Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 09 December 2020
09 Dec 2020 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Economy
The motion is about protecting jobs by ensuring better support in three key areas: grant support, taxation and the clear and consistent setting of regulations.
Currently, only businesses that are forced to close can receive the maximum level of grant support. Businesses that voluntarily close are penalised, whether their decision was made to help stop the spread of the virus or because their business is not viable under the restrictions. That situation is grossly unfair, and those businesses should be able to claim the maximum level of support.
However, we know that even when businesses qualify, the maximum level of support is often not enough. The Scottish Government’s own calculations suggest that it costs an average of £3,300 a week to run a pub, but the Government provides pubs with a maximum of £3,000—not per week, but per month. Further, it now turns out that even that low level of support will not be maintained.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda Fabiani)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-23622, in the name of Maurice Golden, on the economy. I call Maurice Golden to speak to and move the mo...
Maurice Golden (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
The motion is about protecting jobs by ensuring better support in three key areas: grant support, taxation and the clear and consistent setting of regulation...
The Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills (Jamie Hepburn)
SNP
Will the member recognise that that is a false analysis? That figure is based on those pubs remaining open, which is not the circumstance that we are in now....
Maurice Golden
Con
I do not see it as a false analysis at all. Ultimately, a pub with monthly costs of more than £13,000 cannot keep going on that level of grant support, which...
The Minister for Public Finance and Migration (Ben Macpherson)
SNP
Does Maurice Golden agree that the Scottish Government’s ability to provide the 100 per cent relief for retail, hospitality and leisure is contingent on cons...
Maurice Golden
Con
We already have £1.3 billion in extra funding from the UK Government, and if the SNP had managed to grow the economy since 2007, we would have more cash righ...
The Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills (Jamie Hepburn)
SNP
I look forward to the Conservatives supporting my amendment to the motion. I could not help but notice that, in yesterday’s Finance and Constitution Committe...
Elaine Smith (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Can the minister tell us when applications will open for taxi drivers?
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
We are currently working with local government colleagues on that, and we hope to open applications as soon as possible. I am happy to come back to Elaine Sm...
Maurice Golden
Con
Will the minister take an intervention?
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
How long do I have, Presiding Officer?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
You are just closing, minister.
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
Mr Golden will have to forgive me. Ultimately, we could do much more to support our businesses and wider economic recovery if we had greater fiscal flexibil...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I call Alex Rowley to speak to and move amendment S5M-23622.2. You have up to four minutes, Mr Rowley. 16:44
Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
The idea that we could build consensus is important. We must do so because, at the end of the day, people’s jobs are on the line out there. As we come up to ...
Maurice Golden
Con
Does Mr Rowley think that workers at BiFab, and indeed throughout Scotland, have been let down by the SNP Government?
Alex Rowley
Lab
There is a wider debate to be had about how we can build back the Scottish economy, and specifically about the renewable energy sector, on which the country ...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
I recognise that time is constrained, so I will be brief. I assure Mr Rowley that I meet STUC representatives weekly. I recently met Pat Rafferty of Unite to...
Alex Rowley
Lab
That is good news. However, I will quote what Pat Rafferty has said: “The stories shared by taxi drivers in our survey is heartbreaking and clearly shows a ...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
I welcome the chance to take part in the debate. I doubt that it will come as a huge surprise to members in the chamber that the Greens do not back everythin...
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
Today’s debate is a bit of a side show. It is a side show because the answers that businesses are desperate for are locked in the secret process of negotiati...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
We move to the open debate. Speeches should be a strict four minutes, as we are a bit pushed for time. 16:57
Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)
Con
I draw members’ attention to my entry in the register of interests. Despite valiant efforts by businesses and their employees up and down Scotland, there ha...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Excuse me, Ms Hamilton. There are two gentlemen who are being very rude while you are speaking, and I ask them to desist.
Rachael Hamilton
Con
Thank you, Presiding Officer. Our union of four nations has wrapped its arms around Scotland and cushioned us from an unprecedented economic shock by protec...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Time is very short, as I said. I ask members to please bear that in mind. 17:02
Gordon MacDonald (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP)
SNP
The Conservatives’ motion calls on the Scottish Government “to provide certainty for businesses next year by committing to extending the non-domestic rates ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I remind everyone that we are pushed for time. 17:07
Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
This is a really important debate and it is long overdue. The public health response to Covid-19 has been largely understandable, but let us be frank that th...
Gillian Martin (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP)
SNP
It is a tale of two responses: one by the SNP-led Scottish Government for businesses in Scotland, and the other by the Tory-led Government for businesses whe...