Fergus Ewing: I am grateful to the Scottish Conservatives for giving us the opportunity to debate these vital matters. For many people in the Highlands and beyond who have lost loved ones in their families—in some cases, more than one family member—and have lost friends as I and others have, as we have heard, 2022 will be their annus horribilis. It leaves behind the devastation of a life-long impact on...
Fergus Ewing: Will the member give way on that point?
Fergus Ewing: The concerns of the consultants and staff at the maternity unit at Raigmore are essentially that the business case that was prepared by NHS Highland management fails to address obvious issues. For example, it underestimates the number of patients who will come from Moray and makes no provision for decamp in the proposed refurbishment of the existing maternity unit. It is surprising that...
Fergus Ewing: I am most grateful for the work that the minister has done in meeting me and representatives of the Scottish Gamekeepers Association. Does she accept that, as far as its work and that of its members and the Scottish Hill Packs Association in using dogs to control foxes is concerned, there have been few—if any—complaints about that aspect? Will she confirm that the licensing regime will be...
Fergus Ewing: Will the member give way on that point?
Fergus Ewing: Does Mr Smyth not accept that in some terrain—in forestry, on uneven and difficult land and on hill land—it is simply impossible to carry out the task with only two dogs?
Fergus Ewing: On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I have given notice of this point, on which I seek your guidance. On 8 September in the chamber, I asked the First Minister whether, in the light of loss of life in road incidents over the summer, the Scottish Government will bring forward detailed revised timetables and detailed proposals for delivery of its 13-year-old pledges regarding dualling the...
Fergus Ewing: I t is an honour and a privilege to have this opportunity to pay tribute to her late Majesty the Queen. Her long life was one of dedicated service. Over the 70 years of her reign, she performed her duties with both wisdom and diligence. Her commitment to that task, which was made by her upon her accession to the throne, was faithfully delivered over the next seven decades. It was delivered...
Fergus Ewing: 4. To ask the First Minister, in light of the loss of life as a result of road traffic incidents on the A9 over the summer, on sections of the road that have not been dualled, what plans the Scottish Government has to publish a timetable setting out when the dualling of the A9, and A96, will be delivered. (S6F-01315)
Fergus Ewing: I join the First Minister in sending our thoughts to the families of those who have, sadly, lost their lives. I emphasise that my constituents sincerely believe that more lives are lost on single-carriageway sections because, unlike dual carriageways, they have no central reservation to separate the opposing flows of traffic, and hence the risk of head-on collisions is not reduced. Will the...
Fergus Ewing: Does the minister agree that a fourth consideration should be added to the three that she mentioned—namely, the fourth aim of the national parks in Scotland, which is the social and economic development of the areas and communities? That is extremely important to the people whom I represent who live in Cairngorms national park.
Fergus Ewing: Does the minister recognise that one of the reasons for the decline of the capercaillie and the lack of new members of the species is the lack of predator control—the control of foxes, in particular? Does she acknowledge that NatureScot now recognises that that approach was a mistake and is seeking to correct it, and does she support that?
Fergus Ewing: I understand that there is a target for 40 per cent of new trees planted to be from native species. However, does Brian Whittle recognise that Sitka spruce has excellent qualities and is an essential raw material for our panel products sector and timber sector, which operate within our national parks?
Fergus Ewing: There are benefits from being within a national park, but does Colin Smyth recognise that many people who live in Cairngorms national park feel that there has been a lack of sufficient permits for new affordable and mid-rent housing over the past nearly two decades, and that that is acting as a big constraint on the sustainable growth of the economy?
Fergus Ewing: I begin by paying tribute to Dave Fallows, who sadly passed away recently. Dave served for 10 years as a councillor in the Highland Council, and he had many and wide interests. As an artist, he and his wife, Lena, ran the Newtonmore craft centre and gallery for, I think, 17 years. He was an enthusiast for shinty, photography and music, and he took to poetry in his later years. He will be...
Fergus Ewing: I do not want to get into the blame game. I do not think that the argument stands up. I point out that there were two visions for new towns in the Highlands. One is Tornagrain, which has gone ahead with the blessing of the Scottish Government. It is an excellent example of a new town that fits well in the landscape and Moray Estates is to be congratulated for that. The other was An Camas...
Fergus Ewing: Will the member take an intervention?
Fergus Ewing: I well recall Sarah Boyack’s stewardship of legislation through Parliament, which I commend her for. She will remember that, during stage 2, when I attended the committee, former MSP Mike Rumbles put forward a compromise that resulted in there being five directly elected board members of the Cairngorms National Park Authority out of a total of 19. I think that Mr Rumbles negotiated that...
Fergus Ewing: For the information of all members and their families, and of Parliament staff and visitors to the public gallery, the beautiful coastal town of Nairn in my constituency is a splendid holiday destination, which one may well choose for a staycation this year. Does the minister agree that its attractiveness will be further enhanced once we have the promised bypass and the dualled connection...
Fergus Ewing: Does the cabinet secretary agree that, whether rural Scotland is located in North Lanarkshire or, for example, in Nairn, there is a shared desire for vaccination services to be provided locally? Building on the excellent work that he has carried out with me and Dr Baker of the Nairn medical practice, will the cabinet secretary engage with NHS Highland to progress consideration of that issue...