I call the Minister for Parliamentary Business to respond on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau.

17:17

The amendment in the name of Liam Kerr falls.

The next question is, that motion S6M-20730, in the name of Pauline McNeill, on community policing, as amended, be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members: No.

The result of the division on motion S6M-20730, in the name of Pauline McNeill, as amended, is: For 66, Against 54, Abstentions 1.

Motion, as amended, agreed to,

That the Parliament acknowledges that Scotland is a safe country with recorded crime having decreased by 38% since 2006-7 and that homicide is at its lowest level since comparable records began in 1976; recognises that in 2025-26, the Scottish Government increased police funding to a record £1.64 billion, investment which enabled Police Scotland to take on more recruits in the last financial year than at any time since 2013, and that the draft Budget has a further record investment in policing of £1.7 billion in 2026-27; condemns the UK Government’s employer national insurance increase, which is costing Police Scotland over £25 million every year; commends the hard work, dedication and commitment of all the officers and staff of Police Scotland; is pleased that police officers in Scotland receive the best basic pay in the UK at the minimum and maximum of each rank, and that there are around 30 full-time equivalent (FTE) officers per 10,000 population, compared with around 24 FTE officers in England and Wales; notes that Police Scotland has an important role to play in addressing community concerns or tensions and there should be no tolerance for hate crime in a modern society; recognises that, whilst the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey shows a long-term increase in the proportion of people who report feeling safe in their local area, perceptions of safety can vary significantly between communities; further recognises that, in September 2025, Parliament agreed the landmark Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform Act, which will introduce reforms to place victims and witnesses at the heart of the justice and courts system, establish a Sexual Offences Court, improve the Victim Notification Scheme and parole system, and introduce a Victims Commissioner, and calls on the Scottish Government to continue its focus on reducing crime and reoffending and supporting victims.

I remind members that, if the amendment in the name of Angela Constance is agreed to, the amendment in the name of Liam Kerr will fall.

The next question is, that amendment S6M-20730.1, in the name of Angela Constance, which seeks to amend motion S6M-20730, in the name of Pauline McNeill, on community policing, be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members: No.

We move to the vote on amendment S6M-20731.1, in the name of Neil Gray. Members should cast their votes now.

The question on the motion will be put at decision time.

The next item of business is consideration of business motion S6M-20749, in the name of Graeme Dey, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, which sets out a business programme.

That the Parliament agrees—

(a) the following programme of business—

Tuesday 17 February 2026

2.00 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Topical Questions

followed by Stage 1 Debate: Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill

followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill

followed by Committee Announcements

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

7.45 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

Wednesday 18 February 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 Green Party Business

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.10 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

Thursday 19 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: Education and Skills

followed by Stage 1 Debate: Visitor Levy (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill

followed by Scottish Government Debate: Scottish Income Tax Rate Resolution 2026-27

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

Tuesday 24 February 2026

2.00 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Topical Questions

followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill

followed by Committee Announcements

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

6.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

Wednesday 25 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 Stage 3 Proceedings: Budget (Scotland) (No. 5) Bill

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

Thursday 26 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 Finance and Public Administration Committee Debate: Cost-effectiveness of Scottish Public Inquiries

followed by Criminal Justice Committee Debate: Substance Misuse in Prisons Inquiry

followed by Scottish Government Debate: Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2026

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.30 pm Decision Time

(b) that, for the purposes of Portfolio Questions in the week beginning 16 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]

17:08

I propose to ask a single question on eight Parliamentary Bureau motions.

As no member has objected, the question is that motions S6M-2750 to S6M-2754, on approval of Scottish statutory instruments; motion S6M-20755, on referral of an SSI; motion S6M-20756, on designation of a lead committee; and motion S6M-20757, on committee meeting times, in the name of Graeme Dey, be agreed to.

Motions agreed to,

That the Parliament agrees that the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Non-surgical Procedures) Order 2026 [draft] be approved.

That the Parliament agrees that the Criminal Legal Aid and Assistance by Way of Representation (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2026 [draft] be approved.

That the Parliament agrees that the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland Local Taxation Chamber (Rules of Procedure and Composition) (Miscellaneous Amendment) Regulations 2026 [draft] be approved.

That the Parliament agrees that the Food Supplements (Magnesium L-threonate monohydrate) (Scotland) Regulations 2026 [draft] be approved.

That the Parliament agrees that the Legal Aid and Advice and Assistance (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2026 [draft] be approved.

That the Parliament agrees that the Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2026 [draft] be considered by the Parliament.

That the Parliament agrees that the Finance and Public Administration Committee be designated as the lead committee in consideration of the supplementary legislative consent memorandum on the Public Office (Accountability) Bill.

That the Parliament agrees that, under Rule 12.3.3B of Standing Orders, the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee can meet, if necessary, at the same time as a meeting of the Parliament between 2.00 pm and 2.50 pm on Wednesday 25 February 2026.

That concludes decision time.

There will be a division.