Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 17 March 2026 [Draft]
17 Mar 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
I will briefly express a little surprise, if that is not too strong a word, at the number of members who seem to accept the talking points of the construction industry’s lobbying as though they were the unquestionable truth. The house-building industry has a long history of treating every increase in taxation, regulation or building standards as though it will be the end of that industry; however, it never plays out in that way. The minister could have done a slightly stronger job of defending the principle of his bill during stage 2, and I hope that he will not accept too many amendments at stage 3.
In the same item of business
16:36
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is stage 3 consideration of the Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill.In dealing with the amendments, members should have the bill a...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
Group 1 is on the application of the levy, exemptions and reliefs. Amendment 6, in the name of Michael Marra, is grouped with amendments 7 to 10, 5, 15 and 18.
Michael Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Scotland has been in the grip of a housing emergency for years. Even the Scottish National Party Government acknowledged in May 2024 that that was the case, ...
Meghan Gallacher (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
Amendment 7 is similar to the amendment that I lodged at stage 2. It relates to transitional arrangements. The amendment would exempt from the levy a new res...
Michelle Thomson (Falkirk East) (SNP)
SNP
I rise to speak to amendments 8, 10 and 15 in regard to a crucial part of the residential housing market: first-time buyers. At stage 2—I stand by this—I not...
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
As the minister knows from stage 2, I have concerns about whether people involved in the conversion of historic buildings will face specific unintended conse...
Paul Sweeney (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
It is important to note that Historic Environment Scotland has very high thresholds for designating and listing buildings and that it would be unusual for it...
Liz Smith
Con
I understand that but, in relation to our engagement at stage 2 and particularly what the Parliament has said on other issues relating to historic buildings,...
The Minister for Public Finance (Ivan McKee)
SNP
I thank members for their engagement with and scrutiny of the bill so far; in particular, I thank those members who met me in advance to discuss their propos...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
I will briefly express a little surprise, if that is not too strong a word, at the number of members who seem to accept the talking points of the constructio...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
I invite Michael Marra to wind up and to press or withdraw amendment 6.
Michael Marra
Lab
At the outset, I am disappointed that the minister has not recognised the context in which we address the bill. He has spoken no words at all on the scale of...
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind)
Ind
Does Michael Marra accept that the Parliament has been put into a bit of a corner by Westminster and that we have had to have such a bill, which might not ha...
Michael Marra
Lab
No, I do not really accept that. At the moment, the limiting factor on the rate of our delivery of cladding improvements in Scotland is not the availability ...
Michelle Thomson
SNP
As a point of accuracy, surely Michael Marra recognises that it is complete nonsense to use population share to arrive at a figure of £30 million.
Michael Marra
Lab
Michelle Thomson is correct that the Government has pursued the matter on a completely nonsensical basis. The £30 million is the Scottish Government’s figure...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The question is, that amendment 6 be agreed to. Are we agreed?Members: No.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
There will be a division.As this is the first division of stage 3, I will suspend proceedings for around five minutes, to allow members to access the digital...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
We move to the division on amendment 6. Members should cast their votes now.The vote is closed.
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Lab
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I am afraid that my app would not connect. I would have voted yes.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
Thank you. I will make sure that that is recorded.
Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP)
SNP
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I could not connect. I would have voted no.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
Thank you. I will make sure that that is recorded.
ForBaillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab)Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab)Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con)Burnett, Alexander (...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The result of the division is: For 47, Against 67, Abstentions 0.Amendment 6 disagreed to.17:00Section 5—Exempt new residential unitsAmendment 7 moved—Meghan...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The question is, that amendment 7 be agreed to. Are we agreed?Members: No.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
There will be a division.The vote is closed.
Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Lab
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app did not refresh in time. I would have voted yes.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
Thank you, Mr Johnson. I will make sure that that is recorded.