Mairi Gougeon
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“Mairi Gougeon: As other members have done, Michelle Thomson has raised a number of important points. We established a food security unit precisely to address the key challenges that members have identified.”
“I am grateful to Jamie Halcro Johnston for securing the debate. Given the breadth of the areas that are covered in the motion, any one of my colleagues could have been here to respond. However, I am delighted to have the opportunity to do so, because this SNP Government cares deeply about our rural and island communities.”
“He did not do as badly on that run as he thought, but I am glad to hear that he suffered afterwards. [Laughter.] On Fulton MacGregor’s substantive point and the concerns that he has raised about community right to buy, he is absolutely right.”
“Last but certainly not least, I thank my amazing family, whom I cannot wait to spend more time with, and my amazing husband, Baptiste. It takes the patience of a saint to be married to anyone in this job, but he has looked after me and I would be at a loss without him.”
“Of course, some of those challenges remain, but our rural and island communities and industries are rich with opportunity and this Government has been determined to unlock it. Housing is a key issue that has been raised in the motion and throughout the debate.”
“Our croft house grant scheme has invested more than £26.5 million to support more than 1,100 croft homes. We are going further still, with an announcement this year of a new rural and island housing grant scheme, with investment of up to £20 million.”
The complete record
Every one of 333 lines we hold for Mairi Gougeon, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 7 of 7.
“The Scottish Government is not currently aware of any submitted proposals for development. All proposed developments are thoroughly scrutinised for their potential impact on the environment and communities through the planning system. Scotland has a robust legislative and regulatory framework in place that provides the right balance between developing the fish farming sector and protecting the environment on which the sector depends. All farms must meet strict regulations and guidelines to ensure that the environmental effects are assessed and managed safely. Ariane Burgess: One fish farm containing 200,000 farmed salmon produces the same amount of nitrogen as a city with 20,000 people and the same amount of raw sewage as 63,000 people.”
“The Deputy Presiding Officer: I will take a couple of supplementary questions, but they will need to be brief, as will the responses.”
“As James Dornan has outlined, the food and drink sector has undoubtedly borne the brunt of Brexit, because it has disrupted our supply chains and created new trade barriers, and it has driven up food prices, which we have all seen. There has also been a wider impact. For example, the value of our food imports from the EU has fallen by 13 per cent from 2019. Fruit and vegetable imports are down 51 per cent, and fish and seafood imports are down 67 per cent. The impact has also gone the other way in relation to our exports, with a 45 per cent fall in the value of our fruit and vegetable exports between 2019 and 2023. Notwithstanding all that, we continue to do all that we can to support our wider food and drink sector, because it is such an important linchpin for our economy. We will continue to support it into the future.”
“James Dornan: According to January’s trade modelling report, Scottish exports could be decreased by 7.2 per cent, or £3 billion, compared with under continued European Union membership, with the agrifood sector hardest hit. Scotland being dragged out of the EU against its will was not only an affront to democracy; it has been hugely damaging to the economy and jobs. What data and modelling does the Scottish Government possess on the most recent impacts on Scotland’s food and drink sectors of Brexit and Labour’s lack of urgency to make any effort to fix it? Mairi Gougeon: We continue to monitor and gather the data.”
“Scotland’s food and drink sector is a £15 billion industry that is revered not just at home but the world over. Just last week, we sponsored the prestigious Michelin awards in Glasgow, where Scotland was able to showcase the very best of the sector to an international audience at the Kelvingrove art gallery and museum. More generally, we provided more than £10 million between 2023 and 2025 to support the delivery of Scotland’s food and drink strategy, “Sustaining Scotland. Supplying the World”. Since 2014, we have provided more than £7 million towards the Scotland food and drink export plan to help to exploit the most significant opportunities for Scotland.”
“Anything that we look to implement and the actions that we undertake now are, of course, in line with the responsibilities that are set out in the 1998 act.”
“Mairi Gougeon: I appreciate that Colin Smyth will be disappointed that the report has not been published yet, but I hope that I have been able to outline that we have focused the resource to develop the policies that will ultimately do what the report seeks to evaluate. Colin Smyth touched on some of the projects that are happening in England. We are aware of a pilot on community quota management that is taking place in Cornwall, which is taking advantage of the involvement of the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation and has established quota management responsibilities. Various approaches are happening elsewhere that we could potentially consider in Scotland, but we have to clarify what the goals of any pilot might be.”
“The Scottish Government has had those powers for five years, but the United Kingdom Government is making far more progress by allocating all additional quota for a suite of stocks via its incentivisation scheme. Will the cabinet secretary consider the UK Government’s approach? Will she commit to ensuring that all catches made by recipients of the bonus quota will be recorded and accounted for, to allow an understanding of what is reducing bycatches and what is not, in line with the legal duties that are set out in the Fisheries Management Act 1998 and the national marine plan?”
“No report has been completed to date, but that is because we have been delivering the necessary policy changes to how catch opportunities are distributed. That included the 2024 additional quota consultation, which increased catch opportunities for the non-sector fleet, which comprises vessels predominantly using more selective fishing gear or gear that has a reduced impact on the seabed. For 2025, we have introduced an initiative whereby vessels can apply for more of the west of Scotland cod quota. That seeks to incentivise the use of selective fishing gear in vessels and the use of fishing techniques that have a reduced impact on the environment. Colin Smyth: We have not seen the report that the cabinet secretary committed to.”
“Parallel activities are being taken forward by NatureScot, Police Scotland, Highland Council and Scottish Forestry to address the situation. More broadly, the Government agrees that communities should be more involved in decisions that are made about land in their area, which is why we have more options than ever for communities to take ownership of land and assets. We are looking to improve on that and to introduce further measures through our Land Reform (Scotland)”
“What wider action is being taken to ensure that local communities and the natural environment are afforded greater protection from such scams? Mairi Gougeon: First, it is concerning to hear about the prevalence of the scams that Emma Roddick seems to be encountering across the region. As I hope that I was able to outline in my initial response to her, we recognise the serious impact that financial scams of any nature can have on people and the particular impacts that land banking investment scams can have on local communities. I mentioned in my initial response the appropriate avenues through which to seek advice on such scams. On the specific example that Emma Roddick has mentioned, a number of public bodies are involved in responding to the issue.”
“The “Scottish land rights and responsibilities statement”, as revised by the Scottish Government in 2022, sets out that “There should be meaningful collaboration and community engagement in decisions about land.” Emma Roddick: I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer, which will be appreciated by those who have been in touch with me when I pass it on. My team has recently been dealing with multiple reports of land banking investment scams, including a number that have taken place around the Spean Bridge area. Those scams clearly have not only an impact on those who attempt to invest in the land, but a detrimental effect on local communities, and they contribute to the sense that our land can be sold off in bits to the highest bidder.”
“There are complexities in responding to financial investment scams in Scotland, given that financial services and consumer redress and enforcement are reserved. We need to understand the prevalence of such scams. I advise people who have experienced them to contact Advice Direct Scotland for clear, practical advice. It might also be appropriate to report the issue to Police Scotland, where an assessment of any appropriate criminal enforcement action can be made. In circumstances where land banking investment scams threaten protected sites such as sites of special scientific interest, appropriate enforcement action can be taken by relevant agencies. More widely, the Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that communities have a say in how their land and assets are used.”
“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”
“I had no hesitation in signing the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation’s “Pride in the Seas” campaign pledge to protect and support Scotland’s vital fishing industry and coastal communities, because this Government values and appreciates all who make a living from and care about our seas. Yes, there are challenges, but I am determined to continue to work with our industry as we look to address those challenges. Meeting closed at 18:32. 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.”
“As we develop the national marine plan 2, we are adopting an approach that considers our marine economy, our local communities and the environment. Ultimately, that will, I hope, put in place the right planning framework so that we can address the increasing competition that exists. A few members mentioned young fishers and people who feel that they are not part of that conversation. We are making strong efforts to address that by trying to engage with young fishers, especially as we go through the national marine plan 2 process, because this is about their future. Every day, Scotland’s fishing fleet puts itself at no little risk on the front line to ensure that we can all benefit from outstanding healthy produce that is important not only to our rural economy but to our national culture, as we have heard.”
“I hope that the new UK Government will listen to and work with us to address the concerns and find some solutions. I know that Karen Adam’s constituent Jimmy Buchan is really passionate about the issue and has put a lot of work into it. Another key item, which I know the SFF has raised and is of significance to members across the chamber, is the competition that exists for marine space and the pressure on fishing activity from potential restrictions in that space. Effectively managing how we use our marine space will be critical as we transition to net zero by 2045. The Scottish Government is committed to maximising the opportunities that come with a blue economy approach and what that can deliver for not only our environment and marine sectors, but our rural and coastal communities.”
“Our fishers undertake such an important role more widely, including in relation to our food security, which was another point that was raised. It is in everyone’s best interests that we protect our marine environment. I want to touch on a number of other key points that were raised today. Beatrice Wishart touched on issues related to economic link licensing. We are due to publish a report on that this spring, so I am more than happy to follow up on that. Karen Adam touched on the importance of our fishing industry and the wider seafood trade on the back of that. We have only to look at our export statistics to see that the seafood trade was worth more than £1 billion in exports in 2023. However, in relation to that, there are issues with employment and the workforce that we have been trying to address at length with the UK Government.”
“Our negotiators played an active role in the UK delegation throughout the negotiations last year, acting as a constructive partner, and they always seek to do the best for Scottish interests in those discussions. It is important to highlight the financial impact of those efforts, which have generated opportunities that were worth more than £600 million for Scotland in 2024. On sustainable fishing, which was raised by Ariane Burgess, it is important to reflect on the figures in the Scottish sustainable fishing indicator, which summarises the sustainability status of commercial fish and shellfish stocks in Scottish waters. That shows that the status has increased through time from 37 per cent in 1993 to almost 70 per cent in 2022.”
“We had an interim statement on the autumn negotiations and, as I have just outlined, I am more than happy to consider reinstating that debate. As we have seen from the variety of issues that members have raised in their contributions this evening, so much is going on in our marine environment, much of which concerns our wider fishing industry. However, I want to highlight that a lot of work is being done in the marine directorate on all the issues that we face in our marine environment. It is important to reflect on and recognise some of the work that is being done and to see some examples of that. The approach that our negotiating teams take to the annual fisheries negotiations is informed by the best available science. It takes into account scientific advice, other socioeconomic factors and the dynamics of fisheries.”
“I outlined that a programme board is taking forward work to address the immediate issues as well as looking to the medium and longer term. We have also set out in our indicative portfolio allocations in the budget an increase to the science budget, which I know the committee was concerned about. I hope that that shows that we have listened and that we are trying to address the concerns that were raised, while recognising the importance of that part of the portfolio. Another key point that members have raised today largely relates to the debate. I am more than happy to commit to having a debate on fisheries and scheduling Government time for that. I appreciate that we are always short of time when it comes to members’ business and debates, but I want to pick up on a couple of points in relation to that.”
“The range of issues that have been covered in the debate speaks to the complexity and diversity of our marine sector. It is important to take stock and reflect on one of Scotland’s most important assets, which is our fishing industry, the people and communities who make a living from it, and its valuable contribution to the Scottish economy. I want to pick up on some of the points that members made. Beatrice Wishart and Tim Eagle raised budget issues. When we were undertaking budget scrutiny, the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee focused on the marine directorate, and I welcome the scrutiny that was undertaken on that. During those committee meetings, we covered at length some of the particular issues that we have with the marine estate.”
“I will start by associating myself with the comments that were made by Beatrice Wishart about Dr Ian Napier. I extend my sympathies and condolences to his family and to all those who worked with him. I thank Beatrice Wishart for her comments and for bringing this debate to the chamber, and I thank colleagues more widely for their contributions to the debate this evening. As Beatrice Wishart outlined, Scotland’s fishing industry is vital to our economy but it is also ingrained in our national identity. Scotland’s rural and coastal communities are a hugely significant aspect of our economic, social and cultural fabric. One of the Government’s chief priorities is to drive economic growth, and fishing and our wider seafood sector are a critical part of our diverse marine economy.”
“We are listening, and we will pay close attention to proposals that will strengthen and improve the bill to ensure that it achieves the aims that we have set out.”
“More than 16 people and organisations that have given evidence to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee have said that the bill will not deliver the aims that the cabinet secretary has described. Just this week, the Scottish Land Commission published 20 pages of advice on part 1 of the bill, which highlight what it believes to be failures, and I am told that it might publish more advice. Is the cabinet secretary still content with the bill as it stands, or will it need significant reform? Mairi Gougeon: I am sure that Edward Mountain appreciates that I am carefully listening to and considering the evidence that the committee is receiving. I expect that there will be amendments to the bill on the back of the evidence that the committee has heard.”
“The Land Reform (Scotland) Bill will strengthen the rights of rural communities by giving them greater involvement in decisions about the land on which they live and work. It will better ensure that Scotland’s land is transferred and used in ways that take account of local need, which will improve opportunities for more diverse land ownership. The bill will also support the use of land for environmental purposes and modernise the legal framework for tenant farming and small landholdings to support the delivery of our vision for agriculture. Edward Mountain: I remind members that I am a landowner in Moray and that I own 500 acres of arable land.”
“That is an example of where the support that we provide to such schemes is vital in ensuring that we get local products out there.”
“We need to do what we can to make more of our own locally produced foods available more locally for people to buy. We are doing work on that in a couple of areas. First, we have committed £10 million since 2023 and over the course of this year to support the delivery of our food and drink strategy. That facilitates a range of activities and direct engagement with retailers to increase the volume of Scottish food and drink on retail shelves, and to promote provenance to customers. Secondly, only earlier this month, a report on the Scottish Government-funded go local programme, which is delivered in partnership with the Scottish Grocers Federation, showed that there has been a 44 per cent increase in monthly sales of fresh and healthier Scottish products in participating stores. The programme uses shelf- edge labelling to promote products.”
“Willie Coffey: I thank the cabinet secretary for that detailed answer. From my previous questions, she will be aware of how highly we rate first-class local produce in my part of Ayrshire—namely, Dunlop cheese, Mossgiel and the Coo Shed milk, quality beef and lamb, Lochlea whisky, Irvine Valley gin, Ayrshire tatties and, not least, the famous Kilmarnock pie. How can we use the bill to encourage more local food and drink production? More important than that, how can we get all those products on to our shelves so that local people can buy them, and to help to sustain those vital local industries? Mairi Gougeon: First of all, I absolutely recognise the passion that Willie Coffey has— quite rightly—for the products that are made in his local area.”
“The 2024 act will allow for the realisation of our vision for agriculture. Ultimately, it is a positive vision that puts our food producers at its core and recognises the essential role that they have in relation to nature recovery and climate adaptation and mitigation. It enables the delivery of the four-tier framework, which values and rewards the actions of our producers in helping to help feed the nation and in stewarding our countryside. Many people are already leading the way on that work, and they deserve praise for farming to produce food sustainably, in ways that actively benefit both nature and climate. The framework approach recognises that there will be a phased transition, and it provides flexibility to respond to any of the geopolitical, economic, climate and nature challenges that we might face in the future.”
“As I also touched on in my initial response, our farmers and crofters are no longer benefiting from the multiyear EU funding that is vital for supporting long-term investment and planning. Agricultural Support 4.”
“Does the Scottish Government possess data on the cumulative impact of Brexit on rural Scotland across the five years since it occurred? Mairi Gougeon: Certainly, we have some information on that. However, first and foremost is that the economic consequences of Brexit are still being realised. We know already that it has created new barriers to trade, which have had a significant financial impact on businesses. It has also driven up food price inflation, supply chain costs and, as I mentioned in my previous response, labour shortages. Many Scottish food businesses are already suffering from lower exports to the EU. As a result of that, there was a 45 per cent fall in fruit and vegetable exports between 2019 and 2023.”
“Brexit continues to impact negatively on Scotland’s rural and island areas. We no longer have multiyear certainty of funding for agriculture and rural development that we previously used to enjoy when we were members of the European Union. Brexit has also resulted in trade deals that we know have disadvantaged our agrifood sector, and it has made recruitment of employees more difficult, disrupted supply chains and created new trade barriers for our rural and island economy. I am sad to say that rural businesses and communities are continuing to pay a heavy economic price for a Brexit that they did not vote for. Gordon MacDonald: Tory Brexit has had a detrimental effect on people and businesses throughout rural Scotland. Unfortunately, the Labour United Kingdom Government is continuing the economic vandalism of Brexit.”