Speeches by Murray.

“I beg to move, that the clause be read a Second time. It is a pleasure to work under your chairmanship, Dr Murrison. The new clause would enable replacements of large portions of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 —in particular, sections on asylum, immigration control, age assessments and modern slavery—to ensure th…”

“I thank the Minister for her clear outline. The Liberal Democrats want to enable the replacement of large portions of the Nationality and Borders Act and ensure that we uphold the refugee convention. We wish to push the new clause to a vote. Question put, That the clause be read a Second time.”

“I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. This new clause would make provision for leave to enter or remain the UK to be granted to the family members of refugees and of people granted humanitarian protection. Through the clause the Liberal Democrats seek to support refugee family reunion and to help people…”

“I thank the Minister. It is good to hear that the Government support the principle of family reunion, but we will press the new clause to a vote. Question put, That the clause be read a Second time.”

“The UK Government have said they will not interfere with the Lord Advocate’s position regarding the pilot. What powers do the UK Government have to interfere with the site’s operation, if they were inclined to? Do you think that the UK Government could close the Thistle if they wanted to?”

“Certainly from the visit and from speaking to your people with lived experience, it is good to hear how this approach is working. Is there a need for any one particular service that is being highlighted by you being able to reach this disadvantaged group? Is there any one particular service that sticks out as being nee…”

“The pilot is for three years and it is funded for three years. Do you know about the funding for the wraparound services? There are significant amounts of money going into this. Are you confident that that money will continue to be available to support them?”

“This is a question for all of you—apologies, Chair. We know that the safer drug consumption rooms work best when there is a system of support in the community. Do you feel that that system of support in the community already exists in Glasgow?”

“As my final comment, I will say that you are doing fantastic work. The way that you are able to reach this hard-to-reach group is such a key lesson that we should be trying to extend for other areas.”

“Do you think the perceived risk affects the numbers of users that come to the facility at all?”

“My next question is of a similar nature. Do you support the decision not to establish an exclusion zone around the pilot facility? What are the implications of encouraging people to use the facility, when effectively there might be no way of getting them there, while they are carrying an illegal substance that they int…”

“5. What assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to employer national insurance contributions on businesses in Scotland.”

“A constituent has told me about one of their clients, which is a care home owner that is facing an increase in operating costs of £70,000 a year as a result of the national insurance contributions increase. Most of the business’s caring staff work part time, which suits their family circumstances. However, for each par…”

“That is a really important point. If the new clause were accepted, civil servants would perhaps have to look at ways to schedule meetings in advance so that they were not done on an ad hoc basis.”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Dr Murrison. The Liberal Democrats would like to introduce new clause 7, because we want to strengthen cross-border co-operation and Britain’s role in that process. We also believe that we need to reverse some of the last Government’s roll-back of provisions to tackle …”

“The Minister makes good points about the practicalities. It is good to hear that she recognises that the Liberal Democrats are simply trying to ensure that we have international influence and cross-border activities.”

“I want to let the Committee know that I know Daniel O’Malley from Scotland through the Liberal Democrats.”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms McVey. It is undeniable that the United Kingdom’s relationship with cannabis remains fundamentally flawed. For too long, our prohibitionist stance has shaped public perception, linking cannabis with criminality instead of recognising its significant therapeutic valu…”

“Would that be the sort of case where political decisions taken both sides of the border would make a difference? If the Scottish Government were to make the case for the need for extra funding to cover the different services and social security in Scotland, that would influence that kind of decision.”

“From what I am hearing, is it correct that adopting a needs-based element in the Barnett formula, as you have just said, is likely to not have the result that we would expect?”