Chamber and committees

I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests regarding the River Dee.

I previously had the privilege of serving as the Scottish Environment LINK species champion for the freshwater pearl mussel, and I am delighted that Audrey Nicoll has taken on that role and has brought today’s debate to the chamber. I support the motion, which addresses the urgent need to protect our rivers and the species that depend on them.

The River Dee is recognised as a special area of conservation for its efforts to protect Atlantic salmon, freshwater pearl mussels and otters. Despite its protected status, the River Dee remains in crisis. Wild Atlantic salmon numbers have dropped to critical levels—NatureScot reports a 70 per cent decline in population over the past 25 years. Atlantic salmon are now officially classified as an endangered species in Scotland, yet they play a central role in our ecosystem and economy. Wild fisheries contribute more than £100 million annually to the national economy—supporting jobs, tourism and local businesses. The Dee alone accounts for £15 million of that, and it plays a vital role in the north-east economy and the constituency of Aberdeenshire West.

In 2022, the Scottish Government published its wild salmon strategy, but, since then, we have seen no meaningful action. External damage is caused by sewage spills, but monitoring of Scottish Water’s activities on the Dee is almost completely absent.

Further damage is caused by the salmon farming industry. The recent storm Amy saw 75,000 farmed salmon escape, to the detriment of wild salmon. The dangers of salmon farming are clear, and I am glad to see this morning that, even if the Scottish Government will not act, the King has continued his purge of titles by removing his royal warrant from Mowi, Scotland’s largest salmon farm. The move is described as “a wake-up call” by campaigners and is one that I hope spurs the Government into action. However, we need a positive strategy that focuses on restoring wild stocks through hatchery support and habitat restoration.

One of the most urgent threats that Scotland’s rivers face today is seal predation. Seals are now frequently observed far upstream in the Dee, even as far up as Banchory, where they are causing significant damage to already vulnerable salmon stocks. I have received a substantial volume of correspondence from constituents, who raise serious concerns about the increased seal activity.

To understand the issue, we must first understand the numbers. Seals eat between 4,000 and 5,000 salmon on the Dee each year, and a salmon will lay more than 6,000 eggs; therefore, the river is losing about 24 million eggs each year. The Dee’s catch this year was 1,500 salmon, and its population is only 11,000 salmon. Despite 45 per cent of the Dee’s salmon stock being removed by seals, the Scottish Government has stated that seal control is unnecessary. That directly contradicts the commitments that were made in April 2024, when NatureScot, the marine directorate and Fisheries Management Scotland acknowledged the problem and pledged to find solutions by October. That deadline has passed, yet seal predation continues unchecked.

The Government’s third review of the seal licensing system, which was published in September, recognises that even a small number of seals can have a damaging impact on wild salmon populations. The same review recommends clearer guidance and more flexible licensing options for conservation purposes, specifically to address seal-salmon interaction in rivers. However, feedback to an application this year showed that NatureScot views seal control as unnecessary. Will the cabinet secretary correct that and commit to real action? Will the cabinet secretary listen to Deeside and ensure that seal licensing is not just considered but progressed, before the conservation of Scotland’s endangered salmon is added to the ever-growing list of Scottish National Party failures?

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with national health service boards regarding their winter resilience plans. (S6O-05075)

NHS Grampian will be nearly £50 million over budget by the end of the financial year, and the Scottish Government has said that it will be allowed to go only £45 million over. KPMG has said that increases in staffing levels do not align with a decrease in the total number of beds. As we head into winter, there will be increased pressures on Aberdeen royal infirmary at a time when services are already stretched. NHS Grampian still has the lowest bed base in Scotland per head of population, and ambulance stacking is a major issue.

There are no beds and no money. Does the cabinet secretary have any solution for my constituents and NHS Grampian as we enter winter?

Apologies, Presiding Officer. I did not mean to make a point of order.

Constituents are becoming concerned about the lack of oversight of privately contracted GP surgeries, such as the Alford Medical Group practice, which has a ratio of one GP to 6,000 patients—more than three times higher than the national average.

The company poorly delivering that NHS Grampian contract is also serving Ayrshire. Although health boards have visibility of who they contract GP services with, they do not have visibility of contracts that are held with other health boards. That makes it impossible to hold accurate data on GP-to-patient ratios, as GPs might work across different practices and in different health board areas. What steps will the cabinet secretary take to ensure full transparency on contracted medical practices across Scotland?

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of the potential impact of the funding allocated in its budget 2025-26 on Aberdeenshire Council’s ability to invest in local infrastructure and support economic development. (S6O-04970)

It is clear from conversations with constituents that local services are their biggest priority. Those services are overstretched and underfunded by the Scottish National Party Government, with potholes that will not be fixed, grit bins being removed and bridges closed, breaking communities in two. Park bridge closed in 2019 and Aboyne bridge closed in 2023. Those are just two examples of more than 50 bridges that are at risk in Aberdeenshire.

Record funding aside, Aberdeenshire Council remains one of the lowest-funded local authorities in the country, because it receives around 10 per cent less funding per head than the Scottish average, despite being the third-largest geographic area. Will the cabinet secretary commit to ensuring that Aberdeenshire Council receives the funding that it needs to maintain its critical infrastructure?

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that 183 police stations need repairs, 177 contain asbestos and four contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete. (S6O-04939)

I am afraid that the cabinet secretary will not get away with her Government putting officers and staff at risk. I have a response to a freedom of information request that shows that Police Scotland has spent more than £230,000 on managing—not even removing—asbestos in police stations over the past three years. The north-east has the highest number of buildings with asbestos; 25 are riddled with it. Police officers are being forced to work in buildings that are not just substandard but dangerous, as if being a police officer in Scotland is not dangerous enough. Will the cabinet secretary commit to properly funding Police Scotland and ensure that its buildings are fit for purpose and that all asbestos is removed where it is safe to do so?

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My device would not connect to the voting system. I would have voted no.