Official Report 946KB pdf
18:06
The next item of business is consideration of business motion S6M-20611, in the name of Graeme Dey, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a business programme.
Motion moved,
That the Parliament agrees—
(a) the following programme of business—
Tuesday 3 February 2026
2.00 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Topical Questions
followed by Stage 1 Debate: Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill
followed by Stage 1 Debate: Desecration of War Memorials (Scotland) Bill
followed by Motion on Legislative Consent: Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill – UK Legislation
followed by Committee Announcements
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.55 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Wednesday 4 February 2026
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 Motion on Reconsideration of a Bill: European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.40 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Thursday 5 February 2026
11.40 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions
11.40 am General Questions
12.00 pm First Minister’s Questions
followed by Members’ Business
2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2.00 pm Portfolio Questions:
Climate Action and Energy, and Transport
followed by Stage 1 Debate: Ecocide (Scotland) Bill
followed by Stage 1 Debate: Non-surgical Procedures and Functions of Medical Reviewers (Scotland) Bill
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
Tuesday 10 February 2026
2.00 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Topical Questions
followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill
followed by Committee Announcements
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
7.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Wednesday 11 February 2026
2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2.00 pm Portfolio Questions:
Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands;
Health and Social Care
followed by Scottish Labour Party Business
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.10 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Thursday 12 February 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:
Social Justice and Housing
followed by Stage 1 Debate: Budget (Scotland) (No. 5) Bill
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 2 February 2026, 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.—[Graeme Dey]
I call Ash Regan to speak to and move amendment S6M-20611.1.
18:06
Through my amendment, I am asking the Parliament for something that should not be controversial: time—having the time to do our jobs properly by respecting the gravity of our task and acknowledging the reality of those whose lives are central to the debate.
Having been involved in the member’s bill process after progressing many Government bills, I very much feel the lack of parity of esteem that is given to members’ bills. I believe that the Parliament should reflect on that for the next parliamentary session.
Yesterday’s scheduling by the Parliamentary Bureau of 80 minutes for such an important debate shows the complete disconnect between the Parliament and public interest and survivor reality. This is not an abstract policy discussion such as the one on greyhound tracks, which are no longer operational in Scotland. There are women and children being exploited less than a mile from here and all across Scotland, and it is a growing problem. It is about violence, inequality, coercion and trauma, and it is about our children and women.
The Parliament last legislated substantively on prostitution in 2007—nearly 20 years ago. Over the past two decades, survivors have organised, spoken out and repeatedly asked to be heard. Next week, their long wait will be over. They have shared painful experiences at the Criminal Justice Committee, at parliamentary events and in the media—often at great personal cost to themselves—in the hope that lawmakers in the Scottish Parliament will finally listen to them. After almost 20 years, I would think that the very least that we could offer them is a full debate and proper scrutiny by their elected representatives.
Let us be honest—this is not a new conversation that we are having. The approach has been Scottish National Party policy for many years, and members know that. It has also been established in the Scottish Government and Convention of Scottish Local Authorities’ equally safe policy for more than 10 years, and the direction of travel has been clear. The cross-party group on commercial sexual exploitation in its inquiry on the subject was clear that we must now move on from talking to acting.
My unbuyable bill is not sudden, unexpected or rushed. We have a five-year parliamentary session, and we cannot again tell survivors, “Not yet, but soon”. That would be a failure for them and of this Parliament in acting for them.
Public engagement on the issue is now intense. Over the past couple of days, members from across the chamber have approached me to say that they do not think that they will be able to speak in the debate and that they desperately want to take part. That is deeply troubling, and it is not equitable, either. Over the years, we have had two-hour-plus debates on many bills. Recently, we considered the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill at stage 1, when we debated—rightly—for more than four hours. Members’ bills deserve parity of esteem, and they deserve timing that is dependent on the breadth and depth of the debate.
In my opinion, the sensitivity of the issue means that it deserves more time, not less. It demands space for evidence to be tested, for voices to be weighed carefully and for members to fulfil their responsibility to deliberate thoughtfully. I urge the Parliament to grant us the necessary time for a full, thoughtful debate, to allow us to give the issue the right amount of time before members reach their decision.
I am grateful to the bureau for listening yesterday and for extending the time slightly. However, I urge members to support my amendment and give the debate the time that it deserves.
I move amendment S6M-20611.1, to leave out from “followed by Stage 1 Debate: Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill” to “5.55 pm Decision Time” and insert:
“followed by Stage 1 Debate: Desecration of War Memorials (Scotland) Bill
followed by Stage 1 Debate: Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill
followed by Motion on Legislative Consent: Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill – UK legislation
followed by Committee Announcements
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
6.30 pm Decision Time”.
18:10
I put on record that I support Ash Regan’s amendment to move decision time to 6.30 pm on Tuesday 3 February. The Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill has generated a lot of interest among members of the Scottish Parliament and many—me included—want to speak in the stage 1 debate.
I cannot emphasise enough how important the subject is, especially to women and girls. In the past, multiple members have been allowed to speak on certain topics. Under the business motion, my party would get fewer speakers than it would have when the debate was due to run for 80 minutes. That does not seem right. Ms Regan’s amendment would resolve the issue.
It is also my understanding that Meghan Gallacher and Ash Regan are happy to swap the order of the stage 1 debates for their bills. Our business manager has put a request for that to the bureau but it has yet to agree to it. Therefore, I hope that MSPs vote for Ash Regan’s amendment.
18:11
The bureau puts a great deal of thought into the scheduling of business. The challenges around accommodating all of the wide variety of business that has to be fitted into the closing weeks of this parliamentary session are acute—as demonstrated by the fact that four stage 1 proceedings are taking place next week, not to mention Opposition business.
In making that work, we seek to treat all aspects of business appropriately and fairly and, wherever possible, accommodate the reasonable asks of our committees. In two instances in recent weeks, we have acceded to requests from the Criminal Justice Committee in relation to the Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill. The first involved extending the stage 1 deadline by a fortnight in order to help committee members to agree their report. The second came yesterday, when the committee convener asked for additional time next Tuesday to discuss the bill at stage 1 in the chamber.
For the benefit of members, I should say that business managers agreed unanimously to extend the time allowed for that debate, which has now been extended by 40 minutes to two hours, as is covered by the business motion that is before us. I am surprised to hear the contribution of Pam Gosal because, I reiterate, that was a unanimous decision by the bureau.
By any reasonable judgment, the bureau has been extremely accommodating, recognising the interests of members in the bill and the varying opinions on its merits. It seems, however, that reasonableness only cuts one way—at least when it comes to the member in charge of the bill. She, too, sought an extension to the time for debating the bill. As I noted, the bureau granted that. However, tonight, in challenging the business motion, Ash Regan not only wants even more time to be set aside but seeks to direct how the business of this Parliament should be ordered on Tuesday.
At times, decisions taken by business managers can frustrate colleagues. However, I would hope that it is acknowledged that, when it comes to scheduling business, we do so fairly and equitably. Therefore, I ask members to support the business motion, which provides the Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill at stage 1 with more than a fair hearing, and to reject the amendment.
The question is, that amendment S6M-20611.1, in the name of Ash Regan, which seeks to amend motion S6M-20611, in the name of Graeme Dey, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a business programme, be agreed to. Are we agreed?
Members: No.
There will be a division. There will be a short suspension to allow members to access the digital voting system.
18:14
Meeting suspended.
18:15
On resuming—
We move to the division on amendment S6M-20611.1, in the name of Ash Regan, which seeks to amend motion S6M-20611, in the name of Graeme Dey. Members should cast their votes now.
For
Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind)
Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con)
Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con)
Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Ind)
Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con)
Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind)
Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con)
Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con)
Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con)
Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)
Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con)
Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con)
Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con)
Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con)
McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con)
Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Ind)
Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform)
Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con)
Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con)
Against
Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP)
Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP)
Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP)
Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP)
Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP)
Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab)
Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab)
Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP)
Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP)
Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP)
Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green)
Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP)
Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP)
Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP)
Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP)
Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP)
Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP)
Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP)
Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab)
Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP)
FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP)
Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP)
Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP)
Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP)
Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP)
Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD)
Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green)
Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP)
Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green)
Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP)
Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP)
Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP)
Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP)
Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP)
MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP)
MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP)
Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green)
Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP)
Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP)
Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP)
Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind)
McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP)
McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD)
McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP)
McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP)
McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP)
McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP)
McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab)
Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP)
Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab)
Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP)
O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab)
Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD)
Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP)
Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP)
Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)
Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green)
Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab)
Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab)
Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green)
Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP)
Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP)
Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP)
Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)
Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP)
Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP)
Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP)
Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP)
Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab)
Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP)
Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD)
Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP)
Abstentions
Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP)
The result of the division on amendment S6M-20611.1, in the name of Ash Regan, is: For 28, Against 83, Abstentions 1.
Amendment disagreed to.
The next question is, that motion S6M-20611, in the name of Graeme Dey, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a business programme, be agreed to.
Motion agreed to,
That the Parliament agrees—
(a) the following programme of business—
Tuesday 3 February 2026
2.00 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Topical Questions
followed by Stage 1 Debate: Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill
followed by Stage 1 Debate: Desecration of War Memorials (Scotland) Bill
followed by Motion on Legislative Consent: Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill – UK Legislation
followed by Committee Announcements
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.55 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Wednesday 4 February 2026
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 Motion on Reconsideration of a Bill: European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.40 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Thursday 5 February 2026
11.40 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions
11.40 am General Questions
12.00 pm First Minister’s Questions
followed by Members’ Business
2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2.00 pm Portfolio Questions: Climate Action and Energy, and Transport
followed by Stage 1 Debate: Ecocide (Scotland) Bill
followed by Stage 1 Debate: Non-surgical Procedures and Functions of Medical Reviewers (Scotland) Bill
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
Tuesday 10 February 2026
2.00 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Topical Questions
followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill
followed by Committee Announcements
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
7.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Wednesday 11 February 2026
2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2.00 pm Portfolio Questions: Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands; Health and Social Care
followed by Scottish Labour Party Business
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.10 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Thursday 12 February 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: Social Justice and Housing
followed by Stage 1 Debate: Budget (Scotland) (No. 5) Bill
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 2 February 2026, 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.
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