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Chamber

Meeting of the Parliament 01 October 2025 [Draft]

01 Oct 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Business Motions
Ewing, Fergus Ind Inverness and Nairn Watch on SPTV

I am very sorry, but I have only one minute left in which to advance my second argument.

I believe that the tax, as it currently stands, is unworkable, because the Improvement Service, which is supposed to supply the information technology platform, has paused that work and now says that it will be ready in spring 2026. However, the tax is due to go live on 24 July. If there is slippage, we will move into utter commercial chaos and run the risk of the situation turning into a running sore and the policy becoming a laughing stock.

A pause is essential, so I would like to hear a ministerial statement within the next few weeks that sets out how a pause can be achieved. Further, if—my goodness—there is to be reform that retrospectively changes the existing schemes, that is a further complication that also justifies a pause.

Finally, in the past couple of days, I spoke to a hotelier in Inverness who asked how on earth the Improvement Service platform will be compatible with the multiplicity of IT schemes that are deployed by the likes of Expedia, Booking.com and many other agencies. How will that work? Good luck with that.

17:47  

In the same item of business

The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone) NPA
The next item of business is consideration of business motion S6M-19136, in the name of Graeme Dey, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a busi...
Fergus Ewing (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) Ind
I wish to speak to the business motion and to make two arguments to the Minister for Parliamentary Business, both of which I set out to him in detail in writ...
Tim Eagle (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Con
Fergus Ewing has eloquently echoed my view that this issue is one of deep concern to businesses across Scotland. Does he acknowledge that the Conservative gr...
Fergus Ewing Ind
Yes, I think that that is fair. There is, broadly speaking, an agreement that this is something that needs to be done. I am pleased that Mr Eagle has made a ...
Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con
Will the member take an intervention?
Fergus Ewing Ind
I am very sorry, but I have only one minute left in which to advance my second argument. I believe that the tax, as it currently stands, is unworkable, beca...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green) Green
I would prefer not to vote against the business motion, but I need to ask for some assurance and a commitment from the minister in relation to an issue that ...
Edward Mountain (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Con
The Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee has completed its carbon budgets report and published it yesterday. The committee went through the issues at pac...
Patrick Harvie Green
As I acknowledged, the committee has undertaken that scrutiny, and the member is quite right that this relates to the timing of the climate change plan, whic...
The Presiding Officer NPA
I call the minister to respond on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau. 17:50
The Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans (Graeme Dey) SNP
The Minister for Public Finance has made it clear that the Government is engaging with industry partners, local authorities and others to understand how we c...
The Presiding Officer NPA
Thank you. We move to the vote on the motion. Motion agreed to, That the Parliament agrees— (a) the following programme of business— Tuesday 7 October 20...
The Presiding Officer NPA
The next item of business is consideration of business motions S6M-19137 and S6M-19138, in the name of Graeme Dey, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, on ...