Seòmar agus comataidhean

In the spirit of collective responsibility, would Sue Webber agree that the right to buy created significant problems in Edinburgh and elsewhere and that it is good that it was ended in 2014?

I am aware that the recently published global financial centres index has recognised that Edinburgh continues to further its standing as one of the world’s leading financial centres. That is good news for all of Scotland, as is Glasgow’s success in climbing up through the rankings. Will the First Minister provide an update on how Scottish Government initiatives are supporting financial services in Scotland to thrive and develop, thereby creating new opportunities, well-paid jobs and sustainable growth?

I welcome the Scottish Government’s proactive work on that. Constituents have written to me and to other MSPs explaining that they are currently facing increases of upwards of 500 per cent in their district heating costs by their property factors. The lack of consumer protection in that area leaves customers vulnerable to market forces. My constituents are worried about their ability to pay their energy bills this winter. Sadly, as has been set out, the Parliament lacks the legislative power to change energy policy in that area. Considering that the Scottish Parliament is unable to take that action, will the Scottish Government continue to press the UK Government to take action as soon as possible? Can any pressure be applied to property factors to engage with parliamentarians so that, together, we can help our constituents who are affected?

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the implementation of its heat in buildings strategy, what discussions it has had with the United Kingdom Government on consumer protection, in the light of reported concerns that customers currently using heat networks are not protected by the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets’ price cap. (S6O-03770)

I, too, commend Rona Mackay for bringing this important issue to the chamber.

Colleagues have raised a multitude of important points. I want to raise one other matter on behalf of a constituent who has been in touch with me recently and on behalf of other constituents who have contacted me in the past on the same issue.

Other members have talked extensively and passionately about the support that is available to families and parents. Another issue that has come across my desk through my constituency casework has been the availability of support for adoptive parents who are raising children with FASD. That is a problem in my constituency, and I am sure that it will apply elsewhere. As a society, we want to encourage adoption and ensure that support for adoptive parents is available in the same way that it should be for other parents.

Either in her summing up or in written correspondence with me after the debate, perhaps the minister could give more insight into the availability of support for adoptive parents who are in the unique position of raising children with FASD and what support they are able to access. Perhaps we could engage in correspondence on how the situation could be enhanced and improved.

Having an eye hospital close to people, especially in emergencies, is a huge part of the issue, especially given the significant population growth in the Lothians. The cabinet secretary has sought assurance and, thankfully, has been assured that there will be minimal travel for those patients with the most needs who will be affected. What support will the Scottish Government provide to patients in NHS Lothian who will have to travel further for medical appointments?

I am interested to hear what solutions Dr Gulhane and his party may have worked out. A good part of his speech has been dedicated to detailing the problem and criticising the Government, but I wonder whether he would like to elaborate more on the solutions.

In a number of weeks’ time, in our communities we will gather for remembrance day. We will remember the horror of wars past, the loss, the sacrifice, the vulnerability of peace, the need to stand up to tyranny—especially when it is on the march—and the many lessons from history. We will remember the fact that people who died in those wars, or who were around at the time, were people just like us, leading their lives with their families and friends and doing many of the things that we and our constituents do every day.

All those have been emphasised since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The shocking aspects of the invasion were not only its brutality, which we could see in ways that were not available with the technology of the previous century, but that the people of Ukraine were seeing the loss of their homes; they were engaged in the need to flee and were having to make horrible decisions about whether to go with their children to safety or stay and play a part in the defence of their democracy and territorial integrity. That was all there for us to see.

When so many of our fellow human beings came to our shores, those things were emphasised even more. Our attachment to the idea of their struggle being our struggle was only strengthened.

The Scottish Government’s proactivity, as well as that of the British Government, in supporting the people of Ukraine, should be commended and recognised. For me, as MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, that was most pertinent and of most impact in the form of the refugee ship that was at Leith docks. The work that was done by ministers, officials, local government, volunteer organisations and the community of Leith to make our Ukrainian friends welcome in their time of real need made me proud as a constituency MSP and as a Scot.

The contribution of the new Scot Ukrainians, whether during their time in Edinburgh Northern and Leith and elsewhere in this city or in what they have done since, should not be underestimated. What they have brought has enriched our communities. They have been able to do that not only because of their own initiative and determination to play a positive part in Scottish society while they are here, but because organisations such as AUGB Edinburgh and Multi-Cultural Family Base, and even organisations like Leith Athletic Football Club, have all done good work to ensure that families and children have felt welcome and that people can engage in the labour market.

One of the things that we must continue to do—which is why the debate is important—is consider how to enhance and support the life of Ukrainians in Scotland. The cross-party group on Ukraine has done some really good work on that so far.

I take the points that were made about the professions. I have a bit of casework at the moment that involves a constituent of mine who has a practice in the cabinet secretary’s constituency. There are challenges in how to encourage the professional bodies to help people who have skills to work in our communities, so I would like to support the Government in that.

I do. There are people here who want to contribute, so why would we not set a legal framework that enables people to do that? I find it perplexing that we have not got to that point already.

All the contributions that Ukrainians have made in my constituency—which I know they have made across our community—and the friends and constituents who are Ukrainian whom I support and engage with, as well as everything in the international and domestic media, keep Ukraine in our minds every day. We need continually to recognise and be proactive in supporting the resilience of the Ukrainian people and the struggle for democracy and freedom that they are engaged in.

We cannot take security and peace for granted. It is clear from speaking not only to Ukrainians but to people from Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and many other of our European friends and allies that, every day, the threat of Russian aggression is now part of their mindset. We need to make sure that we are not complacent about our peace and security.

That reminds me of a quote from the journalist Martin Wolf that I read at the time of the invasion. He said—I am paraphrasing slightly—that we should still hope that, one day, Russia will get a political regime that is worthy of its contribution to civilisation, but that, right now,

“Russia has emerged as a pariah ruled by a gangster. We cannot live in peace and security with such a neighbour.”

He went on to say that the invasion of Ukraine “must not stand”, not only for the sake of Ukraine, but because any success for Putin

“would threaten us all. We are in a new world now. We must understand that and act accordingly.”

Standing up for Ukraine is also standing up for our shared values. Helping Ukraine is helping humanity. Slava Ukraini!

I agree that that is part of it. The challenge for us, as parliamentarians, with the powers that we have in this institution, is how we relieve some of that demand, pressure and anxiety, and the expectation that comes with it. Devolution, now in its 25th year, has helped, and I am sure that the minister will touch on the additional support in schools and the social security support that are available, as well as the increased funding for mental health services and a reduction in the stigma experienced in seeking help with mental ill health.

We have made plenty of progress, but is there still much to do? Absolutely. For our young people, we should all focus on doing it.