Kenneth Gibson
No Party Affiliation · Scotland
“The next item of business is decision time. There are eight questions to be put as a result of today’s business. I remind members that, if the amendment in the name of Amanda Bland is agreed to, the amendment in the name of Stephen Kerr will fall.”
“The next item of business is consideration of two Parliamentary Bureau motions. I ask Jamie Hepburn, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, to move motions S7M-00492, on committee membership, and S7M-00505, on membership of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.”
“The next item of business is general question time. Many members wish to ask supplementary questions, so, in order to get in as many members as possible, I prefer short and succinct questions, with answers to match. Artificial Intelligence Data Centres (Planning Guidance) 1.”
“There are seven questions to be put as a result of today’s business. I remind members that, if the amendment in the name of Tom Arthur is agreed to, the amendments in the names of Daniel Johnson, Murdo Fraser and Willie Rennie will fall.”
“The next item of business is consideration of revised business motion S7M-00480, in the name of Jamie Hepburn, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, revising this week’s business programme. Any member who wishes to speak to the motion should press their request-to-speak button.”
“Speak through the chair, please. Tim Eagle: The Scottish Conservatives recognise that a strong economy is not some optional extra but the foundation on which everything else depends. I actually agree with Reform, and others, that it is all about the economy.”
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“Constituents contact me regularly about unfair charges, poor communication and a lack of accountability from their factors. The issue is not new. The Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011 was a step forward, but it is clear that it has not addressed the concerns of our constituents about the accountability of their factors. Despite earlier promises from the Government to introduce a code of conduct for land maintenance companies, progress has stalled. The reality is that, for more than a decade, home owners have been left to deal with expensive and often opaque factoring arrangements, while meaningful reform has been delayed repeatedly.”
“Amendment 338 disagreed to. Before section 47C The Presiding Officer: Group 23 is on property factors. Amendment 339, in the name of Mark Griffin, is grouped with amendments 19, 340 to 347, 20, 243, 48 and 49. Mark Griffin: It is no secret that property factoring in Scotland has been a source of real frustration for home owners for a number of years, particularly for home owners who live in new-build housing estates with ground maintenance contracts. Members need look no further than— [Interruption.] The Presiding Officer: Will members who are leaving the chamber please do so quietly? Mark Griffin: The members who are still in the chamber probably do not need to look much further than their own inboxes for complaints from their constituents about factoring arrangements.”
“For Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Ross Greer] McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Alba) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Fulton MacGregor] Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) [Proxy vote cast by Willie Rennie] Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 46, Against 63, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment 337 disagreed to. Amendment 338 moved—[Paul Sweeney]. The Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 338 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“For Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Ross Greer] McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) [Proxy vote cast by Willie Rennie] Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Alba) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Fulton MacGregor] Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 23, Against 85, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment 336 disagreed to. After section 47B Amendment 337 moved—[Ariane Burgess]. The Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 337 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would have voted no. The Presiding Officer: Thank you, Mr Gibson. We will ensure that that is recorded. For Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Ross Greer] Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Alba) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Fulton MacGregor] Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) [Proxy vote cast by Willie Rennie] Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 22, Against 87, Abstentions 0.”
“Kate Forbes: Kenneth Gibson will appreciate that, in my engagement with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government, I will be making a strong case for investment in programmes such as Techscaler, because the more prosperous our economy is, the more revenues are raised and reinvested in our public services. I come back to the point that, where there is a project, policy or initiative that works, we should back it.”
“I welcome the Deputy First Minister’s statement. It is truly heartening to see Scotland doing so well in such a globally competitive sphere, and I congratulate all concerned. Given the scale of success and return relative to a modest Scottish Government investment, which represents but a fragment of the Scottish budget, does she agree that, over and above the £1.16 million investment that was announced today, a significant increase in the resources allocated to the Techscaler programme in the next budget is necessary to take it to the next level, with all the private investment that that will attract and the employment and economic growth that will undoubtedly follow?”
“In days gone by, some MSPs might have looked to have a bill in their name as their legacy; now, they appear to want a commissioner. We must see the bigger picture. The FPA Committee thanks the SPCB Supported Bodies Landscape Review Committee for carrying out its important work and encourages all members to support the motion at decision time. 15:55”
“If we are not prepared to debate, analyse and discuss the extent to which we wish to bind a future Parliament, we do both this chamber and the future chamber a disservice. In my speech, I will welcome all the contributions that we have heard today—I apologise for the length of this intervention, Presiding Officer—and I am more than happy to respond to and debate the points that have been made. I am more than happy to do that with Mr Gibson. Kenneth Gibson: That is desperate stuff. Let us be honest: if the member’s colleague who is sat next to him, Sarah Boyack, did not have a proposal to create a commissioner, I doubt that we would be having this debate. Labour colleagues on the FPA Committee and the review committee supported the decisions unanimously.”
“Some months ago, Martin Whitfield circulated a paper calling for parliamentary committees to be respected and strengthened, but now he calls on the Parliament to ignore—no doubt for cynical reasons of internal party management—the unanimous view of two committees following two years of hard work. That is shameful. Martin Whitfield: Will the member take an intervention? Kenneth Gibson: I am happy to take an intervention from the defender of the committee structures. Martin Whitfield: I have great respect for Kenneth Gibson, but I find his comment about an amendment to a motion—albeit on the back of a committee debate, which was occasioned by a departure, in this session of Parliament, from the usual standards for committee motions—a tad disappointing. I am saddened by it.”
“Many of the recommendations, such as the sharing of services and offices, could easily apply to the wider public sector. We therefore welcome the Scottish Government’s commitment to carry out, as part of its reform programme, a strategic mapping exercise to identify the functions of all Scottish public bodies and where those functions overlap. The review committee rightly pointed out that that would be helpful in informing decisions on future size, structure, and coherence across the public sector. Given the unanimity of both committees, the Labour amendment is deeply disappointing.”
“We also agree that a parliamentary committee should be given specific responsibility for the accountability and scrutiny of SPCB-supported bodies for a fixed period of time, as a pilot exercise. That is a sound suggestion. It is clear that the current model of governance and scrutiny is not working, so it is time to try something new in the next session. As the committee that is responsible for public service reform, we share the review committee’s view that SPCB-supported bodies could and should do more to adopt a more proactive and preventative approach. We whole-heartedly agree that such an approach would not only enhance the effectiveness of the bodies but help to avoid failures in public service delivery and complaints being made in the first place.”
“Indeed, the FPA Committee’s report concluded that that trend is not sustainable and that “this advocacy role is for MSPs to undertake, with Parliament holding Government to account on how it seeks to improve the lives of specific groups of society or develop and deliver effective policy, with the third sector continuing to play a crucial role.” Our report went on to state: “We also believe that the funding for new supported bodies would be better spent on improving the delivery of public services ‘on the ground’, where greater impact can be made.” The FPA Committee agrees with the recommendations to enhance and formalise criteria for creating new SPCB-supported bodies, including that that must happen only as a last resort when all other models and approaches have been exhausted.”
“It is also important that, in doing so, it met the ambitious reporting timescale of June this year, showing us all—including the Government— that it is possible to produce excellent work by set deadlines. We share the review committee’s key finding that the SPCB-supported body landscape should not be expanded to include new advocacy-type commissioners.”
“The purpose of the review was to design a clear strategic framework to underpin the landscape and provide more coherence and structure to it. It would also aim to enable more effective accountability and scrutiny mechanisms to improve delivery outcomes and value for money. We are grateful to the Parliament for establishing the review committee and for agreeing to a moratorium on the creation of new SPCB-supported bodies or the expansion of the remits of existing bodies while the review was under way. The FPA Committee is pleased that the review committee built on the evidence that we received, with its report echoing many of our findings.”
“There was strong evidence of overlap between and duplication of commissioners’ work in the wider public sector, and accountability and scrutiny mechanisms were found to be wanting. Interestingly, in evidence to the committee, former Labour MSP David Stewart and former Scottish National Party MSP Alex Neil both said that, having pursued the establishment of commissioners during the previous session of Parliament, they no longer considered that to be the best way forward. The FPA Committee therefore unanimously concluded that it was time to pause and take stock before any new bodies were added to an already complex and disjointed landscape. We asked the Parliament to agree to a root-and- branch review being carried out by a dedicated committee similar to the Review of SPCB Supported Bodies Committee, which was set up in 2008.”
“The committee wanted to establish the extent to which a more coherent and strategic approach to creating and developing SPCB-supported bodies was needed and, if it was needed, how that might be achieved. We therefore sought to establish how the model was working in practice and the drivers for the increased number of proposals to create new commissioners. Possible alternative models were also considered, as was the case for a review. We found that experiences of and frustration with public service delivery failures are reasons given for supporting the establishment of new advocacy or rights-based SPCB-supported bodies. Others felt the need for a champion to represent particular groups in society who might feel overlooked.”
“I am confident that our work will bring real and substantive change in creating a more strategic and coherent commissioner landscape that is fit for the future. I will revisit some of the concerns that prompted our inquiry back in December 2023 and comment on how we approached our work and arrived at our findings. I will also reflect on the review committee’s report, which the FPA Committee unanimously endorses. Our inquiry followed concerns that a growing number of proposals to create advocacy or rights- based commissioners could lead to the SPCB- supported body landscape almost doubling in size by the end of the current session of Parliament. That would have significant implications for the SPCB and the overall Scottish Parliament budget.”
“I am delighted to speak on behalf of the Finance and Public Administration Committee. As members know, the SPCB Supported Bodies Landscape Review Committee was established by the Parliament in response to the FPA Committee’s “Report on Scotland’s Commissioner Landscape: A Strategic Approach”, which was published on 16 September last year. One year on, we see the culmination of a comprehensive piece of work by the two committees, and I pay tribute to Ben Macpherson and his team for completing the report by June this year, as requested by the FPA Committee. My colleagues and our excellent clerking team, roared on by the SPCB, put in a huge amount of work in preparing our initial report, and I thank them for that.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with ScotRail regarding an increase to the service frequency on the Largs to Glasgow Central route. (S6O-04951)”
“I am a firm believer that more data is a good thing, but we have very little here. We cannot bury our heads in the sand while England tackles the issue. If we were to do so, there would be a real risk of Scotland falling behind in dealing with child sexual abuse.”
“Crucially, it would require the making of recommendations about how to prevent this most vicious and heinous of practices from occurring and about whether a full public inquiry should be commissioned. Such an exercise must be done here. When asked about Scotland having an inquiry, Baroness Casey herself said: “I can move from Scotland to England pretty easily, and criminals do.” Indeed they do. I am mindful of the challenges of establishing a new commissioner. That is why, although Baroness Casey delivered her audit in less than six months, I have required in my amendment 31 that the Scottish report should be done within three years. There is currently a worrying lack of information about the true scale of the issue—about who the victims are and who is conducting these crimes in Scotland.”
“To be fair, nor did the authorities in England, which is why, in January 2025, Baroness Casey was instructed by the Prime Minister to carry out in England an exercise of precisely the sort that is envisaged by my amendment 31. The amendment simply provides for a similar investigation to be undertaken by, or under instruction from, the new victims commissioner. Such an investigation would build a national picture of what is known about grooming gangs in Scotland. It would identify local and national trends, assess the quality of the data that is available, review police understanding of the crime and assess the demographics of victims and perpetrators.”
“Amendment 31, in the name of Liam Kerr, is grouped with amendment 32. Liam Kerr: Amendment 31 and the consequential amendment 32 would require the newly constituted victims commissioner to conduct an investigation into “group-based child sexual exploitation” and abuse, also known as “grooming gangs”, in Scotland. We know that grooming gangs operate in Scotland. Just seven months ago, a Romanian grooming gang was convicted of raping and sexually abusing 10 women in flats across Dundee. In 2016, Police Scotland conducted an investigation, called operation cerrar, into a grooming gang in Glasgow that reportedly had 44 victims and 55 alleged perpetrators. We cannot overlook the fact that sexual crime in Scotland is already at its second-highest level since 1971. How prevalent are grooming gangs here? We just do not know.”
“Amendment 96 disagreed to. Section 14A—Failure to supply required information Amendment 22 moved—[Angela Constance]— and agreed to. Amendment 97 not moved. Amendments 23 and 24 moved—[Angela Constance]—and agreed to. 15:00 Amendment 98 not moved. Amendment 25 moved—[Angela Constance]— and agreed to. Amendment 99 not moved. Amendment 26 moved—[Angela Constance]— and agreed to. Amendment 100 not moved. Section 16—Annual Report Amendment 27 moved—[Angela Constance]— and agreed to. Amendment 28 moved—[Jamie Greene]—and agreed to. Amendment 29 moved—[Angela Constance]— and agreed to. Section 17—Requirement to respond to annual report Amendment 30 moved—[Angela Constance]— and agreed to. After section 18 The Presiding Officer: Group 5 is on research on child sexual exploitation and abuse.”
“For Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Ross Greer] McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Alba) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) [Proxy vote cast by Willie Rennie] Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) Abstentions Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) [Proxy vote cast by Michael Marra] Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 40, Against 58, Abstentions 17.”
“Amendment 21 agreed to. After section 14 The Presiding Officer: Amendment 96, in the name of Sharon Dowey, has already been debated with amendment 17. I ask Sharon Dowey to move or not move the amendment. Sharon Dowey: On the basis that the amendment is supported by Victim Support Scotland, I will move it. Amendment 96 moved—[Sharon Dowey]. The Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 96 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would have voted yes. The Presiding Officer: Thank you, Mr Gibson. For Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con) Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Ross Greer] Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Alba) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) [Proxy vote cast by Willie Rennie] Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) Abstentions Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 96, Against 0, Abstentions 17.”
“We should be proud of how attractive Scottish products and services remain to consumers across the world. That success is based on innovation, quality, hard work and exporters’ ambition to enter new markets, underpinned by a Scottish Government that is focused on delivery and assisted by our magnificent overseas office staff around the world. We have success in sectors such as financial services, aerospace, defence, photonics, energy, food and drink and life sciences. Scotland is globally competitive. Let us work together to ensure that that remains the case. 16:18”
“The Labour MP for Dunfermline and Dollar described our international offices as “a vanity project” and said that they “serve little practical purpose”,—[Official Report, House of Commons, 2 July 2025; Vol 770, c 106WH.] while the Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West referred to them as “largely unnecessary” mini embassies. However, she is on record as saying that it is not Scotland’s oil but Britain’s oil, so we know where her loyalties lie. The Tories’ anti- business stance when it comes to exports facilitated by Scotland’s international offices is well documented. I encourage all Opposition colleagues to, as some have done, join my party in celebrating the great success of Scottish international exports, which were worth £31 billion last year, and their vital contribution to jobs, growth and the prosperity of our country.”
“I am just as delighted that the Scottish Government has increased funding for our international trade partnership programme to expand access to business membership organisations, which can bid for support for trade missions to become established in emerging markets. With the assistance of Scottish Development International—the international arm of Scottish Enterprise—Scottish businesses delivered their highest-ever level of planned international sales, reaching an unprecedented £2.46 billion during 2024-25. That is a 20 per cent increase on the previous year. Therefore, it is disappointing when some Opposition MSPs criticise those hard- working trade and investment specialists. However, it is not only MSPs.”
“That was achieved in 2020—five years ahead of schedule—and life sciences exports are now worth £4.3 billion, which is not far off Scotch whisky exports of £5.3 billion. We should be proud that Scotland has one of Europe’s largest life science clusters and that our companies, universities and research centres have an international reputation for excellence. The sector is forecast to continue to grow. Much of that will be driven by increased exports. I am encouraged that increased funding for exporters and life sciences, among other sectors, was specifically mentioned in the Scottish Government’s six point export plan.”
“Following a £300 million-plus investment backed by £12 million from Scottish Enterprise, DSM is scaling up production of Bovaer, a methane-reducing feed additive for cattle, to be sold in the US, the EU, Australia and South America. That factory was chosen from 35 DSM factories worldwide because of the quality of the workforce and their ability to deliver for the company and its customers. DSM is part of Scotland’s thriving life sciences industry, and I am proud to be the chair of the cross-party group on that sector. The Scottish Government’s life sciences strategy for Scotland, which was published in February 2017, had a vision of making Scotland the location of choice for the life sciences community. Its mission was to increase the industry’s contribution to the Scottish economy to £8 billion by 2025.”
“However, there are also home-grown, self-inflicted problems, such as the hard Brexit that was inflicted on Scotland by the Tories and, of course, Labour’s damaging jobs tax. It is a delusion to say that Brexit has not impacted the Scottish economy. The Economist talks about it almost every single week, for example. Despite those headwinds, Scotland’s exporters will be reassured that we have an economy secretary who is determined to protect and grow Scotland’s business interests around the world. DSM-Firmenich’s Dalry site in North Ayrshire has been producing and exporting vitamins since 1958. It happens to be in my constituency and is the only vitamin C factory in the world outside China.”
“In that vein, I welcome the First Minister’s visit to Washington to press the US President for a better deal on whisky tariffs, which are currently costing £4 million a week, as Emma Roddick pointed out. The ball is now firmly in the UK Government’s court to make a deal with the US, which is the single largest destination for Scotland’s international exports, accounting for about 17 per cent. The picture for Scottish exports is positive. Excluding oil and gas, Scotland’s exports remained stable in real terms at £18 billion between 2016-17 and 2023-24, despite the many challenges that those exporters faced. Those challenges are complex and, in many cases, are the result of global events such as trade wars, conflicts and energy spikes.”
“Next Wednesday I will celebrate, if that is the word, 46 years as a member of the SNP. Frankly, I recognise absolutely nothing of the nonsense that we have just heard from Stephen Kerr. My grandfather worked in the shipyards, and the SNP has always supported a strong conventional defence policy. I am delighted that a small independent country with a population lower than Scotland’s has the resources to be able to invest £10 billion in conventional weapons, just as it covered the north Atlantic after the Tories, within weeks of coming to office in 2010, scrapped more than £4 billion of Nimrods that had just been upgraded by the Royal Air Force. Colleagues have highlighted the indispensable role of our iconic trade exports such as salmon and whisky, and I include Isle Of Arran Distillers, in my constituency, in that.”
“Unfortunately, as ever with this Government, its intention is good, but its follow- through and consistency are poor. I move amendment S6M-18795.1, to leave out from first “notes” to end and insert: “welcomes UK Government action to strengthen international alliances and reduce trade barriers with economies around the world through diplomacy and the delivery of trade deals with India, the US and the EU; calls on the Scottish Government to stop contributing to instability for business through its repeated calls for an independence referendum, and believes that exporting to the rest of the UK, Scotland’s biggest trading partner, is a key stepping stone for international exports, and that both should be imbedded in business support from day one.” 15:54”
“I say to the Deputy First Minister that there might well be interesting phenomena and dynamics—or even initiatives—but we have not seen progress against the fundamental target. Interestingly, there was progress immediately after the pandemic, but it has stalled since then. A final aspect of the report that we have seen no further examination of is its useful segmentation of exporters into four categories: top 100, solid performers, sleeping giants and global by birth. I would like to know what progress has been made against those key segments, because that would give the sort of strategic clarity that we need. The document “A Trading Nation” was a serious bit of work, and I would like to see some robust reporting and measurement against it. It set out a good pipeline.”
“The world has been experiencing economic difficulties and headwinds, but there has been no substantive progress in the past four years against that key target. I am happy to give way to the Deputy First Minister. Kate Forbes: I apologise that I failed to respond to Daniel Johnson’s intervention. He just cited 21 per cent, but I was going to go with 20 per cent, so it is currently 20 per cent against the target of 25 per cent. The two biggest impacts on that have been Brexit and the pandemic. We have a lot of good data, which we could share in more detail—I would be happy to do that. For example, we know that 36.7 per cent of EU exporters in Scotland reported direct costs, with Brexit being one of the biggest impacts. We could perhaps share a bit more data. Daniel Johnson: I would be grateful for that.”
“Furthermore, a ministerial trade board was set up but, unfortunately, it met most recently 18 months ago, as far as I can tell. If the Government is serious about trade, it has to be serious about the progress that it is making against what was a substantial bit of work. As I alluded to in my intervention on the Deputy First Minister, on page 13 of the 2019 document, under “Monitoring and evaluation”, the bottom line is very clearly set out, and it says that the approach sought to increase exports as a proportion of gross domestic product to 25 per cent. Kate Forbes rose— Daniel Johnson: Just a moment. The reality—according to the numbers that I have seen—is that that proportion has risen to only 21 per cent, and there has been no progress in that over the past four years.”
“That is a problem. In the 2019 document, which came after Brexit, there was a clear articulation of what had to happen. The strategy sought to increase from 11,000 the number of jobs that are derived from exporting, but there has been no update on that number. It sought to integrate Scottish Development International with the rest of the business support regime, including Business Gateway. To be fair, I thought that the Deputy First Minister set out some useful things in her speech, but we could use more clarity about how that integration will be carried forward. The strategy discussed expanding the GlobalScot network to 2,000, which is another bit of information that it would be useful to get a progress update on.”
“Actually, first, I thank Daniel Johnson for taking an intervention. Today’s Financial Times reported that US pharmaceutical giant Merck has cancelled a £1 billion investment in London and that 125 scientists will lose their jobs, with Merck saying that the Labour Government has made the UK “uncompetitive”. Surely Westminster is damaging not only Scotland but the wider UK with its trade policies. Daniel Johnson: Kenny Gibson’s party seeks to introduce new frontiers and barriers. It is very difficult to talk about stability and certainty from the position of the SNP benches. The document “A Trading Nation”, which was published in 2019, was important. It was a serious bit of work, and it sought to set out clear steps. That is why I was genuinely surprised when I saw the latest update, because it has more maps in it than numbers.”
“It has improved flood protection for more than 650 homes and businesses by reducing the risk of flooding and tidal overtopping and by improving community resilience to the impacts of climate change and the increased frequency of storms. The scheme not only safeguards homes, businesses and critical infrastructure in Millport; it demonstrates how national leadership, local delivery and partnership working, which relate to Willie Rennie’s point, can help us to build real resilience for island communities. National Good Food Nation Plan 5.”
“A number of flood prevention schemes have been constructed on the isle of Cumbrae in recent years, the most recent being on Millport waterfront—a £48 million investment that is 80 per cent funded by the Scottish Government. What impact does the minister envisage that that investment will have on the long-term security of Millport against the adverse impacts of climate change? Jim Fairlie: The Millport coastal flood protection scheme exemplifies our commitment to improving resilience to flooding in our island communities. It was completed last year and provides a one-in- 200-year standard of protection for the 2km of Millport’s coastline.”
“Will the First Minister set out the implications for the Scottish budget of the UK budget being delayed until 26 November?”
“The time for the Scottish Government to place a national and strategic focus on kidney health, and to ensure that every person with CKD has access to the care, support and treatment that they need, is now. I am pleased that colleagues will talk of the life experiences of constituents with CKD, and I look forward to hearing those stories. The Deputy Presiding Officer: We move to the open debate. 17:41”
“The campaign has reached national health service networks, public health clinics and even the European Renal Society congress. It is a helpful, albeit scary, reminder that you can lose up to 90 per cent of your kidney function without realising it. Symptoms are often vague, or are mistaken for other conditions. I encourage everyone to find out whether they are at a lower risk or an increased risk of developing kidney disease. I pointed out earlier that other areas of health concern steal the spotlight, so to speak, while kidney health struggles in the shadows to receive the attention that patients deserve. That is changing. In May, the World Health Organization passed its first-ever resolution on kidney health, recognising it as a global priority.”
“Such a framework would cover prevention and early detection; patient involvement in care; support for children and young people; effective management of chronic and acute kidney conditions; and better end-of-life care. The organisations also want CKD prevention and treatment to be a clinical priority, with annual testing for those who are most at risk, access to appropriate medications and lifestyle support to delay progression. I trust that the minister will address those asks in responding to the debate. Before I conclude, I highlight the bloody amazing kidneys campaign by Kidney Care UK. Since the campaign’s launch in October 2024, around 200,000 people have completed the online kidney health checker, with around half identified as being at increased risk of CKD.”