Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 23 February 2023
23 Feb 2023 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Marking One Year of War against Ukraine
I thank Donald Cameron for his remarks around our support and the UK Government’s support for the people of Ukraine. We are working with the British Red Cross on the concerns that it has raised, and we are working very closely on how we can ensure that we are responding to what it has said.
On the longer-term resettlement fund, I want to reiterate that the opportunity is there for all local authorities to come forward with proposals about where they can repurpose buildings and where they can bring void properties back into use. That will be a major contribution in ensuring that people have longer-term resettlement options here in Scotland.
I encourage Donald Cameron, his colleagues and all members in Parliament to speak to local authorities about potential opportunities that might be open.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
Before we move on to the next item of business, a debate marking one year of war against Ukraine, I am sure that colleagues will wish to join me in welcoming...
The Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development and Minister with special responsibility for Refugees from Ukraine (Neil Gray)
SNP
I join you, Presiding Officer, in welcoming my friend Andrii Kuslii to the public gallery. It is a pleasure to have him here to hear the Parliament express i...
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
LD
I am grateful to the minister for giving way, and I congratulate the Scottish Government on bringing so many Ukrainians here. One slight problem with that is...
Neil Gray
SNP
I thank Alex Cole-Hamilton for his question and pay tribute to him for his involvement and steadfast support for the people of Ukraine in Scotland. We are lo...
Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I associate the members on the Conservative benches with the welcome to the consul of Ukraine. On a visit a few months ago to the MS Victoria ship, which is...
Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP)
SNP
Does Mr Cameron agree that one of the issues that faces Ukraine is the fact that it is being given enough weapons to hold off the Russians, but not enough to...
Donald Cameron
Con
I agree with the broad thrust of Kenneth Gibson’s comments and I note what the UK Government, among other Governments across the world, has done in that rega...
Neil Gray
SNP
I thank Donald Cameron for his remarks around our support and the UK Government’s support for the people of Ukraine. We are working with the British Red Cros...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Donald Cameron, I can give you the time back.
Donald Cameron
Con
Thank you. I am grateful to the minister for clarifying that. The significant aid contributions of both Governments to help those who remain in Ukraine are ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I call Sarah Boyack. You have around six minutes, Ms Boyack. 15:25
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
Thank you, Presiding Officer. I refer members to my entry in the register of interests. I also want to speak in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. It is...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
You need to conclude, Ms Boyack.
Sarah Boyack
Lab
Although we do not agree on many things in this Parliament, let us agree on the motion and let us all wish for a speedy and peaceful resolution to the war th...
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
LD
I rise to offer the full-throated support of Scottish Liberal Democrats for the Government’s motion, and I offer our welcome and thanks to the consul of Ukra...
Fiona Hyslop (Linlithgow) (SNP)
SNP
I, too, pay tribute to all those who have been injured or died in the year since the illegal Russian invasion of sovereign Ukraine, and I stand in solidarity...
Annie Wells (Glasgow) (Con)
Con
In my lifetime, I did not expect to see a war in Europe like the one that we have seen in Ukraine; I do not think that any of us did. A year ago, Russia stu...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I encourage those in the public gallery to resist the temptation to participate, including by applauding. 15:52
Bill Kidd (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP)
SNP
We contribute to this debate as an act of solidarity with the people of Ukraine. That includes those living on the war front and the millions displaced abroa...
Carol Mochan (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I begin by expressing my sincere condolences to, and solidarity with, the families of all those who have died or have been gravely injured in this senseless ...
Clare Adamson (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP)
SNP
No one in the chamber wanted to mark this milestone. It is one year since Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukrainian sovereignty. Although that anniversary is tes...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Thank you, Ms Adamson. I think that we can suspend the rule on props just this once. I call Meghan Gallacher, to be followed by Ross Greer. You have around ...
Meghan Gallacher (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
Tomorrow marks a very sombre occasion. It is exactly one year since the invasion of Ukraine began. The twenty-fourth of February 2022 has become a date that ...
Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green)
Green
When we came together for an emergency debate a year ago tomorrow, a 40-mile-long convoy of Russian troops had crossed the Belarusian border and was headed f...
Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
It is difficult to comprehend that a year has passed since Russia launched its illegal war of aggression in Ukraine. We will all remember that day and our se...
Bob Doris (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP)
SNP
Russia’s unprovoked and illegal war on Ukraine seemed to be unthinkable just over a year ago. Sabre rattling and rhetoric from Putin has been turned into a b...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
We move to closing speeches, and I call Foysol Choudhury to wind up the debate on behalf of Scottish Labour. 16:34
Foysol Choudhury (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
As other members have done, I express a warm welcome to the Ukrainian consul, who joins us in Parliament. Today, the Parliament has come together to stand i...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I call Sharon Dowey to wind up on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives. 16:39
Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
Thank you, Presiding Officer. I also welcome the Ukrainian consul to the chamber. I am pleased to bring the debate to a close on behalf of the Scottish Conse...