Seòmar agus comataidhean

As an amendment to motion S6M-20056 in the name of Alexander Stewart (Controlling the Rising Benefits Bill in Scotland), leave out from first “believes” to end and insert “reaffirms its commitment to the social security principles contained in the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 and unanimously adopted by the Parliament, including that social security is an investment in the people of Scotland and is itself a human right; welcomes the abolition of the two-child limit across the UK; calls on the UK Labour administration to go further and scrap other damaging welfare reforms implemented by the previous UK administration, including the benefit cap, and supports the Scottish Government’s commitment to reinvest funding to end the two-child limit in further measures to tackle child poverty in Scotland.”

As an amendment to motion S6M-20056 in the name of Alexander Stewart (Controlling the Rising Benefits Bill in Scotland), leave out from “unsustainable” to end and insert “challenging, and further believes that, while recognising that social security must continue to protect the most vulnerable in society, including disabled people, carers and low-income families, reforms should focus on ensuring that support is targeted effectively, delivered transparently and encourages pathways into work and independence wherever possible.”

As an amendment to motion S6M-20057 in the name of Sue Webber (Connecting Scotland), leave out from “; urges” to end and insert “and the progress being made to deliver the completion of the A9 dualling in 2035 specifically; further recognises that both public and private funding has been used to support the development of the trunk road network, including the use of private finance for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route/Balmedie-Tipperty and the M8, M74 and M73 motorway improvements, and that private finance will continue to play a role in the future; notes that the Union Connectivity Review, undertaken by Lord Peter Hendy on behalf of the previous UK Conservative administration, recognised the contribution that the A75 makes in linking the rest of the UK to Northern Ireland; urges the UK Government to match the previous UK Conservative administration’s funding commitment for the A75; notes the improvements undertaken by the Scottish Government to the A77, including the Maybole Bypass; welcomes the ongoing constructive work between the Scottish Government and the A77 Campaign Group and South West Transport Alliance; supports the full dualling of the A96, beginning with the Inverness to Nairn section, along with delivery of the Inshes to Smithton Link Road, as part of the Inverness and Highland City Region Deal; agrees that improved connections across Scotland can be enhanced through the provision of more safe and secure rest stops, particularly for the logistics sector; rejects the UK Government’s planned imposition of a pay-per-mile tax for electric and hybrid vehicles, regretting the ill-thought-out and counter-productive proposal, which will be bad for the climate and for rural Scotland in particular; agrees that the switch to EV cars and the provision of public and at-home EV infrastructure will be vital to Scotland meeting its climate change targets, and calls on the UK Government to engage in four nations discussions on motoring taxation reform to support a properly planned transition to EV car use.”

As an amendment to motion S6M-20056 in the name of Alexander Stewart (Controlling the Rising Benefits Bill in Scotland), leave out from first “believes” to end and insert “notes with concern Audit Scotland’s recent assessment of a 'funding gap for devolved social security spending of £2.0 billion by 2029/30' and the absence of a ‘detailed strategy for how [the Scottish Government] will manage the forecast gap between social security funding and spending‘; welcomes the announcement in the 2025 UK Budget of the removal of the two-child limit for universal credit, noting that this will lift an estimated 450,000 children across the UK out of poverty and that, in the assessment of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, ‘the projected fall in child poverty over the current parliament would be the biggest on record‘; believes that this must be followed by a renewed focus in Scotland on tackling the causes of poverty and boosting the means of defeating it, such as employability, housing and education, and further believes that the long-term solution to breaking the generational cycle of poverty in Scotland must include supporting people into sustainable and well-paid work.”

As an amendment to motion S6M-20057 in the name of Sue Webber (Connecting Scotland), leave out from “; rejects” to end and insert “, and considers that future transport infrastructure decisions should be based on economic importance, safety and local necessity, and underpinned by a national industrial strategy and a strategic spatial plan.”

That the Parliament agrees—

(a) the following programme of business—

Tuesday 16 December 2025

2.00 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Topical Questions

followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Dog Theft (Scotland) Bill

followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill

followed by Committee Announcements

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

6.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

Wednesday 17 December 2025

2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.00 pm Portfolio Questions: Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands; Health and Social Care

followed by Ministerial Statement: Protecting Children from Harm

followed by Criminal Justice Committee Debate: Cybercrime

followed by Motion on Legislative Consent: Pension Schemes Bill – UK Legislation

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.30 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

Thursday 18 December 2025

11.40 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions

11.40 am General Questions

12.00 pm First Minister's Questions

12.45 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Portfolio Questions: Social Justice and Housing

followed by Stage 1 Debate: Contract (Formation and Remedies) (Scotland) Bill

followed by Motion on Legislative Consent: Sentencing Bill – UK Legislation

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

3.10 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

Tuesday 6 January 2026

2.00 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Topical Questions

followed by Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee Debate: Legal Aid

followed by Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee Debate: Petition PE2018: Recognise the value of swimming pools and provide financial relief to help keep pools open

followed by Committee Announcements

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

Wednesday 7 January 2026

2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.00 pm Portfolio Questions: Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, and Parliamentary Business; Justice and Home Affairs

followed by Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Business

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.10 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

Thursday 8 January 2026

11.40 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions

11.40 am General Questions

12.00 pm First Minister's Questions

followed by Members’ Business

2.30 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.30 pm Portfolio Questions: Education and Skills

followed by Stage 1 Debate: Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill

followed by Financial Resolution: Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

That the Parliament agrees that—

Paul O’Kane be appointed as a member of the Education, Children and Young People Committee; and

Claire Baker be appointed to replace Michael Marra as a member of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee.

That the Parliament agrees that the Rural Support (Improvement) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) (No. 2) Regulations 2025 [draft] be approved.

That the Parliament agrees that the Sheep Carcase (Classification and Price Reporting) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 [draft] be approved.

That the Parliament agrees that consideration of the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill at stage 2 be completed by 12 December 2025.