Chamber and committees

I will first highlight the hugely beneficial way in which the Parliament’s committees have worked independently but coherently on how their remits interact with the draft climate change plan. The Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee has been the lead committee, but seven other committees of the Parliament carried out their own inquiries and investigations, including those on which I sit—the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee and the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee. That collaboration and holistic approach, working across policy areas, is a model for similar work in the next session of Parliament, not just in five years’ time, when the climate change plan is updated.

I am proud that Scotland has a Government and a Parliament that recognise both that there is a need to address climate change and biodiversity loss, and that making the needed changes across society is crucial not only for our country and our planet but for driving innovation, prosperity and a healthier future.

That latter point has been key to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee’s work on the plan. We heard from experts who were open and generous with their time and knowledge. The on-going work around the good food nation plan dovetails with the need to tackle climate change. Utilising, as far as possible, local food producers and agribusinesses in the public and private sectors helps to reduce emissions, means generally healthier food and keeps more money in local economies, helping to boost demand in the community. Unlocking that economic potential by taking action to support local production is a key example of how measures that are enacted to help the environment can also have a significant multiplier effect on our economy and our health.

I hope that we see an increased emphasis on the importance of food production chains and their impact on the environment when the final climate change plan is published. Although we heard a range of evidence on the impact of ultra-high-processed foods on health and the environment, to my mind it is clear that the increased energy costs and the growing complexity of the food system that are related to UHP foods have a noticeable impact on the route to net zero. Both collectively and as individuals, we can do something to change that narrative.

I have spoken about reducing emissions by producing and buying locally, and I note the key role that agriculture has to play in our climate journey. Yesterday, I was chuffed to be invited to provide a keynote speech at the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association Scottish conference at Dynamic Earth. The Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy, Gillian Martin, was also there, and was warmly welcomed by the association.

Anaerobic digestion is now ready to be more mainstreamed, with small, medium and large plants available. The innovation that we are now seeing in research and development, the processing of on-farm waste and other organic matters and the delivery of renewable energy and decentralised energy networks in our rural communities cannot be overstated. We know that AD, as well as solar—as Sarah Boyack mentioned—can be part of the mix of energy generation that leads to our energy security. I also spoke about that yesterday, and it is especially important given what is happening in the middle east right now. I know that AD isnae gonnae fix the whole problem, but it would be worth considering as we move forward.

When I addressed the association, I highlighted the fact that although Galloway alone has just over 20 AD plants out of Scotland’s 90 or so, we have more than 500 dairy farms. That potential is being unleashed by facilities such as Crofthead Biogas near Crocketford, which is processing up to 100,000 tonnes of organic farm waste and turning it into the equivalent of 8MWh. Innovators such as the Carbon Removers are not just behind the technology but are leading the way on COsequestration.

Net zero innovation is being supported right now through South of Scotland Enterprise—an agency that was delivered by the Scottish National Party Government and which is making a difference to the south’s economy. The Scottish Government and its agencies are investing in the innovation and jobs that will sustain our rural communities for years to come.

I have touched on only a fraction of how the south is a hotbed of research, innovation and practical application of how we will hit net zero in the future. Yesterday, I highlighted the fact that the south-west of Scotland had the first offshore wind and the first onshore wind, and we have a 90-year-old hydroelectric scheme and solar arrays. The south-west of Scotland could be the renewables capital of Scotland.

That is only part of what we investigated in both committee inquiries. As a former operating theatre nurse, I was interested in the evidence that Professor Sir Gregor Smith presented about the progress of the green theatre programme. There have been changes in the gas that is used to deliver anaesthesia, as the gas was not good for our climate.

I thank the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee clerks for their forbearance with my research on the emerging evidence around ultra-high-processed food and climate change and the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee clerks for all their work supporting committee members. I also thank everybody who gave evidence to both committees.

The plan is a substantial piece of work. As members go our separate ways in just a few weeks, we should all take heart that the demands of the 21st century in repairing the mistakes of the 20th century are at the top of the agenda for this Parliament and our Government, and I commend the plan to the chamber.

I welcome today’s debate. I thank Jeremy Balfour for bringing the motion, which I supported, before the Parliament. I agree with much of what he has said and I did not realise that that might be one of his last speeches in the chamber.

Strengthening disabled people’s representation is not a peripheral issue. It is central to building a democratic system that works for everyone. Lived experience enriches our scrutiny, improves our legislation and ensures that policy is grounded in the reality of people’s lives.

Throughout my time in the Scottish Parliament, particularly through my work on health inequalities, diabetes and lung health, I have seen at first hand how crucial lived experience is to good policy making. As co-convener of the cross-party groups on diabetes and lung health, I have had the privilege of hearing directly from people managing long-term conditions, many of which are invisible and misunderstood. Their insights have shaped our understanding of the challenges that they face and the actions that are needed to tackle those challenges. That reinforces why people living with a disability or hidden conditions must be included at every stage of political and policy development. Their exclusion has real, measurable consequences.

Misunderstanding continues to be one of the greatest barriers that people with hidden disabilities face. A person living with type 1 diabetes may struggle with glucose levels, which can sometimes change unpredictably. I know that because I am one of those type 1 people. Someone with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or severe asthma may live each day managing breathlessness. However, because those conditions are not visible, many people feel judged, doubted or dismissed when they ask for the support that they need. The stigma stops people participating fully in society, and it prevents far too many people from considering roles in public life.

Raising awareness of those challenges has been an important part of my work, whether during debates on topics such as world COPD day or world diabetes day, or through engagement with communities across my South Scotland region.

However, awareness alone is not enough. We need structural change. I therefore welcome the Scottish Government’s efforts to embed disabled people’s voices into policy making, including through the disability equality plan. Developed in co-production with disabled people’s organisations, the plan commits to building disability competence across Government and includes targeted investment to address long-standing barriers. Initiatives that are supported by the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland such as strengthened mental health support, improved advice services and the Cabinet takeovers by disabled people’s organisations, the most recent of which happened in February, demonstrate a growing commitment to meaningful engagement.

Representation matters deeply. Disabled people remain significantly underrepresented in elected office, not because of a lack of ability or ambition but because of the barriers that they collectively face, which need to be removed. The access to elected office fund, which was created by the Scottish Government and delivered by Inclusion Scotland, has shown what is possible when proper support is provided.

We must continue to build on that progress. The evidence is clear that disabled people face higher levels of poverty, poorer health outcomes and barriers in employment, housing and education. Those inequalities intersect with the inequalities facing people with other protected characteristics. That alone makes the case for ensuring that people who have a disability help to shape the policies that directly affect them. Empowering disabled people strengthens our democracy and leads to fairer, more compassionate decisions.

I welcome the cross-party commitment that we will have today, and I reaffirm my commitment to working with colleagues and communities to remove those barriers and support disabled people’s full and equal participation in Scotland’s political life.

13:05

Will the member take an intervention?

Bob Doris’s question shows that livestock worrying is an issue not just for rural communities but for all of Scotland, urban and rural. With lambing season already in progress in many areas of Scotland, and the wee good turn in the weather this spring, the risks for livestock are at their highest. Can the minister therefore reassure my constituents that the full panoply of legal sanctions, including the powers available under the 2021 act, will be deployed by the authorities against those who ignore sensible and reasonable advice about keeping dogs under control, so that havoc is not caused to livestock in this season?

It is hugely welcome that the SNP Government is making record investment in public transport in 2026 and 2027, including the investment for Ardrossan in response to Kenneth Gibson’s request. Will the cabinet secretary expand on how the investment will be used to deliver wider ferry service improvements and port upgrades?

Good morning. We were talking about health and wellbeing at the beginning. At the other end of the age continuum, we are seeing a real rise in walking football and rugby across Scotland—there is now a women’s walking football team at Annan. However, there are also challenges with facilities for walking football teams. The Stranraer club is partnering with Stair park and Arthritis UK, which was formerly known as Versus Arthritis. That makes me think about the health and wellbeing aspect of supporting people to be fitter for surgery such as knee replacements, which we have heard about. Will you comment on walking football and rugby? I have participated in it, and it was great fun. The other players were far more skilled than I was, but I am interested in walking football and rugby.

:I know a young woman who started playing wheelchair rugby. Her asthma was unstable, so she did not need to use a wheelchair all the time. When she started playing wheelchair rugby, her lung health improved and she is now part of the Edinburgh Rugby club.

::This week, the First Minister set out plans for a further 15 general practitioner walk-in centres across Scotland, in both rural and urban areas, including in my region, in Stranraer. Meanwhile, waiting times have fallen for eight months in a row, as we start to see our national health service turn a corner. For some unknown reason, the Labour Party opposes GP walk-in centres and wants to rip up the GP contract, with Anas Sarwar’s half-baked plans being referred to as

“flailing election hopes on life support”.

Does the First Minister agree that the Labour Party’s opposition to GP walk-in centres shows that it has no ambition for our NHS and is completely out of ideas?

::This week, the First Minister set out plans for a further 15 general practitioner walk-in centres across Scotland, in both rural and urban areas, including in my region, in Stranraer. Meanwhile, waiting times have fallen for eight months in a row, as we start to see our national health service turn a corner. For some unknown reason, the Labour Party opposes GP walk-in centres and wants to rip up the GP contract, with Anas Sarwar’s half-baked plans being referred to as

“flailing election hopes on life support”.

Does the First Minister agree that the Labour Party’s opposition to GP walk-in centres shows that it has no ambition for our NHS and is completely out of ideas?

This week, the First Minister set out plans for a further 15 general practitioner walk-in centres across Scotland, in both rural and urban areas, including in my region, in Stranraer. Meanwhile, waiting times have fallen for eight months in a row, as we start to see our national health service turn a corner. For some unknown reason, the Labour Party opposes GP walk-in centres and wants to rip up the GP contract, with Anas Sarwar’s half-baked plans being referred to as

“flailing election hopes on life support”.

Does the First Minister agree that the Labour Party’s opposition to GP walk-in centres shows that it has no ambition for our NHS and is completely out of ideas?