Chamber and committees

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to end sexual exploitation in Scotland. (S6O-01156)

It is still permissible to buy sex in Scotland, even though we recognise that it is gendered violence, and that is feeding demand for trafficking. We know that there are people who are actively trying to traffic Ukrainian women and children to Scotland because they know that those who are fleeing from war situations are very vulnerable.

Is there a timeframe for the implementation of the A Model For Scotland policy, in order to close the loophole that allows those exploiters to operate in our midst?

The minister will be aware that such sales are increasing. They stop communities purchasing their land and continue the concentration of ownership of land in a small number of hands. The Scottish Government has delayed action on land reform for far too long and polluters are now rushing to offset carbon emissions. We need action to prevent such sales now. They are not in the public interest and not in the interests of our planet.

Will the minister consider ending payment of public subsidies to landowners who do not live on their land or pay their taxes in the United Kingdom? She could take that action now.

I congratulate Colin Smyth on securing this debate and welcome the importance that it places on animal welfare.

We must ensure animal welfare in all settings, whether the animals are pets, domestic animals reared for food, wild animals or even those animals that have become a problem. It is clear that, where management and control is required, it must be carried out as humanely as possible, and we must do everything that we can to avoid distress for the animal. While doing that, we must also recognise that managing population numbers can also have an animal welfare role. With regard to managing deer numbers, for example, a small number of landowners avoid carrying out that work because it costs money to have it carried out appropriately. That has then led to culls out of season, which is a practice that is totally unacceptable. It has also happened on Government land and steps must be taken to ensure that it does not happen again. There are no penalties for land managers who do not manage deer numbers to within the capacity of their land.

A more controversial issue is the management of species that are introduced and then cause a problem. Mink, released in the Western Isles from fur farms, wreaked havoc on wildlife and required to be trapped and dispatched. However, regardless of the problems that they were causing, that needed to be done humanely. A similar exercise was carried out with hedgehogs, as, due to them having no natural predators, their number increased and impacted on the local bird life. No thought was given to that impact when they were released.

Therefore, I believe that much more research needs to be carried out when we look to reintroduce species, so that we do not create conflict and unintended consequences. If that work is not thorough, issues arise and the goodwill of the community is lost or, indeed, the natural environment is damaged. Managing numbers when that happens is necessary work but, again, needs to be carried out humanely, while recognising it is often human intervention that has led to the problem in the first place: if those species were not released, they would not be causing a problem. We must tighten legislation with regard to releasing non-native species into an area in order to make the public more aware of the issues that can arise.

We also need to take steps to prevent conflict arising in the first place. Where conflict occurs, we need to look at solutions, and, if we are to manage numbers, we must make sure that that is done with the welfare of the animal at the forefront.

Coming from the Highlands, I am aware of the difficulties that a rogue fox can cause at lambing time, for instance. That causes distress to the flock and also to the farmer or crofter. Although I believe that rogue foxes must be dealt with, I also believe that that must be carried out as humanely as possible. I fail to understand how anyone can get pleasure out of hunting foxes down for sport. Therefore, I welcome efforts to tighten the legislation and close loopholes, and I hope that we can take the same approach in other areas of conflict to make sure that our response is proportionate but does not cause any unnecessary suffering to animals.

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to protect communities from off-market land sales by so-called green lairds. (S6T-00750)

The minister will be aware of concerns regarding food shortages because of the war in Ukraine, but green lairds are buying land, evicting farmers and using that land to offset their own polluting behaviours. What steps will she take to ensure that land is used appropriately and that trees are planted in the right places? What levers will she use to prohibit arable land and peatlands being turned into forests?

Having a teacher in place while pupils are being taught, albeit remotely, means that the wellbeing of pupils is looked after. Indeed, if pupils have queries, it is really important that they have a suitably qualified teacher there with them. Will the cabinet secretary look at the issue again to ensure that every pupil is properly supported locally, as well as being able to take advantage of courses that are taught from elsewhere?

I have a bit of both, convener.

I will not go over ground that has been covered by the committee, apart from to say that I am pleased that Prospect and HIAL are working so well together and that staff are now involved in the working groups.

There is a level of distrust about why we have reached this point and what has brought us here, about which you answered a question at the beginning of the meeting. I suppose that the independent review in five years is what is causing people some concern. Is this just a pause? Will that review bring us back to where we once were?

First, how do you rebuild trust, not just with the workforce—I understand from you and Prospect that that work is on-going—but with the communities that you serve?

Okay. Thank you.

Radar for Shetland airport, which is the one airport that uses remote radar at the moment, was to transfer from NATS to HIAL, but there has been a delay. What are the reasons for that, and does it augur well for centralisation to Inverness of radar for the other airports?

Is there an option to have the radar controlled locally at the airports, which would create more jobs? That would almost be to go in the opposite direction of travel from what was happening previously. Using the recruitment approach that Liam McArthur talked about, local people might be recruited and trained. That would create more jobs in the local communities, where they are desperately needed.