Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 17 May 2022
17 May 2022 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Carbon Neutral Islands
Between 2016 and 2021, just £11 million was promised by the Government for the croft house grant scheme and only half of that was distributed. The cabinet secretary should reflect on her comments and realise that the Government is not delivering what it is promising.
The islands bond scheme, which promised to provide an incentive for people to stay on the islands, has amounted to nothing more than a gimmick. The cabinet secretary, who is completely out of touch with the needs of crofters and islands more generally, will not say what benefits islands bonds will have for young people in enabling them to start out in crofting or in providing an alternative way for young people to buy into a croft. That is just another example of a complete lack of understanding of those communities.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-04428, in the name of Mairi Gougeon, on supporting Scotland’s islands on their journey to become carbon n...
The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands (Mairi Gougeon)
SNP
I am delighted to open the debate in support of Scotland’s islands on their journey to become carbon neutral. I will outline the Scottish Government’s progre...
Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)
Con
Helping Scotland’s islands on their journey to become carbon neutral is an ambition that is, no doubt, shared by all members. Last year, the people of Scotla...
Alasdair Allan (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP)
SNP
Rachael Hamilton mentioned the viability of island communities. Does she feel that the viability of those communities would be significantly enhanced if, wit...
Rachael Hamilton
Con
From speaking to communities on Shetland, for example, I know that it is not just about the issue that Alasdair Allan has raised. A whole host of things brin...
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
I have to challenge the assertion that Rachael Hamilton has made, given the support that the Government has continued to provide through the crofting agricul...
Rachael Hamilton
Con
Between 2016 and 2021, just £11 million was promised by the Government for the croft house grant scheme and only half of that was distributed. The cabinet se...
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD)
LD
I certainly agree with the point about the islands bonds, however well-intentioned they are. What islands need are things aggregated across the community to ...
Rachael Hamilton
Con
That is exactly in the vein and spirit of what I am trying to convey to the Government. If we, together, get all the pieces of the jigsaw in place, we can st...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
The Government’s announcement that it will assist six islands to become carbon neutral by 2040 is welcome. Those islands are among the smallest of Scotland’s...
Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
Scottish Liberal Democrats will support the Labour and Conservative amendments. I congratulate island communities on taking their place in the carbon-neutra...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
We move to the open debate. I advise members that we have some time in hand should they wish to make and take interventions. 15:11
Jenni Minto (Argyll and Bute) (SNP)
SNP
It gives me great pleasure to speak in the debate on such a positive announcement for our islands, Scotland and the world. I refer members to my entry in the...
Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
The debate is important. It is on an issue that is close to my heart as a regional member who proudly represents the Isle of Arran and the Isle of Cumbrae, t...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Before I call the next speaker, I remind all members who wish to speak in the debate that they need to ensure that their request-to-speak button is actually ...
Alasdair Allan (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP)
SNP
Few places have as much potential to contribute to Scotland’s carbon reduction efforts as our island communities. Peatland and some types of sea bed are carb...
Jamie Greene
Con
Has Alasdair Allan elicited information from the Scottish Government on what it is doing to improve the quality of insulation and the resilience of houses in...
Alasdair Allan
SNP
It is, indeed, a big part. Jamie Greene will be aware that I have been in touch with the Government regularly on that subject, to ensure that the process of ...
Mercedes Villalba (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Reaching net zero cannot be about just hitting a target. I think that everyone in the chamber agrees that we must drastically reduce our emissions. That agre...
Emma Roddick (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)
SNP
As colleagues have said, it is incredible to note what is already happening in our islands. The Scottish Government recently supported Foula Wool with £146,0...
Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
SNP
As a member of the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee, and as an MSP who represents a largely rural and coastal constituency, I commend...
Ariane Burgess (Highlands and Islands) (Green)
Green
The zero carbon islands programme sets a high level of ambition for all our islands to aspire to in the decades ahead. Islands are the perfect setting to lea...
Liam McArthur
LD
Will the member take an intervention on that point?
Ariane Burgess
Green
I am just about to conclude. Presiding Officer, am I allowed to take an intervention?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
You may take an intervention as we have a bit of time.
Liam McArthur
LD
I thank Ariane Burgess for taking the intervention. I agree with her about the environmental impact of the fuel burned by the Orkney ferry fleet. Does she ag...
Ariane Burgess
Green
I would have to look into the issues further to see whether the costs should be borne by Orkney Islands Council or should be supported by the Scottish Govern...
Paul McLennan (East Lothian) (SNP)
SNP
In its programme for government 2021-22, the Scottish Government committed to supporting carbon neutral islands. That included pilot projects for islands to ...
Liam McArthur
LD
Mr McLennan talks about the islands connectivity plan, which we all look forward to seeing. Does he believe that the ferry services for both Orkney and Shetl...
Paul McLennan
SNP
Mr McArthur mentioned that before and I think that it was being considered by the cabinet secretary. I look forward to hearing her answer on that. The islan...