Chamber
Plenary, 06 Jun 2007
06 Jun 2007 · S3 · Plenary
Item of business
Moving Water (Rescue Arrangements)
I congratulate Roseanna Cunningham on bringing this important matter to the chamber. I speak as an MSP for the Highlands and Islands, which contains many fast-moving and slow-moving rivers and many inland freshwater lochs—some huge and some small. Sadly, each year in those waters the lives of people who are taking part in sports such as angling, canoeing and kayaking, and others who simply go for a swim and are overtaken by currents or cold, are lost. The police, emergency services and the coastguard do a wonderful job when they are called out, but Roseanna Cunningham's motion will help to highlight the increasing number of accidents that occur in water in Scotland. I congratulate her on that.
I have a question for the minister about hidden reefs and rocks and submerged crannogs in our Scottish lochs. Is anyone responsible for marking those hazards, which contribute so much to loss of life in water, through boating accidents? I have asked the question before in Parliament, but I have not yet received a satisfactory answer.
I have a question for the minister about hidden reefs and rocks and submerged crannogs in our Scottish lochs. Is anyone responsible for marking those hazards, which contribute so much to loss of life in water, through boating accidents? I have asked the question before in Parliament, but I have not yet received a satisfactory answer.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Alasdair Morgan):
SNP
The final item of business is a members' business debate on motion S3M-81, in the name of Roseanna Cunningham, on rescue from moving water. The debate will b...
Motion debated,
That the Parliament notes with concern the rising number of incidents involving persons trapped in moving water, including incidents in the River Tay at Pert...
Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP):
SNP
Perhaps rescue from broken podiums might be more appropriate.I make it clear from the outset that the phrase "persons trapped in moving water" is the termino...
Elizabeth Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
I congratulate Roseanna Cunningham on securing the debate and commend her diligence in seeking answers to the questions that, as yet, remain unanswered. I ex...
Stefan Tymkewycz (Lothians) (SNP):
SNP
I commend Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service for being one of the few rescue services that has specifically trained personnel for specialised water ...
Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
It is unfortunate, to say the least, that not one member of the Labour Party and not one Liberal Democrat is attending the debate.
Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD) rose—
LD
Christine Grahame:
SNP
I apologise to the member and beg his pardon. I should have said only that not one member of the Labour Party is attending the debate. I hope that there will...
Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP):
SNP
I congratulate Roseanna Cunningham on securing the debate, not only because this is the first members' debate in the new session, but because the issue is im...
Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
I congratulate Roseanna Cunningham on bringing this important matter to the chamber. I speak as an MSP for the Highlands and Islands, which contains many fas...
The Minister for Community Safety (Fergus Ewing):
SNP
I thank all those who have stayed to contribute to and listen to this evening's debate. In particular, I thank Roseanna Cunningham for initiating the first m...
Roseanna Cunningham:
SNP
Does the minister accept that, notwithstanding the statutory position, the import of the many letters that I have received from various constabularies around...
Fergus Ewing:
SNP
I understand entirely the point that Roseanna Cunningham makes. In mountain rescue, although the legal duty rests with the police, many rescues are carried o...
Meeting closed at 17:32.