Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 22 January 2026 [Draft]
22 Jan 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Digital Assets (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
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 need for the bill. Most people are probably unaware of how these things operate, but there will be people in Scotland who are holding such assets who might well end up in disputes. That might happen to businesses, and it might happen in divorce cases, so, in those situations, we will need Scots law to be able to understand and incorporate digital assets so that we can settle such cases fairly. Does Stephen Kerr agree that that is fundamentally what we are here to do?
In the same item of business
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...