Chamber and committees

—in identifying disturbing behaviour and patterns. Does the minister agree that domestic abuse education should be provided in schools as standard?

Despite Scottish Government action, Scotland’s Gypsy Traveller communities are still some of the most marginalised and isolated. Those communities still face significant challenges, particularly in accommodation, with sites across Scotland in need of funding and updates. Just last year, funding for improvements at a site in Dumbarton was delayed despite a desperate need for investment. Such challenges are found across Scotland. What discussions has the Scottish Government had with local authorities to ensure that they have made necessary upgrades?

Violence can affect women and girls of any age. With youth violence on the rise, we see more and more examples of boys behaving violently towards girls. Earlier this month, I attended a conference that was hosted by Beira’s Place in Edinburgh, where speakers spoke about the prevalence of coercive control in teen relationships. However, they also stressed that education is key—

Let us be clear—we are talking about the United Kingdom Supreme Court. The law is the law, and nobody is above it. This morning, the EHRC was on a call to MSPs and stated very clearly that public bodies should comply with the law now. Sex Matters has warned that it will come after organisations that refuse to follow the ruling, which will, once again, leave taxpayers footing the bill. Will the Parliament therefore commit to following and implementing the interim update that was issued by the EHRC on the protection of single-sex spaces?

I thank Marie McNair for bringing such an important topic to the chamber. Action mesothelioma day is dedicated to raising awareness of a devastating disease that has affected many lives in Scotland and beyond.

In 2022, there were 2,257 mesothelioma deaths in the United Kingdom, with a significant number occurring in Scotland. Scotland’s industrial history, particularly of shipbuilding and construction, has left a legacy of asbestos exposure, leading to high rates of mesothelioma. More than 70 per cent of such deaths occur in individuals aged over 75, which highlights the disease’s long latency period.

According to the Scottish mesothelioma network’s 2023 clinical audit report, the number of newly diagnosed mesothelioma patients in Scotland that year was 132, which represented an increase on the 127 patients identified in the 2022 audit. However, behind those numbers are real people and their families who are enduring immense suffering. Those people are not just statistics; mesothelioma is a painful reality for many. The symptoms are debilitating; the prognosis is often grim; and patients and their loved ones face physical, emotional and financial hardship.

The stories that we hear remind us of the urgent need for action and support. I have had the privilege of meeting organisations that specialise in mesothelioma, such as Clydebank Asbestos Group in my West Scotland region. The dedication of such organisations to supporting those affected by the condition is truly inspiring; they provide crucial services such as legal advice, emotional support and advocacy for better healthcare services, and their work ensures that patients and their families do not face the battle alone.

Clydebank Asbestos Group offers a lifeline to many. It assists people with navigating the complex legal landscape in order to secure compensation for victims; it runs support groups that provide a space for individuals to share their experiences and to find solace in a community that understands their struggles; and its advocacy efforts have led to improvements in healthcare policies and increased funding for research on the condition.

The group has called for the safe and urgent removal of asbestos from all public buildings, as there have been increases in the numbers of younger people and women being diagnosed with the condition. Some of those people never worked in the traditional industries that are usually associated with asbestos exposure; indeed, some are working in public buildings.

The group is also a strong advocate of the Cape must pay campaign, which aims to make Altrad Cape pay £10 million towards research into the condition. Cape Intermediate Holdings was one of the largest asbestos companies in the world, and its asbestos products were widely used in construction. The campaign argues that those products lie at the heart of the epidemic of the condition in the UK.

However, the fight against mesothelioma requires more than just the efforts of dedicated organisations. We need a concerted effort by the Government to implement stricter regulations on asbestos and to fund research for better treatments. Public awareness campaigns are also essential in educating people about the dangers of asbestos and the importance of early detection.

Let us honour those who have lost their lives to mesothelioma by committing to action. Let us support the organisations that are making a difference and call on the Scottish Government to take stronger measures. Together, we can raise awareness, support those who are affected and work towards a future in which mesothelioma is no longer a threat.

After more than four decades of tireless work, Clydebank Women’s Aid in West Dunbartonshire, which is in my region, will be shutting down. West Dunbartonshire has the second highest rate of domestic abuse in Scotland, with 153 incidents per 10,000 people. We must not underestimate the excellent work that those organisations do by acting as lifelines for many survivors. I have been contacted by many organisations and constituents, who have told me that the decision will have an enormous and devastating impact on the local community.

What support will the Scottish Government provide to organisations that help domestic abuse survivors, so that they can continue the good work that they do, especially when the number of domestic abuse cases in Scotland is rising?

I am sorry.

Although I welcome the decision, it is important to know why it was made.

Flamingo Land’s development has been unpopular since day 1 and has received more than 150,000 objections. It was unanimously turned down by the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority, and it was opposed by expert organisations such as SEPA, the National Trust for Scotland, the Woodland Trust and Ramblers Scotland, yet it somehow managed to receive the Government’s approval.

Two weeks ago, I attended a vocal meeting of around 200 residents, which was organised by the Balloch and Haldane community council. Residents were very angry and outraged, more so because they felt that their voices had not been heard. Their submissions and protests have fallen on deaf ears in the Scottish Government. The Government is making decisions while sitting in Edinburgh, miles away from where the impact of Flamingo Land would be felt. Residents are feeling ignored and powerless. Where is the democracy in that?

Let us mention some of the factors that would be at play. The developer’s job creation figures listed 80 full-time and 120 seasonal part-time jobs, which would be minimum-wage jobs with no real prospects of career advancement or opportunities for growth. The site’s natural sensitivity makes development environmentally unacceptable. Approving the Lomond Banks development would push future flood mitigation costs on to public agencies and would normalise developers’ intrusion into protected landscapes.

Last but not least, let us not forget about the congestion that would be caused on the A82. Just imagine the A82 being jammed on a summer’s day, or the problems if somebody was drowning in Loch Lomond. I spoke with volunteers from the Loch Lomond Rescue Boat organisation who came to Parliament last week. They are not a blue-light service, and they highlighted the fact that the increased traffic would cause delays if they were called to provide help. That is not a scenario—it is the reality, and it is just one example of many.

The SNP has made a habit of intervening in planning applications. The Scottish Conservatives have obtained figures showing that, following 151 planning application appeals in 2022-23, 80 decisions, or 53 per cent, were overturned. Clearly, we know that the Scottish Government can step in, and it has done so in many other controversial decisions.

This is the fourth time that I have stood in the chamber to speak about this issue. I truly hope that it will be the last, but that might just be wishful thinking. It is our duty to protect the area for future generations. I hope that the Scottish Government has now learned its lesson when it comes to listening to the voices of communities.

EY’s recent report says that Scotland’s economy is “in a fragile state”, with the figure for Scotland’s gross-value-added growth downgraded from 0.9 per cent to 0.6 per cent. GVA figures from 2023 show that some areas, including West Dunbartonshire in my region, are heavily dependent on exports, as they have large whisky sectors, and are thus impacted by tariffs. What support will the Scottish Government provide to Scotland’s whisky industry?

I am pleased to open such an important debate on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives, and I thank Jackie Baillie for bringing this important issue to the chamber. I am speaking on behalf of the residents and businesses of Balloch and the surrounding areas, in my West Scotland region, on the Lomond Banks development, which is commonly known as Flamingo Land. I make it clear that I am not against development. If anything, I am very much for investment and job creation. However, development has to be in the right place and must take local residents and businesses into consideration. It certainly cannot come at the cost of ruining our beautiful and world-famous Loch Lomond.

Although I am pleased that the SNP Government has U-turned on the decision, one must wonder why it happened at the 11th hour. Could it be that the Scottish Conservatives joined forces with Opposition parties, resulting in a defeat for the SNP Government, or have the mailboxes of SNP MSPs and ministers been filled with a tsunami of emails from very unhappy locals? Like Jackie Baillie, I would like to give the minister an opportunity to respond. The minister has said that he cannot speak about live planning applications, but it would be great to hear why, at last, at the 11th hour, you have decided to change your mind.

I spoke today to the Largs Medical Group, which is the only general practitioner practice serving the people of Largs. Staff raised their concerns about plans for a new 80-bed care home that would focus mainly on patients with dementia. The GP practice is worried that it will bear the brunt of the additional pressure created by such a facility. Is the First Minister aware of those plans and does he agree that there is a risk of an impact on local residents, who are already worried about the difficulty of getting GP appointments?