The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
The Official Report search offers lots of different ways to find the information you’re looking for. The search is used as a professional tool by researchers and third-party organisations. It is also used by members of the public who may have less parliamentary awareness. This means it needs to provide the ability to run complex searches, and the ability to browse reports or perform a simple keyword search.
The web version of the Official Report has three different views:
Depending on the kind of search you want to do, one of these views will be the best option. The default view is to show the report for each meeting of Parliament or a committee. For a simple keyword search, the results will be shown by item of business.
When you choose to search by a particular MSP, the results returned will show each spoken contribution in Parliament or a committee, ordered by date with the most recent contributions first. This will usually return a lot of results, but you can refine your search by keyword, date and/or by meeting (committee or Chamber business).
We’ve chosen to display the entirety of each MSP’s contribution in the search results. This is intended to reduce the number of times that users need to click into an actual report to get the information that they’re looking for, but in some cases it can lead to very short contributions (“Yes.”) or very long ones (Ministerial statements, for example.) We’ll keep this under review and get feedback from users on whether this approach best meets their needs.
There are two types of keyword search:
If you select an MSP’s name from the dropdown menu, and add a phrase in quotation marks to the keyword field, then the search will return only examples of when the MSP said those exact words. You can further refine this search by adding a date range or selecting a particular committee or Meeting of the Parliament.
It’s also possible to run basic Boolean searches. For example:
There are two ways of searching by date.
You can either use the Start date and End date options to run a search across a particular date range. For example, you may know that a particular subject was discussed at some point in the last few weeks and choose a date range to reflect that.
Alternatively, you can use one of the pre-defined date ranges under “Select a time period”. These are:
If you search by an individual session, the list of MSPs and committees will automatically update to show only the MSPs and committees which were current during that session. For example, if you select Session 1 you will be show a list of MSPs and committees from Session 1.
If you add a custom date range which crosses more than one session of Parliament, the lists of MSPs and committees will update to show the information that was current at that time.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 1339 contributions
Meeting of the Parliament [Draft]
Meeting date: 30 April 2025
Karen Adam
They say that that argument is wearing thin, that the mask has worn off and that they know that it was the UK Government that was representing them at the table in negotiations and making bum deals.
Today’s debate matters, but we need more than debates to protect the industry—we need clear-eyed realism and workable solutions. The fishing industry is about more than boats and quotas; it includes processors, engineers, harbour staff, lorry drivers, environmental officers, night watchmen and many others, who all work hand in glove. We cannot talk about supporting the sector while ignoring infrastructure and the people who keep it going.
I will support the Scottish Government’s amendment because it reflects something that the motion misses: decisions about Scotland’s waters are still being made without proper consultation with the Scottish Government. I was really sad to hear Tim Eagle say that he did not think that we would be competent enough to negotiate on our own.
Meeting of the Parliament [Draft]
Meeting date: 30 April 2025
Karen Adam
I will carry on with my speech, but if the member wants me to go into that, I am quite happy—I am sure that the minister will be, too—to talk to him about that after the debate.
The UK Government looks set to negotiate a multiyear access deal with the EU. Again, Scotland risks being left out of the room, which follows a pattern set by both Labour and Conservative Governments in London. I understand that the UK Government is thinking about the UK as a whole, but that is the problem. We were told that Brexit was about taking back control, but that control did not come to Scotland—it stayed in London, which is as far away geographically as it is from understanding what the fishers of the north-east actually need.
The motion focuses on what Labour might do, but it ignores what the Conservatives did. It was the Tories who negotiated that deal. Labour might be carrying the baton, but it was the Conservatives who handed it to them.
Tim Eagle should perhaps have a word with his colleagues at Aberdeenshire Council, because local decisions matter, too. Conservative-led Aberdeenshire Council removed the night watchman service at Macduff harbour. It did not just cut a post; it put vessels, property and lives at risk. Members cannot claim to be protecting the fishing industry in Parliament while stripping its support on the ground.
As convener of the cross-party group on fisheries and coastal communities, I have worked with stakeholders across the board and I have invited members from all parties to contribute, because if we want support for our fishers, we need to act and not just speak. I am here to represent them and I want not just warm words but fair outcomes. I am willing to work across parties to make that happen for the benefit of the people in my constituency of Banffshire and Buchan Coast. Debates are good, but what we really need is real power in the hands of Scottish fishers.
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 29 April 2025
Karen Adam
Good morning, and welcome to the 10th meeting in 2025 of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. Maggie Chapman and Evelyn Tweed will attend remotely.
The first item of business is consideration of motion S6M-17314, in the name of Tess White, on the removal of Maggie Chapman from office as a member of the committee. I refer members to paper 1 and I invite Tess White to speak to and move her motion.
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 29 April 2025
Karen Adam
Thank you. We move to questions from Maggie Chapman.
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 29 April 2025
Karen Adam
Maggie Chapman, are you satisfied that you have said what you needed to say, or do you wish to take up Tess White’s invitation to speak?
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 29 April 2025
Karen Adam
We are rapidly running out of time. We have had questions from only three members of the committee and we are still to hear from four members. I ask for the answers to be as succinct as possible, because I want all members to have their questions answered. However, please do not cut out essential information.
I am minded to extend our time a bit, but we have to be mindful that time is finite. Thank you for what has been a fantastic evidence session so far.
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 29 April 2025
Karen Adam
Charlie McMillan can come in briefly.
12:30Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 29 April 2025
Karen Adam
Lorne Berkley’s microphone is working now. Lorne, it would be really helpful if you could keep your mic unmuted for the remainder of the session, but be aware that you will be live.
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 29 April 2025
Karen Adam
Maggie Chapman has indicated that she would like to accept the committee’s invitation to speak.
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 29 April 2025
Karen Adam
I invite Tess White to wind up and indicate whether she wishes to press or withdraw her motion.