Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 01 November 2023
01 Nov 2023 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Flooding (Support for Communities)
On Saturday afternoon, I met residents in Auchtermuchty who had been subjected to significant floods. Their houses were dirty and damp, and the smell still pervaded their whole premises. That is the reality of flood: it is fast to arrive but slow to leave. In recent weeks, I have also visited Freuchie, where residents have had to leave their properties twice in the past two years. One particular resident cannot sleep at night every time it rains for fear that her house will be flooded. On Sunday, the high tides demolished a large part of the St Andrews aquarium at the West Sands in St Andrews and threatened homes in Pittenweem and Anstruther. A large part of the coastal path near Elie was wiped away completely.
That is the reality of climate change. If anyone had any doubts, it is here. No single weather event can be directly attributed to it, but there is no doubt that the frequency and the extremity of these events are significant. If there was any doubt about it, inaction is more expensive than action. We need to look to the long term and provide the investment that we need, not just in mitigation but in meaningful climate change measures.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-11036, in the name of Maurice Golden, on supporting communities to mitigate flooding impacts and increase...
Maurice Golden (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
Storm Babet has left a terrible trail of destruction in its wake, and the north-east of Scotland, Perthshire and Tayside have been hit especially hard. There...
John Swinney (Perthshire North) (SNP)
SNP
I am appreciating the contents of Mr Golden’s speech. As part of what he is advocating, does he see there being a role for community resilience groups to be ...
Maurice Golden
Con
I whole-heartedly agree with John Swinney, because it is the people on the ground, rather than the council or another agency, who know which properties are m...
The Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition (Màiri McAllan)
SNP
I am very grateful to have the opportunity to respond for the Government on this most important issue. Storm Babet was an exceptional weather event for Scot...
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
Last week, I asked when the Scottish Government would, in the light of storm Babet, carry out a review of existing and planned flood prevention infrastructur...
Màiri McAllan
SNP
Sarah Boyack is absolutely right to raise the issue. The process is on-going on a number of fronts, most of all in respect of SEPA’s flood forecasting, which...
Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
Will the cabinet secretary give way?
John Swinney
SNP
Will the cabinet secretary give way?
Màiri McAllan
SNP
I will give way to Mr Swinney.
John Swinney
SNP
I would like to follow up on the point that Sarah Boyack raised. I make a plea that in the work that SEPA is undertaking to examine future forecasting levels...
Màiri McAllan
SNP
I am very happy to give John Swinney a concrete assurance that the storm will not be regarded as an isolated incident. It is never wise to attribute one weat...
Craig Hoy (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?
Màiri McAllan
SNP
I am going to make progress, because I am a bit concerned about time, but I will be glad to hear members’ points during the debate. I will use the time that...
Stephen Kerr
Con
Will the minister give way?
Màiri McAllan
SNP
I am afraid not; I am keen to make progress. We know that local recovery plans are being drawn up and delivered through vital partnership working. The Scott...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Cabinet secretary, you must conclude.
Màiri McAllan
SNP
I have noted that my colleague the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands is engaging with the impact on food producers and has already...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Before I call the next member, I would be grateful if all members who wish to speak in the debate were to press their request-to-speak buttons. I call Sarah...
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
Last week’s statement on storm Babet gave us all the chance to send our condolences to the families who had lost a loved one and to thank those in our public...
Brian Whittle
Con
We know that prolonged water scarcity—particularly before big storms—can have a significant impact on flood conditions, with impacts such as soil compaction....
Sarah Boyack
Lab
There has to be a joined-up approach to tackle extreme weather conditions, because what the member described is experienced in other countries as well. He is...
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
On Saturday afternoon, I met residents in Auchtermuchty who had been subjected to significant floods. Their houses were dirty and damp, and the smell still p...
John Swinney
SNP
Before Mr Rennie reflects on the lessons of this particular weather incident, would he agree with me that part of what we have to understand is the enormous ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
I will give Mr Rennie the time back.
Willie Rennie
LD
Understanding is important, and I will come to that later, because with understanding comes confidence that we will be safe. We need to have the understandin...
John Swinney
SNP
Mr Rennie is making an important point, but will he extend it to the issue of forestry harvesting? Significant removal of trees, which is commonplace in many...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Mr Rennie, you need to wind up.
Willie Rennie
LD
I have so much more to say. I absolutely agree with Mr Swinney. Riparian trees are also important, as they hold the river banks together. It is incredibly i...