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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 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 23 December 2024
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Displaying 1357 contributions

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Finance and Public Administration Committee

Aggregates Tax and Devolved Taxes Administration (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 19 March 2024

Michelle Thomson

Where does that appear in the bill, and how can its legal competence be tested?

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Aggregates Tax and Devolved Taxes Administration (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 19 March 2024

Michelle Thomson

However, we do not know that, because we know that there is a significant percentage of unregistered suppliers. That is another unknown, so I do not know that we can make that assumption.

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Aggregates Tax and Devolved Taxes Administration (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 19 March 2024

Michelle Thomson

Can you put a number on that?

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Aggregates Tax and Devolved Taxes Administration (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 19 March 2024

Michelle Thomson

Roughly, are you very confident, somewhat confident, confident, slightly confident or not confident at all?

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Aggregates Tax and Devolved Taxes Administration (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 19 March 2024

Michelle Thomson

In that respect, it seems staggering, as per the comment from my colleague John Mason, that we are paying for it; in effect, we are being double charged. If I were contracting with a company to provide a service for selling only data, I would not be happy to pay HMRC for what, frankly, looks as though it is a straw in the wind.

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Aggregates Tax and Devolved Taxes Administration (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 19 March 2024

Michelle Thomson

I will ask an open question, to which the convener alluded. In your opinion, minister, what is the point of the bill? Is it really just a tinkering sop, following the Smith commission, that you are obligated to go through with? The areas where we might be able to add substantive value to Scotland’s economy seem quite limited at the moment, because of all the areas that we have discussed. What is your opinion? Is it something that just has to be done because it was agreed at the Smith commission—but with no real substantive value?

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Aggregates Tax and Devolved Taxes Administration (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 19 March 2024

Michelle Thomson

So, we are not really all that confident at all. Leading on from that, what risk assessment have you taken? The minister alluded earlier to the complex BGA and we all agree that we would not start from here. I am keen to understand whether the Scottish Government is cognisant of the risks up front—that there will be a fundamental mismatch between what you think you will collect and what you are actually collecting. Have you done a proper risk assessment and have you discussed it? I should direct that question to the minister, rather than you, Mr Souter.

Education, Children and Young People Committee

Additional Support for Learning Inquiry

Meeting date: 13 March 2024

Michelle Thomson

You have illustrated that perfectly.

Education, Children and Young People Committee

Additional Support for Learning Inquiry

Meeting date: 13 March 2024

Michelle Thomson

I sense that everybody else on the panel wants to say something. [Interruption.] Excuse me—I have a bit of a chesty cough, so you will have to put up with that. I would like to bring in the other witnesses on the panel. Megan Farr gave us a very good articulation of the what, but I am also interested in the how. How does the flow of money affect a rights-based approach?

Education, Children and Young People Committee

Additional Support for Learning Inquiry

Meeting date: 13 March 2024

Michelle Thomson

I keep catching your eye, Megan. Do you wish to make a final point in this area without straying into other territory?