2pm

Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2pm

Motion of Condolence

John Swinney (S6M-17000)

That the Parliament expresses its deep sadness at the death of Christina McKelvie MSP; offers its profound sympathy and condolences to her family and friends, and recognises her significant and widely appreciated contribution to Scottish politics and public life through years of dedicated service to her constituents in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, as a champion for social justice, as a convener of two Scottish Parliament committees, and as a Scottish Government minister since 2018.

Further details available for S6M-17000
3pm

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

Portfolio: Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands

Roz McCall (S6O-04512)

To ask the Scottish Government what recent engagement it has had with the UK Government regarding how to ensure the protection of Scotch whisky.

Official Report available for S6O-04512

Emma Roddick (S6O-04513)

To ask the Scottish Government how it is engaging with Highlands and Islands communities on the future of land reform policy.

Official Report available for S6O-04513

Elena Whitham (S6O-04514)

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its consideration of a fisheries management plan for the future management of wild wrasse.

Official Report available for S6O-04514

Pauline McNeill (S6O-04515)

[Withdrawn]

Tess White (S6O-04516)

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made an assessment of the potential loss of agricultural land in the North East Scotland region as the result of development.

Official Report available for S6O-04516

Graham Simpson (S6O-04517)

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the breeding of disease resistant ash trees.

Official Report available for S6O-04517

Monica Lennon (S6O-04518)

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to progress its ambition for Scotland to be a world leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture practice.

Official Report available for S6O-04518

Ash Regan (S6O-04519)

To ask the Scottish Government whether its policy position in relation to an independent Scotland seeking to rejoin the EU includes rejoining the Common Fisheries Policy.

Official Report available for S6O-04519

Portfolio: Health and Social Care

Meghan Gallacher (S6O-04520)

To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS boards have designated single-sex spaces for women.

Official Report available for S6O-04520

Neil Bibby (S6O-04521)

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of action 42 in the Cancer Action Plan 2023 to 2026 to carry out a clinically led review on cancer waiting times.

Official Report available for S6O-04521

Colin Smyth (S6O-04522)

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to renewing the Heart Disease Action Plan.

Official Report available for S6O-04522

Fergus Ewing (S6O-04523)

To ask the Scottish Government whether it was aware that, prior to NHS Highland taking over responsibility for vaccination services from GPs, there were reported concerns that the NHS board’s system did not allow GPs to know their patients’ vaccination status and that this could lead to a heightened patient risk.

Official Report available for S6O-04523

Katy Clark (S6O-04524)

To ask the Scottish Government how many patients in hospital are waiting for a social care package assessment from North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership.

Official Report available for S6O-04524

Fulton MacGregor (S6O-04525)

To ask the Scottish Government what support is in place for people with the condition, Turnpenny-Fry syndrome.

Official Report available for S6O-04525

Colin Beattie (S6O-04526)

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what steps it is taking to improve GP retention.

Official Report available for S6O-04526

Marie McNair (S6O-04527)

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made regarding the potential impact that community link workers have on the social determinants of health.

Official Report available for S6O-04527
Ministerial Statement: The Impact of the UK Government’s Spring Statement on Scotland
Scottish Government Debate: The Impact of the UK Government’s Spring Statement on Scotland
Business Motions

Jamie Hepburn on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau (S6M-17059)

That the Parliament agrees—
(a) the following programme of business—
Tuesday 22 April 2025
2.00 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Topical Questions (if selected)
followed by Scottish Government Debate: The International Situation
followed by Committee Announcements
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Wednesday 23 April 2025
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 Government Debate: UK Government Welfare Reforms
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Approval of SSIs (if required)
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Thursday 24 April 2025
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 Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee Debate: Inquiry into Framework Legislation and Henry VIII Powers
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
Tuesday 29 April 2025
2.00 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Topical Questions (if selected)
followed by Scottish Government Business
followed by Committee Announcements
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Wednesday 30 April 2025
2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2.00 pm Portfolio Questions: Deputy First Minister Responsibilities, Economy and Gaelic; Finance and Local Government
followed by Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Business
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Approval of SSIs (if required)
5.10 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Thursday 1 May 2025
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: Net Zero and Energy, and Transport
followed by Scottish Government Business
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
(b) that, for the purposes of Portfolio Questions in the week beginning 21 April 2025, in rule 13.7.3, after the word “except” the words “to the extent to which the Presiding Officer considers that the questions are on the same or similar subject matter or” are inserted.

Further details available for S6M-17059

Miles Briggs (S6M-17059.1)

As an amendment to motion S6M-17059 in the name of Jamie Hepburn (Business Programme), leave out "The International Situation" and insert "Addressing Violence in Schools".

Further details available for S6M-17059.1
Parliamentary Bureau Motions

Jamie Hepburn on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau (S6M-17060)

That the Parliament agrees that the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002 Amendment Order 2025 [draft] be approved.

Further details available for S6M-17060

Jamie Hepburn on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau (S6M-17061)

That the Parliament agrees that the Economy and Fair Work Committee be designated as the lead committee in consideration of the Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill at stage 1.

Further details available for S6M-17061
Approval of SSIs (if required)
6pm

Decision Time
Members' Business — S6M-16901 Jamie Halcro Johnston: Scotland's Islands

Jamie Halcro Johnston (S6M-16901)

That the Parliament recognises what it sees as the social and economic importance and contribution of Scotland’s islands, their residents and their businesses; further recognises what it considers are the challenges of living on and running a business on islands and delivering public services to island communities, but believes that islanders, including many from across the Highlands and Islands region, have remarkable entrepreneurship that has fostered advancements in a varied portfolio of sectors, including distilling, manufacturing, space exploration and a growing number of micro and social enterprises; values the distinctive and often unique cultural contribution of the islands to Scotland, the rest of UK and the world; believes that island communities provide many opportunities, but notes concerns that they can face many unique challenges, including the threat of depopulation, without the provision of adequate housing, healthcare, transport links and connectivity.

Submitting member has a registered interest.

Further details available for S6M-16901

Committee business

The committee will meet at 9:00am at T1.60-CR4 The Clerk Maxwell Room and will be broadcast on www.scottishparliament.tv.

1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 5 in private.

2. Skills Delivery: The Committee will take evidence from—

Ian Hughes, Engagement Director, Scotland, Construction Industry Training Board
Andrew Lamond, Director, Energy Training Academy
Susan Love, Strategic Engagement Lead, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
Kellie Zdanowicz, Vice Chair, Scottish Training Federation

3. Skills Delivery (in private): The Committee will consider the evidence heard earlier in the meeting.

4. Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill (in private): The Committee will consider its approach to the scrutiny of the Bill at Stage 1.

5. City and Regional Growth Deals: The Committee will consider a draft report.

For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, Anne Peat on 85182 or at anne.peat@parliament.scot

The committee will meet at 9:00am at T4.40-CR2 The Fairfax Somerville Room and will be broadcast on www.scottishparliament.tv.

1. Declaration of interests: Mark Ruskell will be invited to declare any relevant interests.

2. Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will take evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—

Mark Lodge, Senior Planning and Strategies Officer, Argyll & Bute Council
Grant Moir, Chief Executive Officer, Cairngorms National Park Authority
Gordon Watson, Chief Executive Officer, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority

3. Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill (in private): The Committee will consider the evidence heard earlier in the meeting.

For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, Emma Johnston on 85225 or at emma.johnston@parliament.scot

The committee will meet at 9:15am at T4.60-CR6 The Livingstone Room and will be broadcast on www.scottishparliament.tv.

1. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider the Bill at Stage 2 (Day 4).

For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, Stephen Imrie on 85931 or at Stephen.Imrie@parliament.scot

The committee will meet at 9:30am at T1.40-CR5 The Smith Room and will be broadcast on www.scottishparliament.tv.

1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take items 5 and 6 in private.

2. Evidence Session: The Committee will take evidence from—Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for TransportNicola Blaney, Head of Strategic Transport Planning, Transport ScotlandAlasdair Graham, Head of Design, Procurement and Contracts, Transport ScotlandLawrence Shackman, Director of Major Projects, Transport ScotlandThe Committee will be taking evidence on the following petitions—PE1657: A77 upgrade;PE1610: Upgrade the A75;PE1916: Request a public inquiry into the management of the rest and be thankful project;PE1967: Protect Loch Lomond’s Atlantic oakwood shoreline by implementing the High Road option for the A82 upgrade between Tarbet and Inverarnan, andPE2132: Publish a timeline for the dualling of the A96 between Inverness and Nairn by Easter 2025.

3. Consideration of continued petitions: The Committee will consider the following continued petitions—PE1885: Make offering Community Shared Ownership mandatory for all windfarm development planning proposals;PE1919: Ban the sale of high caffeine products to children for performance enhancement;PE2030: Review cultural funding arrangements to enable Scotland to contribute to the Venice Biennale in 2024;PE2085: Introduce a statutory definition of residency for Fatal Accident Inquiries into the deaths of Scots abroad; and PE2091: Provide funding to have a CAHMS worker and a nurse based within Scottish high schools.

4. Consideration of new petitions: The Committee will consider the following new petitions—PE2135: Implement the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in Scottish legislation, andPE2140: Introduce a parking badge for pregnant women

5. Consideration of Evidence: The Committee will consider the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 2.

6. Work programme: The Committee will consider its work programme.

For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, Jyoti Chandola on 85227 or at jyoti.chandola@parliament.scot

The committee will meet at 9:30am at TG.40-CR1 The Burns Room and will be broadcast on www.scottishparliament.tv.

1. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following negative instrument— Recognition of Overseas Qualifications (Charges) (Scotland) Regulations 2025

2. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will take evidence on the Social Security Information-sharing (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 [draft] from—

Jenny Gilruth, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Scottish Government
Laura Meikle, Head of Support and Wellbeing Unit, Scottish Government
Alison Taylor, Deputy Director for Improvement, Attainment and Wellbeing, Scottish Government
Nico McKenzie-Juetten, Lawyer, Scottish Government Legal Directorate

3. Subordinate legislation: Jenny Gilruth, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills to move—S6M-16753—That the Education, Children and Young People Committee recommends that the Social Security Information-sharing (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 [draft] be approved.

4. Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland: The Committee will take evidence from—

Nicola Killean, Commissioner, Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland
Gina Wilson, Head of Strategy, Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland
Nick Hobbs, Head of Advice and Investigations, Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland

5. Evidence Session (in private): The Committee will consider the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 4.

6. Work programme (in private): The Committee will consider its work programme.

For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, Pauline McIntyre on 85252 or at Pauline.McIntyre@parliament.scot

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What's On

Wednesday 02 April 2025

Business Bulletin

Chamber business

Parliamentary Bureau Motions

Motion of Condolence

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

Ministerial Statement: The Impact of the UK Government’s Spring Statement on Scotland

Scottish Government Debate: The Impact of the UK Government’s Spring Statement on Scotland

Business Motions

Parliamentary Bureau Motions

Approval of SSIs (if required)

Decision Time

Members' Business — S6M-16901 Jamie Halcro Johnston: Scotland's Islands

Committee business

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Criminal Justice Committee

Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee

Education, Children and Young People Committee