Maurice Golden
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party · Scotland
“Large numbers of young people continue to be referred to child and adolescent mental health services, and the waiting times that they face illustrate the scale of demand that is put on the system. In NHS Tayside, there is only one facility: Dudhope young people’s unit, which admits an average of 20 young people per year.”
“Beat’s helplines, peer support groups and campaigns continue to provide essential help for people who are suffering from eating disorders, not least by giving people the opportunity to connect and share their experiences. Those services are only part of the picture.”
“I am pleased to speak in support of the motion recognising eating disorders awareness week 2026, as I have done in previous years, and I thank Elena Whitham for securing the debate.”
“Recent data from the 2024 Scottish health survey reveal that around 26 per cent of people aged 16 to 24 reported eating behaviours and feelings related to food that could be indicative of a possible eating disorder—the proportion was far higher than in older age groups.”
“We must ensure that no young person in Scotland feels alone in their struggle and that their communities in schools, workplaces and families are empowered to support them.”
“To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent changes to Scottish Qualifications Authority policy permitting internet-enabled devices, such as Chromebooks, in exams, what action it is taking to ensure that pupils who rely on speech-to-text as their normal way of working are not, in practice, prevented from using this technology durin…”
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“That will allow our legislative successors to decide whether the act is working effectively and, if it is, to consider whether it would be appropriate to extend its provisions to other animals. I have always considered that the Scottish Parliament needs to get better at post- legislative scrutiny—my bill will embed that in this area. I thank the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee for its excellent scrutiny and stage 1 report, all stakeholders who gave evidence to the committee and those who, earlier in the process, responded to the consultation on my bill proposal. I welcome the scrutiny that was provided by the lead committee, by the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee and by the Finance and Public Administration Committee. The lead committee’s report is balanced, rigorous and fair.”
“That means that people who rely on assistance dogs to help them to perform day-to-day tasks will have an additional layer of protection under the law. The bill requires the Scottish Government to collect data on incidents of dog theft and to publish and lay that data before the Parliament through an annual report. It was clear in stage 1 evidence that better data needs to be collected on incidents of dog theft. I was pleased to hear that Police Scotland is already taking steps to do that. Collecting reliable data and reporting to Parliament on that data represents good public sector governance and ensures transparency. My bill also requires the Scottish Government to review the act after five years and to report to the Parliament on its operation.”
“It makes dog theft a specific statutory offence, with penalties of up to 12 months in prison under summary proceedings and five years under solemn proceedings, and/or a fine that can be up to the statutory maximum in summary proceedings or unlimited in solemn proceedings. The bill provides for the ability of dog-theft victims to make a statement to the court telling of the impact and trauma of the loss of the dog. That will mean that they can tell the court about the full impact of the theft on them and on the dog. There have been wider developments in relation to victim statements, which I will cover in closing. The bill provides for a statutory aggravation for the theft of an assistance dog.”
“At United Kingdom level, dog theft is now a stand-alone offence, as established by the Pet Abduction Act 2024. There are other cases of stand-alone statutory offences having been established in Scots law where an action is already illegal under common law. Most notable among those is the offence created by the Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Act 2021, which was introduced as a member’s bill in the previous parliamentary session and was piloted through the Parliament by Daniel Johnson. That act created the new stand-alone offence of assaulting, threatening or abusing retail workers while they are on duty. I will go through each part of my bill in turn.”
“Losing a dog as a result of theft compounds that trauma. Stealing a family pet, whether for financial reward or any other reason, is a wicked act and should be treated accordingly by the law. Currently, if a dog is stolen, the crime would be prosecuted under the common-law offence of theft, as with the theft of any other item, such as a bike, television or clock. That does not reflect the sentient nature of dogs, the emotional attachment between owner and dog, or the impact that the loss of a dog has on the wider family, nor does it reflect the pain and trauma that are experienced by the dog. That is why I and many others— including 97 per cent of respondents to my consultation—believe that the bill is both necessary and a priority. There is precedent out there.”
“I thank my team, as well as the parliamentary clerks and the additional member in charge of the bill, Christine Grahame. It is a privilege to stand here today on behalf of dog owners and dog lovers across Scotland, as well as for dogs themselves and for anyone who is passionate about animal welfare, the principles of justice and societal wellbeing. The American naturalist and animal welfare campaigner Roger Caras said: “Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” As any dog lover will attest, they most certainly do. A dog is not an item; it is man’s best friend, according to George Graham Vest. Dogs are valued and loved members of the family. They are loved by individuals, neighbourhoods and communities more widely. Losing a dog is heartbreaking and traumatic, whatever the circumstances.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what the current state of readiness is for the upcoming ban on biodegradable municipal waste to landfill. (S6O-05011)”
“To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has allocated from its budget 2025-26 to support local authorities to improve waste management services, in line with its plan for a transition to a circular economy. (S6O-04974)”
“There needs to be peace; there needs to be an approach that means that those skills can be deployed safely. That is what we are lacking just now. The necessity of a peaceful outcome is critical to enabling Mr Golden’s very good suggestions to take their course.”
“To aid the humanitarian effort, the Scottish Government could further activate its soft power to promote, for example, expertise at the University of Dundee, notably in the areas of groundwater aquifer utilisation to support the supply of drinking water, and cutting-edge research in housing and community design for those who are temporarily displaced. Will the First Minister consider that? The First Minister: I would be happy to consider that. In his question, Mr Golden has highlighted some of the great strengths that exist in the University of Dundee, of which I am very proud and which are an essential part of what has been deployed on other occasions in other circumstances around the world. He has made a very good and strong point. However, it comes back to the context in which those strengths could be deployed.”
“We will continue to engage with the Scottish Funding Council on reassuring ourselves of the totality of the liquidity ask.”
“Mr Golden rightly speaks to the impact of international immigration—of course that will be a factor. Indeed, there will be fluctuating factors in the years to come that will impact on the totality of that figure. We are therefore working with the Scottish Funding Council to reassure ourselves about that final figure. However, we are also asking the university to look more widely at other sources of funding, because there is not a sustainable future without that. I do not think that any of us here accept that the Government should directly provide on-going funding. We need to work with the university to allow it to come up with a plan that sets out a sustainable future, which was the point that Mr Briggs quite rightly made. I agree with the member’s points.”
“The Scottish Government providing £40 million to the University of Dundee, subject to due diligence, is very welcome. However, the liquidity gap of between £45 million and £60 million will remain across the next two academic years. Do those estimates factor in the expected recruitment challenges in the domestic and international markets as a result of a reduction in the number of courses and reputational damage? Will the Scottish Government offer any long-term assurance on that liquidity gap beyond what the cabinet secretary has highlighted today? Jenny Gilruth: Mr Golden hits on an important point, and I welcome his support for the £40 million that has been announced. There are issues in relation to the estimates that have been provided to ministers, and we will have to reassure ourselves of the totality of the ask from the public purse.”
“To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to reports that up to 100 truckloads of Scotland’s waste will be moved each day to England as a result of the landfill ban on biodegradable waste. (S6F-04195)”
“Will waste that is collected in Scotland be allocated UK wide? That means that Scotland will not have an opportunity to utilise the value of that waste and, for example, set up plastic recycling facilities. Perhaps the cabinet secretary would raise that with the UK Government. I have been unable to obtain a meeting. The Presiding Officer: I call Fiona Hyslop, cabinet secretary—”
“Scheme materials are exempt from extended producer responsibility for packaging, which means that non-scheme articles will pay. That will be particularly challenging if there is a delay. Local authorities will lose at least £1,500 per tonne on dry mixed recyclates. How will they be compensated? How will kerbside collections be affected? What will be the impact on local authority recycling rates? Will there be job losses? How will small independent retailers be supported—for example, by accessing reverse vending machines or incentive schemes? I note the exemption. What will that mean for using glass as a packaging product, particularly as we have a glass recycling plant in Scotland? Will Scottish waste-management small and medium-sized enterprises be part of the scheme and be able to bid to access that waste?”
“I want to make clear that deposit return schemes can have a positive effect on the recycling rates for those items in the scheme, and a limited effect on overall recycling rates. The schemes work well and successfully across the globe but not in Scotland, although it is worth while pointing out that Scotland—indeed, the UK— would be the first to introduce such a scheme with advanced kerbside recycling. I appreciate that the cabinet secretary is not directly responsible for the scheme as it is now, but we nevertheless have a duty in this place to stand up for Scotland’s interests, and I have several concerns. The legislation that is before us has a registration application date before 1 August 2027; however, what if the scheme were to be delayed?”
“To ask the Scottish Government how it will support NHS Tayside to improve its physical infrastructure to help to deliver better health outcomes. (S6O-04813)”
“The most popular option that was chosen during the recent latte levy consultation was “No thanks”. I recognise that some climate change policies will not always be popular, but can the minister tell the chamber what the estimated reduction in emissions would be as a result of the proposed latte levy? Alasdair Allan: I will write to the member— actually, I will not. Someone else will write to him in due course with the information that he seeks. The member is right to point to the fact that not every policy will be popular initially. It is important that the Parliament consults meaningfully and listens to people but, ultimately, we must be clear in our message that we have to reduce our carbon emissions in the future. That particular policy might well be part of that work.”
“When the Greens were in Government, we saw a massive expansion in incineration capacity, which is used to power heat networks, particularly in Scandinavia. Some might say that it was a case of, “Burn, baby, burn.” What is the Scottish Government’s view on using renewables to power those heat networks, as opposed to burning stuff? Alasdair Allan: As we have seen in other parts of Europe, the helpful thing about many heat networks is the move that has been made from “burning stuff”, as the member put it, to other forms of power. My officials are working jointly with the UK Government to commission guidance that will look at the issue of waste heat. We are also looking at how to ensure that the heat in buildings bill incentivises renewably powered heat networks in the future.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what the implications and consequences of not achieving net zero by 2045 would be for Scotland, including the economy. (S6O-04798)”
“Let us remember that the girls were sent to Fornethy by the state—Glasgow Corporation, as it was then, and, later, Strathclyde Regional Council. Those institutions had a duty of care, and a long- established legal and, indeed, moral obligation. It is a matter for the courts—as well as, in my view, the redress scheme—to determine the validity of the harrowing, horrific stories of abuse that I have heard. Let us make sure that the women who are in the public gallery—and all those who could not be here today—know that we are with them, that we will listen to them and that we will speak up for them. 13:09”
“For me, one instance is one too many and it will have ramifications for the rest of that child’s life. Ms Robison appeared to suggest at committee that restrictions were put in place because expanding the scheme would set a precedent that would lead to many more cases. My view is that all victims of abuse should have access to redress no matter the length of time that they endured it for and regardless of how historical that abuse was. Sadly, these roadblocks to restitution—whether they are missing records, unanswered questions or a lack of compensation—all help to keep old wounds open. These women should expect our current institutions to allow them access to natural justice in addition to formal legal proceedings.”
“I hope that we all agree that it was not the responsibility of children. Scotland’s redress scheme is a mechanism to help survivors of abuse, but it has been closed to the survivors of Fornethy, because it does not cover abuse that happened during short-term residential stays. I understand that the scheme was not set up to deal with abuse in short-term care, but, as the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee has recommended, the Scottish Government should consult on expanding it to include short-term institutions such as Fornethy. I know that the Scottish Government has previously refused to expand the scheme’s criteria, but I think that the public would find it outrageous that compensation was being declined because, in effect, the victims did not stay in a place of abuse and cruelty for long enough.”
“As Colin Smyth pointed out, some of the girls— now women—are here today in the public gallery, and I recognise the courage that it took to be here, as well as the great courage that they have shown over decades in refusing to be silent and in fighting for their voices to be heard. That said, as the Deputy Presiding Officer has pointed out, there are live court cases, so care must be taken to ensure that discussion is only in the context of the motion that is before us. Therefore, the language that I use and the issues that I raise should be viewed through that prism. It certainly has not been easy for survivors. In March 2024, the former Deputy First Minister, Shona Robison, pointed to an absence of official records of the girls’ time at Fornethy. I struggle to understand how that is possible. Who is responsible for it?”
“I thank Colin Smyth for bringing forward the debate. It is not the first time that he has done so, and that is to his great credit, because he has been a long-standing and tireless campaigner on behalf of the Fornethy survivors. The motion makes clear the horrific experiences that these girls suffered at Fornethy—experiences that no child should have to endure. In those circumstances, I can only imagine the trauma of living with that for decades. We can sympathise with them and we can offer them support, but none of us can truly understand what that trauma would be like.”
“If parliamentarians and other people who sit on commissions cannot effect change in this Parliament, it is no wonder that ordinary Scots feel that they cannot influence it. Does the member agree? Maurice Golden: Some of the recommendations were taken on board but, to be honest, they were largely niche and limited in their nature. Ultimately, in order to build trust, we need to go far further, far faster.”
“The “Life in the UK 2024 Scotland” report gave Scotland a democratic wellbeing score of just 39 out of 100. The findings included the fact that 63 per cent of people disagreed that they could influence decisions that affected Scotland. I wonder what percentage that would be for members of the Scottish Parliament. Stephen Kerr: Mr Golden mentioned the 2017 commission and the statistics on Scots who feel that they cannot influence this Parliament. However, if I am correct, the 2017 commission made a number of really straightforward, low- hanging-fruit recommendations on how this Parliament might be reformed. To my knowledge, none of them was taken up. It was an excellent report, and nothing was done about it.”
“The first point of the report notes that, when this Parliament was established, one of the founding principles that the consultative steering group on the Scottish Parliament set out was that “the Scottish Parliament should be accessible, open, responsive, and develop procedures which make possible a participative approach to the development, consideration and scrutiny of policy and legislation”. The second point of the report highlights the warning from the 2017 commission on parliamentary reform, which stated that “Failing to engage meaningfully with citizens can lead to dissatisfaction with democracy and a lack of trust in the decision takers.” The stark reality is that, in Scotland, public trust in our politicians is at an all-time low.”
“As a member of the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee, I thank all those who participated in the committee’s review of the embedding of deliberative democracy in the work of the Scottish Parliament. Particular thanks go to the members of the public who took part in the Parliament’s people’s panels and to the clerks who supported the committee in its work and in the production of the report. It would be worth Parliament’s while to reflect closely on the wider issues that are alluded to throughout the report, notably the issues of the erosion of public trust and a feeling of disenfranchisement in our political processes and institutions.”
“If we do not do that, we will allow the climate sceptics to hijack those concerns and turn them into a broader backlash against net zero. No one who is serious about climate action wants to impoverish people or place unsustainable demands on households. On the contrary, we want climate action to deliver thriving, wealthy and sustainable communities. Community ownership of energy is an opportunity to help to deliver that, but only if we move beyond promises and deliver the funding and frameworks to make it happen. 16:47”
“Maurice Golden: I recognise that there are opportunities, but the community benefits of Whitelee, the largest onshore wind farm in Europe, have generally been around East Renfrewshire, when just down the road is Castlemilk, which is an area that really requires those benefits. However, I take the member’s general point. We have all heard from constituents who are struggling with their energy bills. Some of the causes, such as global geopolitics and supply chain shocks, are outwith our control, although circular economy policies can mitigate those somewhat. Concerns that net zero might push bills higher are real, and we need to listen to and act on them. We need to be honest and say that bills will come down with net zero, but only in the long term.”
“They should be able to embrace it as an opportunity that they can shape and share in. Of course, we have to recognise that not every community can host energy projects, especially those in dense urban areas, but that does not mean that they have to lose out. Sarah Boyack: There are opportunities in our urban areas. We could have projects like the Edinburgh Community Solar Co-operative right across our urban areas, and we could have community heat networks in urban and rural areas. It is about taking a joined-up approach and seizing the opportunities, and it is not just about rural areas—the whole of Scotland needs to benefit.”
“There are financial benefits, of course—we have seen that across Scotland. Whether they be micro hydro or community wind, the projects generate funds for business support, biodiversity schemes, active travel initiatives and youth and hardship support schemes, all of which have tangible benefits, rooted in a place, that people can see and feel. There are other benefits beyond the financial. A recent study on ScienceDirect looked at wind farms in the Netherlands and found that higher levels of shared ownership saw projects spend less time in planning, with fewer appeals. That speaks to a simple truth. When people have a say and a stake in something, they want to see it prosper. Communities should not be left to feel that energy transition is something that is being done to them.”
“For example, we missed the target to produce 1GW of energy from community and locally owned energy companies by 2020; back in 2010, Scottish Renewables estimated that offshore wind could create 28,000 direct jobs over the coming decade, but, by 2022, the number was less than 4,000; and, last year, Scotland’s 2030 net zero target was abandoned. Those failures matter. They damage the Government’s credibility and risk undermining public confidence in climate action, which plays straight into the hands of populists who peddle climate scepticism and easy answers. If we want more community ownership and participation in energy projects, we need to make a strong case for it. Let us consider wind power. In Denmark, community ownership stands at 52 per cent compared with just 0.2 per cent in Scotland, according to the Green Economy Coalition.”
“Jamie Halcro Johnston, along with many other members, raised the issue of constraint payments, as well as what he described as “invasive industrialisation”. Fin Carson continued on that theme by stating that he feels that the communities that he represents have been ignored and that decision making is, ultimately, too centralised. Therefore, despite the general degree of consensus, a variety of views have been expressed. Scotland is blessed with abundant natural energy resources, which, if they are properly harnessed, can provide clean power, help us to reach net zero and create jobs and wealth in our communities. Before I get to community benefits specifically, I want to look at the high-level picture. If we are serious about promoting community involvement, we have to recognise that policy has fallen short.”
“He suspended his pessimism about delivery not quite for his entire speech but at least for part of it. He also argued for proportionality in the planning process. Sarah Boyack described community benefits as being critical to addressing the climate and nature emergencies, and she highlighted the role of local authorities in facilitating that. Patrick Harvie stated that we are at a dangerous point in our energy transition and made the case for a reduction in corporate ownership. Beatrice Wishart spoke about issues with the Viking wind farm and advocated for fair compensation for those who host energy projects. She also stated that fishers should have access to their traditional grounds.”
“Therefore, I welcome today’s motion, which is correct in saying that “the development of renewables at all scales in Scotland should benefit consumers, communities and the economy.” The cabinet secretary highlighted the community and renewable energy scheme and local development officers, who will be critical in increasing the amount of community and locally owned renewable energy. We can all support that goal, and greater community participation and ownership of energy can help to achieve it. With that in mind, I will highlight a few of the contributions to the debate, which has been largely consensual—we have even had a sheep and some goats. Douglas Lumsden challenged the Scottish Government to ensure that the £8 million that has been allocated by both Governments delivers.”
“Last week, the Climate Change Committee published its advice on Scotland’s carbon budget. It is clear that net zero is achievable by 2045, but only with “immediate action, at pace and scale.” That action includes electrification such as heat pumps in our homes and electric vehicles on our roads. In fact, in the Climate Change Committee’s balanced pathway to net zero, electrification accounts for about half of the reduction in emissions. As we near 2045, managing energy demand will become ever more important. As part of the just transition that we all want, we need to not only increase energy generation but ensure that the benefits of new projects and technology are shared widely and fairly.”
“Even if that does not happen in an area, communities can come together to contact the community and renewable energy Scotland scheme to ask for advice on how they can build their own community energy plant of whatever description. The CARES model has been shown to be very successful, so much so that it is one of the reasons why I asked the UK Government to take money from the local power plan and put it into CARES rather than setting up a new agency.”
“Has any consideration been given to how benefits will be spread to communities that might not, for example, be located next to a large wind farm, but might still be in need of investment? Indeed, consumers are paying for some of the transmission from wind farms. Gillian Martin: There are a number of things at play. The member will be aware that, after a great deal of encouragement from the Scottish Government, the UK Government has put out a consultation on community benefits from developments that are happening in renewables. That is one area in which communities can benefit. With community energy projects, there is the option for developers to go to communities and propose community benefit as a solution—or maybe an offer—as part of their good neighbour principle.”
“However, the Scottish Government is doing what it can to provide certainty on the infrastructure here and to help households to install their own charging points.”
“That also speaks to the point that I made earlier about our Government still giving grants and loans that are associated with home charging. However, home charging is not right for everyone, so I hope that Mr Golden will join me in calling for a reduction in the wholesale electricity price more generally, so that we can roll out more EV use. The issue is not only about EV charging; it is also about reducing our reliance on burning gas to heat our homes. I am lobbying the UK Government on electricity prices as part of its current consultation on the review of electricity market arrangements. The member is absolutely right that, until the wholesale price of electricity goes down, people will continue to see that cost as a barrier to adopting an electric vehicle.”
“Using local authority-managed charge points costs around the same price as petrol, although they are often broken. Using private charge points costs double. People with a driveway, who are generally richer, can charge at home for a fraction of the price. That is not fair for the hundreds of thousands of Scots who are being priced out of the electric vehicle market. Will the cabinet secretary guarantee that the new charge points will cost less than petrol? Gillian Martin: I am always interested to see Maurice Golden’s political journey, because that sounds very much like something that I would say about the cost of the wholesale electricity price, which has to come down for consumers more generally. He is right to point out that public charge points are more expensive to use than home charge points.”
“The free French forces under Charles de Gaulle played a proud part in liberating their homeland, assisted by French colonial troops from Morocco, Senegal and Algeria, while the Polish airborne brigade suffered huge casualties at Arnhem. Alex Cole-Hamilton reminded us of the Poles who served in the RAF and then settled in Scotland. Resistance fighters and guerrillas across Europe played a vital role in keeping hope of eventual victory alive.”
“However, as a nation, we have also welcomed many service personnel and units from further afield. As the First Minister rightly noted in his opening speech, it is important that we remember our links with the Commonwealth and the countless men and women from around the world who fought and suffered alongside the people of the United Kingdom during the second world war. A staggering number of countries were actively involved in the liberation of Europe. More than 14,000 Canadians landed in Normandy during D- day alone, and nearly a million served over the course of the war. South Africans, New Zealanders and Australians all fought alongside the British Indian Army during the gruelling allied advance up the spine of Italy. From even further afield, they were accompanied in their liberation of Italy by an infantry division from Brazil.”
“The response to fascism truly crossed the boundaries of nationality and faith, and we should never forget that. Today has served to remind us how greatly Scotland values and supports our armed forces and veterans, which is a reflection of a proud Scottish tradition. Going back through history, Scotland has always had a close link with its armed forces community, regardless of where the people concerned originally hailed from. In large part, that has been due to our regimental structures, which established traditional recruiting grounds across the country. For example, I hail from a part of Scotland that was the home of the Gordon Highlanders, in which my grandfather served, and both the First Minister and I represent the one-time home turf of the Black Watch.”
“Every so often, certain topics selected for parliamentary debate require us to set aside our usual tribalism. This has been one such occasion. Colleagues across the chamber have very much risen to the challenge by making excellent, memorable and moving contributions. Russell Findlay helped to set the tone for the afternoon by reminding us of the scale of the loss worldwide—85 million people—and that the average age of a Scottish serviceman killed during world war two was just 21. I echo Anas Sarwar’s comments about the members of the British Indian Army who travelled halfway around the world so that, as he put it, they could answer the call. I recognise the tremendous work done by the Colourful Heritage archive here in Scotland to raise awareness of that contribution and remind us of it for ever.”
“I will certainly listen to the podcast that he mentioned, so that I can hear the interesting stories to which he referred. Meghan Gallacher said that we will be forever in debt to our veterans, and she outlined why it is so important that we never forget their sacrifice. She also highlighted the importance of war memorials in supporting us to do that. Victory in Europe was hard won. Let us remember that, especially in the early days of the war, victory was not certain. Despite that, Britain and our allies stood for what was right. We chose to uphold the rule of law, to oppose tyranny and to defend freedom and democracy. 16:47 The Minister for Higher and Further Education; and Minister for Veterans (Graeme Dey): I thank members for their contributions. It is an honour to close the debate.”
“He called for a permanent memorial to those heroes and remarked that VE day was the day on which evil was finally defeated. Patrick Harvie spoke about the scale of the war’s impact on the millions of people whom it affected. In the wake of such suffering there were new beginnings. On the domestic front, the NHS and the welfare state emerged; internationally, institutions such as the United Nations were born. Alex Cole-Hamilton highlighted the end of the war from the German perspective. For many Germans, today is viewed as a day of liberation from their Nazi oppressors. He spoke about the contributions made in all communities, including that of his own family. Douglas Ross spoke of the requirement for not only celebration but commemoration on this day.”