Gillian Martin
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“Mark Ruskell: I hear what the cabinet secretary says about her engagement with industry, but it is communities that are facing a deluge of applications for data centres. There are people here today from Fife and across Scotland who are raising their concerns. Answers are needed, cabinet secretary.”
“The Scottish Government has not undertaken a wholly national assessment of the remit that the member specifically outlines on data centres. However, we are currently engaging with industry and partner agencies to better understand the cumulative impacts of data centre developments on the environment.”
“The Scottish Government’s wildfires strategic action plan sets out a partnership approach to preventing, preparing for and responding to wildfires.”
“Although the Scottish Government is not currently undertaking a formal national assessment, we are working with partners to assess the impact of AI data centres and to look at whether current planning conditions are appropriate.”
“David Green: The response from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and local land management to the severe wildfires that were experienced in the Highlands last year was exceptional, and I put on record my thanks to them.”
“Following on from the good work that was done on the wildfires strategy in the previous parliamentary session by Jim Fairlie and by Siobhian Brown, the former Minister for Victims and Community Safety, a great deal of work is being done on prevention.”
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“Karen Adam: Given that up to 400 energy jobs in the north-east are at risk every fortnight, does the cabinet secretary share my concern that the UK Government’s incoherent energy strategy is destabilising Scotland’s workforce? Does she agree that Scotland has all the energy but none of the powers and that only with independence can we properly manage our offshore mix of oil, gas and renewables to protect jobs and deliver a fair transition? Gillian Martin: I agree that only with the full powers of independence will we be able to fully deliver a just transition. In the meantime, workers must be at the heart of the transition, and the Scottish Government will support the energy workforce with the limited powers that are available to us.”
“Decisions on offshore oil and gas licensing, consenting and the associated fiscal regime are all currently reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Government, along with the industry, workers and communities, is awaiting the UK Government’s responses to its recent consultations, which will have a major bearing on the future of the North Sea energy sector. In particular, we are calling for an end to the energy profits levy, which is having a negative impact on investment in clean energy, oil and gas decommissioning and the shared energy supply chain. We continue to call on the UK Government to support a just transition by approaching its decisions on North Sea oil and gas projects on a rigorously evidence-led and case-by-case basis, with climate compatibility and energy security as key considerations.”
“I have looked carefully at the ministerial code, which says that the minister involved in a planning decision “should only hold such a meeting if it is possible to meet all interested parties in respect of a particular proposal or, as an absolute minimum, to offer all parties the opportunity of such a meeting”. I cannot understand why the cabinet secretary continually gives us the wrong information regarding the ministerial code. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Ms Hamilton. You will know that the content of ministerial responses is not a matter for the chair. United Kingdom Energy Policy (Impact) 4.”
“The Deputy Presiding Officer: I will take the point of order at the end of the cabinet secretary’s response. Gillian Martin: It is important to point out that regulation of electricity transmission infrastructure is reserved to the UK Government. Indeed, the planned build-out of new transmission infrastructure was set in train by the UK Government under the Conservatives. In addition, when Conservative ministers were in post, I repeatedly called for mandating community benefits and for community engagement guidelines, but my calls were ignored. Rachael Hamilton: On a point of order, Deputy Presiding Officer.”
“Rachael Hamilton: Despite what the cabinet secretary has said, communities feel that their voices are being ignored and that the Scottish National Party Government is riding roughshod over their concerns. Will the cabinet secretary put in place a moratorium, as asked for by my Scottish Conservative colleagues, on all new renewables applications until she has met all interested parties—all such parties, not just developers—and brought forward a coherent and transparent energy policy? Gillian Martin: To meet groups that are opposed to or in favour of a development would risk breaching the ministerial code, as I have explained time and again. NPF4 already takes into consideration cumulative effect— Rachael Hamilton: On a point of order, Presiding Officer.”
“It is vital that communities can have their say on proposed developments. Through public consultations, ministers invite representations from community councils on applications under the Electricity Act 1989 and carefully consider the views of community groups. Our fourth national planning framework ensures that we assess potential cumulative impacts on communities and nature. Although they do not comment on applications, officials have engaged with MSPs and community groups—and Michael Shanks, the United Kingdom Minister for Energy, and I co-chaired a recent round-table meeting that had community group and developer representatives in attendance—to encourage best practice in community engagement and the co- ordination of development.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My voting app would not refresh; I would have voted no. The Presiding Officer: We will ensure that that is recorded.”
“Gillian Martin: In short, the answer is no. It is regrettable that the Ministry of Defence has not released details of the reported category A nuclear site event report, given that the MOD defines category A as the most serious. It has informed us that the incident posed no risk to the public and did not result in any radiological impact to the environment. However, the Scottish Government has not received any further information on the nature of the incident. Given that nuclear weapons are an ever-present danger, that is disappointing and it does not provide the public with the reassurance that they need. The MOD has also informed us that the incident that was reported was handled in accordance with the extant policy and in collaboration with the defence nuclear safety regulator, but that is the sum of it.”
“Defence, including the operation of the Faslane naval base, is a reserved matter. However, the Scottish Government places great importance on the safe, secure and responsible management of radioactive substances while protecting people and the environment. Therefore, repeated reports of serious incidents at Faslane are extremely worrying. Of course, the only way to get rid of Trident is with independence. The Scottish National Party Scottish Government’s long-standing position is that nuclear weapons have no place in an independent Scotland. Bill Kidd: Has the Westminster Government made any information available to the Scottish Government on addressing the radioactive waste that was released by the nuclear safety failure and on the work of cleaning the affected area and ensuring the physical health of local residents following the event?”
“My officials also provided evidence to the committee across three sessions. As accountable officer during the period in question, the former chief executive of WICS had responsibility for the propriety and regularity of the organisation’s finances. We have learned that, regrettably, that responsibility was not always met. Similarly, the board of WICS failed to meet its responsibility to ensure that appropriate governance arrangements were in place, which was inexcusable.”
“I am grateful for the opportunity to speak about the matters that are raised in the Public Audit Committee’s report on the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, or WICS, as I will refer to it from now on. I commend the committee for its scrutiny of the issues and for its report, which I found to be balanced and constructive. Before I get into the substantive content of the committee’s report, I want to be absolutely clear that nobody was more disappointed by the issues at WICS than the Scottish ministers. It bears restating that the cases of inappropriate expenditure were completely and utterly unacceptable. We rightly expect far higher standards from our public bodies. To help to address those issues, we commissioned and published reviews of WICS’s financial governance and culture and of the Government’s sponsorship function.”
“That is in addition to the Scottish Government’s significant capital investment of more than £150 million in the current financial year in our energy efficiency programmes—the warmer homes Scotland and area-based schemes, which are targeted at people in fuel poverty, making homes easier and cheaper to heat. I commend the work of Advice Direct Scotland, which is a member of our consumers working group. ADS has consistently, over many years, called for a social tariff for those whom it represents. Rail Fares (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) 7.”
“What financial support will be available from the Scottish Government this winter for people who are struggling to pay ever-increasing energy bills? I thank the cabinet secretary for welcoming Advice Direct Scotland’s call for a social energy tariff. Gillian Martin: This coming winter, the Scottish Government will provide an estimated £28.3 million through our winter heating payment and £11.4 million through our child winter heating payment, and there will be £187 million priority payment recovery from pensioners who have a taxable income of more than £35,000 through our pension-age winter heating payment.”
“The Labour Party’s election manifesto pledged to cut bills by £300, but bills are higher than there were this time last year and they have just risen again. We need urgent action from the United Kingdom Government to set out how it will cut bills and keep its promise. We believe that the UK Government must immediately deliver a social tariff in the form of a targeted unit rate discount, while progressing much-needed wider reform. We urge it to deliver a package of measures that addresses fuel poverty while securing investor confidence and a level playing field for renewable generators in Scotland. Gordon MacDonald: Scotland produces far more electricity than it consumes, but nearly half a million Scots are living in extreme fuel poverty.”
“I will try to get them all in, but they will need to be brief, as will the responses.”
“Gillian Martin: As Audrey Nicoll might know, the former Acting Minister for Climate Action, Dr Alasdair Allan, was very pleased to offer a letter of support to the TH2ISTLE hydrogen valley project’s bid for EU funding. It is good to note the positive progress that Audrey Nicoll informs us has been made on the initiative. I look forward to receiving more updates as the project moves forward. That project is a good example of energy transition harnessing north-east Scotland’s long- standing history of developing expertise in the oil and gas sector to take advantage of the new green hydrogen opportunities and, in doing so, helping to stimulate economic growth and job creation and to support the hydrogen supply chain to develop. The Deputy Presiding Officer: A number of members wish to ask supplementaries.”
“Audrey Nicoll: As the cabinet secretary knows, the north-east of Scotland’s TH2ISTLE hydrogen valley project bid for European Union funding of €9 million, which will bring together a consortium of 29 partners led by Aberdeen City Council, aims to stimulate demand for hydrogen, thereby helping sectors including transport, agriculture, construction, new green industries and industrial test facilities to decarbonise. Given the significant opportunity that that bid creates for the north-east, what assurance can the cabinet secretary provide that the hydrogen action plan includes tangible support mechanisms to help projects such as TH2ISTLE, which is critical to the emergence of the hydrogen economy in the region?”
“Significant progress has been made in delivering the actions and commitments in the hydrogen action plan. The building blocks of a hydrogen economy in Scotland are being laid, technology is advancing and projects are entering construction. More than £35 million has been awarded to support hydrogen development. We have published our hydrogen sector export plan and have launched a national hydrogen planning hub, and we will shortly publish planning and consenting guidance. We are also working with the United Kingdom Government on the role of hydrogen in the energy mix and on the development of the policy that is required to address deployment challenges, including in areas such as regulatory frameworks, market mechanisms and infrastructure.”
“I am keen that we promote all suitable areas of Scotland, particularly former industrial sites, as potential hosts for that key critical infrastructure. Mr McMillan’s constituency would be an excellent location for such projects.”
“Gillian Martin: Given our dynamic innovation and tech ecosystems and abundant renewable energy capacity, which, at the moment, includes a lot of constrained wind energy—at various times, we have to shut off wind generation—that could be used to power new AI data centres, Scotland is certainly a natural home for them. In May 2025, the Deputy First Minister wrote to the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology regarding the AI growth zone opportunity. She provided an open letter of support to all bidders in Scotland to accompany their final submissions, which evidenced the dedicated support that the Scottish Government and its economic agencies will provide to any selected AI growth zone in Scotland.”
“That is also in line with our vision and action plan for green data centres and digital connectivity, which seeks to position Scotland as a leading zero-carbon, cost-competitive green data- hosting location. Stuart McMillan: Artificial intelligence is continually developing and an increasing number of data centres will be required. Clearly, energy and water are needed to operate them. As we have seen, Thames Water and Anglian Water have already highlighted their concerns about the Prime Minister’s announcement of an additional 100 data centres. Does the cabinet secretary agree that Scotland would be an ideal location to host AI data centres that are powered by renewable energy, and is she confident that we have enough renewable capacity to operate such facilities?”
“Ministers and Scottish Government officials regularly engage with their counterparts in the UK Government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. I continue to ask the UK Government to address the high cost of electricity, as that will be a key driver in attracting data centres to Scotland. Data centres are also identified in the Scottish Government’s green industrial strategy. We are working with our economic agencies to identify data centre sites that utilise our renewable energy sources, while exploring opportunities to recycle waste heat from those facilities into the wider community.”
“The legislation and regulations that we must, in law, abide by in Scotland when considering applications are set by the UK Government. The Scottish Conservatives know that, but they are determined to create a narrative that says that everything surrounding the issue is in the hands of the Scottish Government. I say to Mr Halcro Johnston that I wish that we had every lever available at our disposal with regard to these matters. In an independent Scotland, we would change the regulations to ensure strict—[Interruption.] The Presiding Officer: Let us hear the cabinet secretary. Gillian Martin: In an independent Scotland, we would change the regulations to ensure strict community engagement conditions. Youth Violence 3.”
“They declared that community consultation was “inadequate”, that local democracy was “being overridden” and that local decisions were being “disregarded by the Scottish Government.” What is the cabinet secretary’s response to that unified statement? With further meetings planned, will she agree to meet convention members and elected local officials to hear at first hand from the people who are impacted by the intrusive energy infrastructure that her Government is forcing on their communities? Gillian Martin: The previous Conservative UK Government showed no interest in making either community engagement or community benefits associated with developments or transmission mandatory, despite the Scottish Government asking for that to be addressed urgently.”
“Jamie Halcro Johnston: Last week, the energy consents unit approved the Skye reinforcement project, overruling the decision of Highland Council and proving without doubt that it is not elected local representatives but unelected officials in Edinburgh who have the final say in large energy infrastructure projects. Last Saturday, community councillors from across the Highlands met in Beauly for a convention chaired by local councillor Helen Crawford. In their agreed unified statement, they confirmed their opposition to what they rightly called the “unjust and unnecessary industrialisation” of the Highlands.”
“On 7 May, the Scottish Government published new guidance on how to deliver consistent and meaningful pre- application consultation for transmission projects requiring an environmental impact assessment. That guidance creates more transparency around the process, ensuring that communities understand when and how they can best input at the various stages of development. The Scottish Government has also been working with the United Kingdom Government on its Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which includes provisions to make pre-application consultation statutory for the first time. That will guarantee communities the opportunity to have their say earlier in the process.”
“The Scottish Government is determined to build on these community energy successes with our new community energy generation growth fund, which will provide up to £8 million to boost community energy in Scotland. That includes £4 million that the Scottish Government has secured from Great British Energy to support community and local energy in Scotland, alongside £4 million of Scottish Government funding. That programme for government commitment will help to grow the pipeline of community energy in Scotland, enabling more communities to benefit from owning their own renewable energy projects. The community energy generation growth fund is a significant expansion on last year’s pilot and will help to deliver the social and financial benefits of the energy transition directly to Scotland’s communities.”
“The impact of community energy over time is demonstrated by the work of the Point and Sandwick Trust on the Isle of Lewis. That project began in 2005 as a public discussion on the possibility of developing a large community- owned wind farm on common grazing grounds. The project developed from there, with support from a community and renewable energy Scotland scheme—CARES—loan. By 2015, installation had been completed and the turbines were energised, and it became one of the biggest community-owned wind farms in the whole of the United Kingdom. Today, it produces around £900,000 a year in net income for the local community. Once capital costs have been repaid, it is expected to generate up to £2 million a year. Those funds support projects in and around the local area, providing valuable benefits for the community.”
“The transition will be in partnership with our citizens and based on an understanding and acceptance of the reasons why it is a priority for the nation’s health, wellbeing and vibrant economy, for us and our children for decades to come. Community energy plays a particularly important role in empowering communities to take ownership of their energy future. Communities owning their own wind, solar and other renewable projects puts them at the centre of the revolution in power generation, while bringing in valuable revenue that can be directed towards community priorities, such as tackling fuel poverty, upgrading local infrastructure and supporting community events. The Scottish Government has a long history of supporting the delivery of projects in community- led renewable energy, energy demand reduction and energy supply.”
“I am grateful for the opportunity to open today’s debate and to shine an important spotlight on community-owned energy in Scotland. The Scottish Government is committed to growing our economy in a way that also ends our contribution to climate change. Our drive to bring down emissions comes with huge potential for wealth creation, not least in our communities. To deliver a just transition, we must continue to work with communities, businesses, industry and the people of Scotland to plan for a future in which Scotland is a leader in low-emission systems and technologies, with all the jobs and reduction in the cost of living that can come from that. It is essential that our communities reap the benefits of the transition, which is about the outcome—a fairer, greener, more resilient and prosperous future—and the way in which we get there.”
“Mr Macpherson will also know that we are providing targeted funding to colleges over the next year, as part of the budget that was approved by Parliament, to establish an offshore wind skills programme, which will help to create region- specific training hubs for offshore wind skills. That is on top of funding that has already been committed to a just transition for the energy sector.”
“Will ministers consider that as part of the budget formation in the months ahead, to prepare the workforce that we will need in the coming years? Gillian Martin: I am glad that Graeme Dey was able to meet Forth Ports and Mr Macpherson on 12 May. The 2025-26 budget utilised more than £300 million of ScotWind funding to be targeted at activities with long-lasting benefits for the people of Scotland. We will continue to invest ScotWind revenues in a range of projects. As Mr Macpherson outlined, the Forth green freeport has a skills plan, which is funded by businesses that benefit from the tax incentives at the site that I mentioned. The Government provides non-domestic rates relief to green ports, which can also be invested in skills and workforce development.”
“Ben Macpherson: I thank the cabinet secretary for that detailed answer, and for of all the investment and effort that is going into realising the potential that she set out. As has been mentioned, the developing green economic activity at the port of Leith will be significant, which is why, in recent weeks, I hosted a round-table event with employers, local educators and the Minister for Higher and Further Education; and Minister for Veterans, to help to facilitate further collaboration to nurture the workforce that will be required. I will follow up my question with a letter to the Scottish Government. One of the suggestions that was made on the evening was to utilise some of ScotWind’s revenues to help to fund skills development initiatives in the area.”
“As it is part of the Forth green freeport, the port of Leith will benefit from green port incentives, which include reliefs on non-domestic rates, increased capital allowances, reduced national insurance costs, land and buildings transaction tax reliefs and up to £25 million-worth of seed capital and long-term funding provided by the Scottish Government, which will allow local authorities to retain relevant non- domestic rates to reinvest in the programme. We have also committed to invest up to £500 million over five years to leverage private investment in the infrastructure and manufacturing facilities that are critical to the growth of the offshore wind sector. We are taking a team Scotland approach when engaging with potential inward investors, including Vestas, to ensure that we maximise those opportunities.”
“We also work with universities and colleges to deliver the entrepreneurial campus blueprint, ensuring that more young people develop entrepreneurial skills, and we are providing support through the ecosystem fund, which enables young entrepreneurs to access vital resources, knowledge and connections.”
“In that regard, my constituency of Aberdeen South and North Kincardine and the wider north-east host a wealth of innovators and inventors. Can the cabinet secretary say more about how the Scottish Government is supporting young tech innovators and entrepreneurs across Scotland? Gillian Martin: Our national innovation strategy sets out actions to utilise innovation as a driver to grow the economy and create jobs. We are actively supporting entrepreneurs and young tech innovators through several initiatives including our Techscaler programme, which is designed to create, develop and scale tech start-ups. We are supporting the young EDGE—encouraging dynamic growth entrepreneurs—awards to recognise and reward exceptional young talent in the tech sector.”
“We will launch a pilot proof of concept fund this year to support university researchers, including those from the north-east, to develop their innovative ideas and technologies and to bridge the gap between groundbreaking research and commercial applications. Through the fund, we hope to increase the pipeline of projects with commercial potential and support economic development. Meanwhile, we are also working in partnership with the United Kingdom Government and the North East of Scotland Regional Economic Partnership to deliver its investment zone, which will help to accelerate the realisation of its regional economic strategy. Audrey Nicoll: It is vital that we work to support innovation at all levels, particularly when we are furthering our investment and ambitions to deliver our green energy transition.”
“Since 2016- 2017, the Scottish Government has provided almost £23 million to support development work on flood defences in Grangemouth and we will continue to work closely with the council to improve flood protection for communities in the area. I look forward to my discussion with the leader of Falkirk Council tomorrow on the matter. I am happy to answer questions on my statement.”
“Since 2016, the Scottish Government has allocated £570 million to local authorities for flood protection schemes and flood resilience, which has delivered improved flood resilience to more than 6,000 properties across Scotland so far. The Scottish Government is working with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and local authorities to reform the funding and governance for flood resilience, learning the lessons from delivering the first programme of schemes and ensuring that future programmes provide maximum benefit for local communities in the most efficient way. I am committed to improving Scotland’s resilience to flooding and that includes working with Falkirk Council on how we can improve flood resilience in the Grangemouth area.”
“Separately from the process in relation to the proposed scheme, the Scottish Government has worked with Falkirk Council through a task force approach to examine options for improved and affordable flood resilience for residents and local communities in Falkirk and Grangemouth. Tomorrow, I will meet with the leader of Falkirk Council, Councillor Meiklejohn, to discuss those issues. More broadly, managing our exposure to floods and their impacts is a significant and growing challenge as climate change brings more severe and frequent flood events. Improving resilience to flooding is a priority for the Scottish Government, evidenced by the publication of the first national flood resilience strategy last December.”
“Following its local hearing, should Falkirk Council confirm the scheme in its current form and wish to access further Scottish Government funding, it will be necessary to demonstrate that the scheme, in whole or in phased elements, is value for money assessed against other flood protection schemes across Scotland. The Scottish Government will now consider how and when the scheme is brought back into the standard processes for flood protection governance and funding. In doing so, we must weigh up any investment decision in terms of the impact on the individual project and also the impact that any individual project has on its ability to invest in other areas.”
“It is exceptional in terms of scale and financial cost and requires careful consideration to ensure that it delivers for the local community. The initial cost for the scheme was £108 million in 2015. However, that has now risen to between £450 million and £672 million. That is why, in 2023, ministers and Falkirk Council agreed that the Grangemouth flood protection scheme would be removed from consideration as part of the existing national funding programme. Up until that point, Falkirk Council had received £23 million for the development of the scheme.”
“Once the reporter has held the hearing and provided their report, Falkirk Council can decide whether to confirm the scheme with modifications, to confirm the scheme with no modifications or to reject the scheme. If the scheme is confirmed by Falkirk Council at that point, any person who is affected by the scheme can still appeal to the sheriff court. If the scheme is ultimately confirmed, Scottish ministers must, under planning legislation, direct that planning permission is deemed to be granted, subject to conditions including the duration of the validity of the planning permission. As proposed in the notice sent by Falkirk Council to Scottish ministers, the proposed Grangemouth flood protection scheme would be the largest flood defence project in Scotland and one of the biggest in the United Kingdom.”
“Ministers notified Falkirk Council on 27 March 2025 of their decision not to call in the Grangemouth flood protection scheme, based on an assessment of the information that was provided by Falkirk Council, having had regard to matters that are set out in the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009, such as the likely reduction in flood risk, the nature of objections and the likely effect on objectors. Falkirk Council will now progress with a local hearing, and that process usually takes around 12 to 18 months. In accordance with procedures that are set out in the 2009 act, Falkirk Council has approached the planning and environmental appeals division to provide a reporter to lead the process.”
“When ministers are notified of a flood protection scheme, the key consideration is whether the decision to confirm the scheme should be taken locally or nationally, with a decision that is taken nationally sometimes described as being “called in”. In practice, that means that ministers must consider whether the individual or collective issues that are raised in any objections are so significant that they should be considered nationally. That would be done through a public local inquiry rather than through a local hearing held by the local authority.”
“Under the 2009 act, when a local authority receives objections to a proposed flood protection scheme from certain persons, it must refer the scheme to Scottish ministers to decide whether it should be called in for a public local inquiry or whether it can continue to be considered by the local authority through a local hearing. Of the 22 valid objections that were received by Falkirk Council, 15 fell under a category that required the council to notify ministers of the scheme. For instance, the objectors had an interest in the land where operations would be carried out, in land that would be affected by the operations or by any alteration to the flow of water caused by any of the operations.”
“That started a statutory approval process under the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009, and was followed by a period of 28 days, during which interested parties could lodge objections to the scheme. During that period, Falkirk Council provided information to households and engaged with the local community through newsletters, social media, a website and in-person events. The deadline for objections closed on 16 June 2024, and Falkirk Council duly considered the objections that were received. Following that consideration, Falkirk Council made a formal decision to confirm the proposed Grangemouth flood protection scheme on a preliminary basis.”
“Thank you, Presiding Officer, for the opportunity to update the Parliament on Falkirk Council’s Grangemouth flood protection scheme proposals. Last month, the Scottish Government informed Falkirk Council that ministers have decided that the next steps in the consent process for the Grangemouth flood protection scheme should be undertaken locally rather than nationally. That was based on consideration of the proposals put forward by Falkirk Council and of the objections. Ministers deemed that it did not merit being called in to a public local inquiry. I believe that it would be helpful as part of this update to provide some background on that decision and on where the next steps in the process for confirming flood protection schemes take place. Last year, Falkirk Council gave public notice of the Grangemouth flood protection scheme.”
“I will take all of that away. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, cabinet secretary. That concludes the debate. Meeting closed at 18:50. This is the final edition of the Official Report for this meeting. It is part of the Scottish Parliament Official Report archive and has been sent for legal deposit. Published in Edinburgh by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP All documents are available on the Scottish Parliament website at: www.parliament.scot Information on non-endorsed print suppliers is available here: www.parliament.scot/documents For information on the Scottish Parliament contact Public Information on: Telephone: 0131 348 5000 Textphone: 0800 092 7100 Email: sp.info@parliament.scot”
“The RTS switch-off could have a profound impact on some of our public services as well, and I reassure the Parliament that we are working across Government, and with suppliers and the regulator, to plan for any outcomes that would affect our national health service, local authorities and other public services. The Scottish Government will play its full and proper part in any resilience planning and response. I assure members that I have heard everyone loud and clear on the confusion that still reigns about this issue. Rachael Hamilton made the absolutely fundamental point that the failure to communicate effectively has been the root of a lot of the problems. Consumers are left confused and, once they get over the confusion, they go out of their way to arrange things, but they are not being served particularly well.”