Chamber and committees

I, too, have a vested interest in the Sheriffhall roundabout, because the A7, from my constituency, ends up there. I hear what the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government has said, and I heard what the Cabinet Secretary for Transport said on 1 December last year. However, I am still waiting and, like Miles Briggs, I will be keeping my eye on the timetables.

Will the finance secretary convey to the transport secretary that, in the interim, a partial solution could be achieved? As cars approach the Sheriffhall roundabout from the A7, the road becomes two lanes only as they get to the roundabout, so cars bump up on to what we might call the hard shoulder or rough ground in order to make a second lane. Therefore, something could be done. Currently, only three cars can get through if they are travelling west or going straight on. Doing that at the moment would ease pressure. Has Transport Scotland ever considered that? If not, will it?

I congratulate the member on securing the debate and I welcome the guests in the public gallery. I apologise for being unable to be at the event in December.

I will come clean and say that I knew nothing about PKU until I heard about this debate but, after I spoke to Fulton MacGregor briefly and asked him what it was about, I wanted to find out more. I have been here for 27 years and I have never heard PKU mentioned—nobody has mentioned it to me. A bit like Douglas Ross said, that was the pricking of the heel, and I now want to tell my constituents about the issue.

My summary might have mistakes, because it has been gleaned from members’ contributions, and I will not even try to pronounce the clinical terms. However, as I understand it, broadly, the condition is to do with a failure to process proteins appropriately. It is inherited, it is incurable and the damage is neurological and very serious. The condition means that people have to calculate what they are eating and how they are eating it, almost down to the single frozen pea. An example was given of a toddler. It is bad enough feeding a toddler at any time, but imagine feeding a toddler and having to calculate what they have eaten, knowing that it could have devastating effects if it is not done properly.

That took me onwards to think about what happens when children go to nursery, and then to primary or secondary school. What happens when they go to a pal’s birthday party? There is a ripple that extends throughout their childhood. For a very long time, children will not understand why they have to do that, and they will certainly resent it. That will place huge stress on the person who is dealing with it. As I understand it, that is usually the women in the family. It means that people have to give up their work and therefore lose income. The ripples are enormous, and the challenges are huge.

I have heard that there are certain therapies and drugs that might alleviate the condition, although I do not think that they have gone before the Scottish Medicines Consortium yet. I also heard about dieticians, and I heard from the colleague who has been a dietician about what is required.

I represent the Borders and Midlothian, and I have no idea how many people in my constituency have PKU or what the facilities are, but that is not the end of the matter, because I am going to find out. After the debate, I intend to put a link to the debate on my Facebook and to ask people who know about the issue to tell me what is happening in their area. I will also write to NHS Borders to ask what facilities it has in place.

We all know about allergies, such as peanut allergies, milk allergies and this, that and the oatcake, but it is a sadness that people do not know about PKU, which is a fundamental, very serious and devastating inherited disease. However, I say to Fulton MacGregor that the good thing about members’ business debates—I do not like it when we have members’ business debates that are controversial and really party political, but this debate is not one of those; PKU is deserving of a debate, as was the subject of Tourette’s, on which we had a debate a few months back—is that we can bring a very serious and important minority issue into the public arena.

As I said, I am going to put a link to this debate on my Facebook, I am going to ask about it and I am going to find out what is happening in my constituency. I say to the guests in the public gallery that they have educated a politician, which is no mean feat, and that that politician will endeavour to educate her constituents. I hope that that will be helpful.

I have to say that I very much support John Mason’s case. It seems to be a case of out of sight, out of mind. After all, we put the sheep there in the first place and left them to their fate, and their fate is most unpleasant.

I am pleased to hear that the NTS is reviewing the situation, and I hope that it will take steps to ensure that those sheep are regarded as feral, not wild.

That is a heartening response, because it is estimated that there is currently some £250 billion of investment funding available from institutional investors across the United Kingdom, some of which could be available for investment in social housing. For example, pension funds require a return of about 6 or 7 per cent and, of course, security in their investments. That could be provided by social and affordable housing. The cabinet secretary has met with all those people, but will she meet with me to discuss a firm proposal that would involve—but not necessarily require—Scottish bonds as a vehicle for taking the matter forward in 2026?

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the housing secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding arrangements for accessing pension funds as a source of investment to build affordable and social housing. (S6O-05318)

I was tempted to intervene on the intervention. Of course, what happened to the Central Bar is wrong—that is why I am so pleased that there is going to be an inquiry. I am not opposed to what you are saying, because we must work together to make common sense prevail.

I appreciate the point about some businesses feeling that they do not benefit from BIDs. My office in Galashiels took part in the BID that has just started in that area. It is important to recognise that if BIDs are operated properly, they benefit the surrounding environment. A BID may not mean direct footfall to an individual business, but it will make the place look and feel better, which is good.

Will the member take an intervention?

I am aware that other Conservative members have referred to the body blow caused by the increase in employer national insurance contributions. If we add to that energy and supply costs, the blame can be laid at the door of the Labour Government at Westminster.

I, too, congratulate the member on securing the debate and wholly endorse the vital role of small businesses in sustaining the town centre and local economy. They are embedded in communities and support local events, football clubs and charities. They come in all shapes and sizes: shops, cafes, takeaways, pubs, manufacturers, a local cinema, a bingo hall—and that list is not exhaustive. Many survived the Covid years, which was tough going, and I thank them all for that. From Peebles to Penicuik and from Galashiels to Gorebridge, small businesses give our towns local employment and their character.

In passing, I note the exchanges on the issue of revaluations, which has been raised by my constituents. I am pleased that the Public Audit Committee is already initiating an inquiry, that the minister is on the case and that there is a willingness to work together across the parties. I welcome that, but I also gently remind the Opposition that there was once co-operation between the Conservatives and the SNP in here, which brought about the small business bonus scheme, meaning that some businesses pay no rates at all. Those were good days.

There are particular challenges in Gala and Penicuik, both of which have major supermarkets right on their doorsteps—Tesco and Asda in Gala, and Tesco and Lidl in Penicuik. However, I am not bashing supermarkets. They have their place, but their arrival has changed those town centres, although the town centre businesses are fighting back.

In Gala, the first festive gala was on Saturday 29 November, with live performances, markets, creative activities and the grand tree light-up. The gala brought a real sense of energy, with thousands of people choosing to spend their day in the town centre, which translated into meaningful support for local businesses. Indeed, many enjoyed an exceptional trading day, with several reporting record takings. There is an endeavour now to replicate that at different times of the year.

Penicuik town centre precinct hosts many local events. There is a very active community council that runs regular street fairs, summer fairs, the pumpkin patch and, of course, the biggest event of the year—the Christmas fair and Christmas lights switch-on. It is a great opportunity for local businesses to showcase what they are doing, and it draws local people back to the heart of Penicuik.

In those towns and across the Borders and Midlothian, the common ridings not only emphasise the local history and culture but help the tills to ring and provide work for blacksmiths, stables and hospitality.

I know many of my local businesses. For me, it would be invidious to name some and not others, but, following Douglas Ross, I will make one exception and name the Central Bar in Peebles, which is a free house that is small but perfectly formed. During Covid, Roddy MacKay, the owner, did not qualify for a bean in financial support. However, he did not lie down in defeat—he spruced up the interior, and there are now hanging baskets outside. He recently won an award for his little pub. For me, that is the spirit of a local business, which is replicated throughout my constituency. During those tough Covid years, and during the tough days now due to inflation and the economy, they can flourish—but they will always need local support.