Seòmar agus comataidhean

I am somebody who can remember Glen Michael.

Will the minister elaborate on what impact the £3.2 million social isolation and loneliness fund is expected to have on the wellbeing of the groups and individuals across Scotland who are most in need of support?

The H100 Fife project, which is in my constituency, is a great example of how hydrogen will be used for heating our homes, which is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Does the minister agree that the partnership between Fife College and Scotland Gas Networks in training the new generation of engineers in hydrogen is a great example that should be replicated across Scotland?

I thank Mark Ruskell for bringing the motion to the chamber to let us discuss an issue that is of paramount importance to our country, our environment and our future.

The Mossmorran petrochemical site is a significant contributor to Scotland’s industrial emissions—it accounts for nearly 10 per cent of our national total. That figure is not just a statistic; it is a call for urgent action in our journey towards a sustainable and resilient Scotland.

The Paris agreement, which aims to limit global temperature increases to well below 2°C, and to 1.5°C, is not merely an international obligation; it is a moral imperative for Scotland. To meet those ambitious goals, rapid and sustained reductions in emissions across all sectors, including the industry in question, are non-negotiable. As the second-highest emitting sector in our country, the industrial sector’s transformation is not just necessary—it is inevitable.

At the heart of the transformation is the Mossmorran site. That site, which is located just outside my constituency, embodies our industrial strengths and our environmental challenges. The path forward is clear. We must identify a decarbonised pathway for Mossmorran—one that is developed collaboratively with operators, workers, unions and local and national Government. That pathway is not just about reducing emissions; it is about setting a precedent for how industrial Scotland adapts to the realities of the climate emergency.

The concept of a just transition is central to this discussion. It is a principle that ensures that the shift towards a low-carbon economy is fair and inclusive and leaves no one behind. For the workers at Mossmorran and, indeed, workers across Fife and Scotland’s industrial sector, that transition is not just a challenge; it is an opportunity for sustainable jobs, for innovation, and for a healthier environment and healthier communities.

With its 250 direct employees and many more people who are engaged through short-term maintenance contracts, the Mossmorran site stands as a microcosm of the broader challenges that our industrial workforce faces with decarbonisation. Those workers are not mere cogs in the industrial machine; they are skilled and dedicated individuals whose knowledge and expertise are invaluable assets to our journey towards net zero. That is why I very much welcome the announcement that the Scottish Government will boost the just transition fund by an extra £25 million to ensure a fair and just transition for the energy sector.

As many will know, my Kirkcaldy constituency and the surrounding areas in Fife have seen great industrial, economic and societal changes over the past century. The history of that area is deeply interwoven with the coal-mining industry and, for better or worse, we are familiar with the challenges that inevitably arise with changes in the energy landscape.

The legacy of the closure of the mines in Kirkcaldy and throughout Scotland is well known. The blow was not just economic but cultural and social. It left behind a legacy of unemployment and social challenges, and a community grappling with its identity and future. Therefore, the process of transition to low-carbon operations at Mossmorran, as at all other industrial sites in Scotland, must be led by those who know it best: the workers. A worker-led transition is the only way to ensure that the move to green jobs is done in a way that respects the dignity, expertise and needs of our workforce.

That transition will not be easy. It requires substantial investment not just in technology but in people. As a former mechanical engineer in the oil and gas industry, I am acutely aware of the importance of training and reskilling programmes—which must be at the heart of our just transition strategy—in ensuring that Scotland’s workforce is ready to meet the demands of a low-carbon economy. In addition, we must ensure that the new green jobs are secure, well paid and accessible to all—in particular, to those who are currently employed in high-emission industries.

The role of collaboration in the process cannot be overstated. The decarbonisation of Mossmorran and the industrial sector more broadly must be a joint effort between government, industry, workers and the community. Each stakeholder brings unique insights and resources to the table, making our collective action stronger and more effective.

It is also crucial to remember the communities that live in the shadow of Mossmorran. Fife, with its rich history and vibrant community, finds itself at the forefront of Scotland’s journey towards a greener future. Any transition plans must include measures to protect those communities from environmental and health impacts, so that they, too, benefit from Scotland’s green transformation.

The journey towards net zero in Scotland by 2045 is filled with challenges but also with unparalleled opportunities. The decarbonisation of Mossmorran represents a crucial step in that journey, serving as a blueprint for how we can transform Scotland’s industry and landscape in a way that is sustainable, equitable and just.

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received a final report from the Scottish local authorities remuneration committee. (S6O-03163)

Increasing the diversity of councillors is a priority that is shared by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Scottish Government. Does the minister agree that the recommendations in the report, including the suggestion that severance payments be introduced for councillors who lose office, would help to tackle existing barriers to recruitment and retention?

Can the cabinet secretary say more about how the inquiry, once it is in place, will ensure that lessons are learned and that robust safeguards are in place for patients?

I thank Paul Sweeney for bringing the motion to the chamber today for debate.

It is always a pleasure and a great privilege to speak about Marie Curie and the invaluable service that it provides. Today is no exception. The Marie Curie great daffodil appeal is an initiative that embodies compassion, resilience and community spirit. The appeal runs throughout March each year and champions the cause of providing care and emotional support to people across Scotland who are at the end of life.

The great daffodil appeal is not just a fundraising campaign—it is a symbol of unity and support. By simply donating and wearing a daffodil pin, thousands of people across Scotland demonstrate their solidarity with people who are affected by terminal illness. Volunteers, who embody the spirit of community support that Scotland is renowned for, ensure through their invaluable contributions that Marie Curie continues to offer its crucial services to people who are in need.

In my constituency of Kirkcaldy, in Fife, Marie Curie has been a saving grace for hundreds of families over the years. In 2022-23, Marie Curie made thousands of visits in Fife to support terminally ill patients. It visited more than 500 patients and NHS Fife is incredibly lucky to have 33 Marie Curie volunteers who help to deliver essential services to my constituents. I hear at first hand from constituents about the impact that Marie Curie has made on Kirkcaldy.

Marie Curie nurses and volunteers have been a comforting presence during difficult times for many families across Fife. They have offered not just medical care, but emotional support, understanding and a listening ear to people who are in their most vulnerable moments.

I am constantly in awe of my community and the impressive fundraising efforts that are held annually across the area to support the charity. Our community groups raise awareness every year to support people who are living with terminal illness, and I pay tribute to them and recognise the crucial role that they play in organising fundraising events and activities, and in helping to raise awareness.

As many people will be aware, NHS Fife launched a fully integrated hospice-at-home service, which is run by Marie Curie and NHS Fife. It has reduced the hospital costs of end-of-life care. With Fife having a larger older population and some very rural areas, avoiding hospital admissions whenever possible is always an important aim. The response to the hospice-at-home service in Fife has been incredible. People who have been supported by the service experienced 40 per cent fewer hospital admissions and 68 per cent fewer visits to accident and emergency departments, and were two and a half times as likely to be in the comfort of their home to die.

However, the cost of delivering that crucial and invaluable work is increasing year on year. Marie Curie research projects that, by 2040, propelled by our ageing population, up to 10,000 more people will be dying with palliative care needs. That represents a 20 per cent increase in demand and 90 per cent of all deaths in Scotland. The complexities of multimorbidities, a significant rise in dementia-related deaths and the shift towards community settings for end-of-life care all underscore the urgent need for support and innovative solutions.

Our palliative care services must be fully supported in order that they can respond to the rising demand that stems from changing demographics. That is one of the main reasons why the great daffodil appeal presents a crucial opportunity to support one of Scotland’s greatest community assets. Support that is garnered from the great daffodil appeal goes towards several of Marie Curie’s important programmes: hospice care at home, information and support services, in-person hospice, and companion and home support are just a few of the extraordinary initiatives that Marie Curie provides across Scotland.

In closing, I urge that we all support the great daffodil appeal in any way that we can—be it through volunteering, fundraising or simply wearing a daffodil pin. Let us unite in our efforts to provide hope, care and support for all the people who are in their final moments, and their families. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of many by demonstrating the true spirit of companionship and community that defines Scotland.

I am short of time.

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress in delivering the actions and aims contained in the framework for chronic pain service delivery. (S6O-03096)

No, thank you.

It is fair to say that the rate of NHS registration is also significantly higher in Scotland than in the rest of the United Kingdom, with more than 95 per cent of our population registered with an NHS dentist.

The work by the Scottish Government, alongside the British Dental Association Scotland and the wider sector, on payment reform is the most significant change to NHS dentistry in generations. It provides practitioners with a new suite of fees that are designed to provide a full range of care and treatment to NHS patients. The reform will provide long-term sustainability to the dental sector and encourage dentists to continue to provide NHS care, helping to mitigate some of the access challenges that we are seeing.

The payment reform will improve the system for both dental teams and patients, and it is the first step in the process to make the services that are available on the NHS reflect the changing oral health needs of the population. It also reaffirms the Scottish Government’s commitment to the sector and to all NHS patients in Scotland.

The modernised system will increase clinical freedom for dentists, provide long-term sustainability to the sector and encourage dentists to continue to provide NHS care. Scotland is the only part of the UK where free examinations are available to NHS patients, and that will continue. All patients will receive free NHS dental examinations, with those who are exempt, including children, young people under 26 and those on certain benefits, continuing to receive free care and treatment.

I believe that people in Scotland recognise and appreciate the Government’s commitment to sustaining and improving patient access to NHS dental services. Earlier this week, I received a call from a constituent who wanted to reach out after hearing about the debate that was planned for this afternoon. The gentleman wanted to highlight his recent experience of accessing emergency treatment. He was of the firm belief that he would not get the quality of care that he had received anywhere but in Scotland.

It is an improving picture in NHS dentistry, and building on that progress is an absolute priority for the Scottish Government.