2pm

Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2pm

Portfolio Questions: The Presiding Officer has grouped the following questions: Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands – Questions 2 and 6.

Portfolio: Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands

Willie Rennie (S6O-03292)

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what new financial support will be available to farmers and land managers to manage water, including to prevent flooding of homes.

Official Report available for S6O-03292

Emma Harper (S6O-03293)

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to reiterate the harms caused to both livestock and farmers by livestock worrying.

Official Report available for S6O-03293

Foysol Choudhury (S6O-03294)

To ask the Scottish Government whether its Land Reform (Scotland) Bill will help protect communities from development on land of public importance.

Official Report available for S6O-03294

Jackie Dunbar (S6O-03295)

To ask the Scottish Government how its work on wildlife management can help address the reported threats to nature and biodiversity restoration posed by American mink.

Official Report available for S6O-03295

Alex Cole-Hamilton (S6O-03296)

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest in Land since it launched on 1 April 2022.

Official Report available for S6O-03296

Russell Findlay (S6O-03297)

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the number of cases of livestock worrying.

Official Report available for S6O-03297

Audrey Nicoll (S6O-03298)

To ask the Scottish Government what recent engagement it has had with the UK Government regarding Scotland's agricultural funding post-2025.

Official Report available for S6O-03298

Kenneth Gibson (S6O-03299)

To ask the Scottish Government how Crown Estate Scotland supports marine tourism in coastal communities.

Official Report available for S6O-03299

Portfolio: NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care

Jamie Greene (S6O-03300)

To ask the Scottish Government when the health secretary last met with the chief executives of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Ayrshire and Arran, and what was discussed.

Official Report available for S6O-03300

Meghan Gallacher (S6O-03301)

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the current model of care for children with gender dysphoria.

Official Report available for S6O-03301

Sarah Boyack (S6O-03302)

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in implementing its Diabetes Improvement Plan.

Official Report available for S6O-03302

Alexander Stewart (S6O-03303)

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent reports that one in 10 planned operations in the NHS were cancelled this January, what steps it is taking to reduce the rate of cancelled operations.

Official Report available for S6O-03303

Keith Brown (S6O-03304)

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the location of the headquarters of the proposed National Care Service.

Official Report available for S6O-03304

Murdo Fraser (S6O-03305)

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the health secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the plans for health infrastructure investment in its revised Infrastructure Investment Plan, including the likely publication date of any such plans.

Official Report available for S6O-03305

Karen Adam (S6O-03306)

[Withdrawn]

Maurice Golden (S6O-03307)

[Not Lodged]
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Debate: Repealing the Hate Crime Act

Russell Findlay (S6M-12855)

That the Parliament believes that the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 should be repealed.

Further details available for S6M-12855

Siobhian Brown (S6M-12855.3)

As an amendment to motion S6M-12855 in the name of Russell Findlay (Repealing the Hate Crime Act), leave out from "should" to end and insert ", as supported by the majority of the Parliament, will provide greater protections for those who are targeted victims of hate crime; notes that the Act was developed following a review into hate crime by senior retired judge Lord Bracadale, who recommended specific legislation to recognise the impact and harm caused by hate crime; further notes that around a third of hate crimes in Scotland involved a victim who experienced the incident at their place of work or whilst undertaking duties as part of their occupation, most of whom were working in retail or other service industries, and that a quarter of recorded hate crimes had a police officer victim, and recognises that the impact on victims of hate crime can be traumatic and life changing."

Further details available for S6M-12855.3

Pauline McNeill (S6M-12855.4)

As an amendment to motion S6M-12550 in the name of Russell Findlay (Repealing the Hate Crime Act), leave out from “believes” to end and insert “recognises that the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 was intended to improve protections for individuals and communities from hate, but has been let down by the chaotic implementation of it by the Scottish National Party administration; acknowledges the Scottish Government’s failure to properly communicate the changes in the legislation, or to give adequate training to Police Scotland; requests that the Criminal Justice Committee carry out an urgent review into the operation of the Act, specifically the new provisions, and calls on the Scottish Government to urgently address the flaws in its implementation of the Act, to use its powers under section 12 of the Act to add the characteristic of sex as an aggravator and protected characteristic under the Act, and to review the recording of hate incident reporting to make sure that it is compliant with human rights law and prevents the recording of vexatious complaints.”

Further details available for S6M-12855.4
Business Motions

George Adam on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau (S6M-12867)

That the Parliament agrees—
(a) the following programme of business—
Tuesday 23 April 2024
2.00 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Topical Questions (if selected)
followed by Stage 1 Debate: Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill
followed by Financial Resolution: Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill
followed by Appointment of Members of the Standards Commission for Scotland
followed by Committee Announcements
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Wednesday 24 April 2024
2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2.00 pm Portfolio Questions: Constitution, External Affairs and Culture; Justice and Home Affairs
followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Approval of SSIs (if required)
9.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Thursday 25 April 2024
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 3 Proceedings: Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
Tuesday 30 April 2024
2.00 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Topical Questions (if selected)
followed by Stage 1 Debate: Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill
followed by Committee Announcements
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Wednesday 1 May 2024
2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2.00 pm Portfolio Questions: Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy; Finance and Parliamentary Business
followed by Scottish Government Business
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 2 May 2024
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: Transport
followed by Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee Debate: Petition PE1887: Create an Unborn Victims of Violence Act
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 22 April 2024, 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-12867

Meghan Gallacher (S6M-12867.1)

As an amendment to motion S6M-12867 in the name of George Adam (Business Programme), after—
“followed by Financial Resolution: Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill”
insert—
“Ministerial Statement: Scottish Government Response to the Cass Review”.

Further details available for S6M-12867.1

George Adam on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau (S6M-12868)

That the Parliament agrees that consideration of the Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill at stage 1 be completed by 28 June 2024.

Further details available for S6M-12868

George Adam on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau (S6M-12869)

That the Parliament agrees that consideration of the Gender Representation on Public Boards (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill at stage 2 be completed by 3 May 2024.

Further details available for S6M-12869

George Adam on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau (S6M-12870)

That the Parliament agrees that consideration of the Housing (Cladding Remediation) (Scotland) Bill at stage 2 be completed by 3 May 2024.

Further details available for S6M-12870
Parliamentary Bureau Motions

George Adam on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau (S6M-12871)

That the Parliament agrees that the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Act 2012 (Continuation) Order 2024 [draft] be approved.

Further details available for S6M-12871

George Adam on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau (S6M-12872)

That the Parliament agrees that the Alcohol (Minimum Price per Unit) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2024 [draft] be approved.

Further details available for S6M-12872

George Adam on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau (S6M-12873)

That the Parliament agrees that the Legal Aid (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 [draft] be approved.

Further details available for S6M-12873

George Adam on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau (S6M-12874)

That the Parliament agrees that the Plant Health (Import Inspection Fees) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024 [draft] be approved.

Further details available for S6M-12874

George Adam on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau (S6M-12875)

That the Parliament agrees that the National Smart Ticketing Advisory Board (Public Services Reform) (Scotland) Order 2024 [draft] be approved.

Further details available for S6M-12875

George Adam on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau (S6M-12876)

That the Parliament agrees that the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee be designated as the lead committee, and that the Social Justice and Social Security Committee be designated as a secondary committee, in consideration of the Housing (Scotland) Bill at stage 1.

Further details available for S6M-12876

Watch on Scottish Parliament TV
Approval of SSIs (if required)
5:10pm

Decision Time
Members' Business — S6M-11787 Ivan McKee: Celebrating Scotland's Iconic Scotch Whisky Industry

Ivan McKee (S6M-11787)

That the Parliament welcomes the reported £7.1 billion each year that is contributed in added value to the UK economy by the Scotch whisky industry through the production of high-quality and internationally successful brands, which are sold to 180 markets around the world; understands that 75% of the Scotch whisky industry's gross value added (GVA) is generated in Scotland, supporting 41,000 jobs and a further 25,000 across the UK; welcomes the over £2 billion of investments that have reportedly been made by the industry over the last five years; believes that the Scotch whisky industry plays a crucial role in Scotland’s ambition to grow its exports, in attracting visitors from overseas to its world-leading visitor experiences, and in decarbonising operations in order to achieve net zero by 2045, and wishes everyone involved in Scotland’s iconic Scotch whisky industry continued success as, it considers, they continue to play an integral role in communities throughout Scotland, including in the Glasgow Provan constituency.

Further details available for S6M-11787

Committee business

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 4 and 5 in private.

2. Consideration of continued petitions: The Committee will consider the following continued petitions—PE1975: Reform the law relating to Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) and will take evidence from— Roger Mullin, PetitionerProfessor Justin Borg-Barthet, Convenor, Anti-SLAPP Research HubAhsan Mustafa, Civil Justice Committee, Law Society of ScotlandGraeme Johnston, Scotland Anti-SLAPP sub-working group, UK Anti-SLAPP Coalitionand then consider—PE1812: Protect Scotland's remaining ancient, native and semi-native woodlands and woodland floors;PE1926: Expand universal free school meals for all nursery, primary and secondary school pupils;PE1933: Allow the Fornethy Survivors to access Scotland’s redress scheme;PE1956: Increase the provision of wheelchair accessible homes;PE2017: Extend the period that specialist perinatal mental health support is made available beyond one year;PE2033: Introduce a full ban on disposable vapes; andPE02035: Recognise legal control of generalist predators as a conservation act.

3. Consideration of new petitions: The Committee will consider the following new petitions— PE2066: Treat vapes and e-cigarettes like cigarettes and tobacco;PE2071: Take action to protect people from airborne infections in health and social care settings;PE2072: Offer covid-19 vaccine boosters to teachers and school staff; andPE2073: Ensure accurate information is used when issuing court summons.

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

5. Update on public participation: The Committee will consider an update on public participation work.

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 T1.60-CR4 The Clerk Maxwell Room and will be broadcast on www.scottishparliament.tv.

1. Post-Legislative Scrutiny of the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014: The Committee will take evidence from—

Tom Arthur, Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance, Scottish Government
Nikki Archer, Head of Procurement and Commercial Policy, Scottish Government
Graeme Cook, Head of Scottish Government Procurement Services, Scottish Government

2. Post-Legislative Scrutiny of the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 (in private): The Committee will consider the evidence heard earlier in the meeting.

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

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

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

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

2. Evidence Session (in private): The Committee will consider the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 1.

3. 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

The committee will meet at 10:45am at T4.60-CR6 The Livingstone Room and will be broadcast on www.scottishparliament.tv.

1. Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will take evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—

Stephanie Bonner

and then from—

Bill Johnstone

and then from—

Magdalene Robertson

2. Work programme (in private): The Committee will consider its work programme and the implementation of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act.

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

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What's On

Wednesday 17 April 2024

Business Bulletin

Chamber business

Parliamentary Bureau Motions

Portfolio Questions: The Presiding Officer has grouped the following questions: Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands – Questions 2 and 6.

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Debate: Repealing the Hate Crime Act

Business Motions

Parliamentary Bureau Motions

Approval of SSIs (if required)

Decision Time

Members' Business — S6M-11787 Ivan McKee: Celebrating Scotland's Iconic Scotch Whisky Industry

Committee business

Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Education, Children and Young People Committee

Criminal Justice Committee