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Chamber and committees

Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 4 May 2021
  6. Current session: 13 May 2021 to 14 September 2025
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Displaying 918 contributions

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Economy and Fair Work Committee [Draft]

Tourism

Meeting date: 3 September 2025

Daniel Johnson

I want to ask a couple of final questions about the technicalities of the collection of the visitor levy. Let us look at the Edinburgh proposition. There will be a 5 per cent levy, and the council will allow accommodation providers to retain 2 per cent of that, but there will be 20 per cent VAT on top of that. Would it not be better just to charge 3 per cent? The key concern of providers is that they will have to put their prices up in a way that is beyond their control. The council would get the same amount of money if it just charged a 3 per cent levy and the accommodation providers would be able to charge a lower price. Would that not be simpler?

Economy and Fair Work Committee [Draft]

Tourism

Meeting date: 3 September 2025

Daniel Johnson

Sorry—you need to say that again.

Economy and Fair Work Committee [Draft]

Tourism

Meeting date: 3 September 2025

Daniel Johnson

It is 2 per cent of the total amount that they are collecting.

Economy and Fair Work Committee [Draft]

Interests

Meeting date: 3 September 2025

Daniel Johnson

Thank you for your thoroughness on that, and welcome to the committee.

As much as we welcome Stephen Kerr to the committee, it is also sad to see Jamie Halcro Johnson leave. I am sure that all committee members will join me in thanking him for his contributions and wishing him well in whichever new committee he finds himself.

Economy and Fair Work Committee [Draft]

Tourism

Meeting date: 3 September 2025

Daniel Johnson

As a guide, I note that we will aim to conclude this panel at about quarter to 11. I turn to Gordon MacDonald.

Economy and Fair Work Committee [Draft]

Tourism

Meeting date: 3 September 2025

Daniel Johnson

I thank the panel for all their contributions. We will have a brief suspension to allow the panels to switch over.

10:52 Meeting suspended.  

10:57 On resuming—  

Economy and Fair Work Committee [Draft]

Tourism

Meeting date: 3 September 2025

Daniel Johnson

Stephen Kerr has a supplementary question.

Economy and Fair Work Committee [Draft]

Tourism

Meeting date: 3 September 2025

Daniel Johnson

Can I come in on that? I would very gently like to push back on that. It may be complicated to arrive at an answer, but one fundamental point that needs to be addressed is the price elasticity of demand. That is, if you are putting up the price by 5 per cent, what will that do to demand? Is that an assessment that you are recommending be made?

Economy and Fair Work Committee [Draft]

Tourism

Meeting date: 3 September 2025

Daniel Johnson

Edinburgh is going to put up the price of accommodation by 5 per cent. That is the decision that the council has made. Has the council assessed what that will do to visitor demand?

Economy and Fair Work Committee [Draft]

Tourism

Meeting date: 3 September 2025

Daniel Johnson

Stephen Kerr, do you want to ask questions?