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Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 11 January 2025
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Displaying 2361 contributions

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Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid)

Portfolio Question Time

Meeting date: 7 September 2022

Mark Ruskell

I welcome the cabinet secretary’s response. We are still in a situation in which one in nine Scots waits more than a year to receive essential treatment, and they need hope that things are going to change. Will the cabinet secretary clarify what the focus of the treatment centres in Tayside and Fife will be and will he estimate the impact that the centres will have on tackling the backlog of elective surgeries and procedures? Will he also comment on how staff capacity can effectively support the delivery of the specialist services as the centres become operational?

Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid)

Programme for Government (Cost of Living)

Meeting date: 7 September 2022

Mark Ruskell

Will the member take an intervention?

Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid)

Programme for Government (Cost of Living)

Meeting date: 7 September 2022

Mark Ruskell

This programme for government comes in the midst of a humanitarian crisis that is without precedent in the devolution era. The Scottish Government’s response is the right one: protect the vulnerable in the short term, while addressing the long-term structural problems that have often been caused by decades of deregulation in the pursuit of profit.

On housing, it is clear that an evictions ban and a rent freeze are needed, but deeper reforms must also happen. When I see just how bad the quality of rented flats is in areas such as Stirling, I know that the crisis goes beyond costs—it is also about the dismal living conditions that are placed on some tenants, which need to be tackled urgently.

That is why the new deal for tenants, announced by the First Minister yesterday and expanded on by Patrick Harvie today, is so critical. I know that the Scottish Government will continue to reach out to those who are equally passionate about fixing the housing crisis to design the right solutions.

Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid)

Programme for Government (Cost of Living)

Meeting date: 7 September 2022

Mark Ruskell

I will if there is time in hand.

Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid)

Programme for Government (Cost of Living)

Meeting date: 7 September 2022

Mark Ruskell

I will take a brief intervention.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Scottish Biodiversity Strategy

Meeting date: 6 September 2022

Mark Ruskell

What key things would you wish to see in a delivery plan for freshwater? I will put the same question to Calum Duncan.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Scottish Biodiversity Strategy

Meeting date: 6 September 2022

Mark Ruskell

Is there something more fundamental about the way that Government and agencies work within the permanent architecture of civil servants and agencies such as NatureScot? Is the strategy prepared enough to tackle a nature emergency? It is still a biodiversity strategy and does not encompass the entire Government.

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Scottish Biodiversity Strategy

Meeting date: 6 September 2022

Mark Ruskell

Indeed. Thinking back to what the witnesses on the first panel said, it is a concern that, although a biodiversity strategy was established previously, the delivery plans did not flow from it so that we could act. Has that been the issue up until now? Is there concern that, although a strategy may be set up that looks great, with some specific points within it, the meat of the delivery can then drift?

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Scottish Biodiversity Strategy

Meeting date: 6 September 2022

Mark Ruskell

This is my final question. Is there policy coherence within Government organisations such as Marine Scotland?

11:30  

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Scottish Biodiversity Strategy

Meeting date: 6 September 2022

Mark Ruskell

Does anyone have any brief comments to build on their previous points?