Chamber and committees

Winchburgh has been promoted as a commuter town for the city of Edinburgh, and it is forecast to have a population of 13,000 within the next eight years. A train station with a direct link to Edinburgh would provide a public transport link for Winchburgh’s growing population. Currently, with only the possibility of a motorway exit, residents have no choice but to commute by car. A train station in Winchburgh would directly contribute to the Scottish Government’s net zero targets and would improve traffic conditions in Edinburgh. Will the minister advise why the Scottish Government has not taken advantage of the opportunity to meet net zero targets and give residents the opportunity to opt out of private transport?

To ask the Scottish Government when it next plans to meet with all parties involved in the proposed Winchburgh train station development. (S6O-02086)

As co-convener of the cross-party group on improving Scotland’s health, and as a member of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee, I am well aware of the disparities in health in Scotland. In 2018, a study showed that a boy born in Muirhouse had a life expectancy 13 years less than that of a boy born in neighbouring Cramond. Analysis from The Health Foundation reported that average life expectancy in Scotland has reduced by 4.4 years since 2013. In addition, drug-related deaths have increased and are 18 times higher in the most deprived areas than they are in the least deprived ones.

Will the minister confirm what steps the Scottish Government has taken to address those health inequalities and the specific health conditions that disproportionately affect people from the most deprived areas?

Poverty-driven health inequalities are preventing people with diabetes from accessing technological advances in treatment of their condition. That has been highlighted by Diabetes Scotland’s “Diabetes tech can’t wait” campaign. The technology has the potential to change and, indeed, to save the lives of people with type 1 diabetes. It can also reduce serious complications and reduce the strain on the national health service. Will the minister advise me what action the Government will take to tackle the inequalities of access to hybrid closed-loop diabetes technology that relate to socioeconomic background?

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to recent reported analysis by Health Equals, which shows that poverty-driven health inequalities are reducing life expectancy among people who live in the most deprived areas. (S6T-01294)

I thank my colleague Pauline McNeill for highlighting this issue in the chamber.

The motion highlights the important service that taxi drivers provide to the transport sector. They offer a means of transport to those who are unable to take public transport, as well as a safe route home for those thousands of people who are not comfortable with using public transport either on their own or late at night. They also provide a means of transport to those who are physically unable to take buses, trains or trams and in places where public transport is not easily accessible.

I also echo the words of the motion in emphasising the support that Scotland’s taxi services provide to the hospitality and events sector. As shadow minister for culture, I, too, recognise the important role that taxi drivers play in revitalising the culture sector in Glasgow and Edinburgh after what have been a difficult few years for the industry. Lots of industries felt the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, but such unprecedented times forced many taxi drivers to give up the profession entirely. Throughout the pandemic, taxi drivers struggled with severely reduced passenger numbers and restrictions that made it very difficult for them to work full time. They did not receive enough support from the Scottish Government and, as many taxi drivers are self-employed, they were forced to find other means of income. The fact that many did not return to the profession after the pandemic has further exacerbated the shortage of taxi drivers in cities across Scotland.

The Scottish Government’s move towards low-emission zones will further exacerbate the challenges faced by taxi drivers and make their jobs even more difficult. It is clear that not enough is being done to support them through this transition, and the Scottish Government needs to reinforce the value of taxi drivers and do more to support their important job.

As I have already mentioned, taxi drivers provide a safe route home for those who cannot travel on public transport or who feel unsafe when walking home alone—something that I highlighted in my speech on international women’s day.

Taxi drivers often provide this vital service while dealing with a massive amount of unruly, aggressive and intoxicated passengers. Many of my constituents who are taxi drivers have told me of the difficulty of having to deal with stressful and complicated situations by themselves, because many are self-employed. More should be done to ensure that taxi drivers are met with the same level of respect as any other public service provider. The Scottish Government must facilitate action to support taxi drivers and their valuable contribution to the night-time economy and the culture industry.

I thank and congratulate Jenni Minto for bringing a celebration of 100 years of the BBC to the Scottish Parliament.

In November last year, alongside Jenni Minto, I was a co-sponsor of an event in the Parliament to mark the 90th anniversary of the BBC World Service. I am happy to speak again about the issue, but this time in a much more local sense. At that event, I spoke about the BBC as one of the most trusted broadcasters in the world. I hope that that will be reflected in the future of the BBC in Scotland.

The BBC is a national asset. Although it is not infallible, it is envied around the world for the quality of its products and the reliability of its journalism, and Scotland is privileged to have such a long-standing and professional service. The BBC serves a valuable role as a public broadcasting service in Scotland.

One of the standout features of the BBC in Scotland is its impartiality, and the ability of members of the public to tune in to BBC Scotland programming without political influence or coercion should remain one of its standout features.

That is why I was happy to hear of the BBC’s reinstatement of Gary Lineker last week. “Match of the Day” was certainly not at its best without its valued presenters. However, I am still concerned about the BBC’s decision not to broadcast a programme that is related to David Attenborough’s new series “Wild Isles”. I hope that, in the future, the BBC in Scotland continues to be a trusted voice that remains truly impartial and above political or economic pressures.

On a more positive note, the BBC in Scotland has done a great deal to showcase and promote Scotland’s vibrant culture sector. I echo the words of the motion about the BBC’s ability to truly express the “depth of Scotland’s culture” across a range of educational and entertainment programmes. It has played and will continue to play a vital role in the creativity of this nation.

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, Scotland’s culture sector has seen closures of well-respected and beloved cultural institutions—most recently, the Filmhouse here in Edinburgh—and the sector has suffered greatly as a result.

The BBC in Scotland showcases a wide range of Scotland’s culture, including Gaelic language programming, Scottish films and television series and local news reporting, which supports the sector in its vital work. Continued support from the BBC in promoting Scotland’s vast areas of culture will help to revive the sector after a difficult few years.

It is now more important than ever that Scotland’s culture sector is showcased across this valuable broadcasting service, and I hope for the continued success of this national institution.

The UK Government’s Illegal Immigration Bill will mean that those arriving in the UK via illegal means will not be eligible for asylum claims and they will be detained on arrival in the UK. Dungavel immigration removal centre is Scotland’s only detention centre. It can detain up to 130 men and 12 women. It is likely that there will be a huge increase in the number of people being detained there as the process for securing a successful asylum application will become much harder due to the restrictive rules. What action is the Scottish Government taking to liaise with the UK Government on the issue, as it is likely to completely overwhelm that detention centre in Scotland?

You can have my microphone, if you want.

Does the cabinet secretary have any concerns that the bill could disproportionately affect smaller charities—particularly ethnic minority charities that are already struggling to stay in business given the cost of living crisis?