Chamber
Plenary, 04 Nov 2009
04 Nov 2009 · S3 · Plenary
Item of business
National Parks
We know that this is not a filler debate that has been scheduled simply to enable others to go off to the by-election campaign. I have logged the fact that we have four environment debates in two weeks, which my team will cope with.
Today's debate gives us a good opportunity to reflect on the contribution that our national parks have made to Scottish life and to celebrate some of the fantastic work that is carried out by our national park authorities and the contribution that has been made by communities and the range of organisations that are involved in making those parks a success. It also allows us to consider the minister's comments about the outcome of the review and her views on the proposals to set up a national parks strategy group. Further, it gives us a chance to look to the future. I want to spend some of my time talking about where we go next with national parks. We should not stay where we are; there are opportunities to develop our national parks and to have more national parks.
At the outset, we should reflect on the reason why we established national parks. It was because we wanted to acknowledge and protect some of our most outstanding landscapes, our environment and our heritage. Ten years ago, when this Parliament debated the policy framework, the support that we gave it underpinned the first two national parks for Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and the Cairngorms. When we introduced the original legislation, the International Union for Conservation of Nature guidelines were the gold standard, and they have to be the gold standard today. That principle of looking after some of our most important national heritage has got to be at the core of our national parks policy.
I welcome the minister's comments about the success of the national parks. However, the national parks policy was drafted to ensure that all the aims of the national parks were met collectively—that has been the distinctive contribution that Scotland has made to the development of national parks across the world. We were one of the last countries in the world to develop national parks, which were one of the huge benefits of our new Scottish Parliament, and we need to ensure that we do not throw out our initial vision as we move forward.
Today's debate gives us a good opportunity to reflect on the contribution that our national parks have made to Scottish life and to celebrate some of the fantastic work that is carried out by our national park authorities and the contribution that has been made by communities and the range of organisations that are involved in making those parks a success. It also allows us to consider the minister's comments about the outcome of the review and her views on the proposals to set up a national parks strategy group. Further, it gives us a chance to look to the future. I want to spend some of my time talking about where we go next with national parks. We should not stay where we are; there are opportunities to develop our national parks and to have more national parks.
At the outset, we should reflect on the reason why we established national parks. It was because we wanted to acknowledge and protect some of our most outstanding landscapes, our environment and our heritage. Ten years ago, when this Parliament debated the policy framework, the support that we gave it underpinned the first two national parks for Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and the Cairngorms. When we introduced the original legislation, the International Union for Conservation of Nature guidelines were the gold standard, and they have to be the gold standard today. That principle of looking after some of our most important national heritage has got to be at the core of our national parks policy.
I welcome the minister's comments about the success of the national parks. However, the national parks policy was drafted to ensure that all the aims of the national parks were met collectively—that has been the distinctive contribution that Scotland has made to the development of national parks across the world. We were one of the last countries in the world to develop national parks, which were one of the huge benefits of our new Scottish Parliament, and we need to ensure that we do not throw out our initial vision as we move forward.
In the same item of business
The Minister for Environment (Roseanna Cunningham):
SNP
Today's debate provides me with an opportunity to set out the Government's thinking on the way ahead for national parks.To start with, I remind all members o...
Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab):
Lab
We know that this is not a filler debate that has been scheduled simply to enable others to go off to the by-election campaign. I have logged the fact that w...
Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD):
LD
The member will remember our exchanges 10 years ago about the directly elected element of the park authorities. Does she accept that, after 10 years, it can ...
Sarah Boyack:
Lab
The member did not need to wait until today to hear my comments on that. In numerous debates since the establishment of the parks, I have said that that has ...
John Scott (Ayr) (Con):
Con
I begin by declaring an interest as a farmer.What a difference a year makes. It is important to record the progress that we have made since our previous deba...
Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD):
LD
I welcome this debate on what has been a genuine post-devolution success for Scotland. Like Sarah Boyack, I am in no way disheartened by the suspicion that w...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
That concludes the opening speeches. We come to the open debate. As we have a little time in hand, members should feel free to take interventions and even to...
Christopher Harvie (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP):
SNP
In his last novel, "The Duke's Children", Anthony Trollope, whom no one would regard as a radical, wrote of a Scottish Highlands that was afflicted by field ...
Mike Rumbles:
LD
Yes—I will take this opportunity. Christopher Harvie must remember that people live in the parks and we need supermarkets. I, for one, need a supermarket, as...
Christopher Harvie:
SNP
I do remember that. I also remember that Tesco—that great liberating force—is about to descend on the town of Machynlleth, which has a farmers' market, a sma...
Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab):
Lab
I welcome the debate, as others have done, and I hope that it heralds a new period of action on national parks.The motion asks us to commend the two existing...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Alasdair Morgan):
SNP
In as relaxed a fashion as possible, I call Gil Paterson.
Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
Presiding Officer, I apologise to you and other members for the fact that I need to leave a bit early, unfortunately. I hope that members forgive me—I have a...
Members:
Oh!
Gil Paterson:
SNP
I will tell you about them in private. They are not as naughty as members may think.Few cities have, as Glasgow does, a resource close to them like greater L...
Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
I am pleased to be able to take part in today's debate. Our two national parks, the Cairngorms and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, play a large part in the li...
Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
Does the member welcome the plans that have been announced to assess 60 abandoned cottages and farmsteads in the Cairngorms for possible conversion to afford...
Jamie McGrigor:
Con
Absolutely—that is marvellous. Consideration should be given to using the rural empty properties grant for that purpose.Constituents in the Cairngorms nation...
Mike Rumbles:
LD
Oh!
Jamie McGrigor:
Con
Do you want me to go on?
Members:
No.
Mike Rumbles:
LD
We are spellbound.
Jamie McGrigor:
Con
I wish the minister's national parks strategy group every success, and I hope that any further sensible recommendations can be implemented quickly in the int...
Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate—and I have been musing on some of the interesting contributions that members have made up to this point.Our ...
Sarah Boyack:
Lab
Will the member take an intervention on that point?
Rob Gibson:
SNP
I certainly will.
Sarah Boyack:
Lab
I note that the atmosphere is slightly more relaxed this afternoon.Rob Gibson makes a very good point, which follows what Peter Peacock said. Will Rob Gibson...
Rob Gibson:
SNP
We were talking about bureaucracy, regulation and so on, and it occurred to me that the shackles of present crofting law, together with more regulation, offe...
Liam McArthur:
LD
As a point of clarification, I think that the member was talking about the Labour amendment, which refers to establishing more national parks. I acknowledged...
Rob Gibson:
SNP
I am happy with Liam McArthur's emphasis.