Hansard

Rob Gibson (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) SNP Chamber

23 Mar 2016

First Minister’s Question Time · Land Settlement (Scotland) Act 1919

Will the First Minister ensure that the current review of the Scottish planning system helps and does not hinder the much more diverse pattern of land ownership that will assuredly flow from the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 and the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill?

Rob Gibson (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) SNP Chamber

22 Mar 2016

Local Control

For my final speech as the member of the Scottish Parliament for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross since 2011, I will explore bringing more local control to the people whom I have had the immense privilege to represent. I will reflect on how the Highlands and Islands region, whic...

Rob Gibson SNP Chamber

16 Mar 2016

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill

The member should realise that, when the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill was passed in 2003, there were more than 230 amendments to it, and I am sure that a similar number of amendments were made when the Parliament dealt with tenant farming issues. Perhaps we are learning a bit, ...

Rob Gibson (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) SNP Chamber

16 Mar 2016

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill

In tribute to Alex Fergusson, I have always championed his right to say what he believes to be correct, even if we disagree—very often fundamentally—about his proposals. It is in that spirit that I will comment on the way in which the RACCE Committee has worked, and I hope tha...

Rob Gibson SNP Chamber

16 Mar 2016

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Not at the moment, thank you. On the idea of looking at having SNH modify the rules to consent and so on, as proposed by the Government amendments, it is essential to realise that the groups that make up the Assynt sub-group include the John Muir Trust, private shooters, the ...

Rob Gibson SNP Chamber

16 Mar 2016

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

As the person who perhaps propelled to notice the issue of deer management groups and their lack of effect, particularly in the Assynt area in my constituency, it is interesting to see in what are probably the last days of how the voluntary system works the very mixed figures ...

Rob Gibson SNP Chamber

16 Mar 2016

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

It is very important that we are able to hold to account people who have land. That is the practical aim of the bill. I hope that, eventually, when the land register is map based, we will be able to tax those people. The aim of holding landowners to account is the heart of the...

Rob Gibson SNP Chamber

16 Mar 2016

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Excuse me—I am not finished yet. Interruption.

Rob Gibson SNP Chamber

16 Mar 2016

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

I am sure that SNP members across the country who have been following the debate will support our Government’s competent, sensible and legally competent approach. It is very concerning to me that it is suggested that the lengthy debates and discussions that have taken place d...

Rob Gibson (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) SNP Chamber

16 Mar 2016

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

The negative influence of land agents is far wider than the few exceptions that Claudia Beamish mentioned, and a statutory code of practice for land agents would be a very good thing indeed. It would probably answer the concerns of many people around the country. Those concern...

Rob Gibson (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) SNP Chamber

15 Mar 2016

Energy Strategy

Given the urgent need to better serve Scottish consumers with clean power, and the minister’s welcoming of the deployment of the Hywind floating turbines off Aberdeenshire by 2018, will the minister give us an update of the large-scale deployment of those floating structures? ...

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Annual Report

Thank you very much. As we said in the preceding debate, our decisions are never magic bullets. We always have to return to subjects as both a matter of process and a matter of progress. Like devolution and the powers that we have, our decisions are not events but things that...

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Annual Report

Thank you very much.

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Annual Report

Okay. The annual report will be published on Friday 11 March. We have come to that point in the meeting when I usually set out what will happen next week, but, as I have said, this is the committee’s final meeting. I therefore want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has ...

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Annual Report

Thank you. If there are no other comments, do members agree to sign off the annual report? Members indicated agreement.

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Annual Report

Agenda item 5 is consideration of a draft annual report for the parliamentary year from 11 May 2015 to 23 March 2016. Do members have any comments on what is a short and succinct report?

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Petitions

We have resolved to keep the petition open and to include it in our legacy paper.

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Petitions

Yes, definitely. I beg your pardon—

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Petitions

We can also suggest to our successor committee, via our legacy report, that it might want to consider examining the outcome of SNH’s review of wild goose management, with a view to deciding what further action, if any, should be taken on the petition. I think that we should ad...

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Petitions

We have several things to think about. We can bring the petitioner’s comments and the information from the Parliament of Norway to the attention of the Scottish Government and Scottish Natural Heritage. Do we agree to do that? Members indicated agreement.

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Petitions

The second petition is PE1490, by Patrick Krause on behalf of the Scottish Crofting Federation, on the control of wild geese numbers. I refer members to the paper and invite comments.

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Petitions

The fourth item of business is consideration of petition PE1547, by Ian Gordon and the Salmon & Trout Association (Scotland), on the conservation of Scottish wild salmon. I refer members to the paper and invite comments from them on what action we wish to take. Given the ...

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Subordinate Legislation

I thank the cabinet secretary and his team.

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Subordinate Legislation

If members have no other comments, does the committee agree not to make any recommendations on the instruments? Members indicated agreement.

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Subordinate Legislation

The cabinet secretary might or might not wish to reply. He is not here formally to answer questions, but I am sure that he would be happy to respond.

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Subordinate Legislation

As members appear to have no questions on the salmon instruments, you may ask your question. You are fortunate, as you have the cabinet secretary here.

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Subordinate Legislation

We move on to more subordinate legislation. Do members have any questions on any of the instruments?

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Subordinate Legislation

I thank members for that detailed discussion. The committee’s report will record the result and confirm the outcome of the debate.

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Subordinate Legislation

The result of the division is: For 4, Against 5, Abstentions 0. Motion disagreed to.

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Subordinate Legislation

There will be a division. For Beamish, Claudia (South Scotland) (Lab) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Fergusson, Alex (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Hume, Jim (South Scotland) (LD) Against Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Gibson, Rob (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (...

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Subordinate Legislation

The question is, that motion S4M-15732, in the name of Alex Fergusson, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No.

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Subordinate Legislation

Thank you, cabinet secretary. I ask Alex Fergusson to wind up and indicate whether he wishes to press or withdraw the motion.

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Subordinate Legislation

I have some comments. I did not ask about this before, but it is important to know who the complainers are about the situation for the health of Scottish salmon stocks, which has led them to go to Europe. We should know who they are, and I hope that the cabinet secretary can r...

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Subordinate Legislation

Thank you. Several members wish to speak. 11:15

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Subordinate Legislation

Agenda item 2 is consideration of motion S4M-15732, which asks the committee to annul the Conservation of Salmon (Scotland) Regulations 2016 (SSI 2016/115). It should be noted that the Scottish Government officials cannot take part in the formal debate. All members of Parliame...

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Subordinate Legislation

That is correct. The instrument would come back to the chamber. We will take a five-minute break before coming back for the debate on the motion. 10:57 Meeting suspended. 11:03 On resuming—

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Subordinate Legislation

A point of order?

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Subordinate Legislation

Finally, I turn to the question of the habitats directive. On 7 August last year, I asked you a question about the diet of seals. You told me that there would be a report, later in 2015, about what seals eat. I understand that the habitats directive is focused on what humans d...

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Subordinate Legislation

Thank you for that. It is obvious to me that this is developing science. We cannot have absolute science. Proper science is something that develops, rather than something that is clear at this point and does not develop hereafter. The question about the science, as we know it,...

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Subordinate Legislation

Were you going to say something, Mr Cowan?

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Subordinate Legislation

I have a huge amount of sympathy for angling clubs, because they want to have fish to catch. The figures suggest that, in many parts of the country, there is a problem with what happens to fish that are caught, released and then die, as well as with fish that are caught and ke...

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Subordinate Legislation

Dave Thompson asked some questions about smolt reintroduction in the River Lochy. Reintroduction has been successful in the River Carron in Wester Ross. However, when anglers—in this case, I mean riparian owners and not angling clubs—are asked about restocking in many other ri...

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Subordinate Legislation

I think that the netsmen understand that. They have been involved with scientists to try to collect the data, and the environmental research institute in Thurso is currently studying the movement of salmon in the Pentland Firth. That is one of the elements that might feed in t...

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Subordinate Legislation

Okay. The next figure that I have is for the fixed-engine and net-and-coble fishery in the same period. The number of fish that were caught and retained was 118,366, which amounts to 41,363 fewer fish than the number of fish that were caught in the rivers. In other words, assu...

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Subordinate Legislation

Cabinet secretary, I would like to put the issue in perspective. The statistics for salmon fisheries that were collected in the five years from 2009 to 2014 suggest a total of 159,731 salmon—I will start again, as I want to get this right. We have to think about salmon anglin...

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Subordinate Legislation

I think that we had better clarify that.

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Subordinate Legislation

Well—

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Subordinate Legislation

Please do.

The Convener SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Subordinate Legislation

We have a long list of members who want to come in: Joan McAlpine, Claudia Beamish, Elaine Murray, Jackie Baillie, Michael Russell, Alex Fergusson, Sarah Boyack and Uncle Tom Cobley and all.

The Convener (Rob Gibson) SNP Committee

09 Mar 2016

Subordinate Legislation

Good morning and welcome to the eighth meeting in 2016, and the final meeting of this session, of the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee. Before we move to agenda item 1, I remind everyone present to switch off their mobile phones, as they may affect the b...

Rob Gibson SNP Chamber

09 Mar 2016

Rural Payments

We are talking at the moment about the cost of the IT system. The actual cost of the computerised system is 4 per cent of the whole cost over this particular CAP period. If anyone thinks that they can set up something as complex as that, in as simple a fashion, that is purely ...

Rob Gibson SNP Chamber

09 Mar 2016

Rural Payments

Well, we are awaiting that with great interest. In the meantime, because our farmers have less support and are getting lower commodity prices, they failed to get the £180 million that Scotland was due from the CAP. It might have helped our producers a little bit if they had g...

Rob Gibson SNP Chamber

09 Mar 2016

Rural Payments

What we have here is a motion that starts to discuss the problem that we face. Alex Fergusson’s motion “notes that Scottish farm income has fallen by 15% over the past year, which is only the second time this century when incomes have fallen in two consecutive years”. That i...

Rob Gibson (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) SNP Chamber

09 Mar 2016

Rural Payments

To try to put some perspective on what has been going on, we should consider a couple of quotations. Today, the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association produced a news release headed “CAP Relief Package Should Not Be Marred by Political Posturing”: “Many tenant farmers anticipate...

Rob Gibson SNP Chamber

09 Mar 2016

Portfolio Question Time · Music Tuition (Traditional Instruments)

Although the youth music initiative offers traditional instrument tuition in some places, the delivery is patchy, as is the music tuition delivered by schools. Will the cabinet secretary review the spread of traditional musical instrument tuition with a view to offering studen...

3. Rob Gibson (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) SNP Chamber

09 Mar 2016

Portfolio Question Time · Music Tuition (Traditional Instruments)

To ask the Scottish Government how traditional instrument tuition fits in with its strategy for Scottish traditional arts. (S4O-05628)

Rob Gibson SNP Committee

03 Mar 2016

Scotland Bill (Fiscal Framework)

Thank you for that.

Rob Gibson SNP Committee

03 Mar 2016

Scotland Bill (Fiscal Framework)

Does the UK Government agree that the terms of reference for the joint ministerial working group should be published? Will they be able to be reported to the Parliament once they are published and will the on-going business be reported to the Parliament?

Rob Gibson SNP Committee

03 Mar 2016

Scotland Bill (Fiscal Framework)

The agreement notes an on-going role for the JEC in overseeing the fiscal framework. Is a similar on-going role envisaged for the joint ministerial working group on welfare, beyond the implementation phase?

Rob Gibson SNP Committee

03 Mar 2016

Scotland Bill (Fiscal Framework)

In order to scrutinise what the JEC does, it would be helpful to this Parliament to have an idea of the outcomes of those meetings.