Seòmar agus comataidhean

I begin with the many kind words about our dear colleague Christina McKelvie. She was a friend and a first-class ministerial colleague. We were a team working to promote Scotland internationally, promoting Scottish culture and international development. My condolences, as those of others, are with Keith Brown and Christina’s family.

In reflecting on military service today, it is worth recalling that Keith Brown is the only member of the Parliament who served in front-line combat during the Falklands conflict. Our thoughts are with him today.

I am delighted to close this debate on behalf of the Scottish Government. I thank Liz Smith for bringing forward the motion and members for their contributions. However, I speak with some personal trepidation, as those who know their Jacobite and Perthshire history will know where clan Robertson came from—in highland Perthshire. They might also be able to guess on which side it fought in the 45. I will not be dwelling on any family connections.

However, regimental campaigners will know how involved I was as the Scottish National Party’s defence spokesman in the House of Commons during the campaign to protect and sustain the regimental traditions of the Black Watch in 2006.

The Scottish Government—primarily through its excellent Minister for Veterans, Graeme Dey—has continued to be clear in its support for our entire armed forces community. That includes serving personnel—regular and reserve—veterans, their families and the wider sector, including our outstanding partners in the third sector.

Members will have heard Graeme Dey and others reiterate the Government’s commitment to ensuring that our veterans, service personnel and their families are not disadvantaged as a result of their service and that Scotland is a destination of choice when they leave the armed forces. I do not think that I will be speaking out of turn when I say that that commitment and dedication to our entire armed forces community is shared by members across the chamber.

We have heard excellent speeches by speakers from all corners of the chamber. We were joined at the start by the First Minister, John Swinney, who, as we know, has long represented the recruiting heartland of the Black Watch. He also comes from a military family; his uncle was posthumously awarded the Victoria cross.

I am sure that all members who spoke in the debate, and those who did not, will support me in welcoming members of the Black Watch Association and other veterans to our proceedings. They are very welcome here today. It is important to stress that there is cross-party support for our Scottish military, regimental traditions and everybody who has served.

In preparing my closing remarks today, I anticipated that little would be left for me to say about the Black Watch and its tercentenary, which we have come together to debate today. Members have already reflected sensitively and considerably on the honour, gallantry and devoted service of the Black Watch, including its extensive involvement in military campaigns throughout history. I reiterate this Parliament’s recognition of all the soldiers of the Black Watch who lost their lives in those conflicts, including the 14 who received the Victoria cross.

The Scottish Government recognises not only the sacrifices made by the soldiers of the Black Watch but those made by all our armed forces men and women, many of whom have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the freedoms that, sadly, we so often take for granted today. When we remember those sacrifices, we are not seeking to glorify war but to recognise the hardships endured and the courage displayed in the face of extraordinary adversity. When we reflect on the impact of conflict, we must also remember the suffering of families at home facing the uncertainty of the future and being unsure what would become of their loved ones serving elsewhere. It should go without saying that for those whose loved ones did not return home, that suffering never ends.

Members will know that Fort George, home of the Black Watch since 2007, is still expected to be closed by the Ministry of Defence within the next decade. That move will end the Army’s association with the Fort George area, which is a relationship that has existed for more than 250 years. The Scottish Government has significant concerns over the potential impact of the proposed cuts to the defence estate, and we caution against any further proposals to close bases in Scotland due to the negative impact on local communities and economies.

The member is aware that, as the member of Parliament for Moray between 2001 and 2017, I had the good fortune to represent a constituency that had the most significant military footprint of anywhere in Scotland. I am very well aware of the role that accommodation plays in the viability of military bases, as in the cases of the two Royal Air Force bases—there is now one—the Army engineering base and Fort George, which is absolutely an historic site.

We need our armed forces to be provided with appropriate base facilities and accommodation, but I observe that the armed forces’ footprint in Scotland is now the smallest that it has been since the Napoleonic wars. Unfortunately, we are living in times in which there is a conflict in Europe and a requirement for us all to get behind appropriate defence spending in order to make sure that our armed forces are properly supported.

Today’s motion gives us the opportunity to underline how important it is that we support our veterans and their families. Members will know that the Scottish Government offers its full support and commitment to our veterans and their families, primarily through our veterans strategy action plan and our role in responding to—and supporting the delivery of—the Scottish veterans commissioner’s recommendations.

In December last year, Graeme Dey delivered his latest annual update to Parliament, in which he outlined how the Government had supported the entire armed forces community throughout the previous year. As ever, that was accompanied by a published report, which fully detailed what the Government and its partners had done in the preceding 12 months. He made particular reference to successes such as the Government’s support for veterans’ physical and mental health; its encouragement of collaboration throughout the sector to best support veterans and their families; its obtaining detailed veterans data, from the census in particular; and its continued funding of projects through the Scottish veterans fund.

The Scottish Government remains committed to providing the very best support for our veterans, their families and service families. I give my personal thanks to all the individuals and organisations who continue to support our veterans and armed forces community and who work hard every day to do so. I thank Liz Smith for bringing forward the motion today and members for their contributions and reflections on the Black Watch’s decorated history throughout the past three centuries.

I am grateful to Willie Rennie for raising the issue. I have a confession to make: I have not read those reports yet. I commit to doing so, and will look closely at the points that he raised. I am just being frank with him; I have not yet read those reports.

Fair trade, with its focus on global solidarity and marginalised producers, is an important part of our international development programme, alongside other key areas. Over the past year, we have launched new programmes on health and inclusive education, from new strategic education partnerships with the World Bank to support at a very local level for girls and learners with disabilities to better access school, and from a new strategic partnership with the World Health Organization on non-communicable diseases to developing community palliative care within our partner countries.

Beyond our support for our partner countries, through longer-term programming, we have also continued to contribute globally where humanitarian crises occur. It was reported that 2024 had the highest number of countries engaged in conflict since the end of world war two. Climate change is increasing the risk of conflict, with more frequent extreme weather events and the world hitting 1.5°C for the first time last year.

According to the December 2024 report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 305.1 million people are expected to require immediate humanitarian assistance in 2025. We have continued to respond to global crises, principally through our standing humanitarian emergency fund panel, including for the less well-known crises, such as that in Sudan.

I turn to our commitment on climate justice. Scotland remains committed to addressing the injustice that is at the heart of climate change—that those who have done the least to cause the crises are suffering the impacts worst and first and are often the least able to respond. That is becoming ever more evident, with some global south Governments’ budgets so consumed with responding to the latest climate disaster and debt relief payments that little or nothing is left for health and education. This is why the Scottish Government established the world’s first climate justice fund, with the £36 million fund specifically focused on supporting the most marginalised communities around the world to address the impacts of climate change. That support extends to the very producers that we are discussing today. For example, the climate justice fund water futures programme in Malawi worked with UK retailers to ensure water sustainability for communities in Malawi to protect their key exports, namely tea and coffee.

It is in recognition of the challenges that our partners face that we remain committed to growing the international development fund to £15 million by the end of this session of Parliament and to maintaining a £1 million humanitarian emergency fund.

Scotland also faces its own challenges, of course, and we cannot shy away from the fact that there are increasing pressures on public finances. However, our international development funding reflects our commitment to support and align with the sustainable development goals domestically in Scotland and to contribute overseas as a good global citizen. We have been clear that we do not want to

“balance the books on the backs of the poor.”

Today’s debate on Scotland’s renewed fair trade nation status serves as an important reminder that we live in a world that is facing immense challenges and that we need to work together to ensure our planet is more equal, fair and sustainable for everyone. Promoting fair trade does just that.

I am pleased to move the motion, and I ask members across the chamber to support it.

I move,

That the Parliament welcomes Scotland’s renewed status as a Fair Trade Nation; recognises the dedication and hard work of Fair Trade campaigners, businesses and communities across Scotland in sustaining this achievement; congratulates Scottish Fair Trade for its leadership in promoting and strengthening Scotland’s Fair Trade commitment; acknowledges the vital role of Fair Trade producers, workers and enterprises in the Global South in building a fairer, more sustainable trading system; recognises that Fair Trade is a partnership that supports the rights, dignity and livelihoods of those throughout the supply chain, and commits to uphold and advance Scotland’s role as a Fair Trade Nation as part of its broader commitment to global citizenship and international solidarity.

I agree with John Mason that the level of support will vary from one part of the country to another. I will use his intervention as a springboard to encourage the local authority areas that are not yet playing a part to begin to do so. I hope that, through encouragement and with the support of campaigners, we can broaden, widen and enhance the fair trade movement’s impact across Scotland. He is right to wish that the level of support be increased, and I would welcome the minority of local government areas in Scotland that are not yet part of the process being part of it in the future.

Edinburgh, where my Edinburgh Central constituency is located, obtained Fairtrade status in 2004. I commend the work of the Edinburgh Fairtrade city steering group for its work to support and promote fair trade across the city. I particularly congratulate the steering group and Scottish Fair Trade for their successful bid to host the international Fair Trade Towns conference in Edinburgh later this year, which will be the first time that the prestigious event has been held in Scotland.

Today’s global challenges—climate change, pandemics, conflict, poverty and inequality—can be addressed only if the global south and the global north work together.

I am proud to have the opportunity to open the debate, which will celebrate Scotland’s renewed status as a fair trade nation.

The title of fair trade nation is one that Scotland has held for more than a decade. We share it with only one other nation, namely our friends in Wales. However, being a fair trade nation is about more than just a title. The motion recognises the dedication and hard work of fair trade campaigners, businesses and communities across Scotland to achieving and, importantly, sustaining fair trade nation status. I had the chance to meet some of them at a reception ahead of the debate, and I am delighted to see them in the public gallery today. I thank them for their work in championing the cause of fairness in global trade, and I look forward to hearing more about their efforts from colleagues across the parties during the debate. I also thank Scottish Fair Trade for its leadership in promoting and strengthening Scotland’s fair trade commitment.

The report “Is Scotland Still a Fair Trade Nation?”, which was published earlier this month, notes that 97 per cent of the Scottish population have heard of fair trade. That is a phenomenal result, which reflects the work of Scottish Fair Trade and its members to ensure that fair trade remains at the forefront of people’s minds.

The report also reminds us of the turbulent context in which renewed fair nation status was achieved. It has been seven years since the previous assessment. Since then, we have had a period of unprecedented upheaval, with Brexit’s trade realignments, the economic and social disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the heightened urgency of the climate emergency. Yet, in the face of those immense challenges, Scottish civic society has held fast to its commitment to justice and equity in trade.

This year also marks a significant milestone in Scotland’s commitment to addressing poverty and inequality overseas, as it is the 20th anniversary of the Scottish Government’s international development programme. That milestone is significant not only for the Government but for the whole Parliament.

Twenty years ago, the G8 met at Gleneagles to discuss the challenges that Africa was facing at the time. Shortly after, the Scottish Parliament hosted an event called “Malawi After Gleneagles”, which brought together key Scots and Malawians from across Government, Parliament and civic society. The approach that was mapped out at that event—with a clear focus on people-to-people links and dignified reciprocal partnership—has guided our international development work ever since. That is reflected in the new international development principles that we co-developed with our partner countries and international non-governmental organisations in Scotland in 2021.

At that Scottish Parliament event in 2005, the then First Minister of Scotland, the Rt Hon Jack McConnell, made a point that is as true now as it was then. He said:

“The primary duty of this Parliament and our devolved government is to use our powers for the betterment of the people of Scotland. But we have another duty too, as elected politicians and as citizens of the world: a duty to be good neighbours and to play our part in global challenges.”

Strong cross-party support for international development in the Scottish Parliament has been a feature that has underpinned the international development work of successive Scottish Governments since 2005. It has been fundamental to the international development programme and therefore to the difference that has been made by contributions from Scotland over the past two decades to the lives of those who live in our partner countries and, through our wider aid, to the communities that live through humanitarian crises.

My express hope is that the Scottish Parliament will continue our proud tradition of supporting our partner countries for the benefit of the most vulnerable communities globally and that the Parliament will continue to show leadership on the global stage.

Members here today will, I am sure, share concerns about the deteriorating global order at this time and the cuts to aid that have been made over the past weeks by Governments around the world. The freeze and now newly-announced termination of 83 per cent of US Agency for International Development spend has seen the largest donor of humanitarian and development assistance pause and then cancel the majority of its programming. We know that that will have a serious global impact on the most vulnerable, including in our partner countries.

The United Kingdom Government recently announced further cuts in aid, with the amount of UK gross national income being spent on overseas development aid dropping from 0.5 per cent to 0.3 per cent, which will further compound that global impact.

The Scottish Government has been clear that, although we welcome the UK Government’s commitment to increased defence spending at a time of such acute need across Europe, we are deeply disappointed by the cut to the overseas aid budget, which will be the lowest percentage of UK finance spent on aid in over a quarter of a century.

This is a time when, globally, we all need to step up to support the poorest and most vulnerable communities in the world. One of the simplest ways that we can do that as a nation is through our support for fair trade. By promoting and purchasing fair trade, we support producers, workers and enterprises, particularly in the global south, to build a fairer, more sustainable trading system—one that supports the rights, dignity and livelihoods of people throughout the supply chain.

Businesses, schools, churches and local communities across Scotland are doing just that. The assessment report “Is Scotland still a Fair Trade Nation?” noted that fair trade activity regularly happens in 22 of Scotland’s 32 local authority areas. That level of civic engagement across all sectors of society in Scotland speaks to the deep and unwavering commitment to justice and equity in trade that exists across our communities.

I thank all members who joined me here today to shine a spotlight on the incredible work that is happening in their constituencies and to raise the profile of fair trade here, in Scotland. That has been fundamental to Scotland gaining and retaining its fair trade nation status.

I will begin by making the Government’s position on the amendments clear. We have had a relatively agreeable debate, with relative consensus. It is important that we aim for maximum consensus on an issue such as this. I would signal—in exactly the same way as Colin Smyth did—that, although I probably would not have drafted the Opposition parties’ amendments in exactly the way as they did, the Government is going to accept the Opposition amendments today.

On the Labour amendment, it is a fair challenge to consider issues around definitions, procurement and education. Labour states in its amendment that the Government and the Parliament should look at those and that we should be involved in a process of constant improvement. I see absolutely nothing objectionable in that.

On the Conservative amendment, I do not really want to get involved in a debate about the relative balance of free and fair trade, but I think that we should aim for maximum freedom and maximum fairness. Is that simple? No, it is not. Is it easy to achieve? No, it is not. We can be critical of any number of trading practices in any number of countries and territorial organisations and find fault in all of it.

I draw particular attention to something in the Conservative amendment that I think it was right to raise, which is the spectre of trade wars and the dangers of tariffs. We should be very concerned about that. The people who will be harmed most by that are the poorest in countries everywhere in the world. They are the ones who are hit because they pay, through the increase in costs for that which is imported. However, although I would not have chosen the exact wording in the Conservative amendment, members of my party will support it.

I agree with Patrick Harvie on the first point that he made, but I have chosen to deal with that question by saying that it is worth pursuing a balance of maximum freedom in trading arrangements that are fair. I appreciate the warnings from both history and the present day about what might be in the future if one does not get the balance right, and I agree with Patrick Harvie on that. We need to work towards that.

I was going to come to the specific point that Patrick Harvie made about the lack of an appearance of fair trade in Scottish Government trade-related documentation. He understands that trade is a reserved subject, but that is not a reason why the Scottish Government should not make more reference to fair trade online and in its documents. I will definitely take that point away, officials will take it away, and we will have a very close look at that.

There was one thing in Mr Smyth’s opening speech on behalf of the Scottish Labour Party that I noted down in particular, in relation to definitions and the law. I say directly to him that I want to take that point away and better understand what can be done there.

I was challenged on a particular subject by Willie Rennie, who is not in the chamber at the moment—actually, I see that he is: he has simply defected to the Scottish Labour Party benches for the moment. There is not a good future in that, Mr Rennie. He raised a question with me about the UK Labour Government and the purchase of solar panels, a significant number of which are produced in parts of the People’s Republic of China inhabited by the Uyghur community. I appreciate Willie Rennie’s point. I have had a look at the issue over the course of the debate, and I have already said to him privately that I want to learn more about it. These are challenges for us all. He referenced previous challenges and supply chain questions for the Scottish Government with regard to ensuring that we are doing the right thing on trade and understanding the conditions in which goods are produced and then exported to these shores. We need to be mindful of that, and I agree with him on it.

I thought that Alexander Stewart’s contribution in relation to education was sensible. It was fantastic to have had school students in the public gallery during parts of the debate. The more that we can do to encourage learning about fair trade in schools across the country, the better. We should all be supportive of that in our constituencies and regions.

Foysol Choudhury receives my praise for singling out Edinburgh, our great capital that we both have the joy of representing, as well as a country that he knows a lot about—Bangladesh—and the connections between Scotland and Bangladesh in the challenging opportunity around fair trade.

Other colleagues have spoken—Emma Roddick talked about Inverness and the Highlands; I could go on—with all contributors having much to say about what has been achieved in relation to fair trade and noting that there is more that we can do. Some of it can be done with small steps—one cup of coffee at a time—but I agree that we can aspire to do more.

It is right that, in the three-and-a-half minutes that remain for me to speak, I pay due praise, as other colleagues have done, to all those people—the small local groups, the churches and the community organisations—who have worked hard in their local areas to make a difference in the world as well as in their communities. Since the fair trade movement took hold, it has grown substantially, and it is clear that none of the enthusiasm or dedication of those involved has been lost along the way—quite the opposite.

For a long time, we have placed great value on the role of civil society in Scotland and the appetite for global citizenship in our local communities, whether in places of worship, schools or businesses, to name but a few. That local effort is an important part of how Scotland contributes globally to the delivery of the United Nations sustainable development goals. It has an important place alongside the work of Governments, Parliaments and others; that point was reflected on in a recent article in the Edinburgh Evening News ahead of this debate, which I commend all members to read. It was especially wonderful to hear about the initiatives that are being taken forward to engage more young people in fair and sustainable global issues such as fair trade. It is vital that the fair trade movement remains relevant and sustainable into the future.

At the end of the debate, I want to leave colleagues with three key messages that we are all in agreement on, regardless of how we vote at the end of our proceedings. The first is our long-standing commitment to being a good global citizen. It is an increasingly contested and volatile space for international development. Scotland is a nation that seeks to lead by example. That means standing up for the values that shape our domestic and international work, ensuring that fairness, equality and inclusion are at the heart of everything that we do and that the voices of those who are less privileged than us are heard and acted on. That is why today’s debate is so important. It is not just about what we are doing and saying in Scotland to promote fair trade; it is about amplifying the voice of the producers, workers and enterprises in the global south and standing in solidarity with them to build a fairer and more sustainable trading system.

The second message that I want to leave us all with is our steadfast commitment to delivering for our African partner countries. Our international development fund has been led by our partners to ensure that our portfolio is aligned with their national priorities to maximise impact. That has resulted in our programming focusing on often neglected and underfunded areas such as inclusive education, non-communicable diseases and tackling gender-based violence, delivered through grants rather than loans. That is key, given the debt repayment crisis that many African countries, including our partner countries, face at this time. As the world shifts and strains around us, we remain resolute in our commitment to our partners, and fair trade is a key part of that.

Lastly, I leave us all with a call to action. As I said at the start, fair trade nation status is not just a title. The assessment report challenges us to go further, not only to maintain that status in future but to set the next generation an example of what good global citizenship is and to show the important role that fair trade plays in that.

I thank members for their input today and look forward to working across the chamber to deliver for Scotland and for our partner countries.

I agree with John Mason that the level of support will vary from one part of the country to another. I will use his intervention as a springboard to encourage the local authority areas that are not yet playing a part to begin to do so. I hope that, through encouragement and with the support of campaigners, we can broaden, widen and enhance the fair trade movement’s impact across Scotland. He is right to wish that the level of support be increased, and I would welcome the minority of local government areas in Scotland that are not yet part of the process being part of it in the future.

Edinburgh, where my Edinburgh Central constituency is located, obtained Fairtrade status in 2004. I commend the work of the Edinburgh Fairtrade city steering group for its work to support and promote fair trade across the city. I particularly congratulate the steering group and Scottish Fair Trade for their successful bid to host the international Fair Trade Towns conference in Edinburgh later this year, which will be the first time that the prestigious event has been held in Scotland.

Today’s global challenges—climate change, pandemics, conflict, poverty and inequality—can be addressed only if the global south and the global north work together.

I am proud to have the opportunity to open the debate, which will celebrate Scotland’s renewed status as a fair trade nation.

The title of fair trade nation is one that Scotland has held for more than a decade. We share it with only one other nation, namely our friends in Wales. However, being a fair trade nation is about more than just a title. The motion recognises the dedication and hard work of fair trade campaigners, businesses and communities across Scotland to achieving and, importantly, sustaining fair trade nation status. I had the chance to meet some of them at a reception ahead of the debate, and I am delighted to see them in the public gallery today. I thank them for their work in championing the cause of fairness in global trade, and I look forward to hearing more about their efforts from colleagues across the parties during the debate. I also thank Scottish Fair Trade for its leadership in promoting and strengthening Scotland’s fair trade commitment.

The report “Is Scotland Still a Fair Trade Nation?”, which was published earlier this month, notes that 97 per cent of the Scottish population have heard of fair trade. That is a phenomenal result, which reflects the work of Scottish Fair Trade and its members to ensure that fair trade remains at the forefront of people’s minds.

The report also reminds us of the turbulent context in which renewed fair nation status was achieved. It has been seven years since the previous assessment. Since then, we have had a period of unprecedented upheaval, with Brexit’s trade realignments, the economic and social disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the heightened urgency of the climate emergency. Yet, in the face of those immense challenges, Scottish civic society has held fast to its commitment to justice and equity in trade.

This year also marks a significant milestone in Scotland’s commitment to addressing poverty and inequality overseas, as it is the 20th anniversary of the Scottish Government’s international development programme. That milestone is significant not only for the Government but for the whole Parliament.

Twenty years ago, the G8 met at Gleneagles to discuss the challenges that Africa was facing at the time. Shortly after, the Scottish Parliament hosted an event called “Malawi After Gleneagles”, which brought together key Scots and Malawians from across Government, Parliament and civic society. The approach that was mapped out at that event—with a clear focus on people-to-people links and dignified reciprocal partnership—has guided our international development work ever since. That is reflected in the new international development principles that we co-developed with our partner countries and international non-governmental organisations in Scotland in 2021.

At that Scottish Parliament event in 2005, the then First Minister of Scotland, the Rt Hon Jack McConnell, made a point that is as true now as it was then. He said:

“The primary duty of this Parliament and our devolved government is to use our powers for the betterment of the people of Scotland. But we have another duty too, as elected politicians and as citizens of the world: a duty to be good neighbours and to play our part in global challenges.”

Strong cross-party support for international development in the Scottish Parliament has been a feature that has underpinned the international development work of successive Scottish Governments since 2005. It has been fundamental to the international development programme and therefore to the difference that has been made by contributions from Scotland over the past two decades to the lives of those who live in our partner countries and, through our wider aid, to the communities that live through humanitarian crises.

My express hope is that the Scottish Parliament will continue our proud tradition of supporting our partner countries for the benefit of the most vulnerable communities globally and that the Parliament will continue to show leadership on the global stage.

Members here today will, I am sure, share concerns about the deteriorating global order at this time and the cuts to aid that have been made over the past weeks by Governments around the world. The freeze and now newly-announced termination of 83 per cent of US Agency for International Development spend has seen the largest donor of humanitarian and development assistance pause and then cancel the majority of its programming. We know that that will have a serious global impact on the most vulnerable, including in our partner countries.

The United Kingdom Government recently announced further cuts in aid, with the amount of UK gross national income being spent on overseas development aid dropping from 0.5 per cent to 0.3 per cent, which will further compound that global impact.

The Scottish Government has been clear that, although we welcome the UK Government’s commitment to increased defence spending at a time of such acute need across Europe, we are deeply disappointed by the cut to the overseas aid budget, which will be the lowest percentage of UK finance spent on aid in over a quarter of a century.

This is a time when, globally, we all need to step up to support the poorest and most vulnerable communities in the world. One of the simplest ways that we can do that as a nation is through our support for fair trade. By promoting and purchasing fair trade, we support producers, workers and enterprises, particularly in the global south, to build a fairer, more sustainable trading system—one that supports the rights, dignity and livelihoods of people throughout the supply chain.

Businesses, schools, churches and local communities across Scotland are doing just that. The assessment report “Is Scotland still a Fair Trade Nation?” noted that fair trade activity regularly happens in 22 of Scotland’s 32 local authority areas. That level of civic engagement across all sectors of society in Scotland speaks to the deep and unwavering commitment to justice and equity in trade that exists across our communities.

The Scottish Government delivers support through our sponsorship of Historic Environment Scotland, which is the lead public body that is responsible for the historic environment. The Scottish Government budget for 2025-26 allocates more than £74 million to Historic Environment Scotland, which will enable the organisation to invest in fair staff pay, operate and maintain its properties, deliver grants to the heritage sector, continue research on climate change and fulfil its advisory and regulatory functions.