Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 24 May 2017
24 May 2017 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
National Parks
Thank you.
I get exactly where Claudia Beamish is coming from, but I point out to her that, whether it is light touch or whatever, the communities still have to go along with it and there are still associated costs. As I said, in making my comments, I am playing devil’s advocate rather than trying to shoot down the idea. Without considering the impact of Brexit, where would the money to fund new national parks come from at a time of constrained and, indeed, shrinking budgets? Would the expectation be that we would cut the funding for the existing parks? Can members imagine the reaction to that?
As I have indicated, I make my comments in the role of devil’s advocate because we need to explore certain issues. In principle, I support the idea of having more national parks. I get the desire to have more national parks but, as I noted earlier, there are questions to be asked and answered about prioritisation, justification and the scale of the demand.
17:30In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Christine Grahame)
SNP
The final item of business today is a members’ business debate on motion S5M-03832, in the name of Finlay Carson, on the establishment of new national parks....
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Con
I thank the members who supported my motion, allowing this debate to take place. Many of my colleagues will know that I have campaigned enthusiastically on t...
Kate Forbes (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP)
SNP
I ask this in all seriousness as a member of the Scottish Parliament who represents the Cairngorms, which is a fantastic national park. Mr Carson talked abou...
Finlay Carson
Con
Absolutely—Kate Forbes has raised a good point. It is vital that there is flexibility, and that is in the legislation. We often describe the national park th...
Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I am pleased to speak in the debate and I congratulate Finlay Carson on securing it. Mr Carson’s motion asks for a review of national parks across Scotland. ...
Maurice Corry (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
I congratulate my colleague Finlay Carson on securing the debate. As I come from the west of Scotland and live very near the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs n...
Kate Forbes
SNP
Will the member give way?
Maurice Corry
Con
Yes.
Kate Forbes
SNP
On Loch Lomond and the Trossachs—
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Kate Forbes.
Kate Forbes
SNP
Sorry.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Enthusiasm is no bad thing, Ms Forbes.
Kate Forbes
SNP
I am generally in favour of national parks, but one of the challenges is that, when a national park is established, house prices start to rise, which makes i...
Maurice Corry
Con
Yes, it has been. There is an anachronism in the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs national park, which is that, in order to build in the national park, one has ...
Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Like other members, I am grateful to Finlay Carson for the opportunity that the motion gives us to celebrate the success story that is Scotland’s existing na...
Graeme Dey (Angus South) (SNP)
SNP
I begin, as is customary, by congratulating Finlay Carson on bringing the debate to the chamber. He, like Emma Harper and Claudia Beamish and me, serves on t...
Claudia Beamish (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Is it not the case that a light-touch national park, as other members have said, would be of value and—
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Ms Beamish, where is your microphone? Interruption.
Claudia Beamish
Lab
At this time of night, I hope that I can remember what I just said.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
And you an experienced MSP.
Claudia Beamish
Lab
The light-touch issue that has been highlighted by other members is important—I will leave it at that or Mr Dey will not have any of his time left.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I will give you your time back, Mr Dey.
Graeme Dey
SNP
Thank you. I get exactly where Claudia Beamish is coming from, but I point out to her that, whether it is light touch or whatever, the communities still hav...
Edward Mountain (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I, too, thank my colleague Finlay Carson for securing a debate in the chamber on the important subject of establishing new national parks. As we know, Scotl...
Emma Harper
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Edward Mountain
Con
I will, if I have time.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I will give you the time back.
Edward Mountain
Con
In that case, I will take the intervention.
Emma Harper
SNP
Graeme Dey has just made a compelling argument about the money that is involved. The Government has not made a decision yet, and the Cabinet Secretary for th...
Edward Mountain
Con
When we look at business cases—as I did during my business career—we have to look at the opportunity cost and the potential net gain to the environment and t...