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Kate Forbes: I commend Jenni Minto for raising the important issue of defibrillators and for the fact that she is holding a debate next week. Perhaps we could raise that issue. I would always be open to writing to my counterparts in the UK Government about the issues that Jenni Minto has identified.
Liam McArthur: The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-08948, in the name of Jenni Minto, on celebrating the success of the Covid-19 vaccination programme. I invite members who wish to participate in the debate to press their request-to-speak buttons now or as soon as possible. I call Jenni Minto to speak to and move the motion. You have around 13 minutes, minister.
Humza Yousaf: I join Jenni Minto in paying tribute to her constituent, Hamish Kirk. I send my sympathies to his loved ones and friends, and to the local community. I agree whole-heartedly with what Ms Minto said. The local partnership with Bute Kidney Patients Support Group is an excellent example of the NHS board, the local health and care partnership and local community groups working closely together....
Neil Gray: I can absolutely give that assurance to Jenni Minto and her constituents. The Scottish Government recognises the important role that the Rothesay pavilion plays in the culture, economy and life of Bute, which is why, in 2015, the regeneration capital fund awarded £625,000 to the project. We also demonstrate heritage support through sponsorship of Historic Environment Scotland, which has also...
The First Minister: On Jenni Minto’s last point, she is absolutely right. More importantly, people the length and breadth of Scotland, including our island communities, will draw their own conclusions from the approach that the Conservatives take on such issues. Jenni Minto, who, in the Parliament, represents a number of islands, is right: the award of the contracts is good news for...
The Presiding Officer: I call Jenni Minto to make the last contribution in the open debate. This is Ms Minto’s first speech in the chamber.
The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Ms Wishart. We now move to the open debate. I call Jenni Minto to be followed by Brian Whittle. You have up to four minutes, Ms Minto.
John Swinney: One of the most important points is that we need to lose none of the ways of working that were prevalent in our communities—particularly rural and island communities—and that were highlighted by Jenni Minto. I think that those services and approaches should be enabled by the work of community planning partnerships. One of the priorities of the Covid recovery programme board has been to...
Keith Brown: Of course, Jenni Minto has pointed out that we are, so far, the first and only Administration within the United Kingdom whose medal replacement costs are being met by the Government. We were the first to have a veterans commissioner and—to get to the point of Jenni Minto’s question—we are also the first to have a veterans commissioner who is female. The role is vital for listening to...
Jenny Gilruth: We need to make our islands attractive places to live in, as Jenni Minto has alluded to. She lives on Islay, so she recognises some of the challenges, more so than I. However, there have been extended periods of extreme weather, recently, which have directly impacted on the viability of a number of services. As I mentioned to Mr Sweeney, I will be speaking to CalMac about those issues later...
Liam McArthur: ...Bureau, to move motions S6M-08615, on committee membership, and S6M-08616, on substitution on committees. Motions moved, That the Parliament agrees that— Ben Macpherson be appointed to replace Jenni Minto as a member of the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee; Stuart McMillan be appointed to replace Siobhian Brown as a member of the COVID-19 Recovery Committee;...
Jenni Minto: made a solemn affirmation.
Jenni Minto: To ask the First Minister to join me in this, national carers week, in recognising the immense contribution that carers make to the health and wellbeing of our loved ones across the country, and to give an update on the commitment of the Scottish National Party Government to establishing a national care service.
Jenni Minto: 5. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support unpaid carers. (S6O-00021)
Jenni Minto: Will the Scottish Government consider supporting rural communities by providing centralised purchasing of defibrillators and on-going materials in order to reduce the need for communities to raise funds to cover value added tax?
Jenni Minto: 7. To ask the Scottish Government what its plans are for future investment in the school estate. (S6O-00063)
Jenni Minto: Can the Scottish Government give an assurance to residents, businesses and visitors of Argyll and Bute that the mitigation work that is currently under way is not to the detriment of a long-term solution? Can the minister share with Parliament the timeline for finding that solution?
Jenni Minto: My question follows on from Stuart McMillan’s question. What action is the Scottish Government taking to increase Covid-19 testing capacity in Argyll and Bute?
The Deputy Presiding Officer: We move to the open debate. I call Jenni Minto.
Jenni Minto: What support is the Scottish Government providing to Scotland’s quality pig producer sector?
