Finlay Carson
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party · Scotland
“Forestry does not operate to a political timescale but works over decades, yet as a consequence of uncertainty about funding and direction, fewer trees are being planted and there is less confidence across the sector. The decision to cut the forestry grant scheme by 40 per cent has had consequences.”
“That is not climate leadership; it is climate displacement, which involves exporting our emissions while importing food from elsewhere, often with higher carbon costs. Jim Fairlie: I am not quite sure what the member is talking about with regard to declining production in this country.”
“In responding to the climate change plan, witnesses warned that the right balance has not yet been struck between short-term emissions and long- term sustainable restoration.”
“We all recognise the reality and impacts of climate change. Emissions must fall, Scotland must improve climate resilience and we must protect our natural environment, so we support an affordable transition to net zero.”
“Our third Scottish national adaptation plan is our blueprint to build resilience to climate change in a way that is fair and equitable but which can also potentially save millions of pounds by preventing damage. Collaboration is at its heart, including collaboration with local government.”
“The problem is, we know that action needs to be taken but the Government keeps kicking the hard decisions into the long grass. There is no certainty, and there is a reducing budget. The same credibility gap that we have just heard from the minister’s response exists when it comes to technology and implementation.”
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“First team players are encouraged to take part in as many school activities as possible in order to provide the young people with role models. Dan and the Queen of the South Community Trust have received national recognition. That has included an invitation to 10 Downing Street and the accolade of being honoured at the King’s garden party at Holyrood because of the club’s regional community impact, along with many other awards. Among the many initiatives that have been launched recently has been the changing room project to address men’s mental health issues, while walking football, as we have heard, remains a favourite for those seeking a more active approach. Poverty remains a major worry and the club has not shied away from that—it runs three separate breakfast clubs that attract more than 100 young people every day.”
“His postgraduate degree in football business and his proactive engagement with other clubs in the Scottish Professional Football League and the SFA have strengthened the club’s regional and national profile. He has been incredibly successful in reinforcing community ties, enhancing fundraising, modernising the club’s commercial efforts and bolstering its visibility. Dan and his crew work tirelessly to connect with the community and to support the people of Dumfries and Galloway. He has successfully strengthened educational and academic links with local schools, colleges and universities, the national health service and local clubs, as well as beginning enterprises to sustain the club and build footfall.”
“I just had to be there, because the chances of it happening again are somewhat slim. The game has changed in recent years, especially for clubs such as Queen of the South, and my other team, Stranraer, as they attempt to survive in today’s finance-driven climate. Gone are the days of large crowds, except for local derbies. Clubs now concentrate a lot of their effort on becoming even more community oriented, as is happening at Queen of the South under the excellent stewardship of Dan Armstrong, a former Queens player and now the youngest chief executive officer in British professional football. Dan is a true gentleman and a real asset to the club.”
“I know of someone who, one minute, was standing having a couple of drinks with friends in a bar in Dumfries and then, a few days later, unexpectedly found himself sitting on a plane alongside the team heading to Copenhagen, in Denmark, to watch Queen of the South play in their first, and only, major European cup match—a UEFA cup tie against FC Nordsjaelland on 26 August 2008. The Doonhamers on tour. Who would have thought it? When you are caught up in the sheer emotion of the rare opportunity to witness such a historic sporting spectacle, you sometimes just have to go with the flow. At least, that is what I told my wife— my now ex-wife. The memory of being part of that impressive army of almost a thousand Queens fans will live with me for the rest of my life.”
“Football has always played a crucial role in the psyche of most Scots, whether they follow a big team or just the local lads side. Whether because of the emotion of the game, the intensity of the sport, the inevitable characters such as the ones that George Adam refers to or simply being part of the whole picture, soccer remains at the forefront of national sport for most participants and audience members. The game does crazy and unexpected things to us, including leading us into temptation—and how.”
“I look forward to further details from the minister on definitions, benefit sharing, safeguarding for grazing shares and community-friendly routes for owner-occupied transfers. Overall, on part 2, we recognise the potential benefits of the merger—subject to stage 2 amendments—which will secure clarity, continuity of expertise and access to justice. I look forward to members’ contributions. 16:12”
“The committee’s report sets out detailed comments, including from the current president of the court and the chair of the tribunal. We welcome the Government’s intention to bring stage 2 amendments to tighten part 2 and clarify issues that we have raised, particularly by preserving specialist knowledge, ensuring appropriate routes of appeal and maintaining accountability for rural communities. The committee supports the bill’s general principles. We endorse the targeted approach in part 1. We also make a clear call for a comprehensive future review of crofting law, with enforcement at its core. We support strengthening of provisions on environmental use, common grazings and assignations.”
“We note the minister’s assurance that additional safeguards will be introduced at stage 2 to tighten practice while retaining flexibility where separation is genuinely desirable. We also welcome the consideration of a process to reattach shares that have been unintentionally separated, and we would appreciate an update on stakeholder discussions about workable solutions. I turn to part 2, which is on the proposed merger of the Scottish Land Court and the Lands Tribunal for Scotland. Although some stakeholders worried that the merger might be driven by cost cutting, the general view was that it was pragmatic. We were reassured by the minister’s confirmation that the aim is to streamline and improve operations, not to diminish access to justice or expertise.”
“That is a fair and proportionate way to speed up family assignations without compromising oversight. We also heard concerns that prohibiting the transfer of owner-occupied crofts could inadvertently hinder community organisations from seeking croft land for crofting or housing. We welcome the Government’s intention to explore a stage 2 amendment to ensure that community aspirations are not frustrated. On common grazings, we took strong evidence about problems when grazing shares become unintentionally separated from the inby croft or croft land, so we support and welcome provisions aimed at preventing such separations. Members differed on whether the bill should go further and prohibit separation entirely.”
“We heard support for joint projects on common grazings, but questions remain over fair benefit sharing while ensuring that grazing remains available in the spirit of crofting. Further details from the minister on that during the debate would also be welcome. On assignations—that is, the family transfer of crofts—the committee supports a fast-track process to reduce administrative pressures on the Crofting Commission so that resources can be redirected to enforcement. Some stakeholders queried the proposed three-croft limit for using the fast-track process, particularly for crofters with multiple interests. On balance, we accept the Government’s rationale and note that those with more than three crofts would continue to use the existing process.”
“Crofting land can deliver significant environmental benefits, and simplifying the route to environmental activities is sensible. However, we heard concerns about how absent or negligent crofters might cite “environmental use” in order to mask neglect. The bill includes some safeguards against that occurring, but we recognise that the strongest protection lies in robust enforcement. On that point, we welcome the minister’s commitment to strengthen the definition of “environmental use”, and it would be helpful if he would set that out in closing today. On common grazings and environmental projects, the treatment and sharing of benefits— particularly carbon credits—requires clarification.”
“We welcome the Crofting Commission’s renewed focus on enforcement and the Scottish Government’s commitment to strengthen collaboration between the commission and the rural payments and inspections division. However, enforcement remains challenging. The committee believes that the current system for reporting and enforcing duties should be central to any future review of the crofting law, and we are pleased to hear that the Government shares that view. Sections 1 to 27 of the bill make a series of specific, often technical, changes; I will focus on those that generated the most debate. In the sections on enabling the environmental uses of crofts and on common grazings, we welcome the extension of the definition of “purposeful use” to include “any environmental use”.”
“I turn to our consideration of part 1 of the bill. The committee recognises the vital contribution that crofting makes to Scotland’s rural population, economy, environment and cultural heritage. Two clear messages emerged from our evidence taking. First, there is strong support for the bill’s targeted approach of fixing specific issues rather than attempting fundamental reform. However, many stakeholders called for a wider, long-term review of crofting law. We agree, and we recommend that the next Scottish Government undertakes such a review and introduces comprehensive legislation as soon as practicable. Secondly, we repeatedly heard concerns about the enforcement of crofters’ duties—that is, to live on or near the croft and to maintain and use it purposefully. Crofters want a clear, consistently applied regulatory framework.”
“I am pleased to speak on behalf of the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee to present our stage 1 report. At the outset, I acknowledge the positive feedback from many stakeholders about the Scottish Government’s engagement on the bill—we do not often hear such praise, and it should be recognised. The committee began its scrutiny in June with a call for views. We held five evidence sessions between September and November with stakeholders, including the Crofting Commission and the Scottish Government. We visited the Isle of Skye to meet crofters, and we held an online event with crofters across Scotland. I thank everyone who has contributed to our scrutiny and I thank the committee clerks, the Scottish Parliament information centre and, of course, the members of the committee for their hard work.”
“I call on Dumfries and Galloway Council—the SNP administration, backed by Labour councillors—to stop blaming inflation and start demonstrating control on consultation, cost and delivery timelines. The next storm will not wait for excuses. It will not wait for another committee meeting. Our communities need competent, transparent and accountable action now. Anything less would be a betrayal of public trust. 18:03”
“We should look beyond concrete and glass to natural flood prevention, tree planting, restoring wetlands, reconnecting flood plains, sustainable land management, pragmatic consideration regarding dredging and fair compensation for landowners. Hard engineering alone will not solve flooding problems on either the Nith or the Cree. Climate resilience requires competence. Dumfries and Galloway Council has had years to get the schemes right. Our communities deserve flood defences that will protect them from the next storm, not defences that drown them with uncertainty. I believe in local democracy, decision making and accountability, but, given the failures in Dumfries and Galloway, I call on the Scottish Government to insist on tighter assurances for local schemes that receive national funding.”
“We need to scrap the current scheme and develop a new approach with a locked scope, a published risk register and a monthly report on cost movements against the baseline. There should be no more exempt items or meetings from which the public are excluded. With regard to the Cree, the council needs to commit to an enforceable timetable for completing the EIA, holding the hearing and, subject to the outcome, starting enabling works. We need to ensure genuine consultation and engage fisheries interests, businesses and residents before finalising designs, not after objections appear in the final stages. Critically, we need to improve officer accountability. It is unacceptable that the council has neglected statutory duties, issued notices months late and reacted only under reporters’ pressure. A balanced approach should underpin every scheme.”
“On that test, the SNP administration has failed. Consultation is not a bureaucratic hurdle; it is the foundation of good decision making. However, in Newton Stewart, consultation failures have pushed the processes back into 2026. In Dumfries, repeated changes and ballooning costs have eroded trust. People feel that decisions are being imposed, not co-designed. Where do we go from here? In Dumfries, there should have been a plain-English comparison of all the options that have been considered since 2012, when, incidentally, the estimated cost of the flood prevention bund was £4 million. The comparison should have shown costs, benefits, environmental impacts and operational standards, and it should have explained why each alternative was rejected.”
“Despite significant local opposition, the council has struggled to decide whether to proceed. In October 2023, a far from convincing knife-edge vote of 22 to 21 kept the eye-wateringly expensive scheme alive without significant public support. While Labour and SNP administrations put party politics ahead of public opinion, costs spiralled from £37.5 million in 2023 to £68.6 million by December 2025. That doubling demands hard questions about scope, control, risk management and officer accountability. The delays are a direct result of poor governance. The SNP administration and previous Labour administrations have ignored repeated warnings from residents, businesses and the fisheries board. They have treated consultation as a tick-box exercise, not a genuine dialogue. Governance is about listening, not imposing.”
“That sounds reassuring, but its publication triggered 58 objections, many of which came from fisheries interest groups and environmental groups. The River Cree District Salmon Fishery Board was excluded from the environmental impact assessment screening— officers failed to meet that statutory duty. That negligence forced Scottish Government intervention and the appointment of an independent reporter, and it required additional ecological surveys and scour modelling. As a result, the EIA process will not conclude until late summer 2026. On the Whitesands scheme, after a decade, a public petition against the scheme, led by David Slater—now Councillor Slater—attracted well over 10,000 signatures. There has been a local public inquiry, and there was ministerial confirmation in 2020.”
“Climate change is not a distant threat. Our coastal and rural communities are already feeling the pressure, with heavier rainfall, frequent storms and volatile rivers. My Galloway and West Dumfries constituency knows that reality all too well. Newton Stewart endured damaging floods, notably in 2015, and Dumfries sees the Whitesands submerged annually. Flood protection is essential. I do not oppose flood protection, only poorly managed flood protection. On that basis, let me make it clear from the outset that I, like many people across Dumfries and Galloway—there was some misrepresentation from Emma Harper—oppose the current Newton Stewart and Dumfries Whitesands flood schemes. In May 2023, Dumfries and Galloway Council published its Newton Stewart flood protection scheme, promising a once-in-200-years standard for about 280 properties.”
“Earlier, I went through the list of the issues that cause collisions. We are systematically working through every single one of them. Road safety is paramount, whether we are talking about the A75, the A77 or other roads. The Presiding Officer: That concludes topical question time. Motion of No Confidence”
“I welcome the increase in the speed limit for HGVs from 40mph to 50mph, as will all my constituents in Galloway, who regularly get held behind lorries on the A75 and A77. It is almost six years since I started the campaign to get the speed increased by writing to Michael Matheson in 2020. That is one step to improve our roads. Will the cabinet secretary set out a timetable for other improvements to the A75 and A77 that will further reduce deaths on those roads? Fiona Hyslop: For brevity, I will refer the member to the answer that I gave him at portfolio question time last week, when I set out a range of improvements that have been made. We are working on the Crocketford and Springholm bypass scheme. As I have written to him about it, Finlay Carson will also be familiar with some of the issues to do with speed awareness.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what research or assessments it has carried out in the south-west of Scotland to understand the environmental impact of recent or planned road improvement projects. (S6O-05289)”
“Businesses pay a premium in delays, families suffer from accidents and Scotland loses out on investment, with freight shifting from Cairnryan to Holyhead and Heysham. Some might balk at the cost, but they miss the truth that inaction is more expensive. Smart infrastructure delivers investment in safety, growth and sustainability. This is a test of serious government and of Scotland’s commitment to balance growth, climate integrity and citizen safety. If the Government means what it says, the dualling of the A75 would not be discretionary—it is overdue. My constituents ask for a fair share of Scotland’s ambition. Dualling the A75 would send a simple but powerful message that the south- west matters, that connectivity matters and that climate change and economic leadership can go hand in hand. It is time to act. 16:36”
“My constituents deserve delivery, not delays. That is not just my view; it is rural Scotland’s view. The report “Scotland’s Rural Voice”, which was published yesterday, found that 80 per cent of respondents believe that infrastructure investment is simply not good enough, with eight in 10 rural Scots feeling let down by the lack of commitment to roads and connectivity. That statistic should ring alarm bells. Neglect is real and widespread. This exhausted SNP Government must stop ignoring the south-west, take accountability and fix the A75. We need a binding timetable, not dusty reports—a published programme with dates for route selection, statutory orders, procurement and phased construction. We also need tangible and transparent co-funding, because we are talking about a UK-wide corridor. We cannot afford to dither.”
“Finlay Carson: I completely dispute what Mark Ruskell has said. The campaign groups are clear. SWestrans says that every delay costs Scotland’s economy. We need shovels in the ground, not another decade of studies. Local businesses echo that frustration. One haulier told me: “We lose thousands every year because of delays on the A75.” The situation is not only an inconvenience; it is a barrier to growth. For well over a decade, I have championed the cause of dualling the A75 by raising it in the chamber, pressing ministers, convening round tables and working with campaign groups. I have demanded feasibility studies, pushed for bypass plans and argued for joint Scottish Government and UK Government funding to reflect the route’s strategic importance. However, warm words and endless reviews do not move shovels.”
“The Dumfries and Galloway economic impact report, which was commissioned by councils in Scotland and Northern Ireland, estimates that dualling the A75 and improving the A77 would generate £5 billion of benefits to the UK economy, including £700 million in reduced journey times and operating costs and £95 million in CO2 savings. Expanding the road would support our climate goals. Mark Ruskell: Finlay Carson has made a strong case for dualling the A75, but the cost of that would be £50 million and Governments need to prioritise investment. The cost of dualling the A96 would be up to £5 billion—that is £5,000 million. Does he not see that the political priorities are for the A96, not the projects that he has put forward? The Deputy Presiding Officer: I can give you the time back, Mr Carson.”
“Over the next few evenings, we will once again see full closures of the road, which will require vehicles to detour almost 100 miles and take up to two and a half hours on routes that are far from safe or fit for purpose for HGVs. The A75 is too narrow to allow normal traffic management of the type that we would see anywhere else in the country. Its safety record over the past decade is sobering: 19 fatalities, 88 serious injuries and nearly 300 injuries. It is a record of families shattered and lives changed for ever. Dualling the A75 is not a luxury; it is a safety and productivity intervention. It would mean faster, safer freight transport, reliable supply chains and a fighting chance for inward investment and job creation in the south-west.”
“Let me be clear: the lack of investment is a political choice, and that choice costs economically, environmentally and in terms of human lives. Each day, the A75 carries around 15,000 vehicles, 16 per cent of which are HGVs, and each year they transport more than £6 billion-worth of goods. It is the lifeblood of trade through Cairnryan, yet that vital route remains the only single-carriageway section of the Euroroute from Northern Ireland to St Petersburg. Hauliers lose hours while vehicles are stuck behind slow traffic and are forced to risk overtaking. Local businesses, manufacturers, food producers and tourist operators see their competitiveness eroded by unreliable journey times.”
“For too long, my constituents have been told to wait—to wait for studies, to wait for the second strategic transport projects review, to wait for consultations and to wait for future budgets. Now, in the SNP’s amendment, it is effectively being suggested that we should wait for the UK Government. It is conveniently forgotten that transport is a devolved responsibility. Although I agree that the UK Government should shoulder some responsibility, it is the Scottish Government that needs to take the lead. While we wait, the backbone of Dumfries and Galloway, the most important gateway for United Kingdom island trade, remains a narrow single- carriageway bottleneck that is infamously known as the goat track.”
“Will the cabinet secretary give way? Fiona Hyslop: No. Other recently completed projects include the Haudagain improvement in Aberdeen, the A737 Dalry bypass and the first two sections of the A9 dualling programme, Kincraig to Dalraddy and Luncarty to Pass of Birnam. Despite facing significant demands on our capital budget— remember, the previous UK Conservative Government stripped £6 billion out of our budget— we continue to invest in further upgrades to our road infrastructure. Since announcing our delivery plan to dual the A9 between—”
“However, we say plainly that Scotland needs its domestic oil and gas industry, it needs energy security and it needs a fair and affordable path to net zero. That begins with backing our own workers, our own resources and our own future. I urge colleagues across the chamber to back my motion. I move, That the Parliament regrets the Scottish Government’s ideological drive to end North Sea oil and gas exploration and production; notes the negative impact on oil and gas jobs, energy security, the economy and the environment of the Scottish Government’s failure to pursue an informed, data-led, evidence-based North Sea policy; demands the immediate and unequivocal reversal of the Scottish Government’s presumption against new oil and gas exploration and production, and calls on the UK Government to immediately abolish the Energy Profits Levy.”
“Scotland is blessed with one of the most highly regulated, low-carbon oil and gas basins in the world. The North Sea is not the problem; it is part of the solution. The public agree: 84 per cent of Scots support continuing domestic oil and gas production during the transition. Therefore, the Parliament must send a clear message today: that it does not support the SNP’s presumption against new oil and gas, it does not support Labour’s punitive energy profits levy and it stands with Scotland’s workers, Scotland’s energy security and Scotland’s economy. This country needs a transition that is built on realism, not ideology. The SNP refuses to give clear support to the industry and Labour says that our future is not in oil and gas.”
“Both. Douglas Lumsden: Does the SNP no longer have any idea what should be in the plan, or does it fear the backlash when people realise what is in it? I agree with Mr Carson—I think that it is both. The SNP does not want to be honest with offshore workers on its position on oil and gas. It does not want to be honest with our rural communities about the impact that the scale of expensive renewables will have on our countryside, whether that is monster pylons, battery storage or substations. It does not want to be honest with our fishermen about the impact that offshore wind will have on fishing grounds, nor does it want to be honest with households about the true cost of renewables and their impact on bills. Instead of the cabinet secretary jetting off around the world, she should meet communities and hear people’s concerns.”
“The man who was my mentor, a dear friend and the person who is ultimately responsible for me being here in this place today, is a former Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, Sir Alex Fergusson, who died of cancer only a few months after retiring. This is Scotland’s deadliest common cancer, so we cannot accept the status quo. We must act urgently, collectively and decisively, because lives depend on it. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Willie Coffey is the final speaker in the open debate. 13:19”
“I will repeat the symptoms: yellowing of the skin or eyes; darker urine; paler stools; itchy skin; loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss; fatigue; lack of energy; and a high temperature or feeling hot and shivery. Regrettably, our understanding of the disease is limited, but we know that smoking, obesity and family history increase risks. Many of us have lost family and friends to pancreatic cancer. Today, on world pancreatic cancer day, once again, I will take the opportunity to remember my pals, Mark Caygill and Peter Murray Usher. This is the most difficult part of any speech—it is not about stats. They were taken far too young.”
“That is a giant step forward, because Maggie’s centres across the country are renowned for their holistic approach to cancer care, and having one in Dumfries will make a profound difference to those who live locally. Returning to pancreatic cancer, the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce recommends that the Scottish HPB cancer service should become a national initiative, not a regional model. I fully support that, as I did last year. As I stated in my members’ business debate on rural healthcare yesterday, equity is essential in healthcare. In this instance, equity of access is key—ensuring uniform care across all regions, including Dumfries and Galloway. Education must be one of the most powerful weapons. Raising awareness is critical, not just for early detection but for improving patient experience and outcomes.”
“We need urgent action now, and we need earlier and faster diagnosis, quicker pathways and greater investment in research. Lives depend on that. There is hope. Scotland is working on a national optimal diagnostic pathway for HPB cancers, but time is of the essence. Pancreatic cancer is different—it moves fast, and every delay costs lives. Previously, I raised awareness of a major problem in Dumfries and Galloway, which was the lack of hospice care. With around 1,200 new cancer diagnoses in D and G each year, the need for accessible, compassionate support has never been greater. That is why I supported efforts to establish a Maggie’s centre in Dumfries, which is the home town of the charity’s founder, Maggie Keswick Jencks. Earlier this year, I was delighted to hear the announcement that a new cancer support centre will be housed locally.”
“Scotland has been leading the way through the then—this is where I get tongue-tied— pancreatic and hepatocellular carcinoma pathway improvement project, whose work was peer reviewed and published in the European Journal of Surgical Oncology. The project has delivered statistically significant improvements across all seven key performance indicators for pancreatic cancer, reducing staging times and improving communication. It proved that expedited diagnostic pathways save lives. However, that service was closed—twice. We cannot afford to lose momentum. The Scottish Government must act faster, by building on what has worked rather than starting from scratch. Late diagnosis remains a critical factor in influencing outcomes.”
“The grim reality is that only one in four people diagnosed survives more than a year. In Scotland, survival rates remain among the worst in Europe—we are 35th out of 36 comparable countries—and that is unacceptable. Around 900 people are diagnosed in Scotland each year, and more than 10,500 across the UK. Tragically, half of those who are diagnosed in Scotland will die within three months and 93 per cent within five years. With incidence rising, pancreatic cancer deaths could soon overtake breast cancer deaths. One of the major areas of concern is improving pathways for people with pancreatic and liver cancer.”
“I am grateful to Clare Adamson for securing this important debate, which marks world pancreatic cancer day during pancreatic cancer awareness month. It is not the first time that I have spoken on this subject in the chamber. As deputy convener of the cross-party group on brain tumours and a member of the cross-party group on cancer, I have always maintained that raising awareness of all cancers is vitally important. As MSPs, we are privileged to have not just the opportunity but the duty to raise awareness. At this point in the debate, there will always be repetition of statistics, but I make no apology, because highlighting them is so important. Pancreatic cancer is one of the six less survivable cancers and is known as a “silent killer”, because its early symptoms are difficult to spot.”
“That requires additional investment, flexible service models and a recognition that one-size- fits-all policies perpetuate disadvantage rather than solve it. I say this clearly: rural Scotland will not be left behind; we will not accept the dismantling of local services without replacements being in place; and we will hold the Government to account until every patient, wherever they live, has equitable access to care. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I advise members that there is a lot of demand to speak in the debate. I am conscious that we have already been late in starting, so I will require members to stick to their speaking time allocations if I am to get everybody in. I call”
“The Government has had years to fix the system, but, instead, rural communities have been treated as an afterthought. They pay the same taxes as everyone else and deserve the same standard of care, but, right now, they are being asked to accept less—less access, less choice and less safety. It is about equality versus equity. Rural communities are not asking for equality; they are demanding equity. Equality assumes that giving everyone the same resource will produce the same outcome, but that ignores the unique challenges that rural areas face, such as long travel times, a limited workforce and smaller hospitals. Equity means tailoring support so that rural patients have the same chances of getting timely and safe care as those in urban centres.”
“Julie Currie, our Conservative candidate, brings NHS experience that will deliver on our Conservative commitment— The Deputy Presiding Officer: Mr Carson, I caution against electioneering in the chamber. Finlay Carson: My apologies, Deputy Presiding Officer. Scottish Conservatives believe in fairness and that where someone lives should never determine the quality of care that they receive. That is why Scottish Conservatives are calling for a rural health guarantee; equal access to essential services for every patient, regardless of their postcode; a workforce action plan that incentivises recruitment and trains staff in rural areas, not just empty promises; and investment in community- based care, because care that is delivered closer to home or in the home is better for patients and for the NHS.”
“I acknowledge that there have been improvements to service provision at Galloway community hospital, which have been driven by the wonderful staff. However, we need to see evidence of expanded diagnostic and treatment capacity, with the workforce to deliver it. That would restore confidence among local people that they can access care close to home. We need to rural proof planning and staffing by recruiting and training paramedics locally and ensuring that resources match geography in order to improve ambulance response times. As a Gallovidian through and through, and as a rural Conservative, I, along with my colleagues, have made a commitment. Tomorrow, voters in Stranraer and the Rhins will choose a new representative.”
“That means recruitment and retention incentives, including housing support, relocation packages and career development for rural posts. If we want doctors, nurses, midwives and paramedics to come to rural Scotland, we need to make it attractive and sustainable. We need to restore local capacity and ensure that no service is removed until a replacement is operational and staffed. There should be no more dismantling of maternity units, leaving women with few safe alternatives, and no more closing of cottage hospital beds without alternative step- down facilities being put in place. That means investing in community beds and step-down facilities, which would prevent delayed discharge. That is as much about patient dignity as it is about freeing up acute beds.”
“However, the Government’s response is to produce more reports, more consultations and more talking shops. As Dr Gordon Baird from the Galloway community hospital action group said, “You can’t fatten a pig by weighing it.” Scotland does not need more reviews; it needs action. I make it clear that none of those failures are the fault of our local NHS staff or ambulance crews, who are doing an incredible job under impossible circumstances, working long shifts and driving hundreds of miles to deliver care. They deserve praise, respect and support, not the constant pressure that is caused by poor planning and underfunding. They are heroes, but heroes cannot hold up a broken system for ever. What needs to happen? The motion calls for a clear funded plan to tackle rural health inequities.”
“He spent months stuck in an acute ward, blocking a bed that he knew someone else needed, and he felt guilty about it. That is what happens when services are dismantled before alternatives exist. NHS Dumfries and Galloway faces a £58 million funding black hole. Integration joint boards are staring at cuts that make it impossible to invest in community care or recruit staff. Those cuts are not just numbers; they mean fewer services, longer waits and more worry for rural families. The Government promised 800 new GPs by 2027, but there is no sign of those GPs. Rural practices are struggling—vacancies remain unfilled and community pharmacies are under pressure to try to pick up the slack. That is not workforce strategy; it is workforce crisis.”
“Jason Jordan, who is the assistant general manager at Galloway community hospital, recently said: “We have an outstanding team of staff working at the Galloway and every effort is being made to deliver a first class service.” He is right—the staff are outstanding. However, there is still too much reliance on Dumfries and Galloway Royal infirmary, which is almost two hours away. The consequences of poor planning are clear. Cottage hospitals have closed, but promised community hubs and step-down facilities have yet to materialise. The result is delayed discharge and bed blocking. I spoke to a constituent from Newton Stewart who should have been discharged but had nowhere to go, because the local cottage hospital had closed and there was no funding for home adaptations.”