Fergus Ewing: I do not think that I have time.
Fergus Ewing: I am very sorry. I would have taken it, but—
Fergus Ewing: That’s a date, as they say. I commend touch typing to the cabinet secretary, and I hope that she will seriously consider what I have had to say.
Fergus Ewing: Will the member take an intervention?
Fergus Ewing: I entirely agree with what Mr Johnson has said. I respect his experience in running his own business, as I did, albeit in a different century from him. Thereanent, does Mr Johnson agree that one of the success stories of devolution, which we should all be proud of and which has been maintained and protected in John Swinney’s most recent emergency budget, is the small business bonus scheme?...
Fergus Ewing: I entirely agree that we must be mindful of the current challenges facing small businesses. Thereanent, although I know that it is not his portfolio, is the minister aware of the concerns that the deposit return scheme, as it is planned to be rolled out, would impact pretty severely on certain small businesses, notably small craft brewers and distillers, because of the high costs and the...
Fergus Ewing: 7. To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to support a general practitioner-led Covid-19 and flu vaccination programme in NHS Highland, in light of reports that it would cost several million pounds less than the model proposed by the national health service board. (S6O-01626)
Fergus Ewing: GPs provided the service for £1.5 million a year, but the NHS Highland model would cost up to £9 million a year. Will the cabinet secretary ask his officials to engage directly with the GP practice in Nairn and other GP representatives in the Highlands to devise a system of provision of vaccination services that is safest, most efficient, community-based, led by GPs and which, on the...
Fergus Ewing: The Presiding Officer has, of course, ruled that today’s parliamentary proceedings can continue. I recall that, during the 2016 referendum on EU membership, a substantial majority of Conservative MSPs were remainers—in fact, they were staunch remainers, and many of them said so volubly in public. Are we now to take it that there are no remainers remaining on the Tory Holyrood benches? Is...
Fergus Ewing: I am most grateful to Willie Rennie for giving way, and I promise that I will not be at all “processy”. I think that he invented that word. There is not much disagreement that Brexit is a disaster. That being so, why has the leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey, said that he has given up on trying to rejoin the EU?
Fergus Ewing: I thank Mr McLennan for the work that he is doing in the cross-party group on the development of renewable energy. Does he agree that, if we are to achieve the maximum potential for renewable energy in Scotland, there must be a focus on speeding up the processes for obtaining permissions, licences and consents, not only for development both on and offshore, but for good connections? Without...
Fergus Ewing: Will Graham Simpson give way on that point?
Fergus Ewing: I am most grateful to Graham Simpson, and I agree with his remarks on solar power. There was cross-party support for a motion that I lodged recently on the ambition that he described. Does he agree that some low-hanging fruit can be achieved quite early? For example, the widespread application of solar panels to public buildings would reduce the cost of electricity to the public sector,...
Fergus Ewing: I thank the minister for her considerable attention to this matter. There are, indeed, four sections of the road that are now ready to go to procurement: the Tay crossing, Pitlochry, Dalnaspidal and Dalwhinnie. Together, those four sections amount to 35km in length. It would be a massive proof positive of the Scottish Government’s clear commitment to delivering our dualling pledge if those...
Fergus Ewing: I am most grateful to the cabinet secretary for giving way, and I commend her for the work that she is doing in leading these negotiations, as I did for several years. Does she agree that one of the aspects that is causing major damage to fisheries in Scotland is the tough, hard, uncompromising attitude that the UK is taking towards immigration? Crew often come from other parts of the...
Fergus Ewing: Does Beatrice Wishart agree that, when any new cable is proposed to be laid underground in connection with energy or the other requirements that she mentioned, it is essential that fishermen and their representatives are fully engaged and represented from the very start? Does she agree that their complete engagement should continue unabated throughout the negotiations, with all relevant...
Fergus Ewing: I whole-heartedly agree with Dr Allan’s detailed description of the Home Office’s failings in that regard. Is he aware of the speech that was made recently by the leader of the Labour Party in England, Kier Starmer, who appeared to cast doubt on whether immigration was a good thing and make it clear that his party is opposed to it? That is particularly damaging and unhelpful to the...
Fergus Ewing: Will the member take an intervention?
Fergus Ewing: rose —
Fergus Ewing: Will the member give way?