Liam McArthur
Scottish Liberal Democrats · Scotland
“I associate myself very much with the comments and requests of Kristopher Leask. This weekend sees the second Water Sound bluegrass festival take place in Burray, in my Orkney constituency. I therefore ask the cabinet secretary to offer congratulations to the organisers, Pete and Gail McAndrew, for getting the festival up and running.”
“I think that he said that it is taking place this weekend, in which case I hope that the weather holds up, as that could add something very special to a bluegrass festival.”
“I, too, thank the cabinet secretary for early sight of her statement, which obviously comes on the back of eye-watering rises in business rates earlier this year.”
“I have a constituent who, for the past nine years, has desperately sought treatment for swelling on his legs and groin that has progressively worsened and is now profoundly incapacitating. Having sought treatment in Scotland, it is clear that that is not available.”
“Jenny Gilruth: The Liberal Democrats engaged with us throughout the budget process last year and they were able to extract a number of things from the Government. I hope that other Opposition parties will learn from their good behaviour.”
“There are strengths in the current system but I accept that there are inherent challenges in relation to the issues presented by revaluation, for example, and the wider challenges that businesses are facing.”
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“Motion debated, That the Parliament notes what it sees as the concerning and under-recognised issue of alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD) in the South Scotland region and across the country; believes that there are significant permanent physical, psychological and social consequences of the condition, including decreased cognitive functioning, mental health problems and harm to quality of life; notes the view that there is a need to adopt a more holistic multidisciplinary approach, integrating healthcare, social services, public health and addiction teams for people with alcohol dependence; further notes the belief in working collaboratively to prioritise the recognition, prevention and treatment of ARBD, ensuring healthcare professionals are adequately trained to identify and manage the condition, with adequate resources provided to ensure early diagnosis and treatment, and recognises the calls for public health campaigns to raise awareness and remove stigma.”
“The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-16291, in the name of Carol Mochan, on a holistic approach to alcohol-related brain damage. The debate will be concluded without any question being put. I invite members who wish to participate in the debate to press their request-to-speak buttons, and I invite Carol Mochan to open the debate.”
“The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-16657, in the name of Gillian Martin, on Scotland’s renewable future. I invite members who wish to participate in the debate to press their request-to-speak buttons. 15:09”
“The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-16489, in the name of Ivan McKee, on the Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2025. I invite members who wish to participate to press their request-to-speak button, and I call Ivan McKee to speak to and move the motion. 14:58”
“Good afternoon. The first item of business this afternoon is portfolio questions on education and skills. I remind members that questions 2 and 7 have been grouped together, so I will take any supplementary questions after both substantive questions have been asked. Any member looking to ask a supplementary should press their request-to-speak button during the relevant question. Mobile Phones in Classrooms (Guidance) 1.”
“The final item of business this evening is a members’ business debate on motion S6M- 16389, in the name of Fulton MacGregor, on the northern corridor community forum’s evidence- based report. Motion debated, That the Parliament acknowledges the publication of the 2024 Northern Corridor Community Forum’s publication, Northern Corridor Community Forum - Evidence Based Report, which, it believes, offers a comprehensive statistical and literary analysis of the challenges facing the Northern Corridor area in North Lanarkshire, encompassing the communities of Glenboig, Gartcosh, Moodiesburn, Chryston, Stepps and Muirhead; commends the report for its detailed findings on critical issues such as housing, economic development, infrastructure, local amenities and community wellbeing; notes the report’s identification of what the authors see as the urgent need for modernised and enhanced infrastructure to support these communities; understands that, while the area is open to appropriate new housing developments, there is significant concern about the unprecedented scale of private housing projects, which threaten the long-term sustainability of the communities; notes the report’s call for a more constructive and collaborative relationship between the Community Forum and North Lanarkshire Council to rebuild democratic trust and ensure that local decision-making reflects the needs, desires and plans of the people who live and work in the area, and further notes the view that implementing the report’s recommendations will prioritise actions to foster inclusive economic growth, improve accountability in local governance and enhance the living and working conditions for residents and workers across the Northern Corridor.”
“The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-16571, in the name of Lorna Slater, on Scottish Enterprise funding for arms companies. I invite members who wish to participate in the debate to press their request-to- speak buttons now or as soon as possible. 14:50”
“Good afternoon. The first item of business is portfolio question time, and the first portfolio is constitution, external affairs and culture, and parliamentary business. I invite members who wish to ask a supplementary question to press their request-to-speak buttons during the relevant question. International Development and Humanitarian Aid 1.”
“The First Minister has made it clear that the budget is about delivering on the issues that matter most to the folk of Scotland. The budget will address the priorities of improving public services, eradicating child poverty, growing our economy and tackling the climate emergency. It will deliver a record £2 billion increase in front- line NHS spending, which will take our overall health and social care investment to £21 billion.”
“There is far too much shouting across the chamber. I am sure that it is not for my benefit—it is not benefiting anyone. Mr Stewart, please continue. Kevin Stewart: Thank you, Presiding Officer. Colleagues—and I do mean my colleagues in the Parliament—we follow the European norm of proportional representation, co-operation and coalition building. I thank Scottish Green and Lib Dem members, and Ash Regan, for working constructively with the SNP Government to produce a budget for the whole of Scotland. On the other hand, it is sad to see the old guard of Labour and the Tories being so wed to the politics of Westminster and opposition for opposition’s sake that all they can do is carp from the sidelines, as per usual.”
“Speak through the chair, please. Douglas Lumsden: Maybe he wants to silence the Opposition, but I will not be silenced. Maybe he can tell me when he gets this figure of £100,000 from? Were there 25 extra staff employed here in January? [Interruption.] Kevin Stewart: I get the figure of £100,000 from the fact that, the last time the question, “How much does it cost to answer a written parliamentary question?” was asked, the answer was £98.25. There we go. [Interruption.] Mr Gibson has just reminded me that that was back in 2008, so the cost now is probably well over £100,000. That money could have been spent on public services instead of trying to find out about salt sachets in the canteen. Colleagues—and I do mean my colleagues— [Interruption.] The Deputy Presiding Officer: Please resume your seat, Mr Stewart.”
“The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-16526, in the name of Alasdair Allan, on a legislative consent motion for the Great British Energy Bill, which is United Kingdom legislation. I invite members who wish to participate in the debate to press their request-to- speak buttons. I call Alasdair Allan to speak to and move the motion. 16:37”
“Any interventions will have to be absorbed within the agreed allocated time. 15:49”
“That was the stark warning that Teresa Medhurst, the chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service, gave last year. She was right to highlight the consequent risks for staff, for prisoners and, ultimately, for communities, to which I have already referred. Scottish Liberal Democrats support efforts that will reduce the use of prison sentences in favour of alternatives that we know are more effective and keep our communities safe. However, I cannot help feeling that the time that it has taken to get to this point suggests that the Government is still not fully facing up to the scale and urgency of the action that is required, and that must change. The Deputy Presiding Officer: We move to the open debate. I advise members that back-bench speeches should be of the agreed slot of up to four minutes and that we have no time in hand.”
“Even now, there seems to be a lack of urgency. As Liam Kerr fairly noted, the cabinet secretary first announced her intention to commission a review of sentencing exactly a year ago. In that time, Scotland’s prison population has continued to balloon and Parliament has been asked to sanction two separate emergency prisoner releases, while granting sweeping future powers to ministers. Although I welcome the review and believe that it is necessary, and I certainly wish Martyn Evans and his colleagues well, I think that Pauline McNeill is right to argue that it will take time for the review group to carry out its work and to come forward with recommendations. That is time that Scotland’s prison population can ill afford. Scotland’s prisons are at a tipping point.”
“Although that will certainly come at a cost, that cost is dwarfed by the cost of building more and more prisons to lock up more and more people, who will then be released to continue reoffending more and more often. I believe that sentencing and penal policy should reflect that reality and be guided by the evidence. Although it cannot be the primary motivation, the review needs to reflect the context of the dangerous overcrowding that we see in our prisons. That overcrowding is dangerous for staff, for prisoners and, ultimately, for communities. Even though the Government was warned about the developing crisis for years, its action was, I would argue, slow and insufficient. It is certainly fair to argue that actions can take time to have an effect, but that argument becomes less persuasive over time.”
“We know that, in many instances, prison sentences are an ineffective deterrent and increase the likelihood of reoffending. If our number 1 priority really is, as it must be, to keep communities across Scotland safe, we need to recognise that there are often more effective tools for reducing crime than prison. It is true that such decisions are for an independent judiciary but, as politicians, we have a role to play, partly in resisting the “penal populism” identified by David Gauke, but also in ensuring that the alternative options that are available to judges and sheriffs are properly resourced, robustly enforced and consistently available. That is not the case at present, as others have observed.”
“I have far too much respect for Liam Kerr—as he knows—to accuse him of such, but the repeated mantra of some in his party, who talk about soft-touch justice when our country has the highest prison population level per capita in western Europe, seems to fit Mr Gauke’s description rather well. Although some of the criticisms in the Tory amendment are entirely valid, the apparent desire to lock up even more of our population is not. I urge Liam Kerr to follow the advice of his former colleague David Gauke. After all, it appears to be common sense. Of course, prison is and will remain the best and only option for those who pose a danger to society. Even then, public safety demands that every effort be made to rehabilitate as well as to punish.”
“I, too, welcome the debate and the independent sentencing review. I know that it is dangerous to prejudge such things, but I confidently expect such a review to confirm the blunt reality that our justice system is too reliant on prison. My confidence is reinforced by the fact that part 1 of the UK independent sentencing review’s report, which was published earlier this week, came to that very conclusion. That review is headed by former Conservative justice secretary David Gauke, who was withering in his criticism of what he described as the “penal populism” of some politicians.”
“Good afternoon. The first item of business is portfolio question time, and the portfolio on this occasion is social justice. I invite members who wish to ask a supplementary question to press their request-to-speak buttons. Homelessness (Care-experienced Individuals) 1.”
“Motion debated, That the Parliament acknowledges the reported concerns regarding rising rural crime and its impact on communities across Scotland, including in the Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire constituency; notes that, according to NFU Mutual, the cost of rural crime in Scotland increased by 34.9% between 2022 and 2023, rising from £1.4 million to £1.8 million, contributing to a UK-wide cost of £58.8 million; recognises that 91% of those surveyed by NFU Mutual believe that rural crime is becoming more organised; notes that equipment and machinery theft, including agricultural machinery, construction equipment and power tools, has a significant financial and operational impact on farmers and businesses across urban and rural Scotland; acknowledges what it considers the effectiveness of technical preventative measures such as the CESAR scheme, tracking devices, immobilisers, PIN-protected GPS systems, and mechanical immobilisers, which it understands are more widely used in other parts of the UK; understands that the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 was passed with cross-party support in the UK Parliament to address these issues; notes the belief that there is an opportunity to strengthen equipment and machinery crime prevention in Scotland, and further notes the calls on the Scottish Government to engage with industry experts, Police Scotland and victims to explore further action to tackle this type of crime.”
“The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-16304, in the name of Rachael Hamilton, on tackling the rise in rural crime and equipment theft in Scotland. The debate will be concluded without any question being put.”
“The next item of business is a statement by Natalie Don-Innes on the Promise oversight board “Report THREE February 2025”. The minister will take questions at the end of her statement, so there should be no interventions or interruptions. 14:53”
“Good afternoon. The first item of business is portfolio questions, and the first portfolio is rural affairs, land reform and islands. I remind members who wish to ask a supplementary question to press their request-to- speak buttons during the relevant question. Land Banking (Highlands and Islands) 1.”
“Motion debated, That the Parliament commends the hard-working fishermen of island and coastal communities, including in the Shetland Islands constituency; understands that, as published in the most recent Marine Economic Statistics in December 2024, fishing contributed £335 million to Scotland’s economy in 2022, including £83.3 million from Shetland; notes the dangerous nature of the open sea and the at-sea dangers of manmade infrastructure, as well as from other fishing vessels conducting dangerous procedures and manoeuvres; further notes concern in the sector about increasing competition for marine space and the calls to establish designated cable corridors as a means of addressing spatial squeeze and promoting co- operation; recognises the cultural and economic significance of fishing to Scotland; highlights fish as what it sees as a sustainable, low-carbon source of protein; understands that the Scottish Government has not held a debate on fisheries since 2022, and notes the belief that action to address spatial squeeze in Scotland’s seas is in the long-term interests of the fishing sector as well as the wider Scottish economy.”
“The final item of business is a members' business debate on motion S6M-16282, in the name of Beatrice Wishart, on opportunities and challenges for Scotland’s fishing sector in 2025. The debate will be concluded without any questions being put. I invite members who wish to participate in the debate to press their request-to- speak buttons now or as soon as possible.”
“The next item of business is a statement from the First Minister on securing a future for Grangemouth. The First Minister will take questions at the end of his statement, so there should be no interventions or interruptions. 15:13”
“The Scottish Government has undertaken a range of activity, in partnership with other organisations and local government, to increase awareness and understanding of community wealth building and to help practitioners to identify opportunities to implement that. We will seek to build on and accelerate that work, and have committed to bringing forward legislation that will have a role to play. Ms Whitham’s key point is the need for community wealth building to be seen as a golden thread that runs through all our work. It builds on a lot of mature work across a number of discrete areas, bringing a strategic coherence that can really help to effect economic change at local and regional levels. The Deputy Presiding Officer: We also need a little more brevity in responses.”
“Before I call the minister, I remind members that there is a lot of interest in the subject and that we need slightly briefer questions. Tom Arthur: There was a huge amount in Elena Whitham’s question. I thank her for what she has set out and I recognise her long-standing interest in the subject, particularly in respect of her constituency. Regarding some of the work that has been undertaken, the member will be familiar with the £3 million that was allocated as part of the Ayrshire growth deal. Five pilot areas across Scotland were also supported, a practitioners network was set up and funding was provided to support the development of best practice guidance.”
“As ever, I would be grateful if members who wish to ask a question pressed their request-to-speak buttons if they have not already done so.”
“I have also engaged with a number of MSP colleagues along the way, and I am grateful for that engagement. With the bill beginning its formal processes today, I am committing to ramping up that engagement over the coming months to ensure that, if the Parliament supports the bill, we will be ready to implement the outcomes in a way that best serves the interests of our future apprentices and employers and the needs of Scotland’s economy. Lastly, I want to work with members from all parties in the Scottish Parliament to lay the foundations for lasting reform of the kind that I think that we generally recognise is needed. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The minister will now take questions on the issues that were raised in his statement. I intend to allow around 20 minutes for questions, after which we will move to the next item of business.”
“High-quality careers advice is essential to getting the right people into the right jobs, tackling poverty and growing the economy. It is vital to have that advice in schools in order to help young people to realise their potential. We will shortly be announcing new arrangements for the career services collaborative. The outgoing interim chair Grahame Smith, the secretariat and all members of the collaborative have achieved much since its formation. Their work forms a great base for progressing to the next phase, which is, importantly, focusing on improving careers advice and support. I have spent a good deal of time meeting stakeholders, especially employers and training providers that are engaged in apprenticeship delivery, and listening to their views as we developed our thinking.”
“Tertiary education and training must deliver the skills that employers need and, importantly, meet our skills requirements in 21st century Scotland so that we can address net zero, support our national health service and grow a thriving Scottish economy. I have engaged extensively with ministerial colleagues across the Government and with our key stakeholders to develop our approach to skills planning, which is rooted in evidence of what works and what is needed. Tertiary education and training must be responsive to both regional and national skills needs. A few weeks ago, I met the regional economic partnership network again, and we had a good discussion about skills planning across regions. We still have work to do, but I am pleased with the progress that we are making and the co-design approach that we are taking.”
“The bill also includes provision for a new apprenticeship committee of the SFC and provision for apprenticeship certificates to help apprentices to demonstrate that they have gained the relevant training, experience and qualifications. That leads me on to qualifications reform. We must have up-to-date, accessible qualifications that are fit for learners at all stages of their lives. Work is under way to fully understand the qualifications landscape in tertiary education. The qualifications must be valued by employers and learners, they must clearly signal the skills and knowledge that individuals have acquired and, crucially, they must be flexible enough to adapt to the ever-changing demands of the modern economy.”
“Last but not least, we have to get maximum value from every pound that we invest. The bill makes provision for Scottish apprenticeships and work-based learning, laying the foundations for apprenticeship reform. We can take the best of what works now and change what does not. The bill will enable improvement but leave room to develop future apprenticeship policy with stakeholders. Employer engagement is critical to all of this work, so we are building a dedicated employer network to guide it. We will sharpen the focus of the apprenticeship approvals group and the standards and frameworks group to ensure that they play a vital role in the transition process, and we will broaden employer participation at every stage across the reform landscape.”
“Responsibilities for apprenticeships and national training programmes will move from SDS to the SFC. The work that SDS has done on apprenticeships has given us firm foundations on which to build, and the skills and experience of SDS staff will be invaluable in establishing the new arrangements and shaping an improved offering. A refocused SDS will continue to play a vital role in skills planning, careers advice and support for employers. It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the influence on our reforms of James Withers and his review, and I thank him once again for his important work. I want to be clear about why we are doing this. First and foremost, we want to deliver the best service that we can for learners and employers. Secondly, we want to make things simpler for colleges, universities, training providers and employers.”
“I make it clear that there will be no immediate change to funding arrangements for college or university students, but bringing student support responsibilities together will unlock opportunities. The change will enable new ways of administering student support, collecting data and providing coherent information and guidance to learners and institutions. Before I go on, I thank our three public bodies— the SFC, SAAS and Skills Development Scotland—and their staff for their help in getting us to this point. I am also grateful for the input from colleges, universities, employers, training providers and others whose insights have absolutely informed our decisions. I know that change can be unsettling. If the bill is passed, the SFC will need to evolve to encompass its expanded remit.”
“It will also knit together the SFC’s existing responsibilities and its new responsibilities for apprenticeships and work- based learning in a coherent way, which we hope employers will welcome. Today is a significant milestone for tertiary education and training. The bill will enable us to move from three funding bodies to two. In our programme for government, we said that we would “Reform the education and skills funding system so it is easier to navigate and responsive to learners and skills priorities—breaking down silos and reducing bureaucracy”. The bill moves us closer to that. The other half of funding body simplification is the movement of further education student support from the SFC to SAAS. That change does not require legislation, which means that we can progress at pace, and we are doing so.”
“The bill will establish, for the first time, a statutory framework for apprenticeships in Scotland, recognising the value that we place on apprenticeships and on the delivery of the First Minister’s mission to drive economic growth. It will also give ministers the power to commission the SFC to deliver new national training programmes and will mean that we can address training needs that might not otherwise be met, making it easier to ensure that programmes are aligned to the Government’s four priorities. Furthermore, the bill will improve the SFC’s governance and how it oversees tertiary education, including by creating a greater focus on the needs and interests of learners.”
“That decision was informed by what stakeholders told us through our public consultation. Our approach is designed to put the learner at the centre. It aims to ensure that our whole education and skills system works as a single system that is easy to navigate and in which everyone takes responsibility to deliver excellence for all. Reform is, of course, about more than the individual parts of the system; it is about the whole system working together. Yesterday, the Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) Bill was introduced in the Scottish Parliament. First and foremost, the bill will consolidate the SFC’s responsibilities for securing the provision of national training programmes, apprenticeships and work-based learning.”
“The next item of business is a statement by Graeme Dey on simplifying the post- school education and skills funding body landscape in Scotland. The minister will take questions after his statement, so there should be no interventions or interruptions. 14:58 The Minister for Higher and Further Education; and Minister for Veterans (Graeme Dey): A fortnight ago, we announced progress on our plans to reform the post-school education and skills system. We announced that the Scottish Funding Council would assume responsibility for all apprenticeships, and that the Student Awards Agency Scotland would take on responsibility for further education student support. Therefore, one body, the SFC, will be responsible for funding provision for teaching, training and related activities, while another body, SAAS, will be responsible for student support.”
“Good afternoon. The first item of business is portfolio questions on net zero, energy and transport. I advise members that there is a lot of interest in supplementaries, so I ask that we please have questions with limited preamble and answers that are as brief as possible. Bus Patronage (South Lanarkshire) 1.”
“That is an important way of working to ensure that people in Scotland get the right options on end-of-life and palliative care. Rape Crisis Scotland Guidance 6.”
“I welcome the additional funding, which was secured through the budget partnership and negotiations with the Scottish Liberal Democrats. However, the minister will be aware that the debate on my Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill has shone a light on gaps in access to palliative care. What assurances can she give that, through the palliative care strategy and additional funding, some of those access issues can be addressed? Jenni Minto: I recognise the role that the Liberal Democrats played in ensuring that the hospices received additional funding. I agree that, in the light of the bill that Liam McArthur is taking through Parliament, it cannot be one or the other, which is why I am very pleased that we had our palliative care consultation, which closed in January.”
“Motion debated, That the Parliament notes what it sees as the vital role that local libraries play in their communities, acting as central hubs for borrowing, learning, community engagement and sourcing advice and support; believes that the closure of libraries leaves communities without these vital services, and that this is particularly damaging for rural areas where libraries can be heavily relied on; considers that library closures have a disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations, including children, older residents and people with limited access to digital resources; notes the reported concerns raised by communities around the proposed closure of libraries across Scotland, including the threatened closure of those in the Perth and Kinross Council area; understands that local authorities have a legal obligation to provide public library services; believes that mobile libraries are often not suitable alternatives; considers that library services require adequate public funding to remain viable and have a critical role to play in achieving the Scottish Government’s priorities, including eradicating child poverty; believes that a closed library is unlikely to reopen, permanently limiting opportunities for the communities they once served, and notes the calls on the Scottish Government to help protect the future of Scotland’s libraries.”
“The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-16155, in the name of Mark Ruskell, on save local libraries. The debate will be concluded without any question being put. I invite members who wish to participate to press their request-to-speak buttons now or as soon as possible.”
“The next item of business is a statement by Neil Gray on implementing the medication assisted treatment standards. The cabinet secretary will take questions at the end of his statement, so there should be no interruptions or interventions. 14:48”
“Again, members who wish to ask a supplementary question should press their request-to-speak buttons during the relevant question. School Building 1.”
“The first item of business is portfolio questions, and the first portfolio is Deputy First Minister responsibilities, economy and Gaelic. I remind members that questions 3 and 4 are grouped together, so I will take any supplementary questions on those after the initial questions have been asked. There is an awful lot of interest in supplementary questions. I do not expect to be able to get through them all, but I will require brevity in questions and responses to get through as many as I can. Question 1 has not been lodged. Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 2.”
“I advise members that we have exhausted any time that we had in hand, so speakers will have to stick to their allocated times. 16:05”