2pm

Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2pm

Portfolio Questions: The Presiding Officer has grouped the following questions: NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care – Questions 6 and 8.

Portfolio: Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands

Christine Grahame (S6O-02488)

To ask the Scottish Government how the measures in its Programme for Government 2023-24 will support the rural economy in the Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale constituency.

Official Report available for S6O-02488

Donald Cameron (S6O-02489)

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason its Programme for Government 2023-24 did not include a commitment to a Crofting Bill.

Submitting member has a registered interest.

Official Report available for S6O-02489

Alasdair Allan (S6O-02490)

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of its proposed Land Reform Bill.

Official Report available for S6O-02490

Kenneth Gibson (S6O-02491)

[Withdrawn]

Meghan Gallacher (S6O-02492)

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the greater use of farm-to-fork methods to encourage domestic food production.

Official Report available for S6O-02492

Liz Smith (S6O-02493)

To ask the Scottish Government what preparations it has made in response to the protracted start to the 2023 grain harvest.

Official Report available for S6O-02493

Ben Macpherson (S6O-02494)

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its consideration of the Scottish Land Commission’s work on compulsory sales orders and land value capture.

Official Report available for S6O-02494

Graham Simpson (S6O-02495)

To ask the Scottish Government what cross-government consideration there has been regarding the use of tunnels to improve connectivity between the islands.

Official Report available for S6O-02495

Portfolio: NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care

Karen Adam (S6O-02496)

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the First Minister's commitment in the Programme for Government 2023-24 to publish a new delivery plan for mental health and wellbeing, what it is doing to improve pathways to diagnosis for neurodivergent children.

Official Report available for S6O-02496

Sue Webber (S6O-02497)

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the number of alcohol-specific deaths in 2022.

Official Report available for S6O-02497

Marie McNair (S6O-02498)

[Not Lodged]

Annabelle Ewing (S6O-02499)

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with NHS Fife and what was discussed.

Official Report available for S6O-02499

Jackie Baillie (S6O-02500)

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to urgently address the reported maintenance backlog in GP practices.

Official Report available for S6O-02500

Sandesh Gulhane (S6O-02501)

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported plans by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to reduce the number of community link workers embedded in GP practices in deprived areas of Glasgow by one third, due to Scottish Government funding cuts.

Submitting member has a registered interest.

Official Report available for S6O-02501

Carol Mochan (S6O-02502)

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to invest in community midwifery services to ensure that they are consistently delivered in areas of need rather than in centralised, and often hard-to-access, locations.

Official Report available for S6O-02502

Paul Sweeney (S6O-02503)

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the 2021 SNP manifesto commitment to expand on the community link worker programme.

Official Report available for S6O-02503
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Debate: Pausing the Short-term Lets Licensing Scheme

Murdo Fraser (S6M-10411)

That the Parliament notes the widespread concern in the tourist sector at the introduction of the licensing scheme for short-term lets, which is effective from 1 October 2023; understands that this will apply not just to stand-alone self-catering units, but also to home sharing, B&Bs, guest houses and home swaps; is concerned that the unintended consequences of the scheme will have a seriously negative impact on Scotland’s tourism offer, and calls on the Scottish Government to pause the introduction of the scheme for 12 months to allow for modifications based on a detailed, evidence-based review of its impact.

Further details available for S6M-10411

Paul McLennan (S6M-10411.3)

As an amendment to motion S6M-10411 in the name of Murdo Fraser (Pausing the Short-term Lets Licensing Scheme), leave out from "notes" to end and insert "recognises the success of Scotland’s growing tourism sector and that well-managed, short-term lets are a significant part of that economy; welcomes the reassurance and safeguards for visitors, hosts and communities that the short-term lets licensing scheme provides; acknowledges the work that local authorities have done to date in processing applications, and also those hosts who have submitted applications so far; highlights the six-month extension to the application deadline, giving nearly two years for hosts to comply with licensing conditions and a year to prepare and submit an application; notes the ongoing Scottish Government engagement with local authorities and the short-term lets sector across Scotland; calls on all MSPs to focus on supporting and encouraging any outstanding applications to be submitted to local authorities before 1 October 2023; confirms the Scottish Government’s ongoing work to listen to and engage with the sector, and reaffirms the Scottish Government’s commitment to an implementation review update in early 2024."

Further details available for S6M-10411.3

Mark Griffin (S6M-10411.2)

As an amendment to motion S6M-10411 in the name of Murdo Fraser (Pausing the Short-term Lets Licensing Scheme), insert at end ", and consideration of changes, which, as a minimum, must include the removal from the licensing scheme of any accommodation that owners use as their primary residence, B&B accommodation, house swaps, purpose-built accommodation and room lets, and agrees that the forthcoming Housing Bill should be used to deliver a system of regulation that works for both local communities and the sector, and a registration scheme."

Further details available for S6M-10411.2
Business Motions

George Adam on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau (S6M-10420)

That the Parliament agrees—
(a) the following programme of business—
Tuesday 19 September 2023
2.00 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Topical Questions (if selected)
followed by Scottish Government Debate: Drug Law Reform
followed by Committee Announcements
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Wednesday 20 September 2023
2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2.00 pm Portfolio Questions: Constitution, External Affairs and Culture; Justice and Home Affairs
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 21 September 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: Education and Skills
followed by Criminal Justice Committee Debate: Tackling Online Child Abuse, Grooming and Exploitation
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
Tuesday 26 September 2023
2.00 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Topical Questions (if selected)
followed by Scottish Government Business
followed by Committee Announcements
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Wednesday 27 September 2023
2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2.00 pm Portfolio Questions: Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy; Finance and Parliamentary Business
followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Patient Safety Commissioner for Scotland Bill
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Approval of SSIs (if required)
6.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Thursday 28 September 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: Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition
followed by Stage 1 Debate: Trusts and Succession (Scotland) Bill
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 18 September 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.

Further details available for S6M-10420

George Adam on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau (S6M-10421)

That the Parliament agrees that consideration of the Bankruptcy and Diligence (Scotland) Bill at stage 1 be completed by 24 November 2023.

Further details available for S6M-10421
Parliamentary Bureau Motions
Approval of SSIs (if required)
5:10pm

Decision Time
Members' Business — S6M-10262 Rona Mackay: Opening of Scotland’s First Bairns’ Hoose

Rona Mackay (S6M-10262)

That the Parliament expresses its delight at the establishment of the first Bairns’ Hoose in Scotland, providing children in north Strathclyde who are the victims or witnesses of abuse or violence with access to protection, care and recovery services under one roof, and improving the way that they are dealt with within the Scottish justice system; understands that the first Bairns’ Hoose will support children, young people and members of their family from East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde and Renfrewshire; commends the charity, Children 1st, which has led the way in ensuring the development of Scotland’s first Bairns’ Hoose, supported by the partners, Victim Support Scotland, the University of Edinburgh, Children England and the Postcode Dream Fund, which is made possible by the players of People’s Postcode Lottery; believes that Bairns’ Hoose is based on an alternative model first developed in Iceland, called Barnahus; notes that the space has been designed in collaboration with children and young people for children and young people, and includes calming wall colours, soft and comfortable furnishings, and a safe and secure garden, which will offer breathing space for those who need it; further notes the inclusion of high-quality technical facilities, including space to record evidence and deliver live links to court within a nurturing environment, and welcomes the Scottish Government’s commitment to ensuring that all children who have experienced harm as a result of abuse or violence will have access to a Bairns’ Hoose.

Further details available for S6M-10262

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. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will take evidence on the draft Deer (Firearms etc.) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2023 from—

Lorna Slater, Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, Scottish Government
Hugh Dignon, Head of Wildlife Management Unit, Scottish Government
Brodie Wilson, Policy Manager, Wildlife Management Unit, Scottish Government
Norman Munro, Solicitor, Scottish Government

2. Subordinate legislation: Lorna Slater, Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity to move—S6M-09640—That the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee recommends that the Deer (Firearms etc.) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2023 be approved.

3. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will take evidence on the Deer (Close Seasons) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2023 from—

Lorna Slater, Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, Scottish Government
Hugh Dignon, Head of Wildlife Management Unit, Scottish Government
Brodie Wilson, Policy Manager, Wildlife Management Unit, Scottish Government
Norman Munro, Solicitor, Scottish Government

4. Subordinate legislation: Edward Mountain to move—S6M-10137—That the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee recommends that the Deer (Close Seasons) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2023 be annulled.

5. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following negative instrument— Cereal Seed (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2023

6. Bracken control: The Committee will take evidence from—

Lorna Slater, Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, Scottish Government
Jack Bloodworth, Principal Science Advisor, Rural & Environmental Science and Analytical Services Division, Scottish Government
Jackie Hughes, Deputy Director Agriculture and Rural Economy and Head of Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture , Scottish Government
Romy Strachan, Policy Officer, Scottish Government

7. Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill (in private): The Committee will consider a draft Stage 1 report.

For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, Emma Johnston on 85225 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. Declaration of interests: Murdo Fraser, Ash Regan, Kevin Stewart and Brian Whittle will be invited to declare any relevant interests.

2. Just Transition for the North East and Moray: The Committee will decide whether to take item 5 in private.

3. Bankruptcy and Diligence (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will take evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from—

Dr Alisdair MacPherson, Committee member of the Banking, Company & Insolvency Law sub-committee, The Law Society of Scotland
Katie McLachlan, Licensed Personal Insolvency Practitioner, R3 Insolvency & Restructuring
David Menzies, Director of Practice, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland
Barry Mochan, Board Member, Insolvency Practitioners Association

4. Bankruptcy and Diligence (Scotland) Bill (in private): The Committee will consider the evidence heard earlier in the meeting.

5. Just Transition for the North East and Moray: The Committee will continue consideration of its approach to the inquiry.

For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, Anne Peat on 85182 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. Declaration of interests: Liam Kerr MSP and Michelle Thomson MSP will be invited to declare any relevant interests.

2. Choice of Deputy Convener: The Committee will choose a Deputy Convener.

3. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 7 in private.

4. Scottish Qualifications Authority: The Committee will take evidence from—

Fiona Robertson, Chief Executive, Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA)
Dr Gill Stewart, Director of Qualifications Development, Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA)

5. Evidence Session (in private): The Committee will consider the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 4

6. Work programme (in private): The Committee will consider its work programme.

7. Disabled Children and Young People (Transitions to Adulthood) (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider correspondence from the Scottish Government and the Member in Charge and its approach to a Stage 1 report.

For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, Pauline McIntyre on 85252 or at [email protected]

The committee will meet at 10:00am at T4.60-CR6 The Livingstone Room and will be broadcast on www.scottishparliament.tv.

1. Declaration of interests: John Swinney and Donald Cameron will be invited to declare any relevant interests.

2. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 5 in private.

3. Pre-Budget Scrutiny: The Committee will take evidence as part of its Pre-Budget Scrutiny from—

Deputy Chief Constable Jane Connors QPM, Crime and Operational Support, Police Scotland
David Page, Deputy Chief Officer, Police Scotland
James Gray, Chief Financial Officer, Police Scotland
Lynn Brown, Chief Executive, Scottish Police Authority
Ross Haggart, Chief Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
Stuart Stevens, Deputy Chief Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
John Thomson, Acting Director of Finance and Procurement, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

and then from—

Stephen McGowan, Deputy Crown Agent, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
Eric McQueen, Chief Executive, Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service

4. Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill (UK Parliament legislation): The Committee will consider the supplementary legislative consent memorandum lodged by Angela Constance, Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs (LCM(S6)27b).

5. Pre-budget Scrutiny: The Committee will consider the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 3.

For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, Stephen Imrie on 85931 or at [email protected]

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What's On

Wednesday 13 September 2023

Business Bulletin

Chamber business

Parliamentary Bureau Motions

Portfolio Questions: The Presiding Officer has grouped the following questions: NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care – Questions 6 and 8.

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Debate: Pausing the Short-term Lets Licensing Scheme

Business Motions

Parliamentary Bureau Motions

Approval of SSIs (if required)

Decision Time

Members' Business — S6M-10262 Rona Mackay: Opening of Scotland’s First Bairns’ Hoose

Committee business

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Education, Children and Young People Committee

Criminal Justice Committee