Jamie Halcro Johnston
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party · Scotland
“I know that colleagues from across the chamber will miss his consideration of and commitment to the issues that he was most passionate about. Beatrice Wishart, too, will be giving her last speech, and I particularly thank her for all her efforts on the CPG on islands, for making it the success that it has been and for the strong voice tha…”
“I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests as a partner in a farming business. I thank all those who have signed today’s motion, allowing me to bring the debate to the chamber.”
“Meanwhile, the ferries crisis continues, with the Scottish National Party Government coming face to face with the consequences of two decades of neglect, while islands and ferry-dependent communities pay the price.”
“There, too, costs for operators in the visitor economy are escalating, while the Government sees this as a good time to impose more regulation and more tax. In addition to economic woes, small rural communities are increasingly seeing services moved further away.”
“[Laughter.] However, I have served with John on committees, most recently the Finance and Public Administration Committee, and I know how diligent he has been in conducting the vital scrutiny required of MSPs. Last but not least, the cabinet secretary will be giving her last speech, too.”
“That has practical consequences—whether it is the young family facing another year of being unable to afford a permanent home for their children; the small business owner who seems to be sacrificing more than she gains, but who keeps going; the working person who is trying to make ends meet; or the older person on a fixed income who is af…”
The complete record
Every one of 429 lines we hold for Jamie Halcro Johnston, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 5 of 9.
“To ask the Scottish Government what economic assessment it has undertaken of the potential impact of proposed workers camps in and around communities across the Highlands and Islands. (S6O-05156)”
“To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential economic implications of its paper “A Fresh Start with Independence”. (S6O-05130)”
“Will Angus Robertson refer himself and save the First Minister from having to make that decision? Angus Robertson: I have already answered the substantive point that the member raises in my first answer to Stephen Kerr. I was not aware of the invitations to the board, and the record will show that to be the case. It is up to other people if they wish to launch, take part in or call for investigations. I know that it is the job of Opposition parties to do that. [Interruption.] The Deputy Presiding Officer: Mr Lumsden. Angus Robertson: I need to make sure that the new leadership of Historic Environment Scotland has the resources at its disposal to get itself through the difficult process that it needs to get through as an arm’s-length body, and that is what I undertake to do as cabinet secretary.”
“The cabinet secretary was quite definite in his response to me and Stephen Kerr in committee that he has neither attended nor been invited to attend any HES board meeting, despite his predecessor, Fiona Hyslop, doing so and despite knowing that the organisation has been in crisis. However, we now know that Angus Robertson’s claims are not true. There was at least one invitation to attend a board meeting. Stephen Kerr has written to urge the First Minister to refer Angus Robertson to the First Minister’s independent adviser on the ministerial code. Has Mr Robertson spoken with or been in communication with the First Minister about that letter from Mr Kerr, or about the potential of the incident being investigated by the First Minister’s independent adviser on the ministerial code as a breach of that code?”
“I conclude by thanking members for their speeches. The Deputy Presiding Officer: That concludes the debate on the UEFA European Championship (Scotland) Bill at stage 1. Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill”
“To be a host nation and to have this exciting opportunity, we must pass the legislation, as many members have said. Three million tickets will be available for matches across the UK and Ireland. During Euro 2024, more than 600,000 fans participated in fan walks from designated meeting points to stadiums, creating a vibrant and unified fan experience. Perhaps we will see that again with Euro 2028. Euro 2024 had around 2.7 million ticket holders across 51 matches, with fans from more than 119 countries. Perhaps we will experience those benefits in Scotland as well in 2028. Euro 2024 had a cumulative global audience exceeding 5 billion viewers. Euro 2028 presents a great opportunity for Scotland to showcase itself, as do the other sporting occasions that I mentioned that will happen over the next three years.”
“I am sure that more will be said publicly, and that the Scottish Parliament and the relevant committees will be informed, about the outcome of that in due course. The charity exemption must be easy to implement and enforceable. We are doing a good thing in Scotland by introducing a charity exemption. I think that we have got that right. Of course, stage 2 is coming, and we can have further debates and discussions on that. I am happy to meet members from other parties as we approach stage 2—that offer is open. I already have meetings in my diary with other political parties as we head towards stage 2, and we can discuss any of the issues that members want to raise with me as we move forward. I am running out of time. Euro 2028 is a massive opportunity for Scotland.”
“Stephen Kerr: Is the minister prepared to look closely at the issue of community-based charities that will not be registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator and therefore could be criminalised if they try, as I am sure that many of them would plan to, to raise money for good causes in the community by raffling tickets? Will the minister also comment on ticket touting and the efforts that the Scottish Government is making to secure co-operation with the UK Government and other jurisdictions in the United Kingdom so that we can deal with the issue holistically, rather than partially, given the limitations on territoriality? The Deputy Presiding Officer: I ask the minister to begin to wind up his speech. Richard Lochhead: Ticket touting outside Scotland’s borders has been discussed with the UK Government.”
“Therefore, the higher fine is appropriate in this circumstance, and I hope that it will be a disincentive to ticket touts. It was initially argued that there should be no exceptions for charities. However, we have put in an exception for charities now. Stephen Kerr says that that does not go far enough, but we must somehow make it easy to implement the provision. There is an official register of charities in Scotland, so when the enforcement agencies are looking at who can be exempt, they must refer to that list of charities. I think that we have taken a fair and proportionate approach to the charity exemption. Other countries do that and some do not. We are doing it because we think that it is the right thing to do.”
“Guidance will also be issued to local businesses, including businesses in fixed premises in the fan zones and stadium zones. Those are the facts. On ticket touting, which several members have raised, it is important that people have fair access to fair prices for their tickets. That is why it is important that we tackle ticket touting. I point out in relation to Stephen Kerr’s comment on figures that the maximum penalty on conviction on indictment is an unlimited fine. The limit on summary conviction is £20,000, not £5,000, as Stephen Kerr indicated. Last time around, in Euro 2020, the limit was £5,000. However, as George Adam pointed out, technology has moved on, and ticket touts are perhaps using technology for their own means.”
“We will look carefully at how that pans out over the next few years in Scotland. Several other issues were raised. Stephen Kerr—I am not picking on him—raised a couple of issues in his opening remarks, which I would like to clarify. The cafe in Mount Florida that he cited is safe. This is about street trader licences, not fixed premises. As others have said, it is important that we take into account the issues regarding street traders, which could include food trucks or people selling scarves or whatever. As we have said before, Glasgow City Council is working closely with those street traders. The traders will potentially be offered alternative locations and the fee for those licences will be waived in such circumstances. More will be said about that by Glasgow City Council in the coming months.”
“I mentioned in my opening remarks the £45 million fund for social impact, which will apply across these islands, plus Ireland. The detail of that fund, how it will be allocated and so on will be worked out in the coming months. There will shortly be more announcements from UEFA, the home nations and so on, and more will be said about that. Alex Rowley and others mentioned affordability and accessibility. The Scottish Government agrees that the tournament must be inclusive and accessible. I point out that UEFA previously made efforts to offer affordable tickets. During Euro 2024, over 1 million tickets were available for €60 or less, with entry-level pricing at €30. UEFA also says that it reinvests 97.5 per cent of its net revenue back into football, including grass-roots developments and social programmes.”
“Scotland has a massive international stage over the next three years, and there is also a huge economic and cultural opportunity. A very exciting few years is coming up for Scotland. Today, we are debating one aspect of that, which is Euro 2028. Brian Whittle: Paul McLennan highlighted that we are extraordinarily good at watching sport. On the point about 2014, I disagree with Bill Kidd about one thing, which is that we never made the most of the legacy opportunity. In fact, the legacy from 2014—by accident—is that we will get the 2026 games. What will the Scottish Government do to ensure that we make the most of the sporting legacy? Richard Lochhead: That is an important issue, and it has been reflected in the speeches of several members. The Scottish Government takes it seriously.”
“I again thank the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee for its engagement on the bill, which will continue at stage 2. I also join others in paying tribute to Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Life, Police Scotland and other partners, which have done so much to bring all this together and which will have so much to do as we move forward. I will pick up on a few of the issues in the few minutes that are available to me. However, I will first say that this is an exciting opportunity for Scotland. The Commonwealth games are coming up, then the grand départ of the Tour de France, Euro 2028 and, in between all that, the Open, which will return to St Andrews. There will no doubt be other events taking place across the country.”
“As the bill goes through its next stages, I hope that we recognise some of the elements mentioned in the stage 1 report and, where possible, enhance the positives and soften the negatives of an event of this scale coming to Scotland. 15:59 Richard Lochhead: I thank everyone for their speeches. There have been some ups and downs in the debate. Jamie Halcro Johnston went up in my estimation—for the first time, I think—when he said that he is an Aberdeen fan. Paul McLennan went down in my estimation when he reminded us that he is a Hibs fan. In the last home game that I was at in Pittodrie, which was a few days ago, Hibs beat Aberdeen 2-1. That was not the best of experiences. I enjoyed everyone’s speeches, and a lot of serious issues were brought to the chamber.”
“I certainly hope that there is an opportunity for many young Scots— boys and girls—to attend these events and experience them first-hand. That opportunity is absolutely vital to ensuring the legacy. This bill will see widespread support as a result of the enthusiasm for the UK and Ireland Euros, but the work of the committee and the remarks from around the chamber today are aimed at recognising that the bill—and the tournament more generally—will have an impact. We ought to consider not just the cost to the public sector but the potential disruption to people’s lives and businesses and, particularly, the impact on local residents in Glasgow.”
“I doubt that anyone in this chamber wishes to see anything less than firm consultation and collaboration between Government, communities, the police, the city council and local businesses. However, that work must be planned for and become a practical reality over the coming months and years. I will touch briefly on the contribution from my colleague Brian Whittle. He talked about the passion of fans and how that should not be exploited by touts. Again, I think that we would all agree with that. He also touched on legacy—he was talking not just about the shiny things, but about what is left in the memories of Scots. I am sure that we all remember some of the first tournaments that we watched on television or were lucky enough to attend.”
“He also pointed to the absurd outcomes that would mean that a charity raffling off a ticket could fall foul of the offences in this bill. On the ticket touting issue, he cautioned that cross-border work will be essential. I am pleased that the Scottish Government has given assurances that policing will, in practice, be proportionate. However, that is no substitute for rigour in legislating. There has been discussion, including by the committee, about the impact on street trading and advertising. Again, that is nothing new. Similar concerns were raised in relation to the UEFA European Championship (Scotland) Act 2020. However, as Stephen Kerr noted, there is ample scope for ensuring that costs do not fall on traders or other innocent parties whose businesses may be disrupted.”
“As a member of the lead committee, I thank all those who gave evidence again at stage 1. Of course, the committee has raised the question of the necessity for what the Scottish Government has tentatively dubbed a major events bill, to provide a legislative framework for future events, rather than having to address them piecemeal whenever Scotland is playing host. There is some merit to that proposal, and I am pleased that the Scottish Government has left the door open to look at it in more detail in the future. Some of the issues that have arisen are the same as those that arose in 2020. As my colleague, Stephen Kerr, noted, this is a bill that legislates with a nakedly commercial purpose. It applies different rules for Euro 2028 than it does for other events, and different approaches, some of which have been understandably controversial.”
“The joint bid, featuring all of the home nations and the Republic of Ireland, was first announced in 2022. Moving it forward successfully has demonstrated positive co-operation between the football associations and also the Governments of these islands. Scotland has some experience of large-scale sporting events, with the successful delivery of events for the London 2012 Olympics and the 2014 Commonwealth games in Glasgow, but it is important that Euro 2028 serves to underline Scotland as a world-leading host nation for the future. To turn to the legislation, we have been here before, as many have noted. Similar legislation was introduced as part of the Euro 2020 hosting bid, and similar sorts of legislative change were required in relation to the Commonwealth games.”
“St Mirren is having a pilot on allowing pre- game drinks, and I am quite happy to invite Mr Kerr along to that, so that he and I can have a friendly couple of pints before a game against his team. Jamie Halcro Johnston: Mr Adam is taking advantage of a free bar—that is very impressive. I join colleagues in thanking committee colleagues and our clerks for all of their efforts, as well as members from across the chamber who are welcoming Euro 2028 to the UK and Ireland. Euro 2028 will be a tournament with global reach and interest that puts Scotland firmly on the world stage. We can look forward to it not only bringing considerable economic benefits but—as I am sure we all hope—delivering an enduring sporting legacy for years to come. As Brian Whittle touched on, that has not always been the case with other major events.”
“First, I declare an interest in the debate as a football fan and a supporter of the current Scottish cup holders, Aberdeen. There were no cheers—that is a shame. I am also a fan of the current UEFA Europa league winners, Tottenham Hotspur. Again, there are no cheers—it is a tough crowd, Deputy Presiding Officer. It has been an interesting debate; it started with George Adam signing up to Stephen Kerr’s new campaign for football fans to be able to enjoy a pint at games. I am looking forward to Mr Adam hosting Stephen Kerr in Paisley and being able to extract a pint out of him, although that may be a challenge. George Adam: A Diet Coke only. Jamie Halcro Johnston: I have started too controversially—I apologise. George Adam: I have been working on the idea of having alcohol at football matches for some time.”
“Was there a specific island resident in attendance? I would guess that there might have been somebody there who lived on an island, but we did not look at this as a specific island issue. That is because, as I have already said, we are talking about a national effort; it is not just about islands. The islands will be included in the same level—[Interruption.] The Deputy Presiding Officer: Members, let the minister respond. Jim Fairlie: The islands will be included in the same level of consideration as every other part of”
“As well as the incidents that Kenny Gibson and Beatrice Wishart mentioned, in 2022, a wildfire on Gruinard island burned from one end of the island to the other in what was described as an “apocalyptic” scene. Who attended the wildfire summit specifically to represent island communities? What additional support is the Government providing or considering to protect our island communities? Jim Fairlie: I have the list of people who attended the wildfire summit here in front of me. There were about eight or nine people from the Scottish Government and its agencies. There were another 10 people who were either fire experts or from the emergency services. There was a group of land managers, there were environmental non- governmental organisations and there were insurance companies, as well as gamekeepers.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to a recent poll that states that a majority of people in Scotland think the NHS is worse now than it was a decade ago. (S6O- 05098)”
“Of course, Deputy Presiding Officer. I declare an interest as a partner in a farming business. Yesterday, in response to my concerns about how applications to the future farming investment scheme—including those from new entrants in South Lanarkshire—were decided, the minister did not answer my question about whether artificial intelligence had been used in determining who did and who did not get the grant. Therefore, I ask again: was AI used when deciding on FFIS applications? Jim Fairlie: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I can squeeze in a brief supplementary question from Douglas Ross, again with the same caveat.”
“I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests as a partner in a farming business that applied to the future farming investment scheme, and as a member of NFU Scotland. To ask the Scottish Government how decisions on the award of offers of grants for the future farming investment scheme were made. (S6T- 02727)”
“Some of its provisions are welcome, but it is clear that, should it pass stage 1 today, it will be up to the Scottish Government to ensure that those are successfully implemented. There is a risk that the bill will create biodiversity targets that do not work and that, instead, harm the Government’s other objectives. There could be new enforcement powers for national parks without offences being enforced and a new approach to deer management that leads to, or risks leading to, chaos in the sector. It is possible to avoid those outcomes, but that will require a level of commitment and engagement that the Scottish Government has, I am sad to say, not demonstrated so far.”
“The Scottish Government should be worried when organisations such as the British Association for Shooting and Conservation are highlighting the potential for measures in the bill to reduce by half the number of deer stalkers as a result of more regulatory burdens being placed on their activities. Despite discussions held by the deer working group, it seems clear that there is a real need to build more effective relationships between the Scottish Government, NatureScot and stakeholders on the ground. There are reasonable intentions behind bringing together several areas in one bill, but this bill fails to live up to what it suggests or to make a real impact on preserving and enhancing our natural environment.”
“NatureScot believes that at least another 50,000 deer must be culled annually to meet biodiversity targets and, although that figure is widely disputed by many, achieving one is entirely unrealistic without the other. More than that, the impact of poor deer management is greater than the impact on biodiversity and on habitats. The effects on agriculture and the rising number of ticks that spread disease to animals and humans should concern us all. I appreciate that a great deal of the impact will go beyond legislation, but landowners and those who are involved in land management are already pointing out that there is little clarity in the bill about how the new system will operate. Not least among those concerns are the calls for openness about the proposed new code of practice, in order to enable effective scrutiny.”
“Jamie Halcro Johnston: I will not, I am afraid. Turning to part 4 of the bill, I am pleased that the Scottish Government has recognised that the current approach to deer management is not working, although the same could be said of the management of many other species that will not be given the same focus. There are continuing issues with greylag geese, hooded crows, great black-backed gulls and a range of damaging species for which management has visibly failed, meaning that livestock, crops and farmers pay the price. Culling at scale is a necessary step and the bill recognises and addresses issues of biodiversity, but serious inroads on deer management are needed as part of that process.”
“Too often, a minority of people are causing significant problems, including starting dangerous fires that threaten to cause wildfires, undertaking damaging camping practices and causing issues with camper vans, particularly with waste disposal. I hear directly how those issues can have a huge impact in communities across the Highlands and Islands, so national park authorities, local authorities and the police will have to work closely to combat those. Although the bill would enhance the legal powers that are available, it will be for the Scottish Government to ensure that those new powers are part of a package of measures that recognises the scale and extent of crime in national park settings and that appropriately resource efforts to tackle that. Mark Ruskell: Will the member take an intervention?”
“Although park rangers can issue FPNs under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, those powers are not regularly used, but, given those established powers and park rangers’ experience of issuing FPNs for other matters, mainly fly tipping and littering, the ability to enforce byelaws in that way would remove an anomaly in enforcement powers. That should lead to a wider question about enforcement and about what more could be done to ensure that those who use national parks do so in a way that is appropriate. We should be asking what resources are required to police those parks, protect their natural heritage and ensure that antisocial behaviour is constrained. We are all aware that offences in national parks and other rural areas are going unpunished.”
“Part 3, which is about the management of national parks, gives a significant amount of focus to the use of fixed-penalty notices in order to enforce national park byelaws. Byelaws have not been used extensively by the national park authorities in the past, but they can be a useful tool in ensuring that those areas are used responsibly. We should perhaps not go too far in seeing that as a solution. The powers are already there to refer offences to the procurator fiscal and for fiscal fines to be issued to offenders after the event, alongside other potential disposals.”
“We have seen how many metrics of biodiversity net gain have been utilised elsewhere, and the prospect of off-site delivery for developers can help to balance the competing needs of development and of enhancing the natural environment. Equally, we must consider the balance with food production and agriculture. I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests as a partner in a farming business. As Tim Eagle hinted at, many farms have made great strides with biodiversity in recent years, but we have too often been left to proceed alone because of a lack of advice or co-operation from the Scottish Government. I recognise that significant biodiversity gains can be found in agriculture, but the approach simply cannot be another Government-directed mandate against struggling farmers.”
“An effective and sustainable approach on biodiversity will need a Government that is realistic about the balance to be struck on its many competing objectives. To take one example, the Scottish Government has recognised that Scotland is in a housing crisis. In my region, many people, particularly young people, find themselves priced out of housing. Despite that, the Government seems to be unable to do anything meaningful to put house building on track to address the shortage of supply. Regulation and additional costs have strangled a great deal of potential development that is not only positive but necessary. We do not want biodiversity requirements to become a hurdle or barrier to delivering desperately needed homes, and we cannot load yet more regulation on top of those objectives.”
“The bill that is before us today is essentially the four-in-one result of several consultations that have been held from 2023 onwards. The broader issue of protecting and enhancing our natural environment finds some agreement around the Parliament, but it is clear that, since its initial publication, the bill has raised serious questions among stakeholders. To turn to part 1, we welcome the focus on biodiversity, but, as the Scottish Government alludes to in its policy memorandum, we have had 21 years of strategy but little general improvement in Scotland’s biodiversity. Scotland’s capacity for action on restoring and improving biodiversity is perhaps greater than that of any other part of the United Kingdom, yet, in many ways, we have been left behind on the issue. However, we are not simply calling for pushing on.”
“In many situations, however, it is only after those local services are lost that we appreciate their true value. The chief function of a face-to- face bank or Post Office branch might be to process transactions or do business, but how many banks have spotted customers being subject to identity fraud or scams? How many have been first to notice other financial crimes such as undue influence being exerted on a vulnerable person? How many play, or have played, an important social role in communities like those across my region? Access to cash is not, and cannot be, our only concern. While the world is changing, there remains a need for face-to-face banking services, if not in bank branches in every village, at least somewhere that enables people to reasonably access cash when it is needed. 13:30”
“The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Mr Carson. Jamie Halcro Johnston, I can give you some of that time back. Jamie Halcro Johnston: Thank you—that is very generous of you, Presiding Officer. I certainly agree with Mr Carson, and, from the response that his intervention got on these benches, I think that that view is held more widely. Just as significant is the Post Office network, which provides basic banking services in its branches. Even when sub-post offices close, pop- up branches such as the one that I was in only last Thursday, and which serves my home parish of Orphir in Orkney, continue to play an important role. In part, post offices across the UK have been protected by their access criteria, alongside a great deal of political will and continued commercial interests.”
“Finlay Carson: I put on record my thanks to campaigners who have been successful in getting banking hubs opened in Kirkcudbright and Newton Stewart in the past 12 months. Link was asked to review how it assesses these banking hubs, but that process still needs to be firmed up. I ask the member to join me in calling on the FCA to consider a mandatory review of access to cash in towns before the last bank closes, to ensure that decisions in relation to towns such as Dalbeattie—the biggest town in Stewartry, which has been without a bank or a banking hub for some time—are reviewed again. I have been successful in the past month— The Deputy Presiding Officer: Be brief, Mr Carson. Finlay Carson: —in getting decisions in relation to Dalbeattie and Wigtown reviewed. We need that process to be introduced.”
“I welcome the action to promote and increase the number of banking hubs by Cash Access UK, with the co-operation of the major banks and the Post Office. Two such hubs now exist in my region—one in Forres, and, since only the summer, a new one in Wick. Both have been well received, even if it is clear that— Finlay Carson: Will the member take an intervention? Jamie Halcro Johnston: I will when I finish this point. Both hubs have been well received, even if it is clear that some people remain unaware of the breadth of services that they offer. We must watch closely to see whether they become a truly viable and sustainable alternative and are able to grow at the pace that has been suggested. I, for one, would like to see more hubs across the region.”
“That is simply not good enough. Both the Scottish and the UK Governments have spoken of the importance of high streets and town centres, not only as the basis for retail but as focal points for communities—places to access public services and spaces where we can enjoy meeting each other. However, this further round of closures, coming after so many previous losses, demonstrates that the hollowing out of these places is continuing at pace. I do recognise that high streets and town centres will change and adapt in response to consumer needs, and that this cannot be a wholly one-sided appeal to preserve these areas in time. Increasingly, however, consumer needs—particularly those of our older residents, as Craig Hoy highlighted—are simply not being catered for in regions such as mine.”
“Although, in many ways, progress through technology has reduced some of the challenges of rurality, it has also created conditions that have allowed these communities to be left even more isolated than before. Only last year, I spoke in a members’ business debate brought by Rhoda Grant on the reduction of mobile banking services across the Highlands and Islands. As I mentioned then, I had previously participated in Dean Lockhart’s members’ business debate on the removal of cash machines, and I was a member of the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee when it carried out an inquiry into bank closures in 2018. My concern is that we often focus on the alternatives, such as ATMs, online banking and mobile branches, only to find ourselves debating the loss of such alternatives at some point further down the line.”
“I congratulate Craig Hoy on bringing this debate to the Parliament, given the recent closures by the Bank of Scotland. My region, like his, is affected by these closures, and, as in his region, the closure of branches will cause real challenges for the many people whose local bank branch is increasingly far away and not so local any more. The south of Scotland and the Highlands share more similarities than is often recognised. They both contain networks of smaller towns, many distant from each other, that still act as true commercial centres for their surrounding areas. They are places where small businesses are the lifeblood of our local economies, but the reality is that our lower population densities often mean that we are the first to lose out when services are centralised.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the economy secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the impact on the tourism sector of any new taxes or regulation. (S6O-05062)”
“It is important to recognise that, when students go to a university in Scotland, their fees are paid for by the Government—by the taxpayer. That helps people to access those opportunities. There is a situation, as set out by the Scottish Funding Council, with regard to the sustainable funding of the sector, and I spoke earlier about how we are engaged in that and how we engage with Universities Scotland. Youth Work (Budget Decisions) 8.”
“The latest figures show that University of Highlands and Islands student numbers have fallen by 6,000. UHI has faced a number of challenges, including mergers, staff cuts and, of course, the funding issues that have plagued the sector in the past 18 years. What impact does the minister think that that will have on the disadvantaged and often remote communities across my Highlands and Islands region? Ben Macpherson: I have welcomed engagement on UHI since coming into post, including from Jamie Halcro Johnston and the members who are sitting behind him. The provision across the Highlands and Islands, which is, of course, a wide geographical area, is extremely important for those communities and for the country more widely.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what challenges are faced by those delivering education across the Highlands and Islands. (S6O-05054)”
“Although I welcome that the Government, having thrown off the shackles of the Green’s anti-business ideologies, seems at least to acknowledge that the economy exists, it is failing to engage with economic growth and the challenges of productivity in any meaningful way. In the coming years, we will face an economic transformation whether the Scottish Government sees it coming or not. There is a great deal to do but, first, that requires a Government that will give the skills and college sector the support that it deserves. 16:41”
“However, a stubborn gap remains in provision for retraining. It is by no means original to say that the promise of lifelong learning that we have often heard about in the chamber has consistently been more of a soundbite than reality. An attempt to make it a genuine aspect of Scotland’s skills landscape will become increasingly essential if people are to be able to navigate an economy that is changing faster than ever before, when existing skills can become redundant quickly, and when people may need more support to progress or policies that recognise the need to learn while earning in a more flexible way. I am not optimistic about the Government’s direction for skills training and colleges.”