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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“Although the budget will increase funding for the SFRS, there is still an £800 million capital backlog, as Richard Leonard highlighted. That is utterly unacceptable. I will continue to work with our local community, MSPs across Parliament and councillors to ensure that our vital emergency services in Edinburgh and the Lothians are not hollowed out. The Scottish Government and the SFRS must urgently listen to the communities and—as is being asked for across the country—give us the investment that Edinburgh and the Lothians urgently need. I hope that the minister will take up the issue with the SFRS and talk with her Cabinet and ministerial colleagues. We need to make progress, not to go into reverse. 13:33”
“If the Scottish Government wants to ensure that our fire service is fit for purpose, it must invest in services, not cut them. It must give the SFRS the tools that it needs to grow our fire safety infrastructure. We should not be in the situation of losing key stations after a summer when there were major fires. The problem is not just wildfires; our communities will also face more flooding incidents in which people will need to be protected. Last month, a Scottish Environment Protection Agency report estimated that 400,000 homes and buildings are now at medium risk of flooding. This week, we learned that the Scottish Government’s budget will cut funding for the flood resilience strategy from £14 million to under £1 million. Worryingly, there is no clear budget line for flood defence scheme funding in the local government budget.”
“Those questions are especially important because there is a growing number of homes in the area and developments at the port of Leith. Since the creation of the SFRS, Scotland has lost almost a sixth of our firefighters, and Scottish Government budget cuts have left the SFRS with one hand tied behind its back. As the FBU’s excellent briefing notes show, that has created huge pressures on firefighters, and response times have increased. That is not acceptable. My constituents are now facing the consequences of those cuts, potentially losing a fire station without getting a replacement in their area. The closure of Marionville is opposed by a staggering ratio of 10:1 in the local community, which has been consulted and was clear that we need the station to be replaced. The SFRS needs to support our local communities.”
“The proposed closure makes even less sense when we consider that it is not even the option that the SFRS had recommended. In the 2020 options appraisal report for Marionville station, which I acquired through a freedom of information request, neither of the options that were evaluated even considered not replacing the station. The report recommended exploring the idea of maintaining the operation of the current station while building a replacement station on another site. Last year, it emerged that there are two potential council-owned sites in the area. Therefore, we need to know whether the SFRS has discussed those options with the council. Five years after the options report, why has no station been built? Why do we now face the prospect of Marionville being closed with no plan to replace it?”
“I, too, thank Maggie Chapman for securing today’s debate, because it could not be more important. As colleagues from across the country have highlighted, we need a fire service that is fit for purpose, now and for the future. With the growing impact of the climate emergency and extreme weather, the need to have an effective fire service for my constituents has never been more vital, especially after the fire last summer on Arthur’s Seat and other fires that have happened across the city. As Lorna Slater highlighted, the proposal to close Marionville fire station has been met with widespread opposition from the community and from our firefighters. We know that the building has RAAC, but closing Marionville without a replacement facility in the area will leave our brave firefighters overstretched and underresourced.”
“However, we have not seen the sort of strategy that is needed to match the urgency of the situation being put in place. Funding is not keeping pace with rising costs and, as projects get delayed, increasing numbers of homes and parts of critical infrastructure are now exposed to flood risk. What is in the current strategy is not sharp enough—it lacks clear timescales and the implementation plans that communities deserve now. Without defined timescales, there is delay, and, with every delay, the cost rises and communities are impacted. I do not think that the draft climate change plan prioritised flooding resilience sufficiently.”
“The National Flood Risk Assessment ... 2025 gives us the clearest picture yet of what lies ahead for Scottish homes and businesses—and why action to improve Scotland’s flood resilience matters.” The report goes on to state that “around 400,000 properties—homes, businesses, and vital services—are in areas at medium risk of flooding”, and notes: “That’s 1 in 8 properties across Scotland, a sharp rise from” the 2018 estimate. Those figures are not abstract. We need to find ways to deliver for our communities, because the safety and livelihoods of families, businesses and entire communities depend on the decisions that are made. The insurance sector is also raising the issue with us, and representatives of the sector came to lobby members before Christmas.”
“This debate is crucial, so I thank Craig Hoy for securing it. The issue of flooding is not a distant concern but an immediate and escalating threat to communities across Scotland. A survey carried out in 2018, to which I have been referring for the past few years, estimated that 284,000 properties in Scotland are at risk of flooding, with projections showing the number rising to almost 400,000 by 2080. However, last month, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency published the “National Flood Risk Assessment 2025” report, which makes it clear that the risks have escalated. The report states: “Communities from the Borders to the Highlands and Islands have lived with the impact of flooding for decades”, as colleagues have commented. It also notes that “as our climate changes, those impacts are accelerating.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken since the publication of the independent review into Creative Scotland to implement its recommendations. (S6O-05327)”
“We need to unlock the sector’s full potential. We have the natural resources, the rural expertise and the climate ambition to lead the way on anaerobic digestion and biogas. That is exactly the kind of practical and scalable solution that we should be championing in Scotland. I apologise to colleagues who will be speaking after me, but I look forward to reading the Official Report after the debate. I thank everyone for taking part in this key debate. 18:27”
“As we focus on tackling our climate emissions, we need to focus more on anaerobic digestion. That means that we need to think about separating and collecting different types of waste, so that food waste, for example, can be utilised effectively. The United Kingdom methane action plan stresses that methane reduction must go hand in hand with profitable farming and strong rural economies, and AD is one of the few technologies that can deliver on all fronts at once. That is why the creation of a champion in the Scottish Government, as Emma Harper’s motion calls for, would provide a really good way forward. The UK Government is a global methane pledge champion. In Scotland, a dedicated biogas champion would help to align agriculture, waste, heat, energy and environmental policies and to tackle the challenges that Maurice Golden raised.”
“I apologise for that, Presiding Officer, and acknowledge that, of course, the event will not start until we have finished this debate. We need to do more to champion this tech. Looking ahead, I note that biogas and upgraded biomethane could play a growing role in transport, particularly for heavy vehicles and agricultural machinery. If we were to produce sustainable aviation fuel at Grangemouth, captured bio CO2 could support SAF production in Scotland. That would be a big step forward. As Emma Harper mentioned, AD offers tangible benefits for farmers. At a time when fertiliser prices have been volatile and environmental standards are rightly rising, digestate gives farmers a stable home-grown alternative. In relation to energy security and rural resilience, biomethane can be used for heat, transport, industry and dispatchable power.”
“That represents a solution to some of the issues that we face. We also have the Bangley Quarry Biogas AD plant near Haddington, which my colleagues Martin Whitfield and Douglas Alexander recently visited. We should not miss the opportunities for the creation of jobs and environmental benefits. Instead of allowing methane to escape from manure, slurry and food waste, AD captures it and turns it into a clean, usable energy source. It transforms a climate liability into a climate solution. We should be doing more of that. It provides a kind of dual benefit. Emma Harper: Will the member take an intervention? Sarah Boyack: I will not, because I am hosting an event that is supposed to start in about three minutes, and I would like to dash off after my speech.”
“I congratulate Emma Harper on securing this debate. We should be debating anaerobic digestion and biogas, which are really important as they can help us to meet our net zero ambitions and they can also strengthen our rural economy. I also thank the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association. The fact that there are now more than 90 AD plants in Scotland tells us something. We can see the success of AD in the Lothians. Facilities such as the Millerhill plant are taking food waste from households and businesses and turning it into renewable gas and nutrient-rich digestate, cutting emissions and supporting local agriculture. The plant will heat more than 3,000 homes in Shawfair through a local heat network. It will save about 2,500 tonnes of CO2, which is the equivalent of taking 1,200 cars off our roads.”
“To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent “ScotLand Futures” report, which found that 96 per cent of respondents believe that changes are needed regarding how land is owned and used, what steps it will take to ensure that land reform goes further than the current Land Reform (Scotland) Bill does to deliver land justice. (S6O- 05296)”
“Given that the initial question was not about flooding, I might have to write to Sarah Boyack to give her more detail.”
“I very much agree that the lack of action there has a cost. It is really important to look at it at a local level. Will the cabinet secretary comment on why we are not getting the same focus on the homes that are vulnerable to flooding? At the moment, the figure for that is 284,000 homes, and the Scottish Government’s website says that another 100,000 will be vulnerable to flooding over the next few decades. What will be done to ramp up support for households that are currently at risk? Gillian Martin: If the member does not mind my saying so, that is a bit of a tangential question about flooding, although it is an important issue. Most of the flood protection schemes are in the hands of local authorities, which are given substantial funding to put them into action.”
“In relation to communities in the Highlands and other rural areas, as well as investing in the A9, we need to ensure that there are better railway services. We need a joined-up set of approaches nationally and across every region. We have regularly highlighted the SNP Government’s brutal cuts to our council budgets, which have hit people’s roads and pavements. We need to look at buses, because too many people have a bus pass but cannot use it. Lothian Buses shows what can be done, but Glasgow has waited six years for bus franchising, and far too many rural communities have lost services. We must invest in transport, and we need joined-up thinking, because transport is essential infrastructure. Given that, a decade on, only 13 per cent of the A9 dualling is complete, the SNP Government has no ground to stand on. 16:40”
“Having a stronger logistics network means that farmers can get food to market, businesses can reach customers and Scotland can compete globally. Several colleagues have mentioned safety issues. The quality and safety of our roads and pavements is crucial. Having safer roads and infrastructure is not optional; it is vital to people’s health, as has been highlighted. Without better and safer roads, we risk discouraging people— people will not be able to choose active travel, and cycling is not appealing, if there are potholes, poor surfaces and unsafe junctions. There is also an impact on our bus routes. We do not have opportunities as a result of huge numbers of bus routes being axed and train services being plagued by cancellations.”
“Sarah Boyack: I will not, because I am now nearly a third of the way through my time. [Interruption.] I have said no twice. Without reliable roads and better connectivity, businesses cannot compete and communities cannot thrive. When transport networks fail, supply chains break, and the first to suffer are our local shops, our rural communities and the most vulnerable households. We will see more and more challenges as a result of infrastructure being impacted by the climate and nature emergency, so we need better logistics and transport planning to protect our economy and our environment. Every road, rail link, port and ferry link must be linked together as part of a logistics chain. Finlay Carson’s points about Cairnryan were absolutely right, and he highlighted the failure to make joined- up connections.”
“We must also factor in connectivity between our rail infrastructure and bus services, because action is needed in that regard, too. Far too many communities simply do not have the access that they need. As we say in our amendment, we need a national industrial strategy that aligns transport, energy and skills with long-term economic growth, as well as a strategic spatial plan. We need investment across the regions and, as members have said, we must strengthen logistics and our rail links to deliver our climate and nature emergency commitments. Our transport sector is vital. If we lag behind because we do not invest in roads, rail and logistics, there will be an impact on sustainable growth and the transport of goods. Jamie Halcro Johnston: Will Sarah Boyack take an intervention on that point?”
“This debate provides an opportunity to focus on the lack of progress that the SNP Government has delivered in improving and maintaining transport infrastructure across Scotland. The cabinet secretary was keen to talk about progress on the A9. I have to say that, for those who travel on it, it does not feel as though progress has been made. Transport is vital—members from across the chamber agree on that—and we need a joined-up approach, with better infrastructure, investment, repairs and maintenance. Jamie Halcro Johnston: Will Sarah Boyack take an intervention? Sarah Boyack: No—I do not have time. Scottish Labour’s focus is on upgrading our creaking transport infrastructure. It is vital that our roads—our national and our local road networks— are maintained.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would have voted yes. It is not clear whether my vote has been lodged. The Presiding Officer: I can confirm that your vote has been recorded,”
“Amendment disagreed to. The Presiding Officer: The next question is, that motion S6M-19894, in the name of Douglas Lumsden, on backing oil and gas, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division. The vote is closed.”
“For Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Ind) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) [Proxy vote cast by Michael Marra] Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) 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) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) 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) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Ross Greer] Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) 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) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Ind) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Fulton MacGregor] Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) Abstentions Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division on amendment S6M-19894.4, in the name of Sarah Boyack, is: For 22, Against 97, Abstentions 1.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I tried to vote yes, but the app shows that my vote has not been accounted for. The Presiding Officer: That is, indeed, the case, Ms Boyack. We will record your vote now.”
“That is why we welcome the UK Government’s plans, which are deeply rooted in energy security, fairness and a realistic path to net zero. Labour is clear that oil and gas will continue to be part of our energy mix for decades to come, because turning off the taps tomorrow is not an option. That would undermine energy security, push up bills and make us even more dependent on imports from other countries. We also need to make—”
“Let me be clear from the outset that Scotland’s oil and gas industry has made a profound contribution to our economy, to workers’ livelihoods and to energy security for decades. The people who built that industry—the engineers, the offshore workers and the supply chain businesses—deserve a future that is every bit as strong as its past. Instead, they have been given years of neglect. The Conservatives at Westminster and the SNP at Holyrood have both stood by without any plan for what comes next. Our amendment makes that point clearly. We regret that the SNP and the Tories have let Scotland’s oil and gas sector down, with no plan for the future. Scotland should be a global leader in the energy transition. We have the engineering expertise, the offshore skills, the natural resources and the public support, but we have lacked leadership.”
“I am pleased to open the debate for Scottish Labour. Today’s debate should have been an opportunity for Parliament to come together and set out a clear, credible path for Scotland’s energy future. However, once again, we are confronted with a motion from the Conservatives that is more about political theatre than about serious long-term planning. From the SNP, we see the same pattern. Douglas Lumsden: Will the member take an intervention? Sarah Boyack: No, thank you. Douglas Lumsden: It is not about political theatre; it is about— Sarah Boyack: No, thank you. I had four minutes, and now I have less time than that. There has been a complete absence of SNP strategic leadership.”
“I move, That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I remind members who wish to participate in the debate to make sure that they press their request-to-speak buttons. I call Daniel Johnson to speak on behalf of the Economy and Fair Work Committee. 15:10”
“Although that is a valid point in the broader context given the wide scope of community wealth building, that involves consideration of the deployment of funds across a range of contributory policy areas, which will be determined with regard to specific future policy interventions. The next Scottish Government and subsequent Administrations will be tasked with considering how all relevant Government activities contribute to community wealth building, whether directly in areas such as procurement or fair work and skills, or in a wider range of policy areas in which public investment or regulation might flex and change to assist our economy to grow in a way that is successful, sustainable and fair. I look forward to working with the committee and members on the next legislative stage, and I invite members to work with me on that.”
“As it beds in, it will become a new and vital place for dialogue about any changes that are required in law across a wide range of policy areas. The second crucial aspect is the involvement and empowerment of communities. It is important that community wealth building is a signal that our communities must be connected to activities involving councils and others, with support to lead economic activity. The third point relates to finance. The financial memorandum accompanying the bill was informed by real cost information that was gleaned from local authorities and other public bodies. The figures highlight the costs of administration. It is right that those estimates are scrutinised, but they set out a realistic picture of the cost of implementation. I know that some stakeholders raised the issue of wider implementation costs.”
“To reflect the fact that some local authorities will want to work together, the bill makes provision for neighbouring councils to work on a regional basis. That will provide local flexibility for community wealth building partnerships. Whatever the pattern of uptake in that context, all community wealth building partnerships would be expected to set plans that are complementary to their existing objectives to revive local economies and empower local communities. I want to touch briefly on some points that were raised in the committee’s report. First, I recognise that community wealth building is a place-focused economic development model spanning a number of relevant policy areas. The bill’s aim is to create a foundation for a consistent and progressive approach to local and regional economic development.”
“Community wealth building will absolutely be part of the work that those bodies will be required to do and they will have input into the process, but it is important to recognise which bodies will be most central so that we can make the most effective impact. In my response to the committee, I set out plans to conduct an inclusive and collaborative development process for the guidance. I aim to start that discussion as soon as possible so that there will be clear guidance that will be informed by successful practice, noting that too high a level of prescription is not desirable in practice. The majority of our local authorities are already pursuing community wealth building policy and objectives, and I am confident that the approach, which is built on collaboration and empowerment, has the best chance of success.”
“Community Land Scotland has suggested that we think about including the Scottish National Investment Bank, national park authorities, Forestry and Land Scotland and Crown Estate Scotland, given their influence and ownership of landholdings. Would the minister look at that to enable new opportunities for community wealth building and ownership? Ivan McKee: It is important to recognise that all those bodies are already involved in the process as specified public bodies. It is important that we get the right and proportionate approach so that the plans can be pulled together effectively in a way that has the most impact. All those bodies are already included as specified public bodies, which is a proportionate way to proceed.”
“That is highly regrettable, but after the decision was made, I had a call with Crown Estate Scotland. It told me that there is interest in that licence and that it is confident that it will have new tenants, which is hugely encouraging. It told me that it was one of the most sought-after areas in the ScotWind round of licence auctions. It said that, apart from reaching out to organisations that were interested during the first round, it has had contact from interested partners. Sarah Boyack mentioned some of the projects that are progressing. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Cabinet secretary, I ask for a wee bit more succinct approach. Otherwise, we will not get through all the members who wish to ask a question. Gillian Martin: I am happy to leave it there.”
“Where we do not have agreement is on the impact of the energy profits levy on confidence. Some very interesting work was done on the EPL by Offshore Energies UK, which put a proposal to the UK Government to set out how it can get more funds into the Treasury as a result of a reformed EPL. I hope that Scottish Labour has looked at its proposals and is advocating for them to be taken forward in the budget. People from the offshore wind sector and other energy companies tell me that that is the single biggest blocker to investment. However, I am still hugely confident that we will see ScotWind projects develop. Obviously, Shell has made a different decision. It has, more generally, pivoted away from renewables projects because it wants to concentrate its operations on oil and gas.”
“Feedback from the renewables sector is that speeding up planning decisions is crucial to building investment confidence so that we can get manufacturing investment in Scotland rather than importing renewables components. For example, manufacturing renewables components at the port of Leith would be a huge opportunity. What is the Scottish Government doing to deliver on that ask? When will we see the energy strategy and the just transition plan? Gillian Martin: I was going to praise Sarah Boyack for being a spokesperson who understands the economic value of what we are trying to do. Her Government in London has had a strong record of championing this area since it came into government, along with the Scottish Government; it is one of the areas of agreement that we have.”
“I thank the cabinet secretary for advance notice of her statement. Shell has returned its CampionWind lease to Crown Estate Scotland. Is she worried that other leaseholders are considering handing back their licences? What will she do to develop confidence in offshore wind and its supply chains and to promote new manufacturing? The cabinet secretary referenced the Pentland project with investment from Great British Energy, the National Wealth Fund and the Scottish National Investment Bank, each of which has the option to invest up to £50 million. Does the Scottish Government have a plan to ensure that we will see more of that funding to get training opportunities and to create permanent jobs and investment?”
“It is a targeted at-source discount, which we think would reduce the energy bills of around 660,000 people in Scotland by up to £700 a year, taking about 135,000 people out of fuel poverty. I will be making the case for a social tariff to the United Kingdom Government, and I hope that Sarah Boyack will, too.”
“We have allocated £1.6 billion of funding through our heat in buildings schemes during this parliamentary session alone, including a committed spend of £840 million for energy efficiency and clean heat projects, which—I agree with Sarah Boyack—are essential. That has supported an average 15,000 households annually, including those at risk of fuel poverty. As I mentioned in my statement, since the start of the warmer homes Scotland programme, we have helped more than 47,000 households across Scotland to live in homes that are warmer and cheaper to heat. I also point Sarah Boyack to our work on a social tariff, and I hope that she can advocate for that to her colleagues in UK Labour. We have undertaken very careful work with industry experts to develop a social tariff, and I published the methodology behind it just last week.”
“The cabinet secretary mentioned that more than a third of our households live in fuel poverty and that one in five is in extreme fuel poverty. What is the Scottish Government going to do now to accelerate investment in making people’s homes energy efficient, so that their heat is not wasted? What is the cabinet secretary doing to support every local authority in Scotland to implement their local heat and energy efficiency strategy plans so that our constituents have heat networks that they can link to and can qualify for the grant that was mentioned? Màiri McAllan: It is worth putting on the record again the difference that our long-standing loan and grant arrangements have made in Scotland.”
“Motion, as amended, agreed to, That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill, and, in so doing, believes that consideration should be given to agreeing a parliamentary complaints and sanctions process, backed by appropriate guidance, in relation to section 2 of the Bill.” The Presiding Officer: That concludes decision time. Point of Order 17:07”
“For Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Ind) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, 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) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Ind) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Fulton MacGregor] Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) Abstentions Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) 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) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) 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) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Ross Greer] McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Maggie Chapman] Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division on motion S6M-19565, in the name of Graham Simpson, on the Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill at stage 1, as amended, is: For 81, Against 0, Abstentions 35.”
“Amendment agreed to. The Presiding Officer: The next question is, that motion S6M-19565, in the name of Graham Simpson, on the Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill at stage 1, as amended, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“For Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (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) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Ross Greer] 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) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) 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) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Maggie Chapman] Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Fulton MacGregor] 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) Against Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Ind) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) 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) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) 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) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) 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) Abstentions Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division on amendment S6M-19565.1, in the name of Kevin Stewart, is: For 66, Against 47, Abstentions 2.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I tried to vote. If this is the Kevin Stewart amendment, I would have voted no. The Presiding Officer: Thank you, Ms Boyack. We will make sure that that is recorded.”
“No patient should have to go through the ordeal of a diagnosis just to find that treatments are thin on the ground or non-existent. That is why I will finish by calling on the Scottish Government to work with Tourette Scotland to create a national plan to increase funding for support services and to raise awareness across all parts of our society. We are not asking for utopia—rather, it is the standard that Tourette’s patients and their families should expect and, more importantly, deserve. 12:58”
“Every single one of them will have had to overcome challenges relating to their condition. It is vital that we use that momentum to deliver lasting change so that, for future generations, a Tourette’s diagnosis does not need to carry the burden that it once did. Last week, I went to see the wonderful film “I Swear”, which illustrates the challenges of living with Tourette’s across the world. It is emotional and inspiring, and gives everyone an insight into the challenge that people with Tourette’s face. I think that everyone should go and see it, because it is a call for action. No child should see their educational attainment crumble in front of them because of a condition that they cannot control. No parent should have to give up work because the education system is unable to deal with their child’s Tourette’s.”
“When I spoke to Alan about his son, he told me about the practical steps that he believes are vital for ensuring that those with Tourette’s receive the necessary support. There should be clear National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and Scottish intercollegiate guidelines network guidance for Tourette’s diagnosis; a national training programme for schools, so that school staff and teachers are properly equipped to support those suffering from Tourette’s; and early recognition and intervention in schools for students, so that we can support kids from an early age to ensure that they have positive outcomes despite their condition. Those are not fairytale policies—they are achievable. We just need the political will to achieve them. I am glad that we are joined in the public gallery by constituents who have Tourette’s.”