Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott) Con

The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-13606, in the name of Michael Matheson, on the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Bill. 16:03

The Cabinet Secretary for Justice (Michael Matheson) SNP

I am pleased to open the stage 3 debate on the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Bill. For the purposes of rule 9.11 of standing orders, I advise the Parl...

Alex Fergusson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Con

I appreciate the cabinet secretary verifying that the principal purpose is to reduce crime involving air weapons, but can he tell me what evidential back-up ...

Michael Matheson SNP

The member is correct to say that gun crime is at an almost record low. However, within the category of gun crime, almost half of all the offences involve ai...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Con

Before I call Cara Hilton, I inform members that, to allow everyone to speak in the debate, I have determined that decision time will take place at 10 past f...

Cara Hilton (Dunfermline) (Lab) Lab

I echo the cabinet secretary’s comments and thank all who were involved in devoting time and energy to supporting us in our scrutiny of the Air Weapons and L...

Michael Matheson SNP

Does Cara Hilton understand the point that I made about her amendment and the Government’s amendment in relation to under-18s having access to sexual enterta...

Cara Hilton Lab

That is one interpretation, but I am not convinced by those arguments. I lodged the same amendment at stage 2 and I did not hear those arguments then; this i...

Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) SNP

Oh.

The Deputy Presiding Officer Con

Order.

Cara Hilton Lab

I have lost my place now. I am pleased that the Scottish Government introduced positive amendments that will improve notification procedures and require lo...

Alex Fergusson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Con

In opening the debate for the Scottish Conservatives, I am sorry to say that I find myself every bit as perplexed about the bill now as I was at stage 1. The...

Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) SNP

In April, we debated and agreed the general principles of the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Bill, and today we debate the bill in the form in which we...

Elaine Murray (Dumfriesshire) (Lab) Lab

The intention of people who support the bill has never been to ban air weapons; it has been to regulate them. Air weapons can and, sadly, do kill. It is wron...

Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD) LD

I join others in thanking Kevin Stewart’s committee and committee witnesses for their work on what is, by common consent, a wide-ranging and complex bill. Ca...

Sandra White (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) SNP

The bill is an important one that deals with metal theft, air weapon licensing, alcohol licensing and, of course, sexual entertainment venues. I will limit m...

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (Lab) Lab

I welcome many of the changes that the bill will bring about, although I think that there will, in due course, need to be a more fundamental revision of the ...

Kevin Stewart SNP

Will Malcolm Chisholm give way?

The Deputy Presiding Officer Con

The member is in his last minute.

Malcolm Chisholm Lab

If Cara Hilton’s amendment had dealt with a new issue, we would not be able to complain. However, it dealt with an issue on which she had lodged an amendment...

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP) Ind

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 i...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Con

We will now have closing speeches. 16:51

Cameron Buchanan (Lothian) (Con) Con

The Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Bill has drawn out areas of both consensus and contention, as today’s debate has shown. As I have commented before, ...

Kevin Stewart SNP

Will the member give way?

Cameron Buchanan Con

Certainly.

Kevin Stewart SNP

I thank Mr Buchanan for giving way. We recognise that there is a small minority of abusers of air weapons. However, the use of those weapons by abusers has l...

Cameron Buchanan Con

What evidence do we have that a licensing regime will prevent deaths? I cannot see it. I do not think it will make any difference; I think that those people ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Con

Mr Buchanan, carry on.

Cameron Buchanan Con

The misuse of air weapons is confined to a tiny minority of users, as recently published statistics on recorded crimes in Scotland involving firearms for 201...

Colin Keir (Edinburgh Western) (SNP) SNP

Will the member give way?