Tim Eagle
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party · Scotland
“I do not approach immigration by seeking to divide communities or inflame tensions, as Reform appears to. I seek solutions even when they are difficult or unpopular in parts of this chamber. Victor Currie: Britain is a multiracial country, and people of all backgrounds call this their home.”
“Using thorium, the current stock of nuclear waste could be recycled into new reactors, which presents an opportunity to solve the waste problem once and for all. Does Tim Eagle recognise that we should be at the frontier of those developments and not simply a laggard? Tim Eagle: I absolutely recognise that.”
“We still have no timeline for the Nairn, Elgin or Keith bypasses. When concerns were raised about the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, we led the opposition. When concerns were raised about the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021, we fought the fight. When our fishing industry needed a voice, we were there for it.”
“When others were afraid to discuss welfare reform, we were prepared to have that conversation, not because it is easy but because responsible government requires difficult conversations. When Scotland’s ferries descended into chaos, it was us—the Scottish Conservatives—who continued to relentlessly pursue answers.”
“That is the point: there were good, skilled jobs, which allowed young people to stay in the area, so that they could have crofts and families and build houses.”
“I will try to keep to that, Presiding Officer. It has certainly been an interesting debate to listen to. My colleague Murdo Fraser talked about the word salad of the motion. I was not quite sure what I should zone in on, but I will start with the title, which is “Scotland Needs Reform”.”
The complete record
Every one of 444 lines we hold for Tim Eagle, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 6 of 9.
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app would not connect. I would have voted no. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Mr Eagle. I will ensure that that is recorded. Kenneth Gibson: On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I could not vote. I would have voted no. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Mr Gibson. I will ensure that that is recorded.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has issued an extreme wildfire warning for the first time in September since 2020. (S6T- 02690)”
“In my opinion, Scotland needs a dedicated wildfire response unit with specialist training, modern equipment and, crucially, aerial firefighting support. That is how we will protect our communities, our land and our future. 13:30”
“Scottish Land & Estates reported that 33 businesses, including 27 estates, provided vital assistance during the wildfires in late June alone. Private land managers deployed equipment worth an estimated £3.1 million to contain the flames. Those contributions were not optional; they were essential. Wildfires put human lives in danger. They devastate habitats and wildlife. They damage farming, sporting estates and tourism, and they place immense strain on rural communities. I urge everyone to remember that caution is essential during dry weather. A cigarette, a barbecue or even a spark from machinery can cause untold damage. The evidence is clear, the trends are undeniable, and I ask the Government to seriously consider the threat that we face.”
“The council committed to hold a wildfire summit, to consider new byelaws and to seek funding for wildfires from both Governments, just as other climate-driven challenges such as flooding and coastal erosion are already funded. In recognising this trend, I also, as my colleagues have done, recognise those who stand on the front line. I pay huge tribute to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service for its professionalism and bravery in the most challenging of circumstances. It deserves the thanks of the Parliament and the whole country. Equally, much of the immediate response came not from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service but from those who are closest to the land: gamekeepers—including our young gamekeepers—farmers, estate staff and local volunteers.”
“The direction of travel is undeniable: the number of wildfires in Scotland is rising. The Highlands remain the most severely affected region by a large margin. Over the past decade, 574 wildfires have been recorded. This is a Highland issue—it is important to say that—but it is also a national issue with consequences for all of Scotland. The problem is clear in Moray, too. This year alone, multiple incidents have underlined the urgency with which action is required. Moray Council, in a decision led by councillors Kathleen Robertson and Derek Ross, became the first council to take action in Scotland, agreeing a motion in August that recognised the devastation that has been caused by wildfires in the summer of 2025.”
“Such fires are not isolated incidents; they are becoming more frequent, more destructive and more dangerous for our people, our land and our wildlife. I have put some of that into numbers. Although wildfire figures vary year to year, the upward trend is stark. Between 2024 and the first half of 2025, the number of recorded wildfires more than tripled, from 55 in all of 2024 to 187 in just the first six months of this year. That is already higher than any annual figure since 2017. We can safely assume that the total figure for 2025 will rise further, because the data does not yet include the peak summer months of July and August. To put that into perspective, the figure of 187 wildfires that have already been recorded in 2025 is close to double the total for 2015, when 111 wildfires were recorded.”
“I congratulate Emma Roddick for bringing this much-needed debate to the Parliament. We have spoken about this topic separately. I echo the points that have come from around the chamber. There is clearly anger and frustration about some of the fires that are happening across Scotland. I think, if I am right, that there is a consensus on and cross-party support for the need for action. I would be happy to join any meeting or round table that we could have with the minister to discuss what that action could be. I mean that in a positive way—I can see that the minister does not think so, but I genuinely do mean that in a positive way. In recent years, Scotland has witnessed a deeply concerning trend. The number and intensity of wildfires across our country is growing.”
“Amendment 64 agreed to. Amendment 65 not moved. Amendment 101 moved—[Sharon Dowey]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 101 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division. The vote is now closed.”
“For Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Ross Greer] Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) [Proxy vote cast by Michael Marra] Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Alba) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (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) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) [Proxy vote cast by Willie Rennie] 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) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) 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) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) The Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 58, Against 56, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment 102 disagreed to. Amendment 64 moved—[Jamie Greene]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 64 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I had some connection issues. I would have voted yes. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Mr Eagle. Your vote will be recorded. 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) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) [Proxy vote cast by Michael Marra] Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Alba) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (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) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) [Proxy vote cast by Willie Rennie] 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) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) 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) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) Abstentions Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Ross Greer] Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) The Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 51, Against 57, Abstentions 7.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what support it can offer to help local authorities protect council- run and arm’s-length external organisation-run community facilities. (S6O-04917)”
“It is evident from the report that far more oversight is needed, but, perhaps more broadly, it is about how much scrutiny other agencies and non- departmental public bodies require with regard to how they spend their money. Although others will disagree with me, I am more and more convinced that, under this Government, Scotland has a culture of bloated quangos and a lack of proper oversight, whether it is in the Water Industry Commission for Scotland or the many other bodies that have been set up to take decisions instead of elected members. It is clear that more must be done to rein in and keep a check on those organisations. 16:21”
“The report highlights the extravagance of the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, including the spending of £2,600 on Christmas gift vouchers, hundreds of pounds on meals and alcohol, and more than £40,000 on items that did not meet the requirements of the Scottish public finance manual. Audit Scotland summed it up perfectly in its 2022-23 report when it concluded that “Value for money should be a key consideration for ... expenditure incurred by public bodies and the findings of the auditor highlight unacceptable behaviour, by senior officials within the Commission, in the use of public funds.” Audit Scotland is right. Evidently, this was lost on those who were in charge at the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, but perhaps more worrying is the lack of oversight of all of that, which has been mentioned several times so far.”
“Since the last election, billions upon billions of litres of water have been lost due to leakages in my region, let alone across the rest of Scotland. That means that, while the Scottish Environment Protection Agency is telling the public to cut down their water use, Scottish Water is literally leaking out water. How do members think the public feel when they know that, rather than infrastructure being appropriately fixed, large bonuses are instead being awarded? That is why the Public Audit Committee’s findings about Scottish Water’s regulator are particularly damning.”
“Although I appreciate that prolonged periods of drought are not things that this Government can control, fears about access to water in some of the most rural parts of Scotland are not helped when my constituents simultaneously hear that the people in charge of Scotland’s water have received taxpayer-funded bonuses on top of already good salaries and that the regulator that is supposed to have oversight of that is failing. I received a response to a written parliamentary question by the cabinet secretary, Gillian Martin, which has left me somewhat shocked. In the Highlands and Islands, in July alone, 40.7 megalitres of water were estimated to have been lost per day due to leakages. That is more than 40 million litres of water lost every day.”
“I apologise for not being able to be present in the chamber for this debate. I intend to keep my remarks brief, as Douglas Lumsden outlined perfectly the many failings that are identified in the Public Audit Committee’s very well-written report on the Water Industry Commission for Scotland. It is worth noting that this debate comes only a week after the Scottish Environment Protection Agency issued an alert warning that six areas of Scotland now face significant scarcity, with several areas in the Highlands and Islands region facing moderate scarcity and alerts.”
“To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how growth deals are growing the economy of the Highlands and Islands region. (S6O-04871)”
“To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to reports that several local authorities are delaying the introduction of a visitor levy. (S6F-04224)”
“The Scottish Conservatives welcome the bill and the closing of those loopholes, and we strongly support the motion. However, I impress on the minister the concerns that were raised earlier by my colleague Finlay Carson, which the minister has just touched on. The truncated period that has been provided to the Parliament for consideration of the LCM has had an impact on parliamentary scrutiny.”
“The RSPCA and Cats Protection have both highlighted that such non- commercial imports have been a significant concern for years and have served as a major route for the entry of illegal puppies and kittens into Great Britain. The bill will crack down on puppy and kitten smuggling by closing loopholes that have been exploited by unscrupulous commercial traders. It will ban the import of puppies and kittens under six months, as well as the import of dogs and cats that are mutilated or heavily pregnant. It will also address the current abuse of non-commercial rules that compromises animal welfare and biosecurity by making it more difficult and less profitable for traders to fraudulently import animals for sale under the guise of owners who are travelling with their own pets.”
“The Covid pandemic highlighted an already well- known issue relating to the legal import of dogs, cats and ferrets into the UK. During the pandemic, such imports rose by nearly 60 per cent as demand for puppies rose considerably. More noticeably, the pandemic highlighted the fact that the problem that exists with legal entry routes for animals such as dogs and cats brings with it a significant risk to welfare. As I understand it, a single individual can import five puppies or kittens non-commercially into the UK. In theory, that would enable five individuals in a single vehicle to import 25 puppies or kittens with minimal border checks.”
“Not that long ago, we had a session in Parliament with our wider food and drink industry, which was focused specifically on skills and seeing what more we can do on that. Some really great programmes are being undertaken in our agriculture sector. For example, there is the work that Ringlink Scotland and the machinery rings are doing to get younger people into the industry. A whole host of work is going on. I am more than happy to have further discussions with Tim Eagle. I look forward to catching up with him at the Royal Highland Show, as I no doubt will, and engaging in more such discussions in the next few days. Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (Bird Species) 6.”
“It is, of course, great to see Scotland’s wonderful produce doing so well in export markets. The sector is a major employer that accounts for 10 per cent of jobs in areas such as the Highlands and Islands. However, there are recruitment challenges in the sector. Although short-term factors are undoubtedly involved in that, we must also plan for the future. The Royal Highland Show is just round the corner, and it will surely have a focus on rural skills and jobs. What more can the cabinet secretary do to promote jobs in the food and drink sector as a career choice? Mairi Gougeon: Tim Eagle raises an important point. We want a thriving food and drink sector, because it is important for our economy.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Apologies—my app would not connect. I would have voted no. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you. I will make sure that that is recorded,”
“Presiding Officer, I apologise that I arrived in the chamber slightly late today. To ask the Scottish Government what feedback it has received from organisations, including sport and social clubs, regarding changes in the protecting vulnerable groups scheme as a result of the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020. (S6O-04723)”
“The group could also be used to engage with and support practitioners in what they need to do to in order to comply with any changes. As for the group itself, I think that there is space to go further. While the group mainly brings together people from the upland deer management context, as I understand it, there is potential for its expansion to take in more recreational shooters and to hear more about the lowland and urban context of management and what challenges that brings. I offer my whole-hearted congratulations to all those who have been in, continue to be in, and have facilitated the group. It is no easy task to talk about deer management in Scotland but, together, they are achieving, and politicians across the Parliament are listening and learning from them. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I call Christine Grahame. 17:38”
“It brings together all those who wish to have positive engagement on how to best manage deer in Scotland. The forum’s successes have shown just what can be achieved when dealing with difficult subject matter when all are prepared to listen and learn. Its strength has been found in fostering positive debate, understanding and collaboration. Due to those successes, there is arguably a case that the implementation of the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill, in whatever form that takes, could benefit from engagement with the forum in the future. There is the potential to learn from those who work in the area for guidance when developing secondary policy, particularly in relation to a code of practice and a register of authorised persons.”
“As Elena Whitham mentioned, the Common Ground Forum is a collaborative initiative, uniting more than 100 stakeholders from Scotland’s upland deer management sector. Established in October 2023, the forum aims to foster mutual respect and consensus building to achieve sustainable and integrated deer management, aligning with Scotland’s environmental and rural development goals. The seven commitments that bring the group together under the accord work to ensure that all are heard, all are listened to and solutions can be found. It is a great structure, and it has worked. As I understand it, the Common Ground Forum sees that high-quality, sustainable, ecological land has great benefits to our society, from supporting future generations to maintaining resilient rural communities.”
“You are now coming to the end of your long day in the chair, Deputy Presiding Officer. You have done a great job. I thank Elena Whitham for bringing the debate to the chamber today. One of my very first engagements in the Parliament was with the Common Ground Forum. I had been asked by another member to host, as they had another engagement at the last minute. I remember feeling slightly nervous as I walked in, having heard of the group but not having had much involvement with it before. That nervousness left quickly, as I found inside the room a wide group of people from various backgrounds—yet all with a shared vision for moving deer management forward in Scotland. I was very grateful that Elena was in the room with me to help me that day.”
“My own feeling is that—just as we heard from Kate Forbes and John Swinney on ferries last week—what the Government is doing is not nearly good enough. 16:50”
“I wonder whether the lack of any real empowerment is the driver that leads to further depopulation of our islands, as in the case of Mull. There might be a handful of successes that I could agree with the cabinet secretary on, and a few pieces of work that are welcomed by the islands, but are they really empowered? I say to the minister that he should go to the islands without an agenda. He should sit down and have a coffee or go into the pub or the local shop and talk to people. He should talk to islanders about education and health, the visitor levy and fisheries. If he is really brave, he could talk to them about ferries. Then, he should come back to Parliament and stand up and tell us whether he really believes that our island communities are empowered.”
“In communities such as those on Mull, education that relies on the ferries, the weather and the separation of families is never a good thing. Mull required a bespoke arrangement. It needed community, Government and council to come together to agree a funding package for primary and secondary education that delivered for the island and provided equity in education provision. The specific nature of the debate for a fragile community such as Mull necessitated the involvement of the Government in order for the right decision to be made. I still believe that there is time for the Government to act to support those in the gallery and the whole community of Mull, and I urge the cabinet secretary to take that point away. Big changes will not happen overnight, but more and more we discuss depopulation and how to stem it.”
“I have been contacted time and again by people across the island raising concerns about the consultation process. In my opinion, the financial impact on the council was, ultimately, a much bigger consideration for councillors in Argyll and Bute than the views of the residents of Mull themselves. That is the problem. Ninety-eight per cent of Scotland is rural, and 17 per cent of the population of Scotland lives in rural areas, but it is not just about numbers. Rural life is built into our very cultural heritage, and the traditions, languages and history of rural areas are baked into our national identity. Rural service delivery comes with a higher cost, and if we want rural areas and islands to thrive, we must accept that.”
“However, it is not too late; in all seriousness, I say that there is something that we can do about that. During the debate and discussion about the Mull school project, I tried very hard not to form an opinion on what the right location was for a new school campus, because I felt quite strongly that, ultimately, the location of a new school should be the community’s decision. I fundamentally believe that. However, I was conscious that there would be families in Tobermory that would prefer the school to be rebuilt there, reducing the need for their children to travel. I could not help but recognise—I think that Ariane Burgess and Rhoda Grant touched on this—that for the whole island to be successful, it is vital that all are listened to.”
“Not surprisingly, what we heard from the SNP in the debate was Brexit, Brexit and more Brexit, but Brexit is not causing the problems on our islands. The ferry delays and the housing delays are caused by the Scottish Government; they are not caused by Brexit. The only person who talks more about having something to blame is Richard Leonard when he blames the rich for always being at fault. However, I say to him that I respect that. I, too, welcome residents from the island of Mull to the gallery. It is wonderful that they have managed to get a ferry across, and I hope that they can manage to get the ferry back home today. The Mull school project is a classic example of things going wrong when we do not truly listen to and empower our island communities.”
“She also talked about Scotland’s islands being at a critical point in their 5,000-year history. Fergus Ewing said that islanders should be at the heart of operations that affect them. We should not have to wait for the next session of Parliament for islanders to be on the boards of groups that take decisions that affect their daily lives. He also talked about the book “The Blunders of Our Governments”, which I have read part of. I heard that the authors were going to do an update to the book on the Scottish Government, but it was going to be too heavy to lift, so they had to stop. I am not greatly surprised that the SNP did not like what Douglas Ross had to say, but he is right. When I go to the islands, and I have been to quite a few recently, this is what they are talking about.”
“Rhoda Grant gave a well-rounded speech in which she covered a wide range of issues that matter to our islands, including the point that I just made about island community impact assessments. Kenneth Gibson told us, quoting Arthur Conan Doyle, that the islands are “the epitome of the whole of Scotland”, and he is right. It is elementary, my dear cabinet secretary, that the islands are the epitome of Scotland, and we should be serving them well— they are a microcosm of Scotland. Beatrice Wishart talked about innovative solutions for islands, such as tunnels, and the requirement for more housing, and she gave a bit of a telling-off about the spelling of Up Helly Aa. Ariane Burgess talked about the uniqueness of our islands and the importance of devolving power to our councils in island communities.”
“To be honest, I do not think that it is good enough that the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister said that line. It is their job to ensure that delays do not happen, but, time and again, they do. Island community impact assessments offer an opportunity to ensure that the implementation of new policy makes practical sense for the islands, but the message that I too often hear is that it does not. Many people feel that authorities do those assessments because they have to, rather than because they see value in them. It was interesting to listen to the wide range of views in the debate. Jamie Halcro Johnston and Pam Gosal mentioned ferries, the future of services on the islands, job prospects and tourism.”
“The cabinet secretary talked about the new carbon-neutral project on the islands and the successes of the national islands plan. I note, too, that the motion from the SNP admits that “further action to tackle island challenges” is needed, but that is quite the understatement, in my opinion. A lot can be said in a plan, but a plan is not the provider. Where we choose to invest and what we choose to support make a difference to the lives of our islanders. I have yet to go to an island where the issue of ferries is not raised, yet—as Douglas Ross rightly pointed out—the SNP motion does not mention ferries at all. On ferry delays, the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister both admitted last week that it is not good enough—and indeed it is not.”
“I have to be honest: when I first saw that we were to have this debate, I thought to myself, “Wow, that’s brave!”. During the same week that we heard about another massive delay to and the spiralling costs of the Glen Rosa, and on top of concerns that I was already aware of about school campuses, healthcare and rural depopulation, we learned—to my great surprise—that we were to have a debate, led by the SNP, on how we empower Scottish islands. It is true that our islands contain many wonderful people—islanders are often very resilient and engaging—and there is much good work that goes on in our islands. I share the Government’s desire—it is probably the only desire that I share with the SNP—to ensure that our island communities are empowered, but are we really empowering them?”
“Those are just some examples of the projects that have been delivered; the list is much longer. I refer colleagues to the reports that we have laid annually to update Parliament on investments and initiatives that have been undertaken across portfolios to deliver on the strategic objectives that we set out in the national islands plan. At the end of 2023, we carried out a public consultation to inform a review of the plan. I put on record the Scottish Government’s gratitude to the many organisations and individuals who contributed to that review.”
“In addition, our £30 million demand-led rural and islands housing fund continues to deliver more affordable homes in island communities, and we recently announced its extension to 2028 as part of our programme for government. To date, 44 per cent of the projects that have been completed with support from the rural and islands housing fund have been delivered on islands. Each year, we provide nearly £40 million to croft businesses, including through schemes such as the crofting agricultural grant scheme, which, since 2015, has committed more than £31.5 million to help more than 5,000 crofters with their croft businesses. We have also delivered almost £26 million to help to build and improve more than 1,160 croft homes; more than 80 per cent of the grants that were awarded over 2024 were awarded to island-based crofters.”
“I get the point that money is being put into those communities, but does the cabinet secretary accept that we still face critical rural depopulation, because there is not enough housing, education and healthcare provision to keep people on the islands? How can the Scottish Government fix those points? Mairi Gougeon: I will touch on that. The member raises a really important point. Depopulation is a critical focus for us as we develop the new plan. It is not an easy thing to fix. We know that there are a number of contributing factors, which is why the work that we are progressing in areas such as housing and transport is hugely important. I will address some of those issues later.”
“When I last asked for R100 data earlier this year, the SNP Government confirmed that not a single property in the Western Isles had been upgraded to superfast broadband under the scheme.”
“Given that the UK Government has already delayed its digital switch-over for landline phones from December 2025 to January 2027, there is surely a case for a similar delay to the RTS switch-off, to ensure that every household is able to upgrade. However, even for those lucky enough to have secured a smart meter, issues with unreliable broadband and mobile connectivity have resulted in smart meter connectivity issues, and Citizens Advice Scotland has reported the loss of heating in some instances as a result. That probably cannot have been helped by the Scottish National Party Government’s failure to deliver the roll-out of its reaching 100 per cent—R100—broadband programme almost a decade on from when the promise was first made.”
“I realise that Ofgem has taken the task seriously, and I welcome its commitment to rapidly increasing the pace and number of RTS upgrades by targeting regions where RTS meters are most prevalent. However, according to Citizens Advice Scotland, many people in rural and island communities face an acute challenge in trying to secure a smart meter installation. That includes one elderly couple in their 80s from a rural community, who repeatedly contacted their energy supplier after receiving a letter about the switch-off but who have yet to secure a meter engineer visit. In addition, according to the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, its members have stated that energy suppliers do not have the capacity to switch all RTS consumers for whom a smart meter will be appropriate by the 2025 deadline.”
“That is increasingly difficult to find in the summer months, as accommodation is booked out in advance—indeed, I know that problem all too well from other active constituency casework. The number of households in the Highlands and Islands that have yet to make the switch from an RTS meter to a smart meter is staggering. Data supplied to me by Ofgem in February showed that more than 36,000 RTS meters are still in operation across the region. Just for context, that amounts to around 4 per cent of all active RTS meters remaining in operation across Great Britain, despite the fact that the Highlands and Islands accounts for fewer than 1 per cent of dwellings in Great Britain.”
“I am grateful to Beatrice Wishart for securing a debate on what is becoming an increasingly serious issue, for many of the reasons that have been mentioned. Some time ago, I realised that the 30 June deadline would be too soon for many residents across the Highlands and Islands region and, indeed, in other parts of rural Scotland. As Beatrice Wishart rightly identifies in her motion, there is “a lack of engineers” on the ground, which is preventing the rapid switch-over from RTS to smart meters. I am sure that every MSP who represents island communities will know that, whether we are talking about installing broadband, fitting new insulation or making the switch to a smart meter, every supplier will send contractors to an island only if there are several jobs to complete and only if there is overnight accommodation available for them.”