Meeting of the Parliament

Portfolio Questions Deputy First Minister Responsibilities, Economy and Gaelic Liz Smith S6O-05259 1. To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its recent decision to allow a flat-rate approach to the visitor levy, what discussions the economy secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding whether to also introduce lower non-domestic rates for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses. Bob Doris S6O-05260 2. To ask the Scottish Government how it supports Scotland's Living Wage Places to encourage the uptake of the real Living Wage amongst employers. Douglas Lumsden S6O-05261 3. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the economy secretary has had with ministerial colleagues on how its internal modelling of oil and gas jobs in the north east compares with the latest industry estimates. Tess White S6O-05262 4. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the impact of its export growth strategy, A Trading Nation, including what metrics it has used to assess this. Michael Matheson S6O-05263 5. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support manufacturing, including in the renewable energy sector. Rhoda Grant S6O-05264 6. To ask the Scottish Government, in light of parents now being able to request Gaelic school provision in their areas, what financial and resource support it is providing to local authorities to ensure that such requests can be considered and implemented. Gordon MacDonald S6O-05265 7. To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any implications for its work to grow Scotland’s economy, whether it will provide an update on its engagement with the UK Government regarding the Office for Budget Responsibility’s recent economic forecasts. Willie Rennie S6O-05266 8. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the economy secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding support for the workforce and local economy of Mossmorran, in light of ExxonMobil's announcement that the Fife Ethylene Plant will be closed. Finance and Local Government Keith Brown S6O-05267 1. To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the contribution that community-led initiatives can make to supporting local government services and outcomes, and reducing demand through early intervention and prevention. Ariane Burgess S6O-05268 2. To ask the Scottish Government how the planning process monitors the delivery of any job creation figures included within planning applications, including applications for salmon farms, once they are built and operational. Jackie Dunbar S6O-05269 3. To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting Aberdeen City Council to maintain its local government services, including in response to any increasing social need in the city. Audrey Nicoll S6O-05270 4. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its engagement with the UK Government regarding the Energy Profits Levy and its implications for north east Scotland. Carol Mochan S6O-05271 5. To ask the Scottish Government what measures it will take in its Budget to support high street retailers in the South Scotland region that are at risk of closing. Richard Leonard S6O-05272 6. To ask the Scottish Government what communication the finance secretary has had with the UK Government and the Financial Conduct Authority regarding what support is available for policyholders impacted by the withdrawal of the Family Protection Plan by CMutual and Maiden Life Försäkrings. Fulton MacGregor S6O-05273 7. To ask the Scottish Government how much it will allocate in its forthcoming Budget to local authorities to provide financial support to those affected by RAAC, including businesses. Tim Eagle S6O-05274 8. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what plans it has to amend tax thresholds in the next Scottish Budget. followed by Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Debate: Controlling the Rising Benefits Bill in Scotland Alexander Stewart S6M-20056 That the Parliament believes that social security spending by the Scottish Government and its future social security spending commitments are unsustainable; notes the report published by Audit Scotland in September 2025, Adult Disability Payment; further notes that the Audit Scotland report highlights a "funding gap for devolved social security spending of £2.0 billion by 2029/30"; calls on the Scottish Government to explain why, according to Audit Scotland, it "has not yet set out a detailed strategy for how it will manage the forecast gap between social security funding and spending"; believes that raising taxes in order to remove the limit on the child element of Universal Credit was not the right priority for either the Scottish Government or the UK Government, and calls on the Scottish Government to use the money that it will save, as a result of the UK Government's decision, to lower costs for people across Scotland by instead cutting income tax. Further details available for S6M-20056 Shirley-Anne Somerville S6M-20056.3 As an amendment to motion S6M-20056 in the name of Alexander Stewart (Controlling the Rising Benefits Bill in Scotland), leave out from first “believes” to end and insert “reaffirms its commitment to the social security principles contained in the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 and unanimously adopted by the Parliament, including that social security is an investment in the people of Scotland and is itself a human right; welcomes the abolition of the two-child limit across the UK; calls on the UK Labour administration to go further and scrap other damaging welfare reforms implemented by the previous UK administration, including the benefit cap, and supports the Scottish Government’s commitment to reinvest funding to end the two-child limit in further measures to tackle child poverty in Scotland.” Further details available for S6M-20056.3 Claire Baker S6M-20056.2 As an amendment to motion S6M-20056 in the name of Alexander Stewart (Controlling the Rising Benefits Bill in Scotland), leave out from first “believes” to end and insert “notes with concern Audit Scotland’s recent assessment of a 'funding gap for devolved social security spending of £2.0 billion by 2029/30' and the absence of a ‘detailed strategy for how [the Scottish Government] will manage the forecast gap between social security funding and spending‘; welcomes the announcement in the 2025 UK Budget of the removal of the two-child limit for universal credit, noting that this will lift an estimated 450,000 children across the UK out of poverty and that, in the assessment of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, ‘the projected fall in child poverty over the current parliament would be the biggest on record‘; believes that this must be followed by a renewed focus in Scotland on tackling the causes of poverty and boosting the means of defeating it, such as employability, housing and education, and further believes that the long-term solution to breaking the generational cycle of poverty in Scotland must include supporting people into sustainable and well-paid work.” Further details available for S6M-20056.2 followed by Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Debate: Connecting Scotland Sue Webber S6M-20057 That the Parliament recognises the importance of Scotland’s road network to delivering enhanced connectivity and economic growth across Scotland; urges the Scottish Government to accelerate the upgrading and dualling of key roads such as the A75, A77 and A96, and to adhere to its promise to dual the A9 by 2035 or earlier and to ensure that this project is finally completed by not rejecting private funding; believes that improved connections across Scotland can be enhanced through the provision of more safe and secure rest stops, particularly for the logistics sector; rejects the UK Labour administration’s planned imposition of a pay-per-mile tax for electric and hybrid vehicles, and urges the Scottish Ministers to undertake greater efforts to futureproof the EV charging network across Scotland’s key roads, and urges the Scottish Government to commit to ensuring that the upgrading of Scotland’s roads remains central to future economic and social development. Further details available for S6M-20057 Fiona Hyslop S6M-20057.3 As an amendment to motion S6M-20057 in the name of Sue Webber (Connecting Scotland), leave out from “; urges” to end and insert “and the progress being made to deliver the completion of the A9 dualling in 2035 specifically; further recognises that both public and private funding has been used to support the development of the trunk road network, including the use of private finance for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route/Balmedie-Tipperty and the M8, M74 and M73 motorway improvements, and that private finance will continue to play a role in the future; notes that the Union Connectivity Review, undertaken by Lord Peter Hendy on behalf of the previous UK Conservative administration, recognised the contribution that the A75 makes in linking the rest of the UK to Northern Ireland; urges the UK Government to match the previous UK Conservative administration’s funding commitment for the A75; notes the improvements undertaken by the Scottish Government to the A77, including the Maybole Bypass; welcomes the ongoing constructive work between the Scottish Government and the A77 Campaign Group and South West Transport Alliance; supports the full dualling of the A96, beginning with the Inverness to Nairn section, along with delivery of the Inshes to Smithton Link Road, as part of the Inverness and Highland City Region Deal; agrees that improved connections across Scotland can be enhanced through the provision of more safe and secure rest stops, particularly for the logistics sector; rejects the UK Government’s planned imposition of a pay-per-mile tax for electric and hybrid vehicles, regretting the ill-thought-out and counter-productive proposal, which will be bad for the climate and for rural Scotland in particular; agrees that the switch to EV cars and the provision of public and at-home EV infrastructure will be vital to Scotland meeting its climate change targets, and calls on the UK Government to engage in four nations discussions on motoring taxation reform to support a properly planned transition to EV car use.” Further details available for S6M-20057.3 Daniel Johnson S6M-20057.1 As an amendment to motion S6M-20057 in the name of Sue Webber (Connecting Scotland), leave out from “; rejects” to end and insert “, and considers that future transport infrastructure decisions should be based on economic importance, safety and local necessity, and underpinned by a national industrial strategy and a strategic spatial plan.” Further details available for S6M-20057.1 Mark Ruskell S6M-20057.2 As an amendment to motion S6M-20057 in the name of Sue Webber (Connecting Scotland), leave out from “recognises” to end and insert “believes that future transport investment must prioritise sustainability, equality, public transport and active travel over large-scale road building, and further believes that investment in roads should improve safety, address maintenance backlogs, deliver climate resilience on vulnerable routes, including the A83, help prioritise road space for buses and be matched with ambitious investment in rail, including upgrading the Highland Mainline and reconnecting communities, such as Newburgh, to the rail network.” Further details available for S6M-20057.2 followed by Decision Time followed by Members’ Business: Scotland National Football Team Qualifies for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Keith Brown S6M-19823 That the Parliament congratulates the Scotland national football team on qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup; recognises that this marks Scotland’s first appearance at the tournament in 28 years and represents a significant moment for Scottish sport; commends the team on its thrilling 4–2 win over Denmark at Hampden Park, which secured qualification; acknowledges the quality and determination shown throughout the match, including Scott McTominay’s early goal from an overhead kick, Lawrence Shankland’s restoration of Scotland’s lead in the second half, and the dramatic stoppage-time goals from Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean, which sealed the result; further acknowledges the contribution of head coach, Steve Clarke, and all the staff supporting the national side; pays tribute to the Tartan Army for its passionate and positive backing of the team at home and abroad; notes the wider social, cultural and sporting benefits that participation in major international events can bring to communities across Scotland; wishes the national team every success as preparations begin for the 2026 World Cup finals; notes the pride that this achievement has brought to communities across Clackmannanshire and Stirling, and recognises the work of local clubs and volunteers in supporting grassroots football. Further details available for S6M-19823