Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 29 January 2026 [Draft]
29 Jan 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
::The big lesson is that we need political leadership, and I am not just talking about from whoever happens to be the minister at the time. We need leadership on the ground, and we need people who back national parks in their communities to stick their heads above the parapet and say, “This is going to be good for our communities.” I live in a national park area, and I see its advantages every day.
There was clearly an appetite from communities across Scotland for more parks, and there was a quiet confidence that we were going to get them. That is not going to go away, despite NFU Scotland’s campaigning. All politicians need to recognise that.
In my closing remarks I will turn to some of the amendments that have strengthened the bill. For now, though, I say that Scottish Greens will be very happy to vote for the bill at stage 3.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
::Before we move to the debate on the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill at stage 3, I call Gillian Martin to signify Crown consent to the bill.
The Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy (Gillian Martin)
SNP
::For the purposes of rule 9.11 of standing orders, I advise the Parliament that His Majesty, having been informed of the purport of the Natural Environment ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
::We move on to the debate on motion S6M-20549, in the name of Gillian Martin, on the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill. I call the Cabinet Secretary for C...
The Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy (Gillian Martin)
SNP
::I open the debate by thanking members across the chamber and members of the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee for the positive spirit in which they have ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
::I call Tim Eagle to open the debate on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives.17:10
Tim Eagle (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
::I start by reminding members of my entry in the register of members’ interests.At stage 3 of the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill, it is right that we s...
The Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity (Jim Fairlie)
SNP
::First, Tim Eagle talks about the fact that rural deer managers have managed deer effectively over a number of years, yet we have a crisis with the number o...
Tim Eagle
Con
::I could spend the next hour telling the minister the ways in which the Government does not support the people of Scotland, but I will not go into that. If ...
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
::I apologise to the cabinet secretary and colleagues for not being in the chamber at the start of the debate. I missed the entire opening speech because I w...
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green)
Green
::The purpose of the bill is to tackle the nature emergency. We should be in no doubt that, sadly, Scotland is a nature-depleted country. However, the green ...
Sarah Boyack
Lab
::I am proud to have delivered for our national parks. It is key that we learn lessons from the good that has been done there and about what more needs to be...
Mark Ruskell
Green
::The big lesson is that we need political leadership, and I am not just talking about from whoever happens to be the minister at the time. We need leadershi...
Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
::I am pleased to speak this evening for the Scottish Liberal Democrats. Throughout the bill’s process, it has been encouraging to see the passion and care f...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
::We move to the open debate.17:32
Alasdair Allan (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP)
SNP
::The 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, noted:“Conservation means development as much as it does protection. I recognize the right and...
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Con
::My remarks will focus not on any one provision in the bill but on its underlying principles. As my colleague Tim Eagle said, my colleagues and I will not b...
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
::Mercedes Villalba is the final speaker in the open debate.17:41
Mercedes Villalba (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
::Throughout the passage of the bill, I have consistently made the case that it should seek not simply to prevent further degradation of the natural environm...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
::We move to winding-up speeches.17:45
Mark Ruskell
Green
::I take the opportunity to thank the clerks of the committee, my fellow committee members, the Scottish Parliament information centre and all the witnesses ...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
::I thank all those who assisted with the scrutiny of the bill, including Parliament staff who support the committee. I offer a very special thank you to the...
Jamie Halcro Johnston (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
::I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests. I am a partner in a farming business and a member of NFU Scotland, SLE and the Royal Hi...
The Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity (Jim Fairlie)
SNP
::I want to take a moment to thank, from the bottom of our hearts, on behalf of Gillian Martin and Mairi Gougeon, our bill teams, our legislation teams, our ...
Jamie Halcro Johnston
Con
::Will the member take an intervention?
Jim Fairlie
SNP
::No. The debate is finished, Mr Halcro Johnston.
Jamie Halcro Johnston
Con
::No, you have just raised a point.
Jim Fairlie
SNP
::We have had these discussions, and I really am disappointed—Interruption.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
::Let us not shout at one another.
Jim Fairlie
SNP
::I am disappointed that the Conservatives will not vote for a bill that has had so much work put into it by everybody. I welcome the support that we are get...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
::That concludes the debate on the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill.