Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 07 June 2022
07 Jun 2022 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
National Parks
Therefore, I cannot accept calls to shortcut the process or to shorten it at the expense of public engagement.
I move,
That the Parliament recognises the key role that national parks are playing in tackling the twin biodiversity and climate crises, and the important cultural, social and economic benefits that they bring to Scotland; welcomes the announcement by the Scottish Government that at least one new national park will be designated during the current parliamentary session; understands the need for an open and transparent evaluation process to identify the areas to be progressed to national park designation, and welcomes the start of stakeholder engagement to set the criteria for identifying the areas to be designated as new national parks.
15:12In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-04799, in the name of Lorna Slater, on Scotland’s national parks. I invite those members who wish to spea...
The Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity (Lorna Slater)
Green
Scotland is a rich, diverse and beautiful country, from the rolling hills in the Borders to the rugged mountains and sinuous sea lochs of the west, the croft...
Fergus Ewing (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP)
SNP
Does the minister agree that a fourth consideration should be added to the three that she mentioned—namely, the fourth aim of the national parks in Scotland,...
Lorna Slater
Green
The member is quite right that the aims of our parks were established in the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000. I remind all of us that the four aims are: ...
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Con
We know that national parks must have a coherent identity as well as being of outstanding quality in terms of natural and cultural heritage. They must not be...
Lorna Slater
Green
Of course, the member is correct. Our parks are living, breathing, dynamic spaces with communities in them who live and work there, including our agricultura...
Fergus Ewing
SNP
Does the minister recognise that one of the reasons for the decline of the capercaillie and the lack of new members of the species is the lack of predator co...
Lorna Slater
Green
I discussed that at a meeting with the park authorities last week. They are looking at a broad range of measures for improving capercaillie numbers, includin...
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Can the minister explain why it has taken so long to look at a third—and possibly, I hope, a fourth, fifth and sixth—national park in Scotland?
Lorna Slater
Green
Absolutely—I will cover the timescale in the course of my speech. I will continue, so that I can get to the point at which I can answer the member’s question...
Finlay Carson
Con
My question is on a technicality. Will the minister set out what the process will be, should there be multiple bids from different organisations or individua...
Lorna Slater
Green
The specifics of the evaluation criteria have not yet been established; we will look at the process as we go forward. The member raises an excellent point, h...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Minister, please bring your remarks to a close.
Lorna Slater
Green
Therefore, I cannot accept calls to shortcut the process or to shorten it at the expense of public engagement. I move, That the Parliament recognises the k...
Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
I thank the Scottish Government for bringing such an important debate to the chamber. Scottish Conservatives broadly agree with the sentiments expressed in t...
Fergus Ewing
SNP
I understand that there is a target for 40 per cent of new trees planted to be from native species. However, does Brian Whittle recognise that Sitka spruce h...
Brian Whittle
Con
Fergus Ewing is absolutely right, but there has been a predominance of Sitka over the past wee while. It is recognised that overplanting Sitka decreases biod...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Mr Whittle, did you move the amendment?
Brian Whittle
Con
I apologise. I move amendment S6M-04799.1, to insert at end: “; notes the significant local support from communities involved in national park campaigns ac...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Before I call the next speaker, I remind everybody who is seeking to speak in the debate to make sure that their request-to-speak button is pressed and conti...
Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
More than two years ago, Parliament unanimously agreed to support an amendment that I lodged that recognised the contribution that our current national parks...
Fergus Ewing
SNP
There are benefits from being within a national park, but does Colin Smyth recognise that many people who live in Cairngorms national park feel that there ha...
Colin Smyth
Lab
There is absolutely no doubt that Fergus Ewing has raised an important point about the lack of housing in many of our rural communities. That is why I have c...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I call Beatrice Wishart, who joins us remotely. 15:28
Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
I convey my apologies, as I must leave the debate early in order to meet my travel commitments later this afternoon. I have permission from the Presiding Off...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
We move to the open debate. 15:33
Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate about the creation of at least one new national park in Scotland. I will focus on the campaign for a nationa...
Finlay Carson
Con
Will the member take an intervention?
Emma Harper
SNP
I will, if Mr Carson is quick.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Briefly, Mr Carson.