Meeting of the Parliament

Portfolio Questions Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, and Parliamentary Business Kenneth Gibson S6O-05227 1. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with UK Government ministers regarding the devolution of additional powers to the Scottish Parliament, including those over alcohol and tobacco duty. Edward Mountain S6O-05228 2. To ask the Scottish Government how many Freedom of Information requests that it has received during the current parliamentary session have subsequently been appealed by the requester. Miles Briggs S6O-05229 3. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the culture secretary has had with the finance and local government secretary regarding providing support to Edinburgh in dealing with the pressures of holding major annual cultural events and royal visits, including reintroducing the capital city supplement. Humza Yousaf S6O-05230 4. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in partnership with cultural institutions following the Parliament agreeing motion S6M-18686 on 3 September, which called for boycotts targeted at the State of Israel. Michael Marra S6O-05231 5. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the culture secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding support available to cultural institutions for energy efficiency measures, in light of reports that Dundee Rep, and other similar cultural bodies that operate as wholly owned trading subsidiaries, have been unable to access the SME loan and cashback scheme. Rona Mackay S6O-05232 6. To ask the Scottish Government how it supports cultural initiatives in East Dunbartonshire, such as Acorn Shed Music, to expand opportunities for participation in the arts across all age groups. Clare Adamson S6O-05233 7. To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the UK–EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement on touring artists in Scotland, including any plans for discussion with the UK Government on this matter in advance of the forthcoming review of the agreement. Submitting member has a registered interest. Liam Kerr S6O-05234 8. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recently published Independent Review of Creative Scotland. Justice and Home Affairs Stuart McMillan S6O-05235 1. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any progress that is being made to replace Greenock Police Station and increase police officer numbers in Inverclyde. Bob Doris S6O-05236 2. To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the legislation that gives the Lord Advocate discretionary powers to instruct fatal accident inquiries, in certain circumstances, into the deaths of persons normally resident in Scotland who die overseas, is operating as intended. Emma Harper S6O-05237 3. To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported protests outside a primary school in Glasgow, what support it is offering to Police Scotland, local authorities and other agencies to ensure the safety and security of those using adult education services. Douglas Ross S6O-05238 4. To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons it is choosing not to answer any questions on the court proceedings in relation to its policy on transgender prisoners, which allows biological male prisoners to be housed in women’s prisons, despite the Supreme Court’s recent ruling, in light of section 5 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 allowing matters of general public interest to be discussed. Michelle Thomson S6O-05239 5. To ask the Scottish Government what it considers to be an acceptable risk of harm as defined in the Scottish Prison Service policy on the admission of transgender women to women’s prisons. Craig Hoy S6O-05240 6. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Police Scotland regarding the illegal use of adapted e-bikes and e-scooters. Sue Webber S6O-05241 7. To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to respond to the reported increase in antisocial behaviour and criminality associated with people using e-bikes. Gordon MacDonald S6O-05242 8. To ask the Scottish Government when the Digital Evidence Sharing Capability is expected to be rolled out across Scotland. followed by Scottish Labour Party Debate: Crisis in Social Care Jackie Baillie S6M-19977 That the Parliament believes that the Scottish Government’s failure to prioritise social care has fuelled a crisis, harming some of Scotland’s most vulnerable people, and calls on the Scottish Ministers to work to close the funding gap facing health and social care partnerships and value Scotland’s care workforce. Further details available for S6M-19977 Neil Gray S6M-19977.1 As an amendment to motion S6M-19977 in the name of Jackie Baillie (Crisis in Social Care), leave out from “Scottish Government’s” to end and insert “UK Government must reverse its hostile and damaging migration policies, which have led to a 77% drop in the number of Health and Social Care visas granted, which in turn is having a devastating impact on the social care sector across Scotland; welcomes the valuable contribution that international workers make to Scotland’s care sector, communities and economy, and notes that the Scottish social care sector has called for the reversal of these harmful policies; reiterates that Scotland is a welcoming nation and that the Scottish Government must continue to ensure that those who have chosen to make Scotland their home can continue to do so; calls for a reversal of the increase in employer national insurance contributions, which has placed an additional £84 million pressure on the sector; recognises that the 2025-26 Budget includes over £15 billion for the local government settlement, including almost £2.2 billion for social care integration, but agrees that the Scottish Government must continue to work closely with partners across the sector, including funding local government and the third sector, to continue making improvements for the social care workforce, and all of those who they support.” Further details available for S6M-19977.1 Dr Sandesh Gulhane S6M-19977.2 As an amendment to motion S6M-19977 in the name of Jackie Baillie (Crisis in Social Care), leave out from ", and calls" to end and insert "; recognises the significant impact that delays to social care packages and inadequate community-based social care provision have on the NHS, including longer avoidable stays in hospital; condemns the waste of £30 million for developing the now abandoned plans for a National Care Service; urges the Scottish Government to address record levels of delayed discharge and rising waiting times for social care assessments, and calls on the Scottish Ministers to close the funding gaps faced by health and social care partnerships by ensuring councils are appropriately funded, establish a proper workforce plan for social care to improve recruitment and retention of staff, and make sure that the value of Scotland’s care workforce is properly recognised." Further details available for S6M-19977.2 followed by Scottish Labour Party Debate: Transparency in Tackling Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Pauline McNeill S6M-19980 That the Parliament believes that there should be independent oversight of the Police Scotland review into group-based sexual exploitation of children, and calls on the Scottish Government to urgently clarify whether it will conduct an inquiry into grooming gangs in Scotland. Further details available for S6M-19980 Jenny Gilruth S6M-19980.2 As an amendment to motion S6M-19980 in the name of Pauline McNeill (Transparency in Tackling Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse), insert at end “, and, in doing so, to give consideration to the continuing work of the statutory Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, which is considering the abuse of children in care in Scotland, the effects of that abuse and if changes to the law, policies or procedures are needed; recognises the independence of Police Scotland and that the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 stipulates that the Chief Constable is responsible for the policing of Scotland, and is accountable to the Scottish Police Authority, and acknowledges that the information and data being gathered by members of the National Child Abuse and Exploitation Strategic Group is necessary to ensure that informed evidence-based decisions are taken on the need for further independent inquiries or reviews.” Further details available for S6M-19980.2 Russell Findlay S6M-19980.1 As an amendment to motion S6M-19980 in the name of Pauline McNeill (Transparency in Tackling Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse), leave out from “clarify” to end and insert "establish an inquiry into grooming gangs in Scotland." Further details available for S6M-19980.1 followed by Decision Time followed by Members’ Business: Bereavement Support and Awareness Elena Whitham S6M-18847 That the Parliament recognises that everyone in Scotland, including those in Carrick, Cumnock, and Doon Valley, will experience a bereavement, and notes the view that good bereavement support is needed to guide people through what can be a difficult time; understands that frameworks have been put in place by the Scottish and UK governments that set out guidance on how proper bereavement care should be offered across society; notes the 2022 report from the UK Commission on Bereavement, Bereavement is everyone’s business, which provided policy recommendations for the Scottish and UK governments to adopt; understands that a stigma exists surrounding bereavement and its discussion; notes research from Sue Ryder, which suggests that bereavement costs the UK economy an estimated £23 billion each year in lost Gross Value Added, and the UK Treasury an estimated £8 billion in reduced tax revenues; acknowledges the view that this could be improved with better support and care, and notes the belief that a better understanding of grief and bereavement is required by all, particularly among young people. Further details available for S6M-18847