Chamber and committees

We will move swiftly on to questions on part 3 of the bill, which is on special measures in civil cases.

At our previous evidence session, Scottish Women’s Aid and Rape Crisis Scotland argued that the scope of who is deemed vulnerable in the bill was not broad enough and that special measures should be available to those who are deemed to be vulnerable. Can you all say, as succinctly as possible, what your view on that is? Is there any drawback to the proposed changes?

Is there anything that Jonathan Campbell would like to add to that?

I also pay tribute to all the responders and communities involved in storm Babet and extend my deepest sympathies to the families of those who lost their lives.

Given the harrowing scenes that emerged of the extensive damage that storm Babet caused to people’s homes, what initial discussions have taken place with the Association of British Insurers, which I understand has deployed extra resources into contact centres and on the ground to assist people, including those who are affected now and those who might be affected in the future?

What analysis has the Scottish Government undertaken of why retail crime, including incidents of violence against staff, has risen?

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the impact of storm Babet on communities in Aberdeenshire, Angus, Tayside and Perthshire. (S6T-01591)

Yesterday, Aberdeenshire Council highlighted the sudden drop in temperatures and the on-going impact of storm Babet on its 3,500-mile road network, harbours and other services. We are no strangers to severe weather, but what action is the Scottish Government taking to ensure that the public is adequately informed and prepared for adverse weather, especially as we move towards the winter months?

I, too, commend all the local responders and communities who worked tirelessly before and during storm Babet, and I extend my deepest sympathies to the families of those who were lost during the storm.

Recent extreme weather events have severely impacted the north-east, and I now have constituents who have incurred significant financial and emotional costs arising from the devastation of repeat flooding that has been exacerbated by failing nearby water infrastructure. As regional resilience partnerships continue to develop the organisational response to specific events, what steps is the Scottish Government taking to assist householders in coping with increased flood risk and in becoming resilient to future flooding events?

Will the First Minister outline what more can be done to take action against private owners who leave buildings derelict and at risk of antisocial behaviour, including fire raising, which has a significant impact on our councils and public services?

I congratulate John Swinney on securing the debate. The motion recognises the role of his constituents in establishing the first Climate Café in Scotland, the role that Climate Cafés play in facilitating conversations and action on climate, and how their reach has grown. Having spent much of my childhood living in Perthshire with my grandparents in Stanley, I am delighted that the Dunkeld and Birnam Climate Café is leading the way.

As the motion describes it, Climate Café’s create a

“welcoming, inclusive, safe space within a community that is open to everyone to chat and act on climate”.

I do not need to tell anyone that the north-east is home to a shifting energy industry. Therefore, the narrative on climate can often be framed within an industrial context, through discussions about opportunities in green jobs, green industrial development or new infrastructure supporting the energy transition. I do not need to tell anyone about the impact of those changes and how, often, they are most keenly felt in communities and businesses, and in employment, as well as through changes to the nature and structure of neighbourhoods.

A just transition seeks to ensure that all voices are included in the process of change. Just last week, the Minister for Energy and the Environment updated the Parliament on the forthcoming energy strategy and just transition plan. She stated:

“The views of local communities are of the utmost importance. It is vital that everyone has the opportunity to engage in decisions about future development.”—[Official Report, 28 September 2023; c 59.]

Climate Cafés are an important and accessible vehicle to make that happen. I acknowledge the commitment of the North East Scotland Climate Action Network and Aberdeen Climate Action in bringing people in the north-east together to talk about climate and supporting local action groups and projects. Earlier this week, with help from Jess Pepper, who has been mentioned already, I had the pleasure of joining the Aberdeen Climate Café, where members heard from the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, Lorna Slater, as well as from Skills Development Scotland and Borders College. Participants asked a wide range of questions, covering everything from hydrogen to skills passports, women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and what a circular economy is.

I cannot talk about community participation in the context of climate without acknowledging Professor Tavis Potts, the dean for environmental sustainability at the University of Aberdeen, for his work on the social dimensions of climate and energy, as well as his commitment to deepening social participation in the transition in the north-east through climate assemblies and participatory engagement.

The reach of Climate Cafés goes much further than just local communities. In that regard, I thank one of John Swinney’s constituents—a member of Blairgowrie Climate Café—who kindly sent me beautiful photos of St Fittick’s park, which is a green space in the heart of my constituency that is under threat from industrial development linked to the energy sector. That lovely gesture reflected the wider investment that Climate Café members have in our world, beyond their communities and neighbourhoods.

Given the choices that we face about how we live and the legacy that we want to leave our children and grandchildren, Climate Cafés will continue to play their part in important community conversations, engagement and action, and I look forward to seeing them develop and expand across Scotland. I thank John Swinney again for bringing forward the debate.

I thank my friend and colleague Jackie Dunbar for her intervention. The Gordon Highlanders Museum is in my constituency and I know the value of the work that it does, not just in supporting vocational and practical work but in offering a space for veterans and others to come together. It is a highly valued resource in the north-east of Scotland.

I am pleased that Offshore Energies UK has signed up to the armed forces covenant and received the employer recognition scheme bronze award; Port of Aberdeen has signed up to the armed forces covenant, too. Those are only two of the many examples of how the sector values veterans and service leavers.

I am pleased to note the veterans commissioner’s progress update on the alignment of military and civilian skills and qualifications, which I know is not necessarily always a straightforward process; I am also pleased to note the military skills and qualifications discovery tool. I look forward to reading the commissioner’s annual report, which has just been published. Having had a quick look at it today, I note the update on how Skills Development Scotland’s work with the Career Transition Partnership to refer new employers to it is continuing to develop, and I note the close relationship between Skills Development Scotland and veterans organisations.

I was pleased to note that the new recruitveterans.scot website has been launched, which contains extremely helpful information for businesses about the benefits that veterans can bring to the workforce. I urge all members to highlight that website in their constituencies and regions.

The Scottish Government’s veterans strategy action plan and the Scottish veterans fund continue to underpin much of the work that is being progressed in Scotland. I know that the minister is utterly committed to this work, particularly because, as he has flagged, we are still all grappling with the cost of living crisis and the lag of Covid.

Young serving personnel with whom I engaged in preparation for today told me:

“The army is very accommodating to welfare issues, however it varies from unit to unit, some regiments have well-oiled welfare support in place through charities like Combat Stress and Support our Paras – they are so vital for welfare help. But to be honest, just simply chatting to each other and having each other there for support is the most important”.

I know that we will lend our weight to that support.