Colin Smyth
Independent · Scotland
“When the minister considers the review, will he also commit to considering full cost recovery from licence applicants so that the public no longer subsidise private interests when licences are granted for the killing of protected species?”
“Amendment 64 agreed to. The Deputy Presiding Officer: That ends stage 3 consideration of amendments. As members will be aware, under standing orders, the Presiding Officer is required to decide whether, in her view, any provision of the bill relates to a protected subject matter—that is, whether it modifies the electoral system and franch…”
“I was taken in through the big arch door, and as soon as that door closed, my nightmare began—six weeks of hell I’ve carried with me all of my life.” Those wee girls’ hell was concealed, covered up and kept from parents. The children were made to write “nice” letters home, copied word for word from a blackboard.”
“Presiding Officer, “Trust is sacred. Our trust was broken as little girls—and now, trust in the system that’s supposed to help us and do right by us has been shattered.” Those are the words of the Fornethy survivors. Some of those brave women are with us in the public gallery today. Hundreds more have shared their story.”
“Most of those girls stayed for four to eight weeks, sometimes more than once. Some were as young as five years old. They were sent away to somewhere new and exciting—a place to rest and recuperate. One survivor said: “I remember getting on a bus with a suitcase. I was going on holiday for the first time.”
“My focus today will therefore be on the failures of Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government to show that same respect to those women. They have been campaigning for five and a half years against those failures, and they are still waiting for a full and meaningful apology.”
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“The Scottish Government is always open to finding new ways of sharing information about those schemes, but the evidence is that the people who take up that option are pleased with the schemes that we have. They see a difference in not only the carbon footprint of their house but their energy bills. The Scottish Government will continue to put resource into that area as a priority, as it recognises that it is one where policy on fuel poverty and policy on carbon go hand in hand.”
“More than half of older people in Scotland live in homes that have poor levels of energy efficiency, with an EPC rating of D or below. Why is awareness of the Scottish Government’s energy efficiency schemes so utterly woeful? According to the Chartered Institute of Building, just over a third of people—39 per cent—have not even heard of any of the schemes, and awareness is lowest among people over 55. It is little wonder that the Government consistently underspends on those schemes and leaves so many older people unnecessarily in the cold. Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government is investing £300 million in our heat in buildings energy efficiency delivery schemes.”
“To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its commitment to ban house coal, as set out in its strategy, cleaner air for Scotland 2. (S6O-04508)”
“It is important that we speak with one voice in the Parliament and work together across parties and sectors to ensure that Scotland continues to lead as a fair trade nation. By doing so, we will make a lasting difference for communities that need fair trade today more than they have ever needed it. I move amendment S6M-16923.2, to insert at end: “; notes Scottish Fair Trade’s strategy, which includes the aim of increasing the consumption and production of Fair Trade products, and calls on the Scottish Government to continue to support Fair Trade by establishing a standard definition and measurement framework for Fair Trade in public sector procurement, embedding Fair Trade in education and lifelong learning and supporting Fair Trade and ethical supply chains in Scottish business practices.” 15:30”
“To maintain that status, we can and must do more—for example, by ensuring that our public procurement policies align with fair trade principles and embedding such values in business and education. Fair trade is not only about purchasing choices; it is about the world that we want to build—one that is rooted in fairness, equity and sustainability. I will be pleased to move Labour’s amendment, in my name, and to support the Government’s motion. Although I do not fully agree with some parts of the Conservative amendment, I recognise the important points that it makes about support for local producers—which, I stress, is not in conflict with fair trade—and I recognise that fair trade businesses are often the most entrepreneurial, given the barriers that they face.”
“Given that fair trade enterprises face higher costs than conventional businesses, we should also strengthen support to help them to thrive and scale up their impact. Just as it is vital to embed fair trade and ethical supply chains in Scottish business practices, it is vital to integrate fair trade in education and lifelong learning, to inspire the next generation’s commitment to fair and ethical trade. I am delighted that we are joined by some of those future champions, who are from Holy Cross high school in Hamilton, in the gallery today. They really do lead by example in their work. Fair trade nation status is more than a title; it is a commitment to social justice, sustainability and global solidarity. It strengthens our international reputation and affirms our leadership in ethical trade.”
“Since our committee’s recommendation, I am pleased that guidance on procurement has improved, but I urge the Government to go further and enshrine the definition in law by amending the 2014 act, which will enable us to see how many fair trade products are being bought. Scottish business also has a vital role to play. As a Labour and Co-operative Party MSP, I am proud of the co-operative movement’s early and continued support for Fairtrade. The co-op retail movement remains Fairtrade’s largest UK supporter, and many Fairtrade producers operate as co-operatives. Other retailers could follow that example by increasing the amount of Fairtrade stock that they sell and ensuring that their supply chains are ethical. By integrating ethical risk assessments and supply chain due diligence, Scotland could lead the way in responsible trade.”
“How much of Scotland’s £16 billion public sector procurement budget is actually spent on fair trade products? The answer is often, “We simply do not know.” Scottish Fair Trade has been trying to measure that since 2019, yet no consistent monitoring or definition has been put in place. Last year’s Economy and Fair Work Committee inquiry into the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 highlighted the lack of a standardised legal definition of “fairly traded”, which has led to different public bodies taking different interpretations. We need to have a clearer definition that is aligned with Fairtrade International and the World Fair Trade Organization—not to mandate purchases, but to enhance transparency and accountability.”
“John Mason: The member has mentioned a lot of good news that I certainly support and welcome. He has also said a lot about food. Does he accept that we still have some way to go as far as clothing is concerned? We have heard at the cross-party group on fair trade that it has been difficult to get procurement of fair trade clothing. Colin Smyth: I agree entirely with the really important point that John Mason has made. I will come on to the importance of procurement in a second, because if the question is whether the Parliament and the Government can do a lot more, the answer is, “Absolutely—we certainly can.” Many local fair trade groups that have tried get a Fairtrade sign put up at the entrance to their Fairtrade village or town say that their council, or Transport Scotland, has said no.”
“The Scottish Fair Trade Forum’s work led to the step change in fair trade activity in Scotland that resulted in fair trade nation status being secured more than a decade ago. We celebrate the fact that that has been renewed this year, at a time when the fair trade principles of fair prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers have never been more important. Fair trade challenges the injustices of conventional trade and is at the heart of the fight against climate change. The Fairtrade premium, which ensures that producers in the global south are paid fairly, is a lifeline for communities, as it allows them to invest in sustainable farming and to afford medicine, education, food and good housing.”
“That recognition, warmth and support for fair trade has been generated by the work of our fair trade communities. Therefore, I want to say a heartfelt thank you to every volunteer, shop, organisation, school and faith group that plays a role in delivering trade justice for vulnerable farmers and workers in the global south. Their efforts, along with ours in the Parliament, are supported by the fantastic work of Scottish Fair Trade, which was previously under the leadership of Martin Rhodes and is now led by Louise Davies, alongside her small but exceptional team of Catherine, Sissa and Kiera. They are backed by their board, which is under the chairmanship of Charles, Liz and Rachel.”
“I am delighted to welcome some of those grass- roots campaigners, who join us in the gallery and online for the debate. Like many colleagues, I regularly get to meet inspiring fair trade campaigners at events across my region. In the past few weeks alone, I have spoken at Dumfries fair trade group’s public meeting on the future of fair trade and eaten way too many cakes at the Kirkcudbright fair trade group’s big brew and at the fair trade village big brew in Dunscore—a village that probably organises more fair trade events per head of population than anywhere else in the world. Whenever I head to such events, my kids always shout, “Don’t forget the Fairtrade chocolate,” and my wife usually adds, “And the Fairtrade wine.” Let us hope that she does not find that there is now Fairtrade gold, too.”
“Scotland’s status as a fair trade nation reflects a commitment to social justice, sustainability and global solidarity. It is a powerful statement of our shared values that demonstrates leadership and promotes ethical trade and equality at a time when inequality too often runs through our global supply chains. As the convener of the Parliament’s cross-party group on fair trade and the chairperson of Dumfries and Galloway regional fair trade steering group, I see every day the difference that is made by the fair trade principle that producers and workers should receive fair payment, good working conditions and opportunities for economic empowerment. I recognise that it is the work of local groups and campaigners, businesses, faith groups, councils and, ultimately, the producers themselves that makes the fair trade principle a reality.”
“Not every person who raises genuine concerns about the status quo is simply anti-salmon or anti- industry—many are pro-animal welfare, pro- environment and pro-communities, and want meaningful action to secure the long-term viability of the salmon farming industry. I want nothing more than to see the committee conclude in 12 months that adequate progress has been made in addressing those concerns, but we will not get that if the Government stands in the way of enabling the sector to grow sustainably, and in a way that takes welfare far more seriously. 16:24”
“As Rhoda Grant said, it is only with good governance that we protect our international reputation. Business as usual is simply not an option. The future of the sector—sustaining the jobs that it creates—requires that we hold the industry to the highest environmental standards, that we ensure that the sector takes animal welfare in aquaculture more seriously, and that we demand that the Government put in place the regulatory framework to achieve that, rather than it simply shrugging its shoulders about mortality rates. The changes that the committee’s report calls for are not about placing unreasonable burdens on the sector, but are about supporting the industry to make necessary improvements.”
“Those jobs help to keep people in the community and to keep rural schools, shops and community halls open— although the dependency on those jobs maybe says a lot about the lack of alternatives and the fragility of those rural communities. I also recognise that many indirect jobs are created through supply chains across Scotland. Indeed, I visited AquaGen in Dumfries, which is world leading in the production of genetic starter material for the sector and has created some high- skilled jobs in my area. However, the real threat to jobs and the salmon industry is not the demand for more action to address the welfare, environmental and regulatory failures of the sector, which the committee report highlighted, but the reputational damage that will be caused by failing to act.”
“When she intervened on Edward Mountain earlier, the cabinet secretary almost suggested that, because many such things are outwith the direct control of the industry—which has no plan to deal with them—we should tolerate high mortality rates. I simply do not accept that. Rhoda Grant was absolutely right to express concern about the lack of Government support for research and development on such issues to see whether we can find solutions to them. I recognise the points that have been made in the debate about the economic and social benefit that the salmon farming industry brings to rural and island communities. The year-round stable and direct employment that it brings to communities, often on good wages—higher than in other employment, given the appallingly low levels of pay that still plague rural Scotland—is important to those areas.”
“Why is the Government against consistent mandatory reporting of mortalities and publication of that information? I am not clear why the Government is against that and has rejected making that commitment so openly. There was also no commitment to publishing an annual fish health report detailing the health and welfare status of all farmed aquatic finfish. Those are reasonable recommendations that have been, in my view, unreasonably rejected. I recognise points that have been made in the debate that the reasons for the high mortality rate have changed—they are less about sea lice, in relation to which we have seen welcome improvements, and more about climate change. The committee concluded that tackling such causes is “not currently within the operational capability of industry”.”
“There is no commitment to end siting of farms in the close vicinity of known migratory routes for wild salmon or for mandatory reporting of mortalities to the fish health inspectorate, even though that data is collected—a point that Finlay Carson highlighted in his contribution. Mairi Gougeon: The member has just said that the information is already collected. What is the point of regulation, then, given that all regulation should be proportionate and balanced in relation to the impact that it can have on the industry? As I said to Finlay Carson, I would not hesitate to introduce regulations if there was a problem in collecting that data. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I will give you the time back, Mr Smyth. Colin Smyth: Thank you very much. Let me turn that question around.”
“Colin Smyth: I certainly do not, and my concern is that we might not even get back to those levels, given some of the issues that I will come to talk about in a second. I fear that the Government fails to acknowledge the scale or the gravity of the serious challenges that the industry faces and their welfare consequences. Where the Government does not openly reject the committee’s recommendations, which it does in many cases, its responses are vague and non- committal. There is no commitment to provide the fish health inspectorate or another appropriate body with the powers to limit or halt production at sites that have persistently high mortality rates. There is no commitment to introduce stricter conditions for accepted reasons on no counts.”
“The slow rate of progress in tackling mortality rates is not good enough, but what is more concerning is the Scottish Government’s response to the committee’s report and recommendations, which fails to acknowledge that. There are some positive aspects of the Government’s response, such as its commitment to considering putting basic baseline standards for the welfare of farmed fish on a statutory footing, which is something that OneKind suggested in its submission to the committee. Edward Mountain: Is the member as shocked as I was to see that, by its own admission, at the rate at which it is progressing, it would take the industry 19 years to get back to 2017 mortality levels? Does the member think that that is acceptable?”
“As the committee report highlights, the coastal communities network referred to information from biomass data, published by SEPA, that estimates that 17.5 million fish died in 2022—a level that Professor Simon MacKenzie from the University of Stirling told the committee was not “a sustainable practice.” In one of its written submissions, Animal Equality UK pointed out that “17 million on-farm mortalities is the tip of the iceberg”, and that the true scale of deaths in Scotland’s salmon farms is masked as a result of underreporting. Last year saw record freshwater deaths and, although 2024 saw a welcome improvement, mortality is still more than twice the 2018 level.”
“The committee is right to condemn the slow progress on improving the environmental impact and the governance of the sector, and it is right to highlight the fact that, seven years on, dozens of the REC Committee’s recommendations have still not been implemented. In its submission, animal welfare charity OneKind said that “there has not been meaningful or urgent action and the status quo is still very much evident in terms of animal health and welfare.” Salmon deaths have reached the tens of millions over recent years.”
“The committee report recorded my view that “a moratorium should be considered if sufficient progress is not made to address regulatory deficiencies and fish health and environmental concerns.” I took that view at the time, not because I was arguing for an immediate moratorium, but because I had no faith that the Government or the industry would properly address the regulatory and welfare failures that our committee had highlighted, or that they would, at the very least, not do so unless a moratorium was a serious option that could be considered. It gives me no pleasure to say that, seven years on, that now seems to be the view of the majority of members on the successor committee.”
“In the previous session of the Parliament, I was a member of the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee, which carried out the inquiry on the salmon farming industry nearly seven years ago. It was one of two thorough reports at the time: the other was from the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee the year before. I welcome the work of the current Rural Affairs and Islands Committee in following up the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee’s report, and I thank the committee members for that work. However, from reading the findings, I can see that it is a case of déjà vu in far too many areas. As a member of the REC Committee in 2018, I was one of the two members whom Edward Mountain referred to who dissented from the committee’s conclusion to completely reject a moratorium.”
“In the spirit of the report, I hope that the cabinet secretary will listen carefully to the feedback from members across the chamber this afternoon about how we can build a more sustainable and prosperous salmon farming sector in Scotland. I look forward to hearing the contributions of all members but, for now, I commend our report to the Parliament. I move, That the Parliament notes the conclusions and recommendations contained in the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee’s 1st Report, 2025 (Session 6), Follow- up inquiry into salmon farming in Scotland (SP Paper 720). The Presiding Officer: Thank you. Before I call the cabinet secretary, members might wish to be aware that we do have a little time in hand this afternoon. 15:10”
“The committee had hoped that our report would be a wake-up call for the Scottish Government and that it would see that its current approach is not working. However, having read the cabinet secretary’s response, I cannot help but feel a bit dismayed about how few of the committee’s recommendations the Scottish Government has committed to act on. I also struggle to see the Scottish Government acknowledge the seriousness of the challenges that the industry faces. That is important, because it is vital that the sector can overcome those challenges so that we can continue to enjoy the benefits that salmon farming brings to the Scottish economy and to support the jobs and economic development that it provides in rural communities. I am sure that we can all agree on that.”
“Finlay Carson makes an important point about the fact that the committee wants to see progress within one year, but can he tell us exactly what the committee believes are the measurable actions that need to be delivered in those 12 months and what process the committee will undertake to measure and assess whether the concerns have been adequately addressed at the end of that period? The Presiding Officer: Please answer and conclude, convener. Finlay Carson: We take those points on board. It is very important that, before the 12 months are up, the committee has the opportunity to see whether there has been satisfactory progress. We now have a timetable, but we have to ensure that the Government actually sticks to that.”
“I commend everybody who is working for Historic Environment Scotland and doing their level best to ensure that that happens as quickly as possible right across the country. I acknowledge, however, that there will be parts of the country where significant closures are in place. I will ask Historic Environment Scotland for an update on the region and the sites that Mr Smyth asked about in order to get a better understanding of when any work is likely to be conducted and when sites are likely to open. I am sure that HES will be listening very closely to his concerns, and I am sure that we all want to ensure that our sites of historic interest throughout Scotland are able to open as quickly and as safely as possible.”
“Dumfries and Galloway is being disproportionately affected by public access restrictions on Historic Environment Scotland buildings. Seven are fully closed, four others have visitor restrictions and almost none of them have plans in place for what work needs to be done, never mind a date to reopen. Local tour companies tell me that it is becoming difficult to tell the story of our region’s history, given that poor access. Will the Government intervene to speed up the process to safely reopen our historic and cultural heritage sites in Dumfries and Galloway? Angus Robertson: I very much agree with Mr Smyth: he wishes for those sites to open when they are safe, and I think that we all agree that that should be the case.”
“It is a sector that reaches and benefits parts of Scotland that others cannot and do not reach. I see that week in and week out in my South Scotland region, as I visit local producers and processors, agricultural shows, country fairs, local farms, markets, fishing ports, hotels, and a distillery or brewery or two—or maybe three or four. It is a genuine delight to be able to eat and drink my way across my region on a regular basis— maybe a bit too regularly. I thank those in the food and drink sector across Scotland—our farmers, our fishers, our shop workers, processors, wholesalers, and deliverers—who have delivered that success story. However, I know from that journey— Craig Hoy: Will the member give way? Colin Smyth: I do not think that I have got any additional time—”
“Such a balance can be achieved, which I hope will be the conclusion that NatureScot and the cabinet secretary come to. As we have heard in the debate, our food and drink sector is a national success story. From our world-renowned whisky and seafood to our growing artisan food businesses, the sector is vital not only for our economy but for our culture, our communities and our international reputation through brand Scotland. The sector generates a turnover of £16 billion and is responsible for £7 billion in exports—more than 30 per cent of the UK’s total—and employs more than 129,000 people. Crucially, given that 97 per cent of such businesses are small and medium-sized enterprises, many of those jobs are created in economically fragile rural communities.”
“I appreciate that the cabinet secretary is not going anywhere soon, but I was sorry to read about her decision to step down at the next election. I served as a local councillor for the same period as the cabinet secretary, and we were elected to the Scottish Parliament at the same time. Mairi Gougeon has gone on to be our cabinet secretary, and I have gone on to be the person who asks her questions. I hope that, at the least, I have done so in a courteous and constructive manner. I hope that one of the cabinet secretary’s legacies will be the creation of a Galloway national park—a national park that is made in Galloway, for its people. I hope that the park will protect and improve our outstanding natural environment but, crucially, also grow our local economy by supporting sectors such as our food and drink providers.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to calls from Independent Age for a pensioner poverty strategy for Scotland. (S6O-04438)”
“When will the Scottish Government play its part and tackle those appalling and rising waiting times for surgery?”
“My constituent John Small has been on the waiting list for knee replacement surgery in NHS Dumfries and Galloway for 14 months. John is 87 years old. Last week, he learned that he will be on that list for at least another four months. The First Minister keeps saying that things are getting better, but since April 2024, when he announced action to tackle waiting times, waits of more than 52 weeks for trauma and orthopaedic surgery in NHS Dumfries and Galloway have gone up every month. To keep himself fit, John set up a thriving walking football group in Stranraer, working with the charity Versus Arthritis through his son, Gary, but he has had to give that up. John is playing his part by trying to keep active, and he deserves a lot better.”
“There is quite a bit of interest in supplementary questions, so brevity in questions and responses would be appreciated. Audiology Services (NHS Grampian) 1.”
“Jim Fairlie: I do not have the exact numbers in relation to the number of licences that have been issued by NatureScot or that will be issued this coming year. However, NatureScot is working with landholders to make sure that licences are effective in exactly the way that the 2024 act requires, and I am confident that that is what will happen. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Question 8 was not lodged, so that concludes questions on rural affairs. There will be a brief pause before we move to the next portfolio, to allow members on the front benches to change. Health and Social Care The Deputy Presiding Officer: The next portfolio is health and social care. Again, members who wish to ask a supplementary question should press their request-to-speak buttons during the relevant question.”
“The minister is aware of the unintended loophole in the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 that allows some grouse moor owners to apply for a grouse shooting licence that covers only the small area of their estate that is directly used for grouse shooting rather than the whole estate, even though the whole estate is managed to enable operation of the grouse moor. Does the minister recognise that, if that loophole is not closed, the 2024 act will not have its intended effect of ending the illegal killing of birds of prey that is associated with some grouse moors? If the offence takes place outside the small licence area, it cannot be considered in licensing decisions, which is reducing the impact of licensing as a deterrent to wildlife crime.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the calls in public petition PE1979 for gaps in the Scottish child abuse inquiry to be addressed and for an independent whistleblowing officer for education and children’s services to be established. (S6O-04379)”
“The loss of festivals in Dumfries and Galloway has had a big impact on the region, especially when funding streams such as the winter festivals fund have been removed by the Government. In his role as chair of the strategic partnership for festivals, will the cabinet secretary meet me and representatives of festivals in the region, including the Big Burns Supper, to discuss how we can best support re-establishment of some of the important festivals in the region? Angus Robertson: I am happy to give a brief answer. Yes—I would be delighted to meet Colin Smyth to hold such discussions.”
“The First Minister: As Mr Smyth knows, I am very familiar with The Usual Place. It is an organisation that I respect enormously. I respect the impact that it has on the lives of young people, so I was concerned to read about, and am familiar with, the challenges that it faces. For completeness, I should say—I do not make this point pejoratively, but it is the hard reality of what we are dealing with—that the increase in national insurance contributions has been cited by the company as a contributory factor in its difficulties. I am committed to making sure that we do all that we can to support The Usual Place, subject to all the normal processes that we have to go through. I give the company my commitment that I will encourage and motivate our agencies to make sure that they do exactly that.”
“However, the future of The Usual Place—a community cafe in Dumfries that provides life-changing opportunities for young people with disabilities and additional support needs, and which helps many people into employment—is in doubt because of the difficulty in securing adequate funding. I know that the First Minister is familiar with the project. Will he make a commitment that the Government and its agencies will urgently consider what support they can give to avoid the proposed redundancies at The Usual Place? Will he arrange for the cabinet secretary to meet me and a cross-party group of MSPs from South Scotland to discuss how, together, we can help to secure the long-term future of that transformative project and the futures of so many young people who depend on it?”
“To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to reduce the disability employment gap. (S6F-03814) The First Minister: The Scottish Government is committed to halving the disability employment gap. In 2023, the employment rate for disabled people was 52.7 per cent, exceeding our first interim target by 2.7 percentage points. Through the implementation of our fair work action plan, we have reduced barriers and improved recruitment and retention of disabled people. We will take further actions, but we have to be cognisant of the fact that we have only limited powers in this area, as employment powers are reserved to the United Kingdom Government. Colin Smyth: The disability employment gap shamefully remains above 40 per cent in Dumfries and Galloway.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on annual reporting of its incentivisation of selective fishing gear and low-impact techniques that the rural affairs secretary committed to commissioning in January 2023. (S6O-04316)”
“To ask the Scottish Government what the current average timescale is for non-criminal complaints against the police to be allocated for investigation by Police Scotland. (S6O-04305)”
“South of Scotland Enterprise’s budget is proposed to be cut from £35 million in 2023-24 to £29 million in the forthcoming year. What effect will having £6 million less to invest than two years ago have on the agency’s economic impact? Kate Forbes: Both the resource funding and the capital funding that are being allocated to South of Scotland Enterprise in 2025-26 reflect an increase in funding compared to 2024-25. Due to the reduction in the financial transactions that have been allocated to the Scottish Government by the UK Government, we have not been able to maintain South of Scotland Enterprise’s financial transactions allocation, which accounts for most of the difference in funding between 2022-23 and 2025-26.”
“I make that point because, although it is so important to reflect on and remember the tragic loss of the Maid of the Seas over Lockerbie, which will, of course, always be part of the town’s stories, we should also reflect that there is much more to the town of Lockerbie—a vibrant, proud and forward-looking community. 17:23”
“That is not just about visiting the physical memorials. Lasting friendships have been formed between the families of those lost and the local community, and bonds have been formed between Lockerbie academy and Syracuse University. Each time that the spotlight has been shone on Lockerbie—whether it be through news coverage of trials, discussion of conspiracy theories or the showing of television dramas—the dignified humanity of the people of Lockerbie has shone back. When I speak to families from around the world who come to the town, what always strikes me most is not only their gratitude for the way in which those in the community opened their hearts and homes to them but those families’ realisation that Lockerbie is not just where the horrific events of 21 December 1988 cruelly happened.”
“I could say so much more about the remarkable people at the sharp end of the response to the Lockerbie bombing, from the community and from the emergency services, many of whom worked tirelessly for days on end, trying to cope—and help others to cope—with the magnitude of the destruction. Many continue to do so to this day, as families of the victims continue to visit the last resting places of their loved ones. They take comfort from the memorial garden and lodge in Dryfesdale cemetery, the remembrance room at Tundergarth church, the peaceful memorials in Sherwood Crescent and Rosebank Crescent, and the glass window in the town hall that depicts the flags of the 21 countries that lost citizens in the bombing. Most importantly, families take comfort from the warmth of a community that has supported them since then, over the past 36 years.”