Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 09 March 2021
09 Mar 2021 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Climate Change Plan
Mr Lyle’s intervention would have been an important intervention if we were in the United Kingdom Parliament. We are in the Scottish Parliament, and I will concentrate on the Scottish climate change plan.
I turn to food. Stakeholders emphasised the importance of taking a whole-food-system approach to cutting emissions in the agriculture sector. The delayed good food nation bill would have provided an important framework for such an integrated approach, and the bill now needs to be brought forward urgently, and no later than the end of 2021.
That was a brief summary of the key recommendations of the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee, and I hope that the Scottish Government will give careful consideration to them all.
I will finish on this subject. The convener of the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee said that she was losing members of her committee. I will be losing Angus MacDonald and Stewart Stevenson, but I will also be sad to see Maureen Watt, Richard Lyle and John Finnie go, as well as Peter Chapman. It would be remiss of me not to say that I am losing more members than the convener of the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Lewis Macdonald)
Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-24300, in the name of Gillian Martin, on the climate change plan. I call her to speak to and move the mot...
Gillian Martin (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP)
SNP
As convener of the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee, I welcome the opportunity to highlight the committee’s recent report on the updated...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I call Edward Mountain to speak on behalf of the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee. 15:28
Edward Mountain (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
As convener of the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee, I am pleased to contribute to the debate. The committee took evidence on the climate change pla...
John Scott (Ayr) (Con)
Con
I declare an interest as a farmer. Does Edward Mountain agree that there is huge willingness across Scotland to meet those challenges in the transport and ag...
Edward Mountain
Con
I thank Mr Scott for that intervention and for his timely reminder that, as a farmer, I should also declare my interest. I want to see farming move forward. ...
Richard Lyle (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP)
SNP
I wonder what England is doing. I note that Scotland planted 80 per cent of the total and England planted only 20 per cent.
Edward Mountain
Con
Mr Lyle’s intervention would have been an important intervention if we were in the United Kingdom Parliament. We are in the Scottish Parliament, and I will c...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I call James Dornan to speak on behalf of the Local Government and Communities Committee. 15:36
James Dornan (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the opportunity to talk on behalf of the Local Government and Communities Committee about the climate change plan update. Initially, we agreed to ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I call Willie Coffey to speak on behalf of the Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee. 15:42
Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP)
SNP
I am pleased to speak on behalf of my committee. We considered three aspects of the climate change plan update: electricity, industry and negative emissions ...
The Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment (Ben Macpherson)
SNP
I, too, am glad to speak in this important debate on the climate change plan update. I thank the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee for sp...
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I offer Roseanna Cunningham good wishes from the Conservatives for a speedy recovery. Given that this would have been her last debate, I, too, would like to ...
Claudia Beamish (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I start by wishing the cabinet secretary well, as others have already, in every sense of the word. It is indeed unfortunate that she cannot be here to take p...
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD)
LD
I offer my good wishes to all members for whom this is their final parliamentary debate. I share the disappointment that the cabinet secretary cannot be with...
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green)
Green
I join other members in wishing Roseanna Cunningham, the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, all the very best. I hope that sh...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Christine Grahame)
SNP
We move to the open debate. I call Stewart Stevenson. This will be Mr Stevenson’s final speech in the chamber. Applause. 16:24
Stewart Stevenson (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
SNP
Thank you, Presiding Officer. It is always as well to get the applause in first, because members might not be so enthusiastic at the end of my speech. As I ...
Jamie Halcro Johnston (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
It seems to be a little unfair to have to follow that, Presiding Officer. I add my best wishes to all those who are retiring from Parliament—especially Stew...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I call Angus MacDonald. This is Mr MacDonald’s final speech to the chamber. 16:38
Angus MacDonald (Falkirk East) (SNP)
SNP
I am grateful to have the opportunity to contribute to the debate, as I serve on the ECCLR and REC Committees. This is my final speech, so I hope, with the P...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Thank you very much, Mr MacDonald. I say to members that, obviously, when people are making their last speech, I am relaxed about the time—that is only fair...
Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
Thank you, Presiding Officer. I do not take anything that you say personally—it is always wonderful advice. I welcome the Scottish Government’s update to th...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
And there, on those good goals, you must conclude. Speeches should be four minutes.
Emma Harper
SNP
I apologise, Presiding Officer. That was not my understanding. In conclusion, I welcome the Scottish Government’s—
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
No, no, Ms Harper. “Conclude” means that—no wee extra bits. I call Richard Leonard, to be followed by Clare Adamson, who will be the last speaker in the ope...
Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
As the committee reports make clear, and as witness after witness has attested to this Parliament, the Scottish Government’s climate change plan lacks clarit...
Clare Adamson (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP)
SNP
I, too, congratulate those who have made their final speeches in the chamber today, which have been very moving indeed. I send my best wishes to the cabinet ...
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
It is great for me to speak in today’s debate as the new environment, climate change and land reform spokesperson for Scottish Labour. I thank my colleague C...