Jamie Hepburn
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“We have a full week left next week. The committee could request that witnesses give evidence on a day when it does not normally sit— that is entirely possible. Jamie Hepburn: I was going to come on to that. I recognise that point, and it was considered, given Ms Hamilton’s concerns.”
“The member will appreciate that the Government cannot compel a committee to undertake scrutiny that it does not want to undertake, and I do not think that Parliament would want the Government to do that.”
“The timing of the bill’s introduction—it was after the Scottish Parliament elections and during the period of Government formation—was always going to be challenging, but that has been compounded by the lack of prior engagement from the UK Government, despite its intent to expedite the passage of the Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill…”
“I recognise that it is regrettable that I must stand before Parliament today and ask that it suspend standing orders to allow the first motion on legislative consent in this parliamentary session to come straight to the chamber. By way of background, the UK Government introduced the Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill on 14 May 2026.”
“I believe that all of us in public life strive for that and that we have all been motivated to enter politics for those reasons. Maybe that is a reminder of the point that David Linden made about the common ground that exists between us all.”
“We should recognise the challenges that we face, but Adam Harley made an important point: that the general experience of being involved in politics is a good one. Just as he spoke of, I like nothing more than to engage with the constituents I represent in Cumbernauld and Kilsyth. By and large, that is a positive experience.”
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“However, there are other means of trying to tackle some of the issues of congestion, and I will try to return to them within the four minutes that I have been allocated. We should also recognise that Glasgow is responsible for maintaining many of the crown jewels that we are all proud that we have in this country. Kelvingrove art gallery and museum and the People’s Palace are tremendous assets not just for the city of Glasgow, but for Scotland as a whole. I am very proud to represent Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, but I am also a very proud Glaswegian. I grew up in the city of Glasgow and I certainly recognise the importance of those assets to the city and the country as a whole.”
“Thank you, Presiding Officer. I could see you looking very clearly at me when you reminded members of the four-minute limit. I thank Jackson Carlaw for lodging his motion. I have some sympathy with it. I double checked just before the debate and found that I had not signed it, which was remiss of me—I have now altered that and added my name. I have some concerns about the proposals that the motion touches on. It is only fair to recognise that, as I think we would all agree, there are issues of congestion in the city of Glasgow. To be fair, more often than not I notice them when I am contributing to them. There are also issues to do with emissions in Glasgow, although I observe that the LEZ has worked quite well, and we should reflect on that.”
“Therefore, I think that we should support the minister’s amendment, if for no other reason than that it sets out, quite reasonably, that we should reverse the damage of Brexit and rejoin the European Union. 16:35”
“We had the disaster zone of the Truss-Kwarteng mini-budget, for which no OBR assessment was produced, and which the Tory MSPs wanted to be replicated here. That increased inflation, pushed up mortgage rates, collapsed market confidence and reduced the value of people’s pension pots. On top of all that, we had Brexit, which the National Bureau of Economic Research has said will, by this year, have reduced UK GDP by between 6 per cent and 8 per cent, investment by between 12 per cent and 18 per cent, and productivity—which, in Scotland, grew by twice the amount by which it grew in the UK between 2008 and 2024—by between 3 per cent and 4 per cent.”
“We will have to reflect further on those matters in due course. The promotion of economic growth is interesting subject matter for the Tories to have chosen today. It was interesting to hear Craig Hoy suggest that there were mistakes made by the Tories in their own record. He did not spell out what any of those mistakes were; I will try to spell out what a few of them might be. For example, the Institute for Public Policy Research reported the New Economics Foundation’s finding that, in the decade up to 2019, the austerity measures that were undertaken by the Conservative Government— which, I should say, began under the previous Labour Government, although they certainly went into overdrive under the Tory UK Government— cost the UK economy £100 billion. Austerity shrank the UK budget by £100 billion.”
“The independently assessed real living wage—the real, real living wage, independently assessed by the Living Wage Foundation to be the minimum that is required for people to have a decent standard of living—is already £13.45. We should remember that, through the efforts of the Scottish Government and others, Scotland has the highest proportion of working-age population of any UK nation that is paid at least the real living wage. One other area in which I will flag a note of caution is the extension to the soft drinks industry levy. I think that it is well-intentioned and I understand the rationale for it, but being, as I am, the representative of Cumbernauld and Kilsyth where that great Scottish icon, AG Barr, is located, I am concerned to understand what the implications of the measure might be for AG Barr as an employer.”
“The fact that that measure has been taken should be welcomed. However, I want to flag some areas of the UK budget where I have concerns. Jamie Greene has already mentioned the first one: the road pricing for electric vehicles seems somewhat counterintuitive when we are trying to move in the direction of tackling climate change. That needs to be explored further. In relation to the minimum wage, or the misnamed national living wage—I commend Mr Marra for not using that misnomer; the terminology should be changed—there is a missed opportunity in that the age differential remains. It is welcome that the minimum wage level is rising and we should not pretend otherwise, but the fact that it is rising to £12.71 only for those aged 21 and over is a missed opportunity.”
“I thank Craig Hoy for bringing forward this debate, which provides us with some limited time for initial reflection on the UK Government’s budget. That is welcome. I begin on an unusual note of consensus: I agree with Mr Hoy—I think that most of us would agree—that the manner in which we have reached this point has been somewhat shambolic on the part of the UK Government. Notwithstanding that, it would be churlish not to welcome at least one announcement made by the UK Government today: the long overdue reversal of the two-child cap. The Scottish Government has long called for that—the SNP has long called for it. Tremendous efforts have been made by the Scottish Government, such as through the Scottish child payment, that are bearing fruit and having an impact on driving down child poverty.”
“I conclude by thanking my constituents who took the time to contact me about their experiences, whether as a patient or as the loved one of a patient, ahead of today’s debate. It is not easy for people to talk about their own ill health or the loss of a loved one, and I am grateful to them for sharing their experiences with me. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Mr Hepburn. I very much echo your comments in relation to John Scott. 13:05”
“Not only should we consider whatever means are at our disposal and open to us to increase that percentage and the overall spending on cancer research, but, collectively, we must ensure that our excellent, world-class research institutions are able to attract the fullest range of international research funding and that international researchers know that they are welcome to come here to contribute to that effort. I welcome what will be a consensual debate, given the broad consensus that we have on matters such as the importance of early diagnosis, greater research and the steps that the Government is taking to improve pathways for patients who might need treatment. I look forward to hearing from the minister what more is being done to improve outcomes for patients with pancreatic cancer in Scotland.”
“I welcome the Scottish Government’s detect cancer early programme, which takes a whole-systems approach to early detection that encompasses primary care, diagnostics, public education, data, innovation and screening. The new rapid cancer diagnostic services—including one in the NHS Lanarkshire area in which my and Ms Adamson’s constituencies are located—are a further addition to how cancer can be diagnosed. Clare Adamson’s motion rightly points out the need for further research on pancreatic cancer as, at the moment, it receives only around 3 per cent of the United Kingdom cancer research budget.”
“For too many people, including too many of my constituents, this is a deeply personal debate on a disease that has a sudden and traumatic impact on their lives. I am sure that we will be united—we have already heard that—in pushing for more awareness, more research and earlier diagnosis and treatment for the condition. The reality is that pancreatic cancer remains one of the less survivable cancers. It is a tough disease to diagnose and treat. Too many people are diagnosed only once symptoms have become severe and, by that stage, treatment options can be limited. The challenge for any health service is that a delay in diagnosis or treatment can prove fatal. However, those challenges also point us to where we can make a difference as policy makers by improving early detection.”
“The diagnosis came too late, as it often does, which gave him no chance. She told me of the devastation that that understandably caused her and her family. I was able to correspond with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and raise some of the issues in the family’s experience of engaging with the national health service for his treatment. I was grateful for the response that the cabinet secretary sent me. Another constituent spoke of losing her brother and yet another wrote to me to say that they themselves have, sadly, been diagnosed and described the obvious impact that that has had on them. I send each of those constituents my best wishes. It is for them that I speak in the debate.”
“I am grateful to Clare Adamson for bringing the debate to the chamber and I thank her for doing so. I am delighted to hear Miles Briggs’s update on John Scott. Those of us who had the pleasure of serving in the Parliament with Mr Scott all have enormous affection for him, despite political differences. Through Mr Briggs, I pass on my best wishes. I thank the charities, survivors and family members for their work to keep the spotlight on the condition not only during pancreatic cancer awareness month but year round. I was keen to speak at the request of a number of constituents who have been in contact with me asking if I would do so, because it enables me to mention their experience and allow their voices to be heard in the debate. One constituent told me of losing her father to pancreatic cancer last year.”
“I move, That the Parliament recognises that pupils and staff are being failed by the deteriorating learning and working environment in Scottish schools, overseen by the Scottish National Party administration. 16:17”
“Many great ideas are proffered not only from these benches but from screeds of reports and experts across the system—from parents, pupils, teachers and staff—in Scotland. The Government must listen to them. Things have deteriorated on this Government’s watch, and this is not as good as it gets. We can have a system that delivers high and rising standards, the right support at the right time for every child and staff member and that unlocks opportunity for all—that is the future. That is what is at stake and what Scotland can have if it changes direction. After nearly two decades, it is clear that this Government cannot or will not do that, but a Scottish Labour Government will do that if we are elected in May.”
“It should focus on retraining, support and working with staff; gather data on which teachers are needed, where and when; make pupil equity funding permanent; provide security in planning and address staff workload urgently; take action to make reporting and recording poor behaviour mandatory and consistent, to help improve the working environment and retain staff; rebuild the scaffolding around young people so that they get the support that they need from cradle all the way to career, so that they can get the best out of education and so that opportunity is spread at every age and stage; make classes phone free and make learning the priority; reform initial teacher education so that it meets the needs of the moment and aligns placements to a comprehensive workforce plan, which the Parliament voted for more than a year and a half ago but which we have yet to see from the Government; create a national register of supply teachers so that teachers can move to where they are needed and get jobs when they want them; and use technology and digitisation to reduce workload.”
“I am afraid that its incompetence and distractions have allowed schools to deteriorate and denied young people the opportunities that they deserve. Scotland’s young people have enormous potential. Together, our job is to ensure that every child leaves education confident, resilient and equipped with the knowledge and skills that they need to thrive in work and in life. I ask the Government to reflect, change course, use this moment and reset.”
“It is not only that evidence and report that the Government has ignored. The Hayward and Morgan reports, as well as screeds of advice from experts such as Enlighten on the need for knowledge in the curriculum, and from others on the importance of teaching synthetic phonics, all sit on the cabinet secretary’s shelf. We have some of the most dedicated teachers and school staff, the most determined pupils and the strongest and most ambitious parents in the world, but the SNP Government’s failure to listen to experts, act on advice and act fast to prioritise young people has left the attainment gap stubbornly wide, teachers struggling with unmanageable workloads, parents at the end of their tether and, ultimately, nearly a quarter of a million young people not in employment.”
“Those are just some examples of the systemic issues that must be addressed if the Government’s late advice on consequences and risk is to be truly helpful. The Educational Institute of Scotland is balloting its members, because this has gone on too long. The SNP Government promised action on non-contact time in its manifesto. With six months until the next election, that looks set to become another broken promise. The Government has also sat on—not acted on— a report that is now 10 years old that sets out ways to address workload pressures, yet we have teachers reporting working at least a day a week above their contracted hours. The Government has broken its promise on having 3,500 more teachers, and 15, 16 and 17-year-olds across the country are denied chances to study some subjects as a result.”
“Trade unions and others, including members, have long been calling for the Government to tackle the rising issue of violent and abusive behaviour. Workload is making things worse. Overworked staff and underresourced pupil support have left classrooms like pressure cookers. Forty-five per cent of respondents to an Association of Headteachers and Deputes in Scotland survey said that, if they could change one thing, it would be the support for pupils with additional support needs and distressed pupils. That is what I hear everywhere I go, including from parents who talk passionately about their worries on child and adult mental health services waiting times, which render help a pipe dream; a lack of speech and language therapists; and the lack of a pathway for neurodivergent young people to get the support that they desperately need.”
“A report from School Leaders Scotland that was published in the summer found that school leaders have significant concerns about the rise in aggressive and abusive behaviour. One school leader commented: “The abusive and aggressive behaviour of a small but difficult core of young people, and the lack of available sanctions to use or support from the authority, makes the job seem not worthwhile at times.” At a GMB round table—I refer members to my entry in the register of interests in that regard— pupil support staff told me that violence in schools has become expected and seen as part of the job. One pupil support assistant shared that she even has an alarm that she charges every day and wears around her neck in case she is attacked.”
“Satisfaction with our schools, especially among those who experience them first hand, is at an all-time low. When we look at the environment in schools, we can perhaps see why. Trade unions report that 44 per cent of teaching staff say that, in the past 18 months, they have experienced physical abuse or violence from pupils, and that 90 per cent have experienced verbal abuse. They have been sworn at, hit or punched, kicked, spat at and head-butted, and one teacher even had a firework thrown in their direction. Most worryingly, there is growing evidence that female staff suffer more frequent violence and abuse than their male colleagues, with nearly half of female teachers in Scotland saying that they experienced physical abuse or violence from pupils, compared with 36 per cent of males.”
“Hear, hear! Pam Duncan-Glancy: I am pleased to bring this debate to the chamber, which is motivated by my deep concern about the deteriorating learning and working environment in schools in Scotland. Education is a great leveller, when we get it right. It can open horizons, build skills and deliver opportunity. For many, it can be a route out of poverty and into good and fair work. Education changed my life, and it is incumbent on all of us here to ensure that we build and deliver an education system that gives every young person in Scotland the tools that they need to get everything that they want out of life. Scotland’s education system was once the envy of the world but, sadly, after nearly two decades of the Scottish National Party Government, that is no longer the case. It is not just me who worries about that.”
“We should reflect on the fact that, although our system can, of course, always be refined and improved, there is already excellence. If we are going to have the type of conversation that we should have about improving our education and skills system, we must bear in mind that we already have strong underpinnings. 15:36”
“We have excellence in our colleges. For example, when culinary students from my local college, New College Lanarkshire, took over the restaurant in Parliament, Clare Adamson and I enjoyed their hospitality and the meal that they prepared. At its Motherwell campus, New College Lanarkshire also has a smart hub that helps hundreds of businesses to use robotics to improve their processes. Mr Rennie mentioned Dundee and Angus College. I have had the pleasure of visiting that excellent college, which is doing excellent activity. Edinburgh College, in Mr Johnson’s home city, with its digital care hubs, is preparing people for opportunities in health and social care, with a particular focus on technology-enabled care. I could go on with many examples from across the country that I have seen first hand.”
“We are starting to see that through graduate apprenticeships being embedded as part of our skills system. We should be willing to discuss that idea further. However, I cannot agree with the terms of Daniel Johnson’s motion, and I cannot agree with the notion that our skills system is letting down our young people. I agree with Alex Rowley that we should not talk down our system, but, when we use that type of terminology, we are at danger of doing so. The overwhelming majority of young people who leave school go on to a positive destination and have a life-changing experience, such as I had going on to further study at university, or going to college, into training—there are 38,000 apprentices in training right now—or into employment, and we should recognise that. I will pick up on what Alex Rowley said about focusing on colleges.”
“I absolutely agree that we should not be immune to any suggestion about how we can continue to improve our education and skills system. The minister made the point that we should not close down any discussion about how we can improve it. Mr Johnson’s motion says that we should improve careers advice in schools. I remind him that we have the careers collaborative, which is established and is already working towards that end. His idea about having a clearing system for apprenticeships is interesting and worthy of exploration. It would not be exactly analogous to the clearing system for universities, because it is a paid employment opportunity. However, I take on board the point that Lorna Slater made about the ability for pupils to attain graduate-level qualifications while simultaneously being in employment.”
“I thank Daniel Johnson for the debate. It is enormously important that we discuss this issue in the chamber, to ensure that not only our young people, but those who are already in the world of work—Liz Smith made that point—have the requisite skill set that they need in order to take up the opportunities that exist in the labour market. Those who are coming down the track are of fundamental importance. The nature of the labour market is changing. Daniel Johnson made the point about artificial intelligence changing the nature of our labour market. Automation will change the nature of our labour market, and changed patterns of consumption will do so, too. We also need to focus on the just transition, so debating the issue is important.”
“The Deputy First Minister mentioned the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019. Does she agree that, just as local communities are looking for improved bus services, Alexander Dennis is well placed to benefit from local authorities using the franchising powers that they have under the 2019 act? Kate Forbes: We want all local transport authorities to be able to improve the bus services in their areas. I have seen huge progress on that in my own part of Scotland. Through legislation, we have given local authorities powers on partnership working, franchising and running their own bus services. That approach enables local transport authorities to determine what it is best to do to address transport challenges in their local areas. That devolved decision making allows for a much more tailored approach across”
“The scheme has a significant impact, and we should be doing everything that we can to nudge that 80 per cent take-up closer to 100 per cent. We should be open to further expansion of the scheme. Mark Ruskell makes a reasonable case on that, but we need to be cognisant of the circumstances that we find ourselves in. The amendment in the name of the minister makes it clear that the scheme already costs £200.5 million. We are about to head into a budget process, and we are hearing, although it is not yet confirmed, that some changes that the UK Government is making to tax could lead to a £1 billion cut to our budget. That is the reality, so, although we need to accept that case, we must look at it realistically. I will support the amendment in the name of the minister. 16:39”
“I take Mark Ruskell’s point that young people are less likely to have disposable income; they could have just left school, they could be at the outset of their working lives on an apprenticeship or they could be continuing with their education. I spoke with a constituent who told me that her daughter used under-22 transport to get to and from university in Glasgow every day and noted how essential that is. We know that the scheme is an essential support for many young people. It is welcome that more than 80 per cent of eligible young people now access the scheme through a national entitlement card or a Young Scot national entitlement card. The Child Poverty Action Group says that it could save a child in Scotland up to £2,836 a year.”
“Looking at the issue through a local lens—a little wider than my household but still local—I note that the scheme has been enormously supportive to many young people in my constituency in the light of a decision by North Lanarkshire Council to end school transport entitlement for a great number of young people. I absolutely recognise, and it is important to say, that the concessionary scheme should not be used to supplement or replace any removal of bus travel. As an aside, I point out that the Scottish National Party group of councillors on North Lanarkshire Council identified funding to continue school buses, but Labour and Conservative councillors still voted the cuts through. Nonetheless, it is the case that young people travelling to and from school have been able to use their free bus travel entitlement to access school.”
“I return to the benefit to individuals. For a long time, people over the age of 60, people with eligible conditions and people with a disability have seen the benefit from being able to access the scheme and from being able to remain mobile and active in social and economic terms. I readily agree that the expansion of eligibility to under-22s has been a significant success, with more than 250 million journeys taken, which speaks to its story of success. I declare—although I do not need to declare it as an interest—that, like Mark Ruskell, I have two young people at home who qualify for free bus travel under the terms of eligibility.”
“I will make a short contribution to the debate. I recognise the fundamental importance of buses as a mode of transport and as a social and economic lifeline for many people, including many in my constituency. I recognise that, as members have mentioned and as the Labour amendment refers to, there has been a decline in the number of bus services and bus routes over the past period. That is undeniably true, and I have seen it in my area. I have had cause to raise that issue with the relevant parties, and, if time allows, I will come back to that point. In the context of the challenges that the bus sector faces, we must do all that we can. It is clear that the concessionary travel scheme has been important in supporting individuals, but its contribution has also been important in helping to sustain and support the bus sector.”
“I take this opportunity to publicly thank Jamie Hepburn for all that he has been doing to support Cumbernauld theatre.”
“The cabinet secretary has been engaging with Cumbernauld Theatre Trust in relation to support when its transition funding from Creative Scotland runs out. Can he provide an update and state his confidence in Cumbernauld theatre and its ability to successfully resolve the matter to enable it to continue the good work that it has been doing for the past 60 years? Angus Robertson: The Scottish Government understands the important role that Cumbernauld theatre plays in its community and the wider culture sector. As Mr Hepburn indicated, the Scottish Government continues to engage with the Cumbernauld Theatre Trust and the theatre’s other public sector partners, including Creative Scotland and North Lanarkshire Council, to support efforts to secure its future and to understand the options that are available to the trust.”
“The public consultation by the Cairngorms National Park Authority on the draft wording of the byelaws was carried out in 2024, and 79 per cent of respondents indicated their support for the introduction of fire management byelaws. We will absolutely be talking to local authorities and other agencies to ensure that we have that national resilience in place. People need to understand that we are now living in a very different world—wildfire is a threat, and we all need to be aware of it. We need to get the message out there, and we need people to understand that wildfire is now a real threat in Scotland. I hope that, by raising these issues in Parliament, we will get that message out to the people of”
“In April this year, there was a significant wildfire at Palacerigg country park in my constituency—a reminder that wildfire is not just a phenomenon of the summer months. How is the Scottish Government engaging with local authorities such as North Lanarkshire Council to consider preventative measures that are perhaps akin to the new byelaws that have been put in place in the Cairngorms? Jim Fairlie: Jamie Hepburn raises a good point. The new byelaws that have been put in place in the Cairngorms national park will prohibit outdoor fires and barbecues within the park between April and September, although camping stoves and barbecues will continue to be allowed.”
“That is something that COP30 must tackle head on. Not only must the world respond collectively, but Scotland must play its part too. 19:26”
“So, we should think about it not only as a moral imperative but as something that it is in our own direct self-interest to act on. As with all such things, this debate is short, so I will not go into great detail. The Oxfam briefing lays out some of the areas of concern in the great claims that rich countries have made about their contributions. They claim to have been able to mobilise “US$116bn in climate finance for 2022, but the real value ... is only US$28-35bn”, less than a third of the pledged amount. As a result of the fact that nearly two thirds of climate finance has been made as loans, often at standard rates of interest without concessions, climate finance is adding more each year to developing countries’ debt, which now stands at $3.3 trillion. Those are not sustainable solutions to sustainability challenges.”
“I was at the margins of COP26 and was pleased to be able to represent the Government at a few events. That £2 million contribution to the historic loss and damage fund was a clear demonstration of Scotland, and the Scottish Government’s, commitment to recognising our historic obligations. There is a moral imperative for us to contribute in that way. As Nicola Sturgeon referred to, it is about reparations; it is also in our own enlightened self- interest. Earlier today, at the Criminal Justice Committee, the chief constable spoke to us about some of the challenges in Scotland that arise from global geopolitical events. One of the contributors to global instability is our lack of interaction to try to find improvements for the global south.”
“I hope that we can once again reach a consensus that it is important for the Scottish Government to engage in such activity and for Parliament to deliberate on it. The context for this debate is COP30, which begins next week and is a reminder of the need for collective global action. I very much share Nicola Sturgeon’s concerns about the anti-science rhetoric that is creeping into our political discourse and should be tackled head on. I am sorry to say that we are hearing some of that even in this place, so we should raise our voices against it whenever we hear it. The other context speaks more widely to our ability as a country to contribute to meeting those challenges. It is important to look back to COP26, when the world looked to Glasgow and Nicola Sturgeon provided real leadership for the Scottish Government.”
“I thank Nicola Sturgeon for securing this debate and very much endorse the terms of her motion, to which I added my name in support. I welcome the debate because there has been a growing tendency of late for some in the chamber to scoff at or eschew the notion that this Parliament should discuss how we support the global south. It is of the utmost importance that we debate those matters. Nicola Sturgeon mentioned the First Minister’s recent visit to Malawi and Zambia, and the Oxfam Scotland briefing for this debate speaks positively of that visit and explains why it is important for Scotland to engage in such international activity. There has long been a consensus that we should support such activity which, we should remind ourselves, goes back to before the SNP’s time in Government and was, in many ways, begun by Jack McConnell.”
“I was recently in discussion with a constituent who talked about having moved their account from Clydesdale, because it closed in the area, to Santander, only then to face the loss of their local bank again. As Mr Hoy said, the challenge is particularly acute in rural areas, but it impacts urban Scotland as well. I will now focus on what might be an opportunity. It is not often that I agree with Murdo Fraser, who has now left the chamber, but I support the notion of banking hubs. I think that they could serve as an opportunity to pick up where we have lost some of the—”
“In 2017, we saw the closure of the Royal Bank of Scotland branch in Kilsyth. I should declare an interest as an account holder with the Royal Bank of Scotland. In 2020, we saw the closure of TSB in Kilsyth, which left Kilsyth, a town of more than 10,000 people, without a single retail bank. In 2022, Clydesdale Bank—I am sentimental, Presiding Officer; I will call it Clydesdale Bank rather than Virgin Money—closed its branch in Cumbernauld. Again, I should declare an interest as an account holder there. In 2024, we saw the closure of the Royal Bank of Scotland branch in Cumbernauld town centre, which followed an earlier closure of another branch in the town. Most recently, in 2025, we saw the closure of Santander in Cumbernauld.”
“In Scotland, the issue has been particularly acute. Scotland was the first area of the UK to experience the loss of more than half of its retail banks in that period. Of its 1,041 branches, 719 are now gone, and another 21 are set to go. That is 740 branches—or 71 per cent of the total number of retail banks that were in place in January 2015. I do not want to overly politicise my comments today, because the debate is primarily an opportunity to set out a constituency concern, but it is also about how banks are regulated. Regulation remains in the hands of the UK Government. I observe that Mr Hoy’s party was in government for almost the entirety of the previous decade, although we see the trend continuing under the Labour Government. I will talk about the local angle, as I think most members will do today.”
“I thank Craig Hoy for lodging the motion. I very much agree with its premise. The notion of a branch promise, as he states in his motion, is very much worthy of consideration. Thankfully, the Bank of Scotland branch in Cumbernauld is not one of the 13 that is set to close. However, my area has been hit hard by bank closures over a number of years—I will come back to that. Indeed, there will be very few of us, at best, who have not been impacted by those challenges. To set the overall context, on 29 September, Which? magazine laid out the scale of the change that we have seen over the past decade, since January 2015. Across the United Kingdom, banks and building societies have closed 6,561 branches at a rate of around 53 a month. That represents 66 per cent of the branches that were open at the start of 2015.”
“We all have the responsibility to address the fact that Scotland, along with countries elsewhere in these islands, is—as I said—a complete outlier in comparison with other European countries in relation to our prison population.”
“It is imperative that we consider, debate and engage with, for example, the findings that come from the commission. I am heartened that, outside the chamber, the discussions that I have had with Opposition spokespersons have always been on reasoned terms. We have had a constructive dialogue today—outwith the chamber—regarding the safety and rehabilitative purpose of prison, as well as what is required to reduce reoffending and protect victims. It is imperative that we all focus on solutions. That is what I am focused on, and it will, of course, be better for our justice system as a whole if we can all reach a consensus on what would be better.”