Seòmar agus comataidhean

I have a supplementary question for Ian Duncan Millar. I want to check that I have understood the point that you were making about the exception for a 14-day licence. Were you saying that the reason that you oppose that is that, in a particular season, it would be required almost continuously, which would mean that it would create an administrative burden because you would have to keep applying for sequential licences?

And would that have been with more than two dogs?

Good morning. I want to follow up on Karen Adam’s question about the practical support that the UK Government could be providing. You will be aware that creeled live nephrops are an important export for Scotland’s coastal fishery, and you might have heard that the national co-ordinator of the Scottish Creel Fishermen’s Federation has reported that, post Brexit, export difficulties have added £2.50 in costs to every kilo exported.

Given that the UK Government has invested in support schemes such as the UK seafood fund, what does it plan to do—and what is it currently doing—to help to allay such concerns, reduce those costs and protect low-impact fisheries?

There have been disturbing reports of the mistreatment of migrant workers aboard UK fishing vessels. Those reports included instances of 20-hour shifts with workers being paid as little as £3.50 an hour, racism, sexual abuse and violence. Research by the International Transport Workers Federation suggests that the use of transit visas is leading to the systemic exploitation of migrant labour aboard those vessels. Can you give a commitment to end the two-tier labour system by closing the loophole that allows transit visas to be used on fishing vessels in the UK?

My understanding is that those visas were supposed to be for long-haul shipping container work. Perhaps you could consider their appropriateness for fishing vessels.

I look forward to seeing how that digital solution progresses.

I have one more question. The Scottish Government’s proposed future catching policy plans to deviate from UK and EU law by unilaterally permitting discarding. What is the secretary of state’s view on that proposal and its potential impact on fishers across the UK?

I support Maurice Golden’s amendments 19 to 21, which highlight the limited number of public bodies that are covered by the bill’s provisions. It is clear that there are more public bodies that could play a vital role in producing good food nation plans and delivering real action towards addressing food poverty in Scotland, and it is right to seek to bring the Scottish Funding Council into the scope of the bill. As the major public body that determines funding for higher and further education, the SFC could produce a good food nation plan that would enable colleges and universities to tackle food poverty among students.

Let us be clear: food poverty is a real issue facing students in Scotland today. Back in February, the National Union of Students Scotland published research that exposed the true scale of student poverty. Eight per cent of students were found to be reliant on food banks. That statistic should shame us all into action, which is why I urge members to support amendments 19 to 21.

I have a couple of questions about strategic objective 3 of the national islands plan on improving transport services. The Scottish Government has committed to engaging with local authorities and island communities

“in developing regulations and guidance for the bus services provisions”

under the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019. As the cabinet secretary will be well aware, the act gives local authorities powers to bring buses into municipal ownership. Given the geographical challenges on the islands and issues around passenger demand, what additional support does the Scottish Government plan to provide to local authorities to deliver publicly run bus services, should they wish to do that?

Are you able to give a commitment that ferry services will remain in public ownership as part of that connectivity plan?

Brilliant. Thank you very much.

I have a question on strategic objective 4, on housing. What recent assessment has the Scottish Government made of private rent levels on the islands? Are the levels higher or lower than the national average?