Colin Beattie: The Scottish Government’s commitment to the safety and wellbeing of all fire and rescue officers is welcome. More broadly, will the minister outline the steps that are being taken to ensure that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service will take action across all areas of operation and working practices to reduce exposure to contaminants?
Colin Beattie: The Scottish National Party Scottish Government’s progressive tax plans help to deliver a strong social contract and to ensure that additional targeted funding is available to protect people and our vital public services. Meanwhile, Scottish Labour’s priorities appear to be elsewhere. Last weekend, it seemed to indicate that it now supports cutting income tax. Can the First Minister...
Colin Beattie: 7. To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting communities to sustainably manage and reduce deer numbers. (S6O-03092)
Colin Beattie: Community models of deer management are common in many European countries and have recently been piloted in Scotland. Can the minister provide an update on that pilot and any lessons that have been learned? Can she say whether there is scope to roll out community-based models on publicly owned land throughout Scotland and incentivise communities to participate in that vital work?
Colin Beattie: On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I am uncertain whether my vote went through.
Colin Beattie: I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak in the debate on the Bankruptcy and Diligence (Scotland) Bill at stage 1, particularly as I am a member of the Economy and Fair Work Committee, which recently considered it. The bill’s objectives seem quite simple. Many of the proposed changes are of a technical or minor nature and appear to require little debate. However, the area that has been...
Colin Beattie: I recognise the sensitivity of the public register, and there will be further debate and discussion on that. Other concerns exist that the mental health moratorium might put additional pressures on an already stretched money advice sector. Although it is not anticipated that an enormous volume of debtors will avail themselves of the facility, there will be a need for practitioners across the...
Colin Beattie: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate as chair of the Scottish Commission for Public Audit. One of the commission’s main roles is to scrutinise and report to Parliament on Audit Scotland’s budget proposals. Last Friday, we published our report on Audit Scotland’s budget proposal for 2024-25. Audit Scotland’s budget comes from two sources: the fees that it charges...
Colin Beattie: Despite being at the mercy of volatile and unstable UK energy and climate change policy, how will plans to develop a green industrial strategy for Scotland bring about the investment that is needed for energy infrastructure projects?
Colin Beattie: Can the cabinet secretary provide any updates regarding what assessments have been made as to the real benefits that Scotland’s international network brings to our economy?
Colin Beattie: 8. To ask the Scottish Government what action it and its partners are taking to tackle retail crime and its potential impact on communities, in light of the reported increase in retail crime caused by the cost of living crisis. (S6O-02941)
Colin Beattie: In my constituency, there has been continued and escalating incidents of retail crime, resulting not only in a threat to the livelihoods of small business owners but in an unacceptable threat to staff’s physical safety while at their place of work. What additional support is being put in place to ensure the safety and security of staff and property for retailers and to provide effective...
Colin Beattie: 3. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the steps that it is taking to tackle loss and damage in marginalised communities. (S6O-02920)
Colin Beattie: It is encouraging to see that the Scottish Government is committed to making the loss and damage fund a success and that Scotland has played an important part in the work that is being done. Can the cabinet secretary say any more about what steps the Scottish Government can take to encourage other countries to commit the finance that is needed to address the challenge that is faced?
Colin Beattie: 5. To ask the Scottish Government what conclusions it has drawn following COP28, including what has been learned as a result of the conference. (S6O-02882)
Colin Beattie: Despite noise from Westminster, Scotland has shown itself willing and able to engage positively with the international community regarding the existential crisis that is climate change. How does the Government intend to ensure that Scotland’s voice is heard internationally and that the views of this country on climate and nature are not mistaken for the embarrassing intransigence of the...
Colin Beattie: On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I could not connect. I would have voted yes.
Colin Beattie: There is no denying the economic impact of Brexit. However, as the ever-increasing damage of leaving the European Union continues to mount, it seems that Labour and the Tories are keeping their heads in the sand. Can the cabinet secretary provide any update regarding the latest assessment that the Scottish Government has made of the impacts of Brexit on economic growth? Will he join me in...
Colin Beattie: 7. To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact that its council tax freeze policy will have on households in the Midlothian North and Musselburgh constituency. (S6O-02763)
Colin Beattie: It is very welcome that the Scottish National Party Scottish Government is helping households across Scotland save hundreds of pounds with the council tax freeze, putting money in people’s pockets when they need it most. Meanwhile, apparently, East Lothian’s Labour council leader recently threatened to raise council tax by 32 per cent. That would hammer hard-pressed families across my...