Gordon MacDonald: On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I had the same issue, and I would have voted no.
Gordon MacDonald: In Scotland, our trade surplus in goods is driven by fantastic, world-class quality food and drink, whether that is the abundance of seafood in Scottish waters, including top-quality salmon, or Scotch beef and lamb reared on our farms. We export soft fruits such as strawberries, raspberries and blueberries, alongside barley, wheat, oats and—of course—whisky. The sector delivers £8...
Gordon MacDonald: 3. To ask the Scottish Government how many paramedic students have accessed the paramedic, nursing and midwifery student bursary since its introduction in July 2021. (S6O-02383)
Gordon MacDonald: With a record number of student paramedics accessing the bursary, can the cabinet secretary provide clarity on how he envisages the increase will impact paramedic numbers and, importantly, response times?
Gordon MacDonald: On Monday, Scotland’s leading electrical bodies were celebrating a boost for the industry after receiving confirmation of financial support for the next intake of electrical apprentices and adult trainees. Fiona Harper of the Scottish Joint Industry Board said: “This second guarantee of additional places means we can continue to train and develop a significant number of skilled...
Gordon MacDonald: What does the member think about what Save British Farming had to say yesterday? It said: “farming is the sacrificial lamb of Brexit ... We had the best trade deals in the world in the EU ... Brexit torched trade and now British farming is on its knees.”
Gordon MacDonald: 6. To ask the Scottish Government how many front-line police officers have been trained to use, and equipped with, naloxone. (S6O-02241)
Gordon MacDonald: The roll-out of naloxone to front-line police officers began at last year’s international overdose awareness day. Naloxone is an emergency first-aid treatment for use in potentially life-threatening overdose situations. When will the cabinet secretary see the results of the use of naloxone on the figures for overdose deaths?
Gordon MacDonald: For the record, I am supportive of the general principles of the bill. We all want good regulation and improved openness, accountability and transparency in our charities. We also need to ensure that charities are well served by their regulator, OSCR. I ask the cabinet secretary this, however: who regulates the regulator? If a charity feels that it has not been treated fairly or not been...
Gordon MacDonald: I will not continue to speak this slowly, Deputy Presiding Officer. [ Laughter .] I should highlight that I am a relatively new member of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee, as Jeremy Balfour referred to earlier. I, too, take this opportunity to commend the committee’s clerks, its previous members who led on this work and, of course, the stakeholders who provided invaluable...
Gordon MacDonald: I, too, thank Bill Kidd for bringing this important debate to the chamber. We observe the annual international firefighters day to honour and pay tribute to the firefighters past and present who put their lives at risk while working tirelessly to protect the life and property of people and to prevent the damage that is caused by fires. In the past 100 years, more than 40 firefighters have...
Gordon MacDonald: 4. To ask the Scottish Government, in the light of the recent analysis by the International Monetary Fund, which predicts that the United Kingdom economy’s performance in 2023 will be the worst among the G20 economies, what assessment it has made of the potential impact of this in Scotland. (S6O-02127)
Gordon MacDonald: The IMF’s analysis serves to underline the on-going detrimental impact that Westminster control continues to have on Scotland’s economy, and the people of Scotland are paying the price. Experts are now predicting that the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union is costing millions of workers £1,300 a year in lost income. Does the cabinet secretary share my concern that the Tories and...
Gordon MacDonald: I, too, thank Foysol Choudhury for lodging this motion for debate. There is no doubt that, in the 12 years that I have been an MSP representing the Edinburgh Pentlands constituency, housing—and, in particular, damp housing—has been the number 1 issue for my constituents. Given the numerous cases that my staff and I have raised with the City of Edinburgh Council and Link PSL with regard to...
Gordon MacDonald: My constituency of Edinburgh Pentlands has three Army bases within its boundaries, including Dreghorn, Redford infantry barracks and Redford cavalry barracks. In addition, we have Glencorse to the east and to the north the former Army headquarters at Craigiehall, which is currently lying empty. I have visited the barracks in my constituency on a number of occasions, the most recent one being...
Gordon MacDonald: I am just finishing. Sorry. I hope that it will not be long before the other 900 empty MOD homes across Scotland will become available to the 600 homeless veterans and others who require a home. That will go some way to removing one of the barriers that are faced by Army personnel in their transition to civilian life and employment in Scotland.
Gordon MacDonald: I remind members that I am the chair of the cross-party group on independent convenience stores. The committee report has a focus on town centres, as well over half the population of Scotland live in our towns. Town centres should be the beating heart of our communities the length and breadth of Scotland, but our high streets have been changing in recent decades. Many chain stores, from...
Gordon MacDonald: 8. To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to support that it can provide for households in Scotland, what recent discussions it has had with the United Kingdom Government regarding energy affordability. (S6O-01891)
Gordon MacDonald: It has been reported in the past week that, while most people are struggling to heat their homes, big energy companies are making record profits. Given that energy pricing is reserved, will the cabinet secretary urge the Chancellor of the Exchequer to tax share buy-backs, expand the windfall tax and scrap plans to raise the energy bill cap by a further £500 in April?
Gordon MacDonald: The announcement will clearly come as a disappointment to communities and people who have campaigned on the issue over the years, but it is important to focus on exactly how this has happened. Can the minister confirm that the decision has been taken at a time of extreme financial pressures globally, that it is based on an assessment of value for money and that it is in line with HM...
