Heather Anderson
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“The support that Diane and her team provide is incredibly important to the men and women up and down the east coast of Scotland who find themselves suddenly diagnosed with asbestos-related conditions. They have supported hundreds of clients across Tayside over the past few years, almost half of whom live in Dundee.”
“Many who do that work have personal experience from their own families. They stand with those affected, and their families, at the hardest and most traumatic of times. It is emotionally demanding, but vital, work. One testimonial about Asbestos Action that I read really stuck with me, and I want to share it today.”
“I, too, thank Marie McNair for securing the debate and bringing this important motion to the chamber today. I start by stressing how important it is that we continue to raise awareness of mesothelioma.”
“However, any application for industrial injuries disablement benefit requires a person to identify exactly where and when they were exposed to asbestos, which creates an additional barrier for those women in seeking some form of compensation.”
“A few different charities work diligently across Scotland to support those living with conditions contracted due to exposure to asbestos. We have heard a lot today about the Clydebank Asbestos Group, but I want to focus on Asbestos Action in Dundee, a charity that supports those across the whole of the east coast who are living with asbes…”
“I will also take a moment to highlight the new generation of victims of this disease. Many of the new cases coming forward are women who did not work in industry but who were teachers, health workers and office workers.”
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“We know what it feels like to repeatedly elect independence-supporting Governments and to have our democracy denied. However, take heart. Supporters of independence, like Dundonians, are relentlessly resilient. We will never give up fighting for what we believe in. We know that Scotland will thrive as an independent nation. We know that Scotland will take her seat back at the heart of Europe, where she belongs. We know that the energy wealth of Scotland will benefit the people of Scotland. The people who just voted for the largest-ever number of independence-supporting MSPs know it, too. That is why they will not be silenced. I strongly support the motion and look forward to the day when Scotland has both the energy and the power to ensure that Scotland’s resources benefit the people of Scotland.”
“It is not enough to generate the energy; we need to have the power over the distribution of the energy, the upgrading of the grid, the unit costs, the tariffs, the taxes that are applied to the bill and the pricing mechanisms. At present, we have all the energy but none of the powers. As a former member of the European Parliament, I know what powerlessness feels like. Scotland, a proud European nation, had no powers to prevent us from being dragged out of Europe against our will and without our consent. Europe knew it, too. That is why they sang “Auld Lang Syne” when we left. We know what it feels like to send £400 billion- worth of oil and gas wealth to Westminster, to be left paying the highest energy bills in Europe and to watch our pensioners lose their winter heating payments.”
“Members should not just think of Desperate Dan when they think of Dundee; they should think, “That’s Dundee, where they dae the district heatin.” If we are to deliver the necessary scale of infrastructure investment, we need collaboration, expertise and sound governance over decades. We must attract private investment, which requires the business case to add up. However, right now, the market is rigged against renewables, and we do not have any power to do anything about that. It is increasingly clear that if we want to ensure that the price of energy is protected and affordable for the future citizens of Dundee—and Scotland—we need power over our own energy system.”
“I am proud to be the depute chair of the Dundee climate leadership group, which is a pioneering group that brings together the utility companies, the national health service, our universities and our college, the council, the housing sector and the third sector in Dundee. The Dundee climate leadership group has developed detailed plans for the phased introduction of decarbonised district heating across the city. We are keen to get on with the transition. If we are going to do district heating at scale anywhere in Scotland, we should do it in Dundee—we are built for it. We have a compact, densely populated area of land, with 150,000 people living on 25 square miles on a south-facing slope.”
“As colleagues know, and as has been said today, Scotland won the energy lottery twice, not only with all the oil and gas that we were told had run out in 2014, but with the huge potential of renewable energy that is generated here due to our geology, climate and highly skilled workforce. Scotland is an energy-rich nation, which should mean energy-rich Scots, but instead, too many Dundonians are living with no route out of fuel poverty. Labour promised £300 per year off fuel bills, but we are realising that people are now going to be £600 worse off each year. The 13 per cent increase in the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets energy cap will put a load more people into fuel poverty. I am passionate about ensuring that we get our energy to work for the benefit of the people who live here.”
“The University of Dundee is leading in life sciences and drug discovery, and along with Dundee and Angus College, we have three world-class higher education institutions, all of which must be cherished. Our waterfront proudly showcases the Victoria and Albert museum—known as the V and A—and Dundee Rep theatre and Dundee Contemporary Arts are internationally recognised. LiveHouse, which is a newcomer on the scene, is doing great, and we hope to welcome the Eden Project to its Scottish home very soon. I will now focus on Dundee’s role in the energy transition and the need for Scotland to have power over our own energy.”
“Joe was fearless in standing up for every single minority group and for everybody in our city. He was also a relentless campaigner, and I am indebted to him and to those in the phenomenal SNP team, who work tirelessly every day to make sure that Dundee continues to be the “Yes” city. Not only is Dundee a city of discovery; it is a city of relentless resilience. During my lifetime, Dundee has survived the demise of the global jute trade. We then reinvented ourselves with Timex and NCR, before watches and tills became digital. Undeterred, we became a global digital powerhouse through the gaming industry. Rockstar Games is based in the city and Abertay University is ranked the top international school for video game design.”
“I begin by declaring an interest, as I am an elected councillor on Dundee City Council. I congratulate you on your election, Deputy Presiding Officer. I am very honoured to address the Parliament as the newly elected MSP for Dundee City West. The young lassie from up a wee multi in Lochee never dreamt that she would be standing here in Scotland’s national Parliament representing the warm, funny, strong and resilient people of bonnie Dundee. Colleagues might not know that William Wallace was a former pupil of what is now known as Dundee high, and they might not know that I was the former head girl of the Morgan, but they will know that Dundee is famous for the three Js—jam, jute and Joe FitzPatrick. Joe is my mighty predecessor. He served in the Parliament for 19 years and held a variety of ministerial roles.”
“I, Heather Jane Dow Anderson, do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm, that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law. Eh, Heather Jane Dow Anderson, dae solemnly, aefauldly an leal-hertitly sweir an uphud that Eh will be traist and bear true lealtie tae His Maijesty King Chairles, his heirs an successors, efter the laa.”