Meeting of the Parliament 25 June 2015
I want to take this opportunity to welcome the discussion and debate on what are clearly important issues for Scotland. The health and security of everyone in Scotland are of the utmost concern, and this bill has created important discussion around those issues.
I put on record my welcome of the cabinet secretary’s willingness to listen to and act on the discussions that took place in the committee and elsewhere, particularly at stage 2, and to accept the issues that were being raised by external organisations.
I put on record my thanks to the many organisations that came and gave evidence to the committee, and to the individuals who responded to the call for evidence. Without that evidence, some of the issues that have been discussed today might not have been discussed, as they might have been lost in the debate.
The bill covers a number of areas, as members have said: air weapons; alcohol licensing; taxis and private hire cars; metal dealers; the licensing of public entertainment venues; and the licensing of sexual entertainment venues. Some of the issues that were debated at stage 1 and stage 2 have been lost today, because they were dealt with in a consensual manner. For example, issues around the licensing of public entertainment venues were accepted and adopted by all concerned, because there was confusion about how sexual entertainment venues licensing might impact on public entertainment venues.
With regard to metal dealers, we heard evidence in committee about the cost of metal theft in Scotland. One witness indicated in written evidence that the cost of metal theft in Scotland could be up to £40 million. I am glad that the fines have been increased to take account of the issues that have been raised because, clearly, we have not been targeting those who are seriously involved in metal theft. It is hoped that the fines will help to deter some of those characters, and to safeguard the infrastructure of communities in Scotland.
There are issues about the interpretation of air weapons licensing. I have had a number of representations from members of the airsoft community who are concerned with how the changes in the legislation may affect them. It will be incumbent on the cabinet secretary in guidance and in regulation in the future to ensure that airsoft and related communities are clear about what is covered in the licensing regime. There are issues related to the strength of the weapon being used: technological advances that are taking place, particularly in the airsoft area, mean that some of those weapons may soon become covered by the air weapons licensing that we are proposing today.
I welcome the discussions that are taking place, and I welcome the fact that the cabinet secretary has been so consensual.
Access to sexual entertainment venues, dealt with in amendments 22 and 19, is an area that the Local Government and Regeneration Committee discussed at stage 2 in terms of the relevant issues and the impact that provisions in the bill may have on employment in, and access to, those venues. I am glad that the cabinet secretary lodged an amendment on that; although the majority in the chamber accepted it, it is quite clear that there is still much debate to be held outwith the chamber.
I will support the bill as amended at stage 3, and I look forward to its implementation. If it needs to be worked on in the future, I look forward to the opportunity to do that.