Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 19 December 2024
19 Dec 2024 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Potholes
I completely agree about the utility companies—they are probably not doing the repairs that they are meant to do after their work. When I was a councillor, one big issue was that there were not enough road inspectors to inspect the works after the utility companies had done what they wanted to do. Stripping back on the number of inspectors almost felt like a false economy. Does Ben Macpherson agree that we should maintain that role as much as possible to ensure that utility companies fix the roads properly once they have done their work?
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-14155, in the name of Pam Gosal, on repairing potholes on Scotland’s roads. The debate...
Pam Gosal (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
I am delighted to bring chamber business to a close today. I thank all the organisations that have provided briefings for my members’ business debate and all...
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
Does Pam Gosal agree that the situation will get worse because of the additional weight of electric vehicles—cars, buses, vans and other vehicles—which will ...
Pam Gosal
Con
I absolutely agree with my colleague that things are going to get worse. We are having this debate today so that the Scottish Government can let us know what...
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind)
Ind
Will Pam Gosal take an intervention?
Pam Gosal
Con
Will I get any extra time, Presiding Officer?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Yes.
Pam Gosal
Con
Thank you, Presiding Officer.
John Mason
Ind
Pam Gosal says that local government needs more money, so will she perhaps explain whether that money should come off, say, the national health service budge...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Pam Gosal, I will give you the time back.
Pam Gosal
Con
Thank you, Presiding Officer. To respond to John Mason, I note that it is important to understand that we are sitting over here in Opposition. It is your Go...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Speak through the chair, please.
Pam Gosal
Con
To be honest, I think that we can spend more money on our local authorities. Let us talk about the Scottish National Party Government’s track record when it...
Stuart McMillan (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP)
SNP
I thank Pam Gosal for securing this afternoon’s debate on potholes, which is the final debate of the year. Thinking of Christmas, I am sure that the Christma...
Carol Mochan (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I thank Pam Gosal for bringing the debate to the chamber and for allowing us all to speak in the last debate of 2024. It is fair to say that many of our con...
Tess White (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
Many Scots will be driving to visit family and friends over Christmas. The RAC has warned that the next few days will be the busiest festive travel period in...
Douglas Lumsden (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
Tess White will be well aware that the SNP administration of Aberdeen City Council is trashing the city centre by implementing bus gates and low-emission zon...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I will give Tess White the time back.
Tess White
Con
I will give a quick response to that question. Yes, the council could do that but, as my colleague will know, motorists do not want to feel badly let down by...
Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP)
SNP
I commend Pam Gosal for bringing this important issue to the chamber. It is an issue across the UK, and the research from the RAC that is cited in Pam Gosal’...
Douglas Lumsden
Con
I completely agree about the utility companies—they are probably not doing the repairs that they are meant to do after their work. When I was a councillor, o...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Ben Macpherson, I can give you the time back.
Ben Macpherson
SNP
That is an important point. There is a general duty to co-ordinate road works, as set out in section 118 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991. Under th...
Douglas Ross (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I congratulate Pam Gosal on lodging the motion and on her excellent speech in opening today’s debate. Moray Council, like many others, suffers from potholes ...
The Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity (Jim Fairlie)
SNP
I cannot answer the individual point that the member made about Keith, but I would strongly and strenuously defend Fiona Hyslop’s responsibility and her acti...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I add that, although Mr Ross has attempted to address the fact that I might have concerns about relevance, those concerns are growing. The motion is largely ...
Douglas Ross
Con
I will make that link, because another line in the motion is that the Scottish Government has “to take meaningful action to repair Scotland’s roads”, whic...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I remind members about the use of props. You might have got away with it once, Mr Ross, but waving it for a second time was probably stretching it. I call o...
The Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity (Jim Fairlie)
SNP
In the spirit of the season of good will, Presiding Officer, I very much wish a merry and peaceful Christmas and a happy and healthy new year to you and your...
Stephen Kerr
Con
I would be grateful if the minister would address the issues raised by Ben Macpherson and Douglas Ross about what is weakening the integrity of our roads. I ...