Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 28 May 2024
28 May 2024 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill
I thank my fellow Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee members and colleagues for their detailed consideration of the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill. The bill delivers on a commitment that was made to our local councils to provide them with the power, as requested, to apply a local visitor levy to help to improve their local tourism economies. That is what it says on the tin, and that is what it does. All the revenue that is raised must be reinvested locally in facilities and services to enhance the visitor experience, while benefiting the local community and the economy.
The Scottish Government has engaged with many stakeholders for a number of years. I hope that, tonight, Parliament will support the bill. It will, ultimately, help to improve local tourism offers and benefit local economies, too.
This type of tax is commonplace around Europe now. As of the publication date of the bill, 21 out of 27 European Union member states charge an occupancy rate of one description or another.
In the same item of business
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...