Humza Yousaf: I am happy to look in more detail at the issue that Paul Sweeney has raised, albeit that many of the matters that he has raised are operational. We have continued our commitment to supporting the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s delivery and reform, with a further uplift of £10 million in resource this financial year—2023-24—in recognition of the pay and inflationary pressures that I...
Humza Yousaf: Collette Stevenson makes an incredibly important point. I have mentioned on many occasions in this chamber that the defining mission of the Government that I lead will be reducing poverty, including child poverty in particular, building on the excellent progress that was made by my predecessor. The progress report published this week shows that our focus on tackling child poverty is making a...
Humza Yousaf: As I have said previously, we are willing to look at the issue, but we are of course following the agreed process, which has been followed for many years. As a Scottish Government, we have provided a submission to the Health and Safety Executive. I think that we are waiting for other Governments across the United Kingdom to do similar. I will look at the issue, because it is an important...
Humza Yousaf: I agree with every single word of Gillian Mackay’s question. I am very happy to reaffirm my support. Women should be able to access abortions without judgment. It is simply not acceptable for anyone to experience harassment, intimidation or unwanted influence as they access essential healthcare. I will not have been the only one moved by the video made by Dr Greg Irwin, one of the doctors...
Humza Yousaf: I thank Foysol Choudhury for raising that incredibly important issue. I know that it is very close to his heart and that he has raised it publicly with this Government on a number of occasions. I am pleased to say that I know that all of this Parliament shares our ambition to eradicate human trafficking. We will work right across the United Kingdom—including with other Governments where...
Karen Adam: ...more women into politics at every level of government. I am proud that, under Nicola Sturgeon’s leadership, we introduced the first gender-balanced cabinet in the United Kingdom and that, under Humza Yousaf’s premiership, we now see more women in Government than ever before. We must celebrate that, but we can and must do more, in Government and as a party and a Parliament, particularly...
John Lamont: ...border at Berwick? How would mortgage rates fall if a new untested currency was introduced? How on earth would energy prices be brought down by closing down development in the North sea sector, as Humza Yousaf, the First Minister of Scotland, seems to want to do?
Jackie Baillie: ...per cent increase in the number of people going private because they cannot wait any longer. Despite that and the warm words and promises of action, the number of people waiting is increasing. When Humza Yousaf took over as health secretary, 603,000 people were waiting for diagnosis or treatment; now, the figure is 175,000 higher. This touches every area, from failure to meet cancer...
Donald Cameron: ...precipice. All the groups that I referred to, and many others, need urgent support. Warm words about investment in resilience, as important as that is, simply will not cut it. I have asked this of Humza Yousaf, I have asked it of Kevin Stewart and I have asked it of Màiri McAllan. Now I ask Fiona Hyslop. We need a ferry compensation scheme right now. That is why we will support Labour’s...
Alison Johnstone: The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-09508, in the name of Humza Yousaf, on the appointment of a junior Scottish minister. I invite members who wish to speak in the debate to press their request-to-speak button.
Kirsten Oswald: Last week, Scotland’s First Minister, Humza Yousaf, met Jagtar’s brother Gurpreet and pledged to do everything he can to bring Jaggi home. The First Minister is raising his concerns with the UK and Indian Governments, and the Scottish Government stand ready and eager to work with the FCDO to bring about Jagtar’s safe release. What engagement has the FCDO had with the Scottish Government...
Kirsten Oswald: ...Gibson) pointed that out very eloquently. They are the very people who should be able to expect their Governments to find ways to make life easier and support their rights. Our new First Minister, Humza Yousaf, set that out very well: “I am firmly committed to equality for everybody, because your rights are my rights regardless of who you are. My starting point is that I’ve been a...
Humza Yousaf: First and foremost, I recognise what disruption has been caused by the failure of that ferry—[ Interruption .]—which has been caused by the breakdown of the ferry in question. Nobody in the Government—certainly not I, as First Minister—is doubting the significant impact on the South Uist community. The former transport minister visited South Uist and, indeed, North Uist. He also spoke...
Humza Yousaf: I again give my condolences to Louise Slorance on the death of Andrew. Andrew Slorance was a colleague; I worked with him, particularly when I was Minister for Transport and the Islands, on the work that he did on resilience. On the back of a previous question that Anas Sarwar asked, I reached out to Louise Slorance, and I believe that we will be meeting shortly. I am happy to discuss with...
Humza Yousaf: On Tuesday.
Humza Yousaf: I am grateful to take the opportunity during carers week to thank all those who provide care for their loved ones and to recognise the invaluable contribution that they make to our communities. It is vital that appropriate support is available and accessible, which is why our recent national carers strategy is driving long-term change to improve support for our unpaid carers. We are investing...
Humza Yousaf: We value the important work that our countryside rangers do. We have already provided a package of up to £3 million to the national parks, NatureScot and Forestry and Land Scotland to support seasonal ranger activity in 2023. That includes running another round of the successful better places fund, which last year supported more than 100 local authority and community ranger posts. For this...
Humza Yousaf: We recognise and pay close attention to the comments that have been made by the UN committee, as well as recognising that young people in Scotland acquire a number of important rights at the age of 16. All marriages and civil partnerships must be entered into with the full consent of both parties, and there is existing legislative provision against forced marriage. We hope that, with the...
Humza Yousaf: I associate myself with all the remarks of my colleague Fiona Hyslop. This is the worst tragedy. Anybody who is a parent will know that there cannot be a worse fear or nightmare for a parent than losing a child. I cannot think what the family are going through, but I know that the whole community, including the school community, has been deeply affected. I echo Fiona Hyslop’s calls in...
Humza Yousaf: I agree with the underlying premise of Roz McCall’s question—that we have further to go and that we can and should be doing more to keep our promise to Scotland’s care-experienced young people. We know that care experience is a lifelong experience for people right across the entirety of their lifetime. I will, of course, engage with “The Adoption Barometer”. We will continue to...
