Summary

  • The Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Relations Committee takes evidence on tourism

  • MSPs question ministers during general questions

  • Nicola Sturgeon is quizzed by opposition MSPs during first minister's questions

  • Labour MSP Colin Smyth leads this afternoon's member's debate on snaring

  • The Scottish government leads a debate on its Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE)

  1. Background: Scottish fishermen given Brexit assurancepublished at 11:46 British Summer Time 18 May 2017

    Fishing boatsImage source, Getty Images

    The UK government has assured fishermen that it will remove the most unpopular parts of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) after Brexit.

    Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom said "no decision has yet been made" on the extent to which the CFP would be incorporated into British law.

    But she pledged to "disapply the key elements" which are "most unpopular".

    The CFP has been extremely unpopular among Scottish fishermen, who are said to have overwhelmingly backed Brexit.

    Anger has generally been focused on quotas for fishing catches and on other European fleets being given equal access to fishing grounds in Scottish waters.

  2. Scotland's fishing industry Brexit negotiationspublished at 11:46 British Summer Time 18 May 2017

    SNP MSP Mairi Evans asks whether the Scottish government has sought assurances from the UK government that Scotland's fishing industry will not be used as a "bargaining chip" in the Brexit negotiations.

  3. Public body to monitor paymentspublished at 11:46 British Summer Time 18 May 2017

    Finance Secretary Derek MackayImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Finance Secretary Derek Mackay

    Finance Secretary Derek Mackay says it is a matter for the relevant public body to monitor.

    Mr Findlay says a sub-contractor in his region is having problems being paid and asks if Mr Mackay will look into this.

    Mr Mackay says he will look into the individual matter.

  4. Question on sub-contractors who work on Scottish Futures Trustpublished at 11:44 British Summer Time 18 May 2017

    Labour MSP Neil Findlay asks how the government ensures that the sub-contractors who work on Scottish Futures Trust projects are paid on time by the main contractor.

  5. Don't read too much into the word 'vehicle' says ministerpublished at 11:44 British Summer Time 18 May 2017

    Labour MSP Daniel Johnson points out that the word 'vehicle' is being used in relation to this agency and ask why that is.

    Mr Brown says he wouldn't read too much into that.

  6. Phase two of the enterprise skills review to be published after the general electionpublished at 11:43 British Summer Time 18 May 2017

    Economy Secretary Keith BrownImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Economy Secretary Keith Brown

    Economy Secretary Keith Brown say the phase two enterprise skills review is expected to be published after the general election.

    Mr Mundell asks if Mr Brown can shed any more light on it.

    Mr Brown says announcements will be made after the general election.

  7. Background: Scotland's enterprise agencies to keep boards following government u-turnpublished at 11:41 British Summer Time 18 May 2017

    Plans to replace Scotland's enterprise and training agencies with one national board have been abandoned.

    Minister Keith Brown said Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland would continue with their own boards.

    He also announced that a national strategic board would be set up, to "align the work" of the agencies.

    Opposition parties welcomed the news but said the minister had been forced to make the u-turn.

    The process had been the source of a political row with Labour, Lib Dem and Conservative MSPs accusing the Scottish government of centralisation.

  8. Question on the south of Scotland enterprise agencypublished at 11:40 British Summer Time 18 May 2017

    Tory MSP Oliver Mundell asks whether the government will provide an update on what progress it is making with the establishment of a south of Scotland enterprise agency.

  9. General questions beginspublished at 11:40 British Summer Time 18 May 2017

    General questions collageImage source, PA/Thinkstock/Scottish Parliament
  10. Coming up in the chamber........published at 11:23 British Summer Time 18 May 2017

    First minister's montageImage source, Scottish Parliament/PA/Thinkstock

    After general questions, we will bring you extensive coverage of first minister's questions.

  11. That ends this evidence session...published at 11:21 British Summer Time 18 May 2017

    Committee convener Joan McAlpine ends the evidence session and moves the committee into private session.

  12. There is a buy in from the local authority point of view says VisitScotlandpublished at 11:20 British Summer Time 18 May 2017

    SNP MSP Richard Lochhead says if there is a lack of top quality hotels, how is that linked up with planning and entrepreneurs.

    Riddell Graham from VisitScotland says there is a buy in from the local authority point of view.

    Mr Graham says identifying real demand with real data is important and it is more joined up than it was before.

  13. 'We are way behind where we were before'published at 11:17 British Summer Time 18 May 2017

    Tom Campbell from North Coast 500Image source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Tom Campbell from North Coast 500

    Tom Campbell from North Coast 500 says there has been a great growth in the North Highlands.

    Mr Campbell says on accommodation: "We are way behind where we were before."

    He says there is room for growth there.

  14. 'You have to look at harmonisation of thresholds'published at 11:17 British Summer Time 18 May 2017

    Willie MacLeod from the British Hospitality Association

    Willie MacLeod from the British Hospitality Association says there must be a level playing field and there are difficulties with current regulation because of the different thresholds.

    "You have to look at harmonisation of thresholds," he says.

    Mr MacLeod says that the small businesses benefit from large businesses paying extra supplements and there is an argument that all businesses should be paying into the pot.

  15. 'Edinburgh is what it is'published at 11:14 British Summer Time 18 May 2017

    Edinburgh CastleImage source, Thinkstock

    Green MSP Ross Greer asks about the exponential growth in Edinburgh and compares it to Barcelona where the move is away from tourism.

    Mr Greer says Edinburgh is seen as a staging destination and asks how to get the balance right for the residents of the city.

    David Smythe from Association of Scottish Self Caterers says Edinburgh is what it is and he points to the Go Rural scheme to get people out across Scotland.

  16. 'Rather than coming in with big heavy boots, there is a lot to be said for seeing what we can do'published at 11:12 British Summer Time 18 May 2017

    David Smythe from the Association of Scottish Self Caterers

    David Smythe from the Association of Scottish Self Caterers says "we've issued a code of practice" which has been well received.

    Mr Smythe says "we would like to see a level playing field."

    "Rather than coming in with big heavy boots, there is a lot to be said for seeing what we can do," he says.

  17. SBBA call for Airbnb to face same regulations as micro-businessespublished at 11:10 British Summer Time 18 May 2017

    Green MSP Ross Greer asks about short term lets.

    David Weston from Scottish Bed and Breakfast Association says there should be a fair playing field with the same regulations applying to Airbnb as face micro-businesses.

    Mr Weston says he welcomes competition but says it has to be fair.

  18. 'We need to look at the way small businesses are treated'published at 11:09 British Summer Time 18 May 2017

    David Weston from the Scottish Bed and Breakfast Association

    David Weston from the Scottish Bed and Breakfast Association says he hopes the Barclay Review will look widely at the whole thing.

    Mr Weston says there needs to be a better definition of what a business is and there must be a level playing field.

    He says, to encourage the sector and growth, "we need to look at the way small businesses are treated."

  19. ASSC calls for a three year assessment of business ratespublished at 11:08 British Summer Time 18 May 2017

    CommitteeImage source, bbc

    David Smythe from Association of Scottish Self Caterers says his sector had one of the highest increases in business rates at 68%.

    Mr Smythe calls for a three year assessment of business rates.

    He says many of his members have benefited from the Small Business Bonus Scheme.

    Mr Smythe says his organisation is grateful for the 12.5% plus inflation cap the government introduced.

  20. 'We need a meeting with the assessors to see if there is a way of re-rating'published at 11:06 British Summer Time 18 May 2017

    Eva McDiarmid from the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions

    Tom Campbell from North Coast 500 says any rises in rates is seen as a tax and businesses do not see any benefit of that.

    Eva McDiarmid from the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions says the assessors' methodology is correct but it is out of date.

    Ms McDiarmid says it is so transparent that "it is like spaghetti" underneath.

    "We need a meeting with the assessors to see if there is a way of re-rating," she says.