Hansard

Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Reform) Reform Committee

02 Mar 2021

Tied Pubs (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

As has been said, it became apparent at last week’s meeting that there would not be support for amendments to the bill other than the ones that the minister has lodged. I exchanged emails with the minister and Neil Bibby and, on the basis of those emails, I will not move my am...

Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Reform) Reform Chamber

02 Mar 2021

Covid-19

One of my constituents, who is a merchant seafarer who left Scotland to join his cargo ship before the quarantine rules were introduced, now finds himself unable to continue his job unless he accepts not returning to his home and family, and pays most of his salary in quaranti...

Michelle Ballantyne Reform Committee

23 Feb 2021

Tied Pubs (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Much has already been said about MROs, so I will try not to repeat all the arguments—I am aware that this discussion is taking quite a long time. I think, from listening to the debate, that there seems to be a bit of confusion about whether we are trying to achieve consistenc...

Michelle Ballantyne Reform Committee

23 Feb 2021

Tied Pubs (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

I have three amendments in this group: 36, 37 and 47. Amendment 36 aims to tidy up the drafting and make it more precise. It would change “sell to the pub’s customers” to “offer for retail sale on the premises”. That change is important, because the wording is more meaning...

Michelle Ballantyne Reform Committee

23 Feb 2021

Tied Pubs (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Thank you. I hear what the minister and Neil Bibby, who is presenting the bill, have said, but it is important to ensure that the bill sets out that things must be fair and reasonable to both parties, that it accords with industry practice and, particularly, that it takes acco...

Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Reform) Reform Committee

23 Feb 2021

Tied Pubs (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

As has been discussed, the Parliament agreed to the general principles of the bill at stage 1. I believe that our job today is to make sure that it is fit for purpose for both sides. It is important that publicans who have tied leases feel that they are being fairly treated an...

Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Reform) Reform Chamber

03 Feb 2021

Parliamentary Bureau Motions

It gives me no pleasure to take up members’ time to speak against the motion, but I feel that it is important to raise how unsatisfactory it is that SSIs are presented to the Parliament with a broad range of elements that we have either to support or reject en masse. I have ra...

Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Reform) Reform Chamber

20 Jan 2021

Decision Time

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I did not connect to the digital voting system, but I would have voted yes.

Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Reform) Reform Chamber

20 Jan 2021

Parliamentary Bureau Motions

I wish to speak against motions S5M-23910 and S5M-23911. With only a couple of minutes allocated to explain my objections, I start by saying that my concerns in no way dismiss the dangers of the Covid virus, nor do they suggest that decision makers do not care or are not tryin...

Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Reform) Reform Chamber

20 Jan 2021

Health and Care Workforce

The emergence of the coronavirus and its subsequent variants has resulted in decisions being made that would have been unthinkable a year ago. The idea that our liberties could be restricted, our livelihoods threatened and our children’s education disrupted is the stuff of nig...

Michelle Ballantyne Ind Chamber

22 Dec 2020

UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

In the light of the amendments that Liam McArthur has lodged and his explanation of them, I intend not to move amendments 52 and 17, because they overlap with head (1) of amendment 18. However, I will move amendment 16, because it would strengthen the way in which the stateme...

Michelle Ballantyne Ind Chamber

22 Dec 2020

UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Mr Lockhart has covered very well the issues that my amendments try to cover. It is wrong to think that everybody out there who is doing business and living their lives is watching every move that is made in this Parliament. Scottish statutory instruments are passed on a daily...

Michelle Ballantyne Ind Chamber

22 Dec 2020

UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

My intention was to limit the powers that the bill provides to the next two parliamentary terms. However, I do not intend to move amendment 42.

Michelle Ballantyne Ind Chamber

22 Dec 2020

UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Mike Russell is correct that I did not have any meetings with him about those amendments, but they were all back and forth from the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee’s report and he has responded to those, so they are not new. He has seen that committee’s thoughts on t...

Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Ind) Ind Chamber

22 Dec 2020

UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

I want to set out the reasoning for lodging my amendments. I will try to keep my remarks on each group short and to the point, because I am conscious that this will be a long day. My amendments throughout stage 3 speak to the fact that, fundamentally, it is for the Parliament...

Michelle Ballantyne Ind Chamber

16 Dec 2020

Portfolio Question Time · Trade Arrangements (Post-Brexit)

Although I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer, the reality is that the democratic decision to resign the UK’s membership of the EU was supported by more than 1 million Scottish voters, and that we officially left the EU in January of this year. Therefore, does the c...

5. Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Ind) Ind Chamber

16 Dec 2020

Portfolio Question Time · Trade Arrangements (Post-Brexit)

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on which post-Brexit trading arrangements between the United Kingdom and European Union would be best for Scotland. (S5O-04861)

Michelle Ballantyne Ind Chamber

26 Nov 2020

First Minister’s Question Time · Offensive Weapons

We have seen a downturn in the number of crimes. That has no doubt been brought about partly by the pandemic that we are experiencing. However, although there has been a decrease in crime in most local authorities, Midlothian is rare, in that there has been a 5 per cent incre...

6. Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Ind) Ind Chamber

26 Nov 2020

First Minister’s Question Time · Offensive Weapons

To ask the First Minister for what reason crimes involving offensive weapons reportedly continue to be on the rise, and what action the Scottish Government is taking to tackle this. (S5F-04595)

Michelle Ballantyne Con Chamber

18 Nov 2020

Portfolio Question Time · Union Connectivity Review

What I really want to understand is whether the cabinet secretary is going to take part in the independent review. For those of us who live, work and run businesses in the south of Scotland, connectivity across the border is extremely important. It is not a political matter—it...

1. Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

18 Nov 2020

Portfolio Question Time · Union Connectivity Review

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement Transport Scotland has had with the United Kingdom Government regarding the union connectivity review. (S5O-04753)

Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

17 Nov 2020

Veterans and Armed Forces Community

Many years ago, there was a saying that, if the Army wanted you to have a wife, it would have issued you with one. When I was a young Army wife, one of my first experiences was giving evidence to an inquiry into how to improve life for families and prevent soldiers from leavin...

Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

11 Nov 2020

Covid-19 Support (Tourism and Hospitality)

I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests. Last week, the South of Scotland Destination Alliance conducted a flash survey of the sector on the impact of the new tier system and the lockdown in England. The results are stark: 90 to 100 per cent of booki...

Michelle Ballantyne Con Chamber

29 Oct 2020

First Minister’s Question Time · Flu Vaccinations (Completion)

When I previously asked the First Minister whether she could guarantee that everyone who is due a flu vaccine will receive one and what percentage she hoped to achieve by the end of November, she was not able to offer that guarantee. However, the health secretary wrote to me t...

6. Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

29 Oct 2020

First Minister’s Question Time · Flu Vaccinations (Completion)

To ask the First Minister whether all flu vaccinations will be completed on time. (S5F-04486)

Michelle Ballantyne Con Chamber

28 Oct 2020

Energy Inquiry

So my talk is short. I am enthusiastic, but the minister must look at some of those points.

Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

28 Oct 2020

Energy Inquiry

Dealing with the energy quadrilemma in four minutes seems to be a real gallop, so I will try to focus on one area, to which Graham Simpson alluded. I am a recent convert to being an EV driver. I have recently gone from being a petrolhead to whatever the new terminology is—nobo...

Michelle Ballantyne Con Chamber

28 Oct 2020

Portfolio Question Time · United Kingdom Trade (Jobs)

I am sad to say that the cabinet secretary did not answer my question. There is no doubt that Covid has had a devastating impact on jobs. The cabinet secretary has taken every opportunity to make clear his lack of respect for the democratic decision of the UK to end UK member...

Michelle Ballantyne Con Chamber

27 Oct 2020

Inward Investment Plan

What reassurances can the minister give investors that Scotland can grow and retain a workforce that has sufficient skills to build a digital economy?

Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

27 Oct 2020

Inward Investment Plan

Although the ambitions set out in the statement are admirable, we are still remarkably short on detail—particularly on how we might make the digital economy a growth sector for all of Scotland. The Logan review noted that 17 per cent of Scottish secondary schools do not have ...

Michelle Ballantyne Con Chamber

07 Oct 2020

Portfolio Question Time · Sheriffhall Roundabout Upgrade (Review)

As the cabinet secretary will know, councils across the south-east of Scotland are dealing with rapidly rising populations. They are sticking to their end of the deal by building more affordable homes, but they are being let down when it comes to access to Edinburgh. We need d...

3. Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

07 Oct 2020

Portfolio Question Time · Sheriffhall Roundabout Upgrade (Review)

To ask the Scottish Government when the conclusion of the review of the upgrade to the Sheriffhall roundabout will be published. (S5O-04667)

Michelle Ballantyne Con Chamber

01 Oct 2020

First Minister’s Question Time · Flu Vaccination

The First Minister will be aware that many of my constituents in Lothian and the Borders have been contacting us to say that they were told to go for flu jab appointments only to have to wait in long queues or even be turned away on arrival. We all know that some areas of the ...

6. Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

01 Oct 2020

First Minister’s Question Time · Flu Vaccination

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government can guarantee that everyone who has been referred for a winter flu vaccination will be able to get one. (S5F-04429)

Michelle Ballantyne Con Committee

29 Sep 2020

Work of the Committee 2019-20

That would be extremely welcome. I completely agree with you on moveable transactions. That issue should have been dealt with, because it would have huge economic benefits to business. It is a shame that the proposal is still sitting there.

Michelle Ballantyne Con Committee

29 Sep 2020

Work of the Committee 2019-20

I am sure that you do not plan on the back of a fag packet, so to speak. Usually, amendments at stage 3 are avoided, but if that happens, it would be helpful if you could give us a heads-up in advance that there will be a revision, so that we can at least think about how that ...

Michelle Ballantyne Con Committee

29 Sep 2020

Work of the Committee 2019-20

Thank you. That moves me on to ask about a problem that we have spotted, and which has arisen today. It relates to what you were saying earlier about the need to implement change quickly and things happening fast. As we approach the end of the parliamentary session, there will...

Michelle Ballantyne Con Committee

29 Sep 2020

Work of the Committee 2019-20

That would be helpful. Are you aware of any groups of instruments that are coming?

Michelle Ballantyne Con Committee

29 Sep 2020

Work of the Committee 2019-20

That is good. That leads me nicely on to the second point that I want to raise. The committee often considers packages of SSIs, particularly around new acts—for example, the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 and the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019. I am sure that the issue is ...

Michelle Ballantyne Con Committee

29 Sep 2020

Work of the Committee 2019-20

It is about both; it is about everything that you have to do beyond Covid and EU withdrawal legislation.

Michelle Ballantyne Con Committee

29 Sep 2020

Work of the Committee 2019-20

Clearly, there is a substantial amount of legislation to go through before the end of the current parliamentary session, which is, no doubt, a big challenge for you. I am wondering about the work that we have to do on non-Covid and non-EU withdrawal legislation. How is the Sco...

Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Con) Con Committee

29 Sep 2020

Work of the Committee 2019-20

I want to pick up on that point. The expression “the rules” is used all the time. In Parliament, it is perhaps incumbent on us to use more technical language and to talk about regulations or guidance. I think that a lot of the confusion comes from the First Minister or whoever...

Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

24 Sep 2020

Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

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 to thank all those who gave evidence, and the committee clerks for all their hard work in producing our report. I had t...

Michelle Ballantyne Con Chamber

16 Sep 2020

Sustainable Aviation beyond Covid-19

Will the member accept an intervention?

Michelle Ballantyne Con Chamber

16 Sep 2020

Sustainable Aviation beyond Covid-19

In conclusion, we need a balanced approach that takes safety and sustainability into account while addressing the fundamental economic realities. The months ahead do not present a menu of easy choices, but it is important that we stimulate the aviation sector through the ebb a...

Michelle Ballantyne Con Chamber

16 Sep 2020

Sustainable Aviation beyond Covid-19

I do not agree with bail-outs when there is no future for the company. However, as I acknowledged just then, assistance is required at the moment, and I have listed some of the assistance that is being given. What we must bear in mind is that we need the arrival of visitors an...

Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

16 Sep 2020

Sustainable Aviation beyond Covid-19

No one doubts the importance of aviation as an industry, and the debate is welcome, given the number of emails that I have received from very worried employees. Because of our geographic position as an island, we cannot just dismiss aviation; we need to cross the seas, and we ...

Michelle Ballantyne Con Chamber

16 Sep 2020

Portfolio Question Time · Brexit (Impact on Fisheries)

The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation has said that negotiating with the EU for anything other than the UK being a fully independent coastal state would be a “colossal betrayal”. Does the cabinet secretary agree that foreign affairs is a reserved matter and, therefore, that any ...

2. Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

16 Sep 2020

Portfolio Question Time · Brexit (Impact on Fisheries)

To ask the Scottish Government what talks it has had with the European Union regarding the potential impact of Brexit on Scotland’s fisheries. (S5O-04590)

Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

09 Sep 2020

Dirty Camping

The minister makes an important point. As a youth leader who works with children from deprived areas, I would say that the biggest issue is education. That was mentioned by Liz Smith and Stewart Stevenson. As youngsters, we learned through our outdoor education in scouts, cade...

Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

01 Sep 2020

Logan Review (Technology Sector)

I, too, welcome the report, which is a good commercial guide for the Government to take forward. Does the cabinet secretary recognise that leaving the European Union might afford us greater opportunities to attract the best in global tech talent, given that the four major expo...

Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Con) Con Committee

25 Aug 2020

Interests

Thank you, convener. I declare that I have a large shareholding in a private company. I am also the managing trustee of a private estate that was left for the benefit of the people. I refer everyone to my entry in the register of members’ interests.

The Convener Con Committee

18 Aug 2020

Tied Pubs (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Under the circumstances, it will be extremely difficult to take evidence from the minister today. Unless the minister feels otherwise, I suggest that we postpone the evidence session. I apologise to Dr Burgess and Aileen Bearhop, but we do not have a clear line to the ministe...

The Convener Con Committee

18 Aug 2020

Tied Pubs (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Your voice is breaking up.

The Convener Con Committee

18 Aug 2020

Tied Pubs (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

No, you are coming and going. Unless we can improve the connection, I do not think that it will work. I will ask business information technology staff for advice. I do not think that we have any sound at all now.

The Convener Con Committee

18 Aug 2020

Tied Pubs (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

You are back. Try again.

The Convener Con Committee

18 Aug 2020

Tied Pubs (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

We could hear you earlier, minister. Try again. I think that we might have lost the minister. I will ask broadcasting to confirm whether that is the case.

The Convener Con Committee

18 Aug 2020

Tied Pubs (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Yes, we can hear you. Go ahead.

The Convener Con Committee

18 Aug 2020

Tied Pubs (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

We are having problems with the minister’s connection. I will ask broadcasting to turn off his video and we will just go with the sound.

The Convener Con Committee

18 Aug 2020

Tied Pubs (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Welcome back. I am pleased to welcome our final panel for the Tied Pubs (Scotland) Bill evidence session, from the Scottish Government: Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills; Aileen Bearhop, head of good food nation, public and third sector team; and Dr Ge...