Hansard

The Convener Con

Item 2 is stage 2 consideration of the Islands (Scotland) Bill. I welcome back the Minister for Transport and the Islands, Humza Yousaf, and his officials fr...

The Convener Con

The first group is entitled “Purpose of Act”. Amendment 28, in the name of Colin Smyth, is the only amendment in the group.

Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I am conscious that we have a number of amendments to get through today, so I will keep my comments relatively brief. As members will know, a purpose clause ...

John Mason SNP

As I said in the chamber yesterday, I am in favour of purpose clauses. I would like the Government and anyone else who intends to introduce a bill to start w...

Stewart Stevenson SNP

I understand and have sympathy with what Colin Smyth is trying to do, but his amendment risks diluting the bill’s ambition. All it talks about is creating “s...

Peter Chapman (North East Scotland) (Con) Con

I am minded not to support amendment 28. Although we discussed the matter at stage 1 and thought that such a provision might be necessary, I do not feel that...

Mike Rumbles (North East Scotland) (LD) LD

The Scotland Act 1998 says: “There shall be a Scottish Parliament.” As Donald Dewar said, “I like that.” It is really important to set out the purpose of a...

John Finnie Green

I am supportive of Colin Smyth’s amendment 28. Although I suspect that you would not want us to do this, convener, we could spend all day discussing every wo...

Jamie Greene Con

I strongly feel that the bill should have an objective, given the evidence that we have heard and after speaking to islanders at many of the focus groups. Th...

Humza Yousaf SNP

I will speak to a number of amendments on which, where we, as a Government, can be helpful and reflect, we will, because we want to progress the bill in the ...

Jamie Greene Con

Before we move to a vote, I want to clarify the minister’s position on that. Minister, are you saying that, at stage 3, you would not consider including a pu...

Humza Yousaf SNP

I will come back to that, as I am just coming to that very point. I have a problem with putting the purpose on the face of the bill, but I think that we can ...

The Convener Con

Thank you, minister. I ask Colin Smyth to wind up and to press or withdraw amendment 28.

Colin Smyth Lab

I agree with John Mason’s point that a purpose clause should be introduced at as early a stage as possible. I had no control over the wording of the draft bi...

The Convener Con

Amendment 10, in the name of Liam McArthur, is grouped with amendments 30, 41, 44, 60, 63, 66 to 68, 72, 74 to 77 and 88.

Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD) LD

I welcome the work of the committee on the bill, and I thank the convener and other committee members for taking the time to come up to Orkney to hear direct...

John Mason SNP

Some of my thinking is in line with what Liam McArthur has just said. The amendments are part of a package, so they all do the same thing. For example, secti...

Stewart Stevenson SNP

In 1930, Hirta, which was the only inhabited part of the St Kilda group, was actually part of Inverness-shire rather than the Western Isles—but that is histo...

John Mason SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Stewart Stevenson SNP

Yes, he will.

John Mason SNP

Does he accept that, for an uninhabited island, having a community on it would be a positive outcome?

Stewart Stevenson SNP

Yes, but I am not sure that that would be an outcome for the island; it would be an outcome for the community on the island. I am conflicted on the matter, ...

Peter Chapman Con

I agree with amendment 10, as I think that it is important that uninhabited islands are referred to in the key definitions of the bill. Sections 1 and 2 r...

Richard Lyle SNP

I support amendment 10. I ask John Mason not to move his amendments in the group and to discuss the issue with the minister. I do not doubt John Mason’s ent...

John Mason SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Richard Lyle SNP

I have finished. Laughter.

John Finnie Green

I support Liam McArthur’s amendment 10, and I support John Mason’s amendments. We can dance around, and I appreciate that lawyers will forever chew over the ...

Humza Yousaf SNP

I welcome the opportunity to speak to this group of amendments on uninhabited islands, which I appreciate is an issue of significance for many. The bill’s fo...

John Mason SNP

Will the minister give way?

Humza Yousaf SNP

Of course.