Meeting of the Parliament

Portfolio Questions Deputy First Minister Responsibilities, Economy and Gaelic Bill Kidd 1. [Not Lodged] Marie McNair S6O-04577 2. To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting social enterprises. Michelle Thomson S6O-04578 3. To ask the Scottish Government what opportunities it has identified to grow Scotland’s economy, following Tartan Week 2025. Brian Whittle S6O-04579 4. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the delivery of the Ayrshire Growth Deal. Finlay Carson S6O-04580 5. To ask the Scottish Government what funding will be available to help infrastructure projects in south west Scotland. Roz McCall S6O-04581 6. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the latest Quarterly Economic Indicator from the Scottish Chambers of Commerce and Fraser of Allander Institute, which reportedly shows a business landscape that is characterised by flatlining demand, stalling investment and labour cost pressures. Craig Hoy S6O-04582 7. To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the implementation of its Green Industrial Strategy, what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the introduction of extended producer responsibility. Audrey Nicoll S6O-04583 8. To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with stakeholders regarding the Tall Ships Races Aberdeen 2025. Finance and Local Government Rona Mackay S6O-04584 1. To ask the Scottish Government how much East Dunbartonshire Council has spent on PFI contracts in the last year. Maggie Chapman S6O-04585 2. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Aberdeenshire Council regarding the reported financial pressures that it is experiencing. Jamie Halcro Johnston S6O-04586 3. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any discussions it has had with the tourism sector and other stakeholders regarding amending the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024. Foysol Choudhury 4. [Withdrawn] Gordon MacDonald S6O-04588 5. To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the City of Edinburgh Council regarding the progress of the Edinburgh City Plan 2040. Jackie Baillie S6O-04589 6. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the finance secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding a different model for allocating funding to Integration Joint Boards, in light of a recent Accounts Commission report highlighting the unsustainable gaps in their finances. Sue Webber S6O-04590 7. To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the City of Edinburgh Council regarding its allocated budget. Bob Doris S6O-04591 8. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the potential impact on Scotland’s public finances as a result of the UK Government increasing employer national insurance contributions. followed by Ministerial Statement: The Cessation of Refining at Grangemouth followed by Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Debate: Ending the “War” Against Scotland’s Motorists Sue Webber S6M-17362 That the Parliament calls on the Scottish Government to take greater action to support Scotland’s motorists and to cease implementing punitive measures against road users, which have been described as a war on Scotland’s motorists; recognises the importance of motorists to the Scottish economy and connectivity; acknowledges that the Scottish Government has abandoned its plans to reduce car use by 20% by 2030 and welcomes the recent Audit Scotland report that states that the Scottish Ministers had "no costed delivery plan or measurable milestones" to achieve this target; calls on the Scottish Ministers to focus on incentives, rather than penalties, to encourage motorists to change their behaviour as part of an affordable transition; notes that the implementation of low emission zones has hindered businesses and motorists in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee, and calls on ministers to review the effectiveness of low emission zones before any new zones are proposed, or the current ones are expanded, and to reconsider the punitive fines; recognises that road users in Aberdeen have been hindered by the introduction of bus gates, and that motorists across Scotland have been restricted by the expansion of parking charges; urges the Scottish Ministers not to introduce 50 mph speed limits on national speed limit single carriageway roads; recognises that resurfacing, rather than refilling, is the best solution to tackle Scotland’s pothole problem; urges ministers to work more effectively with the Scottish Road Works Commissioner, local authority road works coordinators and utility companies to encourage less inactivity on road work sites and to incentivise finishing works ahead of time; calls for greater action to futureproof Scotland’s EV charger network, and further calls on the Scottish Government to recognise the vital role that motorists play in Scotland. Jim Fairlie S6M-17362.4 As an amendment to motion S6M-17362 in the name of Sue Webber (Ending the "War" Against Scotland’s Motorists), leave out from first "calls" to end and insert "believes that language used out of context to maximise political traction and which fails to consider the sensitivities of such language is reckless, given wider global considerations; further believes that demonising car users is unhelpful to rural communities in particular, which, as a result of a deregulated bus market, often have no alternative to using a car; acknowledges, however, that Scotland needs to reduce carbon emissions from transport, especially from car use; welcomes that Scotland has reached its target of 6,000 public EV charge points two years early through a combination of Scottish Government funding, delivery by local authorities and private sector investment, with approximately 24,000 to be delivered by 2030 through continued Scottish Government funding and increasing private sector investment; recognises that supporting EV car use contributes to Scotland’s connectivity, and further recognises the value that connectivity has in helping to support the economy, education, social mobility and leisure across Scotland; notes that connectivity is being enhanced by free bus travel for over two million people in Scotland, which provides alternatives to car usage for those that can make the switch; respects the responsibilities of local authorities for local road provision and maintenance, and some local bus services, and that they will be able to have more control through transport legislation, which puts more power into the hands of local transport authorities; is concerned at the ongoing impact of UK Conservative administrations’ deregulation of bus services in the 1980s and 1990s; recognises the need for safe, clean and, importantly, reliable punctual bus services, which can be improved through bus infrastructure, and that improvements can be made in public health by creating low emission zones, as has been done in over 40 areas across Europe, but does have concerns that the punctuality of bus services can be hampered by road works; welcomes the Scottish Government’s approach through engaging collaboratively with the Scottish Road Works Commissioner, who oversees road works, with roads authorities, which have responsibility for coordination of works, and with the road works industry, which is responsible for duration and quality of works, to find reasonable solutions to help in this area; agrees that further investigation is needed of the role that those undertaking the works play in the quality of road surfaces after works have been completed; further agrees to await the results of the National Speed Management Review consultation, noting that an estimated 10mph reduction in the national speed limit on single carriageway roads can reduce deaths by 23% and serious casualties by 18%, and that there is a need to make Scotland’s roads safer to cut the number of people being injured and killed on the roads, and welcomes the roll-out of 20mph limits across all local authorities on roads determined by them." Claire Baker S6M-17362.1 As an amendment to motion S6M-17362 in the name of Sue Webber (Ending the “War” Against Scotland’s Motorists), leave out from first “calls” to end and insert “highlights the Scottish Government’s dropping of the target of a 20% reduction in car use by 2030 and the recent Audit Scotland report, which states that the Scottish Ministers had 'no costed delivery plan or measurable milestones' to achieve this target; recognises that, while car ownership has increased, many households, including a greater proportion of those on lower incomes, do not have access to a car; further recognises that a failure to reduce transport emissions will have a detrimental effect on the climate and on people’s health; acknowledges that a reduction in car use is only realistic and inclusive if there is a viable alternative option, and calls on the Scottish Government to scrap peak rail fares as a first step to making public transport more affordable and accessible to all.” followed by Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Debate: Protecting Scotland’s Fishing Industry Tim Eagle S6M-17360 That the Parliament expresses its deep concern at reports that the UK Labour administration may agree a deal with the EU that enhances access for EU fishing vessels to UK waters; understands that the reported deal could result in a multi-year access guarantee as opposed to annual negotiations between the UK and the EU; believes that Scotland’s domestic fishing industry is a significant contributor to the economy and that every effort should be made to support it during trade negotiations; notes that the existing fisheries deal between the EU and the UK is not perfect, but that it took the sector out of the Common Fisheries Policy; acknowledges that the UK Labour administration’s potential new deal would turn a good opportunity to build on this foundation into a missed opportunity that represents a backwards step for the sector as bad as the Common Fisheries Policy; calls on the Scottish Government to drop its support for the Common Fisheries Policy and do all that it can to ensure that the UK Labour administration does not sell out the Scottish fishing industry as part of its talks with the EU, and believes that there should be an annual debate on fisheries to highlight its importance to Scotland’s economy. Mairi Gougeon S6M-17360.3 As an amendment to motion S6M-17360 in the name of Tim Eagle (Protecting Scotland’s Fishing Industry), leave out from first "with the EU" to second "with the EU" and insert "on fishing with the EU that enhances access for EU fishing vessels to UK waters without consulting the Scottish Government, despite the fishing industry being of comparatively greater importance to the Scottish economy than to the UK economy as a whole; understands that the reported deal could result in a multi-year access guarantee as opposed to annual negotiations between the UK and the EU; notes the need for an agreement that delivers improvements for Scotland's fishing communities, including access to the single market for fish and seafood and long-term stability for fishing businesses; further notes the poor record of successive UK Conservative and Labour administrations in delivering for Scotland's coastal communities; calls on the UK Government to engage with fishing stakeholders and the Scottish Government to ensure that Trade and Cooperation Agreement renegotiations reflect the needs and priorities of the Scottish fishing industry; further calls on the UK Government to provide multi-annual funding that keeps pace with the equivalent EU funding that Scotland would have received as a member state, and that all marine funding be devolved; recognises the significant economic harm created by Brexit in reducing trade and access to labour for fishing businesses". Rhoda Grant S6M-17360.1 As an amendment to motion S6M-17360 in the name of Tim Eagle (Protecting Scotland’s Fishing Industry), leave out from "expresses" to end and insert "recognises that the upcoming UK-EU Summit will cover a range of issues as all sides look to build a stable and positive relationship that aligns with the national interest; notes that no agreements have been reached and therefore speculation is not helpful; further notes that the UK Government has stated that there is no link between fish and defence and that it would be wrong to suggest otherwise; acknowledges that the UK Labour administration has always been clear that it will protect the interests of UK fisheries; believes that the UK has long been a leader in the defence and security of the European continent and should stand ready to negotiate a security and defence partnership agreement with the EU; further believes that Scotland’s domestic fishing industry is a significant contributor to the economy, particularly in many of the island and rural communities, and must, therefore, be protected, and calls on the Scottish Government to reform quota allocation via local authorities to ensure a sustainable fisheries future for communities and biodiversity." followed by Decision Time followed by Members' Business — S6M-17186 Meghan Gallacher: Best Start New Model of Neonatal Care That the Parliament notes the view that it is vitally important to ensure that the Best Start new model of neonatal care delivers the highest standards of care for the most vulnerable babies, including those in the Central Scotland region; further notes the view that implementation of this new model must prioritise the safety of babies, be underpinned by adequate and sustained funding, including for appropriate staffing levels, and include sufficient provision of overnight accommodation for parents on neonatal units; understands the view that families require reassurance that changes to services will improve outcomes and not compromise access to specialised care, and notes the calls for the Scottish Government to provide an update on progress towards implementation of the new model of neonatal care and a timescale for when the new model will be fully operational, to clarify whether there are any expected changes to the plans, as announced by the Minister for Public Health and Women's Health on 25 July 2023, and to set out how it will ensure that what it sees as these essential criteria, including provision of overnight accommodation, are met in line with its planned timescale.