Chamber and committees

The First Minister will be aware of the recent research from the University of Strathclyde’s centre for energy policy, which indicates that jobs at the Sullom Voe oil terminal depend on BP’s decision on the Clair expansion. It is estimated that around 250 jobs could be impacted across the Shetland economy, which would be devastating for our island community. Can the First Minister indicate what action his Government will take following that new research?

People can find themselves homeless for a variety of reasons and they deserve a warm, habitable space as well as being treated with dignity. This week, I heard from a constituent who was moved from emergency accommodation six years ago. He describes now living in an old, cold and damp house. What more can the Scottish Government do, considering the average age of housing stock, to ensure that both permanent and emergency forms of accommodation are in good condition?

The First Minister will be aware of the recent research from the University of Strathclyde’s centre for energy policy, which indicates that jobs at the Sullom Voe oil terminal depend on BP’s decision on the Clair expansion. It is estimated that around 250 jobs could be impacted across the Shetland economy, which would be devastating for our island community. Can the First Minister indicate what action his Government will take following that new research?

People can find themselves homeless for a variety of reasons and they deserve a warm, habitable space as well as being treated with dignity. This week, I heard from a constituent who was moved from emergency accommodation six years ago. He describes now living in an old, cold and damp house. What more can the Scottish Government do, considering the average age of housing stock, to ensure that both permanent and emergency forms of accommodation are in good condition?

The First Minister will be aware of the recent research from the University of Strathclyde’s centre for energy policy, which indicates that jobs at the Sullom Voe oil terminal depend on BP’s decision on the Clair expansion. It is estimated that around 250 jobs could be impacted across the Shetland economy, which would be devastating for our island community. Can the First Minister indicate what action his Government will take following that new research?

People can find themselves homeless for a variety of reasons and they deserve a warm, habitable space as well as being treated with dignity. This week, I heard from a constituent who was moved from emergency accommodation six years ago. He describes now living in an old, cold and damp house. What more can the Scottish Government do, considering the average age of housing stock, to ensure that both permanent and emergency forms of accommodation are in good condition?

I thank John Mason for bringing this important debate to the chamber, and I thank Scottish Environment LINK for all its work and for its briefing, which highlights the stark level of on-going nature loss in Scotland, including the fact that one in nine species are at risk of national extinction.

There is much going on in the world of politics, but we should never forget that we face the twin challenges of the climate and biodiversity crises. What a great initiative it is to have 100 MSPs champion Scotland’s threatened and iconic species and habitats. It has spawned similar programmes in the UK Parliament and the Welsh Senedd, and within Scottish communities and local authorities.

I am proud to be the MSP nature champion for orca. Liam McArthur—as you will know, Deputy Presiding Officer—champions the Scottish primrose, and I think that the difference in and between those two species reflects the diversity of the natural world in the northern isles.

Orca, which are often referred to as killer whales, are in fact members of the dolphin family. David Attenborough’s “Wild Isles” series began with stunning scenes of a pod of orca off Shetland. None of that would have been possible without the keen eyes of local people, armed with a WhatsApp group, to alert the production crew of sightings. There was another sighting of orca of Shetland only yesterday, with wonderful images of them on social media for those of us who missed them.

I have been privileged to work with Whale and Dolphin Conservation and, like Douglas Ross, I have taken part in shore watches. Shore watching provides citizen science data, allowing expert workshops to identify global whale and dolphin habitats that are in need of protection.

In 2022, I was especially proud to have won the MSP nature champion of the year award, following my involvement in the campaign to stop at-sea explosions. Orca and other marine mammals can be severely injured in shock waves that are produced by detonations of unexploded ordnance on the seabed. Changes to the law to ensure that low-impact methods are used to neutralise those weapons better protect marine animals, but more work is required to change the law on noise limits, as noise can cause harm to whales and dolphins.

The rush to use sea spaces to provide transition to renewable energy can impact seabirds and ocean creatures as well as the fishing sector. The construction of the infrastructure also means an increase in noise pollution, for example from the pile-driving that is needed for offshore wind turbines.

To conclude, we need measures to ensure that we maintain our native species and habitats. Nature champions are a great way to raise awareness, and I wish the incoming 2026 cohort of MSP nature champions well in that endeavour.

I thank John Mason for bringing this important debate to the chamber, and I thank Scottish Environment LINK for all its work and for its briefing, which highlights the stark level of on-going nature loss in Scotland, including the fact that one in nine species are at risk of national extinction.

There is much going on in the world of politics, but we should never forget that we face the twin challenges of the climate and biodiversity crises. What a great initiative it is to have 100 MSPs champion Scotland’s threatened and iconic species and habitats. It has spawned similar programmes in the UK Parliament and the Welsh Senedd, and within Scottish communities and local authorities.

I am proud to be the MSP nature champion for orca. Liam McArthur—as you will know, Deputy Presiding Officer—champions the Scottish primrose, and I think that the difference in and between those two species reflects the diversity of the natural world in the northern isles.

Orca, which are often referred to as killer whales, are in fact members of the dolphin family. David Attenborough’s “Wild Isles” series began with stunning scenes of a pod of orca off Shetland. None of that would have been possible without the keen eyes of local people, armed with a WhatsApp group, to alert the production crew of sightings. There was another sighting of orca of Shetland only yesterday, with wonderful images of them on social media for those of us who missed them.

I have been privileged to work with Whale and Dolphin Conservation and, like Douglas Ross, I have taken part in shore watches. Shore watching provides citizen science data, allowing expert workshops to identify global whale and dolphin habitats that are in need of protection.

In 2022, I was especially proud to have won the MSP nature champion of the year award, following my involvement in the campaign to stop at-sea explosions. Orca and other marine mammals can be severely injured in shock waves that are produced by detonations of unexploded ordnance on the seabed. Changes to the law to ensure that low-impact methods are used to neutralise those weapons better protect marine animals, but more work is required to change the law on noise limits, as noise can cause harm to whales and dolphins.

The rush to use sea spaces to provide transition to renewable energy can impact seabirds and ocean creatures as well as the fishing sector. The construction of the infrastructure also means an increase in noise pollution, for example from the pile-driving that is needed for offshore wind turbines.

To conclude, we need measures to ensure that we maintain our native species and habitats. Nature champions are a great way to raise awareness, and I wish the incoming 2026 cohort of MSP nature champions well in that endeavour.

I thank Kenny Gibson for bringing this important debate to the chamber. There have been many great speeches, and I am not sure that my contribution will be as good as anybody else’s, but I shall try.

I am sorry—I will have to sit for a minute.

Yes.