Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

As members will be aware, at this point in the proceedings the Presiding Officer is required under standing orders to decide whether, in her view, any provis...

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government (Shona Robison) SNP

For the purposes of rule 9.11 of standing orders, I advise Parliament that His Majesty, having been informed of the purport of the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bi...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-13349, in the name of Tom Arthur, on the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill at stage 3. Members who wish to spe...

The Minister for Employment and Investment (Tom Arthur) SNP

Before I turn to the content of the bill, I thank members for the thoughtful and constructive way in which many of them have engaged with it as it has progre...

Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Lab

As per our interactions on the amendments, I think that the group is a good way of striking the balance. However, I wonder what will happen to the group once...

Tom Arthur SNP

I think that there is a need for on-going engagement. The point that Mr Johnson raises speaks to the importance of not only the review period in individual l...

Paul Sweeney (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

I am curious as to whether the funds that are raised through the levy will have to be spent in the given financial year or whether there could be scope for a...

Tom Arthur SNP

The scheme sets out very clear requirements about objectives and very clear reporting requirements, including separate accounting for the levy that is raised...

Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Con) Con

I thank the Parliament’s clerks for the support that they provided me with during the passage of the bill—albeit that my amendments have perhaps not met with...

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Con

Will the member take an intervention?

Miles Briggs Con

I do not know whether I have time.

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Briefly, Mr Carson.

Finlay Carson Con

Does Mr Briggs agree that, by offering cheap camping holidays, businesses such as Loch Ken holiday park, Auchenlarie holiday park and Brighouse Bay holiday p...

Miles Briggs Con

That is why I lodged a set of amendments, working with the caravan and camping sector, which were intended to ensure that the sector would not be impacted by...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Mr Briggs, I have to ask you to conclude.

Miles Briggs Con

—to address the negative impacts on businesses and on the most vulnerable.

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I call Mark Griffin to open on behalf of Scottish Labour. 17:50

Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I thank the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee; the minister and his bill team; the Parliament’s legislation team; and all the organisations th...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I call on Ariane Burgess to open on behalf of the Scottish Greens. 17:55

Ariane Burgess (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Green

I start by thanking the Parliament clerks, the clerks of the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee, the bill team and all the stakeholders who joi...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I call Liam McArthur to open on behalf of the Scottish Liberal Democrats. 17:59

Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD) LD

I join others in thanking the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee and all those who gave evidence to it, including people in Orkney. I pay tribu...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

We move to the open debate. 18:04

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) SNP

I thank my fellow Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee members and colleagues for their detailed consideration of the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bil...

Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Lab

Will the member take an intervention?

Willie Coffey SNP

I am sorry—I have four minutes. We have probably heard enough debate for the day and I can see that members are desperate to get home. Although I do not exp...

Pam Gosal (West Scotland) (Con) Con

I am grateful to be contributing to today’s stage 3 debate on the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill from the Scottish Conservative benches. I echo what was said e...

Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Lab

I, too, thank the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee and its clerks for their work through stages 1 and 2. I also highlight the way in which th...

Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green) Green

It has been about five years since the Scottish Greens first secured a commitment to the bill’s being introduced. That happened as part of annual budget nego...

Michael Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab) Lab

Scottish Labour welcomes the completion of the bill process and giving local authorities the power to implement levies to help to pay for services to support...