Seòmar agus comataidhean

Thank you for attending, cabinet secretary. Following on from Karen Adam’s question, mine is about the local ability to process fish. Given Brexit and its impact on our local inshore fishermen, how can the Scottish Government support them to change their market from Europe to Scotland, and what support are you giving them?

He lives in Oban.

In your opening remarks, you talked about a partnership of friends. I think that that was specifically with regard to the United Kingdom, but could you say what you have been doing across the wider partnership of friends that we could have, whether that be in Europe for the rest of the world?

That was a very interesting discussion, but I would like to shift us away from talking about culture in the big urban areas. I would like to know your thoughts on culture in more rural areas, with their smaller museums, and how people access culture there. Given the growth in staycations, the percentage of people who come out to rural Scotland is much higher. I would also like you to say a wee bit about your thoughts on Gaelic and its importance to Scottish culture.

Including those in my constituency.

Great. What a fantastic few weeks you have had—very busy.

You touched on relationships with our own citizens going to Europe and vice versa. Yesterday at the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee, we heard evidence from representatives of the food and drink sector, and they have requested short-term Covid recovery visas. I am interested to know what work you have been doing to support the sector on that.

Separately from that but connected, I met some musicians, and they, too, are looking for improved access to Europe and for European musicians to be able to come here as well.

I thank Professor Brennan for her comments. I am very aware of the work that happened in Argyll and Bute, which was done across the local authorities and with some really strong local groups. It also included a lot of work with local distilleries, which Fraser Grieve mentioned. He highlighted the level of employment in distilleries across Scotland, but I ask him to go into more detail on their plans with regard to sustainability and emissions, in relation not just to electricity, but to the heat that is provided. I think that it represents about 88 per cent of distilleries’ usage.

You paint quite a dark picture, Colin. Living on an island, I know how important our local shops are: they are absolutely central to rural communities across Scotland. Throughout the pandemic, they showed fleetness of foot by changing where they got deliveries from, getting more local produce and working with different people and suppliers. Given what you have just said, I am interested to know how you will continue to ensure that that happens.

In the previous evidence session, we had stark warnings about Christmas. I am interested to know what improvements you are making to help if we are still in this situation by then.

I congratulate Clare Adamson on her convenership and Donald Cameron on becoming deputy convener.

I am a new MSP, so I am new to the committee structures, but I would like to reflect what Patrick Harvie said: this is probably the most exciting committee and its remit is hugely wide ranging. The MSPs on the committee all bring different experiences, whether from within the Parliament or from outwith it, which is going to add to the work that we can do.

I will not repeat what others have said, but our leaving the EU and how we move forward from that will clearly be a big part of our work. As Patrick Harvie said, that will include reflecting on the relationships that we have across Parliaments—not just with Westminster, but with the European Parliament and the other devolved nations. That is really important given that the Scottish Government has made a commitment to keep pace with EU law.

Like other members, I wonder how we can best work with other committees. As well as having strong relationships across Parliaments, we need to have them across the committees in our Parliament.

My background is mixed, but I have experience of working in broadcasting and the arts. As others have mentioned, those industries and the creativity of people who work in them have been badly impacted by Covid. Not only do we have to worry about the effect that it has had in the cities, we have to think about the impact that it has had in rural areas—on their festivals and art shows, for example—as well as on our indigenous languages.

On broadcasting, Patrick Harvie mentioned the letter about the structures within BBC Scotland and whether further work needs to be done on the commissioning of output and the various channels that we have. That is interesting.

I will finish there, but I am very excited to be part of the committee and look forward to working with experts from across the various fields, learning more about them and helping to shape our future.

I have no relevant interests to declare, but I refer people to my entry in the register of members’ interests, particularly the entry in the voluntary section that says that I am a trustee of a museum.