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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“Presiding Officer, I apologise to you and to other members for my late arrival in the chamber this afternoon. Suffice it to say that travelling down from Orkney last night and this morning proved somewhat challenging. I add my thanks to the committee for its work in producing the report and to the organisations and individuals whose evidence informed it. The report is a very welcome contribution to a debate that is not new. The deficiencies and gaps in the provision of legal aid, which are exacerbated by a complex and often inaccessible system, are challenges that the Government has known about for many years. Indeed, an independent strategic review in 2018 made a number of recommendations for systemic changes to legal aid, but those changes have not been realised.”
“Motion debated, That the Parliament considers the UK Government’s allocation of the £360 million UK-EU Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, which is based on population rather than fishing industry size, to be wholly unfair and deeply damaging to the Scottish fishing industry; understands that Scottish vessels consistently land more than half of the UK’s total catch, 63% of total catch value, and over 60% of seafood exports; believes that prior to Brexit, allocations of funds under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund were 36% for England, 46% for Scotland, 10% for Northern Ireland and 8% for Wales, in comparison to the allocation of under 8% for Scotland via Barnett consequentials used as the mechanism for allocating the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund; recognises what it sees as the vital importance of the fishing industry both economically and culturally to Scotland’s coastal communities, including in the Western Isles, and notes calls on the UK Government to reconsider its position on the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund allocation to better reflect the significant economic contribution of Scotland’s fishers and coastal communities.”
“The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-19427, in the name of Alasdair Allan, on fairer funding allocation for Scotland’s fishing and coastal communities. The debate will be concluded without any question being put. I encourage 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 debate on motion S6M-20173, in the name of Siobhian Brown, on the Contract (Formation and Remedies) (Scotland) Bill at stage 1. Members who wish to participate in the debate should press their request-to-speak buttons. I call Siobhian Brown to speak to and move the motion. Minister, you may have around six minutes. 13:17”
“I ask members who are leaving the chamber—and people who are leaving the public gallery—to do so as quickly and quietly as possible, as we move on to the next item of business, which is portfolio questions. The portfolio on this occasion is social justice and housing. Any member who wishes to ask a supplementary question should press their request-to-speak button during the relevant question. Affordable Housing Supply Programme (North Ayrshire) 1.”
“Motion debated, That the Parliament marks Small Business Saturday UK on 6 December 2025, an annual grassroots, not-for-profit campaign that celebrates and encourages support for small businesses across the UK; acknowledges that the campaign aims to highlight small business success while encouraging consumers to shop locally; recognises the vital role that small businesses play in communities across Scotland, including in the Scottish Borders, by driving growth, creating jobs and sustaining vibrant town centres; understands that micro and small businesses represent 98% of all enterprises in Scotland, employ more than 900,000 people and turnover £93 billion annually, according to the Federation of Small Businesses; considers that small businesses, particularly in rural communities, face increasing pressures from rising costs and economic uncertainty; notes the view that, although the Small Business Saturday occurs only once a year, support for and recognition of small businesses must continue throughout the year, and celebrates the vital contribution of small and rural businesses to Scotland’s economy.”
“The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-20035, in the name of Rachael Hamilton, on recognising small business Saturday 2025. The debate will be concluded without any question being put. I invite members who wish to speak in the debate to press their request-to-speak buttons now or as soon as possible. I also alert members to the fact that there is a lot of interest in participating in the debate, and there are events going on in Parliament this evening that will already be running late, so I give due warning that I intend to hold members strictly to their time limits. With that, I ask Rachael Hamilton to lead the way in opening the debate. You have up to seven minutes, Ms Hamilton.”
“As a former member of the Criminal Justice Committee, I do not want to tell its current members what they should be doing, but it could recommend in its legacy report that future committees should return to the issue regularly. Putting my convener’s group hat on for a second, I note that it is also an issue that would benefit from cross-committee working. For now, I thank Audrey Nicoll and the members of the committee for allowing this debate to take place. We will need to do more work on the subject, but this has been a decent start. The Deputy Presiding Officer: We now move to the open debate. I advise members that there is some time in hand. 16:14”
“It would be remiss of me not to return to the growing issue of online sexual violence and abuse, which has been amplified by the availability of deepfake technology and other generative AI tools, and which disproportionately impacts young women and girls. That issue has been driven largely by the rise in toxic masculinity in our society—Katy Clark made that point—and it will therefore require reform on a systemic level. Education will be key to changing attitudes, but there will also be a role for industry to play. Technology companies should not be given free rein to introduce new tools, systems or platforms into the market unless they have been built with safeguarding and responsibility in mind. Regulators must be proactive while also making clear the responsibilities and obligations on technology companies that operate in that space.”
“As an islander, I was interested in, although not surprised by, the evidence that Jude McCorry of the Cyber and Fraud Centre gave on how island communities are at a particular risk of being left without food supplies due to cyberattacks on supermarkets and supply chains. As we try address the digital divide, we recognise that the digital space is levelling the playing field and opening up access to services in a way that is hugely beneficial, but at the same time it expands the risk of individuals and organisations being susceptible to becoming victims of fraud. As somebody who represents an island community, I see that very clearly. If we are to continue to move towards the modernisation of critical services, which is clearly necessary, we must be prepared to address the myriad of cybersecurity risks that will accompany that process.”
“I am grateful to the Scottish Police Authority for its briefing, which sets out many of the ways in which Police Scotland has sought to invest and adapt to the changing challenge. I suspect that, during the past decade, when there has been a bit of an obsession with officer numbers—for reasons that I understand—we have perhaps lost sight of the debate that we need to have about the types of skills and resourcing that policing requires now and into the future. Staying one step ahead of organised crime gangs and other types of criminals is not straightforward, but our police and, indeed, our entire criminal justice system need to be given a fighting chance. Others have pointed to the need for resourcing to enable that.”
“The committee heard that, perhaps unsurprisingly, that type of crime increasingly targets more vulnerable groups, including the elderly. The demographic trend of an ageing population and the pace at which technological change is happening are creating a perfect storm. Perpetrators evolve and adapt their techniques and tactics, making the work that is done by Police Scotland, community organisations and others through public awareness campaigns exceptionally difficult. We are dealing with the ultimate moving target. That is why the Scottish Liberal Democrats have been clear in calling for Police Scotland to have enhanced support in the area and to be given the tools that it needs.”
“If we, as legislators, are to put in place appropriate and robust safeguards and protections, we need to develop a detailed understanding of what is happening and how that is likely to change. The nature of these issues means that we will require a collaborative working approach between Parliaments and Governments, not just here, in the UK, but internationally. As I said, building greater cyber resilience into systems and networks across the public, private and third sectors is crucial, and we need to continually raise awareness among the public of the risks and how to minimise them. The scale of the challenge is shown by the fact that cyber-enabled fraud is estimated to account for nearly half of all frauds in 2024-25.”
“However, Maggie Chapman is right that, although businesses may be most at risk and most in need of resilience being put in place, all organisations in the public, private and third sectors need to have resilience. Much of the crime is not new, but technology is allowing it to be carried out in a different and more effective way and to target a wider cohort of potential victims. The growing use of AI and other emerging technologies means that that trend is set to continue and get worse, as Sharon Dowey rightly said. How do we rise to meet those growing challenges? More focus by the Parliament— including the type of inquiry that the Criminal Justice Committee carried out—is a start.”
“Those who have been the target of cyber- enabled fraud can lose their life savings and have their personal data harvested. The convener of the Criminal Justice Committee rightly pointed to the fact that, these days, data harvesting is often more of a motive for perpetrators than cash. Individuals who are subjected to the non-consensual distribution of private sexual images face enduring trauma, and companies whose online systems are compromised by hackers can be held to ransom and lose decades of work and the trust of customers. Katy Clark and Audrey Nicoll spoke about the extent of cybercrime and the fact that large organisations can find themselves being subjected to millions of attacks over the course of a month. The investment that businesses put into IT departments to try to brace against those attacks has a cost.”
“I join other speakers in thanking the members of the Criminal Justice Committee for allowing this debate to take place and, more important, for undertaking detailed scrutiny of this important issue. Audrey Nicoll comprehensively set out the breadth of issues that are covered in the report, which leaves little doubt about the amount of work that will need to be done to address the many and various challenges going forward. Cybercrime often leaves victims, whether they are individuals or organisations, harmed in profound and lasting ways. Were we in any doubt about that, the subject of the item of business that preceded this debate should have dispelled that. Abuse by grooming gangs is a horrific exemplification of that, reflecting the way in which online harms are, as Maggie Chapman said, very real.”
“The next item of business is a statement by Jenny Gilruth on protecting children from harm. The cabinet secretary will take questions at the end of her statement, so there should be no interventions or interruptions. 14:51”
“Motion debated, That the Parliament notes that aphasia, which is a language disorder that affects one in three stroke survivors, and can also arise with other neurological conditions or head injuries, can have a significant impact on many people; understands that it can affect speech production and understanding, reading, writing and using numbers and that the level of difficulty experienced varies from person to person, from mild to severe; recognises the significant impact aphasia can have on a person’s life, including leading to feelings of isolation, loneliness and mental health issues; notes the impact that aphasia can have on a person’s relationships with family and friends, everyday social interactions and access to work or services, as well as the stigma and negative treatment that can arise from living with the condition; welcomes the ongoing work of Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS) to support people living with aphasia through resources and services; further welcomes the new CHSS course, Living Well with Aphasia, which focuses on giving stroke survivors the information, skills and resources to live well with the condition; notes the calls on the Scottish Government, NHS boards and other key organisations to be better informed about aphasia and to have a greater understanding of the reality of living with what can be a serious and potentially devastating health condition, and further notes the calls to improve access to supported self-management and rehabilitation services for people living with aphasia in Strathkelvin and Bearsden and across the country, to ensure that everyone gets the support that they deserve.”
“The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-18720, in the name of Rona Mackay, on awareness of aphasia. 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-20138, in the name of Liz Smith, on the Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill at stage 3. I call Liz Smith, the member in charge of the bill, to speak to and move the motion. You have around six minutes, Ms Smith. 16:52”
“Section 1—Provision of residential outdoor education The Deputy Presiding Officer: Group 1 is on guidance: process. Amendment 1, in the name of Liz Smith, is grouped with amendments 6 and 7.”
“The next item of business is stage 3 proceedings on the Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill. In dealing with the amendments, members should have the bill as amended at stage 2—that is, Scottish Parliament bill 50A—the marshalled list and the groupings of amendments. The division bell will sound and proceedings will be suspended for about five minutes for the first division of stage 3. The period of voting for the first division will be 30 seconds. Thereafter, I will allow a voting period of one minute for the first division after a debate. Members who wish to speak in a debate on any group of amendments should press their request-to-speak button as soon as possible after the group has been called. Members should now refer to the marshalled list.”
“The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-20059, in the name of Karen Adam, on behalf of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee, on the committee’s British Sign Language (Scotland) Act 2015 inquiry. 15:08”
“The next item of business is a statement by Gillian Martin on progressing a just transition at Grangemouth. The cabinet secretary will take questions at the end of her statement, so there should be no interventions or interruptions. 14:31”
“The first item of business this afternoon is portfolio question time, and the portfolio is climate action and energy, and transport. There is quite a bit of interest in asking supplementary questions, so I make my usual plea for brevity in questions and responses. CalMac Ferries (New Vessels) 1.”
“I ask Graeme Dey, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, to move motion S6M-20071, on approval of an SSI, and motion S6M-20072, on committee membership. Motions moved, That the Parliament agrees that the Sheep Carcase (Classification and Price Reporting) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 [draft] be approved. That the Parliament agrees that— Paul O’Kane be appointed as a member of the Education, Children and Young People Committee; and Claire Baker be appointed to replace Michael Marra as a member of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee.—[Graeme Dey] The Presiding Officer: The question on the motions will be put at decision time. Decision Time 17:44”
“The regulations have been considered by the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee, which agreed by division to recommend to the Parliament that we approve them, and I invite the Parliament to do so. Failure to bring the regulations into force would undermine the remarkable progress that we have made in our efforts to work with our farmers as we continue to provide direct support, such as the Scottish upland sheep support scheme and the calf scheme, and do all the things that we have done in conjunction with our farming community, which knows that it is being represented by the SNP Government far better than any other Government anywhere in the rest of the United Kingdom. The Presiding Officer: The question on the motion will be put at decision time. The next item of business is consideration of two Parliamentary Bureau motions.”
“That is in response to the concerns that were raised by smaller producers and the Scottish Crofting Federation, because we listen and engage with our stakeholders. The regulations will also extend the application submission period to allow submissions to be made up to 14 January, following the end of the relevant calendar year, which will make it easier for applications to be submitted in time. The regulations mark a significant point in our progress towards our aim of becoming a world leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture, and they deliver on our previous commitments. We got here by co-developing in detail with our partners, and I fully endorse that approach.”
“That has been addressed by reviewing the existing EFA measures and making them more suitable for conditions across all Scotland, including Orkney, while adding more policy value, such as by removing the restriction on grazing green cover before 31 December. To ensure that the changes are fit for Scotland, we have listened to the industry and had wide-ranging engagement with stakeholders, and we will continue to listen, as we always have. We will refine and develop our greening measures to ensure that they work for all rural Scotland. The regulations also improve the operation of the provisions for the Scottish suckler beef support scheme by introducing a derogation from the calving interval requirements for smaller businesses.”
“The minister will be aware of the relatively high take-up of agri-environment measures in Orkney. However, the fact that those cannot be counted as part of the EFAs potentially penalises early adopters of environmental measures. Does he accept those concerns, as well as the concerns that have been expressed about the scaling up of those measures in future and the implications that they could have, particularly on smaller farm businesses in island areas? Jim Fairlie: I will address Mr McArthur’s points as I go through my speaking notes. We know that agriculture in Scotland is diverse and that it faces significant challenges due to weather, costs and fragile ecosystems.”
“The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-20057, in the name of Sue Webber, on connecting Scotland. I invite members who wish to participate to press their request-to- speak buttons. 15:57”
“Good afternoon. The first item of business is portfolio questions, and the first portfolio is Deputy First Minister responsibilities, economy and Gaelic. I advise members that there is a lot of interest in asking supplementary questions. I will try to get in as many as possible, but that will require brief questions and answers. Visitor Levy 1.”
“Motion debated, That the Parliament notes with concern reports of the growing dangerous use of e-bikes and e-scooters across Scotland, but particularly in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee and Glasgow, and across major towns; understands that some e-bike and e-scooter users are often observed showing no regard for the traffic laws, endanger other road users and pedestrians, appear to violate the legally mandated speed limit and often do not use high-visibility clothing; believes that many users often wear what can be seen as intimidating clothing, such as balaclavas and face coverings; is concerned at reports that e-bikes and e- scooters are increasingly used to commit organised crime and vehicle theft; notes calls on the Scottish Government to give Police Scotland the appropriate resources and vehicles to counter people who use e-bikes and e-scooters in these ways, such as by seizing the vehicles, and further notes the call for greater action to be taken against the antisocial use of e-bikes and e-scooters, to provide a safer environment for roads users and pedestrians.”
“The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-19918, in the name of Sue Webber, on dealing with the dangerous use of e-bikes and e-scooters. 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 Presiding Officer: That concludes the debate on the motion on legislative consent for the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which is UK legislation. Parliamentary Bureau Motion 17:47”
“The cabinet secretary set the scene well in explaining what this motion is and what it is not. There will be time enough for further debates on my bill and on this issue. The Health, Social Care and Sport Committee considered amendments in this area, which went some way but, as Patrick Harvie suggested, potentially slightly too far in relation to the impact on access to information, which is crucial. The Parliament will have an opportunity to return to the issue at stage 3 and will, I hope, ensure that the protections in my bill are as robust as they need to be. I hope that the Parliament will back the LCM at decision time. 17:47 Neil Gray: I have nothing further to add to the arguments that I set out in my opening statement. I rest on those arguments, and I again urge the Parliament to support the LCM.”
“I will start where Patrick Harvie left off. Although there are disagreements across the Parliament on the principles of the bill, I think that we can coalesce behind the concern to ensure that the advertising of assisted dying services, whether in England and Wales or in Scotland, is robustly prohibited for the reasons that colleagues have set out. The convener quoted the submission from Alzheimer Scotland, which pointed to the balance that needs to be struck. We all understand the importance of ensuring that access to factual information and advice—some may even need support to navigate the system—is available to those who need it. However, we must also guard against the risks that Jackie Baillie fairly highlighted in relation to the promotion—not just advertising—of assisted dying services. I do not have a great deal more to add.”
“The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-20036, in the name of Richard Leonard, on behalf of the Public Audit Committee, on its report, “The 2023/24 audit of Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Holdings Limited”. 15:11”
“The question of the wider considerations of ensuring that everybody is able to speak up and access and deliver health services with respect and compassion was answered by me in my previous reply. The Deputy Presiding Officer: A number of members wish to ask supplementary questions; I hope to get all those in, but they will need to be slightly briefer.”
“Tess White: Presiding Officer, will the cabinet secretary personally oversee a review of the policies and guidelines that are being influenced by those organisations before they come up for financial renewal next year— The Deputy Presiding Officer: Cabinet secretary. Tess White: —or will he, under his watch, allow— The Deputy Presiding Officer: Cabinet secretary. Neil Gray: Presiding Officer, I think that we are going slightly beyond the tribunal decision. To provide some context, the tribunal has still to proceed to a remedy; there are 14 days in which the people who are involved have an opportunity to appeal. It is important that we allow that process to take its course and that we respect it.”
“Millions of pounds of hard-earned taxpayer money is being paid by the Scottish Government to fuel organisations such as Engender, LGBT Youth Scotland, Stonewall and the Scottish Trans Alliance, allowing them to go rogue and unchecked. Many of them push their illegal propaganda, influencing training materials, guidelines and policy in hospitals and the wider public sector. Under procurement policies, NHS boards do not award contracts to organisations that do not abide by the law. Why is this any different? Cabinet secretary, will you personally— The Deputy Presiding Officer: Through the chair, Ms White.”
“Speak through the chair. Neil Gray: I have been very clear since coming to office—as, I believe, my predecessors were— on the importance of dignity and respect for all people in the employment in the health service. I will say again that our health system is based on the core values of care, compassion, openness, honesty, dignity and respect for everyone, irrespective of their individual identities. This is an incredibly complex case and a lengthy judgment, so we will take care and time to reflect on it, as I urge all colleagues to do. Tess White: Cabinet secretary, what about the care and compassion for female nurses? The Deputy Presiding Officer: Through the chair, Ms White. Tess White: The floodgates have opened and the judgment is the thin end of the wedge for employment tribunal cases and settlements.”
“Mr Brown, as you will be aware, the contents of members’ contributions are not a matter for the chair. Meeting closed at 17:02. This is the final edition of the Official Report for this meeting. It is part of the Scottish Parliament Official Report archive and has been sent for legal deposit. Published in Edinburgh by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP All documents are available on the Scottish Parliament website at: www.parliament.scot Information on non-endorsed print suppliers is available here: www.parliament.scot/documents For information on the Scottish Parliament contact Public Information on: Telephone: 0131 348 5000 Textphone: 0800 092 7100 Email: sp.info@parliament.scot”
“There is only one question to be put as a result of today’s business. The question is, that motion S6M-19984, in the name of Douglas Ross, on behalf of the Education, Children and Young People Committee, on widening access to higher education, be agreed to. Motion agreed to, That the Parliament notes the findings and recommendations in the Education, Children and Young People Committee’s 5th Report, 2025 (Session 6), Widening access to higher education inquiry (SP Paper 782). Point of Order 17:01”
“The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-19984, in the name of Douglas Ross, on behalf of the Education, Children and Young People Committee, on widening access to higher education. Members who wish to participate in the debate should press their request-to-speak buttons now, or as soon as possible. 15:00”
“The next item of business is portfolio question time, and the portfolio is education and skills. Members who wish to ask a supplementary question should press their request-to-speak button during the relevant question. Question 1 has not been lodged. Apprenticeships (Healthcare) 2.”
“Motion debated, That the Parliament recognises that everyone in Scotland, including those in Carrick, Cumnock, and Doon Valley, will experience a bereavement, and notes the view that good bereavement support is needed to guide people through what can be a difficult time; understands that frameworks have been put in place by the Scottish and UK governments that set out guidance on how proper bereavement care should be offered across society; notes the 2022 report from the UK Commission on Bereavement, Bereavement is everyone’s business, which provided policy recommendations for the Scottish and UK governments to adopt; understands that a stigma exists surrounding bereavement and its discussion; notes research from Sue Ryder, which suggests that bereavement costs the UK economy an estimated £23 billion each year in lost Gross Value Added, and the UK Treasury an estimated £8 billion in reduced tax revenues; acknowledges the view that this could be improved with better support and care, and notes the belief that a better understanding of grief and bereavement is required by all, particularly among young people.”
“The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-18847, in the name of Elena Whitham, on bereavement support and awareness. The debate will be concluded without any question being put.”
“Even if Scotland is to go down the route of having its own inquiry, there is a strong argument for close collaboration with the on-going inquiry in England and Wales. Such collaboration will be needed if we are to be effective in tackling these abhorrent crimes, ensuring prevention and protection, and doing justice to the needs of some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Scottish Liberal Democrats will support the motion. The Deputy Presiding Officer: We move to the open debate. 16:26”
“The Scottish Government points to the Scottish child abuse inquiry and the national child abuse and exploitation strategic group in relation to adopting an evidence-based approach to the issue. Both are undoubtedly important, but they are limited, compared with the approach in England and Wales, in allowing a proper analysis of the extent and scale of group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse in Scotland. Indeed, Baroness Casey told a House of Commons committee that it would be a “missed opportunity” if the national inquiry did not extend across the entire UK, given the importance of a joined-up approach. She also warned that gangs that are identified in England and Wales might very well be operating across borders, including in Scotland.”