Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Lewis Macdonald) Lab

The next item of business is a stage 1 debate on motion S5M-22226, in the name of Daniel Johnson, on the Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goo...

Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Lab

This is quite a moment for me. Rising to speak in favour of my own bill brings with it a real sense of responsibility. I pay tribute to the various organisa...

John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP) SNP

I agree with all that the member has said so far. How does he feel about other workers who are not retail workers? Should they, too, be protected?

Daniel Johnson Lab

That is a useful intervention. Unfortunately, I am a solitary member and this is a member’s bill. There is a case for looking at the protection that all publ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

Gordon Lindhurst will open the debate on behalf of the Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee. 15:37

Gordon Lindhurst (Lothian) (Con) Con

As the saying goes, the customer is always right—it was the founders of Selfridges and the Ritz hotel who first popularised the phrase. Variations on the the...

The Minister for Community Safety (Ash Denham) SNP

I begin by recognising the important role that retail workers play in our local communities and the wider Scottish economy. During the Covid-19 outbreak, the...

Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con) Con

What is the minister’s view on the representation of the Association of Convenience Stores that the maximum penalty in the bill might not be strong enough?

Ash Denham SNP

The maximum penalty in the bill would be up to one year in prison and/or a fine of up to £10,000. We imagine that most offences will be captured under the bi...

Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con) Con

I am pleased to contribute to this stage 1 debate on the bill. Daniel Johnson knows that I am sympathetic to what he is trying to achieve, as we have discuss...

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Lab

I declare an interest as a member of USDAW and the GMB, which both represent retail workers. I am delighted to be able to speak in favour of the bill at sta...

Andy Wightman (Lothian) (Green) Green

I, too, welcome the bill, and commend Daniel Johnson for his work to introduce it. The Scottish Greens support the general principles of the bill and will vo...

Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD) LD

Presiding Officer, I offer my apologies—to you, to the Presiding Officer who was then in the chair, and to other members—that I was not here at the start of ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda Fabiani) SNP

We move to the open debate, with speeches of absolutely no more than four minutes, please. I do not want to delay decision time or cut out speakers. 16:12

Colin Beattie (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) SNP

As a member of the Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee, I support the general principles of the bill. It is important that we have a full debate on the i...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

If everybody takes an extra five seconds, that makes us late. I call Alison Harris. 16:16

Alison Harris (Central Scotland) (Con) Con

That is a challenge—thank you, Presiding Officer. I, too, am a member of the Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee. Since Daniel Johnson introduced the bi...

Bob Doris (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) SNP

As others have done, I thank Daniel Johnson for navigating his member’s bill through stage 1. It is a robust bill, albeit that I know that some amendments ar...

Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I draw members’ attention to my declaration of interests. I am a member of USDAW and Unite. I am delighted to support Daniel Johnson’s bill and congratulate...

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP) SNP

I thank Daniel Johnson for introducing his bill with the support of USDAW—the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers. It is on a matter that is impor...

Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Con) Con

Without doubt, the bill has a commendable purpose. As I was convener of the Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee during the stage 1 process, I would like ...

Annabelle Ewing (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) SNP

I, too, congratulate Daniel Johnson on and commend him for his hard work and absolute determination to introduce the bill and reach this stage. I also pay tr...

John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP) SNP

I have been a member of the Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee off and on. I am currently a substitute member, but I was not involved in the bill at all...

Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab) Lab

I join colleagues in congratulating Daniel Johnson on getting his bill to Parliament and this stage. It is clear that there are more discussion and negotiati...

Maurice Golden (West Scotland) (Con) Con

It goes without question that no one should face violent abuse or untoward behaviour at their place of work. Sadly, however, violence against shop workers is...

Ash Denham SNP

I thank all members who have contributed to this debate on an important issue. It is clear that we all agree that the abuse of a retail worker is totally una...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I call Daniel Johnson to close the debate. You can take us up to decision time. 16:58

Daniel Johnson Lab

I will do so gladly. I begin by thanking everyone who has taken part in the debate. It has been encouraging to hear such a broad range of views and to have ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Excuse me, Mr Johnson. I know that we have a half-empty chamber, but it is awfully noisy. Could members take care, please?

Daniel Johnson Lab

I know that those retail workers will be heartened to know that we take the issues that they face daily seriously. Before I go much further I would like t...