Chamber and committees

I am delighted to announce to members that this is my party’s first members’ business debate. I have chosen to use it to address the future of our great nation’s connectivity by air, rail, sea and road. When we enhance our connections within Scotland and outwardly to the world, we secure economic empowerment and the prospect of opportunity for all, with no community left behind.

I will begin with the skies. Edinburgh airport is one of our key gateways to the world, and it has set its sights on obtaining US preclearance status. That is more than just a stamp on a piece of paper; securing preclearance would put Scotland on a par with some of the world’s most advanced travel hubs and smooth international departures while sparing travellers the delays and uncertainties that can stifle tourism and business growth.

Removing administrative barriers showcases Scotland as an open and outward-looking nation that is ready to seize global opportunities. However, ambition alone will not suffice, and we need to ensure that access to Edinburgh airport remains unimpeded. Currently, congestion at certain times can bring parts of our capital city to a standstill, which risks our losing out on the benefits of growth.

When people cannot reliably get to and from the airport, that is a problem. We need the second access point via Gogar, which is essential not just as transport infrastructure but as a statement about our forward-thinking approach to planning—planning that accommodates the needs of residents who live in that area, businesses and visitors, and that provides a solid foundation for the next generation of Scots to build on.

We should also continue to invest in the Edinburgh tram line. It is not simply a novelty; over the past few years, it has become a reliable lifeline for many residents across our city and tourists by linking the airport to the heart of our capital city and, I hope, beyond. Extending and upgrading that system would make our capital city more accessible and more dynamic, and it would appeal to investors when they decide where to land their next venture. The Edinburgh tram line can be a model for sustainable, integrated city transport.

The member is probably aware that a number of future lines have been proposed. I am most keen—as he might understand—on the one that would come into my constituency, which would go to the Edinburgh royal infirmary.

On rail, Glasgow—one of the world’s great cities—should not be left behind, either. The city lacks the direct airport connectivity that most other major cities enjoy. The Glasgow airport rail link should be more than an aspiration; it is a necessity. That was understood more than 50 years ago when the Clyde metro was first discussed in the 1970s. The link would spur increased tourism and economic development. A traveller should be able to disembark a flight and board a train that carries them swiftly and efficiently into the heart of Scotland’s largest city. Glasgow, with its growing reputation for hosting major sporting events, should be hamstrung no longer by the lack of integrated transport systems that we all expect in a modern major city.

Equally important is the Edinburgh south suburban rail line. That project could elevate the quality of life for thousands of residents, expand the city’s liveable footprint and promote balanced development that does not rely purely on car-based commuting.

The member makes a good point.

Meanwhile, the west Fife rail link has the potential to revitalise local communities and amplify the region’s economic prospects while creating a back-up line between Dunfermline and Glasgow.

We also live in a world that is increasingly driven by digital convenience. It is crucial that we integrate our rail networks with modern technologies such as Apple Wallet and Google Wallet. That is not a minor detail; it is a strategy that will allow for a seamless modern experience in order to attract new generations of public transport commuters. If we want residents and visitors alike to choose our public transport, we must meet them increasingly where they live. That is, as we know, on their smartphones. We must make every journey as frictionless as possible.

Scotland’s ports also hold immense untapped potential and serve as natural gateways to maintain maritime trade and tourism. I refer to Leith, Gourock, Rosyth, Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen. Cruise passengers can be a valuable resource for local economies if they are well managed. Enhancing port infrastructure could catalyse new business opportunities and create job growth in urban centres and remote coastal areas. By reimagining and revitalising those sites, we would again signal to the world that Scotland is open for business, whether by cargo ship or cruise liner.

We must also urgently address our road network, particularly in the Highlands and in the south of Scotland. Too often, safety concerns and limited capacity on routes such as the A9 and the A96 hinder the flow of goods and people and create a barrier between our rural communities and the advantages of wider economic participation. Upgrading those critical corridors is not only a matter of economic convenience but about fairness, equity and the dignity of living in any part of Scotland without feeling disconnected or being overlooked.

Then, there is the Forth road bridge—a structure that has immense potential. Currently, it has only a supporting role, alongside its newest neighbour, but I think that we need a fresh vision for that iconic structure, whether it is as a dedicated route for electric and commercial vehicles, a venue for innovation or a catalyst for modern tourism. By transforming what might be deemed to be surplus into a valuable asset, we demonstrate the innovative thinking that keeps Scotland at the forefront of progress.

My call to the Parliament is clear: we need to think bigger by investing strategically, sustainably and inclusively in our infrastructure. Let us realise that every airport upgrade, port improvement, rail link and road expansion is a promise to our people that we believe in them and in Scotland as a competitive force on the global stage.

My debate today is not just about improving travel times or building better transport stations; it is about the kind of country that we want Scotland to be in the 21st century: open, confident and prepared to lead. Let us champion connectivity as a national priority by uniting our urban and rural communities and forging new global links that allow our people to flourish. In doing so, we will honour our responsibility to foster growth, open doors of opportunity and showcase to the world the very best that Scotland has to offer.

Let us send that clear message to the people of Scotland and the world, which is summed up well by paraphrasing the inspiring words of the MSP who reconvened this very Parliament: stop the world—Scotland is getting on.

There are, of course, parallels with other areas of child safeguarding failures, whereby whistleblowers have been vilified, intimidated and shut down. A civilised society must not rely on the bravery of a small number of whistleblowers. It is the Government’s role to make sure that the system supports people such as the police, social workers and care home staff to do the right thing.

Those girls were failed at every turn by a system that was meant to protect them—even, in some cases, criminalised for their own abuse, which is sickening. My unbuyable bill would allow for a debate and a vote on commercial sexual exploitation, placing the shame where it belongs—on the perpetrator.

Can the Scottish Government give assurances that such a failure has not happened, and is not happening, in Scotland? Is the Government confident that there has been no such cover up here?

Universal free school meals have been a policy aspiration for the Parliament for many years, supported by members on all sides of the chamber and by the Scottish Trades Union Congress and Action for Children. Child poverty is not unavoidable—it is, as we know, a political choice—and free school meals are essential to reduce pressure on often fragile household budgets and to drive down the number of children who are going hungry at school.

However, the school day does not get any cheaper after primary school. Will the Scottish Government therefore agree to complete its promised delivery of universal free school meals to all primary school children by the end of the current session of Parliament, and then commence the roll-out into high school by increasing eligibility to secondary school children who are in receipt of the Scottish child payment?

To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains committed to rolling out universal entitlement to free school meals for all primary school children within the current parliamentary session. (S6O-04137)

I, too, thank Lorna Slater for bringing the debate to the chamber.

I am the constituency member for Holyrood park, and I am very passionate about the future of this iconic space, with it being used well for all of us in our capital city. However, I point out, as others have done, that it is a key link—a key route—through the city centre for my Edinburgh Eastern constituents. We need to take that into account when we are having this debate. Since the consultation was published last year, I have been inundated with constituents’ concerns about the perceived threat to this key commuter and business access route. We need certainty that Holyrood park will continue to be an asset to the people who live here and do business here, and to those who want to visit here.

Through thoughtful planning, consultation and practical measures, I believe that the co-existence of road users, walkers and cyclists in Holyrood park can be balanced. That has managed to be done in other areas. Major cities such as Copenhagen have proven that practical and not ideological solutions can drive meaningful environmental improvement by promoting the co-existence of residents, businesses and tourists. When I was lucky enough to visit Copenhagen last year, I got the sense that it is a city that values all its citizens, whether they are pedestrians, cyclists or car drivers.

I will highlight a couple of constituents’ comments that were sent to me by email. One constituent said:

“The consultation openly avoided asking the questions on road closure and is flawed. It is designed to draw responses on nature’s health history and all the benefits the park holds but is designed to show these are incompatible with vehicle access. This is not the case, and both can co-exist especially as it closes at weekends when commuting reduces.”

Another constituent said:

“I’m growing frustrated by road closures in the park, taking away my ability to drive up there whenever I’d like and enjoy the views as I have done since a was a child.”

To ensure community buy-in, we have to promote community involvement. I think that Liam Kerr made that point when he said that we have to listen to residents right across the city and take their views into account. We need to engage with residents, including my constituents who use the park and the road system in the park, as well as cycling and walking organisations, to ensure that we get a decision-making process that works for everyone.

A traffic survey that was done in September 2021 took place when many people were still working from home after the pandemic. I do not think that that indicates a way to solve the issues around road access in 2024 and beyond, now that people are being encouraged back into the city centre to work, shop and enjoy hospitality.

I do not think that I have time—I am sorry.

There are many ways to enhance environmental sustainability, including through the promotion of walking, cycling and the use of electric vehicles where necessary, but I feel that we have to take on board the fact that people are absolutely fed up of being dictated to when it impacts their ability to live and work in their own city. We need to take that point on board. We have to work with residents and businesses, not against them, to ensure that the future of Holyrood park is one in which there is a balanced co-existence that enables all users of the park to feel valued in Scotland’s capital city.

Do I have time, Presiding Officer?

Good morning. I have no relevant interests to declare.