Angela Constance
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“Patients deserve better. There have been active campaigns by members across the chamber to represent the views of constituents in Lanarkshire, including by my colleagues Neil Gray and Fulton MacGregor. I fully appreciate the strength of feeling on the need for a new Monklands hospital.”
“Proceeding in that cost envelope would significantly limit our ability to invest in services and infrastructure across the wider NHS. I have carefully weighed the opportunity cost against our objective on improving public services. The current proposal also raises important questions about value for money.”
“For the wider system, it will reduce pressure on acute hospitals, allowing focus on those who need specialist care most. I can announce today that, as part of the programme, specifically for Lanarkshire, we will begin with a new general practitioner walk-in facility in Lanark—transforming an old shop front and a retail park in the town ce…”
“I am grateful for the opportunity to provide an update to members on NHS capital projects, specifically on the current position and next steps for the Monklands replacement project. I begin by being absolutely clear: the Government will deliver a new Monklands hospital. That commitment has not changed and it will not change.”
“During the election campaign, the Scottish National Party promised to increase use of the new refugee doctors project, which is meant to help medically trained refugees from Gaza and other places to get registered for work in the national health service.”
“Scotland welcomes refugee doctors and is committed to supporting them in overcoming barriers that prevent them from rebuilding their medical careers.”
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“The SHORE standards require prison and local authority staff to work together to support new prisoners to manage their tenancies, prevent the accrual of debt and avoid homelessness on release. Those are important interventions that help to reduce reoffending. However, I supported a constituent who did not receive the support that he should have received under the SHORE standards. After his housing benefit was stopped as a result of his sentence, he left prison with an avoidable £3,000 of debt, which included rent arrears for a council house that he did not want.”
“The third update to the delivery plan is in development and will cover April to December 2024. Local authorities have a legal duty to provide assistance to people, including prison leavers, who are at risk of, or are experiencing, homelessness. In November 2024, a refreshed version of the sustainable housing on release for everyone— SHORE—standards was completed, which aims to ensure that the housing needs of people in prison are addressed at an early stage. Work to embed those standards across all Scottish Prison Service establishments and local authorities is on- going and includes a pilot project involving South Lanarkshire Council and HMP Addiewell to improve access to housing on release for people on remand. Collette Stevenson: I thank the cabinet secretary for that information.”
“We need to ask ourselves difficult questions about how to further tackle public health problems that lead to higher rates of offending, such as addiction, poor mental health and poverty, with more effective community-based action. Do we truly believe, as a country, that the only solution is to build more and more prisons, with significant economic and social cost? We need to face up to the reality of how counterproductive short prison sentences are, given their profound and negative effects.”
“The harms associated with having a high prison population reduce the impact of prison in preventing reoffending. Let me be clear: the Scottish Government is not changing its position on the use of prisons. Prison will always be necessary for those who pose a risk of harm or threaten the delivery of justice. Our independent courts must continue to have the ability to remove an individual’s liberty when appropriate. Protecting victims and the public from harm is, as always, my absolute priority. We need to reconsider the kind of justice system that we want to have. I have said repeatedly that there needs to be a shift in the balance from custody to justice in the community. Debate around community-based sentences is often hostile and misinformed.”
“Between March and June 2020, we saw a temporary drop as a result of the pandemic, but the prison population has continued to rise since then. The harms caused by such a high prison population should not be underestimated. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland regularly describes the “nine evils of overcrowding”. I will not rehearse them all, but I will highlight a few. Those who work in prisons have “less time to devote to screening prisoners for the risks of self-harm or suicide”; resources in prison are stretched so that prisoners “have less access to programmes, education, training, work”; prisoners spend more time in their cells; and family contact and visits are restricted. We all want people who leave prison to successfully reintegrate into their communities, to contribute to society and to be less likely to reoffend.”
“Since October 2023, I have updated Parliament on a number of occasions about the rising prison population, the challenges that that brings and what the Government is doing about it. I have been clear on the need for on-going action to continue to reduce crime and ensure that we have a sustainable prison population. It is vital that our prisons can operate safely and effectively, with public safety and the rehabilitation of prisoners at the core. Despite recorded crime being down 39 per cent since 2006-07, the prison population has increased by 60 per cent since 1990. Between 2011-12 and 2017-18, the population reduced by 9 per cent, driven by a reduction in the number of young people sent to prison, before it rose again in 2019-20.”
“I am sure that everybody who has participated in the debate wants that different debate and different outcomes. The Deputy Presiding Officer: That concludes the debate. I suspend the meeting until 2.30 pm. 13:24 Meeting suspended. 14:30 On resuming— Portfolio Question Time Net Zero and Energy, and Transport”
“We will use the national service specification to promote the good practice that exists in some areas of Scotland and ensure that that work is incorporated into standard practice. My final point—it is, I promise, my final point, Presiding Officer—is about accountability. I speak about that often in the chamber, because we are accountable to ourselves and to one another as parliamentarians. Services are also accountable to themselves and other services. Accountability is not about blame. It is about answers, actions, people working together and proactively seeking to make a difference to prevent crises from becoming a catastrophe. It is about always seeking to take a preventative approach as well as responding when life goes terribly wrong.”
“On alcohol and drug courts, I am very supportive of problem-solving courts, which are tailored to change and monitor individual behaviour. There is strong evidence that supports them. Ultimately, it is the decision of the judiciary and the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service whether to create specialist divisions in the system. I will certainly discuss the matter further with the new chief executive of the service and the new Lord President. The core of the SHAAP report was about a standard approach. Others spoke about the importance of the national treatment specification for alcohol and drug treatment in Scotland and the need for it to connect to MAT standards.”
“On consistency and the cross-Government angle, I chair a cross-Government ministerial oversight group on prisoner healthcare, which has been considering, for example, the Scottish Prison Service alcohol and drug strategy and the recruitment and retention of band 5 and 6 nurses in the prison system. The group has also been looking at a target operating model for prisoner healthcare. That might sound technical and not the most exciting aspect of policy, but we have to get into the nuts and bolts if we want to see standards, access and consistency. I also pay tribute to the national prison care network. The arrest referral work is expanding. It is about contactable moments. Groups have been established across most local authority areas.”
“It started in 2021 with 10 residents in HMP Perth, where I used to work a number of years ago. That grew to HMPs Edinburgh, Addiewell, Glenochil, Polmont and Cornton Vale. Now, there is a recovery presence in all prisons, with the option of prisoners accessing mutual aid groups. That speaks to the creation and building of relationships that serve people well in custody and prepare them for liberation. However, it is important that all that work aligns with the medication assisted treatment standards. Access to treatment, medicine and interventions is crucial, but so is broader holistic support, including financial, welfare and psychological support.”
“On the action that is under way, I am proud that one of my last actions before I left drugs policy to become the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs was to update the prison-to-rehab pathway. Through that work, some important learning was undertaken on how we can prepare people who are leaving custody to go into rehabilitation. We also removed the 12-week limit on the rehabilitation period. Although the renewed focus on residential rehab came as a result of our drug deaths crisis, the investment in residential rehab actually benefits more people with an alcohol disorder. I was very pleased to do that work. One of the cultural and operational changes is the presence of the recovery movement in our prisons. The Scottish Recovery Consortium’s work has grown.”
“Ms Minto and other health ministers are waiting on further work that is being done on what we can do, within our devolved competence, in relation to the advertisement of alcohol. There is no easy solution to that issue. I convey to Mr Stewart and others that everyone, irrespective of their abode—whether that is in the community or at His Majesty’s pleasure—has the same right to access treatment. Our national health service does not and should not discriminate against people on the basis of their past life, what they have or have not done or, indeed, where they are housed—whether they are at liberty or in custody. I have understood that to my very core since I was a prison social worker quite a few decades ago.”
“What do we need to do with regard to treatment and rehabilitation for individuals? The report found that individuals said that they would accept support in custody, but it does not seem to be being provided. Angela Constance: I will come on to speak in more detail about the action that the justice system is taking on that matter. Mr Stewart and others have made the point that there is no silver bullet. I am a great advocate for minimum unit pricing and would never detract from it, but there is never just one solution—there are always many solutions. That is particularly so for the work that my colleagues are taking in pursuing a public health approach to the issue.”
“The inequality in the prisoner population—men who have been in prison are three times more likely, and women who have been in prison are nine times more likely, than those in the general population are to die as a result of their use of alcohol—speaks to the need for the strength of the actions that we have taken through the women in custody strategy. Those actions include the establishment of community custody units—one in Glasgow and one in Dundee—and the additional investment in health to support the opening of HMP Stirling. Alexander Stewart: As Carol Mochan mentioned, the number of such deaths is at a 15- year high. Even with minimum unit pricing having been introduced seven years ago, it is clear that we still have an emergency and that individuals are slipping through the net.”
“I would be happy to meet Ms Whitham along with SHAAP, as well as Ms Minto, if that would be of assistance. It is worth repeating the core statistics that Ms Whitham and others have narrated from the important SHAAP report, including that two thirds of people in prison have an alcohol use disorder. That certainly gives me, as the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, a mandate for action. When we read that the Scottish prisoner survey, as others have outlined, found that 41 per cent of prisoners said that they would accept help for their alcohol disorder but that only 22 per cent said that they had been offered help, it is clear that action is required across portfolios.”
“It has been a measured and thoughtful debate, and I hope that we can take its spirit forward as we continue to wrestle with our high prison population, for example. Emma Roddick spoke powerfully about how we need to have a different debate—a mature debate that, ultimately, focuses on what will work to help people to turn their lives around and to make our communities safer. Rona Mackay asked the fundamental question on our use of custody, in respect of which we have a lot of questions to ask as well as to answer. Alexander Stewart spoke about the importance of standards and of those standards being applied consistently across the system. I am grateful to Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems for what I consider to be a very well-thought-out position paper, and I welcome the SHAAP representatives who are in the public gallery.”
“I pay tribute to Elena Whitham for securing this important debate. She brings to every debate that she participates in or leads her insight, her experience and her eloquence in advocating for the causes that she champions. She is quite correct to talk about the pervasiveness of inequality in our justice system and for the people whom we seek to serve and rehabilitate for the safety of our communities. We should remember that, although we must have a real focus on every step and stage of the justice system and on what we can do differently to divert people and to support them to turn their lives around, we must also focus on what happens upstream in health, education and other public services. As Carol Mochan said, it must be cross- portfolio work. I am grateful to all members who have participated in the debate.”
“I have listened very carefully to the member’s comments. I have also given a commitment to other MSP colleagues that I will raise the issue with the chair of the SPA when we next meet, as the SPA has responsibility for holding Police Scotland to account on such matters. The most recent data that went to the SPA has shown a decrease in complaints year to year and in the five-year average. I will pick up the specific issues that the member has raised when I next meet the chair of the SPA. The Presiding Officer: That concludes general question time. First Minister’s Question Time 12:00 HMP Glasgow 1.”
“Colin Smyth: It is now routine that, when I write to Police Scotland on behalf of a growing number of constituents who have made complaints about Police Scotland but have heard little or nothing about that complaint—often after months and, in some cases, more than a year—the response is not only that there is no timescale for dealing with the complaint, but that Police Scotland cannot give a timescale for when a complaint will even be allocated for investigation. When will that growing level of unacceptable waits be tackled? How can the public have confidence in the police if, when something goes wrong, the police do not seem interested in investigating that on time? Angela Constance: The statutory guidance is very clear that complaint inquiries need to be completed with a letter explaining the outcome. That has to be done within 56 days.”
“The Dame Elish Angiolini review recommended that the complaints and conduct committee of the Scottish Police Authority should hold Police Scotland to account for delays in investigations into complaints and misconduct. Police Scotland reports on the average timescales for completion of complaints and the proportion of complaints that are completed within 56 days. It does not break those figures down to measure the time that is taken for the allocation of a complaint. The Police Scotland professional standards department provides a quarterly report to the complaints and conduct committee and Mr Smyth can access a full breakdown of its performance on the Scottish Police Authority website.”
“The replacement of HMP Inverness with HMP Highland and HMP Glasgow replacing Barlinnie will, of course, increase capacity. Mr Gulhane has a bit of a cheek, bearing in mind that it was the previous Tory Government that starved this country of capital investment for years, and we are still facing the economic consequences of Brexit five years on, particularly in the construction industry.”
“Aside from being over budget by about £230 million and delayed by at least two years, the new HMP Glasgow will not solve the problem of overcrowding. Barlinnie has an average population of around 1,400 inmates, yet the new replacement prison is projected to have a capacity of only 1,200. There is clearly no long- term planning, despite the cabinet secretary’s previous answers. Why was the new prison not designed to cover the current population? What will happen when, inevitably, the new prison becomes overcrowded? Angela Constance: Part of the long-term plan is to replace ageing prisons. HMP Barlinnie is 140 years old. I have always been clear that the rebuilding of prisons is not, in itself, a silver bullet. There are other actions that we have to take, including around robust community justice, to reduce the prison population.”
“HMP Glasgow will bring significant benefits to those living and working there, as well as to the surrounding community. The new facility will strengthen skills and employability, improve mental health and create a safer working environment for staff. The Scottish budget includes a capital allocation of £261 million in 2025-26 for HMP Glasgow. I am pleased that very good progress has been made in the pricing and commercial process, and I expect to be able to update the Parliament on costs and timescales in the very near future. Sandesh Gulhane: Given the state of our prisons, the Scottish National Party Government is letting hundreds of prisoners go free early. HMP Glasgow is exactly the type of delivery failure that we have come to expect from the SNP Government.”
“The three-year plan outlines a new community policing focus that aims to increase the capacity and capability of our local policing teams with prevention and local problem-solving approaches, as well as a clear ambition to increase confidence levels in our communities and among partners.”
“Tim Eagle: Constituents of mine in the Highlands and Islands, including members of Breasclete community council in the Western Isles, have raised concerns that they no longer see police officers but do see an increase in antisocial behaviour. Visible police patrols can provide communities with a sense or feeling of security, and there is some evidence to say that such patrols can help to reduce crime. I know that the police service is under various pressures, but what more could the cabinet secretary do to reassure my constituents and improve visible community policing? Angela Constance: Although recruitment and deployment of resources are operational matters for the chief constable, I note that, on 16 January, 124 new recruits were sworn in to Police Scotland, bringing the number of officers to 16,614.”
“The Scottish Government welcomes the publication of Police Scotland’s 2030 vision and its accompanying three-year business plan, including the emphasis that is rightly placed on tackling rural crime and designing victim-centred models of care for local public protection for remote and rural areas. In 2025-26, the Scottish Government will increase police funding to £1.62 billion. That includes almost £57 million in additional resource funding, which will support front-line service delivery and allow Police Scotland to make progress in the key areas of transformation that are outlined in the three-year plan, including the delivery of enhanced community policing across the country.”
“I wish that people would come up with solutions as well as constantly opposing the solutions that we take forward.”
“On the emergency release measures, whether that is the change in the release arrangements— the point of release for short-term prisoners—or the emergency release measures that we took last summer, it is important to remember that the vast majority of the released prisoners were going to return to our communities at some point in the not- too-distant future, usually in a matter of weeks or months. I have brought a range of proposals and changes to the chamber. I was the cabinet secretary who sponsored the Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Act 2023 and the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act 2024, which was led by Natalie Don. There is also the work that we are doing on home detention curfew and to expand robust community justice.”
“Starting next month, more prisoners will be released early, which the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents has said would see the public “being put at risk.” Given that context, when will the Government take responsibility and start coming up with solutions to overcrowding that do not—according to the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents—compromise public safety? Angela Constance: I hope that I have demonstrated with absolute clarity the responsibility and seriousness with which I take overcrowding in our prisons. It is not only a critical risk to the safe operation of our prisons; if we do not reform our prison system, overcrowding will have huge implications and risks for the rest of our justice system and for communities.”
“The Scottish Government recognises the importance of a modern and fit-for-purpose prison estate that supports the rehabilitation and reintegration of those who are in custody back into our communities. That is why, if passed by the Parliament, the 2025-26 budget will continue to support the Scottish Prison Service’s major infrastructure improvements, namely the construction of HMP Highland and HMP Glasgow. The SPS advises that 97.7 per cent of its anticipated capital budget for 2025-26 will be utilised on major projects, with the remainder being allocated to a developing programme of works. Mark Griffin: Last summer, we saw the emergency release of hundreds of people in custody, as almost half of Scotland’s prisons declared red status because they were struggling to cope with overcrowding and a crumbling prison estate.”
“I fully accept the determinations made by Sheriff Simon Collins, as I hope that I made clear to Parliament last week when I laid out the immediate and short-term actions that I will pursue. I also gave a commitment to come back to the Parliament in March to give a fuller delivery plan and timescale. I reassure Mr Leonard that, despite everything that has gone on in the past week in the world of justice, home affairs and resilience with storm Éowyn, I have been following up and pursuing matters with the Prison Service and my officials to ensure that we come good on the commitments that I made to the chamber and to the families of Katie Allan and William Lindsay. Scottish Prison Service (Prison Estate Improvements) 4.”
“Last week, in the wake of the tragic and avoidable deaths of Katie Allan and William Lindsay, the cabinet secretary told us that “the development of suicide prevention technology will be accelerated and, if viable, piloted and reviewed.”—[Official Report, 22 January 2025; c 53.] We now know that, back in 2019, plans to make cells suicide proof were abandoned by the then Cabinet Secretary for Justice on the grounds of cost. When the cabinet secretary speaks of “viability”, will she consider viability as measured by the value of human lives rather than the price of prevention technology? Will she think of Katie Allan and William Lindsay? Will it be different this time? Angela Constance: In short, yes, it will be different.”
“First, I express my deepest condolences to anyone who has lost a loved one to suicide while they have been in prison. Suicide is preventable and should not happen while people are in the care of the state. The Scottish Government has accepted Sheriff Collins’s recent fatal accident inquiry findings, which form a comprehensive set of actions to deliver the systemic change that is needed. We and the Scottish Prison Service are committed to delivering the changes that were set out to the Parliament last week. We are prioritising establishing national oversight, overhauling the talk to me strategy, accelerating ligature prevention and improving information sharing between partners. Richard Leonard: The prison suicide rate in Scotland is more than twice as high as it is in England and Wales and three and a half times the European median.”
“Would not the setting of mandatory targets for the time that it takes to bring charges or mount prosecutions address fears that justice delayed can become justice denied? Angela Constance: I listened very carefully to Mr Hoy’s supplementary question. Despite his preface and some of his words, I fear that his question is just another attempt to lure me into commenting on live matters. He knows fine well that no minister can comment on live matters. On discussions regarding mandatory timescales in relation to charging and prosecution, I reiterate what I have said already: I have had no such discussions, and I have not given any current thought to the matter. Prevention of Death by Suicide (Prisons) 3.”
“This week, he said that “instant justice” would never be possible, but, in relation to the branchform probe, he added: “I don’t know where the hold-up is, whether it’s with the police or the Crown Office or whatever.” The cabinet secretary will not comment on what the hold-up in a live police case might be, and I will not ask her to do so. However, does she share the concern of a growing number of people that, when it takes years to investigate high-profile cases, there is the increased risk of an internal or external factor undermining the investigation or jeopardising a successful prosecution? That includes the impact on the right to a fair trial in reasonable time under article 6 of the European convention on human rights.”
“Decisions relating to the charging and prosecution of criminal proceedings are independent operational decisions that are made by Police Scotland and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service within the legal framework. The Scottish Government has not had any discussions regarding the setting of mandatory timescales for those matters. Craig Hoy: Lord Carloway has become the latest senior figure to comment publicly on the length of time that one specific case is taking— namely, operation branchform, which relates to the Scottish National Party’s finances.”
“As I informed members when I announced that there will be a public inquiry, and as I restated when I met the Caldwell family last week, what is most important is that the person who leads the inquiry has the confidence of the family, understands their trauma and has the necessary expertise to lead an inquiry of that nature. We had a very constructive conversation with the family, and it was very important for them to meet the current First Minister. Criminal Proceedings (Mandatory Timescales for Charging and Prosecution) 2.”
“Jackie Baillie: I do not think that anyone can help but be disturbed at the failings of the justice system in this case. Emma Caldwell’s family have been asking for a public inquiry to be chaired by a judge from outwith Scotland in order to give them confidence that the process will be truly independent. Has the cabinet secretary agreed to that? Can she provide any indication of when the inquiry is likely to start? Angela Constance: I reassure Ms Baillie and other members that my position on those matters has not changed.”
“The First Minister and I met with the Caldwell family on 21 January 2025 to listen to their views on the next steps, including the appointment of a chair and ways to progress the criminal investigation of the initial police inquiry. The Scottish Government will ensure that the inquiry is set up and properly resourced to carry out its work. Once a chair has been appointed, we will work alongside the chair, and Emma’s family, in setting and agreeing the terms of reference for the inquiry. Decisions on further criminal investigations are a matter for the Lord Advocate, acting independently of ministers. We continue to liaise with the Crown Office to understand the implications of the investigation for the setting up of the inquiry.”
“We must continue to work together to ensure that Scotland remains prepared to withstand future storms that come our way. The Presiding Officer: The cabinet secretary will now take questions on the issues that were raised in her statement. I intend to allow about 20 minutes for questions, after which we will move on to the next item of business.”
“Many schools suffered damage to infrastructure, to varying degrees, as well as a loss of power. However, 99 per cent of schools across Scotland were able to reopen as usual yesterday. Remedial works are on-going, and 16 schools and six local authority early learning and childcare settings remained closed this morning. I do not underestimate the impact that the disruption has had on families and staff. This has been, and continues to be, an extremely complex and protracted incident. Every business, home and individual was affected by an amber or red weather warning. I express my heartfelt gratitude to the organisations and individuals who are working tirelessly to restore normality to people’s homes and lives. I pay tribute to the work that our responder and voluntary organisations undertake to protect the public from such emergencies.”
“Although power companies were able to make quick wins in the early period of recovery and restore power to thousands of customers at a time, they are now dealing with some of the most challenging and remote issues. Recovery operations have continued on the rail network, as Scotland’s railway recovers from more than 500 incidents associated with the storm. ScotRail and Network Rail are working to reopen lines as quickly and safely as possible, with services having been reinstated overnight on the lines to Ayr, Balloch and Paisley Canal. By tomorrow, it is anticipated that the lines to Largs, Wemyss Bay and Gourock will be reopened, that the landslip at Hamilton will be cleared and that services to Larkhall will resume. Earlier today, 73 per cent of services were operating, and that figure will increase as routes reopen.”
“Forth Valley royal hospital was subject to a storm- related power outage on Friday afternoon and was without mains power for approximately one hour. Thanks to the efforts of the health board and the power company, the situation was quickly resolved and no patient harm was identified. However, we are still in the process of recovery, and the impacts of the storm continue to be felt, and may continue to be felt in the coming days and weeks. More than 2,500 customers in Scotland remain without power, and although power companies are working hard towards restoration, the extreme damage that was caused by storm Éowyn means that the task is very complex.”
“The trunk road and motorway network has fully recovered following storm Éowyn; however, there is a risk of secondary impacts around weakened trees that may come down and debris that may still get into drainage systems, which could lead to further localised disruption until the clear-up is complete. Health and social care services were impacted, with non-essential care packages suspended during the red warning and some non-urgent patient appointments cancelled on Friday, which are being rescheduled. Thanks to the excellent work and dedication of the staff who provide health, social care and social work services in our hospitals and communities, as well as the efforts of unpaid carers and the third and independent sectors, there was no significant impact on patient care, and services are returning to normal.”
“The public listened to and followed the important advice that Police Scotland issued. At the worst point, more than 130,000 people were reported to be without power. The weather itself meant that it was not always safe to carry out repairs, and front-line agencies established a number of welfare centres to support the most vulnerable. As of the latest update, at noon today, 2,538 customers remain off power. Throughout that response, our health and social care partnerships worked hard, hand in hand with the utility companies, to support the most vulnerable individuals, by targeting resources to reinstate power to care homes and vulnerable individuals as soon as possible. I thank them for their on-going efforts, and I recognise the people in our communities who came together to support vulnerable friends, family and neighbours.”
“To prepare Scotland for the changing climate, we must therefore bring climate resilience to the heart of decision making across the nation. The Met Office has called storm Éowyn “probably the strongest storm” to hit the UK for a decade, with gusts of wind exceeding 100mph. The entirety of Scotland was covered by weather warnings on Friday, and we saw widespread impacts across the country. A total of 92 per cent of the school estate in Scotland was closed and all rail, bus and ferry services were cancelled. There were significant impacts across the road network, including fallen trees and power cables, overturned heavy goods vehicles and road traffic collisions. However, Transport Scotland reports that, during the red alert period, traffic volumes dropped by 80 per cent.”
“I am grateful to both the Met Office and Police Scotland for issuing those early and clear warnings, and to the public, who, in following that advice, helped to mitigate significantly the damage that the storm might otherwise have caused. To put it simply, people have, by following the guidance to stay at home, prevented further loss of life. However, no amount of warning could prevent significant damage and disruption from a storm of this scale. Storm Éowyn and other recent weather events at home and abroad are symptoms of the warming world to which we are now adapting. I echo the First Minister’s comments over the weekend that the “ferocity” of “climate change is with us”. We also know that such trends are locked in.”
“Ministers continue to receive regular updates on the incident recovery work, including the restoration of power and the recovery of transport services. In addition, on Saturday 25 January, the First Minister joined a ministerial COBRA meeting to discuss the impacts of storm Éowyn across the United Kingdom. Public advice was issued to support the public in planning for the storm and taking steps to stay safe. Police Scotland issued clear advice to the public not to travel during the storm. We worked quickly with the Met Office, the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Executive to activate the new emergency alerts capability for the first time in Scotland since its launch, and we also activated the Scottish Government’s Ready Scotland campaign.”
“Red weather warnings are very rarely issued and signify not only the high likelihood of severe damage and disruption but a significant threat to life. Amber warnings for wind covered the remainder of the country, which underlined the scale of the high winds. The Scottish Government and front-line agencies across Scotland took the threat extremely seriously. Emergency planning and resilience structures were activated across Scotland, including the Scottish Government resilience room and the Transport Scotland resilience room. Scotland’s responders, including emergency services, local authorities and utility companies, quickly mobilised staff to respond to the impacts of the storm. Ministerial meetings of the Scottish Government resilience room were held daily from Thursday to Monday, and the Cabinet discussed the storm this morning.”