Emma Harper
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“I welcome the Scottish Government’s commitment to tackling child poverty and its investment through the whole family support third sector delivery fund. Will the cabinet secretary say more about how the delivery model will work alongside existing local partnerships?”
“Given the challenges that Christine Grahame outlined and the Scottish Government’s commitment to a just transition, how can the Government support investment in biofuels and anaerobic digestion to reduce reliance on heating oil and provide greener, more secure energy for rural industries such as those in Dumfries and Galloway and the Bord…”
“That is why there is so much emphasis placed in the action plan on whole family support. It is about giving support to families where and when they need it and delivering it in a way that is right for communities. I look forward to continuing to work with Emma Harper on how we can take that forward in the south of Scotland and elsewhere.”
“However, the barriers are not only physical, but also cultural: we heard consistent evidence of negative attitudes from boys, girls being sidelined in physical education and playgrounds being dominated by boys’ activities.”
“As a member of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, I had the privilege of contributing to our inquiry on female participation in sport and physical activity. What we heard was clear. Although the benefits of sport are universal, access to those benefits is not.”
“Her work has never been about making short-term headlines; it has been about achieving long-term change founded on compassion and justice. During this parliamentary session, Christine introduced her member’s bill, the Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Bill, which strengthened protections for animals and built on years of advocacy on issues such…”
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“Turning to members’ contributions, I appreciate Alasdair Allan’s points about the loss of millions of pounds via the settlement that would have supported fishing for the future across Scotland, and especially in the Western Isles. Karen Adam and Rhoda Grant both paid tribute to fishers, who work in an extraordinarily challenging environment; again, it is important to have funding to put in place the infrastructure that is needed to support them in their work. Emma Harper talked about the need for funding to support our future fisheries and get new entrants into the sector. I agree with Carol Mochan’s point that the fishing sector absolutely needs certainty for the future.”
“Island Fish Shetland has been celebrating an award for delivering quality from sea to plate, and Frankie’s fish and chip shop has won another award. I feel that I could not speak about fishing without mentioning those businesses. Douglas Lumsden: On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I apologise to you and to members for not being in the chamber at the start of the closing speeches. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Mr Lumsden. I call Ariane Burgess. 16:45 Ariane Burgess: In today’s debate, many good points have been made, and it has been extremely lively and tense at times. I hope that the communities and fishers who are watching today’s proceedings will take some reassurance from the knowledge that we are doing all that we can, from different perspectives, to put pressure on the UK Government to change course.”
“HPMAs appear to be an existential crisis for the sector as we know it. There have been revelations that the First Minister was told not to engage with the very real issue of spatial squeeze in our seas. There has also been the economic link policy, as well as delays in providing a training scheme that will help to develop the future of the sector. There has even been the loss of annual debates in the Scottish Parliament. Finally, it would be remiss of me not to mention again the disastrous Conservative Brexit deal for the fishing sector and the UK Labour Party’s damaging extension of that deal until 2038. Finally finally, I will give a plug to two businesses in my constituency that have won awards recently.”
“The optimum time for attracting school leavers and getting new entrants is June, and any delay in the confirmation of funding means that that critical timeframe is lost. That has happened for the second year in a row and, as the cabinet secretary knows from my correspondence with her, it is important that bureaucracy should not get in the way of, or be detrimental to, bringing new entrants into the industry. I welcome Emma Harper’s comments about fishing as a career and all that can be done with skills development. Without the proper investment in the next generation of fishermen, we cannot guarantee a sustainable fishing sector for the future. As I have pointed out, that could be disastrous for communities around Scotland. In the past few years, the Scottish Government has thrown highly protected marine areas at the fishing community.”
“I note Scottish Environment LINK’s call for the decentralisation of fisheries and conservation management to allow for more inclusive and locally appropriate decision making. Shetland’s location would lend itself to local, rather than regional, management to avoid a one-size-fits-all approach. Indeed, Shetland is already ahead on local management, in that the Shetland Islands Regulated Fishery (Scotland) Order 2012, run by the Shetland Shellfish Management Organisation, has been working well for nearly 25 years, and it should be held up as an exemplar. The Shetland Fishermen’s Association has highlighted the impact of delays in confirmation to Seafish of the marine fund Scotland award for fisheries training.”
“Fishermen are custodians of our seas, and the last thing they want to see is biodiversity loss or low stock numbers of fish species that can never recover. Their way of life is dependent on accurate scientific data, and the Scottish Government needs to ensure that we get that right. If we do not—I note the huge concerns about the proposed cuts in the pelagic and cod quotas—the impact on island and coastal communities will be devastating. Members should be in no doubt that there will be serious consequences. If there are no vessels at sea catching fish, there will be no need for a processing sector onshore, and the impact on all those communities will be felt throughout the wider supply chain, which relies on the fishing boats, many of which are family businesses.”
“Further concerns involve marine protection, the dangerous actions of other fishing vessels at sea, the impact of policy making without up-to-date scientific evidence and data, and the trade and co- operation agreement negotiations. I have long raised concerns about the level of Scottish Government investment in its marine directorate. As Finlay Carson and Rhoda Grant highlighted, what we saw during the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee’s visit to the directorate’s premises in Aberdeen shocked us. I believe that the directorate is inadequately resourced for all that is being asked of it. Fisheries protection, marine protection, scientific research and data gathering are all matters for future policy making.”
“In speaking to my motion for a members’ business debate that I led earlier this year, I highlighted many issues, including climate change, warmer seas and stocks moving to new areas, as well as “marine pollution; ghost gear; and the impact of dumping at sea on fish, seabirds, cetaceans and other marine life.”— [Official Report, 18 February 2025; c 95.] There is also the matter of food security, which is increasingly important in the unstable world in which we live. There is increasing demand for marine space, which is causing spatial squeeze. As other members have said, there are issues around at-sea renewable energy infrastructure, which is pushing fishing out of traditional grounds.”
“I would be interested to know who in the previous Governments was negotiating on behalf of Scotland. Scotland has not been at the table. Scotland needs to be in the room, standing up for our own fishing communities, because we know our communities in Scotland. We need to be in the room, at the table, negotiating on our own behalf. I hope that that answers Douglas Ross’s question about the CFP. The Deputy Presiding Officer: We move to the closing speeches. I note that Mr Lumsden, who participated in the debate, is not here. I expect an explanation for that, as well as an apology. 16:39 Beatrice Wishart: I think we can agree that this has been an interesting and, at times, lively debate, which demonstrates how complex and valued the fishing sector is.”
“The Tories and the Labour members—the former with an amendment that talks about negative impacts on the fishing sector when their actions have hammered what they have called an expendable industry in recent years, and the latter acting as a human shield for the most unpopular UK Prime Minister in polling history—are shedding crocodile tears, and their arguments should not stand when it comes to decision time. Roll on the day when Scotland takes its seat at the EU table as an independent member, gets the fair funding that our fishing industry deserves, shakes off the dead hand of Westminster fiddling the figures, and stands up in Europe for our communities, as compared with the decades of decline that successive UK Governments have allowed to happen on their watch. Finally, I will address Douglas Ross’s point about the CFP.”
“It is a slap in the face for all who work in the industry to see the UK Government allocate such a pitiful slice of the fishing and coastal growth fund—less than 8 per cent—given that Scotland’s contribution to the UK’s fishing capacity is greater than 60 per cent. The funding should go to the coastal communities that land catches that contribute so much to our economy and to our global reputation for quality food. The members across the chamber from me will not thank me for reminding the voters of their role in the fact that the reason why the fund has to exist under UK control at all is because of a Brexit that Scotland voted against but was forced to thole anyway. Thankfully, those in our seafood and fishing sector are made of stern stuff and have adapted—they have had to, to survive and thrive.”
“Keeping the fleet in action in ports such as Kirkcudbright supports jobs in rural communities, boosts our local economies and supports repopulation. Finlay Carson: I agree 100 per cent with everything that Emma Harper has said up to now, but does she agree that her support for her Government’s absolutely disastrous HPMA proposals and the lack of advancement of fisheries such as cockle fishing does the industry in our region a great disservice? Emma Harper: The Government has not taken forward the HPMA proposals—it listened and decided not to take them forward. I support the communities and repopulation. Fishing is a fundamental part of our culture and history, and to see it die for lack of new starts would be a tragedy.”
“Organisations such as the South of Scotland Sea Fish Training Association, which is run by my constituent Davie Gilchrist, are working hard to ensure not only that the current generation of fisher folk have the skills that are needed at sea, but that the next generation is shown sea survival techniques and how to crew the boats safely and efficiently and deal with emergencies. That generation should also have fishing as a real option for their careers. I therefore make a plea to careers advisers, Skills Development Scotland and the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills to agree that we need to make sure that crewing the fleet is on the table as an option for young people who are seeking employment, not just in our coastal communities but across the sector.”
“It provides skilled, well-paid jobs spread across rural areas and our coastal communities rather than being focused in one or two major ports. The economic benefit to Scotland of fishing is more than £300 million, but the spin-offs in terms of our image and reputation overseas for high-end food and drinks are incalculable, and the jobs that it brings to fragile rural economies are invaluable. We therefore need to ensure that we are training and supporting future generations to enter the fishing industry. Colleagues have also mentioned the future workforce.”
“If people are out for their tea in a seafood restaurant and order the scallops, there is a fair chance that those scallops will have been caught in inshore waters off the south-west and landed in Kirkcudbright. West Coast Sea Products in Kirkcudbright has expanded from scallop fishing and supply and now sells its catch directly to locals and local businesses in the town and to the Swally n’ Scran in Kirkcudbright, which was recently named restaurant of the year at the Dumfries and Galloway Life awards. The industry is not just about the boats and crew bringing in their catch. It is about the retailers and resellers dealing with outlets far and wide. It is about the food outlets in the south, across Scotland and further afield getting that catch on to plates and dinner tables. Our offshore shellfish fleet is a crucial part of that mix.”
“Although the big ports in the north-east and the northern isles might have the biggest landings and the biggest economic impact, I will highlight the contribution and the success of our fishing fleet in the South Scotland region, from Eyemouth to Portpatrick. Those ports might be small compared with those at Lerwick and Peterheid, but we pack a punch. More than 150 jobs in Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders are directly employed on Scotland-registered vessels. At the last count, nearly 7,000 tonnes of seafood was landed at those ports each year. The catch that lands every day at ports across the south is world leading, high quality and sustainable. Kirkcudbright is one of the biggest harbours for scallop catch landings on these isles.”
“A member cannot just point their finger and ask someone to stand up and jump in on their picky questions. We have already answered the question—I answered it earlier—so I ask Douglas Ross to be a bit more respectful. Douglas Ross: We are taking part in a debate, which is about an exchange of views. People who are listening to the debate will not have heard a positive reason for rejoining the common fisheries policy from the very party that wants to go to the electorate telling fishermen that that will be its policy. If people vote for the SNP and it ever gets independence, it will take us back into the CFP, but it cannot tell us one single positive about rejoining it. That is very telling.”
“Will the member accept that the reason that some people on this side of the chamber look forward to Scotland being a member state of the European Union is that, for the first time, we would be represented in Europe by a Government that puts fishing priorities at the top and not at the bottom of our list of negotiating priorities? Douglas Ross: There is still no answer to my question, so I will give way to Karen Adam. Will she tell us what would be positive for her fishermen about rejoining the common fisheries policy? Karen Adam: Since my microphone is on, I will come in. I did not press my button to request an intervention but Douglas Ross has demanded that I stand up and speak right now. I think that that is a really inappropriate thing to do.”
“I would like to respond to Douglas Ross, thank you very much, Presiding Officer. I was throwing my arms up in the air because I wondered what he could say that was positive about Brexit. Douglas Ross: I will try again. It was not a difficult question. I saw that Alasdair Allan wanted to intervene. Will Alasdair Allan tell me what would be positive for his fishermen about rejoining the common fisheries policy? Alasdair Allan: The member may not quite understand that interventions work on the opposite principle to the one that he thinks they do.”
“He is still dealing with the condition and, certainly, there is still public opprobrium, but the new film that I referred to will ensure that his message reaches a whole new public. I thank John and others for what they have achieved and will continue to achieve, and I say this: only he could have done it in this way, with determination, dignity, authority and humour. 13:02”
“John Davidson presented at the famous Wigtown book festival this year. Does Christine Grahame agree that his book, “I Swear”, along with his television work and his appearance at the book festival, are other ways in which to raise awareness of Tourette’s? Christine Grahame: They are, indeed. What John has accomplished was done not for reasons of self-aggrandisement but because of a determination to sweep away the misconceptions around the condition, to help others in the same position and to support their families and the wider public. John’s life is an example of how personal experience shared bravely and honestly can shape public attitudes for the better. I have no doubt that it has been tough for him—and for others—and will continue to be so.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to help deliver regeneration in the south- west, including any plans for future infrastructure and housing investment. (S6O-05140)”
“Will the cabinet secretary outline what engagement has been undertaken with people and stakeholders to ensure that the voices of rural communities are heard in work to tackle rural crime? Angela Constance: The key route for that is with the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime, which is chaired by Police Scotland. It brings together key justice and rural sector partners, including NFU Scotland, the Scottish Crofting Federation, Crimestoppers and Rural Watch Scotland. The partnership provides a robust multi- agency approach to preventing rural crime and it supports actions that are taken at a local level. It also provides rural and farming communities with information, advice and local intelligence on how best to prevent crime in their area. Police Scotland 4.”
“I look forward to hearing colleagues’ contributions and the minister’s response. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Ms Harper—looking at the number of colleagues who want to participate, I am not sure that I agree that it is going to be a short debate. 17:29”
“Members know what it is like to lose a colleague and friend to secondary breast cancer. Ahead of the debate, I have reflected much on the mentoring and advice, and the friendship, that I had from Christina McKelvie MSP. Christina was an amazing person, an amazing MSP and a fabulous minister. It was Christina, through Keith Brown, who asked me to take forward the motion and debate today. It will be a short debate, in fact, because I am aware of the time. Let us all leave here today resolving to do better and to look at data, care and treatment for people in rural areas. We need to improve the lives of those who are living with secondary breast cancer and secondary cancer and metastatic disease. We need to improve their chances so that their life lasts much longer, as long as possible.”
“I welcome to the public gallery women who are living with secondary breast cancer, whom I and other members met earlier today in Parliament. I thank the minister for also taking the time to meet them. It was a dreich day outside, and folk got a bit soaked, so it was welcome to meet them in the Parliament cafe. We covered issues such as needing specialist nurses or other healthcare practitioners for secondary cancers, and the challenges that people who live in rural areas such as Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders face in being able to see specialists. I acknowledge that digital technology can be part of the engagement with, and care for, people with secondary breast cancers. I am, however, looking forward to progress being made to establish a Maggie’s centre in Dumfries, which was announced in August this year.”
“We have a job to do in educating the public and spreading awareness of the facts about secondary breast cancer, not just so that people know about the symptoms for their own health but so that the people around those who are diagnosed with metastatic cancer are prepared and equipped for that diagnosis and are as ready as they can be to give the love and support that their loved one needs. I know that there are treatments for secondary breast cancer, using a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other targeted and immunotherapy treatments. I am also aware of the recent denial of two specific medications by the Scottish Medicines Consortium. Both Make 2nds Count and Breast Cancer Now have responded to that decision, and I know that there are many disappointed people voicing their concerns.”
“I hope that the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health will be able to update us on progress on making that happen. However, as I said, the numbers are just that—numbers—and they do not convey what the individual impact is, not just on those who are living with secondary breast cancer but on their friends, family and loved ones. Secondary cancers are often misunderstood. People often assume that they are a further, separate condition, when in fact they have metastasised from primary breast cancer or another cancer. The original condition may have been treated successfully but, unfortunately, cells from the original tumour break away and seed in other tissues and organs of the body. That is one of the biggest tragedies of secondary breast cancer: people may think that they are clear, but they face further heartbreak down the line.”
“We can go back through years of mortality statistics for primary cancer because Public Health Scotland and its predecessor bodies have been collecting that data for decades. Unfortunately, however, that is not yet the case for secondary and metastatic cancers, including secondary breast cancer. At best estimates, around 4,000 people across the country are affected by metastatic breast cancer, but the numbers alone cannot convey the human impact of living with a condition that you know cannot be cured. Until we know accurately the scale of the challenge that we face, it makes meeting that challenge harder than it needs to be. Improvements in care and research would benefit hugely if we had a better data collection and analysis service and knew for certain how many people in our country are affected.”
“We should acknowledge that, along with the fact that we are doing some incredible work in treating primary cancers with surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, endocrine therapy and medication such as trastuzumab—I had to write that down twice so that I could make sure that I said it properly. Trastuzumab is a type of targeted therapy drug, known as a monoclonal antibody, for breast and stomach cancers. It is used if tests show that the cancer cells have too much of a protein called HER2. Those life- changing and life-saving leaps forward in prevention and treatment are all welcome, and we all hope that there is more progress to come. However, we should and must do better with regard to metastatic cancers in particular.”
“I am grateful to colleagues across the parties in the chamber for supporting my motion, and I thank Make 2nds Count and Breast Cancer Now for their support ahead of the debate. I declare an interest, as a registered nurse. If I went back to January 1988 and told the newly qualified Emma Harper RGN about the advances in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer that have taken place since then, the young Emma would have been amazed and chuffed wi all that progress. The risk of dying from cancer is at its lowest level on record. Public health campaigns have helped to change lifestyles and tackle risk factors, while treatment and diagnosis have advanced hugely over the decades.”
“It takes all of us to get behind the project of ensuring that we build resilience in our fire and rescue services and in our local communities. That is something that we will continue to do through the SMARTEU work. It is also why we are having the round-table meeting with MSPs, who will bring their own perspectives. We will continue to build resilience so that we have actions in place that are ready for us at the start of next spring.”
“This April, a massive wildfire struck Galloway in the heart of the forest park. Thankfully, no one was injured and no lives were lost. The work of the local community in Glentrool was highly helpful to responders such as the Fire and Rescue Service and Galloway Mountain Rescue Team. Will the minister outline how the Scottish Government is encouraging partnership working across communities and responders, not just for wildfires but for other issues in our rural communities? Jim Fairlie: That issue is one of the things that I have tried to get across from the start. There has to be a partnership and co-ordinated approach right across Scotland, whether that is with gamekeepers, land managers, local authorities or the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.”
“There are also a number of actions in the housing emergency action plan, which was published on 2 September—not least, my communicating to the heads of planning that I expect an emergency-led approach to be taken and proportionality when dealing with small and medium-sized enterprises, and an important ministerial oversight direction whereby I will observe the application of the national planning framework 4 and will be able to intervene where needed. Refugees and Asylum Seekers (Community Support) 7.”
“I recognise that the recently announced housing emergency action plan commits to additional planning actions to accelerate housing delivery. Can the cabinet secretary speak to the positive impact that that is expected to have on the delivery of new homes in Scotland, including in Dumfries and Galloway? Màiri McAllan: We need our planning system to ensure that the right houses are developed in the right places and to be a facilitator of progress and not a hindrance to it. As well as speaking with the planning minister, I have been having extensive conversations with house builders about their experiences of the planning system. The Government’s actions are being delivered— not least the 23 actions in the planning and the housing emergency delivery plan, which are all now under way or completed.”
“Galloway Fisheries Trust has also engaged in a temperature-checking project for local rivers, which Audrey Nicoll described. Temperatures have reached more than 30°C in some of our waterways. There is lots to talk about, and I am celebrating Galloway Fisheries Trust today. 13:10”
“This debate reminds me of the work that Galloway Fisheries Trust is engaged in—lots of research and lots of projects. I have lodged a motion to recognise one of its recent initiatives, called flowing forward—restoring Galloway’s rivers. When I recently met the trust’s chief executive, Jamie Ribbens, and its chair, Mark Davies, they told me all about some of the work that was going ahead. Jamie described a local project in the River Bladnoch. A farmer there had said that the land was not productive. However, once Galloway Fisheries Trust started its work to remeander the river, do riparian repair and increase the area’s biodiversity, the farmer changed his mind about what “productivity” means—in his mind, it had been only about farming rather than biodiversity and nature restoration.”
“Anyone who has tried to buy or sell a house where Japanese knotweed has been found will tell you the huge challenges that it brings. Therefore, although the primary aim of such work might be to protect our natural environment along waterways, it can also bring big economic and social benefits that might not be immediately connected to biodiversity. The on-going scrutiny and passage of the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill will, I am sure, result in an act that will put nature restoration and biodiversity in our waterways at the heart of Government policy. As climate change figures increasingly in our public policy and decision making, we have to protect the balance in nature, which, as Audrey Nicoll’s motion says, is, “the lifeblood of the landscape and central to the nation’s brand”.”
“Without the coming together of local district salmon boards in Dumfries and Galloway, the trust would not exist. The value of freshwater fishing to fragile, rural local economies is huge. We have a world-quality offering of that, and anglers from around the world come to experience it. If our waterways and rivers become biodiversity deserts, we lose not only the natural resource but the economic benefits that it brings. Groups such as the Galloway Fisheries Trust are not just helping to clean up water. They are working to eradicate invasive non-native species such as Japanese knotweed and giant hogweed, both of which can have huge and devastating impacts on the wildlife along the riverbanks as well as destroy riverbanks through degradation and erosion, forever changing the local environment.”
“As a society, we have a lot to be proud of when it comes to the improvement of the cleanliness and sustainability of our rivers in the past years. Not so long ago, rivers such as the Clyde and the Carron could well have carried a Government health warning next to their lifebuoys. We had built industries—not just in the central belt but in our more rural communities—that used our waterways as dumping grounds and made biodiversity a bit of science fiction. In my region, the work of organisations such as the Galloway Fisheries Trust has been hugely important and a local cornerstone of the wider work that is going on nationally. The existence of the trust is a demonstration of how our use of river resources and the conservation of our rivers go hand in hand.”
“I thank Audrey Nicoll for her motion and for securing the debate this afternoon. As the Scottish Environment LINK nature champion for ponds and small lochs—I am the natterjack toad champion, as well—I have a particular interest in today’s debate. Dumfries and Galloway is home to some of our country’s most spectacular and important rivers and waterways, from the Ken and the Dee, whose power is harnessed through forward- thinking hydro schemes that were built nearly a century ago, to the Liddel and the Sark, which have formed the border with our neighbours to the south for centuries. As Audrey Nicoll’s motion makes clear, the biodiversity of our waterways is crucial to ensure not only that the areas they are in have a blossoming ecosystem but that we, as humans, are able to enjoy what they have to offer. That was not always the case.”
“I remind members that I was a clinical nurse educator prior to coming to the Parliament. As a perioperative nurse, part of my educational role was to teach midwives and junior doctors how to provide safe care during caesarean sections, including urgent and crash”
“Leadership has been strengthened, with the appointment of a dedicated associate medical director for women’s services, and cultural improvement initiatives are under way. Those steps demonstrate that the Government is not waiting for change—it is driving the change. Although issues are being addressed in Lothian, I must acknowledge the concerns that have been raised in Wigtownshire and Stranraer; I know that the ministers on the front bench will expect me to represent my constituents in that respect. Since the closure of the Clenoch birthing suite at Galloway community hospital in 2018, expectant mothers have faced journeys of up to 70 miles along the A75 to Dumfries and Galloway royal infirmary. Safety is my primary concern in all this, and choice is also a crucial part of the person-centred approach.”
“Following the HIS report, NHS Lothian’s maternity services have been escalated to level 3 of the NHS Scotland support and intervention framework, ensuring enhanced scrutiny and immediate support. That is not a token gesture— the framework is a robust mechanism that brings additional leadership, resources and accountability to drive rapid improvement. A new Scottish maternity and neonatal task force has been established, chaired by the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health. The task force will include voices from service users, front-line staff, independent bodies and third-sector organisations. Its remit is clear: to provide national oversight, share best practice and ensure that lessons are learned quickly across Scotland.”
“The HIS report identified 26 areas requiring improvement, including delays of up to 29 hours for induction of labour, staffing shortages, a suboptimal skill mix and gaps in incident reporting. Inspectors also highlighted cultural issues such as staff feeling overwhelmed, unsupported and reluctant to escalate concerns. Those findings are concerning and cannot be ignored. However, it is important to stress that those challenges, although serious, do not mean that our maternity services are unsafe overall; Scotland’s hospitals remain among the safest places to give birth. The health secretary made that clear in his ministerial statement last week, when he said that the commitment to continuous improvement is unwavering. The Scottish Government has acted decisively.”
“I am speaking today on an issue that touches the very heart of family life and the values that we hold dear: the safety and quality of maternity services in Scotland. Like Clare Adamson, I have altered my speech notes extensively since the debate began. The Healthcare Improvement Scotland inspection report into maternity services at the Royal infirmary of Edinburgh has—rightly— prompted serious reflection and urgent action. I, too, begin by acknowledging the experiences of families who bravely shared their stories, and I extend my deepest condolences to them all. Their courage in speaking out will help to drive the improvements that we all want to see.”
“For Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Ind) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Patrick Harvie] Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) [Proxy vote cast by Michael Marra] Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Maggie Chapman] Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Fulton MacGregor] Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP)”
“Amendment 219 disagreed to. Amendments 339 to 344 not moved. Amendment 95 moved—[Edward Mountain]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 95 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“For Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Ind) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) [Proxy vote cast by Michael Marra] Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Patrick Harvie] Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Maggie Chapman] Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Fulton MacGregor] Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) The Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 44, Against 72, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment 218 disagreed to. Amendment 219 moved—[Edward Mountain]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 219 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division. The vote is closed. Craig Hoy: On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I thought that my vote had been recorded, but my screen has gone blank. I would have voted yes and I want to confirm that that has been recorded. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Mr Hoy. Your vote has been recorded.”