Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-12551, in the name Tom Arthur, on the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill, which i...

The Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance (Tom Arthur) SNP

The United Kingdom Government’s Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill engages the legislative consent process because it would limit the...

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

As we have heard, the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill intends to prevent public bodies, including local councils, national health ...

Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Lab

I am afraid that I am going to disappoint Murdo Fraser. Ultimately, is it not the job of public bodies to use their judgment in accordance with their values?...

Murdo Fraser Con

If people want to change the foreign or trade policy of the United Kingdom, they can do so at a general election, but I do not think that we should be tearin...

Tom Arthur SNP

Murdo Fraser says that, in his view, the bill relates to trade and foreign affairs. In that case, why do the explanatory notes to the bill, as published by t...

Murdo Fraser Con

I will come on to explain why I have wider concerns about the proposed legislation, and the minister should listen. There are many oppressive regimes and st...

Tom Arthur SNP

Israel is already party to relevant agreements that give bidders from Israel the relevant protections in domestic procurement law in Scotland. I know that Mr...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

I can give Murdo Fraser the time back for the interventions.

Murdo Fraser Con

I do not understand why the minister does not recognise the concerns in the Jewish community in Scotland, which I have just referred to, about the approach t...

Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Lab

I will begin by agreeing with the minister, who set out very clearly the context in which the legislation is taking place. It is right to acknowledge and rep...

Murdo Fraser Con

Can Daniel Johnson name any other countries, with human rights records far worse than that of Israel, that there have been campaigns to sanction? This debate...

Daniel Johnson Lab

They may well not receive such prominence, but there are campaigns against procurement from Myanmar and from China because of the Uyghur situation. The situa...

Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) SNP

Mr Johnson made the point that the campaign against anti-apartheid South Africa was largely led by local authorities in Scotland and throughout the rest of t...

Daniel Johnson Lab

Indeed, and I think that Mr Fraser and others would need to answer for themselves. In my view, it is important that democratic bodies such as local governme...

Tom Arthur SNP

I thank members for their contributions. The strength of feeling about the bill is obvious to anyone who is watching the debate. It is clear that, although ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

That concludes the debate. There will be a brief pause to allow for a changeover of members on the front benches.