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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“We are endeavouring to do that already, both in revenue and capital, in different areas of Government—in the third sector and in culture, for example—but I take Liam McArthur’s point about the need for that type of certainty in this area, too.”
“To focus on the request for multiyear funding, the Government takes that very seriously. The call for multiyear funding is being made in a number of different parts of different Government portfolios, and I recognise the point that he makes. Clearly, it is challenging for the Scottish Government to move forward with further multiyear commitments when it is given only a one-year budget. That is why the work that the UK Government has been undertaking on spending reviews is exceptionally important. That will, I hope, provide some degree of certainty about what is happening in Scottish Government budgets over future years and will therefore allow us to take more decisions about where multiyear expenditure can be undertaken.”
“Although help with fuel bills is welcome, we must do more to bring down the overall cost of those bills. Area-based energy efficiency schemes have proven their worth, and more funding for those is welcome. However, too often, councils have insufficient notice of funding allocations and some councils appear unable to spend what they are given. Orkney Islands Council, in an area with the highest level of fuel poverty in the country, has consistently made full use of the area-based funding available. Like Colin Smyth, I urge the Government to review the scheme’s operation to ensure that councils get more notice, or indeed multiyear funding, and that, where there are risks of underspends, reallocation of funds takes place in a timely fashion. Shirley-Anne Somerville: Liam McArthur raises an important point about certainty of funding.”
“For years, the Scottish Government has failed to do that. We also need both of Scotland’s Governments to work together on immigration to ensure that rules are sensitive to the skills that are needed in every corner of these islands and in every sector of our economy. For example, there is a need to lower the barriers to people coming here so that we can fill the gaps in geographically sensitive areas, including rural parts of Scotland, remote places and islands. There are things that the Scottish Government can do in a wider sense to make those areas more attractive to live in and work in. I am talking about ferries that work, long- overdue broadband provision and safe roads.”
“Speak through the chair. Alex Cole-Hamilton: I am always grateful for an opportunity to lay out the Liberal Democrats’ pathway to reintegration with the European Union. That starts, unashamedly, with rejoining the single market and re-establishing connections through research, education and the free movement of goods, people, capital and services. Fundamentally, at the heart of every Liberal Democrat is that the country rejoin the European Union. My goodness—our approach to that is pragmatic, but it is remorseless. To that end, we want the introduction of a UK- EU youth mobility scheme to boost the economy and allow young people to work here more freely. We also want the Scottish Government to provide a replacement for the Erasmus scheme—as has been done in Wales—so that students can benefit from that life-changing educational experience.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that there is adequate childcare provision in island communities, including in the Orkney constituency. (S6O-04170)”
“I am interested in lending my support, where I can, to ensure that the council can progress the improvements that it needs to make to ensure that it has a resilient ferry fleet. Employer National Insurance Contributions 6.”
“Although the additional funding in the draft budget for ferry services in Orkney is welcome, it falls short of what will be needed to allow the procurement of new ferries in Orkney. Will the cabinet secretary provide an assurance that she will lend her support to efforts to get that shortfall made up so that the new ferries that are desperately needed in my constituency can be procured? Fiona Hyslop: When I visited Orkney as a minister, I was made well aware of the issues and concerns surrounding the council-run ferry service and the importance of supporting that. The member will be aware that, in recent years, the Government has increased support on the revenue side for the servicing and maintenance of that fleet, but it is clear that Orkney Islands Council faces big challenges.”
“Motion debated, That the Parliament congratulates St Mirren on its landmark partnership with the University of the West of Scotland (UWS); understands this partnership will enable the two Paisley-based institutions to work together to develop the relationship between sport and academia in Scotland, enriching the learning and research opportunities available to UWS students and staff and supporting St Mirren to improve standards across all facets of the club; praises St Mirren on its commitment to Paisley and the community, and acknowledges what it sees as the excellent example that it sets as a fan-owned community- focused football club. 17:03”
“The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-14331, in the name of George Adam, on St Mirren announcing its landmark partnership with the University of the West of 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-15708, in the name of Kenneth Gibson, on behalf of the Finance and Public Administration Committee, on the national performance framework—review of national outcomes. I invite members who wish to participate in the debate to press their request-to- speak buttons. 15:22”
“The next item of business is a statement by Natalie Don-Innes on Scotland’s secure accommodation capacity. The minister will take questions at the end of her statement, so there should be no interventions or interruptions. 14:52”
“You need to conclude. Marie McNair: —to take a new direction, and I urge Labour members to get behind it. Being in poverty makes everything more difficult, and everything good less likely. This budget— The Deputy Presiding Officer: You need to— Marie McNair: —looks forward with hope to a future— The Deputy Presiding Officer: You do need to conclude. I am going to have to call the next speaker. Marie McNair: —in which we end child poverty in Scotland. 15:54”