Chamber and committees

So, for 2026-27, what would you what would you ideally be looking for—I mean, being realistic?

In a way, convener, your comments underpin something that Meghan Gallacher is presenting to us about the significance of these places. My question is very simple—it is almost redundant now, I fear. Before I ask it, I want to pay tribute to the friends of Dennistoun war memorial, who have constantly striven to raise this issue and to seek a special level of protection for war memorials in Scotland.

In relation to the damage that was done at Carronshore, which is in the Central Scotland region that I know well, I am pretty sure that no one was convicted. Part of my concern about the whole issue is that I am not sure that anyone even gets prosecuted.

However, setting that aside, Ms Gallacher, can you tell us clearly why you feel that a stand-alone offence is merited? You mentioned Jonathan Gullis’s private member’s bill, which the UK Government took over in 2022 and inserted into a bill that was going through the House of Commons and the House of Lords, so there is not a stand-alone act in England. Why do you think that there should be one in Scotland?

The additional levers include sentences of up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to £10,000. Those seem onerous. You might be about to make an argument about deterrence—I understand that—but is there a particular reason for the extent of the potential sanctions and punishments?

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, which you mentioned, does not specifically mention war memorials; it is more broad and encompasses all memorials. What is the reason for your bill being very narrow?

Thank you, convener. I am delighted to be on this committee. I should, for the purposes of transparency, indicate the entries in the register of members’ interests detailing things that I did before I was elected and that are business related.

In addition to my professional career, in between the time that I was an MP and became an MSP I was a paid consultant for Invicta Public Affairs, working in the marine energy sector and the wood panel industry. I was also a paid consultant to the Institute of Sales Professionals; a leadership consultant for an organisation called Results Based Leadership; and an independent assessor for the faculty of professional and social sciences at Middlesex University. Since I have been elected, I have continued to be a fellow of the Institute of Sales Professionals.

I think that that is as transparent as I can possibly be. I know that it is a repetition of things that are already in my register of interests but, for the purposes of clarity, I do not think that we can go wrong by doubling down on it.

We have had quite a discussion and you have given a fantastic overview—I think that Michelle Thomson called it “compelling”, and I agree with her. We have focused on a number of reserved issues, such as VAT rates, employer national insurance contributions and so forth. We are a committee of the Scottish Parliament and so I am particularly keen to hear, in nuts-and-bolts terms, what the Scottish Government needs to do. I would like you to address that, if you would. I will direct my questions at Marc Crothall, David Hope-Jones and Leon Thompson, but they are probably specifically for Marc Crothall and Leon Thompson. What things does the Scottish Government need to stop doing, start doing and continue doing? Leon, you mentioned investment in skills and so I would like you to specifically talk about that, if you would, when you address my question. I will start with Marc Crothall.

What does that mean?

It is related to what Michelle Thomson asked. Paul, you started out by saying, “We are in good shape”, but the “we” seemed to be the council. The council was communicated with by the Scottish Tourism Alliance in July, extending the “we” to include all the people who are going to have to collect the taxes, in effect, and send them to the council. In its communication to you, it said that, as of 14 July,

“There is still no practical or technical guidance from the council or VisitScotland, despite assurances we have received, like the guidance that was published for local authorities back in October 2024.”

My question is very simple. I hear public sector bodies saying, “We are ready”, but what feedback are you getting, on the basis of that sort of communication from the Scottish Tourism Alliance? The people who are on the front line of this do not sound as if they are ready at all. What is your response to such representations? What is your broader on-going engagement with the sector and what is it telling you?

Is that the sentiment of the stakeholders?

Yes, but what about the customer experience on the ground? You have covered the process that gets people here. What about their experience when they are here? How does your organisation measure that, and what are your thoughts on that aspect?