Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda Fabiani) SNP

The next item of business is a stage 3 debate on motion S5M-20705, in the name of Kate Forbes, on the Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Bill. Before I invite Ka...

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work (Derek Mackay) SNP

For the purposes of rule 9.11 of the standing orders, I advise the Parliament that Her Majesty, having been informed of the purport of the Non-Domestic Rates...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Thank you, Mr Mackay. I call Kate Forbes to speak to and move the motion, for up to seven minutes and no longer, please. 17:33

The Minister for Public Finance and Digital Economy (Kate Forbes) SNP

I am pleased to open the stage 3 debate on the Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Bill. I start with a number of thank yous, first to the Local Government and Com...

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

I will make some concluding remarks on the Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Bill. The bill will implement the findings of the Barclay review of non-domestic rat...

Keith Brown (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) SNP

Murdo Fraser has now mentioned Dollar for the second time today. Has he spoken to the rector of Dollar academy on this issue?

Murdo Fraser Con

Liz Smith has engaged with Dollar academy and many of the parents in Dollar on the issue and they share many of our concerns. There is a concern about this. ...

Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab) Lab

I begin by thanking everyone who has contributed to the debate on the bill, whether in yesterday’s proceedings or in any of the discussions that we have had ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

You must come to a close, please.

Sarah Boyack Lab

In Ireland, the link has been made between rent pressure zones and affordable student accommodation. All politicians in this chamber have the job of listeni...

Andy Wightman (Lothian) (Green) Green

I, too, thank all those who have engaged in the process and who have supported the process in Parliament. I noted at stage 1—indeed, the minister mentioned ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I call Willie Rennie for up to four minutes. 17:56

Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD) LD

I get the point. Andy Wightman’s speech was typical of his approach to the bill, which he has brought to life. I hope not to embarrass him too much with pra...

Keith Brown SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Willie Rennie LD

Not just now. When you control the purse strings, you control your destiny. The sooner that we in Parliament learn that, the stronger our communities will b...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

We now move to the open debate, in which speeches must be absolutely no more than four minutes long. I warn members that if they go over their time, it will ...

James Dornan (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) SNP

In my role as convener of the Local Government and Communities Committee, I thank our clerks, the team at the Scottish Parliament information centre, the Gov...

Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

I am pleased to take part in tonight’s stage 3 debate on the Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Bill. As my colleague Murdo Fraser has outlined, the Scottish Cons...

Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Lab

I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests. I am a member of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers and the Federation of...

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP) SNP

I, too, thank the Local Government and Communities Committee clerks for all their hard work and sound advice as we took forward the bill. In looking at the ...

Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

It is not that the Tories are obsessed with the issue; it is a genuine concern of many parents who have children at independent schools.

Kenneth Gibson SNP

No one wants to pay more, but it is only a 1.3 per cent increase, when they are paying, on average, a 4 per cent increase in fees. Let us be honest—most of t...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Come to a close, please.

Kenneth Gibson SNP

State schools pay rates. Private schools should pay rates, too, and I am delighted that the Parliament overwhelmingly agrees with that. 18:17

Sarah Boyack Lab

It makes me wonder how we get through our committee meetings. We have gone from James Dornan to Kenneth Gibson, who was as gracious as ever. The bill is not...

Mike Rumbles (North East Scotland) (LD) LD

Will the member take an intervention?

Sarah Boyack Lab

I will not. The minister will have the flexibility to look at individual schools that make a case to her, which was the point raised by Andy Wightman yester...

Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con) Con

This has been an interesting journey. It is fair to say that what looked like a fairly uncontroversial bill has proved to be anything but. However, I want to...

Kate Forbes SNP

Before I respond to some of the specific points that have been made, I commend Andy Wightman on his efforts to raise the profile of non-domestic rates and th...