Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) Wednesday 7 October 2020 Session 5 © Parliamentary copyright. Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Information on the Scottish Parliament’s copyright policy can be found on the website - www.parliament.scot or by contacting Public Information on 0131 348 5000 Wednesday 7 October 2020 CONTENTS Col. PORTFOLIO QUESTION TIME ............................................................................................................................... 1 RURAL ECONOMY AND TOURISM ........................................................................................................................ 1 Ayrshire Tourism Recovery Plan (Digital Technology) ................................................................................. 1 Tourism (North East Scotland) ..................................................................................................................... 2 Crofting (New Entrants) ................................................................................................................................ 4 Sheep Farming (United Kingdom Trade Deals) ........................................................................................... 5 Kent Access Permit Scheme ........................................................................................................................ 6 Covid-19 (Impact on Arran Economy) .......................................................................................................... 7 Sustainable Agriculture Capital Grant Scheme ............................................................................................ 8 Hospitality Restrictions (Impact on Supply Chain) ....................................................................................... 9 TRANSPORT, INFRASTRUCTURE AND CONNECTIVITY .......................................................................................... 10 Port of Cairnryan (Post-Brexit Improvements) ........................................................................................... 10 Superfast Broadband (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) .................................................................................... 11 Sheriffhall Roundabout Upgrade (Review) ................................................................................................. 12 Face Coverings on Public Transport (Glasgow) ......................................................................................... 14 A90/M90 Traffic Levels ............................................................................................................................... 16 Pavement and Double Parking (Enforcement) ........................................................................................... 17 Road Connectivity (South Ayrshire) ........................................................................................................... 18 Transport System (Affordability) ................................................................................................................. 19 COVID-19 ........................................................................................................................................................ 21 Statement—[The First Minister]. The First Minister (Nicola Sturgeon) ........................................................................................................... 21 SCOTTISH QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY NATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS 2020-21 ................................................... 49 Statement—[John Swinney]. The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills (John Swinney) ...................... 49 URGENT QUESTION .......................................................................................................................................... 61 Covid-19 Outbreaks in Lothian Care Homes .............................................................................................. 61 UNITED KINGDOM INTERNAL MARKET BILL ....................................................................................................... 66 Motion moved—[Michael Russell]. Amendment moved—[Dean Lockhart]. The Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs (Michael Russell) ..................... 66 Bruce Crawford (Stirling) (SNP) ................................................................................................................. 70 Dean Lockhart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) ............................................................................................ 72 Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) ................................................................................................ 75 Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green) .............................................................................................................. 76 Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD) ........................................................................................................... 78 Keith Brown (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) ............................................................................ 79 Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) .............................................................................................. 81 Annabelle Ewing (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) .................................................................................................... 83 James Kelly (Glasgow) (Lab) ..................................................................................................................... 84 Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP) ........................................................................................... 85 Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) .................................................................................................... 87 John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP) ................................................................................................. 88 Tom Arthur (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) .................................................................................................... 90 Claudia Beamish (South Scotland) (Lab) ................................................................................................... 92 Maurice Golden (West Scotland) (Con) ..................................................................................................... 94 Michael Russell........................................................................................................................................... 96 BUSINESS MOTION ......................................................................................................................................... 100 Motion moved—[Graeme Dey]—and agreed to. PARLIAMENTARY BUREAU MOTIONS ............................................................................................................... 102 Motions moved—[Graeme Dey]. DECISION TIME .............................................................................................................................................. 103 SOUTH-WEST SCOTLAND TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE ................................................................................ 109 Motion debated——[Brian Whittle]. Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con) ....................................................................................................... 109 Joan McAlpine (South Scotland) (SNP) ................................................................................................... 112 Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con) ............................................................................................. 114 Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP) .................................................................................................... 115 Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab) ......................................................................................................... 117 Oliver Mundell (Dumfriesshire) (Con) ....................................................................................................... 119 Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) .................................................................................. 122 John Scott (Ayr) (Con) .............................................................................................................................. 123 The Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands (Paul Wheelhouse) ............................................. 125 1 7 OCTOBER 2020 2 recognise that digital solutions can play a big part Scottish Parliament in helping to enhance the tourist experience, with more online content and interactions offering a Wednesday 7 October 2020 high-quality experience for visitors to Scotland that might not be possible in person but is possible [The Presiding Officer opened the meeting at using digital technology? 14:00] Fergus Ewing: I agree that digital technology has come to the fore during Covid, perhaps Portfolio Question Time through necessity—as we are using it, right now. It has enabled people who are adept in its use to Rural Economy and Tourism develop different methods of entertainment, information and education, and of promotion of our The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda tourism economy. I think that such use of Fabiani): Good afternoon. Before we start technology will play a part in the future, as Mr business, I remind members that social distancing Coffey advocates. measures are in place in the chamber and across the Holyrood campus, so please take care