Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-20485, in the name of Richard Lochhead, on the Digital Assets (Scotland) Bill at stage 1. I invite member...

The Minister for Business and Employment (Richard Lochhead) SNP

The Digital Assets (Scotland) Bill is about the fast-changing world in which we live and the fact that our world is becoming a lot more digital. The bill wil...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

I call Daniel Johnson to speak on behalf of the Economy and Fair Work Committee. You have a generous six minutes.15:52

Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Lab

Thank you, Presiding Officer. I am delighted that we have such a packed chamber this afternoon to debate this important topic. I emphasise that it is importa...

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

I join the convener, whom we have just heard from, in thanking all those who gave evidence to the committee, the Scottish Parliament information centre for i...

Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

In a sense, this casts us back to medieval England and the market overt, whereby, if somebody bought during the daytime with everyone watching them, they got...

Murdo Fraser Con

I am fascinated by Mr Whitfield’s reference to medieval England. Sadly, that did not form part of the committee’s evidence, but I am sure that the convener w...

Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

It is a privilege to open the debate on behalf of Scottish Labour and to echo the previous speaker—we, too, will support the bill at stage 1.It is right that...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

I detect a frisson of excitement in the chamber.16:13

Lorna Slater (Lothian) (Green) Green

The Digital Assets (Scotland) Bill is a narrow bill that will define the existence of digital assets in Scots law. It is clearly needed. Like it or not, digi...

Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) SNP

I thank everyone who has been involved in the scrutiny of the bill. Like the convener, I thank in particular the bill team—a very assiduous team, in my opini...

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) SNP

I thought that I had seen the shortest bill in my time in Parliament when I saw the Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill, but this one is even shorter—i...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

We now move to winding-up speeches.16:27

Lorna Slater Green

I would like to indicate my support for the Economy and Fair Work Committee’s stage 1 report, which notes the potential for digital technology to have wide-r...

Martin Whitfield Lab

I echo my thanks to all those who have been involved—including those who submitted evidence to the committee, those who support the committee and the Governm...

Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con) Con

This has actually been quite an enjoyable debate in many ways.

Murdo Fraser Con

Until now.

Stephen Kerr Con

I am being told that I have gone too far already.Daniel Johnson started off by warning us about the danger of going down rabbit holes, and then Martin Whitfi...

Martin Whitfield Lab

Made a request to intervene.

Daniel Johnson Lab

Made a request to intervene.

Stephen Kerr Con

Oh, a number of members wish to intervene. I am happy to give way to Martin Whitfield.

Martin Whitfield Lab

I will not give Stephen Kerr a tutorial, but I note that blockchain is referred to a lot and is used as a basis expectation. However, there are changes in te...

Stephen Kerr Con

That is cold comfort. Just when I thought that I was going to get a tutorial on blockchain, Martin Whitfield tells me that it is now out of date.Daniel Johns...

Daniel Johnson Lab

I suspect that Stephen Kerr might just be trying to fill his time by encouraging others to do it for him. However, I wonder whether he is demonstrating the n...

Stephen Kerr Con

I agree with Daniel Johnson on everything that he said, except for the bit when he said that I was inviting people to contribute in order to fill my time. I ...

Richard Lochhead SNP

I thank everyone who has contributed to the debate. I also repeat my thanks to the expert reference group for the work that it has undertaken to inform the d...

Daniel Johnson Lab

The point that was made by witnesses in relation to carbon credits—and I understand that that issue was provided as an example—was that there may well be thi...

Richard Lochhead SNP

Yes, we will look at that point and reflect on it.Other issues, such as electronic trade documents, were also mentioned, and some academics from the Universi...