Hansard

The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone) NPA

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-12834, in the name of Jim Fairlie, which is a legislative consent motion on the Automated Vehicles Bill, ...

Edward Mountain (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Con

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I could give the response of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee first if that would be helpful.

The Presiding Officer NPA

I appreciate that, Mr Mountain.

Edward Mountain Con

I see that the minister has now come in.

The Presiding Officer NPA

I will allow the minister to begin his speech after he has apologised to the Parliament. As I was saying, the next item of business is a debate on motion S6...

The Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity (Jim Fairlie) SNP

First of all, I offer my apologies, Presiding Officer: I misjudged what I was about to do. I offer my sincere apologies to you and to the Parliament. Thank y...

Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con) Con

Will the member take an intervention?

Jim Fairlie SNP

If the member allows me to finish this point, I will come back to him. However, the Scottish Government recommends withholding consent to clause 50 because ...

Graham Simpson Con

I thank the minister for taking the intervention. I think that I heard him say that UK ministers had asked to meet about clause 50. If I heard him right, can...

Jim Fairlie SNP

The Scottish Government does not have a date from the UK Government, so we are still waiting for that meeting to be arranged. I will return to the point tha...

Edward Mountain (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Con

I am pleased to speak in this debate as convener of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee. I draw members’ attention to the committee’s report on the ...

Jim Fairlie SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Edward Mountain Con

I will take an intervention. However, I am limited in what I can say.

Jim Fairlie SNP

I want to clarify a point. Edward Mountain talks about a question being raised about a two-tier system. That was not the point that the Scottish Government r...

Edward Mountain Con

That is the point. It is about where the dividing line is, where scrutiny is needed and whether the UK Government and the Scottish Government agree in relati...

The Presiding Officer NPA

I call Graham Simpson, who has up to five minutes. 17:14

Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con) Con

I assure members that I will take nothing like five minutes to deal with this matter, so we may have an earlier decision time. Given the debate so far, it...

Alasdair Allan (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) SNP

It might interest the member to know that one of the reasons why it is so difficult for committees such as the one on which I serve to hear a perspective fro...

Graham Simpson Con

In this case, I am not even sure that the UK Government was asked for its opinion. That gives parliamentarians in the Scottish Parliament a problem, because...

Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab

I am pleased to speak on behalf of Scottish Labour in this debate on the Automated Vehicles Bill, and I am grateful for the work that the two committees have...

Jim Fairlie SNP

As we draw today’s deliberations to a close, I thank members from across the chamber for their contributions to the debate. I reiterate that UK ministers hav...