Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 03 March 2026 [Draft]
03 Mar 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill
Given Police Scotland’s record on solving crimes of a very serious nature, and the current record low levels of crime, I am a major advocate for having Police Scotland instead of the legacy forces, through which, sexual crimes, for example, were not investigated and prosecuted in the way that they are now.
The point that I was trying to make was not overtly party political. It was more about where responsibility lies and where accountability for delivery lies. If 32 local authorities deliver on their responsibilities with varying levels of success—or otherwise—where does accountability for that lie?
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-20934, in the name of Mark Ruskell, on the European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Sco...
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green)
Green
The European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill is about strengthening local democracy and, as such, I am pleased to be able to...
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government (Shona Robison)
SNP
I begin by thanking COSLA, Mark Ruskell and officials for their continued commitment and support ahead of today’s reconsideration debate, and Andy Wightman f...
Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I am pleased to open on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives. The amended European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill represent...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
Mark Griffin joins us remotely.16:30
Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
The bill has always had a simple and widely supported purpose: to incorporate the European Charter of Local Self-Government into Scots law, giving local auth...
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
LD
Addressing our conference on the 25th anniversary of devolution, the dear departed Jim Wallace said:“The Constitutional Convention, whose final report is pep...
Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP)
SNP
I am pleased to speak in the debate on the European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill. Like others, I pay tribute to Mark Rusk...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
We move to closing speeches.16:41
Mark Griffin
Lab
I thank members for their contributions to this reconsideration debate, because local democracy is not just an abstract principle but the foundation of how e...
Meghan Gallacher (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
The Scottish Conservatives will be supporting the bill at decision time because it protects the political, administrative and financial independence of local...
Shona Robison
SNP
I thank members for their contributions to this short debate, and I will touch on a couple of issues that have been raised. The first is timing, which was ra...
Alex Cole-Hamilton
LD
Will the cabinet secretary give way?
Shona Robison
SNP
Of course.
Alex Cole-Hamilton
LD
I am grateful to the cabinet secretary for giving way. This is often the excuse that her Government leans into when it is rightly challenged about problems t...
Shona Robison
SNP
Given Police Scotland’s record on solving crimes of a very serious nature, and the current record low levels of crime, I am a major advocate for having Polic...
Alex Cole-Hamilton
LD
Will the cabinet secretary give way?
Shona Robison
SNP
Go on.
Alex Cole-Hamilton
LD
We have 32 local authorities, because we have reached a settled will that that is a fitting number to serve the communities of Scotland.I point to the nation...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
Cabinet secretary, I can give you the time back.
Shona Robison
SNP
That was not my point. My point was about responsibility and accountability for delivery. There will always be tensions around where responsibility should li...
Shona Robison
SNP
No, I want to finish.They will continue to be debated in the next parliamentary session, of which I will not be a part. There are tensions that will always b...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
There is a bit of time in hand.
Shona Robison
SNP
I will finish on this point. I hope that members across the chamber, despite some of the challenges that we have just alluded to, come together today to supp...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
Mark Ruskell, the member in charge of the bill, will wind up the debate.16:54
Mark Ruskell
Green
I thank the cabinet secretary for her kind words and I thank members across the chamber for their speeches. I have my fingers crossed that I might be heading...
Alex Cole-Hamilton
LD
I am grateful to Mark Ruskell for his kind words about Jim Wallace. Does he recognise that, as Donald Dewar said about devolution being a process, not an eve...
Mark Ruskell
Green
Absolutely. The bill raises questions about where we are now regarding our levels of Government and responsibility. Those questions can be opened up if there...
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
That concludes the debate on the European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill at reconsideration stage.