Meeting of the Parliament

Portfolio Questions Rural Affairs and Islands Michelle Thomson S6O-01900 1. To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the final details of its proposed Agriculture Bill. Graham Simpson S6O-01901 2. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues and councils regarding improving connectivity for Scotland’s islands. Sharon Dowey S6O-01902 3. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the potential impact on the drink industry supply chain of the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme. Kenneth Gibson S6O-01903 4. To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to its cross-government co-ordination on islands policies, what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding any impact on rural and island communities of the closure of outdoor education centres. Gillian Mackay S6O-01904 5. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the steps that it is taking to improve the management of inshore fisheries, in light of the reported increasing pressures on fishers and fish stocks in Scotland's coastal regions. Alexander Burnett S6O-01905 6. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on avian flu in Scotland. Jamie Greene S6O-01906 7. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the potential impact of the Deposit Return Scheme on small-scale drinks producers. Daniel Johnson S6O-01907 8. To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support local, independent food and drink businesses in rural areas. Health and Social Care Sue Webber S6O-01908 1. To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase the number of student nurses. Monica Lennon S6O-01909 2. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to trade unions and charities forming a "coalition of concern" to request that the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill is paused to allow further co-design and consultation. Colin Beattie S6O-01910 3. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that the number of applicants applying to study nursing in Scotland does not drop further in the future, in light of UCAS data reportedly showing that the number of applicants has fallen by 24% compared to the same point last year. David Torrance S6O-01911 4. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the "waiting well" agenda, in light of the recent roundtable event on supporting patients that was hosted by Scotland Versus Arthritis. Roz McCall S6O-01912 5. To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to eliminate long waits in A&E departments within NHS Fife. Neil Bibby S6O-01913 6. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in light of January's Prostate Cancer UK data on regional inequalities in prostate cancer diagnoses. Natalie Don S6O-01914 7. To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the recommendations in the 2023 series on breastfeeding by The Lancet , which include calls for governments to provide more accurate and timely information about breastfeeding and infant behaviours, an end to any exploitative marketing used by the baby formula milk industry, and more recognition of any economic contribution that breastfeeding makes to society. Alasdair Allan S6O-01915 8. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on NHS Western Isles’ recruitment of a new permanent GP and hospital doctor for the islands of Barra and Vatersay. followed by Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Debate: Launching a Successful Deposit Return Scheme Maurice Golden S6M-07975 That the Parliament believes that a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) can make a positive contribution to increasing the rate of recycling and reducing litter for drinks containers; recognises that the Scottish Government has been committed to introducing a DRS since 2013; welcomes the widespread support that the scheme’s environmental objectives have received from businesses, and recognises their concerns over key operational elements of the scheme; understands that businesses, and waste management experts have called for at least 18 months’ notice prior to the scheme launch, and that, with less than six months until the proposed launch, information is still required by stakeholders to both ensure compliance and maximise the operational success of the scheme; notes the findings of the Gateway Review Final Report, which stated that “…a fully functioning and compliant DRS cannot be in operation for the revised August 2023 schedule”, and calls for an urgent independent review of the launch date to enable a successful launch as soon as practically possible. Lorna Slater S6M-07975.2 As an amendment to motion S6M-07975 in the name of Maurice Golden (Launching a Successful Deposit Return Scheme), leave out from "Scottish Government" to end and insert "Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Regulations 2020, which establish the approach and structure of Scotland’s DRS, were agreed by the Parliament in May 2020; welcomes the recent progress made by Circularity Scotland, SEPA, the Scottish Government and the UK Government in finalising the key operational elements of the scheme; further welcomes the package of measures recently announced by Circularity Scotland to support producers; notes that the most recent review in October 2022 concluded that 'the DRS Programme has gained increased momentum and is in a much improved position'; understands that Scotland’s DRS will make an important contribution to cutting climate emissions, and calls on the Scottish Government to continue to take a pragmatic approach to implementation, working with industry to identify and address concerns." Colin Smyth S6M-07975.1 As an amendment to motion S6M-07975 in the name of Maurice Golden (Launching a Successful Deposit Return Scheme), insert at end “; acknowledges that an effective modern deposit return scheme reduces carbon emissions and waste; welcomes the changes that have been made to the proposals since the regulations were first made; recognises that concerns from some businesses, in particular small producers and retailers, remain over operational elements of the scheme, and urges the Scottish Government to consider further changes ahead of any introduction, including a grace period for small producers, exemptions for low volume producers, and an opt-in for small retailers to ensure delivery of a viable Deposit Return Scheme that helps meet Scotland’s net zero ambitions.” followed by Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Debate: A9 Dualling Graham Simpson S6M-07977 That the Parliament believes that the Scottish Government’s failure to deliver on its promise to dual the A9 between Perth and Inverness by 2025 is a betrayal; recognises the vital importance of this route to the economic and social wellbeing of the communities it serves; notes the serious safety implications of failing to meet the commitment to dual, with lives lost and serious accidents having occurred since the commitment was made, and calls on the Scottish Government to provide a specific date for when a revised timescale of works and costs will be published, and to ensure that Transport Scotland publishes a quarterly update setting out progress against published targets. Jenny Gilruth S6M-07977.3 As an amendment to motion S6M-07977 in the name of Graham Simpson (A9 Dualling), leave out from "believes" to end and insert “acknowledges the significant investment by the Scottish Government in sustainable transport infrastructure in the Highlands, including the £330 million enhancements to the Inverness to Aberdeen railway line, the £57 million upgrade of the Highland Main Line between Perth and Inverness, the new £42 million Inverness Airport train station, passing loop and signalling, and over £430 million invested to date on dualling the A9 between Perth and Inverness; notes the progress on dualling this part of the A9, including the opening of two sections, as well as the confirmation by the Scottish Ministers that the statutory process for a further eight sections will be completed; is concerned by the impact of Brexit and the UK Government's economic mismanagement, which have caused increased labour and material costs, on the A9 dualling programme, including the Tomatin to Moy project; welcomes the intention of the Scottish Government to engage further with the relevant local members on the A9 dualling programme and to set out a renewed timescale for completion of the dualling programme to the Parliament later in 2023, and further welcomes the early progress being made on the £5 million package of short-term measures to make the A9 safer for all road users.” Neil Bibby S6M-07977.1 As an amendment to motion S6M-07977 in the name of Graham Simpson (A9 Dualling), insert at end "; notes the statement made by the Minister for Transport on 8 February 2023 that the Scottish Government is still 'absolutely committed' to dualling the A9, and believes that this project is a priority and should be progressed as a matter of urgency." followed by Legislative Consent Motion: Shark Fins Bill - UK Legislation Mairi Gougeon S6M-07983 That the Parliament agrees that the relevant provisions of the Shark Fins Bill, introduced in the House of Commons on 15 June 2022, and as amended at its committee stage on 16 November 2022, relating to shark finning, so far as these matters fall within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament or alter the executive competence of the Scottish Ministers, should be considered by the UK Parliament. followed by Decision Time followed by Members' Business — S6M-07345 Jenni Minto: Special Tribunal on Russian Aggression in Ukraine That the Parliament notes the support, including among people in the Argyll and Bute constituency, for efforts to seek justice and accountability for the reported atrocities committed by Russian troops during their invasion of Ukraine, as well as for what it sees as the crime of the war itself; considers that the decision by the Russian Federation to launch attacks on Ukraine poses a grave challenge to the post-1945 international order; believes that, in line with international law, the invasion has provided for individual criminal responsibility for those who plan, initiate or execute wars of aggression; notes the support for the ongoing investigations into Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, including those before the International Court of Justice, International Criminal Court and European Court of Human Rights; further notes the calls for the establishment of an ad hoc special tribunal with a mandate to investigate and prosecute the crime of aggression allegedly committed by the political and military leadership of the Russian Federation; notes the suggestions to apply the definition of the crime of aggression based on Article 8 bis of the Rome Statute; further notes the calls for guarantees that accountability will extend to government and political officials; welcomes the reported exercise of jurisdiction by the International Criminal Court over war crimes, crimes against humanity, and attempted genocide on the territory of Ukraine; considers that Russian co-operation with such a trial may be one key metric by which we can judge that Europe is on a path towards peace; believes that a Ukrainian victory is necessary for the integrity of the international system, as are, it considers, justice and accountability for Russian crimes, and notes the view that accountability for the crime of aggression against Ukraine must be secured.