Seòmar agus comataidhean

To ask First Minister whether she will provide an update on the Scottish Government’s response to on-going food shortages currently affecting Scotland. (S6F-01851)

Former chief executive of Sainsbury’s Justin King has said:

“I hate to say it ... but it’s a sector that has been hurt horribly by Brexit”.

Liz Webster, chair of Save British Farming, said:

“The reason we have food shortages in Britain—and they don’t have food shortages in Spain or anywhere else in the EU—is because of Brexit”.

The views from industry are clear. The shortage of basic nutritional necessities is attributable to a deliberate act of Tory policy. Does the First Minister share my utter dismay that the Tories refuse to acknowledge and apologise for the fundamental harms they have visited on people?

Thank you, convener.

I am grateful to Sandra Docherty, the petitioner, for bringing the petition to the committee. She has done an exceptional amount of work to get it this far. I think that she has also widened the conversation around Makaton. The petition has made many people, specifically elected representatives, aware of the issue.

My only concern with regard to the petition is that I feel that its scope is so narrow that it could limit the potential for what the committee could do with regard to Makaton. I would like us to do a broader piece of work, and I am not quite sure that we can do that with the petition.

I congratulate Joe FitzPatrick on securing the debate.

With this year’s theme of LGBT+ history month being “Behind the Lens”, I begin by paying tribute to the writers, actors, directors, producers, composers, choreographers, costume designers and so many others who have played a part in telling the stories and histories of LGBT+ people through the media of film and television. I particularly want to thank the screen journalists who have taken the time and care to learn the too-often tragic stories of our diverse community—in particular, those who have given trans people the space to tell their own stories in their own words.

Cinema and television play crucial roles in telling our stories. On-screen representation matters and has the power to change our communities for good or to do serious damage. How our stories are told can change how we feel about ourselves by altering what we feel capable of being and becoming. Positive representation has the power to create positive change, but the opposite can lead to tragedy.

I do not think that we need to be reminded of how much the media have capitalised on fear of trans people in recent months, so I want to take a moment to remember Brianna Ghey, who was a 16-year-old transgender girl, whom my colleagues have also mentioned and whose name we cannot say enough. Her brutal killing is being investigated as a possible hate crime. Her parents described her as

“a larger-than-life character who would leave a lasting impression on all that met her.”

The deadnaming and misgendering of Brianna in the wake of her death were unacceptable and must have caused unnecessary anguish to all those who knew and loved her. I hope that the society that we hope to build will respect the dignity of all, especially within the walls of Parliament, where we should set an example.

Since devolution, Scotland has been building, on the world stage, its reputation for holding liberal values and ensuring human rights. Our Scottish Government has delivered the most progressive and extensive equal marriage legislation, and has opened up adoption and in vitro fertilisation to same-sex couples and reformed blood-donation rules. Scotland was the first country in the UK to approve provision of pre-exposure prophylaxis on the national health service and to deliver a pardon for historical homosexual offences. The First Minister gave a categorical unequivocal and whole-hearted apology for that wrong, which had been committed by the state.

After years of scrutiny, several public consultations and an avalanche of disinformation, our Parliament voted to reform the Gender Recognition Act 2004 to make the process of obtaining a gender recognition certificate simpler and less invasive. It was an historic vote that was welcomed by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. I am proud of the work that we on the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee did in scrutinising the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill. I am also proud that a supermajority voted for the bill at its final stage.

Scotland continues to forge a distinct identity of unapologetic progressiveness on the world stage. I believe that it is for that reason that Westminster has used a section 35 order to, once again, deny democracy and stifle progress. Come what may, I promise to continue to do all that I can to defend the rights that we have won and to fight for those that we have not won.

LGBT history month provides an opportunity for us to look back and, I hope, to take some comfort in the knowledge that, just as we prevailed in relation to decriminalisation, the age of consent, section 28 and equal marriage, we will prevail again.

It is the responsibility of us all to advance our human rights. In the words of LGBT freedom fighter Marsha P Johnson,

“History isn’t something you look back at and say it was inevitable, it happens because people make decisions that are sometimes very impulsive and of the moment, but those moments are cumulative realities.”

That is really helpful.

There is a slight delay, sorry. Good morning. It is great to hear from all the witnesses today.

A crucial part of the committee’s work involves delving more into core obligations. What would those look like in practice? We have heard some suggestions that minimum core obligations should be more relative than universal. I find that almost counterintuitive when it comes to what core obligations should be. I would like to hear your views on whether we should have a flexible, relative approach or a more universal, catch-all approach.

Good morning. It is nice to see you both again, and it is nice to see Fernando, too—it is a joy.

I want to ask about contested heritage. I am curious and want to get your viewpoint. In towns, villages and cities throughout Scotland, there are statues that perhaps have a negative past associated with them. For example, the statue of Henry Dundas in Edinburgh is being recontextualised in the form of a plaque, because he was in favour of delaying the abolition of slavery. What are your views on that? How can we, as elected representatives, take action on those things and call them out? I will go to Zainab first.

That is really helpful.

It makes sense, and I am really grateful for your contributions, because we need to know whether recontextualising is enough. Zainab, you made the point that you feel that statues are erected in honour of somebody and are not just a reflection of history in a moment in time. Even if we are looking back on these things, looking forward in how we give honour and show history is important so that we do not repeat mistakes. It was really interesting to hear your views on that, so thank you.

No. I am grateful for those answers. The witnesses have explained things really well to me, particularly from an economist’s point of view. The use of a relative rather than a universal approach was ringing alarm bells with me, so it was great to have that explained. Thank you.