Hansard

Gordon MacDonald SNP Chamber

19 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time

George Adam deliberately put me off before I started. Sorry.Constituents in the semi-rural areas of my constituency of Edinburgh Pentlands have expressed concerns that the expansion of suburban developments in rural villages is placing increasing pressure on transport links, s...

Gordon MacDonald (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) SNP Chamber

19 Mar 2026

First Minister’s Question Time

Constituents in the semi-rural areas of my constituency of Edinburgh Paisley—Laughter. Sorry, I mean Edinburgh Pentlands. This is my last contribution—

Gordon MacDonald SNP Chamber

04 Mar 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Deer Management

Deer numbers have doubled since the 1990s and the population is estimated to be close to 1 million. Deer are now so numerous that, even in my constituency of Edinburgh Pentlands, there are regular near misses as deer run across the A70. With an improved deer management scheme ...

5. Gordon MacDonald (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) SNP Chamber

04 Mar 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Deer Management

To ask the Scottish Government how proposed changes to deer management policy will affect land use and biodiversity across Scotland. (S6O-05583)

Gordon MacDonald (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) SNP Committee

04 Mar 2026

Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill (UK Parliament Legislation)

Good morning. As you quite rightly said, cabinet secretary, the bill will not come fully into force until 2028, so I am keen to understand what we can do in the short term. We have had a number of cybersecurity breaches—Western Isles Council in 2023, and West Lothian Council a...

Gordon MacDonald SNP Chamber

05 Feb 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Budget 2026-27 (Transport)

Parking at Curriehill railway station in my constituency has reached capacity at peak times. What investment is planned for rail park-and-ride facilities that are accessible to Pentlands constituents?

6. Gordon MacDonald (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) SNP Chamber

05 Feb 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Budget 2026-27 (Transport)

To ask the Scottish Government how the draft Scottish budget 2026-27 aims to invest in and deliver for Scotland’s transport sector. (S6O-05480)

Gordon MacDonald (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) SNP Committee

04 Feb 2026

Subordinate Legislation

Good morning. I have a question about safeguards for Scottish industry. Since 2008, many financial services jobs have been offshored to India. There is a large textile industry in India, and Scotland has its own textile and apparel industry. Is there a danger that, when it com...

Gordon MacDonald SNP Chamber

28 Jan 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Arctic Circle Assembly

Given that Scotland is the world’s most northerly non-Arctic nation, what steps is the Scottish Government taking to place Scotland as a link between the Arctic region and the wider world, particularly as a European gateway to the Arctic?

7. Gordon MacDonald (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) SNP Chamber

28 Jan 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Arctic Circle Assembly

To ask the Scottish Government what recent engagement it has had with the Arctic Circle assembly. (S6O-05425)

Gordon MacDonald (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) SNP Chamber

15 Jan 2026

Additional Support for Learning Review

Parents are carers and have the right to be involved in discussions about the additional support for learning options that are available to their children. Will the cabinet secretary speak further on Scottish Government engagement with families and advise what services are in ...

Gordon MacDonald SNP Chamber

08 Jan 2026

General Question Time · NHS Scotland (Staffing)

Since September 2006, NHS Scotland’s staffing levels have expanded by approximately 27 per cent, which represents an additional 35,000 staff in whole-time-equivalent terms. How have the improved staffing levels assisted with tackling waiting lists, and especially the backlog t...

7. Gordon MacDonald (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) SNP Chamber

08 Jan 2026

General Question Time · NHS Scotland (Staffing)

To ask the Scottish Government what impact recent recruitment initiatives have had on staffing levels across NHS Scotland. (S6O-05345)

Gordon MacDonald SNP Chamber

07 Jan 2026

Income Tax

No—I have only four minutes. The Tory party’s proposal would remove up to £1 billion from the Scottish budget. Currently, Scottish employees who are on the national living wage pay lower income tax than those elsewhere in the UK, as do people earning the real living wage. Ind...

Gordon MacDonald (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) SNP Chamber

07 Jan 2026

Income Tax

Nobody likes paying income tax, or any tax, but I believe that those with the broadest shoulders, including MSPs, should pay a bit more to enable Scotland to spend more on the things that matter most to people—better schools, lower crime rates, affordable housing, falling NHS ...

Gordon MacDonald SNP Committee

17 Dec 2025

Digital Assets (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

My final point is slightly different. Earlier, you said that Scotland and the UK are not behind the curve on this issue. However, this morning I read—I had better read this out properly—that HashKey Holdings Ltd in Hong Kong is the first crypto company to list in Hong Kong at ...

Gordon MacDonald SNP Committee

17 Dec 2025

Digital Assets (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

If we make a recommendation that the panel should be totally separate or that there should be representation on the English panel, how would that come about? Would there be an amendment to the bill, or would it require further legislation?

Gordon MacDonald (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) SNP Committee

17 Dec 2025

Digital Assets (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Good morning. I want to ask you about a panel of experts. Over the past few weeks, we have heard conflicting evidence about whether Scotland should have a separate panel of experts to provide guidance. It has been suggested that the guidance of the English panel, which has bee...

Gordon MacDonald SNP Committee

10 Dec 2025

Digital Assets (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

All three of you mentioned that we require an expert group, but we heard evidence from Professor Fox that the UK jurisdiction task force was sufficient, because the advice that was given would be publicly available and neutral to any particular legal system. What would you say...

Gordon MacDonald SNP Committee

10 Dec 2025

Digital Assets (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

You just said that we need regular oversight. Are the regulation-making powers and the feedback mechanism in the bill sufficient?

Gordon MacDonald (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) SNP Committee

10 Dec 2025

Digital Assets (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Good morning. I am looking for clarification on some of the stuff that we have been discussing this morning. The bill is very much a foundation bill, if you like. However, Greg McLardie has referred to the need to protect farmers, while Professor Robbie has suggested the remov...

Gordon MacDonald SNP Chamber

10 Dec 2025

Portfolio Question Time · OBR Economic Forecasts

The OBR has updated its growth forecasts for the next five years. It now forecasts average GDP growth to be slower than was projected in March 2025. It also downgraded its forecast for the UK for 2026, 2027 and 2028. In the light of those forecasts, what policies has the Scott...

7. Gordon MacDonald (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) SNP Chamber

10 Dec 2025

Portfolio Question Time · OBR Economic Forecasts

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any implications for its work to grow Scotland’s economy, whether it will provide an update on its engagement with the United Kingdom Government regarding the Office for Budget Responsibility’s recent economic forecasts. (S6O-05265)

Gordon MacDonald (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) SNP Chamber

04 Dec 2025

Cumbernauld New Town (70th Anniversary)

I thank Jamie Hepburn for securing this important debate to recognise Cumbernauld’s 70th birthday. Many people will be aware that I was born in Glasgow, but, apart from Jamie Hepburn, not many know that I grew up in Cumbernauld from the age of eight until I moved to Edinburgh ...

Gordon MacDonald SNP Committee

03 Dec 2025

Digital Assets (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

My other point relates to what you have just said. The bill is short and is limited in its scope, quite rightly. It is very much a foundation bill. If we want to ensure that Scotland is a safe place to do business, and noting that we have to get the balance right, what should ...

Gordon MacDonald (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) SNP Committee

03 Dec 2025

Digital Assets (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Good morning. I am just looking for a couple of points of clarification, because we have had a good discussion on the subject. I think that it was Peter Ferry who said that we need a team of experts to assist with the whole process. Last week, I asked Professor David Fox some ...

Gordon MacDonald (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) SNP Chamber

27 Nov 2025

Non-Domestic Rates (Liability for Unoccupied Properties) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would have voted no, but I could not connect.

Gordon MacDonald (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) SNP Chamber

27 Nov 2025

First Minister’s Question Time · Scotch Whisky Duty

The Scotch Whisky Association has warned that the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s decision to further increase duty on Scotch whisky will put additional pressure on a sector that is already suffering job losses, stalled investment and business closures. Does the First Minister a...

Gordon MacDonald (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) SNP Chamber

27 Nov 2025

General Question Time · Police Officers (Edinburgh and the Lothians)

The number of police officers per capita is higher in Scotland than in England and Wales. Will the cabinet secretary provide details of the pressures that Police Scotland faces as a result of the United Kingdom Government’s hike in employer national insurance?

Gordon MacDonald SNP Committee

26 Nov 2025

Digital Assets (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Thank you. I will leave it at that.

Gordon MacDonald SNP Committee

26 Nov 2025

Digital Assets (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Is there a question about being fleet of foot? Digital asset technology is moving faster than any legislation, so we have to have the ability to amend the definition without going through primary legislation.

Gordon MacDonald SNP Committee

26 Nov 2025

Digital Assets (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

That is helpful. Would the bill benefit from the inclusion of additional regulation-making powers so that the definition of digital assets and the concept of control could be adjusted in the future without the need for primary legislation?

Gordon MacDonald (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) SNP Committee

26 Nov 2025

Digital Assets (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Good morning. For clarity, the Law Commission in England and Wales recommended the establishment of a panel of experts to advise judges on technical issues in relation to digital assets. Professor Fox, you mentioned the peculiarities of Scottish property law. How do we ensure ...

Gordon MacDonald SNP Committee

19 Nov 2025

Artificial Intelligence (Economic Potential)

I think that I will leave it at that.

Gordon MacDonald SNP Committee

19 Nov 2025

Artificial Intelligence (Economic Potential)

What should the focus be on?

Gordon MacDonald SNP Committee

19 Nov 2025

Artificial Intelligence (Economic Potential)

The public have a lot of concerns about data privacy and data harvesting in relation to AI—we are talking about bias, misinformation and so on. Is there any legislation in place to tackle that anywhere in the world, which we can learn from if we are considering passing legisla...

Gordon MacDonald SNP Committee

19 Nov 2025

Artificial Intelligence (Economic Potential)

Good morning. I will ask about governance and regulation. It blew me away when Leo Fakhrul highlighted that there are 120,000 fraudulent music releases every single day. What is the Government’s role in addressing that? Given that this is happening across not only countries bu...

Gordon MacDonald SNP Committee

19 Nov 2025

Artificial Intelligence (Economic Potential)

Thanks.

Gordon MacDonald SNP Committee

19 Nov 2025

Artificial Intelligence (Economic Potential)

Thanks very much. I have a question for Kayla-Megan Burns, who said that there is a requirement for guardrails and that we need protections in place. Could you elaborate on what you see as the role of Government in regulation, given the information that we have received from ...

Gordon MacDonald SNP Committee

19 Nov 2025

Artificial Intelligence (Economic Potential)

On the point about multiple Governments having that conversation, the UK is no longer part of the EU. Are there any jurisdictions or organisations such as the EU that are looking at this issue and have legislation in play that would be helpful for us to learn from?

Gordon MacDonald (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) SNP Committee

19 Nov 2025

Artificial Intelligence (Economic Potential)

Good morning. We have talked a lot this morning about copyright and AI, but there are also concerns from the public about misinformation, built-in bias, privacy violation and data harvesting. Furthermore, given the economic situation that Dex Hunter-Torricke outlined earlier a...

Gordon MacDonald SNP Chamber

19 Nov 2025

Portfolio Question Time · United Kingdom Budget (Scotland’s Public Finances)

The UK budget will be delivered on 26 November, which is a month later than last year. What impact will that have on the Scottish Government’s ability to plan effectively for 2026-27? Would the cabinet secretary agree that Scotland needs greater borrowing powers in order to sm...

Gordon MacDonald SNP Chamber

13 Nov 2025

Point of Order

Thank you, Presiding Officer. At First Minister’s question time today, Anas Sarwar made a series of comments about cancelled operations, suggesting that figures are worse this year than last year. However, it appears that he has misled Parliament by comparing figures across f...

Gordon MacDonald (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) SNP Chamber

13 Nov 2025

Point of Order

On a point of order, Presiding Officer.

Gordon MacDonald SNP Chamber

13 Nov 2025

General Question Time · Transport (Edinburgh Pentlands)

The United Kingdom Labour Government has recently ruled out introducing free bus travel for under-22s in England and Wales. Further, south of the border, older people are not entitled to free bus travel until they reach 66, unlike in Scotland, where entitlement begins at 60. D...

4. Gordon MacDonald (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) SNP Chamber

13 Nov 2025

General Question Time · Transport (Edinburgh Pentlands)

To ask the Scottish Government what impact its transport policies are having on people in the Edinburgh Pentlands constituency. (S6O-05142)

Gordon MacDonald SNP Committee

12 Nov 2025

Artificial Intelligence (Economic Potential)

Okay, I will leave it at that. Thank you.

Gordon MacDonald SNP Committee

12 Nov 2025

Artificial Intelligence (Economic Potential)

How do we get things right so that we do not stifle innovation? Has any country already gone down that path and started to get the regulation right?

Gordon MacDonald SNP Committee

12 Nov 2025

Artificial Intelligence (Economic Potential)

We have talked about the need to support AI and to help to grow its use, and about making us a centre of excellence. However, is there a need for regulation, given that there are issues with quality, trust and probably even ethics? Professor Schaffer, since you are the person ...

Gordon MacDonald (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) SNP Committee

12 Nov 2025

Artificial Intelligence (Economic Potential)

Good morning. Forgive me, but for a wee while there I thought that I had entered the health committee’s meeting. Laughter. As I was listening to what all of you said, I noted that there are questions about trust, transparency, bad actors and overreliance on AI, and that this ...

Gordon MacDonald (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) SNP Chamber

12 Nov 2025

Centre for Sustainable Brewing and Distilling (Heriot-Watt University)

I thank members across the chamber for supporting my motion in order that this important debate, which highlights the need for a £35 million centre for sustainable brewing and distilling to be built at Heriot-Watt University, could take place. I welcome to the public gallery s...

Gordon MacDonald (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) SNP Chamber

12 Nov 2025

Portfolio Question Time · “A Fresh Start with Independence” (Economic Implications)

What assessment has the Scottish Government made of the economic implications of not pushing for the people of Scotland to have the opportunity to decide their own future and escape the mire of broken Brexit Britain?

Gordon MacDonald SNP Committee

05 Nov 2025

Artificial Intelligence (Economic Potential)

I will leave it there. Thank you.

Gordon MacDonald SNP Committee

05 Nov 2025

Artificial Intelligence (Economic Potential)

Given that AI has the potential to improve productivity and make businesses more efficient—that is another way of saying not employing more people or reducing head count—what policies are needed to support such a workforce transition? Is that not a role for Government?

Gordon MacDonald SNP Committee

05 Nov 2025

Artificial Intelligence (Economic Potential)

Should there be a role for Government? You have talked about the need for trust, safety and quality frameworks, but we want everybody to be working to the same standard. Given that AI has been around for 30 years, what legislation is in place to govern it? Should we have a reg...

Gordon MacDonald (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) SNP Committee

05 Nov 2025

Artificial Intelligence (Economic Potential)

Good morning. Just to reassure you, every question that I will ask has come from ChatGPT. Laughter. Yesterday, I asked a variety of models what questions I should ask you guys, and every model gave me different answers. My first question is about governance. The vast majority...

Gordon MacDonald SNP Committee

29 Oct 2025

Consumer Scotland

Okay. Thanks very much.

Gordon MacDonald SNP Committee

29 Oct 2025

Consumer Scotland

How do you decide which subjects to look at?

Gordon MacDonald SNP Committee

29 Oct 2025

Consumer Scotland

Okay. Before passing back to the convener, I will ask about your investigatory work. I know that the organisation became operational only in 2022, but you highlighted in our previous discussions that you wanted to have one or two investigations a year. You have produced only o...

Gordon MacDonald SNP Committee

29 Oct 2025

Consumer Scotland

You have a Bluesky account, but it does not have product recall information on it, and you have no Facebook page. You put out press releases. I know that you cannot issue those for every product recall, but there have been 361 product recalls of a serious nature so far in 2025...