Chamber and committees

I have heard a lot of good suggestions this morning, such as increasing the child payment to £40, a lone-parent premium and so on. However, that is all mitigation of UK Government measures. Kirsty McKechnie mentioned earlier that benefits had been frozen or had received a 1 per cent uplift. The Bank of England’s consumer prices index calculator suggests that 2013 benefits should have been increased by 30 per cent.

The Scottish Government can do only a limited amount, because it has to balance its budget every year. Should there be more of a call on the UK Government to look at the minimum wage, employment law, benefit levels and the two-child limit? That would make a more of a difference to poverty in Scotland than if we increased the child payment from £25 to £40.

I, too, thank Bill Kidd for bringing this important debate to the chamber.

We observe the annual international firefighters day to honour and pay tribute to the firefighters past and present who put their lives at risk while working tirelessly to protect the life and property of people and to prevent the damage that is caused by fires. In the past 100 years, more than 40 firefighters have died while serving in Scotland. Today, we remember them and their comrades around the world who have given their lives in the service of their communities.

In recent times, tragically, two of that number were members of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service who served in Edinburgh. They paid the ultimate price, and lost their lives as a result of firefighting in this city. As Bill Kidd mentioned, in July 2009, firefighter Ewan Williamson died while fighting a blaze in the Balmoral bar in the city’s Dalry Road. Much more recently, we saw the tragic death of firefighter Barry Martin, who died as a result of injuries that he sustained while firefighting in the vacant Jenners store on Princes Street in January this year.

In recognising the ultimate tragedy of that loss of life, we should never forget that, across the country, firefighters can and do sustain injuries, which are sometimes life changing, while protecting the public from harm. In acknowledging the deaths of firefighters Williamson, Martin and others across the world, we should also remember those who sustain injuries. Four of firefighter Barry Martin’s colleagues were also hospitalised as a result of the Jenners incident, but thankfully their injuries were such that they were discharged from hospital relatively soon after.

It is important that we acknowledge the annual firefighters memorial day, but I would also like to recognise the work of the Fire Brigades Union in its support for the red plaque scheme, which recognises and honours as many fallen firefighters as possible for their selfless commitment to protecting others. The red plaque scheme is funded by the firefighters 100 lottery, which was born out of plans to mark the centenary of the Fire Brigades Union. It is run independently, and was set up to commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of firefighters killed and injured in the line of duty, and to establish a fund for the future benefit of firefighters, their bereaved families and the firefighting profession. So far, the scheme has seen a number of plaques installed in Scotland: in Aberdeen, Dundee, Inveraray, Dollar, Paisley, Motherwell, Glasgow and Edinburgh—on Dalry Road, to commemorate the death of firefighter Ewan Williamson; in time there will be at least one more to mark the death of Barry Martin.

The list of towns and cities that I have just shared shows that, right across Scotland, our firefighters put themselves in harm’s way—sometimes at the cost of their lives—while they protect the public. We know that other workers tragically lose their lives at work, and they are remembered on international workers memorial day, but it is right and proper that firefighters are acknowledged separately, because while others evacuate or flee from danger, firefighters head towards it to render their three main aims: to save lives, protect property and provide humanitarian services. For that, we are eternally grateful. On this day, especially, but also on every other day, we thank them and their families for the work that they do on our behalf and we remember those who gave their lives doing so.

I have no relevant interests to declare.

Good morning, cabinet secretary. I want to ask you about the Acorn project and the Scottish Cluster. The Scottish Government has previously highlighted that the Acorn project is a vital part of its strategy to reduce industrial emissions in Scotland. Will you update the committee on the importance of the project in supporting the transition to net zero? What discussions are taking place with the UK Government on moving the project forward?

In 2021, Net Zero Teesside was awarded track 1 status. It was named the UK’s leading carbon capture scheme and awarded a slice of the UK Government’s £1 billion of funding, despite the fact that the Department for Business and Trade had highlighted on its website that

“Scotland is helping lead the way on this work, benefiting from cutting-edge R&D activities, a talented workforce and a significant geographical advantage.”

It also went on to say:

“The North Sea also has enough CO₂ storage capacity to support the UK’s demands for hundreds of years.”

Yesterday, Shell pulled out of the Teesside scheme, after National Grid pulled out on Sunday, and has said that it will now focus on the Acorn scheme in Scotland, where it will act as technical developer. Given that news, what further pressure can the Scottish Government put on the UK Government to reconsider funding for the Acorn project? When do you expect to hear any announcement about such funding?

I have a final question. Earlier, it was mentioned that if we get this right, there is a possibility of creating 77,000 jobs. If the Acorn project and the Scottish Cluster do not get UK Government funding, how many of those jobs will be at risk?

To ask the Scottish Government, in the light of the recent analysis by the International Monetary Fund, which predicts that the United Kingdom economy’s performance in 2023 will be the worst among the G20 economies, what assessment it has made of the potential impact of this in Scotland. (S6O-02127)

The IMF’s analysis serves to underline the on-going detrimental impact that Westminster control continues to have on Scotland’s economy, and the people of Scotland are paying the price. Experts are now predicting that the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union is costing millions of workers £1,300 a year in lost income. Does the cabinet secretary share my concern that the Tories and Labour at Westminster seem determined to press ahead with imposing their disastrous Brexit on Scotland, no matter the economic consequences? Does he agree that the best way to ensure that our economy and communities can flourish is by rejoining the EU as an independent country?

I, too, thank Foysol Choudhury for lodging this motion for debate. There is no doubt that, in the 12 years that I have been an MSP representing the Edinburgh Pentlands constituency, housing—and, in particular, damp housing—has been the number 1 issue for my constituents.

Given the numerous cases that my staff and I have raised with the City of Edinburgh Council and Link PSL with regard to the condition of some properties in my constituency, including the Wester Hailes area, I welcomed the announcement in March 2021 that the council was piloting its new mixed tenure improvement service to upgrade all 1970s-built flats in Wester Hailes. That £30 million improvement scheme, which applies to almost 1,300 homes across 167 blocks of flats, is now well under way in the Murrayburn, Hailesland and Dumbryden areas. Work on each block includes repair or replacement of roofing, guttering, drying room facades, installation of external wall and attic insulation, as well as maintenance and decoration of the communal stairwells and closes.

Although most residents were pleased that the upgrade was happening, there was a large financial penalty for the 29 per cent of homes that were privately owned. Owner-occupiers were initially asked to contribute over £30,000, which many found was simply unaffordable and the only option available to them was to sell their home back to the council.

I was approached by several owners at the time and, by working with council officials, we managed to identify that substantial untapped funding for owners was available through the Scottish Government’s home energy efficiency programme grant scheme. We also highlighted to the council that, in comparison to other city councils, the loan period was too short and the interest rates were too high. The outcome was that the loan period was extended from 10 to 15 years and the interest rate was cut from 6 per cent to 4 per cent. The result was that my constituents saw their bills for the improvement work drop by at least 50 per cent.

Phases 1 to 4 have been completed, covering 484 flats and 18 houses, and those streets now look vibrant and modern with residents benefiting from warmer and more energy-efficient homes. The common areas between the blocks have yet to be upgraded but my understanding is that council plans are under way to further enhance the area with new play areas, upgraded landscaping and improved car parking.

Given the energy crisis of the past couple of years, it is important to measure how the energy efficiency measures are performing. Many residents have agreed to have Tinytag loggers installed in their homes to enable moisture and temperature levels to be measured and to track the energy efficiency of their homes.

The early indications of the energy efficiency of the refurbished homes are encouraging, with residents highlighting that their homes heat up quicker and stay warmer for longer, and that they do not need to have the heating on for as long or as often as they did prior to the works. There are also financial savings: one tenant said that she did not switch on her heating at all last winter and believes that she has saved about 80 per cent on her heating bills. The homes in the completed phases are now reaching an average EPC rating of B, which is equal to new-build standard and is higher than the current Scottish average EPC rating of D.

It is a hugely successful improvement programme that I believe should be not only replicated across my constituency but rolled out across all social housing in Scotland. I welcome the minister to his post. If he has not yet seen the improvements that are under way in Wester Hailes, I invite him to visit my constituency to see what can be achieved to tackle the issue of cold and damp homes.

I want to ask a couple of questions. In the commission’s report, which was published in July 2022, you noted the importance of an updated industrial strategy. The United Kingdom Government is largely responsible for industrial strategy, and on 1 March it withdrew its strategy, and the replacement plans are not expected before this autumn. What are your views on the impact that the delay in having an updated strategy will have on Scotland’s plans for a just transition?