Seòmar agus comataidhean

Thank you for that. We move to questions from the committee. I will kick off with the first question, which is about the creating hope together strategy. Professor O’Connor mentioned that the suicide rate has increased. What impacts do you think that the strategy has had?

Were there any gaps in the previous strategy that are now covered by the new creating hope together strategy?

I turn to staff training. From your perspective as healthcare providers, are there areas of development that could help healthcare staff to realise the new strategy?

I thank Liam Kerr for bringing the debate to the chamber. It is not too long since we walked the Buchan line together in the north-east sunshine—yes, it does exist—with the then Minister for Transport, Jenny Gilruth.

At the meeting that I and my team and the Campaign for North East Rail were at, we had discussions relating to the just transition fund, and a member of my team suggested that the campaign apply for that funding. I put it on the record that the Scottish Government has been a great supporter of the Campaign for North East Rail in every conversation that I have brought to it in that regard. In particular, it has awarded the campaign £250,000 from the just transition fund for a feasibility study to explore the possibility of passenger and freight services running north of Dyce and on to Peterhead and Fraserburgh. We expect the findings of that feasibility study very soon.

In a survey that I carried out recently that received more than 1,000 responses, two in five respondents said that they rely on bus services so that they can attend national health service appointments. We know that bus journeys to Aberdeen royal infirmary take two or three times as long as car journeys. Connecting our coast is about more than transport: it is necessary for the health, safety and wellbeing of my constituents.

From carbon capture projects to wind farms, our north-east corner is playing a vital role in delivering Scotland’s transition to net zero, but that means that heavy goods vehicle numbers on the roads remain consistently high every hour of every day of the working week. The key difference between the Campaign for North East Rail’s study and previous studies is the key focus on rail-freight opportunities in the area. Reconnecting Fraserburgh and Peterhead to the railway would allow many HGV movements to be transferred to the railway, which would result in cleaner air, fewer emissions, safer roads and more economic growth opportunities.

Peterhead and Fraserburgh have been identified as regeneration priority areas, and unemployment there is higher than the national average. We have a chance to replicate the success that we have seen in other schemes, such as the Borders railway, and to bring real regeneration to some of the most deprived areas in Aberdeenshire.

Peterhead south harbour, which is operated by ASCO, is the largest offshore-support facility in Europe. I am sure that the cabinet secretary will join me in celebrating this week’s fantastic news that the world’s biggest offshore floating wind farm is set to be built just off the coast of Peterhead. That project will bring billions to Scotland’s economy. The Blue Toon and the Broch, as they are affectionately known—Peterhead and Fraserburgh—will be vital to the site, and heavy equipment, parts and specialised workers are expected to come to the area once the wind farm is up and running.

I support any calls for improvements to roads and infrastructure in the north-east. I will make a point on that later in my speech.

I whole-heartedly welcome the growth in my constituency, but we must recognise that the existing infrastructure is already congested with HGV, bus and car traffic. Introducing rail would go a long way towards providing much-needed and welcome relief.

I conclude by asking the Scottish Government whether it will continue to support the Campaign for North East Rail’s work by continuing to consider funding for the project, including for a detailed options appraisal when analysis of the latest study is complete. We are putting a lot of pressure on the Scottish Government to help and support the project. That is right, and it is our job as constituency MSPs to do that.

However, the UK Government has a part to play, as well. If a fraction of the money that has been spent on high-speed rail south of the border were to be spent in the north-east corner, we would not have rail just to Peterhead and Fraserburgh—it could go to Banff and Buckie and beyond. We have the potential to make a boom time for the north-east and beyond. I hope that we all recognise and will take full advantage of that.

Under the instrument, Scottish ministers will be able to serve a data transmission request notice. What is your understanding of what that means, and do you have any thoughts on that?

That is helpful.

The launch of Scotland’s international culture strategy is very welcome, and it is important. I met the French ambassador recently in Aberdeen. Can the cabinet secretary say any more about the steps that the Scottish Government is taking to promote and develop Scotland’s international cultural connections and the opportunities that that can create for the sector, including in the north-east of Scotland?

Our next item is an evidence session on suicide prevention in Scotland. I refer members to papers 2 and 3. I welcome to the meeting Rob Gowans, who is policy and public affairs manager at Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland; Neil Mathers, who is the executive director of Samaritans Scotland; John Gibson, who is chief executive officer at the Canmore Trust; Dan Farthing, who is head of suicide prevention at Scottish Action for Mental Health; Jason Schroeder, who is chief executive officer at the Scottish Men’s Sheds Association; Rebecca Hoffman, who is national policy lead at LGBT Health and Wellbeing; Aidan Mitchell, who is policy and public affairs officer at Change Mental Health; and Dr Richmond Davies, who is head of public health analytics and intelligence at Public Health Scotland.

We have a large number of witnesses this morning, which is great to see, and we have a lot to cover on this important topic, so I am afraid that we do not have time for opening statements. However, you are all very welcome, and I want to note that we are grateful for your responses to our call for views.

I will open up the questioning. Given the increase in deaths by suicide over the course of the every life matters strategy, what impact has been made by the Scottish Government’s previous suicide prevention initiatives?

We move to questions from Evelyn Tweed.