Sharon Dowey
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party · Scotland
“There should be an outright ban, across the whole country, on phones in schools, with no exceptions, exemptions or compromise. The Scottish Government has said that headteachers have the power to impose a ban in any case, but we must go further and give them our full support.”
“Ayr diving club has been in existence since 1964 and uses one of only four diving facilities in the whole of Scotland. It is the only one on the west coast, with the other three being on the east coast.”
“This extremely important subject is more pressing than many of the things that we debate in Parliament, and I thank Pam Gosal for bringing it to the chamber. We know that schools, and the teachers and pupils in them, face a range of challenges, which we also know are not exclusive to Scotland.”
“The position should be obvious to us all: phones in schools fuel distraction and conflict, pose nightmare scenarios for teachers and inflict harm in almost every area of the school, from classrooms and corridors to the playground. That is not the children’s fault, nor is it exclusive to them.”
“As a parent, I instinctively know that the concerns relating to smart phones are completely legitimate. Anyone with eyes and ears can see the harm and distractions that those devices cause for young people, and there is also hard evidence.”
“They go back to having a life that is not lived on the tiny screen in front of them. From the minute a pupil walks into a school, there should be no mobile phones in sight. That is what the teachers want and what the children need. That is why I am delighted to give this motion my full and unequivocal support.”
The complete record
Every one of 344 lines we hold for Sharon Dowey, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 1 of 7.
“They go back to having a life that is not lived on the tiny screen in front of them. From the minute a pupil walks into a school, there should be no mobile phones in sight. That is what the teachers want and what the children need. That is why I am delighted to give this motion my full and unequivocal support. Since I have finished within my four minutes of time, I would like to say good luck to Audrey Nicoll, who I have had the pleasure of working with on the Criminal Justice Committee for the past session. To you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and to everyone else who is leaving, I wish good luck in the future. 13:25”
“There should be an outright ban, across the whole country, on phones in schools, with no exceptions, exemptions or compromise. The Scottish Government has said that headteachers have the power to impose a ban in any case, but we must go further and give them our full support. MSPs, MPs, local councillors and people of influence must all get behind a ban, because that will make it easier for teachers to enforce and will send a clear signal to pupils and parents that the rules are clear and unambiguous. We would soon see the benefits. Teachers have already told me that when children do not have their phones, their engagement improves. They learn better and take part in more activities. Remarkably, they even start speaking to one another. They improve their communication skills. They make new friendships and cement existing ones.”
“The position should be obvious to us all: phones in schools fuel distraction and conflict, pose nightmare scenarios for teachers and inflict harm in almost every area of the school, from classrooms and corridors to the playground. That is not the children’s fault, nor is it exclusive to them. We adults also struggle to put our phones down when we know we should. We have all kept watching videos and clips and kept scrolling for far longer than is healthy. Even during long debates in this chamber, we can see members checking their devices rather than engaging with the content at hand—we are all at it. There is a role for grown- ups in setting an example rather than pretending that the issue affects only children. The solution is in front of us.”
“As a parent, I instinctively know that the concerns relating to smart phones are completely legitimate. Anyone with eyes and ears can see the harm and distractions that those devices cause for young people, and there is also hard evidence. The organisation One Collective Power, which campaigns for the welfare and wellbeing of schoolchildren across the country, has presented some extremely powerful statistics, including that the average teenager spends five and a half hours on their device each day, that phones and social media increase the likelihood of depression, especially in girls, and that kids at smartphone-free schools have higher levels of attainment.”
“This extremely important subject is more pressing than many of the things that we debate in Parliament, and I thank Pam Gosal for bringing it to the chamber. We know that schools, and the teachers and pupils in them, face a range of challenges, which we also know are not exclusive to Scotland. Across the UK and beyond, authorities are really struggling to deal with the growing influence and impact of social media and the toxicity that accompanies mobile phones. We cannot control everything, but we can control what is allowed in classrooms. Every teacher I have spoken to agrees that phones must be banned from the classroom. Most parents agree, and many children are actually on board so long as the policy is fair and absolute, with no exceptions.”
“Ayr diving club has been in existence since 1964 and uses one of only four diving facilities in the whole of Scotland. It is the only one on the west coast, with the other three being on the east coast. There is a risk of closure of the diving facility, as it needs a substantial amount of money to repair mechanical and structural issues in order to address safety concerns and ensure environmental sustainability. That is money that the council simply does not have. If the diving facility in Ayr can no longer operate, the nearest facility is 85 miles away, in Edinburgh. What can the Scottish Government do to support the diving facility and ensure that divers on the west coast have equitable access to diving facilities compared with those in the east?”
“To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported comments by the Fire Brigades Union that years of real-terms budget reductions have left the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service “creaking”, and that proposed workforce reductions would increase the risk to community safety, particularly following the recent fire in Glasgow. (S6T-02973)”
“To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on business confidence and investment of non-domestic rates thresholds having limited movement since 2020-21. (S6O- 05648)”
“Recent reports suggest that retail crime in Scotland has risen sharply, with more than 50,000 shoplifting incidents recorded last year and nearly one in five shoppers witnessing the abuse of retail staff. The £3 million for the retail crime task force has made some impact, but, beyond that, what action will the Scottish Government take to ensure that the funding gap for Police Scotland does not undermine efforts to tackle shoplifting and violence against retail staff? Angela Constance: It is a shame that Ms Dowey and her colleague Liam Kerr did not vote for the Scottish Government budget, which provides £3 million not just this year but next year and the next again year. That shows our long-term commitment to tackling retail crime in this country. Business Motion 14:22”
“I am happy for the member to follow that up with me, but I also suggest and encourage engagement with Skills Development Scotland and Ayrshire College. There are remarkable opportunities in Ayrshire. I went to Ayrshire College and saw that it does phenomenal work, including its collaboration with the private sector and the consideration that it is giving to making sure that there are appropriate public sector priorities and opportunities. We need to ensure that we celebrate and recognise the creative industries, which were mentioned, because they are a massive contributor to not only our economic success but our cultural enrichment, which we and others around the world enjoy. Schools (Violent and Disruptive Incidents) 8.”
“When I attended the launch of the future roofing programme at Prestwick academy on 27 February, I spoke to the school, industry and young people about the roofing pathway that has been developed over the years, which includes a national 5 creative industries qualification in roof slating. How will the budget support young people from Prestwick academy who have made an informed decision to pursue a career in roofing when they will have to travel for more than four hours per day to undertake the college-based training? Ben Macpherson: Further detail would be required to answer that question properly, including what engagement there has been with the college and with Skills Development Scotland, and how those opportunities are being offered and facilitated.”
“I hope that what I have set out in my statement—the actions that the Government has taken to commission joint inspections; the report from the inspections with its recommendations and requirements; and the Government’s direct engagement with health boards setting out our clear expectations that all those requirements and recommendations are implemented at pace—will go some way to providing reassurance and restoring confidence. I reiterate that, although I have made my statement today, that is not the end of the matter. My officials and I will have on-going engagement with health boards to ensure that actions are taken forward and that, if any issues are identified, they are remedied rapidly. I hope that that provides reassurance to Sharon Dowey. Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3 15:22”
“Complaints were received about Skye house for a number of years, but they appear to have been ignored. Last year, I supported a constituent who raised serious concerns about their daughter’s treatment at Skye house, including a lack of supervision and a failure to listen to parents. What specific steps will the Government take to ensure that, when families raise concerns about care at Skye house, their concerns are properly investigated and are not brushed under the carpet? Tom Arthur: I recognise the young people and families who have come forward, spoken directly to me and other members, and engaged in the process. I cannot express my gratitude more profoundly for what they have done.”
“In relation to work that is happening in schools across Scotland, all local authorities have engaged with the mentors in violence prevention programme, and 234 schools have delivered the programme over the past session. More than 6,000 young mentors have delivered more than 8,000 MVP lessons to younger pupils. In addition, over the past year, 80 Police Scotland youth volunteers have completed peer education training that was focused on the dangers of weapon carrying.”
“At the start of this parliamentary session, North Ayrshire recorded 130 cases of people possessing an article with a blade or point in a public setting. The latest figures show that there were still 128 bladed or pointed-article crimes in 2024. With the figures showing little change over recent years, the SNP has failed to get a grip on the problem. Given the importance of early intervention, what engagement has the Scottish Government had with schools to ensure that young people are being educated about the dangers of carrying knives and to prevent that behaviour before it starts? The Presiding Officer: Please respond with regard to the substantive question, minister. Siobhian Brown: Any level of violence is unacceptable. However, as I said in my answer to the first question, there has been a reduction since 2007.”
“However, we have to be very clear about the responsibility of business owners to make sure that their businesses are safe.”
“The First Minister: I understand the concern that Sharon Dowey expresses, but I want to take issue with one point that she raised, which was about the responsibility of business owners. Business owners are intensely responsible for the safety of their businesses. There is an obligation on any business owner, and particularly an owner of a vape shop, to make sure that their business is safe. We may well be looking at the implications of that failure on other adjoining buildings. A regulatory infrastructure is in place but, as I said in my answer to Annie Wells, I am open to further consideration of these issues. Legislation is going through the United Kingdom Parliament at this time, and the Government is engaging constructively on that question to ensure that the provisions will extend to Scotland.”
“Although we must wait for the outcome of official investigations to confirm the exact cause of the fire, it has been widely reported that the fire originated in a vape shop. Such premises often contain large quantities of products powered by lithium-ion batteries that are stored on shop floors and in back rooms. Following the proactive decision to ban disposable vapes from June 2025, it is worrying to see the continued impact that the industry is having in our communities. Despite the risks, minimal responsibility is placed on vape manufacturers and retailers for the hazards that their products can create. Can the First Minister tell us more about what the Scottish Government will do to address that?”
“We need to know how the ministers in charge of that intend to turn the tide. A failure to do so harms pretty much everyone involved, and—as we have heard tonight—a badly performing casualty unit provokes problems not only across the rest of the hospital, but across other vital emergency services, too. 17:27”
“Paramedics, whose job on the streets is hard enough, are often stuck at the back door, as part of the delay, when they need to be back on the front line. Police officers, too, are being dragged into the mess. Just today, we read comments from the chief constable of Police Scotland, whose patience appears to have snapped with her force being used as a mental health intervention service. She rightly points out that police officers are there to deal with matters of law and order, not to spend their shift responding to repeated mental health call-outs. That is placing incredible strain on an already stressed policing frontline. Whatever the Scottish Government is doing in relation to accident and emergency waiting times, it is not working, and it has not worked for years.”
“We know well the impact that poor A and E services has on patients. There is the short-term pain of long waits, sometimes in extremely uncomfortable settings, and the medium-term impact of those delays on their health. In addition, in the long term, the issue plays into their fears that the NHS is quite simply not there for them when they need it. There is an impact on hard-working, hospital staff, too. None of this is their fault, and it impacts their wellbeing as well. Nevertheless, they are the ones who have to front up the consequences, constantly apologising for something that is in no way a reflection of their professionalism, attitude or ability. Hospital staff are not the only workers who are affected by the A and E crisis.”
“In fact, four hours used to be pretty much the only standard by which we would measure these things. The idea that someone would wait for eight, or even 12, hours, was so far-fetched that hardly anyone even bothered to record it. As we have heard, however, all of that has changed for the worse. I am particularly concerned about the wellbeing of casualty departments in rural areas. I understand that the big city hospitals tend to get the headlines, but the constant threats to the very existence of rural health facilities haunt people in communities outside the central belt, who are already forced to travel long distances for certain treatments and appointments. The rural nature of those communities and the appallingly poor infrastructure are additional elements that people across South Scotland have no choice but to factor in.”
“I thank Jackie Baillie for bringing the debate to the Holyrood chamber this evening. It is a busy period, and Parliament is debating a number of new subjects, while the news continues to carry more extraordinary stories of global instability each day. However, one topic that has never gone away concerns the quality and efficiency of accident and emergency departments in Scotland. Ever since the Scottish Government first came to power in 2007, admission times have been a constant source of difficulty for the NHS, and they have gradually got worse over time. It seems a distant memory when it was considered poor for a health board to see fewer than 95 per cent of patients within a four-hour timeframe. However, after years of cuts and incompetence, a performance even remotely close to that would today be considered a triumph.”
“Staff representatives have also come forward with ideas such as anti-drone fences around jails, which would stop a major carrier of contraband. Perhaps the SNP Government could break the habit of a lifetime and start working with the United Kingdom Government to seek nationwide solutions to the problems. The Prison Officers Association has been clear that many of these things are not being pursued “because of funding constraints.” The Scottish Government has not listened to the people who know best, and its attitude has been lax and complacent. That is why we are where we are today. The Government must urgently restore control in Scotland’s prisons or the whole of society will continue to pay a heavy price. 16:05”
“As the Prison Officers Association states, the system is under “pressure like never before.” The blend of prisoners—foreigners, organised criminals and ageing offenders serving sentences for historical crime—creates a nightmare. However, there is so much more that the Scottish National Party Government could have done. Numerous solutions from a wide variety of sources are being put forward. The Scottish Prison Service is clearly understaffed and underresourced. One of the main reasons that prisoners have appointments for substance misuse issues cancelled is a lack of staff cover. There is also an inconsistent approach to things such as peer groups, which have been shown to work in various other support services. Those things will never improve unless funding improves.”
“Bursting at the seams, the inadequate estate is staffed by fatigued and stressed-out prison officers, which creates an environment that is more likely to descend into chaos. Those pressures leave staff with less time to work on intelligence and investigate where the drugs are getting in and who is taking them. Underinvestment in activities means that prisoners are bored and driven to revisiting previous substance abuse habits. Much of the focus is on drugs, but we should not overlook the issue of alcohol. It is thought that around a third of prisoners are alcohol dependent. They are not only offered insufficient help in jail to beat that addiction; it is too easy for them to access illicit alcohol while they are serving their sentence. Nobody is pretending that there are easy answers to that.”
“They use drones and drug-soaked mail— essentially, they use any trick that they can to do that. Scotland’s drug deaths crisis is well documented, but the one place where people should be absolutely free of its clutches is in a secure state facility. Many inmates turn up to prison addicted to drugs or alcohol, and their addiction probably contributed to their crime. However, one of the most worrying statistics that I heard during the inquiry is that many prisoners report developing addiction for the first time while in jail. Some surveys indicate that, on leaving prison, between one quarter and one third of them have illegal substances in their body. How have we got to this shocking situation? Scotland’s high prison population is one reason.”
“For many, incarceration is supposed to serve as a punishment for what they have done and to act as a deterrent from repeating that behaviour. It is also supposed to provide rehabilitation: they should have new skills, a new attitude and perhaps even an enthusiasm for a future in which they will be a well-functioning, contributing member of society. Yet the drug-taking culture in prisons is stopping much of that from happening. The public—rightly—expect jails to be secure facilities where the only things that get in and out are approved people and products. Perhaps small errors could be accepted, but the scale of drugs and alcohol inside is eye watering. Those criminals who successfully get the contraband in seem constantly to be a step ahead of the authorities.”
“Scotland’s prison estate does not need to seek its troubles. Inmate numbers are at record levels, staff are reporting unprecedented challenges and prisoners are leaving without rehabilitation, going out into a world for which they are completely unprepared. What is worse, the estate itself is in deep trouble: promised new jails for Glasgow and the Highlands are years late and ludicrously over budget. This debate focuses on yet another challenge, which is one that Scottish Government has failed miserably to address: the issue of substance misuse, which creates chaos inside prisons and places unbearable stress and pressure on hard- working prison officers. The crisis damages the prospects of inmates, too.”
“To ask the Scottish Government how people who are concerned with the impact on the natural environment of energy infrastructure can make their concerns known. (S6O-05573)”
“As we saw with the case of Margaret Ferrier—”
“I take this opportunity to point out that, if amendment 32 is agreed to, I cannot call amendment 59, in the group headed “Minor and technical”, because of pre-emption. I call Sue Webber to move amendment 1 and speak to the other amendments in the group. Sue Webber: That was much clearer—thank you so much, Presiding Officer. Once again, all the amendments in the group have been lodged by me. As I laid out at stage 2, we should be guided by the fact that the public expects far more from MSPs, and we should be held to higher standards than those we represent. Being a member of this Parliament is a privilege, not an entitlement. I believe that, regardless of the severity of the crime, any MSP who is convicted of an offence should be removed automatically, bypassing the need for a recall petition or by- election.”
“Amendment 38 disagreed to. The Deputy Presiding Officer: We now turn to group 2, on removal for offending. Amendment 1, in the name of Sue Webber, is grouped with amendments 2 to 6, 8, 9, 22, 25, 27 and 32 to 34. I point out that, if amendment 32 is agreed to, I cannot call amendment 59, in the group headed “Minor and technical”, because of pre-emption. Sue Webber: The sound was all over the place there, Presiding Officer. It was coming in and out, and I did not quite hear everything. Perhaps whoever is working the sound can— The Deputy Presiding Officer: If you resume your seat, Ms Webber, I will repeat what I said, and we will see if we can get it all on the record. Sue Webber: Thank you. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Amendment 1, in the name of Sue Webber, is grouped with amendments 2 to 6, 8, 9, 22, 25, 27 and 32 to 34.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would have voted yes. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Ms Dowey. We hope you will have your camera on next time. For Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Ind) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (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) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) 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) 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) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) 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) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) 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) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) 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, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Ind) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) 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) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) 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 37, Against 69, Abstentions 0.”
“Health boards and local authorities are being asked to sweep up where the SNP Government has failed, whether in relation to delayed discharge, intolerable environments for teachers or the impact of policing cutbacks. All those things are felt locally but could have been prevented nationally. That is why I fully support Alexander Burnett’s motion to finally give councils and health boards the money that they need to do the job properly. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I call Ivan McKee to respond to the debate. Minister, you have around seven minutes. 13:21”
“South Ayrshire has one of the country’s highest proportions of people over the age of 65; already, they account for more than a quarter of the population, and that will increase to a third within a few years. That will bring the region into competition with areas that have the oldest demographics in the world, yet there is no funding mechanism to reflect that, and it will have an extraordinary impact on demand for health and social care. The sums do not add up, which is why councils are left with no option but to raise council tax or close facilities. Such counterproductive moves make people only poorer—financially, educationally and culturally. Councillors take the hit for that locally, but the decisions that are made by the Scottish Government in Edinburgh are to blame.”
“After last year’s emergency loan of more than £50 million, Scotland’s public services watchdog said that there was “no evidence” of financial sustainability in that health board. Patients can see how bad things have got. The severe situation there is not the fault of hard- working staff and medics; it is a symptom of years of underfunding from central Government, which, having failed to properly resource the organisation, is now having to shell out for expensive sticking- plaster solutions. Life in the region’s councils is not much better. We know that many people from across Scotland choose to come to South Ayrshire to retire. Of course their presence is welcome, and their contribution to local life is considerable. However, for too long, the Scottish Government has ignored the impact on demographics.”
“I thank my colleague Alexander Burnett for bringing this debate to the chamber. Many of the issues that have been highlighted in Aberdeenshire are also present in other parts of rural Scotland, not least in my region of South Scotland. Communities across Ayrshire are well aware of the impact of the Scottish Government’s fiscal approach on them. Health services have been decimated, local authorities are buckling under enormous demand and everyday things that we used to be able to count on seem to be on borrowed time. We do not need to look much further than at the plight of NHS Ayrshire and Arran for the evidence of that. The dire state of affairs there got so bad last week that the Scottish Government had to raise its emergency intervention to the second- highest level. That should not have come as a surprise to ministers.”
“To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to continue providing funding to any organisations that challenge the judgment in the For Women Scotland v the Scottish Ministers case. (S6O- 05537)”
“Is this really what the Scottish Government had in mind when it brought the airport into public ownership—hiring out our land, our facilities and our workforce to a foreign military to use at its will, with no questions asked? The Scottish public are the ultimate owners of Prestwick airport. It should be run for their benefit, not for the benefit of an unstable and volatile United States or a President who has armed genocide, inflicted coups and threatened his neighbours. The Scottish Greens share the Government’s aspiration for Scotland to be an independent country, and a big part of that is having the ability to play our full role on the international stage as a good global citizen and a champion for peace and stability around the world.”
“Does the member recognise that Prestwick airport supports hundreds of jobs and, with it, the Ayrshire economy, and that military contracts are a significant source of revenue for the airport? How many Scottish jobs would she be prepared to risk? Gillian Mackay: I do not dispute the point that Sharon Dowey makes about jobs, but there is no security for those jobs in basing them—and others in the local economy—on servicing the military of a foreign state, given its unpredictable nature and, in particular, the unpredictable nature of Mr Trump. The airport even publicly advertises itself with a glossy website offering “a dedicated and discreet military base” and “the perfect location for crew rest, fuel stop and training of any size of aircraft at any time—day or night.” That pitch is accompanied by photos of US Air Force planes.”
“Remand Prisoners (Co-located Support Services) 5.”
“If the measure is approved, it will provide a 13 per cent increase in legal aid fees and fixed payments for solicitors. As I said to Paul McLennan, once the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2025 has been commenced, it will remove restrictions that prevent charities, law centres and citizens advice bodies from directly employing solicitors. I have set up an independent fee review mechanism group to explore the fundamental changes that are required to create a legal assistance system for the 21st century. In addition, the Scottish budget has made provision to double the number of places for legal aid traineeships from 20 to 40 in order to improve the sustainability and capacity of the legal profession. The work continues. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Question 5 comes from Clare Adamson, who joins us remotely.”
“A recent survey by the Law Society of Scotland found that 41 per cent of solicitors are either planning to stop legal aid work within two years or are unsure whether they will continue. That shows the damage that has been caused by years of underfunding, which a delayed uplift will not reverse. By what date will the minister end legal aid advice deserts and guarantee access to a solicitor in every part of Scotland? Siobhian Brown: As the member and Parliament know, I have been working closely with the legal profession over the past couple of years to see what can be put in place to improve access to justice. One of the main things that we can do is provide an uplift. Regulations to do that were laid in Parliament on 28 January.”
“Amendment 8 agreed to. Amendment 9 moved—[Maggie Chapman]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 9 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. 18:00 The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division. The vote is closed. David Torrance: On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would have voted yes. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I will ensure that that is recorded.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would have voted no. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you. I will ensure that that is recorded. 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) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) 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) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) 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) (Ind) 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) 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) 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) 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) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) 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) 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) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (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) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Smith, Liz (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 89, Against 24, Abstentions 0.”
“Perhaps what needs to be done involves new and extended supervision arrangements. Ms Dowey will be aware of the work that we are doing on retail crime, which is important given its links to serious organised crime and the cost of living crisis. We continue to invest in the retail crime task force. I hope that the Conservatives will welcome that, because it is £9 million in the next three years. That is an important point and, I hope, a reason to support the budget later.”
“New figures published today by the Scottish Grocers Federation show that 99.6 per cent of convenience stores now experience shoplifting daily, almost four in five report increased violence, and more than three quarters of staff suffer mental health issues as a direct result of retail crime. With the presumption against short sentences, has the cabinet secretary in effect decriminalised shoplifting in Scotland? Angela Constance: Absolutely not. It is important to remember that a sentence in this country can be a custodial sentence, but we also sentence people in the community either to attend supervision or to undertake unpaid work. Ms Dowey might be interested to know that the commission made some interesting recommendations on how to respond to prolific offenders.”
“The latest statistics show that that work has been undone, as the number of extra officers on the front line has dwindled back down to an unacceptably low level, and things are projected to only get worse. Douglas Ross highlighted the fact that the SNP amendment seeks to delete the line in the motion that says that the Parliament “regrets … cuts to police officer numbers”. The SNP is staying silent about the cuts. Jo Farrell, the chief constable, told ministers exactly what she needed from the recent budget in order just to keep the show on the road. Instead, the Scottish Government delivered significantly less than that. It has been warned that that move will lead to even more job cuts at”
“Liam McArthur spoke about the increasing complexity of crimes and the need for urgent action. Liam Kerr cited the statistics on the rise of serious crime. Recorded crime has gone up by 2 per cent, violent crime has gone up by 3 per cent and sexual crime has gone up by 7 per cent. Claire Baker spoke about the issue of retail crime. However, many of the challenges that police officers face are a direct consequence of the Scottish Government’s choices—its present choices and those that it has made over many years. It seems a very long time ago that the Scottish National Party, as a party of Government, committed to recruiting an extra 1,000 police officers on the street—a decision that it came to after being persuaded by the Scottish Conservatives.”