Skip to main content

Parliament dissolved ahead of election

The Scottish Parliament is now dissolved ahead of the election on Thursday 7 May 2026.

During dissolution, there are no MSPs and no parliamentary business can take place.

For more information, please visit Election 2026

Loading…

Chamber and committees

Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

Filter your results Hide all filters

Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 4 May 2021
  6. Session 6: 13 May 2021 to 8 April 2026
Select which types of business to include


Select level of detail in results

Displaying 2585 contributions

|

Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid)

Public Service Broadcasting

Meeting date: 3 March 2022

Emma Harper

Will the member take an intervention?

Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid)

Portfolio Question Time

Meeting date: 3 March 2022

Emma Harper

RLUPs, including those in Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders, help national and local government, communities, landowners and stakeholders to work together to find ways to optimise land use in a fair and inclusive way, as well as meeting objectives in supporting our net zero journey. Can the cabinet secretary provide any further information on how the pilot projects have worked? She has already answered the second part of my question by telling us that future funding will continue, and I thank her for that.

Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid)

International Women’s Day 2022

Meeting date: 3 March 2022

Emma Harper

I congratulate my colleague Michelle Thomson on securing this extremely important debate to mark international women’s day 2022. It is so good to welcome the minister back to the front bench. As Ms Thomson’s motion states, this year’s theme is “Break the bias”, which is intended to highlight the impact of conscious and unconscious bias on women and girls, and imagine a world free of bias, stereotype and discrimination. I, too, dedicate my time to the women of Ukraine.

Everyone has a choice to challenge stereotypes. We can choose to fight bias, broaden perceptions, improve situations and celebrate the achievements of women. It is important for us all to work to enable that to happen and to strive for gender empowerment and equality.

Members might recall that, in 2020, I secured a members’ business debate on United Nations Security Council resolution 1325, which is on women, peace and security.

The resolution specifically addresses the impact of war on women, and the importance of women as negotiators in conflict resolution and in addressing hatred and discrimination. Janet Fenton, with her Secure Scotland hat on, highlights that security is not solely about the physical security of the country but about security of housing, education, food and clean water supply. As we are seeing the horrific conflict in Ukraine—and witnessing civilian casualties—it is even more important that we highlight the value of women, including the women of Ukraine, being included in negotiations to achieve peace. That is paramount as events unfold.

Internationally, Scotland, working in partnership with the United Nations, has pledged practical and financial support for women and girls to achieve that goal and to learn peace-building and conflict resolution skills. In doing that, women and girls will feel confident in challenging war and intolerance. In a joint Scottish Government-UN programme that runs over three days and consists of talks, seminars and lessons, women and girls will have access to international peacekeeping experts, female role models in positions of power and the opportunity to learn from each other. Will the minister reaffirm the Scottish Government’s commitment to the programme, especially as we dedicate today’s debate to the women in Ukraine?

Earlier this year, I became a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK gender champion. Recently, we had our first meeting and I met other gender champion parliamentarians, including some from Tasmania, Tanzania, Gibraltar and Grenada. The purpose of the CPA gender champions is to represent and advocate for CPA UK gender priorities within our Parliaments. The priorities are: championing and advocating for gender-sensitive spaces for women to enhance their leadership skills; supporting Parliaments to implement gender-sensitive approaches; and supporting the strengthening of gender-based violence legislation. The bottom line of the role is to advance women’s rights in our roles as parliamentarians.

From the initial discussion with CPA colleagues, I realised how far the Scottish Government and our Parliament have come in our journey to advance women’s rights and inclusion in our democratic systems in Scotland. I look forward to advancing the role and I am happy to engage with colleagues from across the chamber about the CPA gender champion role.

There are many ways in which the Scottish Government is promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women. As events continue to unfold in Ukraine, it is so important to enable that. I thank members for speaking in the debate and I look forward to the minister’s response. I support continued efforts to break the bias.

13:12  

Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid)

First Minister’s Question Time

Meeting date: 3 March 2022

Emma Harper

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government plans to mark eating disorders awareness week 2022. (S6F-00858)

Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid)

First Minister’s Question Time

Meeting date: 3 March 2022

Emma Harper

On Tuesday, I led the members’ business debate on eating disorders awareness week, and I noted that one in 50 people in Scotland live with an eating disorder. Can the First Minister provide any additional information on work that the Scottish Government is doing to improve outcomes for people with an eating disorder? Will she join me in encouraging people who are worried about or who live with an eating disorder to contact Beat for help by calling 0808 801 0432 or visiting Beat’s website?

Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid)

Portfolio Question Time

Meeting date: 3 March 2022

Emma Harper

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with the land reform minister regarding the future funding of regional land use partnerships. (S6O-00809)

Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid)

United Kingdom Internal Market

Meeting date: 2 March 2022

Emma Harper

Will Willie Rennie give way?

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Tackling Alcohol Harms

Meeting date: 1 March 2022

Emma Harper

Public Health Scotland has a number of documents to support healthcare professionals to deliver alcohol brief interventions. They are also available on NHS Education for Scotland’s Turas e-learning platform. Are we tracking the uptake of those by healthcare professionals—whether they are nurses, doctors or other professionals—especially those who work in primary care and accident and emergency? Are ABIs a good thing that is working?

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Tackling Alcohol Harms

Meeting date: 1 March 2022

Emma Harper

Good morning. Dr Gulhane has covered some of what I was going to ask about, but I am interested in the health inequalities where we have made the best progress, and those where we maybe have not.

Elinor Jayne said that if we affect affordability, that will directly relate to consumption, and if we reduce consumption, that will reduce harm. I am interested in what we should do to continue implementing the best progress and where we need to change tack, especially when it comes to pandemic work.

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Tackling Alcohol Harms

Meeting date: 1 March 2022

Emma Harper

We might not get the answer to my question today. I am aware that there are different models of ADPs. Some have independent chairs who work only three days a month, whereas some have full-time employees, lots of co-ordinators and administration support. I am interested in whether we are looking at examples of best practice in ADPs that have good outcomes, so that such practice can be reflected in other areas.