Liam McArthur
Scottish Liberal Democrats · Scotland
“I associate myself very much with the comments and requests of Kristopher Leask. This weekend sees the second Water Sound bluegrass festival take place in Burray, in my Orkney constituency. I therefore ask the cabinet secretary to offer congratulations to the organisers, Pete and Gail McAndrew, for getting the festival up and running.”
“I think that he said that it is taking place this weekend, in which case I hope that the weather holds up, as that could add something very special to a bluegrass festival.”
“I, too, thank the cabinet secretary for early sight of her statement, which obviously comes on the back of eye-watering rises in business rates earlier this year.”
“I have a constituent who, for the past nine years, has desperately sought treatment for swelling on his legs and groin that has progressively worsened and is now profoundly incapacitating. Having sought treatment in Scotland, it is clear that that is not available.”
“Jenny Gilruth: The Liberal Democrats engaged with us throughout the budget process last year and they were able to extract a number of things from the Government. I hope that other Opposition parties will learn from their good behaviour.”
“There are strengths in the current system but I accept that there are inherent challenges in relation to the issues presented by revaluation, for example, and the wider challenges that businesses are facing.”
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“The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-16803, in the name of Marie McNair, on testicular cancer awareness month. The debate will be concluded without any question being put. I encourage members who wish to participate to press their request-to-speak buttons.”
“Thank you, Deputy First Minister. Before I call the next speaker, I alert members to the fact that we have no time in hand and that, therefore, interventions will need to be accommodated in the allocated time. I invite Murdo Fraser to speak to and move amendment S6M-17352.3. You have up to 11 minutes, Mr Fraser. 14:52”
“The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-17074, in the name of Stuart McMillan, on behalf of the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee, on its inquiry into framework legislation and Henry VIII powers. I invite members who wish to participate in the debate to press their request-to-speak buttons now or as soon as possible. I call Stuart McMillan to speak to and move the motion on behalf of the committee. 14:55”
“Good afternoon. The first item of business is portfolio question time, and the portfolio is education and skills. I remind members who wish to ask a supplementary question to press their request-to-speak buttons during the relevant question. Teachers (Support) 1.”
“Motion debated, That the Parliament notes that Global Intergenerational Week runs from 24 to 30 April 2025; understands that the campaign originally started at a local level, grew to a national event and is now a global celebration in its sixth year; recognises that the aim of it is to inspire individuals, groups, organisations, local and national government, as well as non-government organisations, to fully embrace Intergenerational Week, which, it believes, will help connect people of all ages, particularly the younger and older generations; commends the work of Generations Working Together, which works in partnership with organisations from across the UK to promote intergenerational working across the country; recognises that this year’s theme is intergenerational learning and aims to highlight the findings of the World Health Organization’s Global Report on Ageism, which outlines the negative impact of ageism on society and recommends education as a key strategy to address it; understands that, for the first time, Generations Working Together welcomes a Global Intergenerational Week sponsor in global life sciences, the company, Bayer AG; recognises what it sees as the importance of intergenerational working in helping to create a fairer society, and welcomes all intergenerational work that has taken place, not only across Aberdeen Donside, but Scotland as a whole.”
“The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-16869, in the name of Jackie Dunbar, on global intergenerational week 2025. The debate will be concluded without any question being put. I invite members who wish to participate to press their request-to-speak buttons now, and I call Jackie Dunbar to open the debate.”
“The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-17242, in the name of Shirley- Anne Somerville, on the UK Government welfare reforms. I invite members who wish to participate in the debate to press their request-to-speak buttons now or as soon as possible. I call Shirley- Anne Somerville to speak to and move the motion. Cabinet secretary, you have around 13 minutes. 14:51”
“Good afternoon. The first item of business is portfolio questions. The first portfolio is Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, and parliamentary business. Members wishing to ask a supplementary question should press their request-to-speak buttons during the relevant question. There is quite a bit of demand, so brevity in questions and responses would be appreciated. Local and Regional Museums and Galleries 1.”
“The Scottish Government went to court over the definition of a woman and lost, and we got 30 minutes as parliamentarians to debate it. Maybe if we had had a full debate this afternoon on that ruling, Nicola Sturgeon would have turned up. All we have had from her, the former First Minister who took that legislation through this Parliament, is a selfie from the gym. We have had not a single comment on what she believes the judgment means about the legislation that she tried to pass, about the Government that she led and about the Government that she is still part of. Another point that I was hoping to discuss in the Parliament is the massive pay increase that has been awarded to Scottish Government ministers.”
“There were also some local issues that we wanted to discuss—I know that Stephen Kerr wanted to discuss the flood prevention scheme in Falkirk and the Scottish Government’s decision not to call that in. I asked for a statement about the £67 million loan that has gone to NHS Grampian—there are legitimate questions to ask the health secretary, who is sitting on the front bench and on his phone, and the Government in general about that situation— but that was refused. There are issues that we could have been debating today— Daniel Johnson: Will the member give way? Douglas Ross: I just want to make a bit of progress, if I can. We could have spent longer today debating the Supreme Court ruling, which has an international context because it has been reported on around the globe.”
“I can advise that, if the member remains relevant to the matter that we are discussing, I am happy to let him continue. That is not a point of order, Mr Harvie. Douglas Ross: Can you confirm that I will get my time back, Presiding Officer? The Deputy Presiding Officer: You will get your time back, Mr Ross. Douglas Ross: I am grateful, because I am just going through some of the points that one party in the chamber would have liked to be debating on our first day back after the recess. When Mr Harvie made his spurious point of order, I was speaking about the care home sector. It is something that affects every one of our constituencies and regions, but we are not getting an opportunity to debate it.”
“The next item of business is a joint committee debate on the Aarhus convention and access to environmental justice. I invite members who wish to participate in the debate to press their request-to-speak buttons now or as soon as possible. I call Karen Adam to open the debate on behalf of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. 15:59”
“The next item of business is a statement by Alasdair Allan on the heat in buildings bill. The minister will take questions after the statement, so there should be no interventions or interruptions. 15:27”
“To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to provide continuity of funding through the rural and islands housing fund. (S6O-04543)”
“Motion debated, That the Parliament applauds the work of the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) and what it sees as the groundbreaking work that it is doing with the Foundation Academy, which is a 12-month programme helping pupils across S5 and S6 to develop academic skills, experience university-level study, and visit a university campus in order to boost their confidence in pursuing higher education and strengthen university applications; understands that the programme is the first of its kind in Scotland and has been recognised by various institutions as an alternative pathway to meeting the required qualifications to enter university; acknowledges how successful the academy has reportedly been for the thousands of pupils who have benefited from the additional support offered since the launch of the programme in 2022, and praises the time and effort of all those involved in the creation and running of the programme for the impact that this is having on pupils, including those in the Paisley constituency, who otherwise may not have been able to attend university.”
“Welcome back. The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-16633, in the name of George Adam, on celebrating the University of the West of Scotland’s groundbreaking foundation academy. The debate will be concluded without any question being put. I invite members wishing to participate to press their request-to-speak buttons.”
“The Deputy Presiding Officer: We move to the open debate. I advise members that, given the late start to the debate, I expect everyone to stick to their agreed speaking time of up to four minutes. 18:42”
“I understand that one such descendant has quite a big job in American politics at the moment, although today is perhaps not the best day to be hailing those connections. However, that highlights that what ties all that together is the people. Island communities are tight knit and fiercely proud. They are not waiting for handouts; they are building solutions. Scotland’s islands have an entrepreneurial spirit, with a can-do attitude that is often breathtaking. Scotland’s islands are a paradox: they are small in size, but their achievements and their potential for future success are massive. Their economies blend old and new, their challenges demand action, and their innovations light the way forward. They remind us that, even on the edges of a nation, big things can happen. Let us celebrate them, support them and learn from them.”
“For modesty reasons, I will not highlight my own sporting successes—[Interruption.]—nor those of my fellow Orcadians Liam McArthur and Neil Gray, both of whom are laughing. However, my ancestor played for Scotland in one of the first rugby internationals, while Shetland hosted the island games in 2005. Orkney will host the same games in July, in only 100 days’ time, when it will welcome athletes from island communities across the world. More generally, Scotland’s islanders have left these shores to explore the world. They include John Rae—a notable explorer, but one who has been much overshadowed, unfortunately. Many others have left Scotland—not always through choice, of course. Some of their descendants have reached remarkable heights.”
“The islands also produce innovations in our food and drink sector. Arran’s craft gin and Harris’s tweed and gin combo are turning heritage into profit. As far as culture is concerned, the islands punch well above their weight. Shetland’s Up Helly Aa fire festival draws thousands of people each year, while Gaelic music from the Hebrides will echo worldwide when the Western Isles hosts the Mòd in 2027. Skye is home to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Scotland’s Gaelic college. The island is also where Ciorstaidh Beaton, who was judged musician of the year at the 2024 Trad music awards, hails from. Members who come to this evening’s islands showcase event after the debate will be able to hear Ciorstaidh play her harp. Our islands produce amazing sportspeople, too.”
“The ReFLEX project has looked at how to better use renewable energy to link what is produced with demand, working to ensure more efficient use of energy and less waste. However, Shetland is even more remarkable than that, because—again, I hope that members will excuse the pun—it is boldly going where no Scottish island has gone before. When I visited the proposed site of the SaxaVord spaceport, a year or so after I became an MSP, it was hard to picture it as anything more than a good place to keep sheep. However, the site on Unst now hosts the first fully licensed vertical launch spaceport in Europe, which is designed for small rockets to deliver payloads into low earth orbit. I did not want to overuse “Star Trek” references, but I am going to: Scotland’s islands are pioneers in conquering space—the final frontier.”
“Climate change looms large, too. Rising sea levels threaten low-lying areas such as parts of the Outer Hebrides, where storms batter infrastructure. However, those challenges are not the whole story, because Scotland’s islands are fighting back, and they are doing so with an ingenuity that is—to be frank—-astonishing. Let us talk about the amazing things that are happening. Renewable energy is a game changer. Orkney has become a global pioneer in green tech. Its tidal and wind projects generate more electricity than the islands can use, so surplus is exported to the mainland. The European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney is testing various wave and tidal devices that could power the world some day.”
“They want to be supported in being given the opportunities to find a lot of the solutions and in making a massive contribution, as they already do, to Scotland’s wider economy. That is a really important point. To return to the challenges, I note that there is also the threat of depopulation. Young people often leave for education or jobs on the mainland and do not come back, or they cannot come back because there are no homes available for them to move into. That can leave behind ageing communities, without the people who are needed to provide care for the ageing population. In Barra, for example, the population has shrunk by a third since the 1980s. If we add to that the high cost of living, fuel and food, as well as house prices, which are higher than they are in urban Scotland, we have a recipe for resilience being tested daily.”
“I thank Jamie Halcro Johnston not just for taking my intervention but for securing the debate and for the work that he has been doing in the cross-party group on islands. He made the point about the importance of Orkney, Shetland and islands on the west coast to our food and drink, energy and tourism sectors. That suggests that any investments that are made, including those in transport and digital infrastructure, are about allowing not only our islands to fulfil their potential but Scotland to fulfil its potential. It is not about subsidising islands; it is about releasing their potential so that the country as a whole can fulfil its potential. Jamie Halcro Johnston: I could not agree more with Liam McArthur. That point came up in the round-table sessions that we held in the Parliament today. Islands do not need handouts.”
“Motion debated, That the Parliament notes its disappointment at reports that the promised Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodivergence Bill was not announced in the most recent Programme for Government; believes that people with learning disabilities, autism and neurodivergence in Lothian and across Scotland are structurally excluded and disadvantaged, and that it is harder for them to achieve their potential than people who are neurotypical; considers that the measures included in the draft Bill, such as creating and upholding statutory rights, improving access to mental health services and tailoring education provision, would break down some of the barriers faced by people with learning disabilities, autism or neurodivergence, given that a reported 37% of schoolchildren reportedly have additional support needs but that only 6% of teachers are trained to provide these, and notes the calls on the Scottish Government to provide clarity on its commitment to legislating in this area.”
“The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-16644, in the name of Daniel Johnson, on the learning disabilities, autism and neurodivergence bill. The debate will be concluded without any question being put, and I invite members who wish to participate to press their request-to-speak buttons.”
“There is a need for wider and more fundamental reform of Scotland’s system of inquiries into deaths. However, in the absence of that reform, I do not think that it is right to make the perfect the enemy of the good. As with any bill, more detail, more clarity and some changes are required, but Scottish Liberal Democrats will support the bill at decision time. I very much look forward to working with colleagues across the chamber and with the Government to improve the bill ahead of stage 3. The Deputy Presiding Officer: We move to the open debate. 15:42”
“Indeed, Scottish Liberal Democrats have consistently highlighted the failures of Scotland’s FAI system, with delays dragging on for years in some instances. Jamie Greene made that point very well in his earlier intervention. I know that ministers are aware of those challenges, and the proposals for joint and multi- agency reviews are not unhelpful in that regard. However, the lack of detail about how such reviews would be implemented in practice means that there is a risk that existing problems of complexity and co-ordination could be exacerbated. As Social Work Scotland warns, “Layering on additional Review processes onto a cluttered and unaligned landscape adds to complexity within the system.” The cabinet secretary seemed to acknowledge that in her opening remarks.”
“Even so, given the significance of such a change, ministers and the Parliament need to be as clear as possible about our collective expectations. Turning briefly to part 2 of the bill, I understand that the proposal for domestic homicide and suicide reviews is aimed at closing a gap in Scotland’s current review landscape. The move appears to have been broadly welcomed by many of the people who gave evidence to the committee, but COSLA and Social Work Scotland have raised concerns about how the proposals will interact with the already complex review landscape in Scotland. At national and local levels, Scotland has multiple systems for mandatory and discretionary reviews, some of which already partly overlap. Reforms and modernisation are certainly needed.”
“That is perhaps reinforced by the evidence that the committee heard about the virtual custody court pilot in Kilmarnock, which, as Pauline McNeill reminded us, took four or five times longer than normal to hear cases and was called “a singular failure” by the SSBA. All that said, virtual attendance clearly has benefits for the accused and for victims. Therefore, like the committee, I find myself supporting the principle, subject to the bill including more detail on the framework for virtual attendance. Broad guidelines do not seem to be sufficient in this instance. The cabinet secretary argued in her letter to the committee that courts are familiar with the existing test of whether virtual attendance would be contrary to the interests of justice.”
“That is already an issue in my constituency, and we are seeing problems around access to legal aid support in many rural and island areas. Lawyer- client relationships are clearly integral to ensuring that our justice system is accessible to all and functioning as we would hope. Those of us who represent rural and island communities are also well aware that not everyone has access to reliable or affordable internet. More generally, the Law Society of Scotland has raised concerns that witnesses might be prompted off- camera and that testimony could otherwise be insecure, and Police Scotland is worried that it does not have the resources to keep up with a significant expansion in virtual attendance. As such, there could be more delays to justice, rather than more flexibility and efficiency.”
“More problematic, however, is the move to make the current court powers around virtual attendance permanent. In principle that could increase flexibility, speed up our justice system and allow for better access. However, virtual attendance was an emergency stop-gap during the pandemic, and the committee has heard that serious practical concerns would need to be addressed properly before such changes are made permanent. That point formed a large part of Pauline McNeill’s speech, which I found to be very helpful. Virtual attendance can create difficulties for those who are attending court for the first time and can make it harder for solicitors to speak to their clients and develop relationships with them.”
“I note and welcome the general consensus that there seems to be around the need to maintain the provisions, which have clearly and demonstrably assisted our justice system, while finding a sensible pathway back to the previous time limits. The move towards the electronic signing and sending of documents, and changes relating to copy documents, are positive outcomes, which were spurred on by Covid but are perhaps long overdue in any event. Maggie Chapman strongly made that point, and, indeed, we have seen evidence of that in the Parliament’s workings. The increase in fiscal fines also seems reasonable as it reflects the inflationary pressures since the last levels were set—although I note the concerns that were raised by colleagues who are on the committee.”
“Like others, I thank the Criminal Justice Committee for the stage 1 report. To pick up the point made by Liam Kerr and Pauline McNeill, the report rather suggests that the committee is as legislatively inundated as its predecessor was in the previous session, and therefore, as well as offering my thanks, I offer my condolences. I also thank all those who have informed the report through written and oral evidence. As colleagues have observed, the bill’s two parts are quite different. As Liam Kerr alluded to, ideally, they merit being treated separately, although I appreciate the constraints on parliamentary time and Government resources. Let me take each part in turn. As we have heard, part 1 deals with the looming deadline for temporary pandemic provisions coming to an end.”
“What steps is the Government taking to increase the notice period that is given to councils or to enable funds to be reallocated in time to allow councils in areas with the highest levels of fuel poverty and extreme fuel poverty, such as Orkney Islands Council, to do more? Alasdair Allan: I am happy to correspond with Liam McArthur on the issue that he raises specifically on Orkney. I acknowledge the point that he makes about island areas having among the worst fuel poverty rates in the country, so I will happily try to be of help. On Liam McArthur’s first point, I do not see a contradiction in seeking to work constructively with the UK Government where we can on issues such as a social tariff, while pointing out the error of the UK Government’s ways. Its inactivity on the cost of fuel is leading directly to making people fuel poor.”
“I thank the minister for providing early sight of his statement. I certainly look forward to seeing how his strategy of blaming fuel poverty entirely on the UK Government, while talking up his chances of working collaboratively with UK ministers, pans out. On the issue of area-based energy efficiency schemes, which have proved effective in reducing bills, heating homes and cutting emissions, the minister will be aware of concerns that local authorities have raised about a lack of notice of funding allocations, which has led to an estimated underspend in the budget of around £60 million.”
“The next item of business is a statement by Angela Constance on the response to fatal accident inquiries—deaths in custody. The cabinet secretary will take questions at the end of her statement, so there should be no interventions or interruptions. 14:51”
“Good afternoon. The first item of business this afternoon is portfolio question time. The portfolio on this occasion is net zero and energy, and transport. I remind members who wish to ask a supplementary question to press their request-to-speak button during the relevant question. Housing (Upgrades) 1.”
“Motion debated, That the Parliament notes the recent publication by Professor Jen Ang of the legal briefing, Ending Destitution in Scotland – a Road Map for Policymakers; further notes that this report was commissioned by I-SPHERE and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, as part of the Fair Way Scotland partnership, following the publication in September 2024 of the paper Destitution by Design: righting the wrongs of UK immigration policy in Scotland; understands that the legal briefing sets out clear, actionable steps that lie within the powers of the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government to reduce destitution for people coming to Scotland to study, work, join family or seek sanctuary; further understands that there are clear recommendations about access to social security and financial support, housing, transport, health and social care, justice and legal aid, education, and work; notes the view that the Scottish Government can and should be doing more to prevent destitution in Scotland, including in the North East Scotland region; further notes the view that the complexity of UK immigration law, and the challenges of striking the right balance in the exercise of powers within the devolution settlement, must no longer be an excuse for failure to act on the part of the Scottish Government and local authorities, in the face of what it sees as overwhelming evidence of the harms caused to people with no recourse to public funds/other restricted eligibility, and to the communities in which they live; notes the view that Scotland can create a fairer system based on need and the realisation of rights, ensuring that everyone has access to essential services and what they need to live a life of dignity, regardless of their immigration status; further notes the calls on the Scottish Government to act on each of the recommendations, including to review devolved policy to eliminate unintended exclusions from support, to establish and scale up the financial support available, to ensure appropriate training and resources for all frontline workers, and to negotiate a clearer understanding of “public funds”, as defined by the Home Office, and congratulates the Fair Way Scotland Partnership on its ongoing work to prevent destitution in Scotland.”
“The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-16539, in the name of Maggie Chapman, on “Ending Destitution in Scotland—A Road Map for Policymakers”. The debate will be concluded without any question being put.”
“Notwithstanding that, the Scottish Liberal Democrats will support the general principles of the bill this evening, in the interests of kick-starting a process of reform that has stalled, and with the aim of re-energising our rural communities. 16:10”
“Definitions require further clarity, not least in relation to sustainable and regenerative agriculture. At a time when there is already a worrying decline in the number of agricultural tenancies, care must be taken to avoid creating uncertainty that would simply undermine what we should be seeking to achieve through the reforms. Finally, I note with concern the Scottish Land Commission’s view that the bill will require fairly fundamental revision at stages 2 and 3. All bills are subject to amendment, but it places the Parliament in an invidious position if it is expected to radically overhaul legislation during the scrutiny process. With good reason, the Parliament expects Government to undertake robust pre- legislative consultation and preparation. For whatever reason, that does not appear to have been the case in this instance.”
“Indeed, it is part of a pattern of the Government introducing legislation either in haste or before it has done all the necessary preparatory work. The proposal for lotting makes sense if we are to achieve greater diversification of ownership. Again, I support the committee’s call for the transfer test to be revised and to ensure that it is very much driven by public interest. I turn briefly to the provisions in part 2 relating to the leasing of land. They appear to be a bit of a mixed bag, with some welcome elements alongside other aspects that give rise to concern. For example, however well intentioned, legislating in ways that retrospectively impact on existing contracts seems legally dubious and politically inadvisable—a point that Fergus Ewing made.”
“Does he agree that, once you get to small-scale farms of 1,000 hectares or less, funding £10,000 for a management plan every five years is prohibitive? Liam McArthur: That is certainly a concern that I would have. Whether a 1,000-hectare farm would be referred to as a small-scale farm would be open to debate, but, as I say, we need to fully understand how that will impact people and who it will impact. On balance, the committee is right to recommend that the Government keeps the issue under review, for those very reasons. Like the committee, the Scottish Liberal Democrats support extending community right to buy as a means of further empowering and revitalising communities. However, including such provisions in the bill before the review into community right to buy has concluded is regrettable and, I would argue, risky.”
“The creation of land management plans by landowners on the basis of community engagement is certainly a sound principle and should result in greater and necessary transparency. On the disagreement among stakeholders and within the committee over thresholds, I will continue to listen to the debate. I certainly sympathise with the view that a threshold of 3,000 hectares is on the high side but would like to fully understand the implications of reducing it to 1,000 hectares, particularly in the context of the earlier point about avoiding unnecessary administrative headaches. Edward Mountain: Liam McArthur makes an interesting point about reducing the size of the threshold for land management plans. The costs are interesting, too.”
“Any legislation must strike an appropriate balance between rights and responsibilities. In that respect, when I read the committee’s report, I was struck by the fact that, although there were fundamentally opposing views on the objectives and intentions of part 1 of the bill, there appeared to be a broad consensus that its approach is potentially burdensome, bureaucratic and unlikely to deliver. I wholly agree with the committee’s view that “If Part 1 becomes law, it should set out processes that are as simple as they can be” and that “are not an administrative headache”. That is the best way, if not the only way, to deliver the positive change that people and communities expect and require.”
“Even so, those figures suggest that land reform has to date fallen short and, as the committee suggests, lost momentum, and that has consequences. We know that a lack of available land can create problems for rural communities and can impact on, for example, the quality and availability of local services, affordable housing and economic development. That said, it is important to acknowledge in the debate the fact that rural landowners and land managers are often at the forefront of efforts to tackle climate change and restore nature, while also producing food and providing jobs and economic growth. Indeed, big is not necessarily bad, with estates of scale often delivering wider public goods. Mercedes Villalba: Will Liam McArthur take an intervention? Liam McArthur: I will not take an intervention, I am afraid.”
“As others have observed, land reform is an issue with which successive Governments and Parliaments have grappled, dating back to the act that ended feudal tenure being passed in the year that the Parliament was first re-established. However, despite those interventions and the laudable intentions of MSPs across parties, the concentration of land ownership appears to have increased over the years. Research shows that 2,588 landowners own 70 per cent of privately owned rural land in Scotland today, which is down from 3,161 in 2012. The committee rightly acknowledges that patterns of land ownership in Scotland are unusually concentrated and that levels of regulation are low by international standards. I accept that what matters is a question not solely of ownership but of how land is used.”
“I start by congratulating the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee on its report and its convener on an Olympic-standard declaration of interests. I thank those who gave evidence to the committee and who have provided briefings for the debate, including our former colleague Andy Wightman—it is right that his voice is being heard in the debate, although it will probably surprise him that it has come from the front bench of the Conservatives. I also thank the cabinet secretary and her officials for their engagement with me on the bill. I put on record my disappointment at her decision not to stand at the next election. She is a good friend and a respected colleague, and she will be missed.”
“The next item of business is a statement by Natalie Don-Innes on secure accommodation capacity in Scotland. The minister will take questions at the end of her statement, so there should be no interventions or interruptions. 14:52”