Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 17 February 2026 [Draft]
17 Feb 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
I just do not have time unless I can get it back, and I can see the Deputy Presiding Officer giving me a no to that.
I appreciate that Parliament will not have enough time to progress the bill during this session, but that is not Katy Clark’s fault; it is a problem with this Parliament and Government. I gently suggest that the Conservatives should withdraw their amendment or vote against it. I know that that is a bit unorthodox, but I have done it myself. It is a bit awkward, but it would be worth it on this occasion, because I want to see the bill progress.
I am going to finish where I started. It will take more than a bill to repair trust in public bodies, but killing off the bill today would send the public a message that we are simply not up to the challenge. That is not a message that the Liberal Democrats are willing to send, so we will support the bill and vote against the reasoned amendment, and I plead with all members to do the same.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-20815, in the name of Katy Clark, on the Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill at stage 1. I call...
Katy Clark (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
It is almost 25 years since the passing of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, also known as FOISA. My bill is not a criticism of that act, which...
Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Reform)
Reform
Does Katy Clark agree that the Government could have taken on the bill, as it could with any member’s bill? It chose not to, which shows that it has no appet...
Katy Clark
Lab
I fully agree with that.The committee backed bringing companies that are jointly owned by the Scottish Government and other bodies into the scope of freedom ...
Sue Webber (Lothian) (Con)
Con
Freedom of information is not an abstract constitutional principle; it is the cornerstone of public trust in Scotland’s institutions, and it is how people un...
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I rise as convener of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee. I thank everyone who contributed to the committee’s scrutiny of the bill a...
The Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans (Graeme Dey)
SNP
In the extremely limited time that I have at my disposal, I will begin by acknowledging the significant contribution that Katy Clark has made to the debate o...
Graham Simpson
Reform
Will the minister take an intervention?
Graeme Dey
SNP
Very briefly—if I get my time back, Presiding Officer.
Graham Simpson
Reform
Does the minister agree that the Parliament is not being asked to decide whether there is enough time to get the bill through? It is being asked to decide wh...
Graeme Dey
SNP
I am sure that Mr Simpson has been listening. If he listened to the points made by Sue Webber and the convener about the many issues with the bill, he would ...
Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
It was the great French philosopher and civil rights campaigner Voltaire who warned:“Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good”,and that is the crime th...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
It would not be a Richard Leonard speech if it did not begin with a quotation from a great philosopher. If I am lucky enough to be returned in the election I...
Sue Webber
Con
Will Patrick Harvie give way?
Patrick Harvie
Green
I am afraid that I do not have time.My party will make clear commitments. It is incumbent on every political party, including the SNP, to make clear commitme...
Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (LD)
LD
When trust in politics is pretty much at an all-time low, we should all be doing everything that we can to gain back that trust. It is a really bad look for ...
Sue Webber
Con
Will the member accept an intervention?
Jamie Greene
LD
I just do not have time unless I can get it back, and I can see the Deputy Presiding Officer giving me a no to that.I appreciate that Parliament will not hav...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
We now move to the open debate.15:01
George Adam (Paisley) (SNP)
SNP
I thank Katy Clark for the way that she has gone about the business of progressing her member’s bill.Trying to sum up my thoughts on FOI in four minutes will...
Mercedes Villalba (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I begin by thanking my friend and comrade Katy Clark for taking up the challenge of reforming our freedom of information laws to be fit for the 21st century....
Sue Webber
Con
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. In her remarks, the member stated that Lothian Buses is owned by the council in Edinburgh. She may want to correct th...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
Thank you. That is not a point of order, but it is on the record.15:09
Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Reform)
Reform
I congratulate Katy Clark on getting the bill to this stage, but I have to say that I feel for her after what she must have thought was quite a negative repo...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
We move to closing speeches. I call Patrick Harvie, who has up to four minutes.15:13
Patrick Harvie
Green
I may not use all of that time, Presiding Officer. I am not sure that I have a huge amount more to add beyond what I said in my opening speech, but I will re...
Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Lab
Patrick Harvie, in summing up, poured a bit of scorn on those who like to claim that the Scottish Government wants to be secretive or to sit on information. ...
Annie Wells (Glasgow) (Con)
Con
When people submit a freedom of information request, they are not making a political statement. They are usually asking something very ordinary, such as, “Wh...
Graeme Dey
SNP
I thank all members who have contributed to the debate this afternoon, whether I have entirely or partially agreed or disagreed with them.Richard Leonard mad...
Daniel Johnson
Lab
I note that committee members are encouraged to leave their party hats at the door. That point notwithstanding, we are, as always, being asked to consider th...