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Every contribution to the Official Report — chamber and committee — searchable in one place. Pulled from data.parliament.scot, indexed for full-text search, linked through to every MSP.

129

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2,095,827

Hansard contributions

1999–2026

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Official Report

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Showing 60 of 2,095,827 contributions. Latest 30 days: 3,975. Coverage: 12 May 1999 — 11 Jun 2026.

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Greensill Capital UK (Administration)

In his statement, the cabinet secretary made some positive points, which I whole-heartedly endorse, about the Lochaber smelter. Does he share my view that the smelter is in good financial health, with a strong order book and new investment on stream? Will he do everything in h...

David Stewart Lab Committee

It will be hard for me to say just a few words, convener, but I am happy to say something in my last contribution. Like many members, I have served on a number of committees during a couple of parliamentary sessions. However, I can say that I have enjoyed my time on this com...

David Stewart Lab Committee

European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018

Have new budgets or staff been identified to cover the huge areas of responsibility that the ECDC covers?

David Stewart Lab Committee

European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018

I am sorry, convener, but may I press the minister on the final question?

David Stewart Lab Committee

European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018

Yesterday, in preparing for today’s meeting, I had a careful look at ECDC budgets and at its staffing, which I will perhaps come to in a second. As you will be aware, the budgets are substantial and the ECDC has built up considerable expertise since it was set up in 2004. Will...

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Lab Committee

European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018

My questions are on the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. The minister will be well aware of the important job that that organisation has done since it was set up by the EU in 2004. I have taken a particular interest in the centre, over the years. As the mini...

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Lab Committee

Subordinate Legislation

It is not really a query, convener—I just want to say that I have looked into the instruments, given that I have an interest in pensions. They address the issues very positively, which is helpful for national health service workers from a rights point of view. I flag up the fa...

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Lab Chamber

I am considerably older than the First Minister, and I am delighted to say that I have had my vaccination. Does the First Minister share my view that the good news from the European Medicines Agency today, that the number of blood clots in vaccinated people does not seem to be...

David Stewart Lab Committee

Subordinate Legislation

David Stewart Lab Committee

Subordinate Legislation

I turn to my final question, although the cabinet secretary might not have the relevant information to hand. I know from my experience in politics, for what it is worth, that we can all talk a good game—I am not saying that the cabinet secretary is doing that—but essentially w...

David Stewart Lab Committee

Subordinate Legislation

The cabinet secretary has been very open and honest on the subject. My comments generally are not made in a party-political way. I am enthusiastic about the matter, but my eyes are open to some of the downsides. I will give my honest view. I have been watching carefully what ...

David Stewart Lab Committee

Subordinate Legislation

I will raise a big-picture issue that I have to confess I have been working on heavily for the past six months, which is about having an internationally recognised vaccination passport to open up international travel. The cabinet secretary will know that tourism is the most im...

David Stewart Lab Committee

I come to my final question, which the minister partially touched on in her previous answer. What support have drug treatment and recovery services had to enable them to remobilise?

David Stewart Lab Committee

I flag up the joint research project by the University of Edinburgh and the University of Stirling on the effects of Covid on those who use drugs. I am sure that you and your officials are aware of that—I certainly endorse the reporting from the project, and it would be worth ...

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Lab Committee

Good morning, minister and officials. My questions relate to Covid-19. As the minister will be aware, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has suggested that the pandemic may have led to “an acceleration” in the number of overdose deaths. Has the Scotti...

David Stewart Lab Chamber

First Minister’s Question Time · European Union Structural Funds (Penalty)

I am grateful for the First Minister’s detailed response. The First Minister will be well aware that my Highlands and Islands region has been one of the United Kingdom’s top three beneficiaries of structural funds—from the Kessock bridge to the University of the Highlands and ...

7. David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Lab Chamber

First Minister’s Question Time · European Union Structural Funds (Penalty)

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to reports that Scotland faces a penalty of up to £190 million because of irregularities in its European Union structural fund spending. (S5F-04866)

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Scotland’s Recovery

I, too, congratulate my friend Anas Sarwar on his recent election as Labour leader. I wish him well for the future. He will be part of Scotland’s recovery. I also welcome and congratulate Monica Lennon on her new role. I have worked closely with her on health and sport and I k...

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Lab Chamber

It has been a great honour to serve on the Health and Sport Committee for the past few years. I, too, thank all fellow members—I see that several of them are in the chamber—the hard-working clerks, SPICe and, of course, the Government minister Jeane Freeman, who is standing do...

David Stewart Lab Committee

Section 23 Report

I come to my final question. We are looking at a general remobilisation and reshaping of the NHS in the future. We have existing performance standards that are well known and understood. Should those standards be changed in the light of the massive impact of the pandemic? Alte...

David Stewart Lab Committee

Section 23 Report

Right—thank you. I move on to another area. Auditor General, do you foresee any challenges in the audit of additional spending in the current financial year for both health and social care? If so, how do you intend to approach the audit in future years?

David Stewart Lab Committee

Section 23 Report

There are a lot of telephone-book numbers being thrown around. I suppose that my point is that, although there might appear to be a gap, there will be a lag in spending—the Government will have plans, so that money will not be fully spent at present. In simple terms, is that t...

David Stewart Lab Committee

Section 23 Report

Thank you—that is very helpful. I move on to Barnett consequentials. Are you convinced that over the period that we are talking about, with regard to both Covid and non-Covid spending, the Scottish Government passed on all the additional Barnett consequentials to the NHS and s...

David Stewart Lab Committee

Section 23 Report

Good afternoon to the Auditor General and our other witnesses. Auditor General, I was struck by one aspect of your report. It states that “It is not yet clear … how the pandemic will develop over time and what level of spending will be required to respond”, or “what additio...

David Stewart Lab Committee

Covid-19 Health Protection Travel Regulations

I thank the witnesses for their very helpful contributions on that issue. My final question focuses on the Australian experience, which was touched on in earlier responses. I would be interested, for the record, to hear the witnesses’ views on the Australian experience of qua...

David Stewart Lab Committee

Covid-19 Health Protection Travel Regulations

Thank you—that is helpful.

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Lab Committee

Covid-19 Health Protection Travel Regulations

Good morning to all our witnesses. I am keen to hear more about the international experience. I am interested mainly in Covid passports, which were mentioned earlier. I have raised the matter with the First Minister and, at the COVID-19 Committee, with the Cabinet Secretary fo...

David Stewart Lab Committee

Ministerial Statement

Thank you, Professor Leitch. I appreciate that answer. Does Dominic Munro or the cabinet secretary wish to comment in response to my questions?

David Stewart Lab Committee

Ministerial Statement

I would welcome the cabinet secretary’s response on my final question, which is on the big picture of where we are going and what our overall strategy is. You may have picked up that our earlier evidence session considered whether suppression, mitigation or elimination is our ...

David Stewart Lab Committee

Ministerial Statement

Good morning. I have two quick questions. The first is on health inequalities, so it might be most appropriate for Jason Leitch to answer it. I have looked at two studies. The first, which was published just this week by Professor McVie from the University of Edinburgh, shows...

David Stewart Lab Committee

That is helpful. I thank all the witnesses for their answers to my questions. 09:30

David Stewart Lab Committee

Professor Griffiths, do you have anything to add?

David Stewart Lab Committee

Thank you—those answers were fascinating. My final question is this: would it be fair to describe the strategy in the UK and Scotland as one of suppression? I will throw three different statistics at you; I understand that they could be spurious and unconnected. Yesterday’s e...

David Stewart Lab Committee

Professor Woolhouse, do you have any comments?

David Stewart Lab Committee

Would the other witnesses care to comment on my question?

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Lab Committee

I will build on the convener’s questions—I will start with Professor Baker, and then I would welcome contributions from the other witnesses. Professor Baker, in your webinar for the Usher institute, you said that elimination seems to be more effective than suppression or miti...

David Stewart Lab Committee

Social Care Inquiry

How should staff be represented on the proposed national forum that will look at workforce planning, improving quality and training?

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Lab Committee

Social Care Inquiry

Good morning. I apologise to committee members and our witnesses for not being present for the earlier part of the meeting. Unfortunately, I had to attend an urgent unscheduled meeting. I will build on Donald Cameron’s points about fair work and professionalisation. What are ...

David Stewart Lab Chamber

Highlands and Islands Medical Service

Thank you, Presiding Officer. Chaired by Sir John Dewar, the Dewar report of 1912 sought to understand the impact—Inaudible.—on the region. That was no armchair exercise. His large team travelled across the Highlands and Islands, engaging with and listening to communities in...

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Lab Chamber

Highlands and Islands Medical Service

Inaudible. I thank all members who have signed my motion. To those who have not, I say that I warmly welcome all sinners who care to repent. The establishment of the medical service in 1913 was, in my view, the greatest achievement in the history of the region. Picture the sc...

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Lab Chamber

This has been an excellent debate, albeit too brief, with thoughtful and well-argued contributions from across the political divide. I, too, congratulate Alex Cole-Hamilton and the Liberal Democrats on their initiative in securing this afternoon’s debate. Many speakers, inclu...

David Stewart Lab Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2021-22

Mr McCallum has just covered my last point, which was around governance, so I will hand back to you, convener.

David Stewart Lab Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2021-22

I return to the issue of finance, and I apologise to the cabinet secretary for not asking these questions earlier. You will know that the committee’s pre-budget report highlighted concerns about delays in Covid-related payments reaching social care providers. Are you confident...

David Stewart Lab Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2021-22

This is my final question on sport before I move on to finance, on which I will ask two quick questions. How do you balance funding for elite sport on the one hand, and grass-roots sport on the other? I make it clear that I am not suggesting that they are in competition, but, ...

David Stewart Lab Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2021-22

This is more of an observation than a question. That is all valid information, but my concern is how we will tackle disadvantaged areas, because that is where we are really toiling when it comes to obesity and where there are horrendous rates of type 2 diabetes.

David Stewart Lab Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2021-22

I have two questions on sport and, if the convener allows, I have two quick questions on finance. On sport, like the cabinet secretary, I am concerned about levels of obesity in Scotland and, as the chair of the cross-party group on diabetes, the increase in type 2 diabetes an...

David Stewart Lab Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2021-22

Am I correct in assuming that not only the NRAC—NHS Scotland resource allocation committee—formula is used to allocate funding to individual boards? If I am correct, what yardstick is used to allocate Covid funds to individual boards?

David Stewart Lab Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2021-22

Certainly. You might have missed what I said. The UK Government has kept a contingency fund of £21 billion in reserve for Covid-related expenditure. In your discussions with the UK Government, has there been any hint that the Scottish Government will receive some of that fundi...

David Stewart Lab Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2021-22

The United Kingdom Government has kept £21 billion in reserve for the pandemic. Are you expecting funding from that source, and have you made contingency plans for that extra funding?

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Lab Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2021-22

Good morning, cabinet secretary and Mr McCallum. How does the Scottish Government plan to use the initial allocation of £869 million of Covid-related funding for 2021-22?

David Stewart Lab Committee

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme

Thank you. I appreciate that.

David Stewart Lab Committee

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme

Thank you. Does Jason Leitch have any final points on the vaccine passport issue?

David Stewart Lab Committee

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme

I know that we are tight for time, but I would like to put a brief question to Caroline Lamb. I congratulate you on your appointment as director general for health and social care. Could you tell the committee how many Scottish Government staff are working partly or fully on t...

David Stewart Lab Committee

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme

I have a final question for the cabinet secretary before I move on to Caroline Lamb and perhaps Jason Leitch. On the leadership front, could you talk to the Secretary of State for Transport or Michael Matheson about what discussions they have had with America and Singapore? C...

David Stewart Lab Committee

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme

I cannot see how we can rebuild our economy and our domestic and international tourism sectors without having some form of internationally recognised vaccine passport. That might just reflect the tests that have been carried out. It would be appropriate for a body such as the ...

David Stewart Lab Committee

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme

I do not necessarily disagree with the cabinet secretary. I want Scotland to be a leader on this. We are in the station, but the train is leaving. The EU and individual companies—I have mentioned Qantas—are jumping ahead with the issue. I did not realise until I heard the earl...

David Stewart Lab Committee

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme

I want to ask about a bigger-picture issue: vaccine passports. As you know, there has been a lot of debate about it; I think that I asked Jason Leitch a question about it some weeks before. The idea that I have comes from the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, which has l...

David Stewart Lab Committee

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme

Johnson & Johnson has had a single-dose vaccine approved in the States, which, if approved in the UK and beyond, would presumably save a lot of logistics headaches. I note that the Russian vaccine, Sputnik V, has a 92 per cent efficacy rate and has just been approved for u...

David Stewart Lab Committee

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme

Thank you. Those were very helpful answers.

David Stewart Lab Committee

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme

Could you take it away and discuss it with the network of more than 90 organisations that are involved with BEMIS? It is a long-term issue that will happen whether we are—Inaudible. Clearly, organisations such as the WHO are key to deciding whether it will be done internationa...

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Chamber

Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 24 March 2021

24 Mar 2021 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament

Item of business

Greensill Capital UK (Administration)

Stewart, David Lab Highlands and Islands Watch on SPTV

In his statement, the cabinet secretary made some positive points, which I whole-heartedly endorse, about the Lochaber smelter. Does he share my view that the smelter is in good financial health, with a strong order book and new investment on stream? Will he do everything in his power to ensure that the smelter continues to be an active ingredient in Scotland’s industrial strategy?

In the same item of business

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Christine Grahame) SNP

Right—back to normal. The next item of business is a statement by Fergus Ewing. The cabinet secretary will take questions at the end of his statement, so the...

The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism (Fergus Ewing) SNP

My statement concerns the administration of Greensill Capital UK Ltd and its implications for businesses in Scotland. At the outset, I emphasise that the sub...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

The cabinet secretary will now take questions on the issues that were raised in his statement. I will allow about 20 minutes for questions, after which we sh...

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

I welcome the statement, which we have been calling for, and I thank the cabinet secretary for advance sight of it. There has been considerable media specula...

Fergus Ewing SNP

I can assure Mr Fraser that continued operation of the smelter and the steelworks are foremost in our objectives. I made that absolutely clear when I met tra...

Monica Lennon (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I, too, thank the cabinet secretary for advance sight of his statement, and I welcome the engagement with trade unions. I remind the Parliament that I am a m...

Fergus Ewing SNP

I thank Monica Lennon for her question—she asked several questions, in fact. I can say that GFG Alliance is seeking to undertake a refinancing. That is a sen...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I call Willie Rennie. I repeat the usual mantra—it is not directed at you, Mr Rennie—of shorter questions, shorter answers.

Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD) LD

Five years ago, the Government told us that the multiplier and supply chain impacts in Lochaber would be worth 2,000 jobs. Are we ever going to see those job...

Fergus Ewing SNP

In my opening statement, I went over the number of jobs that have been provided. Those jobs are valuable and I hope that the Liberal Democrats support that—t...

John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Green

I thank the cabinet secretary for his statement and for the Scottish Government’s active involvement in the smelter; I know that the cabinet secretary knows ...

Fergus Ewing SNP

I am not quite sure that I caught all that, but the company’s plans for expanding activities at Lochaber are in the public domain; I can share more informati...

Clare Adamson (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) SNP

My grandfather spent most of his working life in the Dalzell mill, so I know just how much it meant to have those jobs and that production secured. Steel is ...

Fergus Ewing SNP

Like Clare Adamson’s family, many families in the centre of Scotland have the steel industry very close to their hearts and many people have seen their sons ...

Jamie Halcro Johnston (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Con

I welcome the cabinet secretary’s commitment to provide updates over the course of the campaign recess. On the Fort William plant, when the plans were chang...

Fergus Ewing SNP

My officials and I were closely involved in detailed work when we renegotiated the original plan that was approved by the Finance and Constitution Committee,...

Rona Mackay (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) SNP

Why was it important that the support went only to a business with plans for long-term operations of the Lochaber premises? What has happened to those plans?

Fergus Ewing SNP

The one clear reason why we took the approach that we did in offering support only to businesses with plans for long-term operations of the Lochaber business...

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Lab

I am pleased to receive reassurance with regard to the GFG Alliance’s operations in Scotland, especially in Lochaber. When it purchased the Alcan estate and ...

Fergus Ewing SNP

I do not think that it is correct to say that I washed my hands of responsibility. I understand, from the company, that there were substantial discussions wi...

John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP) SNP

In his statement, the cabinet secretary mentioned the figures of £14 million and £32 million as being the guarantee that was approved in 2016, including by t...

Fergus Ewing SNP

In my statement, I set out the information that I thought it correct to share with Parliament, and the annual figure repayments vary. The agreement that we r...

Edward Mountain (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Con

I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests: I own a fishery on the River Spey, and water from that river goes down to Lochaber, to the...

Fergus Ewing SNP

As would be expected, at the time of the original transaction, a whole range of due diligence was undertaken. It was conducted by employing leading firms and...

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP) SNP

As a former employee of British Steel for more than four years, working at Dalzell, I have considerable concerns about the future of the industry. Is the cab...

Fergus Ewing SNP

My ministerial colleagues have carried out work on the long-term future of the steel industry, and we believe that there is such a long-term future. I allude...

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Lab

In his statement, the cabinet secretary made some positive points, which I whole-heartedly endorse, about the Lochaber smelter. Does he share my view that th...

Fergus Ewing SNP

Yes, I do, and yes, I will. I am extremely grateful for Mr Stewart’s continued support. I think that that might be David Stewart’s last contribution in Parl...

Bob Doris (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) SNP

I am aware that we are about to enter a period of parliamentary dissolution. That said, what is the single most important thing that we, as members of this P...

Fergus Ewing SNP

As one reads newspapers that are full of speculation, one does not tend to see in those columns of comment any consideration of the workforce. What struck me...