Chamber and committees

That the Parliament agrees that the Economy and Fair Work Committee be designated as the lead committee in consideration of the supplementary legislative consent memorandum in relation to the UK Infrastructure Bank Bill (UK Legislation).

That the Parliament agrees that the Legal Aid and Advice and Assistance (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2023 [draft] be approved.

That the Parliament agrees that the Common Organisation of the Markets in Agricultural Products (Poultrymeat) (Miscellaneous Temporary Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2022 (SSI 2022/352) be approved.

That the Parliament agrees—

(a) the following programme of business—

Tuesday 10 January 2023

2.00 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Topical Questions (if selected)

followed by Ministerial Statement: Scotland’s Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan

followed by Scottish Government Business

followed by Ministerial Statement: Proposed Domestic Building Environmental Standards (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 11 January 2023

2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.00 pm Portfolio Questions: Constitution, External Affairs and Culture; Justice and Veterans

followed by Scottish Government Debate: The Fourth National Planning Framework

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 12 January 2023

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: Education and Skills

followed by Ministerial Statement: Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act

followed by Scottish Government Debate: National Drugs Mission: Our Cross Government Response to the Drug Deaths Taskforce Report - Changing Lives

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

Tuesday 17 January 2023

2.00 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Topical Questions (if selected)

followed by Committee Debate

followed by Committee Announcements

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

Wednesday 18 January 2023

2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.00 pm Portfolio Questions: Covid Recovery and Parliamentary Business; Finance and Economy

followed by Scottish Labour 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 19 January 2023

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: Net Zero, Energy and Transport

followed by Scottish Government Business

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 9 January 2023, 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.

That the Parliament congratulates Teigan Smith of Carronshore, in Falkirk, on her Taekwondo tournament success in the French Open Championships 2022; understands that the Taekwondo competition was held in Paris, and saw Teigan become the French Open champion, winning gold after taking on competitors from across the world; recognises that all the training and effort Teigan puts into Taekwondo brings her closer to her ambition of being selected to represent Team GB at the Olympics; congratulates Teigan on her gold win in the French Open, and wishes her all the best within the GB development programme and any future competitions.

That the Parliament welcomes new investment funding of almost £1.5 million from the UK Space Agency going to Scottish-based satellite launch projects including Discover Space, Scotland which, it understands, will receive £227,000 to work with the University of Glasgow to develop the Machlab propulsion and space research laboratory; understands that the laboratory will offer testing capabilities of earth-storable and cryogenic rocket engines of up to 10kN and ancillary testing capabilities to support a wide range of propulsion systems at various technology readiness levels; further understands that the project also includes designing the first UK propellant densification system and high-thrust test facilities for full scale launch vehicles, and recognises what it sees as the importance of Scotland’s continuing contribution to the UK’s growing space sector, with support from the UK Space Agency, catalysing further investment into the economy.

That the Parliament welcomes funding awards for two projects in Glasgow and the surrounding area from the Scotch Whisky Action Fund; understands that the organisations selected to receive support in 2022 include Parkhead Youth Project and Glasgow Girls FC; notes that Parkhead Youth Project, who support children and young people living in Parkhead and surrounding communities, will receive £11,928 for its Choices for Change programme, a project for young people aged 12 to 18, which, it understands, will run bi-weekly workshops and monthly activity sessions to explore alcohol and substance abuse, as well as other issues, helping to give young people confidence to make informed choices about their lifestyles and improve physical health and wellbeing; notes that it is estimated that the project will benefit around 25 young people directly; further notes that Glasgow Girls FC, who run football coaching schemes for girls in the East End of Glasgow, will receive £19,700 for its tackled project, which, it understands, will develop and deliver a peer-led alcohol education and awareness mentoring programme to young people aged 11 to 16 in the communities of the Shettleston ward of Glasgow city and adjacent communities of Budhill, Springboig and Greenfield, with the aim of improving young people’s awareness, knowledge and understanding of the potential dangers and implications of the misuse of alcohol and to engage them in a range of diversionary activities; understands that it is estimated that the tackled project will potentially benefit 1,000 young people over the course of the year, and commends the two projects involved for taking what it sees as an innovative approach to addressing the issues around alcohol misuse, and the Scotch Whisky Action Fund for supporting the promotion of responsible consumption.

That the Parliament congratulates Troon chef, Sagar Massey, on competing and reaching the final three in Masterchef: The Professionals; notes that the finals took place on 11 December 2022; further notes that Sagar currently works at The Rabbit restaurant at Troon’s Marine Hotel as the senior sous chef; understands that he is a former student of Paisley’s West College Scotland, where he studied Professional Cookery; considers Sagar’s cooking style to be inspired by traditional Indian cuisine with a Scottish contemporary twist, influenced by his mum and dad’s food when growing up in India; notes that, prior to the Marine, he was senior chef at Glasgow’s Cail Bruich and commis chef in Loch Lomond at the Martin Wishart Restaurant; understands that Sagar hopes to open his own restaurant in Glasgow where he lived for nine years, showcasing and creating his own style of food, and wishes Sagar continued success in his career. 

That the Parliament commends the efforts of Scottish and Southern Electricity Network (SSEN) engineers and partners, emergency services and communities during power outages caused by severe weather disruption in Shetland; understands that 5,289 properties lost power on 13 December 2022 due to snowstorms and ice bringing down power lines; further understands that all homes which had lost power were reconnected by the afternoon of 18 December 2022, meaning some homes had been without power for six days; pays tribute to what it considers the hard work of all SSEN staff, and crews from other contracted companies, many of whom had travelled up to Shetland from the Scottish mainland to assist with the power restoration; believes that weather conditions remained extremely difficult, with workers out in low temperatures and high winds; commends the response of emergency services in assisting people affected by the severe weather, local resilience partnership organisations, and Shetland Islands Council, which provided advice and welfare support to those affected; further commends Northlink Ferries for their assistance in transporting vital equipment and crew to Shetland; praises the community response, in particular the provision of shelter, warm spaces and hot food to people whose homes had lost power; considers that, despite all properties being restored to power, ongoing work remains on the network to restore normal operations, and expresses its gratitude to all continuing to work to restore normal operation to Shetland’s power network.

That the Parliament welcomes the Big Energy Saving Winter campaign, which is run by the Citizens Advice network in Scotland; notes that the network has 59 member bureaux across Scotland, helping people with free, impartial and independent advice; applauds that in 2021, the network unlocked £132 million for people, which, it understands, worked out to an average financial gain for clients of over £4,200; considers the huge impact that money could have on vulnerable consumers facing the cost of living crisis this winter, and supports the campaign and the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) network as an essential community service helping people through this crisis.