Chamber and committees

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

That the Parliament recognises and acknowledges the importance of Scotland’s veterans and Armed Forces community and greatly values the significant contribution that it continues to make to society; further recognises that the contribution of veterans and their families continues and grows as they move back into the communities that they served, with their experiences positively enriching society and providing a valuable talent pool for employers, and agrees that the Scottish Government, cognisant of the important ongoing work of the Scottish Veterans Commissioner, should continue to work with partners across the public, private and third sectors to ensure that the veterans and Armed Forces community receives the best possible support and access to services.

That the Parliament agrees—

(a) the following programme of business—

Tuesday 10 December 2024

2.00 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Topical Questions (if selected)

followed by Ministerial Statement: 2025 National Improvement Framework and Long-term Strategy for Scottish Education

followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Judicial Factors (Scotland) Bill

followed by Scottish Government Debate: Pathways to Global Human Rights: Towards a Stronger Human Rights Culture in Scotland

followed by Committee Announcements

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

Wednesday 11 December 2024

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 Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Approval of SSIs (if required)

5.10 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

Thursday 12 December 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: Net Zero and Energy, and Transport

followed by Health, Social Care and Sport Committee Debate: Remote and Rural Healthcare Inquiry

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

Tuesday 17 December 2024

2.00 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Topical Questions (if selected)

followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill

followed by Committee Announcements

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

Wednesday 18 December 2024

2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

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

followed by Stage 1 Debate: Education (Scotland) Bill

followed by Financial Resolution: Education (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 19 December 2024

11.40 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions

11.40 am General Questions

12.00 pm First Minister's Questions

12.45 pm Portfolio Questions: Social Justice

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

1.10 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

(b) that, for the purposes of Portfolio Questions in the week beginning 9 December 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.

That the Parliament agrees that the Disability Assistance (Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance) Regulations 2025 [draft] be approved.

That the Parliament recognises the international 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign 2024; further recognises the vital contribution that the sector has made this year to tackle violence against women and girls, in particular the role that it has played in supporting children and young people who have experienced violence, abuse and exploitation; welcomes this year’s debate at the Scottish Youth Parliament, which challenged politicians to ensure that the youth voice is central to action to address gender-based violence; recognises the importance of working with young people to ensure that their experience and expertise are harnessed to build a future that is equally safe; further recognises and champions the importance of education as an early and ongoing strand of prevention; condemns misogyny and all forms of violence against women and girls, and acknowledges the significant harm that they cause to individuals and wider society.

That the Parliament welcomes the Scottish Human Rights Commission’s spotlight project into Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the Highlands and Islands; understands that it was commissioned in April 2023 and undertook a targeted programme of work to assess the realisation of economic, social and cultural rights for people living across the Highlands and Islands, which concluded in early 2024 and published its report, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the Highlands and Islands, in November 2024; believes that this report has been widely welcomed by community groups, charities and organisations across the Highlands and Islands; is concerned, in particular, by the Commission’s urgent calls to tackle the rooflessness, hunger and access to health issues across the Highlands and Islands; is further concerned that, according to the report, across all rights examined, there is not a single human right that meets all the conditions of adequacy under international law, and notes the calls on the Scottish Government to act on this report and review its current policies to address the concerns raised by this report.  

That the Parliament agrees to the following revision to the programme of business for Tuesday 3 December 2024—

delete

5.00 pm Decision Time

and insert

5.20 pm Decision Time

That the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee recommends that the Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 [draft] be approved.

That the Criminal Justice Committee recommends that the Electronic Monitoring (Use of Devices and Information) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 [draft] be approved.

That the Parliament acknowledges and celebrates the outstanding contribution made by St Andrew’s First Aid (SAFA) to the World Restart a Heart 2024 initiative during October 2024; understands that Restart a Heart (RSAH) is an annual initiative, which is led by Resuscitation Council UK and aimed at increasing survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests by teaching more people CPR; notes that SAFA trained 534 individuals across Scotland in life-saving CPR skills, empowering them to respond confidently to the ultimate medical emergency by learning CPR steps and how to use a defibrillator; recognises what it sees as the significant impact of this achievement in raising awareness and enhancing emergency response capabilities across the country; commends the dedication and hard work of SAFA volunteers, instructors and staff, who have equipped members of the public with the vital skills to save lives; highlights the crucial role of CPR training in improving survival rates following cardiac arrest, and encourages continued efforts to make Scotland a heart-safe nation, by promoting first aid and CPR education in communities across the country.