Chamber and committees

The Scottish National Party has cut officer numbers in the Lothians and Borders division by 59 since Police Scotland was formed, and my constituents are concerned that a reduced police presence has left the Borders exposed to rural crime. People who live in rural areas deserve to feel safe too, so I ask the cabinet secretary to back Scottish Conservative plans for a local policing act to increase transparency of rural officer numbers. Will he also meet me to discuss the need for an official marker in Police Scotland’s crime reporting system to record rural offences, to help to tackle rural crime?

To ask the Scottish Government how many police officers are stationed in the Scottish Borders command area of the Lothians and Scottish Borders police division. (S6O-00761)

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to restore peatland as part of its net zero targets. (S6F-00797)

When will the SNP-Green coalition take climate change seriously and produce a robust moorland strategy to save Scotland’s iconic species and protect biodiversity and rural jobs and livelihoods?

I thank the First Minister for that answer, but we know that her Government’s desktop approach to rural areas is failing. For the past four years, peatland targets have been missed. Emissions targets for five key sectors have been missed. Since 1994, 50 per cent of Scotland’s iconic species have vanished. Lord Deben has said:

“the credibility of the Scottish climate framework is in jeopardy.”

When will the First Minister’s Scottish National Party-Green coalition take climate change seriously—[Interruption.]—and produce a robust moorland strategy to save Scotland’s iconic species and protect biodiversity—[Interruption.]

I thank my colleague Stephen Kerr for bringing this important debate to the chamber. Remarkably, the Queen is the only British monarch to reach the 70-year milestone, surpassing Queen Victoria’s 63 years and 216 days and joining a handful of kings and queens from around the world.

As we have heard from others, Princess Elizabeth was in Kenya when she heard the news that her father had died. Aged just 25, she flew home, knowing that her private life would never truly be her own again. Her husband, Prince Philip, would never finish his naval career, but would take on the role of her selfless consort. She knew how important that role would be, having witnessed her mother dedicating the same duty to her father during his reign.

In the past 70 years, the Queen has shaped her role as head of state of 15 sovereign countries. Over seven decades, she has seen extraordinary social, cultural and technological progress. She has responded extraordinarily to difficult situations. She has been calm and reassuring and has set a fine example for us all during the Covid crisis.

In an interview for the February edition of Holyrood magazine, I was asked who I would invite to my fantasy dinner party. Of course, I said the Queen. She is an inspiration to women and girls across the world. She is a leader, a proud mother, an eager conservationist and a dedicated philanthropist. The Queen is so popular that the Palace advertised this year for a new, full-time employee to read her post and to provide a timely and welcome response to the good wishes of her thousands of long-term admirers. Her unwavering devotion to the country is unparalleled by any other monarch or world leader. It is ironic therefore, that everyone else gets a holiday to celebrate her extraordinary hard work, commitment and service.

In the short time that I have, I will touch on the Queen’s love of the countryside and of animals. It is no secret that the Queen loves horses: she is an avid equestrian and was famously photographed riding one of her fell ponies in 2018, aged 92. Her interest in fell ponies and British native breeds dates back to her early childhood. Fell ponies are not the Queen’s only love. She has raised Highland ponies under the Balmoral prefix, and Shetland ponies. While Shetland ponies need no introduction, the Highland pony is very rare. In Scotland, the Highland pony was historically used on small farms. It was Queen Victoria’s interest in the breed that sparked the royal family’s association with Highland ponies.

Lest you think that the Queen enjoys only diminutive equine species, be assured that she is also fond of the thoroughbred horse. She attends each day of the week-long Royal Ascot event and has bred many thoroughbreds and achieved success in racing over the years. The royal farms are also home to a trio of cattle breeds: the Highland, the Jersey and the Sussex. The Queen has raised Highland cattle at her home at Balmoral since 1953, while her Sussex cattle reside at her estate in Windsor.

Farming and the countryside have always been passions for the Queen. She spends a considerable amount of time at Balmoral in Scotland, or at Sandringham. It is therefore a fitting tribute that British farmers are being invited to light beacons across the country at 9.15 pm on 2 June to mark the Queen’s platinum jubilee. Around 1,500 beacons will be lit across the UK as part of the celebrations across the four-day bank holiday weekend.

I want to reflect on the words shared by the Queen when she opened the Borders railway in 2015 as Britain’s longest reigning monarch. She said:

“Inevitably, a long life can pass by many milestones; my own is no exception.”

In her platinum jubilee, may we all wish Her Majesty the Queen good health and thank her for her selfless duty throughout her fantastic 70-year reign.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I believe that Mr Dornan has gone slightly off topic.

The Scottish Conservatives are proud to support the Scottish dairy industry. Embarrassingly, the Scottish Government’s milk and healthy snack scheme has been branded unlawful by Lord Braid. That is yet another example of the Scottish National Party letting down rural Scotland. Small Scottish dairies are being impacted because childminders who are in receipt of funding through the scheme are forced to source Scottish milk from larger suppliers. Why is the SNP letting down small Scottish milk producers?

I had an issue with my app; I would have voted yes.

I am confused about your position. Was not it your Government that introduced voter ID in Northern Ireland? Are you talking down Northern Ireland and the Northern Irish voters?