might be getting ready to follow Scotland in various policies such as nationalising rail, we must be clear that we need to look at having more powers, and certainly not any diminishing of the current situation, which has delivered so much. Scotland should not need permission to keep improving the railway. With independence would come full fiscal powers and the agility to react to public pressure on what users of the railway need—in short, it would give us the strength here in Scotland to do even more. Sue Webber: Will the member take an intervention?”
“If the cabinet secretary is ever looking for suggestions on what new line could beat that record, I have a wee wish list of long lines that could keep Scotland on the right track. We know the impact of new lines. The cabinet secretary’s motion mentions an increase in passenger numbers by a fifth, but what that figure cannot tell us—and what we know lies behind it— is about the people who would otherwise have used their cars, as well as the people who would have been stuck at home because they cannot use a car. New lines have people travelling who would otherwise have driven to a retail park instead of shopping in town centres, as well as people who would otherwise shop only online. That increase in passenger numbers has a benefit for those passengers, the climate and local economies.”
“Many other changes to ticketing have offered my constituents good deals on regular journeys. That record extends beyond the past four years. The SNP Government was responsible for prolonging my weekly commute from Alness to Inverness as a teenager by reconnecting Conon Bridge to the railway. Although it seems that most of the cabinet secretary’s portfolio—or, at least, the tricky bits— relate to the Highlands and Islands, I also have a great appreciation for what has happened elsewhere. I took the train to Galashiels earlier this year and, it is a deserved point of pride that, regardless of where it is in the country, the longest domestic line in the UK in a century was delivered by the Scottish Government.”
“It can take twice as long to get to Wick by rail than car, and the west Highland line, although scenic, is often not an option for me when attending meetings in the south-west of my region. I am clear that these improvements are possible only with the Scottish Government in charge, and I am certain that the improvements would be more forthcoming if the Scottish Government were to have control over every aspect of budget setting, revenue raising and our railways. The progress that has been made in this parliamentary session is incredible: nationalising ScotRail and the Caledonian sleeper, scrapping peak rail fares and opening or reopening a number of stations, including at Inverness airport, which I had the pleasure of attending the opening of and making use of since.”
“Paul Sweeney: The member makes an important point about doing all infrastructure upgrades simultaneously to get the best utilisation of the line. Is there a risk of simply chasing decarbonisation as one metric at the expense of increasing capacity on the line? We need to do both at once, because just doing electrification might preclude further investments in the future. Emma Roddick: Certainly—I hope that nothing that I have said gave any other indication, because it is one and the same; increasing capacity will decarbonise. Decarbonising in the right order will benefit passengers and those who use our railway for freight at exactly the same time. My loyalty to taking the train to work in the Parliament is possible because the time that it takes is comparable to driving, but that is not yet the case everywhere.”