Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Christine Grahame) SNP

The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-03049, in the name of Alasdair Allan, on welcoming international migrants in Scotland. 14:55

The Minister for International Development and Europe (Dr Alasdair Allan) SNP

I am honoured to be here today to acknowledge international migrants day 2016, which takes place this Sunday. The United Nations encourages us to mark the da...

Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD) LD

I am grateful to the minister for taking an intervention. I agree with the comments that he has made so far. Is he planning to refer to the dismantling of th...

Dr Allan SNP

I agree with the sentiments that Liam McArthur has expressed about the responsibility that we all have for unaccompanied children and the especially concerni...

Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green) Green

Does the minister agree that the main culprits when it comes to spreading vile propaganda about migrants and refugees are right-wing tabloid newspapers such ...

Dr Allan SNP

It is certainly the case that all of us, as politicians, have a responsibility to make clear the positive message about what refugees, among many other migra...

Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (LD) LD

Will the options paper that the minister has just referred to be published before Christmas? I think that that was the commitment that the First Minister gav...

Dr Allan SNP

I can tell that Tavish Scott is urgently thumbing through his Advent calendar. I refer him to the earlier commitments that have been made. I call on members...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Christine Grahame) SNP

I call Liam Kerr to speak to and move amendment S5M-03049.2. You have seven minutes, Mr Kerr. 15:08

Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con) Con

I beg your pardon, Presiding Officer. Did you say seven minutes?

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Yes. Were you expecting more?

Liam Kerr Con

I was, rather.

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Well, it is seven.

Liam Kerr Con

Of course. Thank you. We need to talk about international migrants but, more than that, we need to listen. Alasdair Allan talks of negative rhetoric and I ...

Sandra White (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) SNP

On a point of order, Presiding Officer.

Liam Kerr Con

I will not take any interventions, I am afraid. I am four minutes short of what I thought I would have.

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I will give you 30 seconds if you take an intervention, but it is up to you.

James Dornan (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) SNP

It is a point of order.

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

There is a point of order. I beg your pardon.

Sandra White SNP

Presiding Officer, can you clarify or explain why the speech from the Conservatives has not even touched on what the motion is about?

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I am monitoring when Liam Kerr will come to the material part of his amendment. I am sure that he is moving to it now.

Liam Kerr Con

Yes. The answer, of course, is that I was only one and a half minutes into my speech. Let me make clear where we agree with the motion. Do we welcome intern...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

And that is where to stop. I am so sorry; you have done very well, Mr Kerr, as you were misinformed by your whip. Please move your amendment.

Liam Kerr Con

I move amendment S5M-03049.2, to leave out from “welcomes the opportunity” to end and insert: “notes the UK Government’s extensive aid programme to support ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Excellent. I now call Lewis Macdonald to speak and move amendment S5M-3049.1. Mr Macdonald, I hope that you were told that you have six minutes. 15:16

Lewis Macdonald (North East Scotland) (Lab) Lab

Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. When the United Nations established international migrants day at the turn of the century, it declared that migratio...

James Dornan (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) SNP

Presiding Officer, thank you for your indulgence in letting me leave the chamber after I have made my speech. “On the morning of October 3,”— 2013— “a fis...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I ask you to conclude there, Mr Dornan; it is a good quote to end with.

James Dornan SNP

When we are talking about this issue, I suggest that we are very careful with our language—

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I am sorry, Mr Dornan, please sit down. It was a good quote to end with; do not spoil it. 15:28