Tom Arthur
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“I am advised that Transport Scotland officials responded to the South West of Scotland Transport Partnership in June 2023 to confirm that the outcome of its review of SWestrans’s Beattock and Moffat transport appraisal report was that a robust business case had not been made for a Beattock station to be progressed further in the developme…”
“David Kirkwood: Given the 2028 opening of the River Tweed trail—the long-distance path that will start in Moffat, the jewel of the south, and run 113 miles to Berwick-upon-Tweed—and the probable extension of the Clydesdale way into Moffat a few years later, it is likely that more than 300,000 additional cyclists and walkers will visit the…”
“As the First Minister set out, the Scottish Government will invest in essential infrastructure across Scotland, including new train stations and ongoing electrification of our rail network.”
“First, I welcome colleagues across the chamber who join me in condemning the violence, xenophobia and racism that were experienced right here in the streets of our capital on Friday last week. There is no place for violence in the streets, homes, or communities of Scotland—whether it be race based, faith based or otherwise.”
“Scotland is a place that values hope, tolerance and solidarity—values that are shared both by people who were born here and by those who have privileged us by choosing to make Scotland their home. I hope that those values are shared by those who are fortunate enough to be in the chamber.”
“The Scottish Government had initially, on 15 June, lodged a legislative consent memorandum with the Parliament stating that we would not consent to the bill, due to the UK Government having not agreed to our proposals that it have appropriate regard to devolution.”
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“For example, I visited Mossgiel organic farm in East Ayrshire, which was awarded a contract by the local authority to supply milk to schools in the council area. Public procurement in Scotland contributes hugely to community wealth building ambitions. The most recent figures, from the financial year 2021-22, indicate that, of £16 billion of public procurement spend, £8.9 billion was spent with businesses with a Scottish postcode, and a high proportion of that spend was with Scottish small and medium-sized enterprises. I know that the Federation of Small Businesses in Scotland is positive about the potential of CWB. Indeed, CWB is an example of the new deal for business in action. Public procurement rules apply when the value of a contract exceeds a certain threshold.”
“By working in partnership with businesses and communities, Scotland’s public sector can deliver CWB policies by enabling more small, medium- sized and third sector enterprises to win public sector contracts; encouraging the adoption of fair work practices by more employers; placing communities at the centre of dialogue about the ownership and use of public sector assets; supporting the growth of local businesses and new forms of inclusive and democratic business models; and attracting new ethical investment and encouraging growth in the lending market. The areas of impact that I have highlighted mirror the five pillars of the community wealth building model: spend, workforce, land and property, finance and inclusive business models. I have travelled around Scotland to meet those who are involved in CWB activity across those five pillars.”
“I am pleased to have the opportunity to update the Parliament on the progress that is being made in advancing the community wealth building model of economic development across Scotland. I will also set out the Scottish Government’s future ambitions for CWB. At the core of the intention of community wealth building is the desire to retain more wealth in local areas by creating and sustaining more jobs, growing local firms and enabling local communities to own more assets. I do not think that it is presumptuous on my part to assume that all members share those aims.”
“That sits in the context of a suite of other interventions—short, medium and long term—to support the viability and prosperity of our city centres, from which the night-time industries derive their potential. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Clare Haughey has a very brief supplementary question.”
“Tom Arthur: I am conscious of the priority that is placed on the night-time economy, not just by members of the Scottish Parliament but by Glasgow City Council. A range of factors have impacted night-time economy industries in Glasgow and across Scotland and the wider United Kingdom, stemming from the pandemic, the cost of living crisis, increased energy costs and the forthcoming increase in employer national insurance contributions. We are committed to working constructively with our local authorities to ensure that the night-time economy can prosper in all parts of Scotland. That is why we have provided support through specific, targeted relief for hospitality in the non-domestic rates system.”
“Sandesh Gulhane: Glasgow’s night-time economy generates £2.16 billion annually and supports 16,600 jobs, yet pubs are closing twice as fast as in England, and nightclubs have declined by 35 per cent in four years. Businesses are struggling due to reduced transport options, prohibitive rail costs, low-emission zone taxi restrictions and extended parking costs. The 40 per cent rates relief that the minister spoke about will help a few, but I am concerned that most of Glasgow’s night-time economy venues will miss out. To quote the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, the move will “catch headlines but will do little to stop closures and significant job losses in the sector.” Given those challenges, will the minister outline what measures he will take to revive Glasgow’s night-time economy?”
“The night-time economy is vital to Glasgow’s prosperity. We continue to do everything that we can to support hospitality businesses to thrive. We are offering a 40 per cent relief, which is capped at £110,000 per business, for hospitality premises as well as music venues with a capacity of up to 1,500 people that are eligible for the basic property rate. Around half of properties in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors will continue to be eligible for 100 per cent relief under the small business bonus scheme. We are also supporting the sector through the tourism and hospitality industry leadership group and the new deal for business.”
“We aim to increase the number and diversity of heritage volunteers in Scotland, while promoting volunteering opportunities, connecting co- ordinators nationwide, sharing inclusive practice and evidencing impacts to lobby for funding. Make Your Mark also plays an important role in contributing to the wider reach of volunteering in Scotland, through the lens of the Scottish Government’s commitment to volunteering and Scotland’s volunteering action plan. The Presiding Officer: I ask Miles Briggs for a concise question 8. Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (Remit) 8.”
“Will the minister join me in congratulating them on their work and advise what steps are being taken to encourage more volunteers to work in that area? Tom Arthur: I am pleased to congratulate the ROOK volunteers on their important discovery. For Scotland’s historic environment, volunteers are essential. The Make Your Mark national volunteer campaign was an outcome of Scotland’s first strategy for the historic environment, and volunteering has remained a key priority in the revised strategy—“Our Past, Our Future: The Strategy for Scotland’s Historic Environment”—to empower resilient and inclusive communities and places. Historic Environment Scotland is an Investing in Volunteers-accredited organisation.”
“The Scottish Government delivers support for the historic environment through our sponsorship of Historic Environment Scotland, the lead public body responsible for preserving, maintaining and promoting the historic environment. Through part of the £13.5 million that HES delivers in annual grants, it has been able to support numerous projects such as funding volunteers to uncover, record and recover the balance of the bedrock at Balfron, and a volunteer training programme to capacity build local members and volunteers of the Bannockburn House Trust with regard to basic restoration and traditional building methods. Evelyn Tweed: The BBC’s “Digging for Britain” recently featured volunteers from the rescuers of Old Kilmadock and archaeologist Dr Murray Cook, following the discovery and preservation of a Pictish stone near Doune.”
“Tom Arthur: I agree entirely with Mr Choudhury on the need to urge all parties to abide by the terms of the ceasefire and to ensure that we maximise support and humanitarian aid not only in terms of infrastructure, but in recognition of the fact that this is a severely traumatised population. We need long-term sustained investment to support the people of Gaza, and the Scottish Government is committed to that. On his specific points on procurement, the member will recognise that we operate under a suite of domestic and international procurement laws and regulations, by which we must abide. I hope that the member recognise, from the commitments that the Scottish Government has made and what it has delivered to date, that we very much have the same position and view that he has on this matter.”
“Foysol Choudhury: The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and the returning of hostages should be welcome, but they will not undo the suffering that has been inflicted on the people of Gaza or the actions that Amnesty International said broke the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Does the minister agree that the ceasefire is not the end of the conflict and that diplomatic pressure on all parties is needed to deliver a free Palestine and regional peace, particularly following recent violence in the West Bank? Will the Scottish Government consider actions to prevent public money from going to organisations that have profited from the war?”
“To date, the Scottish Government has committed £1 million for the crisis in Gaza and the wider middle east. That money has provided food, water, medical assistance and shelter to displaced people across the region. As the political and humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to develop, Scottish Government officials will maintain regular contact with their counterparts in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. With a ceasefire now in place, we urge all parties to facilitate a surge in the delivery of humanitarian aid to alleviate the unimaginable suffering that has been endured over the past 15 months.”
“I understand that Museums Galleries Scotland has been in discussions with Falkirk Council on the future of the museum. I urge Falkirk Council to continue those discussions with Museums Galleries Scotland and with key stakeholders, to explore whether there are any ways to secure the future of Kinneil museum. South Lanarkshire Council (Support) 2.”
“Michelle Thomson: As the minister notes, this is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization world heritage site. Kinneil museum is currently proposed for closure by Falkirk Council, but volunteers and Friends of Kinneil are keen to find a solution to the museum’s closure later this year. Given the complexities of community asset transfer for heritage sites of that nature, securing the museum’s future will probably require a partnership approach. Will the minister join me in supporting efforts to bring together both national and local stakeholders to explore options to safeguard Kinneil museum’s future? Tom Arthur: I commend the efforts of Friends of Kinneil in trying to secure the future of Kinneil museum, which is an important part of Falkirk’s and Scotland’s heritage.”
“[Inaudible.] The Presiding Officer: Minister, can I check that your card is in the system? Tom Arthur: That was an inauspicious start. I am saddened to hear about the challenges that Kinneil museum, located in Kinneil estate, which has links with Mary Queen of Scots and the engineer James Watt, faces. I also recognise the challenges that culture and heritage organisations across Scotland face, which is why we continue to support the sector through more than £4.2 million of funding in the draft 2025-26 budget for Museums Galleries Scotland, as well as by allocating more than £74 million to Historic Environment Scotland. Ultimately, it is for locally elected representatives to make decisions on how best to deliver services in their local communities, which includes the funding of local authority museums.”
“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”
“Many other members, including Maggie Chapman and Karen Adam, spoke about the fundamental question of justice, the highly gendered nature of the situation and the gross inequalities that women born in the 1950s faced throughout their working lives, which compounds the sense of injustice that the case brings to bear. I am grateful to members from across the chamber for their contributions. It has been a very important debate. As George Adam said, the issue is about fairness, justice and respect, and those words embody the ethos, spirit and determination of the WASPI campaign. I can assure the campaign that the Scottish Government continues to stand shoulder to shoulder with it, as does the Scottish National Party. The Deputy Presiding Officer: That concludes the debate. Meeting closed at 19:08.”
“Christine Grahame documented the number of women in her constituency who have been impacted. Douglas Ross set out his long- standing position and support for the WASPI women—even when it put him at odds with his party—and Carol Mochan, Katy Clark and Mercedes Villalba made similar points. Beatrice Wishart clearly set out her party’s position as well. Bob Doris spoke about his constituent Liz, her dignified and absolute determination to fight and of her expression of willingness to find practical solutions. That is the spirit in which the campaign has been and will continue to be conducted.”
“The WASPI campaigners, too, feel that that would be a fairer outcome, given the wider financial hardship that that devastating maladministration has caused. I touched on the political commitments that those who now occupy office in the UK Government have given. However, the UK Government also has a corporate and institutional responsibility, because it was the actions of its agency—the DWP—that led to that situation. The responsibility is on the UK Government. For there to be no willingness to address the maladministration and the clear errors that have been made erodes trust, faith and belief in our institutions. There have been many outstanding contributions across the chamber. Kenny Gibson expressed the anger of his constituents and, as many other members have, the impact on WASPI women and their families and the financial hardship.”
“To be clear, the PHSO’s findings and its recommended compensation relate to the DWP’s mishandling of the communication in relation to the equalisation of state pension age but do not take into account the money that those women have lost from not receiving their state pension when they expected it. The payment is purely to address the handling of the change, so it clearly puts the responsibility squarely at the door of the UK Government to right its own wrongs and to compensate the women who were unfairly affected by the maladministration. The Scottish Government and MPs in my party have previously called on the UK Government to publish a compensation framework that is set at £3,000 to £10,000 or more for WASPI women.”
“The PHSO report recommended that the DWP compensate women who were born in the 1950s by providing each woman between £1,000 and £2,950. The last UK Government failed to clearly commit to delivering that compensation and only pledged to consider the PHSO report. As we have heard from many colleagues, the UK Labour Government and Labour parliamentarians at Westminster have signified their support for WASPI women with innumerable documented commitments. The UK Government’s position is indefensible. One cannot give such cast-iron commitments and fail to act on them. It is a clear betrayal of trust.”
“To reiterate the report’s findings, it identified the DWP’s failure to act promptly by writing to the women who were impacted by the state pension age changes and called for compensation to be given to rectify that maladministration. In the previous debate on the topic in the Scottish Parliament, there was a clear consensus that compensation should be paid to those women as soon as possible. Following the recent UK general election, there was hope that the incoming Labour Government would step up, finally acknowledge the UK Governments’ failings, take into account the financial hardship that the affected women have faced and properly compensate them. However, as we have heard time and time again this evening, that has not been the case.”
“On behalf of the Scottish Government, I put on record my sincere thanks to the WASPI women for what they have done, not just by campaigning but by serving as role models for all of us in how to seek to advance progress in society and to engage with the democratic system. The Scottish Government has been consistent in its calls on the UK Government to immediately, or at the earliest opportunity, right the historic wrong that was suffered by WASPI women. When the PHSO report was published in March, the Scottish Government immediately called on the then UK Government to act quickly and to compensate the women who were impacted.”
“Then, when they are not treated fairly, they engage in the democratic process, organise and campaign, and gain concessions and commitments from those who seek votes to be parliamentarians and form a Government. Crucially, having seen their position being vindicated—albeit only partially—by an independent ombudsman, people have then seen it dismissed. Trust is a precious commodity in all aspects of life, particularly in politics, and, in many jurisdictions, we are seeing the consequences of what happens when trust has been eroded and lost. Tonight, 30 years on from when the events being discussed were set in motion, WASPI women join us in a Parliament that did not even exist when the issue started, and they are campaigning and making their presence felt.”
“I thank my colleague Kenny Gibson for bringing this important motion to the chamber. I put on record my thanks and appreciation to parliamentary colleagues who have contributed to the debate. I also pay tribute to the WASPI women who join us in the gallery this evening. I have been privileged in my capacity as a constituency MSP for Renfrewshire South to engage with the local WASPI campaign on an on- going basis, host meetings in my constituency office, attend and speak at events and, of course, address the issue in Parliament. The importance, urgency and utter necessity of the WASPI campaign has gripped me for some time. The fundamental issue of trust has clearly emerged over the course of the past hour in which the Parliament has been debating the motion. People pay into the system, play by the rules, and expect to be treated fairly.”
“The fresh talent working in Scotland scheme was launched in June 2005 as part of the wider fresh talent initiative, which aimed to encourage people to settle in Scotland. It was a tailored visa route for international students attending Scottish universities that enabled them to stay in Scotland for up to two years after completion of their studies. In 2005, the UK Government of the day recognised that Scotland had distinct demographic needs and supported the establishment of a tailored migration route to address those needs. Our ambition is for the current UK Government to work with us once again to deliver a tailored approach to migration that meets the needs of”
“The current immigration system recognises that we need migration solutions that are tailored to the needs of different sectors, but we also need to recognise that there may be cases in which we need different routes based on geography. Let us be clear that establishing different migration routes based on the needs of geography is not a novel concept. The current UK immigration system is already comprised of a series of different—or tailored—visa routes. The establishment of the Scottish Parliament was designed to allow distinct solutions to be developed to respond to distinct challenges, and one of the first distinct solutions that the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament developed was a tailored migration route for Scotland.”
“Those changes, together with the significant increase in the salary threshold for the skilled worker visa, make it much harder for our universities to attract international students and for the Scottish economy to retain skilled international students. We cannot view migration in isolation, focusing on whether numbers go up or down. It needs to be one strand in a wider strategy that brings together the needs of our economy, our public services, training and skills. It is welcome that the UK Government has set out its intention to bring together migration, skills and industrial strategy. The Scottish Government will engage constructively in that process. However, we need to ensure that the process considers the needs of different communities.”
“Our second priority, therefore, is to engage with employers, stakeholders, local authorities and partners to identify the changes that are needed to the UK immigration system and to make the case for those changes to the UK Government. In March, the previous UK Government changed the immigration system to prevent overseas care workers from bringing dependants to the UK. Home Office data shows that, over the six months since that change—from April to November—there was an 84 per cent fall from the number of health and care visas issued in the previous year. Last year, the previous UK Government also introduced changes to the study route that meant that most international students are unable to bring dependants with them to the UK.”
“The Government is investing in support for employers to help them to navigate the existing system, but we are also hearing the very clear message that the current immigration system is not fit for purpose. It is expensive, it is bureaucratic and difficult to navigate, and it is too focused on salary thresholds rather than on the skills and expertise that our economy needs. It is deeply regrettable that, for too long, too much of the discourse on migration has focused entirely on reducing numbers rather than on having an honest public discussion about the needs of our economy, our public services and our communities. We need an immigration system that meets Scotland’s needs.”
“Our first priority is to ensure that employers and individuals are able to recruit the skilled international workers that they need to grow their businesses. In November, the Minister for Equalities visited a technology business, iGii in Stirling, to launch the expanded Scotland’s Migration Service. The service is being provided by the Scottish Government through a partnership with Citizens Advice Scotland and Seraphus, an immigration law firm that is providing free advice to help Scottish employers and inward investors to navigate the UK immigration system. Through the partnership with Citizens Advice Scotland, Scotland’s Migration Service is supporting international students, people who have recently moved to Scotland and prospective movers who have a confirmed job offer or are moving to join a close family member.”
“Jon Wroth-Smith, director of census statistics at the National Records of Scotland, has stated: “Without migration Scotland’s population would have decreased, and we would have fewer people in younger age groups.” It is clear that we need to continue to attract people to Scotland to grow our economy and sustain our public services. Therefore, the Government will help employers to navigate the UK immigration system, enabling them to bring in the skilled workers that they need to grow our economy; argue for change to ensure that the immigration system is fit for purpose; and make the case for tailored migration routes to reflect the needs of Scotland’s economy, public services and communities.”
“The latest data shows that 13,900 more people chose to come to Scotland from the rest of the UK than chose to leave Scotland. Like many nations across the world, Scotland’s population is ageing. National Records of Scotland data shows that just over 20 per cent of the population is aged 65 and over. Over the past two decades, the number of people aged 65 and above has grown by 36 per cent, while the number of those under 16 has fallen by 5 per cent. The number of people aged 65 and over is projected to grow by nearly a third by mid-2045, while the number of children is projected to fall by nearly a fifth. Our population is growing, but it is growing solely as a result of migration.”
“I am pleased to open this important debate on migration. Parliament has debated migration previously, and although there have been disagreements, we have also been able to come together to recognise the benefits of migration to our economy, our public services and our communities. Historically, Scotland was a nation of emigration, with people leaving to build a future elsewhere. Since 2001, Scotland has been a nation of net in-migration. We should celebrate the fact that Scotland is now a country that attracts people—people who want to come here to build their future and to make a positive contribution to this nation by working in our public services, helping to build our economy and becoming valued members of our communities. People choose to come to Scotland from across the world and from across the United Kingdom.”