Brian Whittle
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party · Scotland
“As Jamie Halcro Johnston said, roads, rail networks and ferries—we keep coming back to ferries—are key to keeping those communities where they are and stopping migration away from them. The chamber will welcome the fact that this— eventually—is my last speech in this parliamentary session.”
“Speaking as somebody who got his first mobile phone—a brick of a thing—at the age of 32, I find that quite astonishing. It is important that pupils have the opportunity to put their phones down in school, but also important is what happens outside school.”
“As always, I want to introduce a slightly different approach to the subject and so I will talk about how we should develop health policy. We must start from the position that services should be available to our communities no matter where they are, whether they are urban, rural or on islands.”
“It is interesting that the girls attitudes survey carried out by Girlguiding UK in 2025 found that girls are restricting their online activity in order to protect themselves, with more than a third of respondents reporting that they avoid using certain apps and platforms in order to protect themselves.”
“It is a pleasure to follow Beatrice Wishart, who, as we all know, has been a real champion for her communities in the time that she has spent here.”
“That was an interesting question from Mr Harvie, as the Scottish Greens have spent the majority of this session of Parliament demonising our farmers and food producers.”
The complete record
Every one of 750 lines we hold for Brian Whittle, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 3 of 15.
“If the Scottish National Party were to end up as the largest party after May but short of a majority, Ross Greer and Gillian Mackay might be sitting around the Cabinet table, and the wording of the motion shows what will happen if they are driving Scottish Government policy. When asked by Ross Greer on 28 January whether he would consider evicting US troops from Prestwick, the First Minister John Swinney did not immediately slap down that ludicrous idea but said that he would “consider” the matter. That is the danger that lies in store, and that is why Scotland should reject both the SNP and the Greens at the election in a few weeks’ time. At least the Scottish Conservatives will stand up for our economic interests, the defence of our country and the NATO alliance.”
“Murdo Fraser will be aware of the vibrant engineering cluster at Prestwick airport, which is employing thousands and looking to create up to an additional 1,500 jobs. Does he agree that it would be a much more grown-up approach if we called for investment in apprenticeships in local colleges so that we could grow the local economy? Murdo Fraser: Mr Whittle makes an excellent point. If only we were more grown-up in this debate, that is what we could be discussing. What concerns me is that the very same Green Party, which has such skewed priorities and is bringing back the politics of the student union to this Parliament, could find itself back in Government in a few weeks’ time.”
“To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its decision to escalate NHS Ayrshire and Arran to stage 4 of the national improvement framework. (S6T-02902)”
“To ask the Scottish Government what training Social Security Scotland staff receive in supporting disabled people to be physically active. (S6O- 05511)”
“The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Mr Whittle. I can advise you that, although few football careers start in goal, many of them, as I know from experience, end in goal. The final speaker in the open debate is Davy Russell. 13:08”
“If we really want to tackle poor physical and mental health and Scotland’s poor health record, we should start with community sport and community activity, because they are the foundation of how we tackle those things in the long term. I will be really interested to hear what the minister says in responding to the debate. The Government always says, “We are putting more money into this and there is more money for that”, but in this case that is not true on the ground. I am still involved as a performance coach. When we look at what is happening on the ground, we see that, these days, sport is becoming the bastion of the middle class and private education. That has to change. I am really thankful that Daniel Johnson has given me the opportunity to come out and say again the same thing that I always say, because it is hugely important.”
“He got on to that pathway by playing at the Marr rugby minis, and his coach was the captain of Kilmarnock rugby club, which I played with once I had retired from track and field. That coach has taken the school team right the way through to some fantastic results. That whole system is now missing. I am not going to say, “In my day”; I think that those are dangerous words to use, because it is not that this is not my day. However, we have to find a different way. Daniel Johnson rightly talked about the impact of participating—the confidence and resilience, the aspiration, the teamwork and the discipline that sport brings to a rounded person. However, there has been a huge reduction in opportunities to participate, and there is now a cost associated with participation that many cannot meet.”
“We see fewer and fewer dedicated physical education teachers at primary schools, and the opportunities to do PE and, critically, to take part in competitive sport are very different from what they were 30 or 40 years ago. I am not going to suggest how many years ago the member might have been at primary school, but— Brian Whittle: Let us say 50. Daniel Johnson: —does he agree with that point? Brian Whittle: Daniel Johnson is absolutely correct. When I was at Marr college playing rugby, 36 schools in Ayrshire played rugby. Last time I looked, there were six. Grass-roots access to playing rugby is limited. My eldest grandson now plays for Marr college and he is on the Scottish Rugby pathway.”
“We had the opportunity to get on the bus on a Thursday afternoon and go to play. I was at Troon primary school; we played Symington and Dundonald and all the different primary schools. We had that opportunity to play. In secondary school, I played rugby. My concern lies in the reduced ability or opportunities for our children to participate in sport these days, which I often talk about. I have used this example before, but when I was at Marr college, there was— Daniel Johnson: Will the member give way? Brian Whittle: Of course I will give way to Daniel Johnson. Daniel Johnson: Brian Whittle raised an important distinction in what he said about primary school and secondary school. Some of the opportunities that exist at secondary school just do not exist at primary school.”
“I thank Daniel Johnson for securing this debate and for giving me the opportunity to speak. I did not have anything written down. I wondered where I would go with this—would I go in a different direction from the one I usually go in? No—I am going to go down exactly the same route. When Daniel Johnson was talking about the impact that football, or any kind of sport, has on people at a young age, it struck me that it is about lifelong learning. My concern has always been for how the youth of today can have the same ability to participate that we had. I recognise that I go back a wee bit further than a lot of people in the chamber, but I played football at school: in primary school, we played inter- school football tournaments, and my speed about the park ensured that I was the goalkeeper—talk me through that one.”
“Members will be aware that I have written to party spokespeople and the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee to offer an opportunity to meet me and the co-chairs of the new safety and public confidence oversight group. I am very open to any further suggestions from members on providing additional assurances beyond those that I have set out today. As I said at the outset of my speech, we must ensure that, through Lord Brodie’s inquiry, patients, families and staff at the heart of the issues that we are discussing get the truth that they deserve. For those reasons, I again ask all members to support the Government’s amendment. 15:53”
“Will he publish those reports, and will he ensure that they are shared with Dr Inkster and Dr Peters, so that they are satisfied, as that will also give public reassurance, given that everything that they have said in the past 10 years has proven to be true, and they may— The Deputy Presiding Officer: Cabinet secretary. Neil Gray: All those issues will be considered by the safety and public confidence oversight group— on which, I believe, all patients and staff have a representative. I believe that approaches have been made to the doctors whom Mr Sarwar references to ensure the confirmation of their confidence in the processes that have been put in place since the opening of the hospital.”
“Escalation to the Government has not been considered necessary in respect of the general wards. All of that matters because safety must be driven by evidence and expertise. That is a principle of fundamental importance, which I urge all members to recognise. Have I time to take Anas Sarwar’s intervention? The Deputy Presiding Officer: I can give you a little time back. Anas Sarwar, briefly, please. Anas Sarwar: I thank the cabinet secretary for taking an intervention. With public confidence in mind, he refers to reports on water and ventilation.”
“However, the Government has been assured by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde that those systems have since had further works done or have a multidisciplinary derogation in place. All critical air systems are subject to a full annual validation process, which is carried out by authorised persons and by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s authorising engineer. All systems are subject to regular maintenance checks, in line with guidance recommendations. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has implemented clear governance structures, regular audits and a quality-improvement strategy that is aligned to national standards. Any issues that require escalation are escalated to management and board committees. That structured approach ensures prompt attention and remediation and, if necessary, notification to the Government.”
“However, I convey to members that the assurance of safety is based not on just one metric. Through the findings of the various independent experts that I have cited and the on-going work of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, all the evidence points to the safety of the Queen Elizabeth university hospital. I will provide specific detail. Anas Sarwar: Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention on that point? Neil Gray: If I have time when I conclude my point, I will come back to Mr Sarwar. The inquiry has heard evidence on the air systems and standards that were set when the hospital first opened. It is for the inquiry to come to its own conclusions or recommendations about the hospital’s first opening. I will not prejudge those.”
“Healthcare Improvement Scotland reported that the original inspection covered more elements of the healthcare associated infection standards than had been covered in any other single inspection, underlining the depth of that assessment. HIS further confirmed that the subsequent action plan showed that all four requirements had been completed. That evidence assures me that the Queen Elizabeth university hospital is safe. I did not have time to cover validation in my opening remarks, but I wish to address it now. I heard Gillian Mackay’s speech, so I hope that she will also hear mine. When we speak of public confidence, which—I believe—Labour’s motion seeks to undermine, I fully understand why members have raised concerns about whether a full and complete validation was carried out.”
“Those reports will be considered by the safety and public confidence oversight group, in addition to proactive planned maintenance of the hospital systems, which is carried out routinely, and in addition to reactive reporting and escalation, which is carried out as and when required, to ensure the clinical safety of the hospital. The findings of the independent reports on the water and ventilation systems have been positive, with a fully compliant ventilation assessment in December last year and a fully compliant water system assessment in January this year. Ventilation governance has been subject to equally rigorous scrutiny. In March last year, Healthcare Improvement Scotland was asked to review progress in Glasgow, addressing requirements arising from its June 2022 inspection.”
“That responsibility requires oversight and scrutiny, and I am confident that Sir Lewis Ritchie will not shirk his responsibility to provide independent challenge where that is needed. To ease Carol Mochan’s concerns, I say that I do not think that anyone could suggest that Sir Lewis Ritchie is a tick-box type person. Further to my opening remarks on the current safety of the water and ventilation systems, I can confirm that the board has commissioned and received two independent reports on its water and ventilation systems to provide further assurances.”
“I hope that we have a collective interest in strengthening public confidence in the Queen Elizabeth hospital. Families seeking answers from the public inquiry deserve to hear its findings in the knowledge that it has been allowed to carry on independently and without fear of any political interference—that touches on a point that was raised by Christine Grahame. Like those who are seen by any other NHS service, patients in the hospital now and in the future want to be reassured that their care will be safe. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is responsible for all operations at the Queen Elizabeth and is taking significant steps to maintain public confidence and assure the safety of the hospital.”
“We have 14 regional boards, seven special health boards— nine if we include Public Health Scotland and the Mental Welfare Commission—30 integration joint boards, 31 health and social care partnerships and 32 local authorities, all involved to some degree in the delivery of healthcare. Will the Scottish Government do what is necessary to end the culture of defensiveness in the face of mistakes, the culture of closing ranks and protecting the system even when the system is wrong, and the culture of ostracising those who speak out rather than hearing them? Without that, the NHS will never be the health service that we want it to be. Therefore, I ask again: who is responsible, and who is accountable? 15:47 Neil Gray: I thank members for their contributions to the debate.”
“Where would we be if we did not have a Liz Smith or a Jackson Carlaw and others from across the chamber putting their shoulders to the wheel to support constituents and victims? Where would we be if Fraser Morton had not been as relentless as he was and had given up and taken the compensation, and if we had not had campaigners who resisted platitudes from ministers and managers alike and demanded the changes that are so needed? One of the biggest barriers to accountability or changing the culture across the NHS is just how fragmented our healthcare system is.”
“I also raise the case of my constituents Fraser Morton and his partner, June, whose son Lucas would have been 10 years old this year had it not been for failings in a neonatal unit, where he died during childbirth. I was present during meetings with NHS Ayrshire and Arran and meetings with Shona Robison and Catherine Calderwood, when they tried to talk him down. I recall the eventual investigation by Health Improvement Scotland, which followed a television documentary on the situation and discovered that there was a shortfall of 24 neonatal staff, and that there was a high mortality rate at the time. Thank goodness Fraser Morton never took the compensation that he was offered to go away. Consider this, Presiding Officer.”
“On Eljamel, the first red flag was raised by concerned staff in 2009, but the inquiry began in 2025—again, only after the Government was relentlessly pursued by my friend and colleague Liz Smith, in support of affected constituents. Let us not forget that, last week, in the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, when I asked the Patient Safety Commissioner whether she thought such a case could never happen again, she said, chillingly, that she was “not confident” about that. Think about that. That catastrophe was raised in 2009, and the Scottish Government and NHS governance have not learned the lessons that need to be learned in order for us to avoid such a tragedy happening again.”
“My colleague Jackson Carlaw was front and centre in the process of supporting the petitioners and pursuing the Government for justice and change, to ensure that such a scandal would never happen again. There were years of ducking and diving and trying to avoid taking action. Anyone who witnessed the then Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport, Shona Robison, and the then chief executive officer, Catherine Calderwood, floundering as they tried to answer questions from the Public Petitions Committee while the sufferers—many of them confined to wheelchairs—sat behind them would have found it absolutely painful to watch.”
“It is the same old story of the Opposition keeping the spotlight shining on a tragedy in the health service and a Government following the usual pattern of resisting accountability and responsibility before, eventually—after pressure from constituents, MSPs and the media—falling behind the shield of a public inquiry. It is not that I am against the holding of a public inquiry. I would say that that is essential in this case. The issue is what happens afterwards, who is held accountable and responsible, and what change will be enacted following the recommendations. Unfortunately, we have been here before. My colleague and friend Jackson Carlaw raised the spectacle of the mesh scandal. I remember hearing evidence, as a member of the Public Petitions Committee, from those who had suffered as a result of that scandal.”
“I add my condolences to the family and friends of Jeane Freeman. I had the opportunity—the daunting opportunity—to sit opposite her during her time as health secretary. She was incredibly intelligent. She could be really fierce, but she was always fair and always open to discussion with members from across the chamber, especially during the dark times of the Covid pandemic. My thoughts are with Susan, Jeane’s family and her colleagues. Let me turn to my closing remarks on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives. Here we are again.”
“Therefore, members will now need to stick to their allocated speaking time. 15:07”
“I move, as an amendment to motion S6M- 20731, to leave out from “is concerned” to end and insert: “agrees that whistleblowers in Scotland’s NHS must be protected and supported; notes that NHS Assure was the body created in 2021 to improve risk management and safety in Scotland’s NHS estate; further notes that both Healthcare Improvement Scotland and independent experts have commented on the procedures now in place to ensure the safety of hospital for patients and staff; welcomes the creation of a Safety and Public Confidence Oversight Group, which will look at specific issues, including in relation to the built environment and validation; further welcomes that this group will be co-chaired by Sir Lewis Ritchie to provide additional scrutiny; agrees that Parliament must be kept updated of this group’s work, and further agrees that the chair of the independent inquiry must be given the time and space to come to his conclusions without political interference.” The Deputy Presiding Officer: The limited time that we had available has now been exhausted.”
“The findings of the independent reports on the water and ventilation systems have been positive: there was a fully compliant ventilation assessment in December 2025— The Deputy Presiding Officer: You need to conclude, cabinet secretary. Neil Gray: —and a fully compliant water safety system this January. There is more detail that I will put on the record in my closing remarks on the debate. As I said at the outset of my speech, we must ensure that the patients, families and staff who are at the heart of the issues that we are discussing get the truth that they deserve through Lord Brodie’s inquiry. For those reasons, I ask members to support the Government’s amendment.”
“Mr Poplett noted that the facilities team is exceeding standard guidance and is adopting a proactive and preventative approach that prioritises patient safety and resilience. Furthermore, I confirm that the board has commissioned and received two independent reports on its water and ventilation systems to provide further assurances. Those reports will be considered by the safety and public confidence oversight group. That is in addition to proactive planned maintenance of the hospital systems, which is carried out routinely, and to reactive reporting and escalation, which is carried out as and when required to ensure the hospital’s clinical safety.”
“First, I have absolute confidence in the leadership of the board and the chief executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and their ability to ensure the cultural change that is needed in Glasgow. That is vital in ensuring that whistleblowers are protected and supported to speak up. When I met Scotland’s new national independent whistleblowing officer last week, I reiterated the Government’s commitment to a safe whistleblowing culture. Secondly, the inquiry heard from independent expert Andrew Poplett that the water system management is now “extremely well managed”, with “significant improvement” having been made. Sandesh Gulhane: rose— Neil Gray: I am sorry, but I am already toiling for time. More than 30,000 water samples were taken and analysed in 2025, and similarly, monthly air quality testing is undertaken in the necessary areas.”
“The group will draw on the expertise of national agencies such as NHS Scotland Assure, Healthcare Improvement Scotland and industry experts to continue to demonstrate that the Queen Elizabeth university hospital provides a safe environment for patients and staff. However, given the significant level of political and public interest, I agree that it is vital that the Parliament also be kept updated on the group’s work. That is what my amendment seeks to ensure. I turn to the important issues of water safety, ventilation and infection control that are highlighted in Labour’s motion. Ministers have already placed on the record our confidence in the safety of the Queen Elizabeth university hospital, but I will set out that case again.”
“Will the member take an intervention? The Deputy Presiding Officer: I can give the cabinet secretary the time back. Brian Whittle: Given all that, at the end of the day, when such tragedies occur, who will ultimately be held responsible and accountable as a result of the findings of inquiries? Neil Gray: The Government will be responsible for the implementation of the recommendations that fall under the responsibility of the Government that are made by the public inquiry. We will also ensure that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is held accountable to ensure the speedy implementation of the recommendations that are made to it. I will not seek to pre-empt the issues that the new oversight group will review. I welcome its intention to include whistleblowers, patient representatives and the public in its work.”
“Indeed, that measure shows that there is more to be done across the whole system—not just in our accident and emergency departments, which are incredibly efficient, but in the wider system, including social care, which needs to ensure that it is picking up the same productivity gains that we are seeing in elective capacity.”
“Brian Whittle is absolutely right to raise those concerns, and I am sure that he recognises the substantial and demonstrable progress that has been made in waiting times for elective procedures. However, I also recognise the concerns that there are from the likes of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, which I meet regularly and routinely, as well as the other colleagues whom Mr Whittle references, about the areas that still need to see progress. The accident and emergency waiting times figures that were released this week demonstrate that there is still more to be done.”
“Today, I spoke to the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, the Royal College of Midwives, the Royal College of Nursing and the British Medical Association. They paint a very different picture from the one that the cabinet secretary is alluding to. They talk about corridor care, staff not being able to deliver the care that they want to, staff harm and patient harm, and they say that there are no beds available. When will we fix the whole system so that the back door of the hospital is sorted and beds become available? Neil Gray: Our approach to turning the health service around and making sure that it continues to turn the corner in the way that it has done over recent months involves looking at the whole system.”
“We need to get it right, because if we waste this opportunity, we will never get it back. 17:18”
“It should be where a majority of people who do not mind renewable energy, who recognise the need to strengthen our grid for energy security and economic growth and who want to see that delivered with the minimum disruption to their lives are comfortable that that is what they will get. Scotland should be all those things, but right now it is none of them, which is of no help to anyone. It seems to me that the situation that we find ourselves in today is a consequence of declaring our destination and arrival time without taking the time to draw the map first. Yes, we need to know where we are going, but, before charging off, we should have spent more time planning our route. However, as we did not, everyone— developers, energy companies, network operators, Governments, politicians and communities—is scrambling to find the right direction.”
“In saying that, I know that there will be those who believe that the right place is somewhere else, but, as with any issue with competing points of view, that is where compromise and pragmatism are supposed to enter the equation. It should be where a proper and effective community benefits system offers real and lasting gain to communities, but that system is not ready. It should be where a smooth and transparent planning process offers developers and the public confidence that their respective views are recognised before offering a considered decision, but instead we have a black hole: the energy consents unit.”
“Without that confidence in the process, every time that a decision is taken that does not acknowledge community concerns or the Scottish Government overrules a local refusal, as my colleague Finlay Carson said, the public’s trust erodes a little more. That does not help anyone, and it means that the planning process for every renewable project on important modernisations and upgrades to our electricity grid ends up becoming far more contentious than it should be. That means economic opportunities lost, infrastructure holding back growth, jobs going overseas and energy costs remaining tied to a volatile fossil fuel market for even longer. Scotland needs renewables in the right place.”
“Instead, there is a piecemeal approach to the development of renewable generation, which, in no small part, is being driven by the lack of a clear plan for our future energy needs and has left more and more communities finding themselves facing an ever- growing number of renewable developments. Although the developments are often relatively small, the cumulative impact of a few small turbines here, a few bigger ones there and a solar farm somewhere else ends up with residents in some part of the country feeling surrounded and overwhelmed, with their views treated as an afterthought. The voices of communities should be heard in the process—they should feel that their opinions matter and that they have been thought about seriously before a planning decision is taken. Right now, all too often, that is not the case.”
“However, in a world where fossil fuels are finite, their prices are increasingly volatile and energy security is a growing concern, we must be prepared for what comes after them. Scotland is in the fortunate position of being well placed to capitalise on the shift to renewables. Our engineering talent has only grown thanks to oil and gas, and now we have the opportunity to apply that talent to offshore renewables on our coasts and, I hope, around the world. I cannot stress enough how big an opportunity renewable energy can be for Scotland if we get it right. Today, we are not getting it right.”
“To me, that sums up everything that has gone wrong with how we seek to maximise the benefits of Scotland’s renewable energy potential. Far too often, it has become a debate in which those who have competing viewpoints talk past, not to, each other. On one side, we have those who are determined to achieve clean power by 2030 and net zero by 2045 whatever the cost. On the other, we have campaigners who believe that the agenda will do so much damage to their communities that the proposed developments are an existential threat to rural Scotland. That is not where the debate on renewable energy should have ended up, because, fundamentally, most people are somewhere in the middle. Renewable energy is the future. Oil and gas are a valuable national resource, and we should make the most of them.”
“I thank my friend and colleague Finlay Carson for bringing the debate to the chamber. It is a very good debate and could easily have been taken, at any time, as a main debate in the chamber. Last week, members may have heard my colleague Douglas Lumsden ask the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy about the decision of the energy consents unit to move from receiving public representation by email to receiving it through an online portal. In response, she talked about regulation on energy transition being reserved to the United Kingdom Government and the need for developers to engage with communities. That was all very interesting but was not even close to answering the question. It was a bit like asking somebody the time and getting the reply, “Norway”.”
“We should always seek to learn lessons, which is why we have taken a more robust approach to significant adverse event reviews and, in this case, why we established a public inquiry. Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission Report 2.”
“This is hardly a unique situation. Nearly 10 years ago, my constituent Fraser Morton was in a similar situation and was offered compensation not to take forward his case. Why are we continually finding ourselves in a situation in which people would rather pay compensation than take the opportunity to learn from mistakes? That culture must change. Neil Gray: We are seeking to learn lessons from what has happened at the Queen Elizabeth university hospital. The public inquiry was established to get to the truth and give the families the truth that they deserve. It is up to health boards to consider and determine any compensation actions in consultation with patients and their representatives.”
“To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to reported warnings that a significant proportion of the medical workforce is experiencing stress, anxiety and burnout. (S6F-04651)”
“Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government had already recognised them, because Healthcare Improvement Scotland was required to carry out the reviews. It is incredibly important that we get the information from the inspections that are going on, and we have carried out a listening exercise with maternity staff. A consistent response to Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s reviews relates to safe staffing levels, and I am focused on that issue through the work of the maternity and neonatal task force.”
“I declare an interest in that I have a daughter who is a midwife. This afternoon, I was at the launch of the Royal College of Midwives’ manifesto, which is aptly named “Safe Staffing = Safe Care”. The royal college says that the Government is painting a picture that it does not recognise. It talks about burnout and staff shortages, and it even talks about overnight meals still not being available for staff and about staff having no breaks. Despite those issues being highlighted, staff are being asked to do more and more with less and less resource, which is putting patients at risk. Why did it take the intervention of the Patient Safety Commissioner for the Government to recognise the concerns that have been raised?”
“However, along with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, we have set up an oversight group with an independent co- chair in Sir Lewis Ritchie in order to provide independent oversight and assurance as to the hospital’s safety. I can confirm that I am confident that the hospital is absolutely safe. [Interruption.] The Presiding Officer: Let us hear one another.”