Official Report 443KB pdf
14:04
Oil and Gas Licences (Rosebank and Jackdaw Developments)
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the approval of licences for the Rosebank and Jackdaw developments, in light of their potential impact on North Sea jobs and oil and gas tax revenues. (S7O-00098)
As the member knows, decisions on the consenting of individual offshore oil and gas fields are matters that are currently reserved to the United Kingdom Government.
While I am on my feet, and as this is the first time that I have spoken in the chamber since the by-elections last week, I take the opportunity to congratulate Douglas Lumsden on his success and my own successor at Westminster, Lara Bird, on her success—and, frankly, on getting a much larger majority than I had.
This question has come up a few times and the answers are getting a bit boring now. The last time that the First Minister stood up, he made reference to the Finch judgment. The Finch judgment was thrown out on a technicality. They wanted the environmental case to take into account the downstream impacts of burning the hydrocarbons. When it is resubmitted, we know exactly what it is going to say. It is going to say that it is going to use the worst-case scenario—
Question, please.
Instead of hiding behind the environmental impact assessment report, will the Scottish Government show some courage and back North Sea oil and gas jobs?
This Government always backs jobs in the north-east. I will make two points. This Government has worked with the oil and gas sector, and I was doing work on skills just yesterday. It also backs the just transition and the tens of thousands of jobs that have come online in the low-carbon area, many of them benefiting the north-east, which would be thrown under the bus by Reform.
On the question of the law, I will not pre-empt that decision. I respect the rule of law and I will have to respect the decisions that are made. That is a basic for a minister, and I am not sure that any MSP would expect me to say otherwise.
In contrast to the answer that we have just heard, according to the Robert Gordon University report that was released today, policies pursued by this Scottish National Party Government towards oil and gas could lead to
“loss of a skilled workforce, erosion of supply chain capacity and a weakening”
of the wider economy.
Removing the presumption against new oil and gas, supporting Jackdaw and Rosebank and having an energy strategy would help to change that, so will the cabinet secretary change course and adopt those measures, or will he throw 18,000 offshore energy jobs under a bus?
You are being promoted again, minister.
I would like to thank my fellow north-east MSP for that. He knows that this Government is investing in jobs and skills. Yesterday, I visited the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, where we saw at first hand the way in which the skill set is complementing—[Interruption.] I am being barracked by Mr Kerr again, but he is much further away than he ever used to be now that his party is in fifth place. I think that that speaks to the disaster of the energy profits levy that was introduced by his Government. [Interruption.]
Despite Scotland’s vast energy resources, energy policy remains reserved to the UK Government, meaning that the benefits of our energy wealth are not felt by the Scottish people. What assessment has the minister made of that lack of control and the impact on Scotland’s economy, fuel security and natural environment?
Dawn Black is right. Like me, and unlike those who have questioned me previously, she believes that those powers should be in this Parliament. We consistently get criticism about policy that was pursued by Westminster. Scotland’s vast energy resources have contributed £400 billion to the Treasury, with very little back, and the energy profits levy puts the just transition at risk and accelerates the decline in oil and gas before renewables are ready. This place is much better placed to have powers over energy, and that is why this Parliament voted for that.
SPSO (Complaints Allocation)
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on service users of delays of up to 28 weeks in the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman allocating complaints to a reviewer. (S7O-00099)
We understand that the SPSO assesses complaints to identify how they should be prioritised. The SPSO prioritises cases where a complainant is vulnerable or the matter is assessed as urgent and ongoing. The SPSO keeps people who are affected by delays informed.
In 2024-25, the SPSO reduced the number of open cases by 15 per cent. The SPSO is a Scottish Parliament-supported organisation, however, and it is the Scottish Parliament, rather than the Scottish Government, that is ultimately responsible for holding the SPSO to account for its performance and resourcing.
This is a significant failing. The ombudsman is a key part of our public services and a key part of how people interact with them. There is deep dissatisfaction with the way in which investigations are carried out. How bad does the situation have to get before a full investigation is made?
That would be a matter for the Parliament, not the Government. As an organisation, the ombudsman rightly sits separate from the Government. It is supported by the Parliament and it is for the Parliament, rather than the Government, to hold the SPSO to account. The member may wish to take up the matter with the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body.
M8 (Woodside Viaducts)
To ask the Scottish Government, following the recently closed public consultation into the future of the Woodside viaducts, which support a section of the M8 in Glasgow, what further consultation has taken place with key stakeholders regarding preferred options and associated costs for the delivery of this major project. (S7O-00100)
The early public consultation on strategic options for the M8 Woodside viaducts permanent works project concluded on 25 March 2026. As part of the Scottish transport appraisal guidance process for identification and appraisal of transport interventions, three strategic approaches were presented: repair, replace and remove. Since then, engagement has continued—with key stakeholders including Glasgow City Council, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, community councils, the Road Haulage Association and the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce—to inform the appraisal of potential options and associated costs. The work is ongoing and no final decisions have been taken.
The minister will be aware that heavy goods vehicles have been directed to the M74, to the south of Glasgow, and that local residents are concerned about traffic congestion via the on-boarding and off-boarding ramps at Rutherglen and Cambuslang. Was there any liaison with Glasgow City Council regarding a traffic impact assessment?
I do not have at hand the details to answer the member’s question, but I am happy to ask officials to write to the member, to provide her with an update.
Does the minister find it surprising—as I do—that, while the options remain on the table, some people seem determined to argue for the most expensive and time-consuming options rather than the quickest and cheapest option, which is removal? Does the minister agree that there needs to be an environmental assessment of the longer-term impacts and not only of the construction phase of the options—which has not so far taken place?
The member’s question illustrates that there are a range of views on the issue. I want to provide assurance to Parliament that no decisions have been taken. There has been an initial public consultation, and there will be detailed consideration of that before any further consultation. The Government is committed to fully engaging throughout the process, ensuring that all voices have the opportunity to make representations—including on the points that Mr Harvie has articulated.
The Woodside viaducts are an oversized relic of a bygone era, and they were built far wider and taller than the traffic flow requires, as Glasgow Corporation rightly stepped in to cancel the planned Maryhill motorway in 1975. Rather than accepting a false binary of either spending a fortune to maintain a 1970s concrete scar or completely severing the trunk route, we need a solution suited to modern inner-city urbanism.
Will the minister ask Transport Scotland to formally evaluate a compromise approach to replace the obsolete viaducts with a surface-level urban boulevard, taking direct inspiration from international precedents such as San Francisco’s Embarcadero and New York’s Sheridan Boulevard?
The member’s supplementary question further highlights the range of views that exist on the issue. It has been important to have a process of public engagement. I provide assurance to the Parliament that full and detailed consideration will be given to all the opinions that have been expressed to date, including the views that have been articulated by the member, before further action is taken.
Banking Services (Rural Areas)
I apologise for my late arrival in the chamber. To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with stakeholders to support the maintenance of banking services in rural areas. (S7O-00101)
Although regulation of financial services is reserved, Scottish Government ministers and officials regularly engage with the sector and the regulator on the issue. Officials have raised Scottish-specific concerns with the Financial Conduct Authority, including Scotland’s rural and remote geography, topography and demographics, as well as the methodology used by Link to assess communities and make decisions about banking hubs. We await the upcoming reviews by the FCA on access to cash and HM Treasury on access to banking services, which we will use to represent Scotland’s interests. We continue to urge all financial services providers to hear and address customer concerns.
Given the recent closure of the last remaining bank in Kirkcudbrightshire, does the minister recognise that access to in-person banking services remains essential for many of my constituents, particularly older residents and smaller businesses, who rely on banking but do not have reliable digital access? The minister rightly said that the development of banking hubs is reserved. What support can the Scottish Government provide to ensure that banking hubs deliver a full range of face-to-face banking services, not just access to cash? What specific steps can it take to help to secure a hub or equivalent provision in areas such as Kirkcudbrightshire?
I thank the member for his important question, which certainly reflects my experience as a constituency member. Over my time in elected office, there have been numerous instances of a bank branch closing in my constituency to the detriment of my constituents, so I recognise the important role that the branches play. There is broad agreement on that across Parliament. As a minister, I am committed to engaging constructively with members on such matters.
Although we recognise the reserved nature of the issue, the Scottish Government is committed to engaging constructively. That is why we have made representations as part of the ongoing review process. I am committed to ensuring that all members have the opportunity to make representations to me, so that I can articulate that case to the UK Government. Beyond that, I am keen to work with members across the Parliament, in recognition of the fact that the issue impacts right across Scotland. With banking hubs, we have a model that has proven to be very effective, and I think that we all agree that we want it to grow and develop.
The recent bank closures in the Highlands have been widespread. In Sutherland, not a single bank remains open. Too many of my constituents are being asked to travel hours on end, which is impacting vulnerable customers and businesses alike.
Does the minister agree that although protecting access to cash is important, it is not enough on its own? The minister mentioned access to banking. Will he undertake to write to the United Kingdom Government in support of access to banks, with regard to a provision in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023, to ensure that rural communities are not left behind?
The member makes a series of important points, particularly in highlighting the significant impact in more rural parts of Scotland. However, it should be understood that bank closures also have a profound impact in more urban parts of Scotland, as I have seen at first hand in my constituency in the central belt. This is a pan-Scotland issue.
I would be happy to follow up with Mr Green on the points that he has raised, and, if other members wish to make representations to me on the matter, I will be more than happy to pass them on to the UK Government.
In Fife, the Kingdom Community Bank has been a breath of fresh air for many of my constituents. It provides access to physical branches and a personalised service, often manned by volunteers, at a time when big banks are shutting up shop and cutting jobs.
Does the Scottish Government have any plans to support or encourage the creation of community banks as a possible alternative for rural communities across Scotland?
I thank the member for highlighting the positive impact of the example that she cited in her area. Although, as I said, I recognise the reserved nature of the issue, I want to work constructively on it. I am happy to engage with members to identify any opportunities where the Scottish Government can work constructively with local authorities, community organisations, the regulators and, indeed, the UK Government to ensure that we maximise access to banking services across Scotland, recognising the vital role that they play.
“Coming Home” Report (Hospital Placements)
My entry in the register of members’ interests will show that I was employed by Scottish Autism until my election in May. To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the number of people with learning disabilities and complex needs who remain in inappropriate hospital placements, eight years on from its report, “Coming Home”. (S7O-00102)
We established the dynamic support register in 2023 to ensure that people with learning disabilities and complex needs are visible and as a tool to support targeted local action. The most recently published quarterly statistics evidence that there has been some progress on the issue. They show that the number of people in the “Urgent” category has reduced from 488 to 383 since March 2024, which is a reduction of more than 100 people.
I remain committed to continued improvement, and we are providing a further £20 million to implement the “Coming Home Action Plan”, which was published on 19 March this year. That will take our total direct investment to date in “Coming Home” to £40 million.
Notwithstanding the progress that has been made, the figures that were published last week by Public Health Scotland are stark. There are 29 adults with learning disabilities in inappropriate out-of-area placements, and 67 people are stuck in hospital despite being clinically ready to leave. Of those 67 people, 42 have been waiting for more than a year and nine have been stuck in hospital for more than six years. A further 196 people were recorded as being at risk of support breakdown. What measures will the minister urgently take now to ensure that all people with learning disabilities have the home environment and skilled support that they need to fulfil their human right to life in the community?
We should be concerned about anybody being inappropriately stuck in hospital for too long, and action is ongoing on that issue. It should be remembered that people may well have had a need for assessment and treatment when they were admitted to hospital, but it is also the case that some people will have been admitted because their community placement had broken down, and people sometimes stay in hospital for too long when they should be being supported in the community.
We are currently developing a complex support needs pathway, which is an action in the action plan. That will set out key actions, timelines and guidance for each stage from admission to discharge. It will be an important tool that will effectively provide a person-centred standard for discharge from hospital. The pathway is being finalised and will be consulted on soon.
We are also focusing on prevention and early intervention approaches to help to keep people well and to reduce the risk of placement breakdown, which can sometimes lead to people being put in hospital.
Minister, please wind up—this is a long answer.
That includes the introduction of learning disability annual health checks, which are being rolled out across Scotland.
What assessment has the minister made of the number of young people with learning disabilities and complex needs who remain far from home or in adult settings due to a lack of appropriate local services?
I do not have those specific figures in front of me, but I am more than happy to discuss that issue with Cara McKee in greater detail, because it has a significant impact on young people and their families.
I point members to my entry in the register of members’ interests, which states that I am an elected member on West Lothian Council. Will the minister provide an update on how the Scottish Government is ensuring that local government and the national health service are working together to deliver complex care packages for those who need them?
The Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities have undertaken several actions to ensure that local government and the NHS are working together effectively to deliver complex care packages through the coming home programme. A key focus has been improving co-ordination between NHS boards, local authorities and integration authorities and supporting that through the better use of data, shared oversight and earlier joint planning.
That work builds on the £20 million that has already been distributed to integration authorities since 2021 through the community living change fund. It will further benefit from the new £20 million complex care investment that I mentioned earlier, which will be delivered through Independent Living Fund Scotland. That investment will support bespoke community-based packages of care.
Schools (Four-day Week)
To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its approach to promoting the wellbeing of children and young people, what assessment it has made of the potential impact of a four-day school week on opportunities for activities outwith formal education. (S7O-00103)
Under the Schools General (Scotland) Regulations 1975, local authorities must ensure that schools are open for at least 190 days of the year. A four-day school week would require an amendment to those regulations, and I emphasise that the Government currently has no plans to do that.
However, I recognise the value of opportunities for activities outwith formal education. That is why we are investing in initiatives such as the Scottish Football Association’s extra time programme and Sistema’s big noise, and we are taking forward plans to deliver outdoor education following the Parliament’s passing of the Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Act 2026 in the previous session.
Last week, I was at Sanderson’s Wynd primary school to speak to the primary 5s and 6s, who are doing a module on democracy and decision making. I got the notification that I had been selected to ask a general question just as I was heading off to the school.
When I spoke to the children, I said, “What would you ask if you could ask any question of the Scottish Government?” It turned out that they had had a detailed discussion about the benefits of four-day school weeks, and they wanted me to pass on their thoughts to the Scottish Government. They had considered the issue in the round, and one reason they thought it would be beneficial was that it would allow more time for sports, extracurricular activities and family life. My personal favourite—
This is great, but it is general question time, and we need questions.
Sorry. It is for the children, Presiding Officer.
Being less tired was another good reason. They understood that there would be drawbacks, but they were very excited at the idea that the Scottish Government might consider their proposals.
Please ask a question.
Would the minister consider the benefits in the round, so that the children at Sanderson’s Wynd will understand that they, too, can be part of democracy and ask questions of the Government?
I thank the children at Sanderson’s Wynd primary school for engaging and for raising their views. I hope that they are watching.
We know that time outwith the school day is important to children and young people. When we engaged with primary school children in 2023 to co-design a children’s charter for school-age childcare, they told us that they valued choice about how to spend that time. They want to relax and spend time with friends and family, as well as to play and take part in a range of activities.
The choice to take part in clubs and activities is really important. As pupils will know, that can help children to feel happier, to make new friends, to do better at school and to learn new skills. We want every child to have the chance to choose something that they enjoy, whether that is sport, music, drama or any other activity that they love.
Public Sector (Transparency and Accountability)
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to improve openness, transparency and accountability across the public sector. (S7O-00104)
As part of our programme of public service reform, we are embedding openness, transparency and accountability into how services are designed, delivered and improved. Our next open Government action plan will set out an anti-corruption strategy and plans for improving public participation in decision making.
Every member of this Parliament will have examples from constituents in which officials or organisations have withheld information or covered up failure. That culture of concealment not only lets down families and individuals but fails the most vulnerable.
Does the cabinet secretary agree that we should have a definitive Scots law relating to misconduct in public office? Will he agree to meet me and other members from across the chamber to discuss how we might work together to provide legal support for the Nolan principle of integrity in public life?
I am very happy to meet the member to discuss that further. Such issues are hugely important to the Government. It is critical that we, and all public services, are transparent and are seen to be so.
I am informed that a United Kingdom Government bill is proceeding in that regard, and that we are engaging in discussions with it on that.
Baird Family Hospital and ANCHOR Centre
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its discussions with NHS Grampian regarding the status of the Baird family hospital and Aberdeen and North Centre for Haematology, Oncology and Radiotherapy. (S7O-00105)
The Scottish Government works closely with NHS Grampian and NHS Scotland Assure on all capital investment projects. Safety is always paramount, and NHS Grampian is implementing several changes to the new hospital as a result of clinical recommendations following a design review, which has had an impact on the completion date and the cost.
The key stage assurance review process is in place to ensure that a safe, high-quality healthcare facility is delivered. We are focused on ensuring that the ANCHOR centre and the Baird family hospital open when they can operate safely and effectively.
I appreciate that my constituents continue to receive first-class care elsewhere at Foresterhill, and that patient safety must be paramount, but the doors to the Baird and ANCHOR need to open, and need to stay open, as soon as possible. What mechanisms will be put in place to ensure that there is accountability, scrutiny and proper leadership to get the project finalised to the highest standard of safety?
I assure Mr Middleton that we remain absolutely focused on ensuring that the ANCHOR centre and the Baird family hospital open when they can operate safely and effectively.
A national oversight group, which is led by my officials, has been established to ensure that that happens as quickly as possible. The group has been established to take control of recovery planning and delivery of the Baird and ANCHOR. A key focus of the work is to establish a timeline for opening while ensuring that safety is not compromised. There are critical issues with building systems that may require redesign, but that work will determine cost and timeline. I will keep the member informed.
That concludes general question time.
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