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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Every one of 1,163 lines we hold for Liam McArthur, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 23 of 24.
“I call Clare Adamson to speak on behalf of the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee. 15:17”
“The cabinet secretary is concluding. Shona Robison: As committees will be aware, the Government has called on the UK Treasury to fully fund those additional costs. On 24 January, the Treasury advised that Scotland will receive only a Barnett share of the available funding, which is deeply concerning because it will create a shortfall of £300 million. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Cabinet secretary, you need to conclude. Shona Robison: The Treasury’s decision fails to take into account Scotland’s larger public sector per person than those in the rest of the UK. This is a balanced and fair budget package for Scotland and I encourage all members in the chamber to support it. The Deputy Presiding Officer: We are a little tight for time—there is a bit of leeway, but not much.”
“Motion debated, That the Parliament notes the publication of Scottish Engineering’s report, Engineering Skills Gap Analysis for Scotland; is concerned by the findings of the report, the production of which aims to allow industry and government to work in partnership to maximise the opportunities for Scotland’s economy, and its society as a result; notes that the results in the report are derived from the output of a survey of 70 engineering companies based on their operations in Scotland; is concerned with the findings of the report that skills pipeline gaps for existing industry are “an immediately stark situation” with “no allowance for the additional demands” of offshore wind, grid infrastructure investment, decarbonising heat energy or green hydrogen production; notes the view from the survey that “unless there is a rapid change in the required skills investment there is a considerable risk of damage to incumbent industry [and a] risk to inward investors of failure to reach the skilled staffing levels they require, with negative impact on their projects, and reputational risk to Scotland’s ability to accommodate such opportunity”; further notes the view that the Scottish and UK governments must encourage the next generation of skilled workers and make the funding and resources needed available to provide the apprenticeships of today for the jobs of tomorrow, and notes the calls in the Mid Scotland and Fife region and across the country for the Scottish Government to take action to foster a new partnership between schools, colleges, universities and industry to ensure that young people are aware and able to take advantage of the opportunities available in Scotland’s industrial sector, and that the future of Scottish industry is secured for the benefit of people across Scotland.”
“I encourage people who are leaving the public gallery to do so as quickly and as quietly as possible. The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-16148, in the name of Alex Rowley, on Scottish Engineering’s “Engineering Skills Gap Analysis for Scotland”. The debate will be concluded without any questions being put, and I invite members who wish to participate to press their request-to-speak buttons now or as soon as possible. I also advise members that we are a little tight for time, so I would welcome it if speeches were around the time limit.”
“The Deputy Presiding Officer: Before I call the next speaker, I advise members that, due to the number of members still wishing to speak in the debate, I am minded to accept a motion without notice, under rule 8.14.3, to extend the debate by up to 30 minutes. I invite Jackson Carlaw to move the motion. Motion moved, That, under Rule 8.14.3, the debate be extended by up to 30 minutes.—[Jackson Carlaw] Motion agreed to. 18:00”
“That has been followed in Gaza by unconscionable levels of indiscriminate violence. A ceasefire, although welcome, appears fragile, and on this Holocaust memorial day, it is more important than ever to restate the case for a lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike. It is incumbent on us to assert the truth of the Holocaust and the history of its victims—their pain and suffering, but also bravery, in the face of present-day polarisation, discrimination and persecution. A better future is possible, but only when we commit ourselves to never forgetting the darkness of the past.”
“May the treasure fall into good hands, may it last into better times, may it alarm and alert the world to what happened and was passed out in the twentieth century.” Now, here, in the 21st century, we owe it to David Graber and the millions who lost their lives in the Holocaust to be the “good hands” that, even in these better times, attest to the horrors of their suffering and never cease working to ensure that such horrors never happen again. We cannot afford complacency. Indeed, this year also marks the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, which claimed the lives of 8,000 Bosniak Muslim men on the basis of their identity. More recently, the barbaric 7 October Hamas attacks saw the most violent and intensive attack on the Jewish population since the Holocaust, killing more than 1,200 Israelis.”
“Graber and his peers collated testimonies, photographs and artefacts from the ghetto to ensure that the atrocities and reality of life under Nazi rule were a matter of record. At just 19, David buried the archive, knowing that he would not live to see its discovery, and included in it his last will and testament, in which he stated: “For me, it is enough if future generations remember our times and if our sufferings and pain are mentioned ...”
“If we want to safeguard a better future, we must be willing to challenge racism, bigotry and attempts to other those who might be different, who are in a minority or who are simply vulnerable. Of course, this might well be the last year that the Holocaust remains within living memory. As first-hand testimony fades, and as antisemitic, extremist and exclusionary rhetoric gains traction here and around the world, it is more important than ever that we commit to reflecting on the circumstances that normalised such widespread, murderous persecution of Jews and other minorities, simply for being themselves. This year, I was struck by the story of David Graber, one of three young Jewish men responsible for burying the Oneg Shabbat archives during the mass deportations from the Warsaw ghetto to Treblinka in 1942.”
“A failure to confront, acknowledge and accept those truths sees us running the risk of allowing the horrors of the Holocaust to happen again, as unimaginable as we might think that to be. The Holocaust Educational Trust, to which I offer my genuine thanks, has this year shared the work of Professor Gregory Stanton, who has developed an academic model for the 10 stages of genocide. Genocide never happens in a vacuum. The Holocaust did not begin with death camps, gas chambers and forced ghettoisation; before we get to steps 8, 9 and 10—persecution, extermination and denial—there are steps 1, 2 and 3, which are classification, discrimination and polarisation.”
“As others have said, on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau—the most notorious of the Nazi death camps, which institutionalised the murder of Jews and other minorities during a murderous persecution that claimed the lives of more than 9 million people— bearing witness and remembering are the very least that we can do. The theme of this year’s Holocaust memorial day is “For a better future”, but such a future is possible only if we confront head on the depth of inhumanity that allowed the Holocaust to occur, and acknowledge with honesty and clear sightedness that the Holocaust was allowed to happen, as others have observed, only because thousands, if not millions, of ordinary people chose to look the other way in the face of persecution and discrimination.”
“As others have, and as is customary, I congratulate Jackson Carlaw on and thank him for securing the debate. More than that, I thank him for the dignified, passionate and powerful way in which he articulated the sentiments that I think we all share. He set the scene well for this now annual debate. The debate provides yet another invaluable opportunity to renew our Holocaust remembrance, and although the debate itself is never likely to be one of great controversy, the context in which it is taking place—with antisemitism, racism and extremism on the rise here, in Europe and around the globe—serves as a timely reminder of the importance of redoubling our commitment to bearing witness to the horrors of the Holocaust.”
“The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-16252, in the name of Jackie Baillie, on supporting Scotland’s health and social care workforce. I invite members who wish to participate to press their request-to-speak buttons. 14:56”
“To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the culture secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding how it delivers support for community ownership of heritage assets. (S6O- 04255)”
“Motion debated, That the Parliament notes that January 2025 marks five years since the UK left the EU; recognises that people in Scotland voted to remain within the EU and that there was a majority vote for remain in every one of Scotland’s local authority areas, and considers that, despite this, Scotland was removed from the EU against the democratic wishes of the people of Scotland; believes that Brexit has caused, and continues to cause, substantial harm to the Scottish and UK economies; acknowledges reports that there is an estimated loss of £2.3 billion every year in public revenues for Scotland as a result of Brexit; notes with concern that the Office for Budget Responsibility has reportedly estimated that Brexit will reduce the overall trade intensity of the UK economy by 15% in the long term; understands that a recent study from the Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics found that goods exports from the UK dropped by £27 billion in 2022 alone as a result of Brexit; further understands that the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply revealed problems with supply chains and trade routes, exacerbated by Brexit, which could see imports cost between 5% and 20% more, fuelling a new cost of living crisis; considers that Brexit continues to pose significant barriers to people coming to live and work in Scotland, including in vital public services; believes that Brexit is impacting young people’s right to live, work and study in 27 European nations, and denying future generations a wealth of economic, social and cultural opportunities, and notes the belief that Scotland should rejoin the EU to rebuild strong ties with fellow Europeans and to ensure that businesses, students and workers in Scotland, including in the Motherwell and Wishaw constituency, can benefit from access to the world’s largest single market and the rich cultural, social and economic benefits that membership of the EU brings.”
“The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-16143, in the name of Clare Adamson, on Brexit harm to Scotland, five years since the United Kingdom left the European Union. The debate will be concluded without any question being put. I invite any members who wish to participate in the debate to press their request- to-speak buttons.”
“I would like an acknowledgment that the Scottish Government remains committed to the on-going work to have a sustainable financial model for Scotland’s hospices through the years ahead. The motion talks about public sector reform—as we look to reform health and social care in Scotland, the hospice movement should be at the heart of that. With hospice at home, work over bereavement and a whole variety of worthwhile things that Scotland’s hospices do, the hospice sector could do that job the best. Sometimes, such reform does not have to be done directly through public services; it can be done through Scotland’s hospices, putting them at the heart of public sector reform. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I remind members that there is no time in hand. Indeed, we are running over time, currently. 16:19”
“Briefly—Michael Marra. Michael Marra: I am glad that the member welcomes the additional spending, but where does he think that the money should come from? He has set out that he is opposed to the means by which the money should be raised, as did the cabinet secretary earlier, but the cabinet secretary could not explain where he thought the money should come from. Bob Doris: Mr Marra might want to look at the Official Report, because the cabinet secretary clearly laid out the progressive taxation system that Scotland has implemented over a number of years through this Parliament to get in greater funds—something that the UK Labour Government has been too timid to even consider. There is more concern for non-doms than there is for the public of Scotland or of the UK. Financial challenges remain in the hospice sector.”
“The next item of business is a statement by Angela Constance on the Scottish Government’s response to fatal accident inquiries into the deaths of Katie Allan and William Brown. The cabinet secretary will take questions at the end of her statement, so there should be no interventions or interruptions. 14:23”
“Good afternoon. The first item of business this afternoon is portfolio question time, and the portfolio on this occasion is social justice. I remind members who wish to ask a supplementary question to press their request-to- speak button during the relevant question. As members will be aware, we are pretty tight for time across the afternoon, so there is the usual appeal for brevity. Question 1 has not been lodged. Budget 2025-26 (Anti-racism Promotion) 2.”
“Motion debated, That the Parliament recognises what it sees as the importance of women in business as Scotland strives to achieve net zero targets; understands that there is a need to stimulate more innovation and entrepreneurship amongst STEM-based sectors to contribute directly to building capacity in Scotland, including in the Falkirk East constituency, and recognises that the wider business sectors also have a role to play in achieving net zero; welcomes the July 2024 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) report, and particularly the analysis provided by Glasgow, Edinburgh and Strathclyde universities regarding female entrepreneurship in Scotland; celebrates the finding that women are starting and running new businesses at virtually the same rate as men for the first time in Scotland, and that, globally, the female to male gap in entrepreneurship rates is narrowing, and believes that Scotland is leading the way by this measure; considers, therefore, that women entrepreneurs and business leaders will be a vital resource in leading Scotland’s economy towards growth and net zero, but believes that, post-school, the number of females entering STEM-related education, employment or business start-ups remains weak; understands that a 2023 report by Women’s Enterprise Scotland expressed concern that approximately 60% of women-led businesses are somewhat disengaged from achieving net zero, either because of a lack of confidence or a belief that it does not apply to their operations; further understands that a fear of failure is a key cultural barrier to further developing entrepreneurial activity in Scotland at a time when innovation and entrepreneurship will, it believes, be vital to meeting the challenge of achieving net zero, and notes the calls for both effective representation of women in all net zero policy forums and further research into the contribution of women directly in STEM-based businesses and wider business sector activity as net zero is pursued.”
“The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-15413, in the name of Michelle Thomson, on promoting the role of women in Scotland’s journey to net zero. The debate will be concluded without any question being put.”
“Motion debated, That the Parliament recognises what it sees as the lasting impact of Scotland’s national bard, Robert Burns, including the significant contribution that his works continue to make at home and around the world; notes with interest and admiration the efforts of many across Scotland and the world to ensure that his legacy is celebrated; acknowledges, in particular, a number of initiatives in Dumfries and Galloway that have progressed since Burns’ Night 2024; congratulates the Ellisland Farm project, which is led by the former MSP, Joan McAlpine, on receiving an initial grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund of almost £500,000 towards developing and restoring the farm and museum; believes that the restoration scheme has the potential to be a gamechanger for the region and to redefine the Burns’ visitor experience; acknowledges what it sees as the growing partnership between Annandale Distillery and the Globe Inn; notes the 10th anniversary of the distillery and its Man O’ Words Whisky, which takes its inspiration from Burns, and welcomes the return of the Big Burns Supper in Dumfries.”
“The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-16078, in the name of Oliver Mundell, on celebrating the continued social, cultural and economic importance of Robert Burns. The debate will be concluded without any question being put.”
“I move amendment S6M-16171.2, to leave out from “opposes” to end and insert: “understands that the UK and Scottish governments’ jointly proposed changes to the Electricity Act 1989 and the consenting process have recently been issued for consultation, and recognises the importance of listening to the views of communities and other stakeholders before any changes are made; believes that delays to the delivery of vital transmission infrastructure risk holding back essential investment to decarbonise all sectors of the economy and the opportunity to put areas, including the north east and Highlands and Islands, at the forefront of the UK’s renewables revolution, but that the grid changes required must give due respect to the environment, landscape, cultural history, wellbeing and property rights of local people; notes that the outcome of the consultation has yet to be published, and calls, therefore, on both of Scotland’s governments to ensure that any concerns raised through the consultation are appropriately addressed and that concerted action is taken to build community support, secure a consensus around the grid changes that need to be made, and provide greater clarity to the public about why upgrades to the electricity network are important for Scotland’s economy, energy security and climate obligations, whilst also ensuring that developers fulfil their obligations and duties.” 16:22”
“Without transformation of our transmission and storage capacity across the country, we will be forced into an impossible choice: either to make ourselves more and more reliant on importing expensive and polluting fuels from the likes of Putin’s Russia, or to get used to grid failure and regular blackouts. Both would result in higher bills for households and businesses, dramatically lower growth, and a poorer and less resilient UK. I would be interested to know which option Mr Lumsden prefers.”
“If we do not get this right, the price will be paid not only in higher bills but in jobs and prosperity being lost to other parts of the world—and not only in the energy industry. House builders, the whisky industry, data centres and manufacturers are all warning that they are starting to be held back by the outdated grid. We often hear Mr Lumsden and his colleagues advocating for the needs of those sectors. I wonder whether he has consulted them on the proposals that were put forward this afternoon. In recent years, investment in energy generation has outstripped that in transmission and storage. That is not sustainable.”
“We need to find ways to allow decisions to take the social and environmental needs of local communities into account while avoiding endless delays and uncertainty. It took more than a decade to get the Beauly to Denny line through planning. Delays on that scale have financial costs, but also take a toll on people who are unable to get on with their lives and livelihoods. There is also a risk that we drive away investment. Scotland and the UK have, broadly speaking, been seen to be stable regulatory and policy environments, but other countries have recognised the benefits of offering the same or better. As the push to decarbonise gathers pace, competition for investment intensifies.”
“Projects should be developed with local communities’ needs in mind, and grid upgrades should give due respect to the environment, landscape and cultural history of the area, as well as to the wellbeing of the people who are impacted. At the same time, we must be honest with ourselves and with those whom we represent. Proposals that could delay key projects, massively push up their costs or see them being cancelled altogether will have consequences, including higher energy bills for households and businesses, lower economic growth and a UK that is poorer, weaker and less resilient. Communities across Scotland certainly do not want that and would not thank us for leading them to it.”
“Wind, solar and other renewables demand more decentralised transmission and use of storage. There is no world in which we can rely indefinitely on the North Sea basin. That is not a matter of politics—it is a matter of geology. Douglas Lumsden: Will the member give way? Liam McArthur: No, thank you. If we are still reliant on fossil fuels in 2050, we will be importing them. Even so, as we upgrade the grid, we must bring affected communities with us. Both Scotland’s Governments must be clear, consistent and honest about why investment is needed. Steps to strengthen scrutiny and community engagement processes are still required, but that is not what Mr Lumsden proposes. I understand the strong objections that some people have to projects that they see as being intrusive: pylons, for example, have few aesthetic upsides.”
“The Scottish Liberal Democrats strongly believe in the importance of empowering local communities. That belief has always been central to my approach in scrutinising policy and legislation. However, I also recognise that that must be balanced with other priorities, including the need to deliver vital infrastructure. Two weeks ago, at 5.30 pm on 8 January, the spare electricity capacity on the national grid was just 580MW. Experts warned that a further small drop in generation could have resulted in blackouts. Had it done so, this debate would not have taken place— or the tone and content of it would certainly have been very different. The national grid represents an incredible achievement, but some 1920s infrastructure is still in use. Upgrades have not kept pace with the changing nature of energy generation and customer demand.”
“The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-16170, in the name of Miles Briggs, on delivering school environments where it is safe for pupils to learn and teachers to teach. I invite members who wish to participate to press their request-to-speak button. I remind members that we are very tight for time across this debate and the next one. 14:52”
“Given the time pressures across the afternoon, we will crack on with questions on the next portfolio, which is health and social care. Members who wish to ask a supplementary question should press their request-to-speak buttons during the relevant question. We are tight for time, so brevity will be required in questions and responses. Thrombectomy Services (Fife) 1.”
“However, it is proportionate and not unreasonable for people who live on, work on and deal with the land to know that those who are carrying out what would ordinarily be illegal practices on that land have a licence for that. I think that that is fair and proportionate. However, on Mr McArthur’s point, if people do not know who the landowner is and cannot get contact details to provide notification, when it is reasonably practicable to do so, they can provide notification through NatureScot’s licensing division. Land Reform (Scotland) Bill 8.”
“I echo John Mason’s concerns, which reflect concerns that I have heard from the Orkney raptor study group. It has made the same point about information being shared with landowners and difficulties in knowing who precisely owns land—a problem that the Orkney Native Wildlife Project has come up against, despite all the resources at its disposal. I encourage the minister to look again at the concerns that the raptor study groups have raised and consider how they can be better addressed to ensure that the monitoring that is going on can continue. Jim Fairlie: I take on board Mr McArthur’s point. That issue has been raised with me.”
“Motion debated, That the Parliament considers that people living in remote and rural areas face unique challenges when it comes to accessing health and social care; understands that the recruitment and retention of staff, poor infrastructure, and the inability to access certain services are all common issues that impact health and social care in rural and remote areas; notes what it sees as the failure of the Scottish Government to deliver infrastructure investment in the Highlands and Islands region and elsewhere, including the failure to deliver a new Belford Hospital in Fort William, complete upgrades to Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin, and build a replacement hospital for the Isle of Barra, among other delayed projects; understands that many communities in rural areas face a reduction of services, such as the reduced access to NHS dentistry in Dunoon and loss of care home beds across the Highlands and Islands region; believes that all of these factors contribute to the wider issue of rural depopulation, and notes the calls for the Scottish Government to properly invest in health and social care in rural and remote areas and deliver better health outcomes for residents.”
“The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-14408, in the name of Tim Eagle, on improving access to health and social care in rural Scotland. The debate will be concluded without any question being put.”
“The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-16085, in the name of Jackson Carlaw, on behalf of the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee, on an inquiry into the A9 dualling programme. I invite members who wish to participate in the debate to press their request-to-speak button. 15:00”
“Motion debated, That the Parliament welcomes the Scottish Human Rights Commission’s spotlight project into Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the Highlands and Islands; understands that it was commissioned in April 2023 and undertook a targeted programme of work to assess the realisation of economic, social and cultural rights for people living across the Highlands and Islands, which concluded in early 2024 and published its report, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the Highlands and Islands, in November 2024; believes that this report has been widely welcomed by community groups, charities and organisations across the Highlands and Islands; is concerned, in particular, by the Commission’s urgent calls to tackle the rooflessness, hunger and access to health issues across the Highlands and Islands; is further concerned that, according to the report, across all rights examined, there is not a single human right that meets all the conditions of adequacy under international law, and notes the calls on the Scottish Government to act on this report and review its current policies to address the concerns raised by this report.”
“The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-15705, in the name of Rhoda Grant, on the Scottish Human Rights Commission’s spotlight report, “Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the Highlands and Islands”. The debate will be concluded without any question being put.”
“For the public to have trust, they must see and feel that systems are in place that are designed to protect them should they encounter misconduct. The points that Douglas Ross made in relation to his amendment indicate that there are still gaps, but the exchange with the cabinet secretary was very helpful. On the whole, I believe that the bill takes us much closer to that point, and the Scottish Liberal Democrats will vote in favour of the bill at decision time. The Presiding Officer: We move to the open debate. 17:07”
“The debate that we were able to have today was worth while, so I thank Pauline McNeill for allowing it to happen. I echo Victim Support Scotland’s assessment that it is not enough simply to have in place procedures that deal reactively with those who violate the code of ethics or engage in misconduct. Periodic vetting procedures provide scope for proactive scrutiny and reflect the intentions of the Angiolini report in that regard. I recognise the concerns that have been raised by the Scottish Police Federation and by ASPS in a meeting with me this morning. We will need to keep the issue under review. I welcome the reassurances and clarifications that the cabinet secretary has offered in response to the amendments. As she said, policing by consent demands that the highest ethical standards are upheld.”
“Let us not forget that there are 2,000 unresolved complaints against members of the police force, of which 1,200 are yet to be even allocated an investigation—a point that Douglas Ross made in relation to his amendment. I therefore welcome the approach of the justice secretary and the Criminal Justice Committee in consulting those with lived experience of the complaints system— both civilians and those on the police side. I commend and congratulate Sharon Dowey and Katy Clark on the amendments that they have had accepted at stage 3 today. I also welcome Pauline McNeill’s moves to air a subject that needed to be debated around the vetting system. We accept the need for vetting, but there are genuine and reasonable misgivings about how it might be used inappropriately.”
“Service in the force, while uniquely challenging, also provides a unique degree of power over fellow citizens. When that power is abused or misused, accountability and transparency must be paramount. Too often, however, that does not appear to be the case, and victims are often left feeling shut out from the complaints system. Scottish Liberal Democrats welcome the bill and the efforts that have been made to provide a clear regulatory framework and more robust vetting procedures, to increase the scrutiny role of independent bodies and to strengthen the consequences of misconduct. The Angiolini report emphasised the need for a proactive approach, as well as an open and frank debate on the state of Scottish policing.”
“I add my thanks to the committee and those who gave evidence. I also thank Lady Elish for laying the foundations for the important and necessary reforms that we are debating as part of the bill. The vast majority of police officers conduct themselves with the utmost integrity and work tirelessly to keep people and communities across Scotland safe. They do so as the demands that are placed on them and the challenges that they face grow ever greater. Last month, at the Scottish Police Federation awards ceremony, I was privileged to witness the commitment, selflessness and bravery that are shown daily by officers around the country. That was truly humbling. At the same time, to protect those in its service and those whom it serves, policing requires officers and staff to adopt the most stringent of ethics codes.”
“As members will be aware, the Presiding Officer is required under standing orders to decide whether, in her view, any provision of the bill relates to a protected subject matter—that is, whether it modifies the electoral system and franchise for Scottish parliamentary elections. In the Presiding Officer’s view, no provision of the Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill relates to a protected subject matter; therefore, the bill does not require a supermajority to be passed at stage 3. 16:38 Meeting suspended. 16:39 On resuming—”
“Good afternoon. The first item of business this afternoon is portfolio questions. The first portfolio is Deputy First Minister responsibilities, economy and Gaelic. I remind members who wish to ask a supplementary question to press their request-to- speak buttons during the relevant question. We are incredibly tight for time across the afternoon, so I would appreciate succinct questions and indeed answers more than ever. British Chambers of Commerce Quarterly Economic Survey 1.”
“Motion debated, That the Parliament recognises what it sees as the importance of having a service of support and guidance for veterans, such as those in the Central Scotland region, including those in the justice system; understands that, whilst veterans are not more likely to commit a crime than civilians, they are more likely to engage with the justice system; further understands that, in England, Op NOVA has a decade of experience working in partnership with health and justice systems to support veterans in living healthy, stable and crime-free lives, and that it provides emotional and practical support to veterans at all points of the justice system, including pre-arrest, arrest, post-arrest and those serving a custodial sentence; considers that, having been built on the foundations of Forces Employment Charity’s Project Nova, it has an evidence base and proven framework to deliver life-changing support to veterans with established partnerships in the justice sector; notes the belief, therefore, that NOVA Scotland would be crucial in enabling veterans to live stable lives by providing access to practical and emotional support across a variety of areas, and further notes the calls for the Scottish Government to look at measures to introduce NOVA Scotland.”
“The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-15972, in the name of Meghan Gallacher, on introduction of NOVA Scotland. The debate will be concluded without any question being put. I invite members who wish to participate to press their request-to- speak buttons.”
“The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-16092, in the name of Angus Robertson, on valuing culture: Scotland’s support to the culture sector. I invite members who wish to speak in the debate to press their request-to- speak buttons, and I call Angus Robertson to speak to and move the motion. 14:54”