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 8 of 9.
“There is no doubt that the sector is a success story for Scotland, but—it is not much of a but, but it is a wee bit of a but—the Scottish Conservatives also want the highest standards of fish welfare. That is important not just for ethical reasons; it is also vital to maintain the high standard of the salmon products that we produce and, as a result, protect the globally recognised provenance of Scottish salmon. What I do not want to happen is the negative stories that would ultimately come out if mortality or diseases continue to increase, which would put down an industry that is so vital to Scotland. Fergus Ewing is absolutely right about putting down the industry. We must protect it, but we must also ensure that it is there for the next 10, 20, 30, 40 or 50 years.”
“I am grateful to all the contributors and to be part of this important debate on salmon farming in Scotland. In fairness, much of the work went into the report before I joined the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee late last year, so I thank all those who have served on the committee for their work and the many who gave evidence. In reply to Fergus Ewing, I want to be clear from the outset that the Scottish Conservatives understand the economic importance of Scotland’s salmon farming sector. We want to support the sector where possible. Mr Ewing is absolutely right. More than 2,500 people are directly employed by the sector, which had an historic high last year of £844 million in exports.”
“Do you believe that the Scottish Government is, once again, dragging its feet and that it will end up failing our farmers, growers and researchers?”
“Organisations such as the Agricultural Industries Confederation Scotland and NFU Scotland have urged the Scottish Government to align with recent precision breeding legislation that has already been enacted in England. As with all new technologies, a careful, considered approach is always safest, but there is a difference between gene editing and genetic modification, and perhaps it is about time that the Scottish Government thought again about its use in Scotland. I hope that we all want to see a thriving and successful food industry. Finlay Carson: New Zealand is making significant strides in updating its gene editing technology, along with Spain, France, Italy and the Netherlands, which are actively supporting new rules, in stark contrast to Scotland’s position.”
“I worry that, too often, people see the word “gene” and immediately picture thousands of genetically engineered giant lettuces, or it conjures up images of crops taking over entire ecosystems. I accept that there are concerns over genetically modified organisms, but gene editing, in my understanding, is a very different thing. Using well-known methods to modify existing genetic material in a way that can yield more beneficial outcomes, this technology could help to tweak the performance of crops to help with disease resistance and drought tolerance or to produce higher yields. The Scottish agricultural industry has called for the adoption of precision breeding technology and has highlighted the technology’s potential to strengthen food security and address climate change.”
“I would never deny the challenges that have come from Brexit, Covid or conflict around the world, but I was interested to read in the Scottish Parliament information centre report, “Scotland’s exports—policy and statistics”, that, in aggregate, seafood exports have not declined markedly following the UK’s exit from the EU, but there has been a considerable switch in terms of the markets and the products being exported, including increases in exports to France, the Netherlands, Poland and Lithuania. That is welcome news. Markets change over time, and I am aware that some parts of the industry are progressing exciting opportunities in new markets around the world. Interestingly, the same report notes that beverage exports have also shown no sign of change since the UK has left the EU. I will quickly mention gene editing.”
“According to the Scottish Funding Council, 8,000 fewer college places have been made available in the past year. Delays to the dualling of the A9, little progress on roads such as the A83 Rest and Be Thankful, and never-ending issues with ferries are all causing significant challenges to food and drink businesses across rural Scotland and on our islands. If Scotland is to achieve its goal for farming, fishing and food and drink to be Scotland’s most valuable industries by 2030, recognised at home and abroad as a model of collaboration and a world leader in responsible, profitable growth, it will need far more and far clearer Government support.”
“The Scottish Government has yet to produce a finalised good food nation plan, but, like many others, I eagerly anticipate its publication later this year. As Finlay Carson has just mentioned, last week, the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee heard from farmers and industry representatives that changes to agricultural policy are too slow and that key information is not getting to the ground. [Interruption.] The minister might look at me across the chamber, but that is true—it is what they said last week. For me, there remains a lack of urgency over future agricultural support, with no clear accepted plan to restore livestock numbers and support food production, or to encourage new entrants and young farmers. The SNP’s delivery of cuts to college funding across Scotland is causing a recruitment crisis and a skills shortage.”
“As regards talking up our food and drink sector, standing side by side to protect Scottish whisky, or shouting loudly about our products, I welcome such consensus. However, my job in Parliament includes pointing out where the Scottish National Party Government has made mistakes, when things are not right and when more needs to be done. For example, the decision not to pass on business rate relief support to the hospitality sector was a huge mistake. That lack of support has stifled growth and deferred investment. The deposit return scheme caused confusion and worry across the drinks sector and was ultimately paused for the long term, but not before costing the industry significant sums of money. The SNP’s failure to factor in costs and the implications of the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 was a real concern.”
“Infrastructure is required in many areas. In my own area, nearly 40 rural jobs will be lost when a rural food producer, New World Foods in Forres, closes on 30 April. The factory’s owner, Valeo Foods UK, cited a number of logistical challenges presented by the site’s location that have made it “increasingly difficult to maintain cost efficiencies”. I do not claim to know the full details, but what might a dualled A9 or A96 have done to keep those essential jobs in remote rural areas such as Forres? Transport, along with energy prices and labour, remain key issues for the industry, which the Scottish Government must address with clarity and vision. The cabinet secretary’s motion calls for cross- party support.”
“On top of already increased costs, that was a bitter blow for many businesses, and it will cost jobs in the sector. In January, the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers raised concerns about a potential shortage in our red meat supply due to a fall in the numbers of cattle. Scott Walker, the association’s chief executive, expressed serious concern, warning that that decline was “likely to be felt on retail shelves” in the future. The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation has warned that the industry risks being “crushed” because of planned significant growth of floating offshore wind power in Scottish waters and the UK Government’s ambition to reset relationships with the EU. Fishermen tell me of their concerns over current arrangements for non-UK boats in our waters, which present dangers from overfishing and bad practice.”
“In January, SRUC opened the £1.8 million facility, which is dedicated to teaching students about growing crops more quickly, and with higher nutritional value, while using less water. I am confident that the project will play its part in the future of food security in Scotland, and I wish SRUC well with it. It is important to me that we start on positives because behind the businesses that I have mentioned are our constituents, our friends and perhaps our families, who, every day, play their roles in supporting Scotland’s food and drink economy. I am proud to talk about Scotland’s food and drink sector, but that does not take away the challenges that exist. I have already had companies contacting me about the UK Labour Government’s national insurance increases, which are causing real concern.”
“I can create a stunning tour through Scotland’s iconic, fresh, high-quality food and drink sector, in which producers employ thousands of staff. The sector contributes 14.6 per cent gross value added of total UK food and drink manufacturing, and 31.3 per cent of total UK food and drink exports. The Scotch whisky industry alone makes up £3 in every £100 of Scottish GVA, totalling 77 per cent of Scotland’s food and drink exports, which are worth £5.3 billion to the Scottish economy. It pains me to see that the industry was startled by the GI announcement down in England, which my colleagues will touch on later in the debate. Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting Scotland’s Rural College’s new vertical farm, which explores new ways of supporting food production and security.”
“We should be proud of Scotland’s leading role in potato production, with Scotland exporting more than 92,000 tonnes of high-health-status seed potatoes—and do not forget that East of Scotland Growers supply a wide range of quality vegetables. Tourists and locals can delight in one of Harry Gow’s delicious cakes from the Highlands, ice cream from Arran Dairies, cheesecake from Aulds Delicious Desserts, cakes from Reids of Caithness, or Rowan Glen yoghurts. If that does not fill us up, perhaps we can all sit back and enjoy some of Angus Robertson’s cultural delights with a packet of Mackie’s crisps, a cheese board with Orkney cheddar and some smoked salmon from Stornoway Smokehouse, all washed down with a wee dram of Scotch whisky—but do not forget to add a drop of water, which is essential, according to Jack Gemmell at Chivas Brothers.”
“I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests, as a small farmer. Writing a speech on Scotland’s food and drink is no easy task, for Scotland creates a vast range of world-renowned food and drink—from the fresh catch of the day across our coastal regions to spirits, fruits and more. We have fruits from Angus Growers in Fife, Angus and Perthshire; cullen skink with fresh-caught fish from Shetland; the iconic Irn Bru from AG Barr in Glasgow; Bon Accord drinks, with their big natural flavours; and Aberdeen Angus steak, produced to the highest welfare standards on the rolling hills of Aberdeenshire. For vegetarians, Macsween of Edinburgh has a range of vegan and vegetarian options, which can perhaps be accompanied by chips from the Real Fresh Chip Co in Fife.”
“It is not for me to set a date as to when that debate is going to happen, but I have made that commitment and I have reiterated it today. There are a number of pressures that we know are affecting the fishing industry in particular. They include pressures on our marine space, whether due to the environmental measures that are being proposed or to the expansion of offshore renewables. Some of those matters relate to my portfolio, as I outlined to Jeremy Balfour in my initial response to him, but they also involve the Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, Gillian Martin. We are engaging with the industry more widely to look at those matters in the round. As I have committed to doing, we will bring forward a debate and I look forward to discussing those matters in more detail. Agricultural Support (Dairy Sector) 2.”
“What the cabinet secretary missed in her earlier answer was an actual date. That is what we need, because it matters. There is so much to talk about. Last week, for example, the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation rightly spoke of its fury at the revelation that John Swinney had been advised not to use the phrase “spatial squeeze” when on a trip to Shetland. That seems very disrespectful towards the views of the industry, which is very concerned about that issue. Therefore, I ask the Scottish Government to set out what its plans are to support and compensate fishing businesses that will suffer financial losses due to the construction and operation of offshore wind farms. Mairi Gougeon: I have to be clear on one point. Tim Eagle will be aware of how the scheduling of parliamentary business works in this chamber.”
“To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors the ways in which local authorities engage with stakeholders regarding the implementation of the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024. (S6O-04386)”
“That includes recognising the worrying reduction in livestock numbers and helping to support production so that the whole supply chain, which brings with it thousands of jobs in Scotland, can prosper. As always, the Scottish Conservatives give our full and unwavering support to our agricultural community on farm and in the wider supply chain, but, unless more answers are given in respect of future agricultural policy, we may not be so willing to vote with the minister the next time. 17:32”
“The industry wanted to see less bureaucracy, not more, and I remain concerned that the plans not only will be detrimental to some parts of our industry but will not actually achieve any outcomes. I realise that the Scottish Government seems to like doing this, but, if we put legislation through when we do not have key information, we put it through in a vacuum. That undermines Parliament’s ability to provide fair scrutiny and risks damage to our incredible agricultural community. Our farmers and crofters produce great-quality food and drink, and we lead the world on animal health and welfare. The industry is desperately seeking new methods to increase biodiversity, reduce climate impacts and make sure that we all have wholesome food on our tables. There is more to do, but the Government must work with and for the industry.”
“If he read the room correctly during the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee’s session on the topic, he will know that there are real concerns across the Parliament about the process of agricultural policy change. I have two key fears. The first is that the rural support plan—a key document that sets the overall vision and strategy for agricultural support—is not due to be placed before the Parliament until after a series of pieces of secondary legislation have implemented various new policies. I am aware that stakeholders outside Parliament are deeply worried about that. Equally, there is concern that the SSI, along with a previous SSI on the Scottish suckler beef support scheme and future secondary legislation, will not treat smaller farmers and crofters fairly and that they will be disadvantaged by the changes.”
“I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests, which notes that I am a farmer. Tonight, we are being asked to support an SSI on the new whole-farm plan, which contains a new condition that farmers and crofters across the country will have to comply with in order to receive basic agricultural support. Those who apply for support this year will need to complete two of five new plans: an animal health and welfare plan, a biodiversity audit, an integrated pest management plan, a carbon audit and a soil analysis. My colleagues and I will support the SSI today. However, to suggest that we fully support it would be far from accurate. We do not want to hold up vital payments to farmers, but I want to be open with the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity and say that we walk very, very tepidly with him.”
“We are the only party with commonsense policies that meet the needs of ordinary Scots with a desire to see growth, improvement in public services and, for once, a focus on real, lasting change. 16:47”
“We have an NHS in crisis, GPs on their knees, teachers facing increasing violence, and houses not being built. The national care service plan is in pieces, we have a land reform plan that is so bad that the SNP’s own quango rejects it, and we have a tax policy that the SNP keeps telling us is progressive even though we all know that, really, it is not. I would not often quote a former Labour MP, but Brian Wilson, writing in The Scotsman, was right. The SNP’s modus operandi has been and always will be to start with a headline and work backwards. The SNP will always play the politics first and worry about making any real, lasting difference later. [Interruption.] Presiding Officer, SNP members are upset because they know that I am speaking the truth. I am a Scottish Conservative because we sit on the side of taxpayers.”
“How any SNP MSP can genuinely suggest to me that local authorities have received record funding while essential public services are cut and council tax is increased by extraordinary amounts by councils of all political colours, including their own, is beyond me. As the newest MSP, I picked up quickly on the SNP’s ability to spin. However, spin this as it might, I am confident that the SNP has no real vision for Scotland. At best, it has a short-term vision that is centred on politics and not on people. Years of council tax freezes have destroyed local democracy and essential public services. There has been a constant need to raid the ScotWind moneys to balance poor budget choices. There has been no progress on essential internet, and progress on tackling child poverty has stalled.”
“On infrastructure, the SNP’s much-vaunted reaching 100 per cent—R100—programme, which was supposed to deliver superfast broadband to every property by May 2021, is now set to be delivered seven years late. In my region, not a single property in the Western Isles has yet been upgraded. For all those reasons and many more, I will join my Scottish Conservative colleagues in voting against the budget. The First Minister wants to convince Scotland that this is a budget for its people. It is not. The budget does not meet the needs of ordinary hard- working Scots, who want investment and real change in their front-line services.”
“On education, the Scottish Government’s “School Estate Statistics 2024” shows that rural schools are twice as likely as urban schools to be in poor or bad condition. A prime example of that is on the Isle of Mull, where parents are currently battling with Argyll and Bute Council to deliver new schools to replace a mould-infested, dilapidated building. The Scottish Government seems uninterested in delivering what will truly work for many generations of islanders to come. The funding pot is simply not big enough to support what is actually needed. Although investment in school buildings largely falls to local government, as a councillor, I experienced years of funding cuts and increased use of ring fencing, which makes it impossible for many local authorities to make investments that will bring long-term gain for communities.”
“Although projects such as a new hospital for the Isle of Barra, upgrades to Dr Gray’s hospital in Elgin and a new hospital for Fort William have been in the pipeline for many years, no progress has been made, despite repeated promises. On transport, the budget does little to convince me that investment in important arterial roads in my region will be taken any further forward. Constituents in Argyll and Bute, for example, remain exasperated at the glacial pace at which the Government is delivering a long-term solution for the A83 Rest and Be Thankful, while communities in Moray and the north-east remain weary at the failure to dual the A9 and the A96, which is, in large part, thanks to the Government’s pandering to the Greens.”
“I have heard from fishermen in my region that they are increasingly alarmed by what they see as the increasing levels of European Union vessels breaching rules that domestic vessels abide by, and that that will only get worse, especially if Labour and Sir Keir Starmer increase EU access to Scottish fishing waters next year. Those breaches happen primarily because of a perceived lack of action by the marine directorate and infrequent patrols. However, my concerns about the budget do not relate only to farming and fishing. On health, I remain worried that rural Scotland will once again be left behind on new infrastructure projects and investment.”
“Many people in the rural sector were disappointed—and I have no doubt that they remain disappointed—that the SNP Government has failed to deliver a multiyear funding announcement for agriculture, yet it has the cheek to blame the UK Government for that. The Labour Government has given the SNP Government the choice of what to do with agriculture funding that is in excess of £600 million each year. Is it not telling that, even with that level of funding guaranteed, the SNP will not commit it to agriculture for the years ahead? I am equally concerned about the cuts to the marine directorate’s budget.”
“I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests as a farmer. Prior to the SNP Government publishing its budget for the year ahead, there was in agricultural circles a sense of hope that, unlike the Labour Government, which has taken an axe to rural life with its budget decisions, the Scottish Government was listening to farmers and crofters. However, when the budget was published, rural communities realised that the SNP Government was never listening at all. The rural affairs, land reform and islands portfolio was the only Scottish Government portfolio to have a real-terms cut of 3.1 per cent in day-to-day spending, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Meanwhile, the SNP hiked spending in the constitution department by 9.2 per cent. That is the real priority of this SNP Government laid bare.”
“Finally, I note that I had the pleasure of being at the Turriff show a couple of years ago with the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime and Police Scotland. SPARC is doing amazing work to tell farmers of all the options that are currently available to them, so I say to any farmers, or anybody living rurally, who may be listening to the debate that they should go to its website and have a look. I hope that we see Rachael’s bill coming to Parliament in the future. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Mr Eagle—always full names, please. 17:24”
“I thought, “This person has driven further to drop this stuff near my house, and it has taken them longer than it would have taken them to go to the dump in Buckie, which is open pretty much all the time—it doesn’t make sense.” I put out a call, here and now, that more people should just stop fly- tipping, as it makes no sense whatsoever. As I said, I commend Rachael Hamilton for the work that she is doing on a machinery theft bill. Such legislation should already be in place, and we want to see it come in. GPS trackers are readily available, and we should be putting them on machinery. It is amazing, when I look around my farmyard and start calculating what things are worth, to see—even where those things are old— just what the value of everything is, and it is all just laying out there. We should put GPS trackers on those things.”
“That is why more must be done to invest in rural policing so that farmers have greater confidence that this growing problem can be tackled effectively. I cannot speak in the debate without talking about fly-tipping. Not long ago, I was in my house, which is at the end of a dead-end street, and I watched a van come along and park up. I did not think anything of it, and it disappeared 10 minutes later. However, as I drove down to pick up my kids later that day, I saw a massive pile of car waste and rubbish sitting there. Fly-tipping is such a big problem in our communities, and we must tackle it. I could not believe it—I went down with my tractor later on and picked it all up, and two minutes later, I had taken it to the dump in Buckie.”
“I commend the efforts of Police Scotland, and in particular those officers on the front line in rural communities, for their work in liaising with our farmers and crofters to prevent and investigate theft in circumstances that can often be difficult. However, it is worrying that rural crime and machine theft “is becoming more organised”, as NFU Mutual notes in “Rural Crime Report 2024”, its most recent report on the subject. The report states: “There is strong demand and value for used equipment across the world and intelligence has revealed some crimes are being committed by well-organised crime groups with international links.” In addition, it is no secret that there are fewer front-line police officers in Scotland now in comparison with when Police Scotland was created in 2013, and organised criminals know that.”
“Scottish Land & Estates notes that the constant threat of rural crime and the impact that it can have on farm business is a key driver of poorer levels of mental health in the rural sector. Not only that, but we know that the increase in rural crime means that those who are on the front line of Scottish agriculture are now forced to make a decision on whether to spend more money on security measures and the associated increased costs of insurance rather than investing elsewhere in the business. Although more work is needed to see where such instances of rural crime are more common, we know that more rural and sparsely populated areas are often easier targets for such crime. The Highlands and Islands, which is the region that I represent, is no exception to that.”
“I remind everyone of my entry in the register of members’ interests, as I am a farmer myself. I congratulate my colleague Rachael Hamilton on bringing to the chamber an interesting and important debate, and on her on-going work in developing an equipment theft bill for Scotland that is akin to the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 that was passed at Westminster. It is quite shocking to realise, looking at Rachael Hamilton’s motion, that the cost of rural crime in Scotland increased by £400,000 between 2022 and 2023, from £1.4 million to £1.8 million. That is a pretty staggering increase. As well as costing our farmers more money, rural crime is having a much wider impact on our rural communities.”
“Again, there has been £14 million for the marine fund Scotland, and the marine directorate has an increase in its budget for the coming year, so I do not know where some of that is coming from. On the part of Tim Eagle’s question about encouraging sustainable fishing and the use of gear, we want to incentivise and support that through our marine fund Scotland. I am more than happy to follow up in more detail with Tim Eagle on the other specific points that he raises. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Question 4 has been withdrawn. Ferry Services (Arran) 5.”
“I slightly disagree with that, because the Scottish Government has made cuts within the budget. We can talk about what comes from elsewhere, but it is also important to talk about what the cabinet secretary delivers here in Scotland. What data do we collect in Scotland on the use of the right type of fishing gear and techniques? What further measures could the cabinet secretary put in place to ensure that we are moving towards having the most sustainable fisheries that we can? The Deputy Presiding Officer: As briefly as possible, cabinet secretary. Mairi Gougeon: I have to address an important point there. Tim Eagle talks about cuts to the budget, but we have not cut. We have passed on in full our allocation from the UK Government.”
“If we come together and get behind the great value of our primary industries; if we work towards practical, reasoned rules and regulations; and if we rightly allow ourselves to make the most of our seas—and, for that matter, our land—we can build communities that are strong and resilient. I say to the cabinet secretary: please let the Government take the initiative, and take the lead, so that we can all show that fishing matters to all of us in Scotland. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Mr Eagle. I encourage members not to bring their speeches in on time by cutting the surnames of other members. That aside, I commend you for coming in on time. 18:02”
“I hear that there might be new markets in the middle east, but we need to have that discussion in the chamber so that we can ensure that the Government and the Parliament are fully behind everybody. I have been trying to get to the bottom of concerns that my constituents have raised with me. As I mentioned, there are concerns about statistics not being right, and I have been sent videos of unreported and unmonitored landings and transhipping at sea. There are concerns about boats not meeting the economic link conditions, which Beatrice Wishart brought up. We need time to discuss those things. I cannot cover them all in four minutes—we must have more time. That is why I really hope that the cabinet secretary can, today, give us an assurance that the Government will give time to this important debate.”
“We need to talk about the marine directorate, including where we are with it, what facilities it needs for the future and whether we are making the best use of the resources that it has. How are we really managing foreign-owned boats in our waters? That affects several segments of the industry. I have recently spoken a wee bit to Fishing Forward UK about the pressures that it feels there are and its distrust of some of the statistics that the Scottish Government is putting out. How can we invest in great projects like those in Fraserburgh, Peterhead, Ullapool and Shetland, which would all love to see expansion? What about ghost fishing and black fishing—illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing? Karen Adam made a very good point about the processing sector.”
“Can she give us some time to debate the issue fully and have a full discussion about the importance of our fishing industry across the whole of Scotland? Whether it is in Shetland, on the west coast of Scotland or in Buckie, Fraserburgh or Peterhead, it really matters. Beatrice and Karen already mentioned some of the reasons why that is important, but I will go over them again. There is the Norway-United Kingdom fishing deal and the end of the UK trade and co- operation agreement—it will be interesting to hear Rhoda Grant’s thoughts on that. There are issues around inshore fisheries; spatial squeeze is truly becoming a big issue and a real worry for our industry. There is the national marine plan and where we are going with it. We need more conversations about landings in Scotland and the local management of seas.”
“I don’t know any fishermen who just think about today and forget about tomorrow.” According to Erin MacKenzie from Mallaig, “fishing holds an integral place in coastal communities” and we have to preserve “generations-old skills and knowledge”. As part of the #OurSeas campaign, Haydn McKenzie from Kyleakin said: “There’s definitely a future for the fishing industry if we play our cards right. But at the same time, it is a pretty bleak future if we don’t.”2 Going back to the “Pride in the Seas” exhibition, Mark Robertson, part-owner of a Fraserburgh shellfish vessel, maintained that “solutions can be found if government works with fishermen, not against them.” There is really only one question to be asked today, and it is for the cabinet secretary.”
“I could speed things up by saying, “Ditto” to both of the preceding speeches, but I will add a wee bit to the debate. I thank Beatrice Wishart for bringing this vital discussion to the chamber. I agree with pretty much everything that has just been said about our fishing industry. I will start by mentioning a couple of initiatives that impressed me recently. One was the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation’s “Pride in the Seas” exhibition; the other was the Open Seas #OurSeas campaign. I have taken a few quotes out of the many that we saw at a recent showing of the SFF’s exhibition in the Parliament. Colin Stephen, the skipper of a haddock trawler from Peterhead, said: “You’ve got to look after the next generation.”
“All those independent organisations are telling us that council funding has been cut, but it is not just that—”
“I have never felt so distraught in my life. To be honest, I felt so pressured that week, even more so than when I came to Parliament for the first time last February. It felt awful, but that is the pressure that our councils are under. I have yet to meet a councillor—please tell me if there are some—who wants to shut a local library. Such councillors do not exist—nobody wants to do that, but we are forced to do it because of budget pressures, and it is essential to get that point across. We want our councillors to keep these libraries open, but I call on the Scottish National Party Government to think seriously about why we are even talking about the issue in the chamber. It is not just me who is saying that—it is the Accounts Commission, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, the Fraser of Allander Institute and Audit Scotland.”
“They are amazing, and I have never walked into Buckie library in my community and not received a warm, smiling welcome, so I think that they do an absolutely brilliant job. However, the other reason that I wanted to speak today concerns the pressures that I faced in 2017, and which many councillors face now. When I walked into Moray Council in 2017, I was absolutely eager. I had been a community councillor and was heavily involved in my church and in many aspects of the community, and all that I wanted to do was serve the people of Buckie. The first week that we were there, the chief executive took us all, as new councillors, to one side and we had presentation after presentation that told me that I had no money; that I had to cut budgets; that there was nothing that I could do; and that it was all in front-line services.”
“At university, I used the library a lot. When I had children myself, we would go to the library not just weekly, but several times a week, and sit on the floor and read the very many books—more than I could ever provide at home for my young children. I have, therefore, never enjoyed hearing people talk about the amount of people who go into a library or reduce it to simple numbers, because that is not what a library is about. Some weeks, a library might get more visitors, and other weeks it will get less, but we all use libraries at different stages of life, and to me, that is the value of libraries. I also associate myself with the remarks about librarians, who do fantastic work. Their work is now about more than just books—they point people to housing and to computers.”
“I thank Christine Grahame—that was a lovely speech. I also thank Mark Ruskell for bringing the debate to the chamber, as it is very important. I apologise for not making it to the lunch-time event today—unfortunately, I had another meeting on, but it would been fantastic to have met the many campaigners that I am sure were there. I desperately wanted to speak about this issue, in part because of my position as an ex-councillor, which I will come to in a minute, but also because I want to talk, as Christine Grahame has just done, about the many things that highlight the value of libraries to our communities. We use libraries at different stages of life. As a young child, I went to a library with my mother and enjoyed reading the books there. As a student, I went there to learn and find books on what my school teacher was telling me about.”