Sarah Boyack
Scottish Labour · Scotland
“It must ensure that people get support to make their homes warm and energy efficient; support on solar, heat pumps and heat networks; affordable and accessible buses that they can rely on, with links to our railways; investment in our land to restore our peatlands; and a joined-up approach to food production and biodiversity.”
“Referring to what Ariane Burgess said, I have also been campaigning on the need to urgently address our climate and nature emergencies and to create decent jobs and empower local communities at the same time. For me, being in here is about delivering change that will benefit my constituents.”
“That taught me that constructive hard work and using the powers of our Parliament could deliver real change. For me, it was about investing in our railways—Airdrie to Bathgate, Larkhall to Milngavie and Stirling to Alloa, and supporting work on the Borders railway—as well as new CalMac ferries, improving island airports and tackling potho…”
“I hope that it is okay that I borrow a minute from my colleague. In the run-up to the 2016 election, I worked on a member’s bill to introduce a transient visitor levy.”
“In the climate change plan, we also set out greater detail on our methodology in order to provide greater transparency on the key assumptions and dependencies. However, Sarah Boyack is absolutely right, and that is where constructive criticism comes in— constructive criticism that recognises all the things in the plan that we need to do.”
“We need an urgent focus on implementation. Does the cabinet secretary agree that a key message from those who gave evidence to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee and other parliamentary committees was that it is all about delivery and that the draft plan did not go far enough?”
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“That is especially relevant given that our councils all submitted their local heat and energy efficiency strategies more than a year ago. It would also be good to debate the community benefits that were referenced just a few minutes ago. We have seen that in relation to renewables, but there is much more that we can do to empower communities to develop more projects that will generate long-term jobs and investment locally, whether that is through the community or through co-operatively or municipally owned heat and power. However, we need more effective leadership.”
“For example, the cabinet secretary mentioned hydro. We have had that for more than 80 years. Now we have pumped hydro storage, which is inspiring; it gives us a more joined-up system. The acting cabinet secretary referenced the UK Climate Change Committee’s recent recommendations on doing more to support the installation of heat pumps. The Scottish Government could take the lead on that and do more to support our constituents who want to install solar, then battery and/or heat pumps, to decarbonise their homes—but no, that is not happening. Then there are the opportunities around using the next generation of wind turbines and floating wind to supply community heat networks. Our Nordic neighbours have used heat networks for decades to deliver affordable, low-carbon heat.”
“We have doubled the number of people in the Government’s consent screenings team so that we have consents going through within 52 weeks, which has been welcomed by the sector. Sarah Boyack: Yes, but people are worried about the fact that the Berwick Bank project, for example, has now been on the ministerial desk for more than two years. We have a number of projects that are way over that timescale, so that issue is not fixed. It is clearly an issue in relation to offshore projects, so I would also be keen to hear when the consultation on the sectoral marine plan will be published, as that is long delayed. It would also be useful to discuss how we can maximise the use of the electricity that is produced by renewables, so that we do not have to pay to turn off turbines and waste the energy, which has long been an issue.”
“When I first saw that the SNP Government was holding a debate on renewable energy, I was really pleased. I thought that it would be a great opportunity to debate what we need to do to support the sector in respect of supply chains, training and manufacturing and to consider the strategic infrastructure that we need, including investment in our ports and resilient grid infrastructure. I was also thinking about the long-term delays in planning and what needs to happen to ensure that we have effective systems for key Government agencies so that they have the resource to provide input into major planning decisions effectively and in a timely fashion. Gillian Martin: I did not have enough time in my speech to mention everything.”
“I am all for encouraging employment growth in net zero. We are taking decisions. A few weeks ago, I was up at Sumitomo, in Nigg. I have more visits to the north of Scotland next week, when I will be looking at other renewable energy developments. I am all for it. In the budget on Tuesday, the Government put in place £150 million of additional resources for renewables development. Unfortunately, that was just one of the many things that Sarah Boyack was not able to bring herself to vote for on Tuesday. Farming Support (Livestock Disease) 5.”
“The ECIU report highlighted statistics that show that Scotland’s growth in net zero employment has slowed down and is now growing more slowly than every other region of the UK. Can the First Minister tell us why net zero employment growth in Scotland is much slower, when our natural resources are potentially greater? What are his plans to deliver the jobs and training that are urgently needed to decarbonise our transport, homes, buildings and land? The First Minister: I indicated in my previous answer that Scotland’s net zero economy supports 100,700 full-time equivalent jobs. The number has grown by 19.5 per cent since 2022, while the UK’s growth has been 15.2 per cent. Based on the data that I have in front of me, Scotland’s job growth in net zero has been faster than that of the rest of the United Kingdom.”
“I say again that the Scottish Government has had an extra £5.2 billion this year and we should have seen something a lot better. 16:51”
“We should agree to make it easier and not harder for people to travel by train, and we should have bus services that connect with the railway sector. We need to focus on sustainable funding and investment in our rail services so that passengers do not bear the burden of the shift. Services are not as effective or as accessible as they could be and they are often cancelled. We need to make sure that the infrastructure is reliable, especially in the context of the climate emergency. An effective, popular Scottish rail service that benefits our constituents and our planet must be a goal for all of us, and we need investment in that now and in every year going forward. I challenge the cabinet secretary on the cuts that we have seen. The cuts to buses and rail fare hikes are not good enough.”
“One of the key challenges is the reduction in the number of bus services, which impacts in particular on lower-income and rural constituents. Work needs to be done on that. Many people do not have access to rail services because there are none in their areas, and the same applies to bus services. We need more effective public transport, which will be good for our economy and is also critical for interconnectedness. We need to see progress on that. When Scottish Labour was in government, we increased the number of stations, we approved new railway lines—Larkhall to Milngavie, Airdrie to Bathgate and Stirling to Alloa—and we made progress on the Borders railway. Those new routes with better connections made it easier for people to travel by train.”
“As Richard Leonard said, there has been a lack of leadership and a lack of action. We have had three price hikes in just over a year, and that is disproportionately punishing those who are choosing the train over the car. If the end goal is increased use of Scottish rail services, public transport journeys as a whole must become a more desirable option. That means that we need to have those services in the first place. Yesterday, members of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee discussed the issue of subsidies for bus travel. I totally support the over-60s bus pass, which I introduced when I was the transport minister, and the under-22s bus pass. It was really interesting to dig into the detail.”
“We need to simplify transport fares and ban peak-time fares and the proposed 3.8 per cent increase in rail fares. Several members talked about the cost of rail travel. A return from Glasgow to Edinburgh costs more than £30 in peak hours. That is simply not affordable for people, and it will not persuade people to shift from their cars to travel by train. The Scottish Government has clearly ignored the public’s and the trade unions’ evident desire for cheaper rail fares, as well as the campaigning for action to reduce our carbon emissions. The Scottish Government has missed nine of the past 13 climate targets. Rather than going into reverse, we need to accelerate progress if we are to achieve a 20 per cent reduction in car kilometres by 2030, which is now less than five years away.”
“We came so close—we achieved a 6.8 per cent increase in usage. I ask members to consider how many more users we could have attracted if there had been effective advertising and promotion of the opportunities of more affordable journeys on reliable trains. Reliability is crucial. We also need to take a more joined-up approach to our rail services and to think about how people access them. That includes getting a bus to access rail services, as well as walking, cycling or being able to park at a station. As Claire Baker argued, we need joined-up provision if we are to persuade people to use our railways. The proposed changes are realistic, and they would give us a more desirable system. The issue of simplifying the ticketing process via integrated ticketing has been raised by members across the chamber.”
“Fiona Hyslop: Will the member give way? Sarah Boyack: I would be delighted to take a sharp intervention. Fiona Hyslop: If the issue is so immediate and so important, why did the Labour Party not put forward any of its ideas? Why did it abstain on the budget, which we voted on only yesterday, and come here today to demand urgent action? Sarah Boyack: The cabinet secretary has previously said in the chamber that, if more money was available, she would reintroduce the removal of peak fares. An additional £5.2 billion was made available to the Scottish Government. We are not in government and it is not possible to amend individual budget lines. Last month, we made it clear that we wanted peak fares to be removed. A 10 per cent increase in usage was needed to generate enough income to enable the reduction in fares to pay for itself.”
“I am really glad that we are having this debate today. Unlike the cabinet secretary, I do not think that it is a poorly timed debate—it is a debate that is urgently needed. Scottish Labour’s amendment aims to strengthen the Green motion. It is important that we highlight the need for investment—sustainable investment—so that ScotRail can improve the efficiency and performance of its services. Members across the chamber have talked about the need for reliability, affordability and accessibility, which are crucial. Given the climate emergency, our public transport services need our immediate attention. In his devastating critique, Richard Leonard said that there is no way that the Scottish Government will achieve a 20 per cent reduction in the number of car kilometres by 2030, given what is happening with our bus and rail networks.”
“The budget is not good enough—it could have been way better with the additional money that the Scottish Government now has. 16:35”
“That means that we need flood management schemes, peatland restoration and land management that creates local jobs and investment to address our climate and our nature emergencies. However, we have to be strategic with that investment. Once again, the Scottish Government can celebrate the cash that has gone towards peatland restoration, but it avoids talking about why we are consistently missing our peatland targets. It is because the workforce and supply chains are currently insufficient to meet the significant challenge of restoring 250,000 hectares of peatland. With an additional £5.2 billion from the UK Government, the budget could have delivered so much more. However, after 18 years of inefficiency and spending waste, our constituents will not see the investment that we urgently need.”
“The Just Transition Commission has been clear that our communities need support for training to enable people to develop their skills and to benefit from new tech and the new opportunities that are here, if we seize them. I want to highlight an issue that has not been mentioned yet—the huge opportunities that can come from developing community renewables, energy efficiency projects and low-carbon infrastructure. Good work is happening in Scotland, but it is stretched and it is not at the scale that we need. Our communities need a lot more support if they are to fully realise the potential of our renewables revolution. We also need investment in adaptations, because communities are being hit now by the impact of extreme weather.”
“The SNP previously made a commitment that £500 million over ten years would be given to that fund, which surely means that there should be £50 million this year, not £15 million. We have been hearing that a lot of people now see the term “just transition” as meaningless. We need real policies. If we want jobs in clean energy, clean heat and renewables technology for years to come, those industries need to have proper investment now, not in a decade. Thankfully, our UK Government is absolutely serious about the climate and about the just transition. That is why Keir Starmer, at the weekend, made a commitment of £200 million for Grangemouth, which is vital investment that is needed for new jobs and innovation, with decent jobs and opportunities now.”
“Ross Greer: Sarah Boyack makes an absolutely fair point about energy efficiency, but she will be aware that it is an incredibly expensive programme. The only tax policy that Scottish Labour has proposed would take hundreds of millions of pounds out of the Scottish budget. How would she fund that energy efficiency programme? Sarah Boyack: I go back to the £5.2 billion opportunity that is being missed, and to the fact that this is a year-on-year problem: this is about money being cut year after year, and it is not just about our homes and buildings. How are we supposed to tackle the urgent issue of protecting our planet if nature and energy are not even given a second or third thought in the budget? Look at the £15 million that has been allocated for the just transition fund.”
“We also have the proposed heat in buildings bill being delayed—it is missing in action—solar power support is being removed from energy efficiency grants, and it is now over a year since councils submitted their local heat and energy efficiency strategies proposals. Therefore, I have to say to the cabinet secretary that there is no actual plan to deliver on decarbonising heat in our homes and buildings. We need investment and support for our colleges and access to funding and support for small and medium-sized enterprises so that there is access to the training and apprenticeship opportunities that are needed to get good-quality jobs and training in every community across Scotland now, to lower our climate emissions and to provide warmer homes.”
“We want more done on outcomes, not more self-congratulatory minor changes to previous budget cuts. The situation is really frustrating, because on all the areas that I have highlighted the SNP Government has been told for years about the need for strategic and consistent investment, but instead it is making cuts to our councils’ budgets that have put massive pressure on our schools and our communities. Those cuts have harmed our councils in terms of their being able to play their vital role in supporting our local communities to tackle our climate and nature emergencies. I was deeply disappointed to see the budget lines on energy efficiency and decarbonisation, which are facing real-terms cuts. That is another missed opportunity.”
“It is urgent that our young people get access to child and adolescent mental health services and the community projects that would give them the support that they need, instead of long waits and their impact not only on their health but on the wellbeing of their parents. We have also seen millions of pounds being wasted on the SNP’s centralising national care plans, which have not resulted in any new carers when we urgently need them now for care in our communities, and to support people to live at home, instead of being stuck in hospital. Although the SNP is highlighting the amount of money that is being put into those services now, that has been made possible only by the £5.2 billion increase in funding—record funding—from our UK Labour Government.”
“I start by apologising to the finance secretary, Shona Robison—I inadvertently promoted her to Deputy First Minister earlier, so I had better correct the record now. As Michael Marra highlighted, we have had years of mismanagement and poor decision making, which have led to cuts in vital areas instead of the investment that we should have had. As a Lothian MSP, it has been incredibly frustrating to me to see the flip-flopping on the eye pavilion, through which patients’ treatments are now being disrupted. The years of delay mean that when the much-needed new eye pavilion is finally designed and built, it will be years late and way more expensive. We need investment now in Lothian that we are not getting.”
“Will the Deputy First Minister acknowledge the fact that there have been year-on-year cuts, and there has not been the investment in retrofitting that our constituents urgently needed? Shona Robison: This is a massive programme of investment—£300 million in the heat in buildings programme will support more than 20,000 households. However, that will happen only if people such as Sarah Boyack support the budget. If she wants investment in energy efficiency to keep people’s bills down, she has to vote for the budget.”
“Part of the transition is about kick-starting growth, delivering energy security and transforming towns and cities, from the ports of Nigg and Leith to the manufacturing hubs of Blyth and Hull. We need to be part of that process and we need a just and fair transition. If we are to get sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, decent work for all and the building of resilient infrastructure and the promotion of inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, we need to see GB Energy delivering in practice. As I raised with the First Minister this week, the work of the Scottish Government sits alongside that, including the “long-awaited energy strategy and just transition plan”.— [Official Report, 18 February 2025; c 39.]”
“Scottish Labour will support the LCM today. GB Energy will incentivise new and emerging technologies, such as marine renewables and floating offshore wind, so that we can maximise the new job opportunities and get the range of new clean energy and heat supplies that we urgently need to support supply chains and investment in green manufacturing. In my previous speech on the issue, I focused on the need for a “more joined-up approach” between the new UK Government, the Scottish Government and our councils. However, we also need to focus on decent job opportunities. Financial support for offshore wind developers so that they invest in their areas, including in traditional oil and gas communities, is part of the clean industry bonus deal. As Ed Miliband said, this is our clean energy “superpower” mission.”
“Members will remember that, in the debate two weeks ago in which when we agreed to the LCM on the Great British Energy Bill, it was flagged up that there would be subsequent amendments that would require our approval in the Scottish Parliament. The amendment states that GB Energy “must keep under review the impact of its activities on the achievement of sustainable development in the United Kingdom.” It is a crucial amendment because it ensures that we have more joined-up thinking, which some of us have been calling for for a long time—and continue to do so; for example, in my upcoming wellbeing and sustainable development bill. Many of the sustainable development goals that need to be addressed fall under the remit of the Scottish Government, so our Parliament needs to debate the issue and give its consent to the LCM.”
“I am completely and utterly signed up to those options, but we need the UK Government to provide the practical intervention and fiscal support that it is giving to other parts of the United Kingdom to enable us to make progress on those options. We are willing partners, and we are putting additional resources on the table, but I need to see greater urgency from the”
“Does the First Minister agree that, following his statement, we urgently need the Scottish Government to publish its long-awaited energy strategy and just transition plan, so that we can see what progress urgently needs to be made? Will he commit to working constructively with the UK Government to attract investment in sustainable aviation fuel and green hydrogen to deliver the jobs that workers need now at Grangemouth? The First Minister: The Government has set out a large amount of its thinking on the transition at Grangemouth in what has already been published. I am absolutely committed to working with the UK Government on hydrogen and on sustainable aviation fuel. I just wish that that work was happening at Grangemouth, and that there was a clear pathway—in essence, that is the import of my statement today.”
“We have already seen investment across the UK, a change in renewables and new green investment in industry, so we can see those jobs starting and there has been important progress. Those who read the committee report will see—”
“Some constructive points have been made here thus far, particularly by the acting cabinet secretary and the committee convener, but Douglas Lumsden’s utterly negative and inaccurate speech has not helped the work that political parties across this chamber need to do. There has been constructive dialogue between Governments. It took a Labour Government in Westminster to actually take the decisive steps to start delivering. Douglas Lumsden: We were promised 1,000 jobs in Aberdeen but have now been told that that is going to take 20 years. Were we misled? Sarah Boyack: It is utterly inaccurate to ignore the work that is happening already. It has been just months since we got here. The election was in July and now here we are having practical discussions.”
“We know increasingly that adaptation, mitigation, flood prevention in general and tackling the implications of climate change for our road and rail networks all need action and investment. I am working with cabinet secretary Gillian Martin and others to ensure that investment can be brought forward to realise that. I hope that the member will support the budget and support flood prevention.”
“Flood prevention schemes announced in 2015 have not been finished. Extreme weather is hitting people’s homes and our transport infrastructure increasingly hard, so what is the Scottish Government doing to accelerate investment now? Fiona Hyslop: Regarding transport, which is my direct responsibility, the Scottish Government has produced a climate adaptation plan to try to tackle a number of the issues affecting the transport network. Flood defence schemes are the responsibility of one of my ministerial colleagues. I understand that extensive funding for that is available in this year’s budget. I do not know whether Sarah Boyack has decided to support that budget, but flood funding is part of the budget offer.”
“The Deputy Presiding Officer: Mr Coffey has a brief supplementary. I remind the member that the principal question relates to support for venues and theatres across the Lothian region.”
“I have already been questioned about the situation affecting the Brunton theatre, and I have expressed my willingness to look closely at any plans and to look sympathetically at any way that we can ensure that cultural provision in East Lothian Council and all other parts of the country is appropriately supported. As a first step, I encourage Sarah Boyack to look closely at the announcement that Creative Scotland will make tomorrow about multiyear funding support for cultural venues and organisations. We are turning a tanker in the provision of support for the culture sector in Scotland and are heading in the right direction. As we do that, we need to ensure that there is support for organisations and venues across the country, whether they are supported through multiyear funding or not.”
“Following on from Sue Webber’s question, I raise the particular issue that the Brunton theatre is on the risk register, so it is a real priority. My colleague Foysol Choudhury and I met Michael Stitt, the theatre board’s chair. There is also a fantastic petition that I want to make the cabinet secretary aware of. The Brunton theatre really needs funding, so I make a plea to the cabinet secretary to ensure that it is on his list. East Lothian Council and the Brunton Theatre Trust need our support now. Angus Robertson: When we have portfolio questions, I reflect on the passion of colleagues across the chamber for the support of important cultural venues, which I share with Sarah Boyack and other colleagues.”
“Studies have shown that when women are included in decision- making and given the resources they need, outcomes are more sustainable, more innovative, and better for everyone.” We need to get going, push for more action and work together, because that change needs to be delivered for women now. 13:06”
“The point that Michelle Thomson highlighted about women’s confidence is crucial, as is Pam Gosal’s point about starting early. Our schools need to tell girls from a young age that they can be involved in the future of energy in Scotland. Scottish Power’s useful briefing for the debate talked about its sponsorship of camp CEO, a residential programme that enables young women to learn the skills to become green industry leaders of the future. That is a brilliant idea. I would like more such programmes to be adopted across the country, to ensure that women are encouraged to become the next generation of climate leaders and businesses. Care International’s article says: “Investing in women-led climate action is not just a matter of fairness—it’s a matter of effectiveness.”
“Any future for renewables without women at the heart of it is not going to work, so we need to see investment by the Scottish Government in creating training opportunities for women throughout Scotland. I hope that the long-awaited energy strategy addresses the issues that have been raised by Close the Gap. There are massive opportunities, from engineering and construction to finance, project management and communications, but we need a rapid increase in the number of training courses for green skills across our Scottish colleges. The Scottish Government must also think about procurement processes, to ensure that women are brought along on the journey and that, when companies benefit from the green revolution, they also invest in women for the future, to ensure that the transition is gender balanced.”
“A recent article by Care International highlighted the need to involve women in the journey to net zero, pointing out that “Women and girls in the global south, who have contributed the least to the climate crisis, are bearing the brunt of its impacts. Yet they remain excluded from crucial decision- making and from accessing the resources they need to lead the change for their communities and the planet.” We, in Scotland, have a global responsibility, but we also have massive opportunities in this area as we create new green and renewables jobs. We can be world leaders. As it stands, however, the UK has a poor record, with only 25 per cent of green energy jobs predicted to be held by women in 2030. We must do better. There is the potential for us to make the green transition a reality in Scotland, but there is a skills deficit.”
“I, too, thank Michelle Thomson for bringing this important debate to the chamber. I am encouraged by the fact that I have seen more and more women in the top roles at organisations and businesses that I speak to, although a huge amount of work still needs to be done. Groups such as POWERful Women, Scottish Renewables and trade unions play a key part in encouraging and supporting women to ensure that we maximise their opportunities in the energy sector, because the inequalities are currently stark. As Michelle Thomson said, we need to ensure that women’s equality is at the heart of our action on the climate emergency.”
“We need change and, ultimately, we need to deliver on renewables and deliver a grid that will work.”
“Far from cutting communities out of the consenting process, the consultation that was published last October will give, as the minister said, pre-application consultations, which will help communities to be involved in shaping consultations in order to provide clarity that will help with effective consideration and scrutiny of applications. It is vital that, for example, environmental impacts and proposed mitigations are consulted on early, so that local communities, statutory consultees and— critically—our local authorities are informed, so that they can all feed back and ensure that concerns can be addressed before applications are submitted. The points in Liam McArthur’s amendment are important for environment, landscape and cultural history, and that needs to be acknowledged.”
“It is fitting that, as members came into the chamber today, we passed a Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks stall, showing the practical work that it is doing. I have lobbied it endlessly about housing in our rural communities. We need to see the benefits, but we need a reformed and robust grid to maximise the opportunities from our renewable resources. We will not deliver jobs and community benefits across the country without it. It is a shame that the tone from the Tories today is about slowing that work down or—as Rachael Hamilton suggested—stopping proposals that are already in the system. It is vital that communities be properly involved in and consulted on proposals to develop the grid and renewables. That is why the consultation that has been referenced is so important.”
“In the past few years alone, I have witnessed astonishing growth in the screen sector in Scotland, with more quality productions than ever before choosing to come to Scotland, from Leith to Stornoway. Many members will have seen “The Outrun”, which used the natural beauty of the Orkney Islands to stunning effect and is just one of the recent examples of a successful Screen Scotland-supported production. Today sees the first broadcast of high-end Gaelic drama television series “An t-Eilean”—“The Island”—which can be seen on BBC Alba, BBC Four and the BBC iPlayer. I extend congratulations to MG Alba, BBC Alba, Black Camel Pictures, All3Media International and”
“How a nation values its many cultures and heritages, its artists, its creative people and its communities is an insight into the wider values and the priorities of that society, and I ask members to reflect on that during the debate. As culture secretary, I am immensely proud of what is already being achieved in Scotland. The 2022 Anholt-Ipsos nation brands index ranked Scotland 11th for its cultural heritage and 12th for its contemporary culture when compared with 60 other participating nations. That is a testament to the expertise, dedication and practice of our cultural organisations, creative professionals and cultural workers, and to the vitality of community culture across the country.”
“Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention? Angus Robertson: Of course. Sarah Boyack: I thank the cabinet secretary for taking my intervention, which fits into his points about the importance of culture to our communities. Has the cabinet secretary met East Lothian Council or the Brunton Theatre Trust to discuss the future of the Brunton theatre, which is a key cultural venue in Musselburgh and East Lothian and urgently needs funding to secure its future? Angus Robertson: I have not yet met representatives of either the council or the theatre, but I have offered and if there is a wish and a willingness to do so, I will of course be content to do just that. We are now at a critical point in deciding how, collectively, we want to support culture in Scotland.”
“Access to diabetes tech is not just about people’s health; it is about giving people a much greater quality of life. We must keep working on the issue together, and I hope that the Scottish Government continues to work constructively with members and with health boards to ensure that the tech is rolled out as soon as possible, because it cannot be right that people in Lothian who are on low incomes are less likely to be able to access diabetes tech. It is life-changing tech: it keeps people well and healthy and enables them to be economically active. In addition, it is an investment that will pay back and will save our NHS money. We therefore need those patients who could benefit from such tech now to receive it as soon as possible. 17:41”
“Another constituent has been unable to get access to the HCL system, as only one manufacturer offers the device in Scotland. Yet another constituent of mine was on a trial for the HCL system and was amazed at how life changing it was. Her haemoglobin A1C levels dropped, and she saw vast improvements in her glucose levels. On completion of the trial, however, she was told that she would not be able to keep the HCL system, and she had to revert back to her previous system instead. Those with diabetes already have greater pressures placed on them, whether it is the extra financial cost of ensuring that their snacks and emergency glucose are always supplied or the pressure—which both Emma Harper and Foysol Choudhury mentioned—of having to make 180 extra decisions a day.”
“However, if we could roll out the technology faster, the benefits to our NHS would be extraordinary. The statistics that I was given by Dexcom last year show that diabetes costs NHS Scotland £1 billion a year, £800 million of which is spent on treating avoidable complications associated with diabetes. That is why investing in the tech is vital: it saves money and capacity across the NHS. I appreciate the minister’s collaborative approach to the issue and I have corresponded with her on many occasions, but we need to keep pushing for action, because patients do not feel that they are getting the support that they need. One of my constituents thought that he had been on the waiting list since 2021; it was only on inquiring that he found out that he had not been added to the list until 2023.”