Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Christine Grahame) SNP

The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S5M-22367, in the name of Murdo Fraser, on tackling dirty camping. The debate will be conc...

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

Thank you, Presiding Officer—it is good to finally get to the start of the debate. I thank members from all sides of the chamber who signed my motion to allo...

Maree Todd (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Murdo Fraser Con

Yes, of course.

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I call—I have forgotten the member’s name.

Maree Todd SNP

It is Maree Todd. Laughter.

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

It has been such a long day. I am hearing that the member is Mairi Gougeon or Clare Haughey—it is neither of them. It is Maree Todd.

Edward Mountain (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Con

I will take over from you, Presiding Officer, if you would like me to.

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

No, thank you, Mr Mountain. That is very gentlemanly of you, but I am embarrassed enough.

Murdo Fraser Con

Maree Todd has forgotten her intervention now.

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Are there any names that I have forgotten to mention, Ms Todd? I am sorry about that. Please continue with your intervention.

Maree Todd SNP

To help you remember my name, Presiding Officer, I will set the context. My name is Maree Todd, and I was named after Loch Maree. You will be aware of the re...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

This is supposed to be an intervention, Ms Todd.

Maree Todd SNP

Does the member agree with me, or does he believe that there should be one law for the Prime Minister and another law for the rest of us?

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

That was not an intervention. There was a wee hiatus that I was not expecting.

Murdo Fraser Con

I am sorry, Presiding Officer, that you had to wait for so long for such a tiresome party political point from the member, which was—to be frank—not worthy o...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I remind all members who wish to speak that they must press their request-to-speak buttons. I am not naming anyone in particular, but I hope that they have p...

Bruce Crawford (Stirling) (SNP) SNP

I am grateful for the chance to speak in the debate, and I thank Murdo Fraser and congratulate him on bringing the debate to the chamber. I proudly represen...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I understand that Mr Crawford, and I understand about late hours. 18:16

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

I thank Murdo Fraser for securing the debate. The £3 million VisitScotland scheme to encourage holidays at home in Scotland has resulted in more staycations...

Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP) SNP

I welcome the opportunity to speak in this debate on tackling dirty camping. This is only our second members’ business debate since March, and I congratulate...

Finlay Carson Con

Will the member take an intervention?

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

The member is coming to a conclusion—she is in her final minute.

Emma Harper SNP

I am sorry; I would have taken an intervention from Mr Carson if we had more time.

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Well, all right—seeing as I made such a mess of things earlier, I will allow the intervention.

Finlay Carson Con

Does Emma Harper agree that bringing all such services together could best be facilitated through the likes of a countryside ranger service? The countryside ...

Emma Harper SNP

I was just coming to the point that partnership working is critical. Obviously, budgets are really challenged at the moment. The minister would need to respo...

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab

I thank Murdo Fraser for securing the debate, and Ramblers Scotland and Mountaineering Scotland for the helpful briefings that they have provided. It is imp...

Andy Wightman (Lothian) (Green) Green

I thank Murdo Fraser for bringing the debate to the chamber. The matter is of great concern to many of our constituents, especially those who live in the Hig...

Stewart Stevenson (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP

I was 22 years old when I first stayed overnight on holiday in a hotel. Up to that point, all our family holidays were under canvas. The first of them, in th...