Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 30 October 2024
30 Oct 2024 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Parliamentary Bureau Motions
The Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, which I sit on, was of one voice yesterday in saying that we all support franchising. Much has been said about an independent panel system being a barrier to franchising. I understand that that was considered to be the position in relation to franchising with Nexus in England in 2015. Our legislation was passed in 2019, and it will have taken account of the situation some four years earlier. In 2019, the Parliament came together to decide that an independent three-member panel should be a final check and balance on the system. If the SSI is annulled, that does not scrap that panel. The panel will still come into effect. However, it would block guidance that was developed by the Government in the public interest to ensure that franchising has a safe, secure public-interest pathway. In my view, blocking that guidance would have a negative effect.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is consideration of Parliamentary Bureau motion S6M-15078, on consideration of a Scottish statutory instrument. I call Alexander Bu...
Douglas Lumsden (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
I lodged a motion to annul the instrument so that, at yesterday’s meeting of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, we would have the option to annul ...
Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
Will the member take an intervention?
Douglas Lumsden
Con
I will take an intervention.
Graham Simpson
Con
When the minister speaks, he might claim that voting to annul the instrument will bring work on franchising to a halt or will take us back to square 1. That ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Mr Lumsden, I can give you back some of the time for that intervention.
Douglas Lumsden
Con
It is good that Graham Simpson spoke to SPT today, to hear from it exactly what the implications of annulling the SSI would be. If the panel appointment stag...
Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
At its meeting yesterday, the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee agreed to a motion to annul the SSI that we are debating today. Scottish Labour suppor...
Paul Sweeney (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
Will the member give way on that point?
Alex Rowley
Lab
I am sorry, but I do not have time. I also believe that that view is in keeping with the spirit of the powers that were created through the Transport (Scotl...
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green)
Green
It is clear that our communities have suffered from years of bus services being run for private profit rather than in the public interest, so change is despe...
Bob Doris (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP)
SNP
The Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, which I sit on, was of one voice yesterday in saying that we all support franchising. Much has been said about ...
Douglas Lumsden
Con
Will Bob Doris take an intervention?
Bob Doris
SNP
I do not think that I have time. I apologise to Mr Lumsden for that. That said, any party—Government or Opposition—could consider an alternative to the regu...
The Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity (Jim Fairlie)
SNP
I feel that I must express my extreme disappointment and—dare I say it?—my surprise at the short-sightedness of the decision of members of the Net Zero, Ener...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Minister, resume your seat. I remind members that they are perfectly entitled to ask for an intervention, but it is at the discretion of the person who has t...
Jim Fairlie
SNP
In the interests of time, I will continue, because there are a lot of points to get through. As the regional bus strategy continues to be developed, with fra...
Monica Lennon (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Will the minister take an intervention?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
The minister is concluding Minister, you need to conclude. You had up to three minutes.
Jim Fairlie
SNP
The other flawed option that is being proposed by others is a change to primary legislation. At this point in the parliamentary session, that, too, is simply...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Minister, you need to conclude. Interruption.
Jim Fairlie
SNP
I could understand if there was a desire to kill the idea of franchising. The Tory position on the issue is understandable, but what makes no sense whatsoeve...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Minister, I ask you to resume your seat for a second. I have asked the minister to conclude. I will not be barracked, nor will he. I will start naming indivi...
Jim Fairlie
SNP
Bear with me, Presiding Officer. If Labour and the Greens vote with the Tories today and annul the regulations, they will have in effect blocked franchising ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
The question on the motion will be taken at decision time. The next item of business is consideration of Parliamentary Bureau motion S6M-15079, on approval ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I call Liam Kerr, who joins us remotely, for up to three minutes. 18:27
Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
I wish to speak against the motion to pass the coronavirus extension regulations, but let me be clear exactly why. I find myself in the perhaps unusual posit...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I call Angela Constance to respond, for up to three minutes, please. 18:29
The Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs (Angela Constance)
SNP
Colleagues will remember that the Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Act 2022 included a number of temporary justice measures to ensure that our ju...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
The question on the motion will be put at decision time. The next item of business is consideration of three Parliamentary Bureau motions. I ask Jamie Hepbu...