Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 17 September 2025
17 Sep 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Business Motion
I will give way in a moment. I am glad that the minister is interested in this, because the Government has not been, so far.
The summit will not involve listening to the public, who have repeatedly been raising concerns about the issue.
The point about the location is important, because Fergus Ewing wrote to the minister and asked for the summit to be held in a neutral venue. He suggested Eden Court, but NatureScot said that it must be held at Great Glen house so that there would be a broadband connection to live stream the summit to a wider audience. This week, NatureScot has said that it now refuses to live stream the summit, so the whole reason for having it at its headquarters has now been thrown out.
On that point, I will give way to the minister.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
The next item of business is consideration of business motion S6M-18921, in the name of Jamie Hepburn, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a b...
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
Just for parliamentary transparency, I wonder whether I could have confirmation on the record that, in line with the letter that I received from the Minister...
Douglas Ross (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I agree with everything that Liz Smith has just said, but I want to move the subject on slightly. As you will know, Presiding Officer, I have tried numerous...
The Minister for Parliamentary Business (Jamie Hepburn)
SNP
Will the member give way?
Douglas Ross
Con
I will give way in a moment. I am glad that the minister is interested in this, because the Government has not been, so far. The summit will not involve lis...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
I just wonder at what stage Mr Ross might speak to the business motion that is before us. As an aside, I say that I have not had any request sent to me for ...
Douglas Ross
Con
In the next three minutes, I will get there, because we have up to five minutes. The reason why there has not been a statement request is that I was looking ...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Just for clarity for all members, this is an opportunity to speak to items that members wish to see in a future business programme.
Douglas Ross
Con
That is exactly what I want. It is important to set this out as an issue because, at the moment, the Scottish National Party minister will be going ahead wit...
Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)
Con
In Eyemouth, we have the same issue with seagulls attacking constituents. I asked Jim Fairlie directly what would happen when it came to the representation o...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Please conclude, Mr Ross.
Douglas Ross
Con
The Scottish Government is not listening to anyone who disagrees with it. We have been told that a pest controller will be at Tuesday’s summit to give an upd...
The Minister for Parliamentary Business (Jamie Hepburn)
SNP
I will do what Mr Ross did not, which is to speak to the business motion that is before us. As an aside, the Tories have a new business manager. I cannot sa...
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
Grow up!
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
I can hear the Conservatives decrying that. I have not had a single representation from the Conservative business manager on the issue. I have had representa...
Douglas Ross
Con
The problem with asking for statements is that we have asked for many and none of them has come forward. We get them coming, drip by drip, over a period of w...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
Douglas Ross knows that it is utter nonsense to say that we do not make requested statements. A statement was requested on the Alexander Dennis situation, an...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The question is, that motion S6M-18921, in the name of Jamie Hepburn, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a business programme, be agreed to. ...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The next item of business is consideration of business motion S6M-18922, in the name of Jamie Hepburn, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, on the timetabl...