Maureen Watt: Does the cabinet secretary recognise that, at the time, women were given the option of paying the full stamp or the lower stamp, and that a lot of them opted for the lower stamp because they were on lower wages?
Maureen Watt: This is, indeed, an important debate in which to participate, as we have heard from members’ very thoughtful speeches. The close attention that is being paid by the young people in the public gallery is testament to the debate’s importance. Our is the first generation to know that how we are living is impacting on the planet, and we have a duty to do something about that. All of us have a...
Maureen Watt: The just transition commission was established to advise Scottish ministers on the manner of transitioning to a low-carbon economy. I support the bill proceeding, and I look forward to Scotland maintaining its position as a world leader on climate change.
Maureen Watt: 6. To ask the Scottish Government what the impact has been on the economy of Aberdeen and the north-east of business uncertainty resulting from Brexit. (S5O-03073)
Maureen Watt: Businesses in the north-east continue to live with uncertainty, none more so than the fish-processing sector, which is particularly concerned about licences for the trucks taking their fresh produce to markets on the continent. The sector’s justified concerns were compounded earlier this week when Michael Gove refused to fight for lorries with fresh produce to have preference in the queue....
Maureen Watt: Will the member give way?
Maureen Watt: Why do so many people want to come from south of the border to north of the border to live here? Older people, especially, find it a great area to retire to.
Maureen Watt: I believe that the proposal to create a bespoke south of Scotland enterprise agency was in the manifesto of not only the Scottish National Party’s manifesto at the most recent Scottish Parliament elections, which is probably why, from the outset, committee consideration of the bill has benefited from a large degree of consensus—something that is not afforded to many bills in the...
Maureen Watt: Yes. We should build on that success, but the fact is that too much of our milk still goes south of the border to be processed and made into other products. With a little encouragement and support from the new south of Scotland enterprise agency and its partners, I am sure that the growth of similar enterprises is possible. We know from the National Council of Rural Advisers that there is the...
Maureen Watt: Like John Finnie, I congratulate Russel Griggs on providing the basis for the new enterprise agency. Many people in the south of Scotland have a can-do attitude, rather than the woe-is-me attitude that we heard from Finlay Carson. I am sure that we can build on the positive mental attitude and drive that we have seen in the south of Scotland, and I look forward to further consideration of the...
Maureen Watt: Does Alexander Burnett agree that not everyone wants to come off a ship and immediately get on a bus, and that it is important that there are attractions within walking distance of the new harbour at Nigg Bay, including in Torry, in my constituency?
Maureen Watt: The First Minister will be aware of the devastating floods that have hit many parts of Malawi in recent days, which have resulted in 45 deaths and 577 injuries. There are at least two missing people, and 150,000 households or 750,000 of the population have been affected. More than 15,000 households have been totally destroyed, as a result of which 187 camps have been established throughout...
Maureen Watt: I thank Liam McArthur for lodging the motion for this members’ business debate. As soon as I saw it, I knew that I wanted to speak in the debate. I remember the tragedy very well, and all the media sources in our house being on for any update about it. That was because my uncle—I think that his job title would have been chief engineer of the RNLI—had the job of going around all the...
Maureen Watt: The discussion paper sets out starkly the importance and value of the European maritime fisheries fund to Scottish fishing, but also shows how Scotland has been short-changed by the Westminster Government. Through Westminster’s inept negotiation, Scotland has received less than 2 per cent of available EU funding, despite having the fourth-largest EU sea area to manage. What guarantees has...
Maureen Watt: I am pleased to take part in the short debate this afternoon to confirm the cash settlement for local government this year. It will see an increase of £287.5 million in cash terms—a 2.9 per cent increase that brings the total revenue spend for local government to £11.2 billion, which is almost a third of the total Scottish budget. It also delivers an increase in capital spend of £207.6...
Maureen Watt: I acknowledge that the percentage change for Aberdeen City Council is an increase of 5.7 per cent and for Aberdeenshire Council it is 4.34 per cent, when the Scottish average is 4.03 per cent. The people of Aberdeen can see that they have had a higher increase than the average. Of course, it is up to local authorities themselves to decide how they spend the money. I do not know whether the...
Maureen Watt: Aberdeen City Council has been completely unable to keep projects within budget—for example, the Broad Street redesign and Lochside academy. I could go on and on. There is also an £8 million overspend on the Union Terrace gardens before the work has even started. That is what Aberdeen city residents face.
Maureen Watt: Will the member give way on that point?
Maureen Watt: On capital projects.
Maureen Watt: Is the member aware that, in Aberdeen City Council’s budget discussions, it was recommended that funding be approved for the delivery of early learning and childcare expansion and that chief officers approved the business case for projects related to early learning and childcare—[ Interruption .] The projects are east Torry new build, Northfield public park—
