David Green
Scottish Liberal Democrats · Scotland
“I, too, congratulate Liam Kerr on securing the debate. As he knows, I share the concern, which has been echoed by Stephen Kerr, Paul Sweeney and Miles Briggs, that the Scottish Government’s opposition to new nuclear sends a worrying message to Scotland’s nuclear workforce—the message that its future somehow lies elsewhere.”
“The knowledge developed at Dounreay will ensure that future facilities—I emphasise that I am talking about future facilities, not some of the facilities that we have heard about from SNP members—are safer, more efficient and better prepared for their full life cycle. Liam Kerr: I am very much enjoying David Green’s contribution.”
“These matters are interconnected, and I will continue with that point. Despite all the success at Dounreay that we have heard about this evening, the Scottish Government still has an ideological opposition to new nuclear energy.”
“Therefore, the question is whether Scotland seizes the opportunities to create jobs and investment here at home. We will benefit from the energy, but will we benefit from the opportunity to create jobs? That is the question that I put to the Government tonight.”
“Paul Sweeney: David Green makes an excellent point about Dounreay, but does he recognise that one of the key advantages of repowering existing sites is that they are already connected at gigawatt scale to the national grid and that that reduces massively the costs associated with new generation?”
“Many of the solutions that have been developed at Dounreay have been world leading, and many more will be needed as work continues on the facilities, such as the shaft and the silo, which are among some of the most challenging decommissioning projects in all of Europe.”
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“As I said to the Dounreay stakeholder group only a few weeks ago, I will fight in this Parliament for their interests, and I hope that the Scottish Government is willing to think big and do likewise. 18:39”
“Therefore, the question is whether Scotland seizes the opportunities to create jobs and investment here at home. We will benefit from the energy, but will we benefit from the opportunity to create jobs? That is the question that I put to the Government tonight. Let me also emphasise that the success at Dounreay depends on a highly skilled workforce of engineers, project managers, scientists and technicians. Those skills do not exist in isolation, as Paul Sweeney and Liam Kerr said. They are sustained by a thriving nuclear sector that needs to have long-term careers, investment and innovation. I pay tribute to the highly skilled workforce at Dounreay and recognise the potential of a community that is ready to seize those opportunities.”
“These matters are interconnected, and I will continue with that point. Despite all the success at Dounreay that we have heard about this evening, the Scottish Government still has an ideological opposition to new nuclear energy. I remind members that the UK Climate Change Committee, which is an expert- led body, has made it clear that nuclear energy is essential to the UK’s decarbonised electricity mix. Meeting our climate obligations will require significant volumes of low-carbon generation, and nuclear energy has to be part of that mix. I have said this before, and I will say it constantly: good public policy is all about context. Whether SNP members like it or not, the UK Government has made a decision. We will have new investment in new nuclear energy.”
“The knowledge developed at Dounreay will ensure that future facilities—I emphasise that I am talking about future facilities, not some of the facilities that we have heard about from SNP members—are safer, more efficient and better prepared for their full life cycle. Liam Kerr: I am very much enjoying David Green’s contribution. When I took an intervention earlier on decommissioning, which the member concerned was right to raise, it was clear that one of the things that the SNP was unaware of was that new nuclear power stations are required to fund their own decommissioning and waste management costs. I presume that David Green knows that, so perhaps he could advise the SNP. David Green: Liam Kerr has been able to advise the SNP himself, and I absolutely agree with his point.”
“Many of the solutions that have been developed at Dounreay have been world leading, and many more will be needed as work continues on the facilities, such as the shaft and the silo, which are among some of the most challenging decommissioning projects in all of Europe. I am therefore pleased that the energy minister recognises that, and I am grateful that I have this opportunity to put on the record my thanks to him for agreeing to visit Dounreay. All the lessons learned at Dounreay are highly relevant to the future of nuclear energy, which is the very question that Liam Kerr has brought to the chamber. New nuclear power stations that are being designed and built today will benefit directly from the experience gained in Caithness.”
“Paul Sweeney: David Green makes an excellent point about Dounreay, but does he recognise that one of the key advantages of repowering existing sites is that they are already connected at gigawatt scale to the national grid and that that reduces massively the costs associated with new generation? David Green: Yes, I absolutely agree with Paul Sweeney, and I will come on to talk about the connection between decommissioning and the opportunities for new nuclear energy shortly. As I said, the contribution of the Dounreay site goes far beyond the industrial activity; it helps to sustain the very fabric of the far north. The site is also unique in Scotland for the innovation and emerging technologies required to address its complex legacy.”
“The site directly employs about 1,400 staff, 96 per cent of whom live locally, and there is a wider supply chain that supports hundreds more jobs. In total, that accounts for almost a quarter of the economy in Caithness and north Sutherland, with a local economic impact of approximately £180 million. In short, a fifth of the local economy is directly connected to Dounreay. Dounreay is also deeply embedded in the social fabric of the community. Its funding programmes support local sports clubs, charities and individuals, providing more than £1 million annually and leveraging further match funding from other organisations.”
“I, too, congratulate Liam Kerr on securing the debate. As he knows, I share the concern, which has been echoed by Stephen Kerr, Paul Sweeney and Miles Briggs, that the Scottish Government’s opposition to new nuclear sends a worrying message to Scotland’s nuclear workforce—the message that its future somehow lies elsewhere. I will build on that point, but I want to begin by highlighting the vital importance of decommissioning and, in particular, the exceptional work that is being undertaken at Dounreay, in my constituency. It is striking that, in many discussions about energy policy, the role of decommissioning is often overlooked. However, at Dounreay, it is not only a major industrial operation but, as Tim Eagle said, a cornerstone of the local economy and the local community.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what advice and support it provides to rural communities on wildfire prevention ahead of the heightened risk of such fires during the summer months. (S7O- 00113)”
“I fear that trust has been lost, and it will be difficult to rebuild it. 19:07”
“I assure him that, as part of this morning’s discussion in public of its work programme, the Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee considered calling in STV bosses to hold them to account. I hope that we will do so, and I am sure that I will be able to speak to Jack Middleton about that beforehand. I am sure that the rest of us will have questions for the Scottish Government about what assurances the wider creative industries sector will need. I have no doubt that the issue will need to be seen through the lens of the upcoming Screen Scotland reforms. It is hard to come to any conclusion other than that the centralisation of STV North lets down not only staff—who, as we will all be aware, are reporting serious concerns about wellbeing that must be addressed by STV bosses—but our communities right across the north.”
“As a former student at the University of Aberdeen, I know how important it is that training routes and long-term career pathways outside the central belt are not only protected but strengthened. Given the economic pressures that the broadcasting sector faces, I recognise the challenges that are involved, so I welcome the confirmation that STV’s current bases in the north region will be maintained. Nonetheless, if skilled jobs and training pipelines are removed from places such as Aberdeen and Inverness, they will be extremely difficult to rebuild. Therefore, the Parliament has a wider responsibility in that regard. I welcome what Jack Middleton called for in his speech.”
“He argued that moving production to Glasgow would undermine journalists’ ability to cover breaking news in real time. He suggested that output would increasingly rely on pre-recorded material, which would mean that events in the north could be missed or coverage of them could be delayed as a result of the erosion of the very journalism that we need in our communities. As he put it, we “would see the cultural centre of Scotland shifted down towards the M80.” I also share the concerns that have been echoed across the political spectrum tonight about not only the job losses that have been announced but the loss of opportunities for aspiring young journalists of the future.”
“As members from across the chamber have highlighted, it has not only delivered news bulletins but provided scrutiny of local decision making and ensured that issues affecting our communities are visible beyond the immediate area. For those of us who represent sparsely populated communities in the north of Scotland and who are all too familiar with the challenge of ensuring that those voices are heard by Governments of all colours, which can all too often feel too distant, that role has been crucial. The concerns about the proposals were strongly reflected in evidence to the Scottish Affairs Committee at Westminster. Nick McGowan-Lowe of the National Union of Journalists warned that they represented not a minor restructuring but a significant downgrading of regional journalism.”
“I congratulate Jack Middleton on securing the debate. He has been a strong advocate for the save STV North news campaign, and I am grateful that he has given members the opportunity to come together and coalesce around the issue. Like many members, I am concerned about the centralisation of STV North. It is not simply a staffing decision but a cost-saving measure. It represents a fundamental change in how the north of Scotland is represented on television, and it risks weakening one of the few remaining sources of consistent, dedicated regional journalism for our part of the country. Let us not forget that, for more than 60 years, STV North has provided coverage across the north of Scotland, including for my constituents across Caithness, Sutherland and Ross.”
“However, it should be understood that bank closures also have a profound impact in more urban parts of Scotland, as I have seen at first hand in my constituency in the central belt. This is a pan-Scotland issue. I would be happy to follow up with Mr Green on the points that he has raised, and, if other members wish to make representations to me on the matter, I will be more than happy to pass them on to the”
“The recent bank closures in the Highlands have been widespread. In Sutherland, not a single bank remains open. Too many of my constituents are being asked to travel hours on end, which is impacting vulnerable customers and businesses alike. Does the minister agree that although protecting access to cash is important, it is not enough on its own? The minister mentioned access to banking. Will he undertake to write to the United Kingdom Government in support of access to banks, with regard to a provision in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023, to ensure that rural communities are not left behind? Tom Arthur: The member makes a series of important points, particularly in highlighting the significant impact in more rural parts of Scotland.”
“Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee Membership: Jenni Minto, Tim Eagle, David Linden, Mark Simpson, Jackie Baillie. Transport Committee Membership: Willie Rennie, Lloyd Melville, Zen Ghani, Collette Stevenson, Iris Duane, Donald MacKinnon, Graham Simpson. The Presiding Officer: That concludes decision time. Antisocial Behaviour”
“Health, Care and Sport Committee Membership: Helen McDade, Jack Middleton, Paul McLennan, Heather Anderson, Joe Long, Adam Harley, Kayleigh Kinross-O’Neill. Public Audit Committee Membership: Neil Bibby, Dawn Black, Alan Brown, Miles Briggs, David Kirkwood. Public Petitions Committee Membership: Paul Sweeney, David Torrance, Marie McNair, Julie MacDougall, Cara McKee. Public Service Reform Committee Membership: Bob Doris, Michelle Campbell, Alex Kerr, Max Bannerman, Lorna Slater, Joe Fagan, Murdo Fraser. Rural Affairs Committee Membership: Mark Ruskell, Andrew Baxter, Laura Mitchell, Emma Roddick, Dawn Black, Jamie Langan, Finlay Carson. Social Justice, Housing and Local Government Committee Membership: Craig Hoy, Thomas Kerr, Steven Bonnar, Kate Campbell, Gary Bouse, Mark Griffin, Morven-May MacCallum.”
“Economy, Tourism and Energy Committee Membership: Duncan Massey, Daniel Johnson, Kate Campbell, Gary Bouse, Martyn Day, Kristopher Leask, Rachael Hamilton. Education and Gaelic Committee Membership: Karen Adam, Katherine Sangster, George Adam, Patricia Gibson, Duncan Dunlop, Angela Ross, Laura Moodie. Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee Membership: Katie Hagmann, Meghan Gallacher, Collette Stevenson, Fulton MacGregor, Holly Bruce, Amanda Lindsay, Carol Mochan. Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee Membership: Patrick Harvie, Senga Beresford, Colin Beattie, Keith Brown, Pauline Stafford, Jenny Young, David Green. Finance and Public Administration Committee Membership: Clare Haughey, Alan Brown, Pauline Stafford, Michael Marra, Kim Schmulian, Liam Kerr, Liam McArthur.”
“The Presiding Officer: The final question is, that motion S7M-00346, in the name of Jamie Hepburn, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, on committee membership, be agreed to. Motion agreed to, That the Parliament agrees the membership of committees of the Parliament as follows— Climate Action Committee Membership: Stuart McMillan, Ariane Burgess, David Barrett, Martyn Day, Claire Baker, Sanna Dijkstra-Downie, Douglas Lumsden. Criminal Justice Committee Membership: Alyn Smith, David Linden, Marie McNair, Maggie Chapman, Pauline McNeill, Amanda Bland, Stephen Kerr. Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee Membership: Calum Kerr, Q Manivannan, Colm Merrick, Amanda Lindsay, Paul Sweeney.”
“Motion, as amended, agreed to, That the Parliament welcomes that the Scottish Government’s Public Service Reform Strategy centres on the importance of prevention in the development of public services; believes that it is vital to empower staff, service users and local communities to be part of the design and delivery of services that meet the needs of the people of Scotland; agrees that the delivery of excellent and sustainable public services should be the goal of public service reform, rather than the preservation of existing corporate structures; that the Scottish Government’s approach to public service reform should align with the principles of Community Wealth Building, Fair Work and the European Charter for Local Self-Government and the need to encourage economic growth; calls on the Scottish Government to produce a detailed timetable for the reduction in the number of public bodies as part of a drive to reduce broader waste and to produce a holistic assessment of the impact of the public sector reform programme on Scotland’s vital third sector; agrees that any programme of public sector reform must be worker-led; believes that public service reform must incorporate community wealth building principles, including procurement reform, to ensure that more public money is spent locally; agrees that public bodies and organisations receiving public funding must adhere to fair work principles, and that public bodies should have clear duties to protect the environment, build resilience to climate change and uphold human rights and that public sector reform should be accompanied by a greater devolution of powers to Scotland.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I am sorry—I could not connect to the voting app. I would have abstained. The Presiding Officer: Your vote has been recorded. For Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Ahmed, Irshad (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab) Anderson, Heather (Dundee City West) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire West and Levern Valley) (SNP) Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Barratt, David (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North) (SNP) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Black, Dawn (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Bonnar, Steven (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Bouse, Gary (Falkirk West) (SNP) Brown, Alan (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Campbell, Kate (Edinburgh Eastern, Musselburgh and Tranent) (SNP) Campbell, Michelle (Renfrewshire North and Cardonald) (SNP) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Day, Martyn (Falkirk East and Linlithgow) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Kelvin and Maryhill) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Fagan, Joe (South Scotland) (Lab) Flynn, Stephen (Aberdeen Deeside and North Kincardine) (SNP) Gethins, Stephen (Dundee City East) (SNP) Ghani, Zen (Glasgow Cathcart and Pollok) (SNP) Gibson, Patricia (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Goodlad, Hannah Mary (Shetland Islands) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie) (SNP) Griffin, Mark (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Lab) Hagmann, Katie (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen and Cambuslang) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Kerr, Alex (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP) Kerr, Calum (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Kumar, Simita (Edinburgh South Western) (SNP) Long, Joe (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) MacKinnon, Donald (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (Lab) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith) (SNP) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Easterhouse and Springburn) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Melville, Lloyd (Angus South) (SNP) Merrick, Colm (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Middleton, Jack (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mitchell, Laura (Moray) (SNP) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Oswald, Kirsten (Eastwood) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP) Sangster, Katherine (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab) Smith, Alyn (Stirling) (SNP) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stafford, Pauline (Bathgate) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Todd, Maree (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Young, Jenny (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Lab) Against Bannerman, Max (Highlands and Islands) (Reform) Beresford, Senga (South Scotland) (Reform) Bland, Amanda (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Reform) Briggs, Miles (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Currie, Victor (Highlands and Islands) (Reform) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Hoy, Craig (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Kerr, Thomas (Glasgow) (Reform) Langan, Jamie (South Scotland) (Reform) Lindsay, Amanda (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Reform) MacDougall, Julie (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Reform) Massey, Duncan (North East Scotland) (Reform) McDade, Helen (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Reform) Offord, Malcolm (West Scotland) (Reform) Ross, Angela (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Reform) Schmulian, Kim (Glasgow) (Reform) Simpson, Mark (North East Scotland) (Reform) Smith, David (West Scotland) (Reform) Abstentions Baxter, Andrew (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (LD) Bruce, Holly (Glasgow Southside) (Green) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Chou Turvey, Yi-pei (North East Scotland) (LD) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh North Western) (LD) Dijkstra-Downie, Sanne (Edinburgh Northern) (LD) Duane, Iris (Glasgow) (Green) Dunlop, Duncan (South Scotland) (LD) Green, David (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (LD) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Harley, Adam (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (LD) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Kinross-O’Neill, Kayleigh (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green) Kirkwood, David (South Scotland) (Reform) Leask, Kristopher (Highlands and Islands) (Green) MacCallum, Morven-May (Highlands and Islands) (LD) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Green) Manivannan, Q (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McKee, Cara (West Scotland) (Green) Moodie, Laura (South Scotland) (Green) Nevens, Kate (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green) Rennie, Willie (Fife North East) (LD) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Slater, Lorna (Edinburgh Central) (Green) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division on motion S7M-00309, in the name of Ivan McKee, on public service reform and empowering staff, service users and local communities, as amended, is: For 67, Against 25, Abstentions 26.”
“However, we must be guided by the principle of empowering local communities, not by a one-size-fits-all approach. I move amendment S7M-00309.1, to insert at end: “notes concerns that previous reforms undertaken by the Scottish Government have led to the centralisation of public services, including through the creation of Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the proposed National Care Service; believes that the centralisation of services and the adoption of a one-size-fits-all approach have had a detrimental impact on rural Scotland, and further believes that any future public service reform should be guided by the principle of local decision-making, with communities empowered to shape the services on which they rely.””
“In the Highlands, the end of life care together partnership, which is co-led by Highland Hospice, is a great example. I see Jenni Minto nodding in agreement. Between May 2023 and September 2024, people who accessed its helpline spent more than 4,000 fewer days in hospital, thereby generating savings of up to £3.8 million. Highland Hospice estimates that, with an investment of around £1 million a year, it could deliver that service right across the Highlands. That would be a compassionate choice. It would reduce delayed discharge, save money—which I know the cabinet secretary is looking to do—and ensure that more people receive the care that they want, where they want it, which is at home. In closing, I commit the Scottish Liberal Democrats to holding the Government to account and working constructively where common ground can be found.”
“I therefore welcome the intent shown in the empowering people, places and communities workstream, but I urge the Scottish Government to go further and give my constituents greater reassurances by using its rural renewal bill to put rural proofing into law. Turning to the cabinet secretary’s commitment to making public services more efficient, I will use what I have left of my time to focus on one key area: social care, including delayed hospital discharge. It is quite astonishing that our NHS is losing £1.2 million a day because, on any given night, around 2,000 patients are stuck in hospital. Those are people who should be cared for in their communities at a fraction of the cost. If we are serious about tackling delayed discharge and reducing pressure on the NHS, the Scottish Government must deliver on its commitment to join up services.”
“The centralisation of the police led to the closure of the Inverness control room and the loss of local operators with detailed knowledge of our communities. The one-size-fits-all approach taken in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has left stations in north-west Sutherland, in effect, unavailable for years. There is also the long-term trend of concentrating specialist healthcare in the Highlands at an overstretched Raigmore hospital, or, worse, losing services altogether, not least vascular care—an issue that I know Edward Mountain of the Conservative Party raised in the previous session. As I said in my first speech in the chamber last week, Liberal Democrats believe that the best decisions are made when local people are empowered to make them.”
“Liberal Democrats were therefore encouraged by the First Minister’s comments at Prosper’s annual forum held last week. He was right to say that our planning system is broken and needs to “work better”. He was also right to say that we need to change how public services are delivered, starting “from the needs of the citizen, of the business, of the community.” However, I warn the cabinet secretary that he faces an uphill struggle to rebuild public confidence, particularly in rural Scotland. I agree with what Michael Marra said earlier. We must recognise that there has been almost 20 years of an SNP Government, and some contrition about what has not gone right or what has not been reformed would be welcome. Too often under this SNP Government, the term “reform” has been code for ever-greater centralisation.”
“I begin by welcoming the cabinet secretary to his new role and wishing him well. As we have already heard, Mr McKee has been handed what might become the defining task of this Government, which is tackling the £5 billion black hole in Scotland’s finances. As Murdo Fraser has just said, although the cabinet secretary insists that his role is not about cutting front-line services, time will certainly tell. It is often said that voters are never wrong. As my colleague Willie Rennie said in his opening remarks of this parliamentary session, given the low turnout of voters and their rejection of some of the established parties, it is clear that people are pretty fed up. They are working hard and they are playing by the rules, yet things are simply not getting any better. Therefore, we are in urgent need of a change in approach.”
“This is a comprehensive, independent review for all of Scotland, and it is inclusive of the communities that many of the members who are here today represent.”
“Angela Constance: It will be an independent review with an independent chair, but I hope that the principles that have been published today will give at least some reassurance until the review has been set up and established. On the point about the existing midwifery and neonatal task force, some of that work will be paused. The proposition, which is subject to consultation with the chair, is that there will be a panel to advise her. I am clear that, as well as being independent, any review must engage with the affected communities, which specifically includes Caithness and other rural communities. Members will note from my statement that, as well as maternity triage, clinical pathways will be important.”
“The Liberal Democrats have long called for an independent review, so I welcome the appointment of Professor McCourt as an independent chair. It is imperative that local campaigners and those who have lived experience are fully engaged, including Willie Rennie’s constituent Lori-Mark Quate, who was previously given a commitment on involvement in the task force, although that has not happened to date. Will the cabinet secretary recommend that Professor McCourt meet the Caithness Health Action Team and experience at first hand the 100- mile-plus journey that mums in the far north are forced to make? Will she also clarify whether the review will examine restoring consultant-led maternity services in Caithness?”
“Scotland is an energy exporter with excellence in renewables and other industries. Nuclear has been proven to be a very expensive technology. That being said, I will commit, as I said at the start, to engaging with members and will speak to them, as we can always learn something from one another.”
“The minister will, no doubt, agree that our energy security must be considered alongside our climate obligations. That is why I urge the Scottish Government to recognise the advice of the Climate Change Committee, which says that nuclear is essential to the UK’s decarbonised electricity mix. I also urge the minister to recognise that decommissioning in Scotland, including at Dounreay, in my constituency, depends on retaining those skills in the long term. Will he therefore agree to visit Dounreay, meet our nuclear workforce and address the concern that his Government’s opposition to new nuclear sends them a message that their future lies elsewhere? Stephen Gethins: First, I would be delighted to visit the member in his constituency, for which he is obviously a champion.”
“Stephen Flynn: As much as I am tempted to do so, it is not for me to tell any local authority what to do with its money or, indeed, the money that it might potentially raise through any levy. However, I am sure that David Green’s words will have been heard very loudly by the local authority councillors in his area. Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (Economic Impacts) 8.”
“The north coast 500 has been a success for the north Highland economy, but it has also exposed a road network that is struggling to keep pace. There is a £233 million gap across the Highlands between what the council is spending and what it needs to spend in order to repair our roads. We need long-term investment and not short-term patching. Will the minister commit to providing the level of funding that is required for this nationally important route? Will he agree that the Highland Council visitor levy, if implemented, should result not only in investment in infrastructure but in support for local businesses and improvements in the competitiveness of our visitor economy?”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. The system did not work, but I would have voted no. The Presiding Officer: Your vote is recorded. Thank you.”
“In his last contribution in the chamber, he said: “At a time when politics can be so polarising, surely a common commitment to service, whatever our faith or creed, is something that can unite us.”—[Official Report, 29 October 2024; c 2.] I hope that the Parliament will rise to the challenge that Jim set us. For my part, I commit to doing my very best.”
“That review must involve a chair who is independent of NHS Highland and the Scottish Government, as well as a real commitment to community-led engagement. The cabinet secretary has confirmed that she will deliver a statement next week, which I welcome; however, I urge her today to provide my constituents with a clear commitment on those points and the recognition that they have waited for far too long. On Friday, friends and family of the late Jim Wallace will meet in Dunblane to celebrate his life. Jim was an architect of devolution and a politician defined by his ability to build agreement and respect those with whom he disagreed.”
“The cabinet secretary, who I congratulate on her appointment, will be aware that the situation has attracted international attention, with the Caithness Health Action Team taking its case to the United Nations, following a report by the Scottish Human Rights Commission that found that mothers felt “unsafe” and “terrified”. The Caithness Health Action Team has led the campaign with real determination. I am pleased to put on record my thanks to Ron Gunn, Iain Gregory and Maria Aitken for their outstanding leadership. The cabinet secretary will also be aware that, last November, the Parliament voted for a Liberal Democrat amendment that called for an independent review of maternity services in Caithness.”
“It presents particular challenges, with sparsity of population, distance and severe winter weather all demanding a different approach to the delivery of services. Let me therefore be clear: what works in the central belt will not always work in the Highlands, particularly where healthcare is concerned. No issue speaks more to that sense of being forgotten and misunderstood than the downgrading of maternity services in Caithness. Surely all members can agree that it is not acceptable that mums-to-be in the far north must travel 100-plus miles in order to give birth in hospital in Inverness. Many families have shared their stories with me— the fear of battling through winter snow, the trauma when emergency transfer plans go wrong and the anxiety about whether they could ever face having another child under such circumstances.”
“I also pay tribute to Gail Ross, who is fondly remembered here, particularly as a strong advocate for rural proofing—an issue that I intend to champion in the years to come—and to Maree Todd, whom I congratulate on her return to Government. I thank her for her warm words to me and to my parents, who are in the public gallery this afternoon. I further put on record my thanks to the members sitting beside me, who paved my way to this Parliament. I thank Alex Cole-Hamilton and Willie Rennie for their boundless leadership, and my good friend and former boss here at Holyrood, Liam McArthur, for his many years of mentorship. It is a privilege to sit alongside them now as part of the largest Liberal Democrat group in nearly 20 years. Caithness, Sutherland and Ross is Scotland’s largest constituency.”
“John Buchan, the Scottish author, historian and statesman, viewed public service not merely as an administrative duty but as “the worthiest of ambition” and the highest, most honourable adventure. I am honoured to begin that adventure and to follow in the liberal traditions of Bob Maclennan, John Thurso, Charles Kennedy and the only other Liberal Democrat MSP to represent this remarkable constituency, Jamie Stone, whose public service is recognised on every doorstep. All of us have a shared common belief that the best decisions are made when local people are empowered to make them. That principle must guide how we reset this Parliament and our politics. The Liberal Democrats will work constructively with the Government and members from across the chamber to advance that cause.”
“Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I congratulate you on your election, and all other members on theirs. Like many new MSPs, I will begin by putting on record my thanks to my family, friends and supporters for helping to send me here. The responsibility to now represent everyone across Caithness, Sutherland and Ross is one that I take seriously. Over the past few years, people have shared with me their stories, their hopes and their worries—worries that all too often centre on the struggle to access healthcare close to home, particularly for women. It is therefore fitting that I will make my first speech in a debate on the NHS. Before I make progress on that, however, I wish to pay tribute to my predecessors.”
“I welcome the cabinet secretary to his new role and wish him well. He will be aware that my Liberal Democrat colleague Andrew Baxter has called for a dedicated A9 scrutiny committee in this session of Parliament. Although the matter is for the Parliament, will the cabinet secretary welcome that? What further steps will he take to ensure that the project has the level of transparency that communities in the Highlands deserve? Stephen Flynn: I am more than happy to meet the member to discuss both those matters. On scrutiny, there is evidence of scrutiny in action right now on the Government’s commitment to delivering the A9. We will continue to be scrutinised in the chamber to ensure that David Green’s constituents and people across the Highlands know that they have a Government that will deliver on its commitments to them.”
“I, David Green, 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”