Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 16 March 2016
16 Mar 2016 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
Thank you, Presiding Officer.
I would like to speak in support of amendment 67. I am pleased that the amendment has been lodged because, as the minister highlighted, it seeks to include in the bill
“relevant non-Convention human rights”
and
“the desirability of encouraging equal opportunities”
as issues that ministers must have regard to. There was much discussion of those important issues in the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee, and it is right for them to be recognised in the bill.
With regard to Mike Russell’s amendments 7 and 8, I am somewhat reassured by what the minister said, and I might encourage Mr Russell to withdraw amendment 7 and to not move amendment 8. However, the situation of small farmers, who could be adversely affected, would become the ministers’ call, which is an important issue to take into account.
We cannot support Alex Fergusson’s amendment on repeat applications, as a community might have very valid reasons for wishing to make a repeat application. In addition, a different community group might wish to apply to buy the same bit of land for different purposes.
I will leave it at that.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
The next item of business is continuation of stage 3 proceedings on the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill. I remind members that, in dealing with the amendments,...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
We move to group 7. Amendment 57, in the name of Sarah Boyack, is grouped with amendment 58.
Sarah Boyack
Lab
An issue that the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee raised in our consultation on the Scottish Government’s draft proposals was the nee...
Michael Russell
SNP
I warmly support amendments 57 and 58 in the name of Sarah Boyack. Part 4 is one of the shortest parts of the bill and in my view should have benefited from ...
Paul Wheelhouse
SNP
We welcomed Sarah Boyack’s amendments at stage 2, which created a requirement to report on the extent to which part 4 guidance is being followed. We support...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I invite Sarah Boyack to wind up and to intimate whether she intends to press or withdraw her amendments.
Sarah Boyack
Lab
I welcome the comments from members across the chamber. I think that we all broadly agree on the importance of the amendments. I press amendment 57, and I ho...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
We move to group 8. Amendment 60, in the name of the minister, is grouped with amendments 68 to 71, 96 and 97.
Paul Wheelhouse
SNP
Amendments 60, 96 and 97 adjust the requirements on community bodies that exercise the right to buy under the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill and the Land Reform...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
We come to group 9. Amendment 7, in the name of Michael Russell, is grouped with amendments 107, 108, 8, 61, 62, 9, 109, 63 to 65, 10, 11, 66 and 67.
Michael Russell
SNP
Amendment 7 seeks to avoid unintended consequences in public or community purchases of land. I hope that I will not want to press the amendment to a vote, as...
Alex Fergusson
Con
My amendments 107 and 109 would simply provide an improved alternative to Mike Russell’s amendments 7 and 9. Whereas Mike Russell’s amendments apply only ...
Dave Thompson
SNP
In the debate later on this afternoon, I will comment on the comments that Mr Fergusson made about the ECHR. He quoted me out of context, and I hope that he ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I invite the minister to speak to amendment 61 and other amendments in the group. 15:00
Paul Wheelhouse
SNP
I will speak first to Mr Russell’s amendments 7 and 9 and Mr Fergusson’s amendments 107 and 109 together. Unfortunately, if accepted, those amendments could ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I will allow Claudia Beamish to make a short contribution.
Claudia Beamish
Lab
Thank you, Presiding Officer. I would like to speak in support of amendment 67. I am pleased that the amendment has been lodged because, as the minister hig...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I invite Mike Russell to wind up and indicate whether he intends to press or withdraw amendment 7.
Michael Russell
SNP
Thank you, Presiding Officer. I will be very brief. I, too, am very pleased that equalities and other human rights issues have been included in part 5. I am...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
The question is, that amendment 107 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
There will be a division. As this is the first division of the afternoon, I suspend Parliament for five minutes. 15:11 Meeting suspended. 15:16 On resuming—
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
We will now proceed with the division on amendment 107. For Brown, Gavin (Lothian) (Con) Buchanan, Cameron (Lothian) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (West Scotla...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
The result of the division is: For 20, Against 96, Abstentions 0. Amendment 107 disagreed to. Amendment 108 moved—Alex Fergusson.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
The question is, that amendment 108 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
There will be a division. For Brown, Gavin (Lothian) (Con) Buchanan, Cameron (Lothian) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (West Scotland) (Con) Davidson, Ruth (Gl...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
The result of the division is: For 20, Against 96, Abstentions 0. Amendment 108 disagreed to. Amendment 8 moved—Dave Thompson.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
The question is, that amendment 8 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
There will be a division. For Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Central Scotland) (SNP) Allan, Dr Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Al...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
The result of the division is: For 95, Against 20, Abstentions 0. Amendment 8 agreed to. Amendments 61 and 62 moved—Paul Wheelhouse—and agreed to. Amen...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
The question is, that amendment 109 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No.