Hansard

The Convener (Kevin Stewart) SNP

Good morning and welcome to the 15th meeting in 2015 of the Local Government and Regeneration Committee. If you wish to use tablet devices or mobile phones d...

The Convener SNP

Amendment 85, in the name of Dr Richard Simpson, is in a group on its own.

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab

I apologise to you, convener, to the committee and to the cabinet secretary and his team for the fact that amendment 85 was lodged too late to allow evidence...

The Convener SNP

Obviously, the committee has not taken evidence on any part of the amendment.

The Cabinet Secretary for Justice (Michael Matheson) SNP

I am grateful to Richard Simpson for lodging amendment 85, which relates to expanding the notification requirement in relation to premises and major variatio...

The Convener SNP

I invite Dr Simpson to wind up and to press or withdraw his amendment.

Dr Simpson Lab

I thank the cabinet secretary for his considered and helpful reply. It is timely that we should review the regulations governing the whole process. Availabil...

The Convener SNP

Amendment 38, in the name of the cabinet secretary, is grouped with amendments 39 to 42 and 44 to 48.

Michael Matheson SNP

The amendments in this group relate to the fit-and-proper-person test. Many stakeholders have criticised the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 for not including ...

The Convener SNP

Amendment 43, in the name of the cabinet secretary, is grouped with amendments 49, 57, 75, 77 and 78.

Michael Matheson SNP

These amendments amend the arrangements for the transfer of a premises licence in the alcohol licensing regime. Stakeholders have criticised the current pro...

The Convener SNP

Amendment 86, in the name of Dr Richard Simpson, is in a group on its own.

Dr Simpson Lab

Amendment 86 deals in essence with the question of advertising of alcohol. It does so mainly through inserting new sections 122A, 122C and 122D, which deal w...

The Convener SNP

No other members wish to enter the debate. I say once again that we took no evidence on this issue at stage 1. I call the cabinet secretary.

Michael Matheson SNP

I am grateful to Dr Simpson for taking us through amendment 86 which, among other things, seeks to restrict the advertising of alcohol near premises that are...

Dr Simpson Lab

I again thank the cabinet secretary for what must be his initial views, as the amendment was submitted only very recently. I concur with him that the proposa...

The Convener SNP

Amendment 82, in the name of Cameron Buchanan, is grouped with amendments 50 to 52.

Cameron Buchanan (Lothian) (Con) Con

Amendment 82 seeks to remove section 54(2)(a), which would amend section 7(2) of the 2005 act to say that a licensing board “may determine that the whole of...

Michael Matheson SNP

I am grateful for Mr Buchanan’s comments on his amendment. Overprovision is a valuable tool by which a licensing board can prevent new licensed premises from...

Cameron Buchanan Con

I am disappointed that the cabinet secretary does not think that the restriction is too much. It will have a detrimental effect on economic development. It i...

The Convener SNP

The question is, that amendment 82 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No.

The Convener SNP

There will be a division. For Buchanan, Cameron (Lothian) (Con) Against Adamson, Clare (Central Scotland) (SNP) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine...

The Convener SNP

The result of the division is: For 1, Against 5, Abstentions 0. Amendment 82 disagreed to. Amendments 50 to 52 moved—Michael Matheson—and agreed to. Secti...

The Convener SNP

Amendment 87, in the name of John Wilson, is grouped with amendments 88 to 90.

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (Ind) Ind

I put on record my appreciation to Alcohol Focus Scotland for its suggestions on amendment 87. The amendment would insert a proposed new section 9B in the 20...

Michael Matheson SNP

I am grateful to Mr Wilson for lodging the amendments and I am certainly sympathetic to the views that he expressed on an annual report; I am also mindful of...

The Convener SNP

Will you take an intervention, please? Will you indicate the timescale for the consultation and reporting back? The committee has a great interest in this area.

Michael Matheson SNP

As I was just about to say, I ask Mr Wilson to withdraw his amendment with a view to a suitable stage 3 amendment being drafted that will be informed by enga...

Alex Rowley (Cowdenbeath) (Lab) Lab

Does the minister accept that there needs to be more openness and transparency in engaging with the public in the licensing process so that they get a better...

Michael Matheson SNP

There is great merit in that. We need to manage that against the burden that is placed on licensing boards in undertaking reporting. That is why I want to co...