11:40am

Parliamentary Bureau Motions
11:40am

General Questions

Mark Ruskell (S6O-04458)

To ask the Scottish Government when it will conclude its assessment of the case for a new rail station at Newburgh.

Official Report available for S6O-04458

Rona Mackay (S6O-04459)

To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated cost would be of permanently extending free rail travel to companions of Blind Persons National Entitlement Card holders, in light of the campaigning by Sight Scotland and Deafblind Scotland.

Official Report available for S6O-04459

Jackie Dunbar (S6O-04460)

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to build on the reported successes of the Aberdeen City Region Deal, which is due to conclude its 10-year plan next year.

Official Report available for S6O-04460

Emma Harper (S6O-04461)

[Not Lodged]

James Dornan (S6O-04462)

To ask the Scottish Government what measures are being taken to mitigate any impact on disability payment recipients in Scotland of reported UK Government benefit reductions.

Official Report available for S6O-04462

Annabelle Ewing (S6O-04463)

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the chief executive of Fife Council to discuss the housing emergency.

Official Report available for S6O-04463

Lorna Slater (S6O-04464)

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the deposit return scheme, including whether it will be appointing a deposit management organisation on schedule in April 2025.

Official Report available for S6O-04464

Karen Adam (S6O-04465)

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to Aberdeenshire Council’s decision to remove the nightwatch service at Macduff Harbour, in light of reported concerns about the economic impact of the decision.

Watch on SPTV
12pm

First Minister's Questions

Russell Findlay (S6F-03914)

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Official Report available for S6F-03914

Anas Sarwar (S6F-03915)

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Official Report available for S6F-03915

Alex Cole-Hamilton (S6F-03919)

To ask the First Minister when the Cabinet will next meet.

Official Report available for S6F-03919

Michelle Thomson (S6F-03926)

To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the recent UK Living Standards Review 2025, from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, and any implications for its work to grow Scotland’s economy.

Official Report available for S6F-03926

Rachael Hamilton (S6F-03924)

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government is marking Endometriosis Awareness Month.

Official Report available for S6F-03924

Kevin Stewart (S6F-03920)

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to tackle Islamophobia in Scotland, in light of reports of an attack on a mosque in Aberdeen at the weekend.

Official Report available for S6F-03920

Watch on SPTV
Members' Business — S6M-16434 Michael Matheson: Awareness of Criminal Exploitation of Children

Michael Matheson (S6M-16434)

That the Parliament welcomes the recent reports of Professor Alexis Jay and Action for Children, and the charity’s service provision, which highlight the issue of criminal exploitation of children; considers that the testimony from exploited young people, Action for Children staff who support these young people, and other professionals connected with this work have described the harrowing and shocking experiences that children have encountered; understands that this issue hides in plain sight and that criminal exploitation of children can take place anywhere across Scotland, including in the Falkirk West constituency, and can happen to anyone; believes that these reports offer an opportunity to raise awareness of this important topic with members of the public, parliamentarians and decision makers, while also creating the chance to explore solutions to tackling this form of child abuse, and notes the belief that, in doing so, society can help to meet the aims and vision of The Promise, ensuring that Scotland does become the best place in the world for children and young people to grow up, where they feel loved, safe, respected and able to realise their full potential.

Further details available for S6M-16434

Watch on SPTV
2:15pm

Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2:15pm

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Questions

Paul Sweeney (S6O-04476)

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, further to the answer to question S6W-34464, what its position is on whether MSPs should be able to participate in the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme, in addition to the Armed Forces Visits Programme, should they wish to do so, in light of it being a structured 15-day course with one of the armed services, and it also offering the opportunity to enrol on a Royal College of Defence Studies postgraduate degree level course in strategic leadership and international strategic studies, and it therefore being different in nature.

Official Report available for S6O-04476

Patrick Harvie (S6O-04478)

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will consider removing from its catering outlets any products made by companies identified by the UN Human Rights Office as being involved in activities related to illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Official Report available for S6O-04478

John Mason (S6O-04474)

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what information it has on for what reason stamps that are issued in the Parliament’s Post Office are not Scotland Country Definitive stamps by default.

Official Report available for S6O-04474

Mark Ruskell (S6O-04477)

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what discussions it has had with the Scottish Parliamentary Pension Scheme trustees about investments in Tesla and any other companies that may conflict with the scheme's Statement of Investment Principles.

Submitting member has a registered interest.

Official Report available for S6O-04477

Ariane Burgess (S6O-04479)

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what measures it is taking to support any LGBTQ+ staff whose welfare may be negatively impacted by any increase in the use of language in the Chamber and committees that may be perceived as trans-exclusionary.

Official Report available for S6O-04479

Rachael Hamilton (S6O-04475)

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what recent assessment it has made of the resources given to the Legislation team.

Official Report available for S6O-04475

Watch on SPTV
2:30pm

Portfolio Questions: Education and Skills

Portfolio: Education and Skills

Jamie Halcro Johnston (S6O-04466)

To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring that schools in the Highlands and Islands are safe learning environments for pupils and staff.

Official Report available for S6O-04466

Liam McArthur (S6O-04467)

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that there is adequate access to support in schools for children with additional support needs in island areas, including the Orkney constituency.

Official Report available for S6O-04467

Evelyn Tweed (S6O-04468)

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports schools to ensure that pupils with additional support needs can access learning environments that meet their needs without being excluded from activities or isolated from their peers.

Official Report available for S6O-04468

Clare Adamson (S6O-04469)

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that local authorities provide co-ordinated support plans for pupils who need extra support.

Official Report available for S6O-04469

Audrey Nicoll (S6O-04470)

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the action being taken to support maths learning in secondary schools.

Official Report available for S6O-04470

Fulton MacGregor (S6O-04471)

To ask the Scottish Government what support there is for the parents or guardians of children and young people with additional support needs who require a specific school placement.

Official Report available for S6O-04471

Elena Whitham (S6O-04472)

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is carrying out with local authorities regarding the wellbeing of school pupils and staff.

Official Report available for S6O-04472

Willie Coffey (S6O-04473)

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the *Scottish* Digital Academy is having on improving digital skills in Scotland.

Official Report available for S6O-04473

Watch on SPTV
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee Debate: Salmon Farming in Scotland

Finlay Carson on behalf of the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee (S6M-16852)

That the Parliament notes the conclusions and recommendations contained in the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee's 1st Report, 2025 (Session 6), Follow-up inquiry into salmon farming in Scotland (SP Paper 720).

Further details available for S6M-16852

Watch on SPTV
Urgent Question: Stephen Kerr: To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Project Willow report.
Business Motions
Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5pm

Decision Time

Committee business

The committee will meet at 9:00am at T4.40-CR2 The Fairfax Somerville Room and will be broadcast on www.scottishparliament.tv.

1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 4 in private.

2. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following negative instrument— Council Tax Reduction and Council Tax (Discounts) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 (SSI 2025/55)

3. Housing (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider the Bill at Stage 2.

4. Work programme: The Committee will consider its approach to developing its work programme.

For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, Diane Barr on 85220 or at [email protected]

The committee will meet at 9:00am at T4.60-CR6 The Livingstone Room and will be broadcast on www.scottishparliament.tv.

1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take items 3, 4 and 5 in private.

2. Committee effectiveness: The Committee will take evidence, in a roundtable discussion, from—

Gemma Diamond, Director of Innovation and Transformation, Audit Scotland
Dr Marc Geddes, Senior Lecturer in Politics, University of Edinburgh
Sir David Natzler KCB
Professor Meg Russell, Director, Constitution Unit, University College London
Brian Taylor

3. Evidence Session: The Committee will consider the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 2.

4. Code of Conduct Rule Changes: The Committee will consider draft Code of Conduct Rule changes.

5. Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016: The Committee will consider a note from the Clerk.

For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, Catherine Fergusson on 85186 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. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 3 in private.

2. Review of the UK EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement Inquiry: Part 2: The Committee will take evidence from—

Angus Robertson, Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, Scottish Government
Elliot Robertson, Head of EU Secretariat, External Affairs, Scottish Government
Dr Frank Möeschler, Head of Research, EU Office, Scottish Government
Rachel Sunderland, Deputy Director, Population and Migration, Scottish Government

3. Evidence Session: The Committee will consider the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 2

For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, James Johnston on 85215 or at [email protected]

The committee will meet at 9:30am at T1.60-CR4 The Clerk Maxwell Room and will be broadcast on www.scottishparliament.tv.

1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 3 in private.

2. SPCB supported bodies landscape review: The Committee will take evidence from—

Dr Ian Elliott, Senior Lecturer in Public Administration, University of Glasgow
Dr Matthew Gill, Programme Director, Institute for Government
Dr Ruth Lamont, Reader in Child and Family Law, University of Manchester; UKRI Thematic Research Lead, UK Parliament
Alison Payne, Research Director, Reform Scotland

3. Correspondence: The Committee will consider correspondence from the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee.

4. SPCB supported bodies landscape review (in private): The Committee will consider correspondence from the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee.

For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, David Millett on 85244 or at [email protected]

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What's On

Thursday 20 March 2025

Business Bulletin

Chamber business

Parliamentary Bureau Motions

General Questions

First Minister's Questions

Members' Business — S6M-16434 Michael Matheson: Awareness of Criminal Exploitation of Children

Parliamentary Bureau Motions

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Questions

Portfolio Questions: Education and Skills

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee Debate: Salmon Farming in Scotland

Urgent Question: Stephen Kerr: To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Project Willow report.

Business Motions

Parliamentary Bureau Motions

Decision Time

Committee business

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee

Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee

SPCB Supported Bodies Landscape Review Committee

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Official Report

Motions and votes

The Chamber

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