Seòmar agus comataidhean

I have spoken to my constituents and to the fishing industry. Their words are in my speech and members will hear what they have to say. Brexit has absolutely been an unmitigated disaster when it comes to the promises that your party served them and the subsequent outcomes.

It was vote leave architect Michael Gove—was it not?—who said:

“The day after we leave, we will be able to decide who can access our waters .. We can rebuild our fishing communities and take back control of this important natural resource.”

His double-act partner, Boris Johnson, proudly declaimed that

“We will restore Britain’s fish, and our fishermen will see an economic boom like they have not seen in decades.”

I remember the vote leave leaflets proudly exclaiming that Brexit would cut EU red tape and simplify regulations for our fishers, thereby allowing them to operate with more freedom and fewer burdensome restrictions.

However, when we strip back the bravado, what is the reality? “Take back control”, they said. Well—the trade and co-operation agreement allows EU vessels to retain significant access to UK waters under a phased arrangement. The transitional period, which will last until at least 2026, limits the UK’s control, as EU fleets continue to fish in British waters under negotiated quotas. The promise of exclusive control has not been realised in the way that fishers anticipated.

Increased quotas were promised, but many fishers feel that the adjustments have been marginal and do not compensate for the additional costs and challenges that they face due to Brexit-related trade barriers. Some industry representatives have criticised the minor quota gains as symbolic, rather than transformative.

They promised more jobs in our coastal communities, yet those communities, especially in north-east Scotland, have experienced economic challenges instead of a revival. Brexit-induced trade barriers have led to reduced profitability, especially for fish exporters, who now face increased costs and delays in getting to EU markets. Many small-scale fishing businesses are struggling to stay afloat due to rising export costs, and some communities report that there are fewer job opportunities.

“No more red tape”, they said. Instead, Brexit has introduced new administrative requirements, especially for those who export to the EU. Fishers must now complete extensive paperwork, including export health certificates, customs declarations and additional checks that delay shipments. For perishable seafood products such as shellfish, those delays have a direct impact on product quality and market competitiveness. Many fishers and processors report that regulatory burdens have increased rather than decreased, which is contrary to the promises of the Brexit campaign.

“Brexit is increasingly looking like a betrayal of the UK fishing industry”.

Those are not my words, but the words of the president of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, Elspeth Macdonald.

Brexit has been an unmitigated disaster for Scotland’s rural economy, and especially for our fisheries. Where Scottish fishers once dominated EU markets, our fishers now find themselves at a competitive disadvantage, compared with EU-based competitors.

Many seafood businesses in Scotland have reported a decline in export volumes since Brexit. UK fish, crustacean and mollusc exports to the EU declined by nearly 45 per cent in net mass from December 2020 to early 2023.

One of the pressing challenges that are facing the processing sector today is the severe labour shortage, which has—as we have heard from my colleagues—been worsened by limited access to EU nationals who would traditionally fill those roles. Many businesses in my constituency rely heavily on migrant workers—some up to almost 80 per cent, I have been told—and they are gravely concerned about their ability to stay operational. The proposed pay thresholds for visas are quite simply unrealistic for many of those roles. Since Brexit, the absence of EU workers has made it difficult for processing plants to run at full capacity, which is cutting productivity and driving up operating costs.

Fisherman James Stephen, who is based in Peterhead, has been at sea for 40 years. Earlier this year, he said:

“We’re such a small part of GDP, but yet we were one of the major arguments in the Brexit story. But when it all came to fruition, it was just a pack of lies we were told. We were led up the garden path.

We’ve ended up with the crumbs for extra quota, which has been one of the major things. Even the on-shore industry really gets hit by the paperwork. Now we have to export the fish to Europe. So I think for all concerned, to me, it has been a total shambles.”

Those are not my words; they are his.

I have little more to add, Presiding Officer.

I have little more to add. Our fishers have been betrayed by a Conservative Government that promised them a sea of opportunity but delivered to them a sea of troubles. It is time for Scotland to escape this Brexit.

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government is doing to ensure that young people are equipped with the skills to recognise online misinformation and disinformation. (S6F-03493)

In the public gallery, we are joined by teachers and pupils of Banff academy, who have been drafting their very own parliamentary bill to tackle misinformation and disinformation. Will the First Minister join me in welcoming them and congratulating them on their engagement with our democracy? Will he outline how young people are being included in the decision-making process for policies that affect the online space and digital landscape?

As no member has any further questions, we draw our public session to a close. I thank the minister and her officials for attending. We move into private session to discuss the final agenda items.

We move on to questions from Tess White.

Good morning, and welcome to the 23rd meeting in 2024 of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. We have received no apologies today.

Our only agenda item to be taken in public this morning is a continuation of our evidence taking for our pre-budget scrutiny 2025-26, and I refer members to papers 1 and 2. I welcome to the meeting Kaukab Stewart, Minister for Equalities, who is accompanied by Nick Bland, deputy director, mainstreaming and inclusion; and Matt Elsby, deputy director, fiscal policy and constitution, Scottish Government. Thank you for coming along this morning.

I invite the minister to make an opening statement before we move to questions from committee members.

Thank you, minister. I appreciate that opening statement.

You touched on your previous role as convener of the committee and your experience in scrutinising budgets. How have you taken that into your role as a minister when it comes to mainstreaming and participation?

Thank you. That concludes our formal business in public. [Interruption.] I apologise—I have an indication that Tess White would like to come in.

Before I begin, I want to take a moment to recognise the work of my colleague Stephanie Callaghan MSP on the issue and to thank her for the opportunity to lead this debate.

I also wish to congratulate One Parent Families Scotland on an extraordinary milestone—80 years of dedicated service to single-parent families. This anniversary not only marks the longevity of a vital charity but is a celebration of its unwavering commitment to empowering single parents to realise their full potential.

As we gather to commend the organisation for the incredible work that it has done, I will reflect on the realities that are faced by so many single parents across our nation. For many of us—me included—this is not just a policy discussion: it is personal. I know at first hand the struggles that come with raising a family on your own. I have lived the long nights when I finally tuck the children in to bed, which is when the day’s tasks actually begin. There is no passing of the baton and there is no partner to lean on when the weight of it all becomes too much. We are juggling bedtime stories and bills, school pick-ups and work commitments, and the burden is never shared. It is from that place of experience and empathy that I speak today. I have been that parent in the quiet home where exhaustion can sit heavy but the to-do list never seems to end. I know the anxiety that can grip you when an unexpected expense comes up or when you think about how you will manage tomorrow’s demands.

The truth is that single parents wear many hats and they wear them all at once—sole provider, caretaker, chef, taxi driver, financial planner and so much more. For that, they deserve our deepest admiration, not judgment or stigma. One Parent Families Scotland has dedicated 80 years to breaking down that stigma and to creating more understanding and a compassionate society. From its early days as the Scottish Council for the Unmarried Mother and Her Child, which was founded to keep mothers and their children together, to its modern incarnation offering a wide range of life-changing services, the charity has remained a lifeline for so many, whether through its family centres in Dundee, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Glasgow and North Lanarkshire or through its national lone parent helpline and digital services. It provides essential support that empowers parents and uplifts families.

The impact of that support cannot be overstated. The charity employs 97 dedicated staff members, who give their all to ensure that more than 8,000 parents, children and young people are supported each year. Nearly 4,000 families have received vital advice on welfare rights and financial matters, collectively benefiting from financial gains exceeding £1.6 million. It is transformative work, and it enables single parents to breathe a little easier and to focus more on their children and less on the stress of making ends meet.

However, we know that, for every success story, there are thousands of parents who are still struggling. One in four families with children in Scotland is a single-parent household, with a staggering 90 per cent of those familes being led by women. Gender inequality remains a persistent force that compounds the challenges that those families face. Society has made progress since the 1940s—thank goodness—but we must recognise that the burden and shame that single parents, particularly single mothers, continue to bear is deeply rooted in outdated societal attitudes.

Let us talk about that stigma. Too often, single parents are met with judgment instead of support. Society can be harsh, and some perceptions make an already difficult path even more isolating. The shame that is placed on single parents and the misconceptions about them are unfair and unfounded. They are warriors who are deserving of our respect and practical support, not whispered assumptions about their worth.

The work of One Parent Families Scotland is crucial not just because it offers practical support, but because it does so with compassion and understanding of the reality that single parents face. It acts as a tireless advocate that is pushing for systemic changes to end the widespread poverty that so many experience. Its services are not only practical, but life affirming, helping parents to find employment, supporting young parents and providing the guidance that is needed to navigate complex welfare systems.

For those who have never experienced this struggle, it might be easy to underestimate the sheer strength that it takes to do what some single parents do every day. It is not just about surviving; it is about thriving for the children’s sake. They create homes that are filled with love, opportunity and security, often despite overwhelming odds.

The charity’s legacy is built on the resilience and strength of the families that it serves. Almost a quarter of households are single-parent families, and One Parent Families Scotland’s support has been there every step of the way, advocating at every level of government to create lasting solutions to poverty. That advocacy, combined with tangible support, has empowered countless parents to move from crisis to stability.

I take my hat off to every single parent. I see them. I know about the sacrifices, the relentless hard work and the sleepless nights. They deserve our praise and unyielding support. They deserve a society that lifts them up instead of trying to pull them down.

I extend my deepest gratitude to One Parent Families Scotland for an incredible 80 years of service. I thank it for its advocacy, for its compassion and for ensuring that single parents are never alone in their journey. Let us honour this anniversary not just with words of congratulations, but with continued action and commitment to creating a Scotland that truly supports all families.