Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 12 March 2014
12 Mar 2014 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Air Quality
Okay, the Greens did not duck it, but everyone else did. Similarly, the proposal about workplace parking in Glasgow some years ago was ducked, too. None of us has a particularly good record on this. It will be a genuinely brave minister—and not one who is in post in the run-up to a referendum—who brings forward a package of transport measures that contains demand management in a form that does not amount to merely talking about it but sets out what would happen in every city in Scotland. Maybe once we get past the referendum, we can do what we need to do in relation to this matter rather than just talking about it.
15:27In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-09294, in the name of Claire Baker, on air quality in Scotland. I ask all members who wish to participate...
Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
Poor air quality is a daily experience for too many people in Scotland. Those who live, work or go to school or nursery in streets with high levels of air po...
The Minister for Environment and Climate Change (Paul Wheelhouse)
SNP
I highlight the change in the focus of the bus operators grant to avoid bus operators having an incentive to burn fuel. I hope that Claire Baker welcomes tha...
Claire Baker
Lab
The experience in communities is that what has happened is leading to fewer routes and higher fares. That is working against the policy that encourages peopl...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I call Paul Wheelhouse to speak to and move amendment S4M-09294.3. You have a maximum of seven minutes, minister. 14:52
The Minister for Environment and Climate Change (Paul Wheelhouse)
SNP
Thank you, Presiding Officer. Air quality in Scotland is generally good, but there are areas where it is of poor quality and affects the health of some indi...
Claudia Beamish (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Will the minister clarify the timescales for the project, please?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Minister, you are approaching your final minute.
Paul Wheelhouse
SNP
We hope to have that by the end of the calendar year. I will provide more information to the member. We are developing a national low emissions strategy, wh...
Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate on air quality. It is useful that Labour is using its debating time to highlight this important issue....
Paul Wheelhouse
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Jamie McGrigor
Con
Am I allowed to give way, Presiding Officer?
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
Yes.
Paul Wheelhouse
SNP
Jamie McGrigor says that the Scottish Government is lagging behind and failing to meet its targets. Will he comment on the fact that 15 areas in England are ...
Jamie McGrigor
Con
I take that point. How long have I got, Presiding Officer?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
You have 45 seconds.
Jamie McGrigor
Con
Local authorities appear to be somewhat uncertain and confused about what they are meant to do to achieve EU air quality values. It is easy to diagnose the p...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
I welcome the Labour Party’s choice of topic in bringing a motion on air quality to the Parliament today. The minister started by saying that air quality in...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
We move to the open debate. We are extraordinarily tight for time. Members have up to four minutes, please. 15:10
Marco Biagi (Edinburgh Central) (SNP)
SNP
The word “noxious” long predates the identification of NOx—nitrogen oxides—but is as fitting a word as any to describe them and their health effects on the p...
Claire Baker
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
Marco Biagi
SNP
I am sorry, but I have only four minutes. Nor could we, should we wish to, take the more radical steps that Sweden proposes to remove fossil fuels from tran...
Cara Hilton (Dunfermline) (Lab)
Lab
Every day, on the streets of towns and cities across Scotland, we are exposed to pollutants that can and do damage public health. From Glasgow to Edinburgh, ...
Bruce Crawford (Stirling) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Cara Hilton
Lab
I am sorry, but I do not have time. The national low emissions strategy is a positive step forward, but we need more than a vision. We also need a clear tim...
Gordon MacDonald (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP)
SNP
The Environment Act 1995 required local authorities to assess air quality in their area and, where that exceeds air quality standards, to declare an air qual...
Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
I thank Claire Baker and the Labour Party for bringing to the chamber a debate on air quality. I broadly agree with the tenor of the remarks made by the fron...
Patrick Harvie
Green
Not quite all.
Tavish Scott
LD
Okay, the Greens did not duck it, but everyone else did. Similarly, the proposal about workplace parking in Glasgow some years ago was ducked, too. None of u...
Nigel Don (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP)
SNP
I am grateful for the opportunity to speak in the debate and for the fact that some of the previous speeches, particularly those of Tavish Scott and Patrick ...