Pausing the Short-term Lets Licensing Scheme
- Submitted by: Murdo Fraser, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party.
- Date lodged: Monday, 11 September 2023
- Motion reference: S6M-10411
- Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, 13 September 2023
Motions as amended
That the Parliament recognises the success of Scotland’s growing tourism sector and that well-managed, short-term lets are a significant part of that economy; welcomes the reassurance and safeguards for visitors, hosts and communities that the short-term lets licensing scheme provides; acknowledges the work that local authorities have done to date in processing applications, and also those hosts who have submitted applications so far; highlights the six-month extension to the application deadline, giving nearly two years for hosts to comply with licensing conditions and a year to prepare and submit an application; notes the ongoing Scottish Government engagement with local authorities and the short-term lets sector across Scotland; calls on all MSPs to focus on supporting and encouraging any outstanding applications to be submitted to local authorities before 1 October 2023; confirms the Scottish Government’s ongoing work to listen to and engage with the sector, and reaffirms the Scottish Government’s commitment to an implementation review update in early 2024.
Vote
Result 62 for, 54 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote Vote Passed
Scottish National Party
- 54 for
- 5 against
- 0 abstained
- 5 did not vote
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For
- Alasdair Allan
- Annabelle Ewing
- Ash Regan
- Audrey Nicoll
- Ben Macpherson
- Bill Kidd
- Bob Doris
- Christina McKelvie
- Clare Haughey
- Colin Beattie
- Collette Stevenson
- David Torrance
- Elena Whitham
- Emma Harper
- Emma Roddick
- Evelyn Tweed
- Fiona Hyslop
- Fulton MacGregor
- George Adam
- Gordon MacDonald
- Ivan McKee
- Jackie Dunbar
- James Dornan
- Jamie Hepburn
- Jenni Minto
- Joe FitzPatrick
- John Mason
- John Swinney
- Karen Adam
- Kate Forbes
- Kaukab Stewart
- Keith Brown
- Kenneth Gibson
- Kevin Stewart
- Mairi Gougeon
- Màiri McAllan
- Maree Todd
- Marie McNair
- Michael Matheson
- Michelle Thomson
- Natalie Don
- Neil Gray
- Nicola Sturgeon
- Paul McLennan
- Richard Lochhead
- Rona Mackay
- Ruth Maguire
- Shirley-Anne Somerville
- Shona Robison
- Siobhian Brown
- Stephanie Callaghan
- Stuart McMillan
- Tom Arthur
- Willie Coffey
Against
Abstained
0Did not vote
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- 0 for
- 30 against
- 0 abstained
- 1 did not vote
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For
0Against
- Alexander Burnett
- Alexander Stewart
- Annie Wells
- Brian Whittle
- Craig Hoy
- Donald Cameron
- Douglas Lumsden
- Douglas Ross
- Dr. Sandesh Gulhane
- Edward Mountain
- Finlay Carson
- Graham Simpson
- Jackson Carlaw
- Jamie Greene
- Jamie Halcro Johnston
- Jeremy Balfour
- Liam Kerr
- Liz Smith
- Maurice Golden
- Meghan Gallacher
- Miles Briggs
- Murdo Fraser
- Oliver Mundell
- Pam Gosal
- Rachael Hamilton
- Roz McCall
- Russell Findlay
- Sharon Dowey
- Sue Webber
- Tess White
Abstained
0Did not vote
Scottish Labour
- 1 for
- 17 against
- 0 abstained
- 4 did not vote
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For
Against
- Alex Rowley
- Anas Sarwar
- Carol Mochan
- Claire Baker
- Colin Smyth
- Daniel Johnson
- Foysol Choudhury
- Katy Clark
- Mark Griffin
- Martin Whitfield
- Michael Marra
- Neil Bibby
- Pam Duncan-Glancy
- Paul Sweeney
- Pauline McNeill
- Rhoda Grant
- Sarah Boyack
Abstained
0Did not vote
Scottish Green Party
- 7 for
- 0 against
- 0 abstained
- 0 did not vote
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For
Against
0Abstained
0Did not vote
0Scottish Liberal Democrats
- 0 for
- 2 against
- 0 abstained
- 2 did not vote
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For
0Against
Abstained
0Did not vote
No Party Affiliation
- 0 for
- 0 against
- 0 abstained
- 1 did not vote
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Original motion text
That the Parliament notes the widespread concern in the tourist sector at the introduction of the licensing scheme for short-term lets, which is effective from 1 October 2023; understands that this will apply not just to stand-alone self-catering units, but also to home sharing, B&Bs, guest houses and home swaps; is concerned that the unintended consequences of the scheme will have a seriously negative impact on Scotland’s tourism offer, and calls on the Scottish Government to pause the introduction of the scheme for 12 months to allow for modifications based on a detailed, evidence-based review of its impact.
Accepted amendments
Submitted by: Paul McLennan, East Lothian, Scottish National Party, Date lodged: Tuesday, September 12, 2023
Supported by: Neil Gray, Richard Lochhead, Emma Roddick, Shirley-Anne Somerville
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Wednesday, September 13, 2023
Result 65 for, 51 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote Vote Passed
Amendments that have not been voted on
Submitted by: Willie Rennie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date lodged: Tuesday, September 12, 2023
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Wednesday, September 13, 2023
Submitted by: Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date lodged: Tuesday, September 12, 2023
Supported by: Daniel Johnson
Current status: Taken in the chamber on Wednesday, September 13, 2023