Hansard

Gillian Martin (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) SNP Chamber

23 Apr 2020

Members’ Virtual Question Time · Universities (Offers of Places)

The Scottish Qualifications Authority has stated that pupils will get their higher results on 4 August. That information is most welcome. However, I have a question about what the Scottish Government is doing with regard to working with universities to ensure that people are g...

Gillian Martin (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) SNP Committee

29 Nov 2016

Economic Impact of Leaving the European Union

That leads on nicely to my question, which is about the labour market. We have heard from a range of sectors that have grave concerns about the labour pool that they have been able to employ to grow their businesses. You will be familiar with some of them, as you speak to all ...

Gillian Martin (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) SNP Committee

14 Mar 2018

Ask the Minister

I am going to ask some of the questions that people have sent in. As you would expect, I will also ask some questions relating specifically to the north-east. First, I have a question from Megan Hare, who emailed the committee, and who has a background in employability progr...

The Convener SNP Committee

20 Nov 2018

Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Under agenda item 2, the committee will take evidence on the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill. This is the sixth of the committee’s evidence sessions with stakeholders. I am delighted to welcome our first panel this morning. Teresa Anderson is poli...

The Convener SNP Committee

19 Mar 2019

Subordinate Legislation

We now move to the question-and-answer session. Members should indicate that they would like to ask a question and to whom it is directed—the cabinet secretary and her officials, or John Scott. I invite John Scott to ask the first question.

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Aug 2020

UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

We probably have time for Mark Ruskell to ask the question that we skipped over when we were talking about principles. Mark, would you like to ask that question now as a final question to the panel?

The Convener SNP Committee

01 Dec 2020

Regional Marine Planning Inquiry

Could you wind up your question, please? Other members want to come in, and you have already asked that question. Could you put a question to the minister, please?

The Convener SNP Committee

30 Nov 2021

Sport and Physical Activity

Agenda item 2 is an evidence-taking session with stakeholders on sport and physical activity. This will be our initial session on this aspect of the committee’s portfolio, and I welcome to the committee the following witnesses, who are joining us online: David Ferguson is the ...

The Convener SNP Committee

07 Dec 2021

Perinatal Mental Health

Our second item is an evidence session with stakeholders as part of our short inquiry into perinatal mental health. All our witnesses join us remotely. I welcome to the committee Selena Gleadow-Ware, who is the perinatal faculty chair at the Royal College of Psychiatrists; Mar...

The Convener SNP Committee

11 Jan 2022

Inquiry on Health and Wellbeing of Children and Young People

We have only about 15 minutes left, and there are two remaining themes to cover. Therefore, I ask colleagues not to ask a question followed by a supplementary but instead to roll everything up into one question, if they can. David Torrance has a question about online content ...

Gillian Martin SNP Chamber

27 Sep 2023

Portfolio Question Time · Hydrogen Technology

There are two markets for hydrogen: the domestic market and the export market. This morning, I was pleased to have a meeting with Graham Stuart of the UK Government, and in answer to my question on injecting hydrogen into the gas grid to make up 20 per cent of the total gas—so...

Gillian Martin SNP Committee

25 Oct 2023

Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

That is a key question. As I was listening to it, I was thinking about two things. On the one hand—as with quite a lot of this bill—the responsible people will sign up, but the question is: how can we find the people who do not? I do not know—it is impossible. The other unint...

Gillian Martin SNP Committee

07 Feb 2024

Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Amendment 56 inserts a requirement for any application for a wildlife trap licence to include evidence that the applicant has completed an approved training course. The bill currently provides that the licensing authority, which I expect to be NatureScot, has the ability to d...

The Minister for Climate Action (Gillian Martin) SNP Chamber

28 May 2024

Topical Question Time · New Build Heat Standard

I am pleased that the issue has come up as a topical question, as I was due to issue a Government-inspired question later today on the very topic. I have been listening to the concerns raised by communities and will be reviewing the regulations on wood-burning stoves and bioma...

Gillian Martin SNP Chamber

22 May 2025

Portfolio Question Time · Proof of Concept Fund (Just Transition in North East Scotland)

I have read the report and, indeed, I welcome all the interventions that the Just Transition Commission made. I work very closely with the Just Transition Commission. I cannot really answer Douglas Lumsden’s question based on the original question that was put to me by Audrey...

Gillian Martin SNP Committee

02 Dec 2025

Ecocide (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

I am not avoiding the question, but I wonder whether that is less a question for me and more a question for the member in charge of the bill. Obviously, Ms Lennon has said that there is a reason for introducing the bill. I also point to the views of Professor Hendry, who gave ...

Gillian Martin SNP Chamber

11 Dec 2025

Portfolio Question Time · Net Zero Policies (Cost)

If the member does not mind my saying so, that is a bit of a tangential question about flooding, although it is an important issue. Most of the flood protection schemes are in the hands of local authorities, which are given substantial funding to put them into action. Given th...

Gillian Martin SNP Committee

10 Feb 2026

Subordinate Legislation

You are perhaps referring to the notifications that have to go to ministers. I can address that. We would not have agreed to that if we thought that there would be any diminution in standards associated with it. We are satisfied that the notification of ministers is not really...

Gillian Martin (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) SNP Committee

15 Nov 2016

Economic Impact of Leaving the European Union

Because of what you have just said, convener, I have changed my mind about my question. I want to pick up on some of the things that Jeremy Peat said. My question is about Scotland’s global reputation as a result of Brexit. I was interested to hear what Jeremy Peat said abo...

Gillian Martin SNP Committee

06 Dec 2016

Draft Budget Scrutiny 2017-18

I have a supplementary question to Mr Kerr’s question about oil and gas. You will be aware that we are having a debate this afternoon on renewable energy. With the skills base that we have in the north-east, we have a massive opportunity to capitalise on the emerging energy te...

Gillian Martin SNP Committee

07 Feb 2017

Draft Climate Change Plan and Energy Strategy

That is the elephant in the room—we are coming out of the EU. The question will be to which Government certain powers go. Would you like to lobby on that question of which powers from the EU that would affect your meeting your targets go where?

Gillian Martin (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) SNP Chamber

07 Mar 2017

International Women’s Day

I am fed up with the type of things that we still have to do on international women’s day. I cannot be the only one who wants to see it change. I cannot wait for the day when women do not have to use this day—or tomorrow—to draw attention to things that should have stopped de...

Gillian Martin (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) SNP Chamber

29 Mar 2017

Portfolio Question Time · Independence Referendum (Assessment of Support)

Does the minister think that it is a little bit hypocritical for both of the main Opposition parties to tell us to spend parliamentary time discussing health and education and then, at the very first opportunity, to use portfolio question time to talk about independence?

Gillian Martin SNP Chamber

18 Apr 2017

Topical Question Time · Benefits and Welfare Eligibility (Reforms)

Before I ask my next supplementary question, I pay tribute to Alison Thewliss, who has campaigned on the issue for the past two years. Suddenly, everyone else seems to be waking up to the fact that this is going on. Given that tax credits are provided to working families who a...

Gillian Martin SNP Committee

18 Apr 2017

Gender Pay Gap

My question is about the tangible advantages that Kevin Burnett mentioned. I ask each witness why it is in their sector’s interests to tackle the gender pay gap. It is not just the right thing to do for equality; it has tangible effects. Can you outline those effects for your...

Gillian Martin (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) SNP Chamber

21 Jun 2017

Portfolio Question Time · Dentists (Rural and Island Communities)

I have a relevant supplementary question, Presiding Officer. I remember a situation in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire years ago, when there were queues round the block to register with NHS dentists, such was the demand of patients relative to the shortage of NHS dentists. How has...

Gillian Martin SNP Committee

12 Sep 2017

Draft Budget Scrutiny 2018-19

I know that you will not be able to tell us anything about the conclusions; you will want to leave that until publication. I have a question about the methodology that you use, which I suppose is a wider question about how Scottish Enterprise assesses what it does. When you h...

Gillian Martin SNP Committee

21 Nov 2017

Scotland’s Economic Performance

What has been said about business models is really important. When Dr Zangelidis mentioned that it informed my next question, which is about policy decisions. I direct the question to Dr Wilson, who mentioned in her introduction that she looks at family economics. Which recent...

Gillian Martin (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) SNP Chamber

21 Feb 2018

Portfolio Question Time · Peat-based Horticulture Products (Phasing Out)

I remind Parliament that I am parliamentary liaison officer to the cabinet secretary. She might have just answered my question; I was going to ask her whether she believes that the Scottish Government has sufficient powers to do what Mr Corry is asking.

Gillian Martin (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) SNP Committee

16 May 2018

Widening Access

I will ask about articulation. I have in front of me the recommendations from the commissioner for fair access. Panel members who know me will know that I was a college lecturer for many years, so articulation is a subject that is very close to my heart. I have seen many gradu...

Gillian Martin (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) SNP Committee

05 Jun 2018

Impact of Bank Closures

We have asked most panels a similar question to see what different responses we get from the various stakeholders in this bank branch closures inquiry. In your opinion, what, if anything, could the Scottish and UK Governments do to ameliorate the negative impact of the bank br...

The Convener (Gillian Martin) SNP Committee

18 Sep 2018

Scottish Crown Estate Bill: Stage 2

Welcome to the 25th meeting in 2018 of the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee. I remind everyone present to switch off their mobile phones, because they might affect the broadcasting system. Under agenda item 1, the committee will consider the Scottish Crow...

The Convener SNP Committee

06 Nov 2018

Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

As I mentioned earlier, we took evidence from two individuals in Sweden. They said that, until now, climate change has been incremental but transformational change is now required. Where do you see that transformation happening? Is it really going to be incumbent on Government...

Gillian Martin (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) SNP Chamber

15 Nov 2018

Day of the Imprisoned Writer

I want to thank my friend and colleague, Ruth Maguire, for once again bringing our attention to the important work of Scottish PEN and Amnesty International and for giving us all a chance to air the stories of those whose voices are silenced. As we have today’s debate in the...

The Convener SNP Committee

20 Nov 2018

Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

My colleagues will address the feasibility question later, so we will have ample opportunity to discuss that. Professor Jafry wanted to say something in response to the first question.

The Convener SNP Committee

27 Nov 2018

European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018

The clerks have advised me that the relevant cabinet secretaries will be coming before the committee, so we can ask them that question in public. However, we will also include Mark Ruskell’s question in our letter. We have raised the issue before. I think that we will get an u...

The Convener SNP Committee

11 Dec 2018

Biodiversity

The second item on the agenda is evidence on biodiversity funding and implementation. I am delighted to welcome Eleanor Kay, the agriculture policy adviser for Scottish Land & Estates; Andrew Midgley, the environment and land use manager for NFU Scotland; Calum Duncan, the...

The Convener SNP Committee

11 Dec 2018

Biodiversity

We have five minutes of the round table session left. We have talked an awful lot about where the funding streams are not working, but I would like the panellists to outline briefly what we have at our disposal in terms of tools that we already have in Scotland that we may not...

Gillian Martin (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) SNP Chamber

10 Jan 2019

Future Rural Policy and Support

It will be very obvious from every speech on the subject that I have made in Parliament that I am a supporter of staying in the European Union, and that I struggle to find any positives to Brexit. When it comes to the financial benefits of membership of the EU, agriculture in ...

Gillian Martin SNP Chamber

21 Mar 2019

Land Reform

When one person comes to my constituency surgery and says that they have a problem with someone, I do not ask how many other people are affected or for proof that the issue affects more people. I take the person at face value. I am running out of time because I took that inte...

The Convener SNP Committee

23 Apr 2019

EU Exit and the Environment

We have run out of time, but I would like the panel to answer one more question. Because of what happened a few weeks ago, we now have a further six-month period, and the cliff edge is further away. What would you like to happen in the next six months to address some of the is...

The Convener SNP Committee

28 May 2019

Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

To start us off, I will ask a broad question—it is the million dollar question. We know where we need to go, and we have been told the targets that there are pathways to get to. How do we get there?

The Convener SNP Committee

28 May 2019

Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

I have a question that fits neatly with Claudia Beamish’s question. I am conscious of the interesting Dutch statistics; the Dutch invest €35 per person per year in cycling infrastructure, but the health benefits of that investment, and the longer-term impact on health spend, a...

The Convener SNP Committee

28 May 2019

Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Mark Ruskell will ask his question first, but it is now not the final question.

The Convener SNP Committee

11 Jun 2019

Marine Inquiry

Before we move on to questions from—Interruption. Apologies; I see that Charles Nathan wants to come in. I was just going to say that if anyone wants to answer a question, they should indicate to me—I am worried that I will miss you if I cannot see whether you want to come i...

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Jun 2019

Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Item 2 is consideration of amendments to the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill at stage 2. I welcome members who are joining us today. We have Maurice Golden with us, and we will probably see Liam McArthur and Alexander Burnett at some point. Claudi...

The Convener SNP Committee

05 Nov 2019

Scottish Water (Investment Priorities)

I have a quick question: what are the main issues coming from consumers? Is that too broad a question?

The Convener SNP Committee

12 Nov 2019

Proposed Deposit Return Scheme

We will continue our round-table discussion on the proposed deposit and return scheme. I welcome those who have joined us for our second panel—and welcome back those who were here for the first panel. As I said earlier, we have an awful lot to cover, but I want to ensure that ...

Gillian Martin SNP Chamber

19 Feb 2020

Portfolio Question Time · Scottish 4G Infill Programme (Aberdeenshire)

The minister has largely answered my supplementary question, which was about Collieston, because I was informed recently that there is no interest from operators. What can be done to encourage operators to get involved in the process and give us the coverage that we desperatel...

The Convener SNP Committee

29 Apr 2020

Subordinate Legislation

Thank you. I will put the question on the motion. If you agree with the motion, you should stay silent. If you disagree or intend to abstain, please indicate verbally and by raising your hand. The question is, that motion S5M-21535, in the name of Roseanna Cunningham, be agre...

The Convener SNP Committee

29 Apr 2020

Subordinate Legislation

I will put the question on the motion. If you agree with the motion, please stay silent. If you disagree, please indicate verbally and by raising your hand. The question is, that motion S5M-21536, in the name of Roseanna Cunningham, be approved. Are we agreed? Members: No.

The Convener SNP Committee

15 Jun 2020

Environment Bill

Claudia Beamish has a question on the circular economy. I think that it will be the last question under this agenda item.

The Convener SNP Committee

11 Aug 2020

UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

I think that broadcasting staff are having a wee issue with Emma’s microphone. We will give them a couple of seconds. We will come back to Emma, once we get her microphone sorted, for her response to Mark Ruskell’s question. In the meantime, Stewart Stevenson has a question a...

The Convener SNP Committee

11 Aug 2020

UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

We have Emma online now. We will deal with Stewart Stevenson’s question first, then you can address Mark Ruskell’s question.

The Convener (Gillian Martin) SNP Committee

18 Aug 2020

UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Welcome to the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee’s 17th meeting of 2020. We are taking evidence from two panels on the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Bill. I welcome our first panel. We are joined by Professor Campbell Gemmell...

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Aug 2020

UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Claudia Beamish has a question about the independence of ESS. I see that Campbell Gemmell wants to come back in on the previous point, so I will bring him in after the question has been asked.

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Aug 2020

UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

As no one else wants to come in on Claudia Beamish’s question, we move to a question from Angus MacDonald about gaps in the powers.

Gillian Martin SNP Chamber

04 Nov 2020

Portfolio Question Time · Covid-19 (Antibody Testing)

The cabinet secretary’s answer has anticipated much of my supplementary question, so I will ask something simple: will people who suspect that they have had Covid but did not get tested be able to get an antibody test in the future?

Gillian Martin (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) SNP Chamber

19 Nov 2020

Coronavirus (Scotland’s Strategic Approach)

I thank everyone in Aberdeenshire East, who, through their sacrifices and adherence to the protective measures that the Government has set out, have ensured that the infection rates are levelling out. We remain in tier 2 in Aberdeenshire this week. To be honest, I was expectin...

Gillian Martin SNP Committee

03 Dec 2020

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Convener, I said that that was my final question, but I have a supplementary question on the back of the Deputy First Minister’s answer. We have talked about child-friendly communication. It might not be in the bill, but has an assumption that there will be a duty on all publi...