Hansard

The Presiding Officer (Ken Macintosh) NPA

The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-17517, in the name of Fergus Ewing, on the South of Scotland Enterprise Bill at stage 3. 16:18

The Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy (Fergus Ewing) SNP

I am pleased to open the stage 3 debate on the South of Scotland Enterprise Bill.

The Presiding Officer NPA

One second, cabinet secretary. I ask members to keep the conversations down—a debate is going on.

Fergus Ewing SNP

This is a momentous day for the south of Scotland, which will usher in a new era for Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders—an era in which the area ...

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Con

The creation of a south of Scotland enterprise agency was a manifesto commitment of the Scottish Conservatives ahead of the 2016 election, and I believe that...

Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

Having campaigned for better support for the south of Scotland economy for 10 years, I welcome the fact that we will soon move from the establishment of a so...

John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Green

It has been a real pleasure to have been involved with the bill. A number of people—the clerks, as ever, the witnesses and the people and representatives of ...

Mike Rumbles (North East Scotland) (LD) LD

The Liberal Democrats fully support the South of Scotland Enterprise Bill, which is the kind of legislation that can really benefit the people of the south o...

Maureen Watt (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) SNP

As the member would realise if he came to some of the events in the north-east, the national health service and Scottish Enterprise in Grampian have been ver...

Mike Rumbles LD

There were already organisations in the south of Scotland that had the same purpose. I would have thought that the member, who is a member of the Rural Econo...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda Fabiani) SNP

I thank everyone for the brevity of their speeches. It has allowed us to make up time. We now move to the open debate, in which there is one speaker. 16:42

Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP) SNP

I am extremely pleased to speak in favour of the South of Scotland Enterprise Bill. The bill, which I have engaged with at stage 1 and throughout the parliam...

Claudia Beamish (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I, too, welcome the bill. I acknowledge the cabinet secretary’s work on the bill. I particularly thank my fellow South Scotland region colleague and friend C...

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con

I refer members to my entry in the register of interests. Today, Conservative members will vote to pass the bill and let the proposed agency become a realit...

Fergus Ewing SNP

The bill allows for an enterprise agency to be made of the south of Scotland, by the south of Scotland, for the south of Scotland. I thank all those in the ...

Richard Lyle (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) SNP

Hear, hear!

Fergus Ewing SNP

Thank you. It is quite remarkable that consensus has broken out in the chamber and I am touched by all the nice things that people have said, particularly Mr...

Graeme Dey (Angus South) (SNP) SNP

You will never say it again.

Fergus Ewing SNP

—and as Mr Dey has pointed out, I might never say it again, but all I can say is, “Aw, shucks!” Today, we are tracing a foundation for a new chapter in th...