Excuse me, cabinet secretary. I suggest that members who put questions and those who are responding should always have the opportunity to do that in a way that means others can hear what they are saying.

That concludes the debate on the bill at stage 1.

The next item of business is consideration of business motion S6M-12566, in the name of George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a business programme.

Motion moved,

That the Parliament agrees—

(a) the following programme of business—

Tuesday 26 March 2024

2.00 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Topical Questions (if selected)

followed by Stage 1 Debate: Gender Representation on Public Boards (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill

followed by Scottish Government Debate: Widening Access - Equality of Access to Higher Education

followed by Committee Announcements

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

Wednesday 27 March 2024

2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.00 pm Portfolio Questions:
Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy;
Finance and Parliamentary Business

followed by Stage 1 Debate: Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill

followed by Financial Resolution: Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill

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 28 March 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 Scottish Government Debate: The Future of Public Transport - The Fair Fares Review

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

Tuesday 16 April 2024

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 17 April 2024

2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

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

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 18 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:
Social Justice

followed by Stage 1 Debate: Scottish Employment Injuries Advisory Council 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 25 March 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.—[George Adam]

Motion agreed to.

Let us hear the cabinet secretary.

We move to winding-up speeches.

Thank you, Mr Lumsden. I must ask you to conclude.

It is really important that, when a member has asked a question, they show courtesy to enable those responding to questions to do so.

The next item of business is consideration of six Parliamentary Bureau motions. I ask George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, to move motions S6M-12568 to S6M-12571, on approval of Scottish statutory instruments, S6M-12572, on committee meeting times, and S6M-12573, on designation of a lead committee.

Motions moved,

That the Parliament agrees that the Budget (Scotland) Act 2023 Amendment Regulations 2024 [draft] be approved.

That the Parliament agrees that the National Bus Travel Concession Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Order 2024 [draft] be approved.

That the Parliament agrees that the Social Security (Up-rating) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 [draft] be approved.

That the Parliament agrees that the Social Security Up-rating (Scotland) Order 2024 [draft] be approved.

That the Parliament agrees that, under Rule 12.3.3B of Standing Orders, the Public Audit Committee can meet, if necessary, at the same time as a meeting of the Parliament between 11.40 am and 12.00 pm on Thursday 21 March 2024.

That the Parliament agrees that the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee be designated as the lead committee in consideration of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill at stage 1.—[George Adam]

I am minded to accept a motion without notice under rule 11.2.4 of standing orders to bring forward decision time to now. I invite George Adam to move the motion.

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

As no member objects, the final question is, that motions S6M-12568 to S6M-12571, on approval of Scottish statutory instruments, S6M-12572, on committee meeting times, and S6M-12573, on the designation of a lead committee, all in the name of George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, be agreed to.

Motions agreed to,

That the Parliament agrees that the Budget (Scotland) Act 2023 Amendment Regulations 2024 [draft] be approved.

That the Parliament agrees that the National Bus Travel Concession Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Order 2024 [draft] be approved.

That the Parliament agrees that the Social Security (Up-rating) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 [draft] be approved.

That the Parliament agrees that the Social Security Up-rating (Scotland) Order 2024 [draft] be approved.

That the Parliament agrees that, under Rule 12.3.3B of Standing Orders, the Public Audit Committee can meet, if necessary, at the same time as a meeting of the Parliament between 11.40 am and 12.00 pm on Thursday 21 March 2024.

That the Parliament agrees that the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee be designated as the lead committee in consideration of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill at stage 1.