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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Every one of 502 lines we hold for Sarah Boyack, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 4 of 11.
“A constituent of mine, Alan, shared the experience of his son, Frankie, with me. Frankie had first-hand experience of the misunderstandings that Tourette’s can bring in education settings. He was often punished for things that were outwith his control, as no one recognised his condition. It is hard to state how disruptive that can be for a child’s education and their confidence with managing Tourette’s. It can have a major impact on a child’s mental health due to the punishments that they receive for their uncontrollable actions, or the humiliation that they are subjected to because of a lack of understanding of the condition. Even when a diagnosis is made, schools are often ill equipped to deal with it effectively due to a lack of training and resources. However, it does not have to be that way.”
“This summer, Tyler went to the USA to take part in Camp America for three months, helping to support kids with disabilities as a camp counsellor. Tyler’s story should stand as an example of how Tourette’s does not have to be a barrier to life. With the right support, those with the condition can achieve great things, but it should not only be the role of third sector organisations or the national health service to provide that support. We need to foster an environment that allows those with Tourette’s to thrive, wherever they are in life. I am pleased that my office has already been in touch with the Scottish Parliament’s engagement office to introduce it to Tourette Scotland, in a bid to make our Parliament a more Tourette’s-friendly environment. In many environments, Tourette’s can still be a challenging hurdle to overcome.”
“Often, one parent has to give up work to look after their child with Tourette’s due to disruptions at school, leaving a family with less income and stalled careers. Wonderful organisations such as Tourette Scotland provide a range of services and support to parents and to people with Tourette’s. My constituent Tyler would not be where he is today without the support of Tourette Scotland. In his second year at school, he was noticed by someone who was running the first chances project. She helped Tyler to find a goal and showed him that he is able to achieve the things that others can. With the right support, Tyler was able to thrive, first at college, and then at university, where he graduated with a joint degree. That was only thanks to the amazing support and grant funding to help manage his Tourette’s.”
“It got worse, because on inquiring whether he could receive the treatment anywhere else in Scotland or in Edinburgh, he was told no. It surely cannot be, in a country as well resourced as ours, that patients are still unable to receive the treatment that is recommended by child and adolescent mental health services. Far too many people who face Tourette’s go through the process of diagnosis only to find that support on the other side is lacking. That is equally true for their families. It is hard for parents to know, when their child is at an early stage, whether they are suffering from Tourette’s and how to cope with a child who is not fully in control of what they say or what their body does. Far too many parents feel helpless in trying to balance all the life changes that are required with a Tourette’s diagnosis.”
“I feel privileged to open this debate on a condition that affects many people in our communities. It is difficult for us to imagine what it is like for your body to act without your say-so and for words to leave your lips that you did not intend to say, but that is the daily reality for tens of thousands of Scots. Although it is estimated that one in 100 Scots may have Tourette syndrome, for too long it has been an undiscussed and underresourced condition. An example of those barriers is clear in the case of my constituent Finn. He was prescribed comprehensive behavioural intervention for tics—CBIT—therapy to help with his Tourette’s, only to discover that no one in north Edinburgh was trained in how to do it.”
“By building a centre for sustainable brewing and distilling, Heriot-Watt University will unlock a whole new generation of research and ensure that one of Scotland’s biggest cultural and economic exports becomes a world leader in sustainability. I am proud that, once again, our higher education sector is proving why it is so renowned, promoting a key Scottish industry while ensuring that we are at the forefront in the fight against the climate emergency. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I call the Minister for Higher and Further Education, Ben Macpherson, to respond to the debate. 17:54”
“Indeed, Heriot-Watt’s international centre for brewing and distilling was established by one of its most prominent professors and former chancellors, Sir Geoff Palmer, who—as Gordon MacDonald said earlier—sadly passed away this year. I think that it is appropriate to pay tribute tonight to his fantastic contribution to the sector, because he was a man who achieved so much in his career. He was born in Jamaica and became the first black professor in Scotland. Sir Geoff’s research in the area of barley continues to influence the industry today. I was inspired to hear about the scholarship that has been set up in his memory to support students of Jamaican descent. There are so many brewers and distillers who owe their training to the facilities that Geoff set up.”
“As a passionate advocate for tackling climate change, I am truly inspired to see one of our universities invest so heavily in the technology that will deliver net zero change. The centre will equip the Scotch industry with the tools that it requires to fully decarbonise its productions. In helping firms to trial low-carbon heat, CO2 capture and water saving, it will provide a valuable resource for breweries, now and in the future. As other members have said, the proposal builds on the fantastic research that Heriot-Watt has already carried out. The unique vertical Port of Leith Distillery is testament to the research and development that has been carried out in collaboration with Heriot-Watt.”
“The new centre for sustainable brewing and distilling will cement Heriot-Watt’s reputation at the forefront of one of Scotland’s most critical industries, because—as colleagues have said—brewing and distilling is one of Scotland’s iconic and oldest industries. For many abroad, Scotch defines Scotland, and we need to cherish and cultivate the industry. Heriot-Watt has been at the forefront of training generations of brewers for decades. The master distillers at Ardbikie Highland estate and at our capital’s very own Edinburgh Gin studied their craft at Heriot-Watt. Now, once again, Heriot-Watt is defining the future of that field, taking an industry that has defined our history and equipping it with the tools for the future.”
“I, too, congratulate Gordon MacDonald for securing the debate, because it is a great opportunity to talk about the fantastic work that is being done at Heriot-Watt. Heriot-Watt University is a leading institution in our city. Its work resonates around the world and, thanks to the creation of international campuses in the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia, this Edinburgh institution continues to create a global impact. Heriot-Watt holds a special place in my heart, as it was there that I taught town planning as a lecturer and saw at first hand the amazing impact that the institution has on students and our community alike.”
“Sarah Boyack: I move amendment S6M- 19367.5, to leave out from “opposes” to end and insert: “recognises that oil and gas will be part of Scotland and the UK’s energy mix for decades to come; acknowledges that the Rosebank oil and gas field has previously been licensed and is currently being considered under new environmental guidance; agrees that the long-term aim for Scotland and the UK should be to reduce dependence on volatile, international markets for fossil fuels; considers that this will require the realisation of Scotland’s huge potential in renewable energy, and regrets, therefore, the failure of the Scottish National Party (SNP) administration to bring forward its promised energy strategy, and believes that a properly managed energy transition, which manages existing North Sea oil and gas fields for the entirety of their lifespan and invests in low-carbon energy and energy efficiency across the country, is required to protect and maximise jobs, reduce the need for increased imports, and ensure that Scotland maintains its international reputation for excellence in energy skills.” 15:19”
“Sarah Boyack: As countries meet to discuss COP30, we need to make sure that our communities are protected from extreme weather. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Ms Boyack. I now need to call Jamie Greene.”
“Labour supported the Grangemouth area in its role in the £100 million growth deal and project willow, and an additional £200 million from the national wealth fund to secure an industrial future for the Grangemouth site. It set up Great British Energy with a remit to invest in clean power and build local supply chains. It saved the Harland & Wolff yards at Methil and Arnish. It backed 1,000 jobs in the North Sea through the aspen project, and a floating wind farm by Cerulean Winds. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Please conclude. Sarah Boyack: Critically, it made sure that the national wealth fund would support energy, so that we had reliable electricity and reduced constraints on Scottish wind farms. The Deputy Presiding Officer: You need to conclude, Ms Boyack.”
“We also need a joined-up investment approach so that we can maximise the benefits of capturing heat from waste and from data centres, so that we can use the additional electricity that our renewables create rather than paying £1.5 billion in constraint payments. Patrick Harvie: Will the member give way? Sarah Boyack: No, thank you. Our transport system also needs investment to deliver decarbonised infrastructure so that people can access reliable and affordable buses and trains every day and so that they can charge their cars, wherever they live in Scotland. Our amendment is clear that we regret the SNP Government’s failure to bring forward its promised energy and just transition strategy. People need confidence to invest. We also need a stronger climate change plan. Our UK Labour Government has acted decisively since coming into office.”
“That means that we also need to think about the jobs that could come in our communities—joining up the thinking that I was just starting to talk about. We must think about how our communities can benefit. They need an acceleration of investment in our homes so that their heat is not expensive and does not get wasted because their homes are not energy efficient. If we use excess energy to heat our buildings, we can ensure that homes are not cold and that energy is not wasted. Our councils need support now to implement their local heat and energy efficiency strategy plans, so that we have new, well-paid jobs across the country.”
“We have to make the most of Scotland’s huge potential in renewable energy. That means not just producing our electricity but maximising its use to power and heat our homes and buildings. Liam Kerr: The Scottish Trades Union Congress says that just one job has been created for every £1 million that has been generated by the wind industry. It contrasts that with 14 jobs for every £1 million that has been generated by the oil and gas industry. Surely, we need to support the oil and gas industry. Sarah Boyack: What we need is to make sure that we fulfil the potential in renewables so that we have companies that make wind turbines and other kit in Scotland. For example, we have a proposal at the Port of Leith that would be transformative. We need to not just import kit but make it here in Scotland.”
“However, as we discussed in yesterday’s members’ business debate on the “Striking the Balance” report, we need joined-up thinking and action so that we deliver a fair transition for the workers who currently work in our oil and gas sector and support the work of our trade unions, which, over the years, have negotiated decent terms and conditions and pay for people in that sector. We also need to acknowledge the work of the Just Transition Commission and the Just Transition Partnership. We need investment at Grangemouth; in our ports and harbours; in supporting the oil and gas sector to decarbonise its operations as it continues; in the manufacture of renewables kit in Scotland; and in making more energy efficient the shipping infrastructure that all our energy sectors use.”
“Scottish Labour has been clear that oil and gas will be part of Scotland’s and the UK’s energy mix for decades to come. We were clear about that in our election manifesto, in which we said that we would support existing licences. The Rosebank field has been previously licensed, and the Finch judgment means that environmental impact has to be properly considered—something that the UK Government is now acting on, as opposed to the previous Tory failure. We need to reduce our dependence on volatile international markets for fossil fuels and accelerate a shift away from oil and gas.”
“However, as the report correctly highlights, the pace and shape of workforce supply and demand will define whether we have a fair transition or one that negatively impacts on people’s employment opportunities and the local economy. We cannot leave the skilled workforce scrambling for opportunities; we need to ensure that the opportunities are there for them. One key issue on which we have been lobbying is the oil and gas passport. The energy and skills passport can ensure that workers who have built their careers in oil and gas have their training, experience and qualifications all recognised as they move into a range of other jobs, whether in renewables, carbon capture or the decommissioning of existing platforms.”
“I, too, thank Liam Kerr for bringing this important debate to the chamber, as we need to think through the insights that come from the “Striking the Balance” report. This is a pivotal moment for our energy transition, and the question is not whether Scotland and the UK move away from fossil fuel reliance; it is how we make that shift in a way that is fair, planned and inclusive for workers and communities and that delivers for our economy at the same time, maximising opportunities, whether for manufacturing or for utilising the raft of new technologies that are becoming available. First, we must plan ahead. As colleagues around the chamber have said, we know that oil and gas production in the North Sea will be part of our energy mix for decades to come.”
“As I have stated, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has put £1.6 million into making sure that it has the equipment, such as fogging units and four-by-four vehicles, that it needs in order to combat wildfires as and when they strike.”
“I welcome the round table and the focus on preventing wildfires as the climate emergency is increasing the vulnerability of our land. It is good to hear that funding will be increasing, given the real-terms cut of £56 million in recent years. Will the minister acknowledge that we need to look at both urban and rural challenges, as our fire services are under huge pressure dealing with wildfires, storms and flooding? Will he agree to look at investment across the country so that we do not lose services, as we would with the current proposal to close Marionville fire station, which is minutes away from Arthur’s Seat? Jim Fairlie: I take Ms Boyack’s point on board. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is looking at the changes in its demands, which include wildfire and flooding.”
“I hope that she will join me in calling for the UK Government to bring forward its warm homes plan rather than delay it. Systematically across the UK, we all need to know what is being done at the UK level, because that will inform the decisions that are made in the devolved nations.”
“Just transition funding is not distributed for the first year only, with criteria that remain the same throughout: it is adaptive to the needs of the north-east. In particular, it is delivering for companies that are have been reliant on high-carbon activity and are pivoting towards being able to service low-carbon activity too. Personally, I think that it has been one of the best interventions from the Government, and I want to build on that work as much as possible. It also involves communities, who have their say in participatory budgeting rounds so that they can use the funds in their communities to reduce carbon and make them more resilient. Sarah Boyack has asked me a number of specific questions about details including retrofitting and warm homes.”
“Gillian Martin: I thank Sarah Boyack for reading the climate change plan that I gave to Opposition members in advance of my statement. She has legitimate questions about the detail of it, and I look forward to engaging with her throughout its progress. She mentioned funding of £500 million, which I presume refers to money from the just transition fund. She will know that we have also established a just transition fund for Grangemouth, given that it is a high-carbon area. An analysis is done on the just transition fund year on year, and we receive a list of outcomes for job creation and job retention, as well as information on the ability for companies in the supply chain and academic institutions to pivot towards demand.”
“Why is there no information in the plan about how the £500 million that has been promised will be spent and how communities will benefit from it? The cabinet secretary referenced heat in buildings, but not did not link that to the need to retrofit homes so that they are energy efficient. She also did not say how councils will implement their local heat and energy efficiency strategy plans. Shawfair received £7 million from the Government for 3,000 houses and Aberdeen Heat & Power was created 20 years ago, but council budgets have been slashed. What support will the Scottish Government give to councils, including those in Edinburgh and East Lothian, to maximise the opportunities from projects such as Berwick Bank to create new jobs and invest in our homes?”
“I thank the cabinet secretary for advance sight of her statement. I have tried to read the whole plan. Climate campaigners are clear that we need a strong plan if we are to see the changes that are urgently needed. The SNP promised a publicly owned energy company, which did not happen. That was a massive missed opportunity. We have also not seen the manufacturing of renewables kit, even though there has been a big increase in renewable electricity production. We should compare that with the UK Government’s action in delivering Great British Energy and the national wealth fund, and supporting communities to install solar panels. We urgently need action across Scotland, including a ramp-up of support for communities that are already experiencing the transition.”
“We need to reflect on how we support low- income and vulnerable countries to develop new climate resilience and to use the opportunities that come from renewables, for example, to benefit them. Loss and damage is not just about rebuilding what has been destroyed: it is about a fair transition, justice and solidarity. We need to think about what kind of world we want to build for future generations. 19:31”
“For example, the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund’s £500,000 project in southern Malawi is helping communities to rebuild after tropical storm Ana and cyclone Gombe. The difference that the funding has made is profound, but it is a drop in the ocean compared to what is needed. COP30 in Brazil begins next week. We have a chance to show that Scotland’s commitment to climate justice is not fading. We should use our voice internationally to push for a loss and damage fund that is accessible, transparent, and is based on grants, not loans. Huge numbers of my constituents are calling for action. At our Commonwealth Parliamentary Association conference on climate last month, the vulnerability of low-lying island countries was highlighted. That is an issue now, not for the future.”
“We have failed to meet climate targets not only in eight of the past 12 years, but in nine of the past 13 years. We need action urgently. No pressure on the cabinet secretary, but we need a plan that will work, will be ambitious and will reduce our emissions—one that is not just about headlines but that makes real change in our communities. Loss and damage are a massive issue. The fund agreed for it at COP29 was an important step, but much of it in the form of loans. As colleagues have said, that means the poorest countries are forced into debt to pay for the damage caused by others. That is not acceptable. Scotland has shown that it is possible to deliver targeted, life-changing support through our climate justice fund.”
“To the credit of the then First Minister, Scotland did show that leadership at COP26 by being the first country in the global north to pledge dedicated funding—£2 million—to address loss and damage. That was a landmark moment. It sent a message across the world that wealthy nations can, and should, take responsibility for the harm caused by their emissions. However, we cannot rest on the achievements of COP26. The world has moved on, the challenges have got bigger and, in Scotland, we have stalled at time when we need to be progressing faster. In April, the Scottish Government scrapped its climate targets, abandoning our formerly agreed-on ambitions. That has let down communities in Malawi, the Pacific and the global south that are already experiencing the climate emergency.”
“Their Government had to borrow $400 million to repair damaged homes and infrastructure Climate change is overwhelmingly driven by the richest in society and by the historical and current emissions of the global north, but it is the poorest communities in the global south that are paying the price. Last week, I hosted a “Creative for climate justice” event, organised by Oxfam and Christian Aid, with primary school students who showed us their inspiring art. Their powerful and effective message was that climate justice is social justice. Like others, I have been raising the issue of loss and damage for years in the Parliament: in committee sessions, at events and in motions in the chamber. I remember asking in 2021, before COP26, why Scotland was not showing leadership on the third pillar of the Paris agreement: loss and damage.”
“I congratulate Nicola Sturgeon for securing this debate. Loss and damage is destruction that goes beyond what people can adapt to: when floods wash away homes, when crops fail year after year and when rising seas swallow villages. It is what happens when climate change pushes communities past the point of recovery. As a member of the cross-party group on Malawi, I have heard directly from communities that have suffered losses. In Malawi, more than 80 per cent of people live in rural areas and rely on farming to survive, but storms and droughts have devastated crops, impacting on people’s incomes and pushing families deeper into poverty. In Pakistan, although communities are still recovering from the massive floods that they suffered in 2022, they have had severe floods every year since.”
“I expect that to be part of the improvements that need to come through from Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s review, but it can also be considered as part of the task force that Ms Minto is chairing.”
“Does the cabinet secretary agree that the experience of women who miscarry needs to be looked at, too? One of my constituents had to wait while two parts of the NHS argued over who should see her, because her pregnancy was at the 12-week point—too late for the early pregnancy unit but too early for the triage unit. She then had to return several times for checks on her pregnancy hormone levels, which were not reducing. She was in an area alongside pregnant women but she had miscarried her baby. Will the cabinet secretary take action now to ensure that our constituents in Lothian get the change that is urgently needed? Neil Gray: I absolutely agree with Sarah Boyack.”
“The Deputy Presiding Officer: That concludes the debate on a legislative consent motion on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which is United Kingdom legislation. I will suspend the meeting briefly before we move to the next item of business. 16:37 Meeting suspended. 16:41 On resuming— Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Financial Resolution”
“The Scottish Government will now work collaboratively with the UK Government to finalise a consultation on policy proposals and to draft the necessary regulations to enforce Ministry of Defence policy changes. In committing to doing that work with the UK Government, I reiterate that I have written to UK Government ministers to make it clear that the amendment does not represent a precedent for other parts of the Scottish planning system, which remain wholly devolved and within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament. The amendment is restricted in scope and it has the sole ambition of unblocking onshore wind potential in the Eskdalemuir area. I ask Parliament to agree to the legislative consent motion.”
“Through the adoption of a new policy approach to managing onshore wind development in the area, those projects can now progress through the planning system in the normal way. I am heartened by the comments that Sarah Boyack and the convener of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee made about the importance of this Parliament’s role in scrutinising all the legislation that we have to agree on and all legislative consent motions. Those points were well made. It is important that we speak with one voice, that devolution is respected and that time is given so that we can all scrutinise the issues that come before us that require decisions. The amendment represents the first step in the change of policy on managing onshore wind development in the Eskdalemuir area.”
“It is clear that this is a relatively narrow but effective clause and that its significance lies in addressing the stagnation of recent years and re- igniting forward momentum to deliver opportunities, jobs and energy security. I hope that we can agree to the LCM so that we can continue taking practical steps towards change and towards a cleaner future for Scotland and for the UK as a whole. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I invite Gillian Martin to wind up. You have about three minutes, cabinet secretary. 16:34 Gillian Martin: Thank you, Presiding Officer. I hope that I will not need that long. I thank members for their contributions. I return to the purpose of the amendment. At present, there are projects that are blocked in the planning and consenting process due to concerns relating to their impacts on the array.”
“I will comment on the cabinet secretary’s remarks about parliamentary scrutiny, which I think are absolutely crucial. As Edward Mountain, the convener of the Net Zero Energy and Transport Committee, reported, there was a useful conversation at that committee on Tuesday about the urgent need to fix the issue and to ensure that we have adequate scrutiny in the Scottish Parliament when we need to get moving on issues. I hope that that will not distract from the fact that this LCM is part of a hugely ambitious strategy to increase renewable power in Scotland. I very much welcome the cabinet secretary’s comments about the work that has been done to deliver on our renewables ambitions and to get us where we need to be.”
“It is in line with the Scottish Government’s own ambitions for the area and should be agreed to allow for the rapid implementation of the legislation. I very much welcome the fact that the Scottish and UK Governments have been working closely together and with industry to get the policy progress that the amendment will facilitate. I thank Scottish Renewables for its briefing, which highlights the work of the Eskdalemuir working group and its solution for managing the impact of wind turbines on the array. That plan, while maintaining the integrity of the array, could unlock between 3GW and 6GW of wind capacity. Scottish Renewables also notes that, because 15 per cent of the Eskdalemuir consultation zone is in England, the legislation must cover both Scotland and England.”
“Since its election last year, the UK Labour Government has moved at pace to achieve clean power by 2030. Today, the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero unveiled his carbon budget and growth delivery plan, detailing a comprehensive strategy to accelerate progress in a way that will bring benefits for working people, businesses and our planet. We have seen the warm homes plan rolling out across England and Wales and we know that we need to ramp up towards stronger action on that issue in Scotland. We have seen progress on clean energy jobs and we know that co-operative and community ownership that deliver community benefits must be part of that picture in the future. Today’s LCM should be welcomed by everyone in the chamber because it is a key part of that journey towards clean power.”
“Although I support the bill’s overarching ambition and many of the measures that are proposed, there are areas that need to be strengthened if we are to see tangible progress. We cannot afford slow implementation. The urgency of the nature crisis demands evidence- based policy intervention and clarity from the Government for our communities now. I am proud to have been the minister to introduce our first national parks, and I know at first hand the importance of strong frameworks that empower local leadership while maintaining national consistency. I saw the transformative potential of local engagement in managing and restoring wildlife.”
“That is because targets, when meaningful and properly implemented, can deliver action, focus investment and give clarity to communities. It is significant that three quarters of the Scottish public support legal targets for nature recovery. As RSPB Scotland said in its briefing, “one in nine species ... are at risk of national extinction” in Scotland, and we are “one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world”. If we are serious about halting biodiversity loss and reversing the damage that is being done to our land, coast and seas, we need clear, ambitious and measurable goals, because the decline in nature is on-going. We have had voluntary targets since the 1990s, so we need change.”
“I am pleased to open the debate for Scottish Labour and to give my support for the principles of the bill, but I also highlight that the gaps in the bill need to be understood and addressed. As we face the twin nature and climate crises, the bill represents an important step towards restoring Scotland’s natural environment and protecting it for generations to come. I thank the committee, the clerks, all those who gave evidence to the committee in advance of its making recommendations and the range of organisations that issued briefings on how we could strengthen the bill. To start off, I think that the introduction of statutory nature recovery targets is a vital move, and it is one that I strongly support.”
“The Deputy Presiding Officer: I remind members who wish to speak in the debate to press their request-to-speak buttons. 14:41”
“I am keen to hear members’ views in this debate on how part 2 can be improved and ensure that the Parliament is sending a strong and united message to everyone that we are in support of the bill. It represents the next step in our journey to become nature positive by 2030 and to restore and regenerate biodiversity by 2045. It is ambitious and necessary, but it is only one part of the wider effort that we must make across Government, sectors and society. I want to deliver an effective bill. I am listening to proposals that will strengthen it, and I am committed to working with stakeholders and members across the chamber to ensure that it delivers the change that our natural environment urgently needs. I move, That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill.”
“We look forward to seeing those amendments, because we are all looking at potential amendments to address that problem. Gillian Martin: I wanted to finish the point before I took Sarah Boyack’s intervention because I wanted to stress that I am listening and am thinking of lodging my own amendments in relation to the issue. However, as Sarah Boyack knows, I am also keen to talk to members about how the bill can be strengthened. The point was made that we cannot rely on the current Government or flavour of Administration. We need to make sure that, in the event of political decisions being made for this country by people in Government who do not share our views on nature protection, we protect nature against any future Government’s overturning of protection for nature.”
“Will the member take an intervention? Gillian Martin: I will finish this point and then take the member’s intervention. Part 2 is designed to address a legislative gap that was left by EU exit and to complement existing but limited powers. Without that bespoke power, vital regimes such as the habitats regulations risk becoming static and outdated. That said, I have heard the concerns and I am listening. My officials and I have been engaging with stakeholders, and I am committed to lodging stage 2 amendments to strengthen the safeguards around the future use of the power. Sarah Boyack: That is a very useful update from the cabinet secretary, because it concerns a key issue. Many organisations are deeply worried about the possibility that we could inadvertently reduce our environmental standards and impact on nature safety.”
“Twenty years ago, when the international development work was enabled by Jack McConnell’s Government, I felt that it was essential, because it established the partnership and connection between us and other countries and it enabled us to learn from each other and assist others who face acute challenges. In the intervening years, the climate challenge has become ever more threatening to communities in Zambia and Malawi. I am very happy to explore those issues. I will ask the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, Angus Robertson, to explore them in more detail and to take forward the helpful suggestions that have been made.”