Hansard

I associate myself with the minister’s comments regarding armistice day, and I back up his support for the Scottish team. It demonstrates the power of football that it can result in a round of applause across the chamber, as we do not often see united applause in this place.

As the convener of the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee, I was glad to see the publication of the committee’s stage 1 report on the UEFA European Championship (Scotland) Bill. I thank my committee members and colleagues for their work in scrutinising the bill, as well as members of the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee and the Finance and Public Administration Committee for their contribution to the scrutiny of the bill. On behalf of my committee, I thank all those who provided evidence to the committee for their time and contributions. Of course, I pay tribute to the committee clerks, without whom the work could not have been completed.

The Scottish Government states that the bill is intended to establish commercial rights protections that are in line with the requirements of UEFA ahead of hosting the Euro 2028 matches at Hampden park. The bill includes provision to ban certain commercial activities, such as the unauthorised resale of tickets above face value or with a view to making a profit, and unauthorised street trading and advertising within the championship event zone. The bill also provides enforcement powers, creates a criminal offence of obstructing enforcement officers in their duties, and requires that Glasgow City Council publish guidance and offer alternative trading arrangements to affected street traders.

Our scrutiny considered the bill’s intentions and provisions, and our stage 1 report outlined several questions and recommendations regarding the bill. I thank the minister and his officials for their response to the committee’s report, which addresses those points. I also thank UEFA and UK & Ireland 2028 Ltd for providing their joint response to the report.

I turn to the findings of our report regarding the bill’s provisions. On the ticket touting offence that is included in the bill, we sought clarity from the Scottish Government on whether reselling tickets at face value will be legal. I welcome the Scottish Government’s confirmation that, providing that the seller does not intend to profit from the transaction, that will not be an offence.

Our report raised concerns regarding the potential impact on street traders of the bill’s street-trading restrictions, as all hosting authorities will be required to undertake a range of measures during the championships, including taking all reasonable measures to prohibit, restrict and prevent unauthorised street trading. We asked the Government what further engagement it will undertake with street traders ahead of the tournament.

The bill also requires Glasgow City Council to offer alternative arrangements to affected street traders and to provide guidance on the restrictions. Our report asks the council to clarify how guidance will be communicated and how impacts on street traders will be minimised. We also asked UEFA to clarify what assessments it had undertaken of the potential impact of the restrictions on street traders. In response, UEFA stated that it is keen for local businesses to feel the benefits of hosting the championship.

We also sought clarity on the bill’s enforcement provisions, particularly the power for a police constable to enter and search a place—though not a house—without permission or a warrant if they believe that there is a real and substantial risk that delay in seeking a warrant would defeat the purpose of taking action. We took considerable time over the issue, and our report asked the Scottish Government to clarify

“what criteria must be met to qualify such a risk as ‘real and substantial’”.

I thank the Scottish Government for setting out the basis for the criteria in its response to our report.

We also considered the bill’s potential human rights impacts relating to the restrictions on ambush marketing. We stated that

“a clear distinction must be drawn between activity with a commercial purpose, where restrictions may be justified, and activity with a social or political purpose”—

such as protests—

“where restrictions are not justified”.

We recommended that

“the Scottish Government should work with Glasgow City Council to monitor and report on any human rights impacts arising from the Bill’s provisions”.

Following our stage 1 scrutiny, the committee supports the general principles of the bill. I look forward to hearing the perspectives and contributions of colleagues in today’s debate. I reiterate my thanks to those who were involved in the stage 1 process, particularly my committee colleagues who might be slightly more excited about the Euros than I am. Nonetheless, this will be a great opportunity for Scotland, so we should all look forward to the Euros, and I again wish Scotland the very best.