Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Christine Grahame) SNP

The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-11643, in the name of Graeme Dey, on behalf of the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee,...

Graeme Dey (Angus South) (SNP) SNP

It is my privilege as convener of the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee to open the debate on our inquiry into air quality in Scotland. ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Flattery will get you nowhere. 15:05

The Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform (Roseanna Cunningham) SNP

There is mounting evidence of the health and environmental impacts of poor air quality and in that respect the committee’s inquiry has been timely. I welcome...

Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Con

I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests, and to the fact that I am a non-executive director of Edinburgh Worldwide Investment Trust...

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Lab

I warmly thank the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee and its clerks for a comprehensive and insightful report. As members know, I was a m...

Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Green

I believe that this is Holyrood’s first air quality inquiry, which provides an excellent starting point for further scrutiny across Parliament, in much the s...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I call Liam McArthur to open for the Liberal Democrats. You can have five minutes or thereabouts, as there is a little time in hand for everyone. 15:32

Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD) LD

Thank you, Presiding Officer. I thank Graeme Dey and his committee colleagues for their inquiry and detailed work on air quality, and I congratulate them on...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

We move to the open debate. For the avoidance of doubt, speeches should still be of five minutes, with just a few minutes in hand for interventions. 15:38

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

My sole contribution to the committee’s report was to join the committee in time to get my name and photograph in it. Otherwise, my contribution to the repor...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I call Jamie Greene. Have you spilled your water? 15:43

Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Con) Con

Yes, my speech is wet, but I will get through it. I will try not to touch anything electrical for the next few minutes. I agree with Stewart Stevenson that ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I call Gillian Martin, to be followed by Colin Smyth. Is Mr Smyth in the chamber?

David Stewart Lab

He has just gone out, but he will be back.

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I will not call him, then. I call Gillian Martin, to be followed by Finlay Carson. 15:49

Gillian Martin (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) SNP

I am not a member of the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee, but I followed its inquiry with interest as the parliamentary liaison officer...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I call Finlay Carson, to be followed by Emma Harper and then Colin Smyth. I am keeping an appropriate political order. 15:54

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

I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak in this debate on air quality as a member of the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee. Althoug...

Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP) SNP

I am pleased to speak in this afternoon’s debate on the air quality in Scotland inquiry. I thank the committee members, clerks and witnesses for the work tha...

Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I commend members of the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee for their work on this inquiry. The final report is a comprehensive and insigh...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda Fabiani) SNP

We are tight for time, so I ask members to tighten up on hitting the five-minute mark. 16:10

Colin Beattie (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) SNP

Air quality does not receive enough attention but has a profound effect not only on our health but on Scotland’s green credentials. As most of us are aware,...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Please come to a close.

Colin Beattie SNP

Clearly, air quality is one area in which all branches of Government must work together to ensure the health of Scotland’s citizens. Between the funding that...

James Kelly (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

I thank the committee for the important work that it has done in this area. I confess that the policy issue of air quality is not one that I have followed cl...

Angus MacDonald (Falkirk East) (SNP) SNP

I am pleased to speak in the debate, not just because I am a member of the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee but because my constituency ...

Alexander Burnett (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Con

Air is something that we cannot ignore. It is the very thing that is keeping us alive, which makes the quality of our air all the more important. I am gratef...

Richard Lyle (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) SNP

Scotland has much to be proud of in its role as a leader on the issue. With more stringent air quality targets than elsewhere in the UK, and with domestic an...

Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab

I congratulate all the members of the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee on the excellent work on the report, and I congratulate my collea...