Colm Merrick
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“I welcome the opportunity to contribute to today’s debate, which marks action mesothelioma day 2026. I understand that it is a long-standing tradition to mark the date each year in the Scottish Parliament, so I thank Marie McNair for continuing the tradition and highlighting the issue, which she has truly made her own.”
“I would like us to pause for a moment to reflect on that, and on the fact that, behind those figures, every one of those diagnoses is an individual, a family and a community whose lives have been changed for ever.”
“As was discussed in last year’s debate, there are circumstances in which individuals who have previously pursued claims relating to asymptomatic asbestos-related conditions may find themselves prevented from seeking further damages if they later develop mesothelioma, which is a terminal and life- threatening illness.”
“Those who are affected by mesothelioma deserve fairness, dignity and access to justice. We should work together across the Parliament to ensure that the law reflects those principles.”
“That reality serves as a stark reminder that the legacy of asbestosis is far from over. In that respect, I recognise the tremendous work of Action on Asbestos, formerly known as Clydebank Asbestos Group, which—as the name change suggests—is facing up to those new realities in the support, advice and advocacy that it continues to provide,…”
“They include the Cape must pay campaign—which has been mentioned—that highlights the need for greater corporate responsibility and continues to call for meaningful investment in mesothelioma research.”
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“Finally, I note that it is fitting that we are able to have such a constructive and consensual debate as we approach the end of the parliamentary term. I wish all my colleagues across the chamber, parliamentary staff and everyone who is watching the debate a great summer, and at least one more football match. I look forward to us all returning refreshed, revitalised and ready to rock. 17:49”
“Those who are affected by mesothelioma deserve fairness, dignity and access to justice. We should work together across the Parliament to ensure that the law reflects those principles. As action mesothelioma day approaches, on 3 July, I encourage people across Scotland to get involved in the events that are taking place in communities throughout the country, whether by participating in a blue-light walk, supporting fundraising efforts or simply helping to raise awareness. Everyone can play a part in supporting those who are affected and remembering those whom we have lost. I once again thank Marie McNair for securing the debate, and I pay tribute to all those campaigners, organisations, families and individuals who continue to fight for justice.”
“As was discussed in last year’s debate, there are circumstances in which individuals who have previously pursued claims relating to asymptomatic asbestos-related conditions may find themselves prevented from seeking further damages if they later develop mesothelioma, which is a terminal and life- threatening illness. The Scottish Law Commission’s “Report on Damages for Personal Injury” recognised that problem and made clear recommendations to address it. I welcome that work, and the growing consensus that reform is needed to ensure that people are not denied justice because of a legal technicality. Should Marie McNair introduce legislation to address that issue, she will have my full support and, I would guess, the support of the entire Cabinet and Parliament.”
“They include the Cape must pay campaign—which has been mentioned—that highlights the need for greater corporate responsibility and continues to call for meaningful investment in mesothelioma research. The campaign’s efforts demonstrate the importance of grass-roots activism in driving change and ensuring that those who are affected are not—are never—forgotten. One issue that remains a significant concern is the injustice that has been created by the current time-bar arrangements affecting some mesothelioma victims. We have already heard a bit about that today.”
“That reality serves as a stark reminder that the legacy of asbestosis is far from over. In that respect, I recognise the tremendous work of Action on Asbestos, formerly known as Clydebank Asbestos Group, which—as the name change suggests—is facing up to those new realities in the support, advice and advocacy that it continues to provide, and has been providing for more than three decades, for those who are affected by asbestos-related conditions. Its dedication has been invaluable to countless families, and it continues to be a powerful voice for justice and accountability. I also pay tribute to the wider grass-roots campaigners who continue to fight for victims and their families.”
“I would like us to pause for a moment to reflect on that, and on the fact that, behind those figures, every one of those diagnoses is an individual, a family and a community whose lives have been changed for ever. Last year’s action mesothelioma day debate highlighted that “the face of mesothelioma is changing.”—[Official Report, 19 June 2025; c 31.] While many people still associate asbestos-related disease with traditional heavy industries such as shipbuilding, construction and engineering, we are increasingly seeing cases among women, younger people and workers in occupations that were not historically considered high risk. Teachers, healthcare workers, clerical staff and others have developed mesothelioma following exposure that they neither expected nor understood at the time.”
“I welcome the opportunity to contribute to today’s debate, which marks action mesothelioma day 2026. I understand that it is a long-standing tradition to mark the date each year in the Scottish Parliament, so I thank Marie McNair for continuing the tradition and highlighting the issue, which she has truly made her own. I pay tribute to her long- standing dedication, commitment and leadership on this very important issue over many years. As we have heard, action mesothelioma day provides us with an opportunity not only to raise awareness of the devastating disease but to renew our commitment to those who are living with its consequences and to the families who continue to suffer because of asbestos exposure. Around 2,700 people across the UK are diagnosed each year, including around 200 people in Scotland.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what its priorities are for social impact investment in the current parliamentary session. (S7O-00072)”
“Most importantly for constituencies such as Glasgow Anniesland, how will local organisations be able to feed directly into the design and development of the agreement? Scotland’s third sector has demonstrated extraordinary resilience in the face of unprecedented challenges. It deserves a relationship with Government that reflects the sector’s importance, respects its independence and supports its sustainability. 16:45”
“Where multiyear funding is possible, it gives organisations the certainty that is needed to retain skilled staff, plan strategically and focus on outcomes. Simplified funding processes can reduce administrative burdens, particularly for smaller community organisations, which often lack the resources to navigate complex application systems. I hope that, as we move forward, the third sector partnership agreement will provide a meaningful opportunity to build on that welcome consensus. I would also welcome hearing further details of who will be involved in the co-design process. How will the Government ensure that the voices of smaller grass-roots organisations are heard alongside those of larger national bodies? How will organisations that represent marginalised communities be included?”
“A thread clearly runs through a number of the amendments that are before us. As is reflected in the amendments lodged by Morven-May MacCallum, Holly Bruce, Carol Mochan and Julie MacDougall, there is a growing consensus across the chamber, and within the sector, on the need for multiyear, simplified and flexible funding arrangements. For far too long, many organisations have been forced to operate in a cycle of short-term funding settlements that create uncertainty for staff, volunteers and service users alike. Organisations spend valuable time applying for funding, reapplying for it, and planning for funding cliff edges, when that time could be far better spent on delivering services and supporting communities. The sector has welcomed the move towards the provision of further funding, but clearly there is more work to do.”
“The amendment in the name of Morven-May MacCallum rightly highlights a point that is sometimes overlooked when we discuss the third sector: that it is not only a provider of services but a major employer. More than 130,000 people work in Scotland’s third sector. Many of the organisations within it provide opportunities for people who might face barriers to employment, including disabled people, carers, those returning to work after periods of illness, and people with caring responsibilities, and such organisations often lead the way in adopting flexible working practices. As Ms MacCallum’s amendment notes, women make up around 64 per cent of the third sector workforce. That reflects both the opportunities that the sector provides and the important role that it plays in creating accessible and inclusive workplaces.”
“They recognise the need to protect the future and independence of the sector through further funding arrangements, to focus on shared goals and outcomes for people and communities rather than on the burdensome process and short-term targets, and to recognise that third sector organisations must have meaningful opportunities to contribute to policy development and service design from the outset, rather than being consulted only after decisions have already been made. Unlike some of the debates that we have had so far in this session, this one represents a breath of fresh air. I hope that it shows us what we can achieve if we work together.”
“That is why I welcome the Scottish Government’s commitment to developing a new third sector partnership agreement that is co- designed with the sector itself. True success for any partnership depends on genuine collaboration, and it is right that the organisations that deliver so much for our communities have a central role in shaping the framework that will govern that relationship. I am particularly encouraged by the commitment to draw upon the key principles that are outlined in the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations 2026 manifesto. The principles that SCVO sets out reflect many of the issues that organisations have consistently raised with me.”
“I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests. I declare that I am a councillor on East Renfrewshire Council. The third sector is the glue that holds our communities together. That is certainly true in my constituency of Glasgow Anniesland. Across that constituency, local organisations provide support where and when it is needed most, whether it be by tackling food insecurity, helping young people to access opportunities, promoting community wellbeing or providing advice and advocacy services. Those organisations are deeply rooted in our communities. They understand local needs because they are part of those communities, and they are often both the first to respond when challenges come along and the last to walk away.”
“That extensive engagement has directly informed the refurbishment designs, ensuring that the museum will reflect the diversity and identity of the city. It is a significant project, and I reiterate the Government’s commitment not just to working with partners to deliver it, but to ensuring that it reflects the priorities, views and values of the people who live in the area. Partnership with the Third Sector”
“As many people across Glasgow will be today, I am delighted to welcome the support for the People’s Palace. As its name suggests, the People’s Palace has always been at the centre of the community and it holds a special place in the hearts of Glaswegians. Therefore, what assurances can the Scottish Government provide to Glaswegians that their voice will be at the heart of the plans for the palace, to ensure that it has a sustainable, inclusive and accessible future for generations to come? Tom Arthur: I have covered some of those points in previous answers, but I note that community voices have been central to shaping the project, with more than 6,300 people contributing their views, stories and lived experiences.”
“I hope that we can all welcome the Scottish Government’s plans to deliver the reforms that are necessary to provide a teacher job guarantee for a minimum of three years for newly qualified teachers. How does the cabinet secretary anticipate that that measure will support Scotland’s teaching workforce? Màiri McAllan: I recognise, and the Government recognises, that the lack of available jobs after probation has, for some prospective teachers, been a significant concern. The commitment to a teacher job guarantee demonstrates that we have listened to that and are prepared and determined to work with partners to find solutions. The measures will provide greater certainty at the start of a teacher’s career, supporting early career retention and morale, while helping to ensure a more stable and sustainable workforce.”
“Relationships have been severed and careers lie in tatters. Let me offer a word about our motivation. We are as far as it is possible to be from a Scottish Parliament election. There is no political capital to be gained, but we are a representative democracy, and this issue is everywhere. Questions about it are everywhere—in supermarkets, taxis and bus queues. I cannot believe that SNP back benchers, when they go back to their constituencies, are not receiving those questions, at volume.”
“Let us talk about transparency, accountability and standards, but let us do it honestly and fairly, without exception or selective outrage. However, that is not what the motion is about. it is not about restoring trust or improving politics, helping a single family struggling with the cost of living, reducing a single waiting list, building a single home or creating a single job. The motion is about politics—pure and simple. The good folk of Scotland can see that. They sent us here to help improve their lives, not indulge our grievances. For those reasons, I urge members from across the chamber to reject this nakedly shameless and shameful slop. 17:08 Alex Cole-Hamilton: Like Willie Rennie, I recognise the brutality in all this and the pain that is so evident for those on the SNP benches.”
“However, the proposal that we are debating is something entirely different. This is not a serious attempt to improve governance—it is a farce. I am genuinely concerned that some members seem perfectly willing to take a wrecking ball to the principles of devolution if they think that it might provide a short-term political advantage. That is wrong, and it is wrong regardless of which party is being targeted. All of us who care about the Parliament should resist it with all our strength, because once we establish the principle that parliamentary committees can be used to pursue political opponents, that principle will not simply disappear when it becomes inconvenient—it will be used again and again. If members are genuinely interested in restoring trust in politics, by all means let us have a conversation about that.”
“We should be concerned about the repercussions of these solely politically driven actions and worry about the effect that the approach has on devolution. We should be worried about the willingness of many members to undermine devolution and the powers of the Parliament. An increasing number of calls for Westminster committees to interfere directly on matters that are fundamentally Scottish should concern every member of the Parliament, regardless of their party affiliation. It certainly concerns the residents that I represent. The Scottish Affairs Committee has carried out a number of principled and worthwhile inquiries dealing with Scotland’s renewable energy sector, economic development and welfare issues. Those were serious inquiries into matters of public policy, and they are what parliamentary committees should be doing.”
“Sadly, some members seem incapable of resisting the temptation to debase the Parliament in pursuit of a political headline. They should hang their heads. Let us be clear about the facts. Operation Branchform has already taken place. Police Scotland spent more than five years and more than £2 million of public money investigating these matters. It was not a superficial investigation. Daniel Johnson: Will the member take an intervention? Colm Merrick: No. It was a thorough, detailed, independent criminal investigation that ran its course, secured a conviction and ensured that justice was served. To imply now that there has somehow not been a proper investigation is disgraceful. That message is coming across. It is a slight on those who carried out that investigation and on the institutions that have already done their job.”
“He seemed passionate about what people actually care about and the need to show them that the Parliament is capable of rising above party politics to deal with real issues—which I and the Scottish Government are happy to work together to tackle. However, as they say, a week in politics is a long time, and it has taken only a couple of weeks for many members to show their true colours. Here we are today, not debating how we can work together to help people but instead creating the same old division, sowing doubt and scoring political points rather than scoring for Scotland. The people of Scotland elected us not to spend our time engaging in petty party politics but to represent them, listen to them and improve their lives.”
“Just over a month ago, the SNP won the election— who would have thought it?—and we walked alongside other parties into this chamber, fresh and ready to go. We had all spent months knocking on doors and listening to the trials, tribulations, dreams and hopes of voters. I was hopeful. I thought that there was a great opportunity. When I listened to the first speeches and early contributions to debate of many members, across the parties, I was really encouraged. We had an opportunity to work together and co-operate on things that would make a real difference to our constituents. I am still ready to do that. Even Anas Sarwar, Labour’s current leader, spoke about focusing on what really mattered: the NHS, schools, childcare and tackling the cost of living crisis, to name a few.”
“However, per-mile taxation is damaging not only Scotland’s decarbonisation objectives but those of the whole of the UK, because it costs the average EV driver in the UK £350 per year, with some drivers in Scotland paying more than £50 more, simply because of our geography. I am also unsure how it is going to work, so I have lots of questions. I would like to see it being scrapped and I would like to see EV take-up being incentivised.”
“Gillian Martin: I thank Colm Merrick for that question, the content of which very much exercises me, particularly the UK Government putting a motor tax on EV drivers and penalising them, when we should be encouraging the take-up of electric vehicles so that we can further decarbonise transport. This is particularly important in rural areas, which may not have transport links that meet everyone’s needs. People in rural areas need to use cars so, when they can, they should have the opportunity to purchase an EV. The Scottish Government has invested more than £70 million in public EV charging since 2011 and increasing private sector investment has crowded in as a direct result of that, so that we now have one of the most comprehensive charging networks in the UK.”
“Thank you, Presiding Officer. I congratulate the cabinet secretary on her new role. As she knows, cars remain the largest contributor to emissions in Scotland, although, thanks to SNP Government investment, Scotland has led the way in the UK in the provision of public electric vehicle charging points. How is the Scottish Government continuing to encourage an uptake in the use of electric vehicles? Does the cabinet secretary share my concerns about the impact of the UK Government’s new tax per mile on EVs, particularly on people living in rural areas?”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. The app did not record my vote. I would have voted no. The Presiding Officer: Your vote has been recorded. Thank you.”
“The stadium is also home to the hugely successful Glasgow Warriors rugby team, which will kick off Scotland’s summer of sport this Saturday when they play in the semi-finals of the BKT United rugby championship at Murrayfield. I wish them every success. The greatest success of Scotland’s summer of sport will be seen not in the excitement of a single summer but in healthier, more connected communities for years to come.”
“That is particularly true when we think of the many tragic water-related deaths in the recent UK heatwave. Our thoughts and wishes go out to the families and friends who are affected by those terrible tragedies. If such initiatives are to create a lasting legacy, we must ensure that today’s investment delivers long-term opportunities. I am keen to learn more about how success will be measured, how we will assess whether young people remain active and how we will measure the impact on health outcomes, community engagement and the reduction of barriers to participation. In Anniesland, that legacy will see the new world- class athletics track at Scotstoun stadium being gifted to the city of Glasgow, which will ensure that local clubs and athletes have continued access to a state-of-the-art sporting facility.”
“By removing those barriers, we open doors for more young people to discover a sport that they love, to build confidence, to make friends and to enjoy the many benefits that participating in physical activity can bring. We now know that participation in sport can improve mental wellbeing, reduce social isolation, strengthen community connections and create a sense of belonging. Whether it is a child learning to swim for the first time, a local football club welcoming new members or community volunteers supporting activities throughout the summer, those experiences help build stronger and healthier communities. I am especially encouraged by the universal learn-to-swim offer for primary school children. Swimming is not only a sporting activity but an essential life skill that can save lives.”
“[Applause.] Turning to today’s debate, this summer represents a unique opportunity. Scotland hosts the Commonwealth games while our men’s national football team returns to the world cup stage—just in case anybody missed that. The games will bring together around 3,000 athletes from 74 Commonwealth nations and territories. I have already been in contact with the organisers and look forward to meeting them next week to ensure that the games are a huge success and deliver a lasting legacy for the city and beyond. However, it will not only be the lifting of the world cup or medals at the games that mark success; it will be the legacy that is created. The offer of free inclusive sporting opportunities for children and young people is particularly welcome. For many families, the cost of participation can be a significant barrier.”
“That is an abridged version of how I came to be standing here in our Scottish Parliament—a story of chance encounters, packed suitcases and quiet sacrifices across generations and of a long, winding road that has led me to the immense privilege of representing the people who sent me here. They are the constituents and residents of Glasgow Anniesland, whose trust I will work every day to repay. It enhances the privilege to follow in the footsteps of someone who served Glasgow Anniesland with such distinction. My much-loved predecessor also earned international recognition for his work on nuclear disarmament, including being named in a Nobel peace prize nomination through his leadership of Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament. He was and remains the indefatigable Bill Kidd.”
“Returning to John’s Scotland, they began their married life, renting a small attic room in Anniesland in Glasgow. But the pull of home was strong, and Una longed to be nearer her family, so they boarded the literal boat back to Ireland, where for decades John raised the educational bar for generations of young people. Yet the song of my family remains the same, and its chorus always involves a sea to be crossed. So it was that, one day, Una drove one of her sons to Belfast and on to Larne to catch the boat to Scotland, and I arrived in Glasgow, where I met Catriona from the Isle of Lewis. We fell in love and now, gathered round us, we have our own crew.”
“Thank you, Presiding Officer, and congratulations on your election to your new office. Generations ago, a young man named Patrick left Sligo and crossed the sea to Glasgow. Patrick drove the city’s trams, carrying people through the bustling streets of a rising powerhouse. In Glasgow, he met Annie from South Uist—two communities, two traditions bound by love and shared resilience. Patrick and Annie married and raised five children in the heart of the city. One of those children was John. In their house, alongside faith, education was held in the highest regard. For them, learning was the ultimate deliverer. John took that lesson to heart and became a teacher—a dominie, in the truest sense of the word. History has a way of moving in circles. John eventually crossed back over the sea to Ireland and fell in love with an Irish lass named Una.”
“I, Colm Merrick, do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law. So help me”