Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Christine Grahame) SNP

The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-23343, in the name of Neil Bibby, on the Tied Pubs (Scotland) Bill. I invite members who wish to speak in...

Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests. It is a critical time for pubs and all those whose livelihoods depend on the licensed tra...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I call Gordon Lindhurst to speak as convener on behalf of the Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee. 17:16

Gordon Lindhurst (Lothian) (Con) Con

Presiding Officer, “This work is dedicated to the abomination of all that restricts travel.” That sounds almost contemporary, but so reads the dedication t...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

That is breaking news to me, but I believe you. 17:23

The Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills (Jamie Hepburn) SNP

I begin, sadly, not with the literary flair of the committee convener, but by thanking Neil Bibby for introducing the bill and encouraging and fostering disc...

Maurice Golden (West Scotland) (Con) Con

I accept that the Tied Pubs (Scotland) Bill has been introduced with good intentions, although the manner in which the member has sought to progress the bill...

Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab) Lab

I thank Neil Bibby, his team and the non-Government bills unit for the huge amount of work that they have done to get us to the stage 1 debate. I also thank ...

Andy Wightman (Lothian) (Green) Green

I, too, commend Neil Bibby for introducing the bill, which the Scottish Greens believe provides for a proportionate and fair intervention in the relationship...

Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD) LD

I cannot let this go without comment. I commend Maurice Golden for his contribution. He attempted to demolish the bill before indicating that he will endorse...

The Presiding Officer (Ken Macintosh) NPA

We move to the open debate. 17:49

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

I am pleased to have the opportunity to take part in the debate on Neil Bibby’s Tied Pubs (Scotland) Bill. I congratulate Mr Bibby and his team, and I thank ...

Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Lab

I congratulate Neil Bibby on bringing forward a very well-thought-through bill. I know, obviously, that it takes a great deal of effort to get a bill to this...

Jamie Hepburn SNP

I was not aware that Mr Johnson spoke about me in private, but I hope that my approach to the bill encourages him to approach such matters with a more open m...

Daniel Johnson Lab

I will bear that in mind. The minister might want to ask some of his colleagues about the things that I say in private about him. In all seriousness, I thin...

John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP) SNP

The issue first came to my attention when I was in the UK Parliament in England. I must say that I was impressed by the work of the Lib Dem MP Greg Mulhollan...

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

I express my empathy for the bill’s principles. My grandfather will be spinning in his grave at a high rate of knots because he was a member of the Independe...

Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con) Con

We are having this debate against a backdrop of the most severe crisis ever to have faced our hospitality sector. Pubs are on their knees. In many parts of t...

Sandra White (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) SNP

I am not a member of the committee, but I take issue with the comments of Neil Bibby that Graham Simpson has just referred to. My Glasgow Kelvin constituenc...

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

I was sympathetic to the bill, but I waited for the Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee’s stage 1 report, which is finely balanced. Initially, it appeare...

The Presiding Officer NPA

We move to closing speeches. 18:18

James Kelly (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

There has been a lot of huffing and puffing in the debate. Some people have been sitting on the fence so long that they are likely to have splinters in sensi...

Dean Lockhart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

The debate on the Tied Pubs (Scotland) Bill has been lively—and not just here in the chamber, because it has generated a lot of strong views across the pub s...

Daniel Johnson Lab

Will Dean Lockhart acknowledge that landlords providing financial comfort to tenants through the crisis is not the exclusive preserve of this sector, that it...

Dean Lockhart Con

That is a fair point. However, if there is any risk that there would be a decline in landlords investing in pubs in Scotland in the future, that financial su...

Jamie Hepburn SNP

I will respond to as much of the debate as I have time to. However, I start with an apology to Daniel Johnson. I am incredibly sorry that I have not conforme...

Daniel Johnson Lab

Will the minister give way?

Jamie Hepburn SNP

Perhaps this is the beginning of it.

Daniel Johnson Lab

I thank the minister for giving way. I confirm that my opinion of him is quite transformed; unfortunately, my poor sense of humour is not.

Jamie Hepburn SNP

Clearly, neither is mine—I was only joking, Mr Johnson. Andy Wightman welcomed that I was not persuaded by the committee’s recommendations, which is—I suppo...