Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Christine Grahame) SNP

The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-03573, in the name of Fergus Ewing, on developing forestry in Scotland. 14:55

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

Trees cover 18 per cent of the land area of Scotland. Our forestry resources represent 45 per cent of the United Kingdom total and 60 per cent of UK softwood...

Peter Chapman (North East Scotland) (Con) Con

I refer members to my register of interests. I am glad to be able to speak in the debate today—especially as we await the final plans from the Scottish Gov...

Stewart Stevenson (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Peter Chapman Con

I will not at this point. I am sorry; I do not have much time. I am convinced that there are large swathes of land in Scotland where sheep have already gone...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Please conclude.

Peter Chapman Con

I will leave it there. We can use carbon capture and help to alleviate flooding and we know that trees will take in carbon. Presiding Officer—

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Just move the amendment now, please.

Peter Chapman Con

My colleagues and I are ready to work with the Scottish Government to deliver—

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

And move your amendment. Just move your amendment, please.

Peter Chapman Con

—but we remain concerned that not enough work is being done.

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

No. We are moving on.

Peter Chapman Con

I move amendment S5M-03573.1, to leave out from “welcomes” to end and insert “recognises the importance of retaining local expertise and cross-border joint ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Is that how long a conclusion takes? I call Rhoda Grant to speak to and move amendment S5M-03573.2. You have six minutes—and I know that you will not be nau...

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Lab

You are tempting me, Presiding Officer. We welcome the further devolution of the Forestry Commission, which should help the Scottish Government to achieve i...

Stewart Stevenson SNP

Will the member take a brief intervention?

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

The member is in her last minute.

Rhoda Grant Lab

I cannot take an intervention. I am sorry. That would, of course, require Government funding, which has too often been not well thought out or sustainable. ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

That was not bad, Ms Grant. I call Andy Wightman, who has six minutes, please. 15:22

Andy Wightman (Lothian) (Green) Green

Six minutes, Presiding Officer?

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Six minutes precisely and no more.

Andy Wightman Green

Thank you. I welcome this debate on developing forestry in Scotland, as it is nine years since the subject was last debated in Government business. I starte...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda Fabiani) SNP

We move to the open speeches. We are tight for time and there is no time in hand, so any interventions will have to be contained in members’ six-minute speec...

Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP) SNP

I remind members that I am the parliamentary liaison officer for the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity. Forestry, woodlands and trees are...

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Con

Although the forestry sector employs more than 25,000 people across Scotland, the industry is of particular importance to the economy of rural Scotland, incl...

Stewart Stevenson (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP

I will make some observations for what I think is likely to be a consensual debate—we are all travelling in the same direction on forestry, which is good. F...

Fergus Ewing SNP

Is the member sure?

Stewart Stevenson SNP

I am pretty sure that he supports Forres Mechanics. I apologise to Jim Mackinnon if I am wrong about that, but I am pretty sure that I am correct. In Scotla...

Claudia Beamish (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

As we have heard, forestry bestows on us numerous benefits. The forest policy group depicts the scope excellently, stating that woodlands can double as “a b...

Graeme Dey (Angus South) (SNP) SNP

I will look at the issue from the standpoint of meeting our sequestration targets and the role that farming can play in that. That is not to diminish the imp...