2pm

Time for Reflection: Carol Telfer, Chaplain of Glasgow Hospice, Marie Curie
Parliamentary Bureau Motions
Topical Questions

Stuart McMillan (S6T-02425)

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the reported decision to award phase 1 of the Small Vessel Replacement Programme to a Polish shipyard.

Official Report available for S6T-02425

Jackie Baillie (S6T-02426)

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason hospitals are reportedly still using MRI scanners, CT scanners and X-ray machines that are decades old, in light of reported warnings by experts that equipment over 10 years old should be replaced.

Official Report available for S6T-02426

Tess White (S6T-02422)

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review public sector guidance on single-sex spaces, in light of reported concerns about the Care Inspectorate and the Scottish Prison Service.

Official Report available for S6T-02422

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Scottish Government Debate: Protecting and Growing Scotland’s Iconic Food and Drink Sector

Mairi Gougeon (S6M-16839)

That the Parliament recognises the value and importance of Scotland’s food and drink sector in terms of economic benefits, its particular importance to Scotland’s rural and island communities and, importantly, its role in enhancing Scotland’s reputation on a global scale; further recognises the risks of the proposal for an English whisky geographical indication that could undermine Scotch whisky and single malt, which is central to the economy; acknowledges the challenges and opportunities faced by the sector in an ever-changing world; calls for cross-party support to ensure that the sector continues to receive backing and support in order to grow sustainably and contribute to a prosperous and thriving economy; notes the new risk from tariffs, and calls on the UK Government to do all that it can to protect Scotland’s businesses and consumers from their impact.

Further details available for S6M-16839

Tim Eagle (S6M-16839.2)

As an amendment to motion S6M-16839 in the name of Mairi Gougeon (Protecting and Growing Scotland’s Iconic Food and Drink Sector), leave out from “notes the new” to end and insert “recognises the need to rapidly deliver key infrastructure projects to aid the movement of goods and services, particularly in remote and rural communities; notes that further exploration of gene-editing technology should be undertaken in order to improve plant resilience and domestic food security; believes that the failed implementation of the Deposit Return Scheme, the further review of restrictions on marketing and sponsorship of alcoholic products, and the failure to fully pass on rates relief to all of Scotland’s hospitality operators has driven up costs and created uncertainty for food and drink businesses; welcomes the commitment by food and drink businesses to enhance self-regulation; notes the risk from tariffs, and calls on both of Scotland’s governments to do all that they can to protect businesses and consumers from their impact.”

Further details available for S6M-16839.2

Rhoda Grant (S6M-16839.1)

As an amendment to motion S6M-16839 in the name of Mairi Gougeon (Protecting and Growing Scotland’s Iconic Food and Drink Sector), insert at end "; notes the further risk to Scotland’s food and drink industry posed by rural depopulation, caused by a lack of housing supply and weakened transport links; acknowledges that the Food and Drink Federation estimates that the sector needs nearly 35,000 new recruits by 2031 to fill skills gaps; welcomes the commitment by the UK Labour administration to not water down the legal definition of single malt whisky; believes that the Scottish Government can do more to promote the unique nature of Scotch whisky and other Scottish food and drink exports to maximise the reach of Brand Scotland; calls on the Scottish Government to work across every department to drive a coherent strategy on food and drink as part of a wider industrial strategy, and further calls for clear career pathways in these industries to address skills gaps and drive excellence in the world-famous sector."

Further details available for S6M-16839.1

Watch on SPTV
Committee Announcements
Business Motions
Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5pm

Decision Time
Members' Business — S6M-16290 Clare Adamson: MacDiarmid’s Brownsbank Cottage, a Scottish Cultural Treasure

Clare Adamson (S6M-16290)

That the Parliament commends the work of MacDiarmid’s Brownsbank; notes that it is a charitable organisation, which was founded in 2015 to preserve and promote the legacy of Brownsbank Cottage in the Peebleshire Hills near Biggar, South Lanarkshire; understands that Brownsbank Cottage is an A-listed building, most notably remembered as the former home of the renowned poet, Christopher Murray Grieve, who was better known by his pen-name, Hugh MacDiarmid; further understands that the charity works to restore and upgrade the cottage, to conserve its contents, to promote the works of Hugh MacDiarmid nationally and internationally, to re-establish the Brownsbank Writing Fellowship for writers in residence to work from the cottage and to generate educational and community creative involvement, as well as promote literary tourism; recognises that Hugh MacDiarmid stood as a significant Scottish poet, journalist, essayist and political figure, and believes that he is widely regarded as one of the most influential Scottish writers of the 20th century, making a profound and lasting impact on Scottish culture and politics; acknowledges that MacDiarmid’s Brownsbank has, to date, been supported by the Clyde Wind Farm Community and Development Fund, Architectural Heritage Fund, SSE Renewables Community Investment Programme, the William Grant Foundation and generous donations from the public, but that further support is urgently required; notes that distinguished past occupants of Brownsbank include the award-winning author and publisher, Matthew Fitt, and James Robertson, the inaugural Scottish Parliament Writer in Residence and author of the Booker Prize-nominated, The Testament of Gideon Mack; believes that Brownsbank Cottage has made an indelible imprint on Scottish cultural heritage and that its preservation, with immediate works required, is a cultural priority; commends the board of trustees and volunteers of MacDiarmid’s Brownsbank on what it sees as their tireless efforts to protect and promote this historical Scottish landmark; notes the view that the protection and development of Scotland's literary heritage is vital to the nation's cultural health, identity and confidence, and further notes the calls for the Scottish and UK governments to assist with the restoration of Brownsbank Cottage, to preserve this historic and national treasure.

Further details available for S6M-16290

Watch on SPTV

Committee business

The committee will meet at 9:00am at T4.40-CR2 The Fairfax Somerville Room.

1. Land Reform (Scotland) Bill (in private): The Committee will continue its consideration of a draft Stage 1 report.

For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, Peter McGrath on 85232 or at [email protected]

The committee will meet at 9:30am at TG.40-CR1 The Burns Room and will be broadcast on www.scottishparliament.tv.

1. Public administration in government: The Committee will take evidence from—

John-Paul Marks, Permanent Secretary, Scottish Government
Lesley Fraser, Director-General Corporate, Scottish Government
Gregor Irwin, Director-General Economy, Scottish Government
Jackie McAllister, Chief Financial Officer, Scottish Government

2. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report on review of the Scottish Fiscal Commission: The Committee will take evidence from—

Scherie Nicol, Lead – Parliaments and Independent Fiscal Institutions, Public Management and Budgeting Division, Directorate for Public Governance, OECD

For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, Joanne McNaughton, at [email protected].

The committee will meet at 9:30am at T4.60-CR6 The Livingstone Room and will be broadcast on www.scottishparliament.tv.

1. Declaration of interests: Graham Simpson MSP will be invited to declare any relevant interests.

2. Decisions on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take items 5, 6 and 7 in private.

3. Building Safety and Maintenance: The Committee will take evidence from—

Sean Clerkin, Campaign Coordinator, Scottish Tenants Organisation
Aoife Deery, Senior Social Justice Policy Officer, Citizens Advice Scotland
Shona Gorman, Vice-Chair, Tenants Together Scotland
Yvette Hoskins, Vice Chair, Dundee RAAC Campaign Group
Emma Saunders, National Organiser, Living Rent

and then from—

Peter Drummond, Chair of Practice Committee, Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland
Gloria Lo, OiSA Designs Chartered Architect, OiSA Designs

4. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following negative instrument—Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2025 (SSI 2025/56)

5. Building Safety and Maintenance: The Committee will consider the evidence heard earlier in the meeting.

6. Scrutiny of the Scottish Housing Regulator: The Committee will consider correspondence to the Scottish Housing Regulator.

7. Correspondence: The Committee will consider correspondence to the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee and the Finance and Public Administration Committee.

For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, Jenny Mouncer at [email protected]

The committee will meet at 9:35am at TG.60-CR3 The Fleming Room and will be broadcast on www.scottishparliament.tv.

1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 5, and equivalent items relating to evidence on the Right to Addiction Recovery (Scotland) Bill on future agendas, in private.

2. Right to Addiction Recovery (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will take evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—

Eleanor Deeming, Legal Officer, Scottish Human Rights Commission
Dr Tara Shivaji, Consultant in Public Health Medicine, Public Health Scotland
Hilary Steele, Solicitor, Law Society of Scotland

and then from—

Dr Peter Rice, Former Chair, Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland
Lyndsey Turfus, Chair of Substance Use Subgroup, Social Work Scotland
Dr Chris William, Vice Chair, Royal College of General Practitioners Scotland

3. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will take evidence on the National Health Service (Common Staffing Method) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 from—

Neil Gray, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Scottish Government
Erin Murphy, Policy Manager, Nursing and Midwifery Policy Team, Scottish Government
Christopher Thompson, Team Leader - National Workforce Planning, Guidance and Strategy, Scottish Government

4. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following negative instruments— National Health Service (Common Staffing Method) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025

5. Right to Addiction Recovery (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 2.

For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, Alex Bruce on 85229 or at [email protected]

The committee will meet at 10:00am at T1.40-CR5 The Smith Room and will be broadcast on www.scottishparliament.tv.

1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take items 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 in private.

2. Instruments subject to affirmative procedure: The Committee will consider the following—Social Security Information-sharing (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 (SSI 2025/Draft)

3. Instruments subject to negative procedure: The Committee will consider the following—Police Pension Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 (SSI 2025/58)

4. Instruments not subject to any parliamentary procedure: The Committee will consider the following— Act of Sederunt (Rules of the Court of Session 1994 Amendment) (Nautical Assessors) 2025 (SSI 2025/61)

5. Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider the delegated powers in this Bill at Stage 1.

6. Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill : The Committee will consider the delegated powers in this Bill after Stage 2.

7. Product Regulation and Metrology Bill (UK Parliament legislation): The Committee will consider the supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Bill.

8. Quarterly report: The Committee will consider a draft report for the parliamentary quarter from 2 December 2024 to 23 February 2025.

9. Framework legislation and Henry VIII powers: The Committee will consider a revised draft report.

For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, Greg Black at [email protected]

The committee will meet at 10:00am at T1.60-CR4 The Clerk Maxwell Room and will be broadcast on www.scottishparliament.tv.

1. Operation of the Public Sector Equality Duty in Scotland: The Committee will take evidence from—

John Wilkes, Head of Scotland, Equality and Human Rights Commission Scotland
Jennifer Laughland, Head of Scotland Legal, Equality and Human Rights Commission Scotland
Bill Stephenson, Scotland Compliance Manager, Equality and Human Rights Commission Scotland

and then from—

Kaukab Stewart, Minister for Equalities, Scottish Government
Nick Bland, Deputy Director, Mainstreaming and Inclusion, Scottish Government
Catherine McMeeken, Deputy Director, Equality, Scottish Government
Jennifer Singerman, Solicitor, Equalities and Criminal Justice Division, Scottish Government

2. Operation of the Public Sector Equality Duty in Scotland (in private): The Committee will consider the evidence it heard under agenda item 1.

For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, Euan Donald on 85204 or at [email protected]

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What's On

Tuesday 18 March 2025

Business Bulletin

Chamber business

Time for Reflection: Carol Telfer, Chaplain of Glasgow Hospice, Marie Curie

Parliamentary Bureau Motions

Topical Questions

Stuart McMillan (S6T-02425)

Jackie Baillie (S6T-02426)

Tess White (S6T-02422)

Scottish Government Debate: Protecting and Growing Scotland’s Iconic Food and Drink Sector

Mairi Gougeon (S6M-16839)

Tim Eagle (S6M-16839.2)

Rhoda Grant (S6M-16839.1)

Committee Announcements

Business Motions

Parliamentary Bureau Motions

Decision Time

Members' Business — S6M-16290 Clare Adamson: MacDiarmid’s Brownsbank Cottage, a Scottish Cultural Treasure

Clare Adamson (S6M-16290)

Committee business

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Questions and answers

Official Report

Motions and votes

The Chamber

List of committees

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