Meeting of the Parliament

General Questions Christine Grahame S6O-01796 1. To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with NHS Borders and NHS Lothian. Brian Whittle S6O-01797 2. To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the role of local government services in improving public health and wellbeing. Rona Mackay S6O-01798 3. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of the Bairns' Hoose for young people within the justice system. Gillian Martin S6O-01799 4. To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to help recovery from adverse childhood experiences. Fulton MacGregor S6O-01800 5. To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with North Lanarkshire Council regarding a new-build Gartcosh Primary School. Ariane Burgess S6O-01801 6. To ask the Scottish Government what recent engagement it has had with community housing enablers, such as the Communities Housing Trust in the Highlands and Islands region, to support the delivery of its commitments regarding rural homes. Gillian Mackay S6O-01802 7. To ask the Scottish Government what work is underway to assess the impact of vapes on public health. Maggie Chapman S6O-01803 8. To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address any racial profiling practices in Police Scotland. followed by First Minister's Questions Douglas Ross S6F-01708 1. Question to be taken in Chamber. Anas Sarwar S6F-01709 2. Question to be taken in Chamber. Stephen Kerr S6F-01716 3. To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government has taken to bring the strike action by teachers to an end. Stephanie Callaghan S6F-01736 4. To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the report, Closing the Accountability Gap, published by National Autistic Society Scotland. Sue Webber S6F-01727 5. To ask the First Minister what progress the Scottish Government has made in clearing the reported backlog of people waiting for key diagnostic tests. Kenneth Gibson S6F-01719 6. To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to encourage people to become foster carers, following reports that only 40 of 400 children referred to Barnardo’s fostering service in Glasgow and Edinburgh have been placed with families in the last year. followed by Members' Business — S6M-06671 Maggie Chapman: Fire Brigades Union DECON Campaign That the Parliament commends the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) in Scotland for leading the DECON Campaign, whose aim is to protect the health and save the lives of firefighters by reducing exposure to harmful contaminants that cause cancer and disease; recognises what it sees as the fundamental role that research and data play in fully understanding the risks that firefighters face in their day-to-day working lives; understands that in 2022 the World Health Organization declared occupational exposure experienced by firefighters as carcinogenic, a preventable cause of human cancer; further understands that, in the UK, the FBU, alongside Professor Anna Stec from the University of Central Lancashire, has led research into the links between cancer and firefighting, as well as best practices that can help mitigate potential risks from fire contaminants, including commissioning and working with independent researchers to develop a Firefighters Cancer and Disease Registry; applauds the FBU and its partners for producing best practice guidance and training for firefighters alongside the DECON campaign; understands that DECON is the largest study of its kind in the UK; expresses its solidarity with all involved in the campaign, and wishes them every success in improving the lives of firefighters in the North East Scotland region, more widely across Scotland and throughout the UK. followed by Portfolio Questions Net Zero, Energy and Transport Rachael Hamilton 1. [Not Lodged] Graeme Dey S6O-01789 2. To ask the Scottish Government what plans Forestry and Land Scotland has for the Glenprosen Estate. Alexander Stewart S6O-01790 3. To ask the Scottish Government whether it has carried out an assessment of the potential impact of its decision to end the Network Support Grant Plus for bus operators. Paul Sweeney S6O-01791 4. To ask the Scottish Government what economic analysis it considered prior to awarding ferry contracts reportedly worth £115 million to a shipyard in Turkey. Emma Harper S6O-01792 5. To ask the Scottish Government how the Strategic Transport Projects Review 2 will improve rail infrastructure, journey times and rail connectivity across the South Scotland region. Collette Stevenson S6O-01793 6. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to help increase public transport use in East Kilbride. Ruth Maguire S6O-01794 7. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address fuel poverty in North Ayrshire. Murdo Fraser S6O-01795 8. To ask the Scottish Government when the final design for the dualling of the A9 Perth to Inverness road between the Pass of Birnam and the Tay Crossing will be published. followed by Ministerial Statement: Scotland’s Biodiversity Strategy followed by Scottish Government Debate: Carbon Neutral Islands Project – First Steps Towards Decarbonisation Mairi Gougeon S6M-07558 That the Parliament welcomes the Scottish Government’s publication of a progress report on the Carbon Neutral Islands Project; notes that the first steps to support the six islands towards becoming fully carbon neutral by 2040 are underway; recognises that the six islands included in the project will act as lighthouse communities, spreading knowledge and good practices to other Scottish islands; acknowledges that communities are at the heart of the project and that they will be supported to take advantage of the opportunities that the transition to net zero presents; continues to support this initiative and the soon-to-be-published community climate change action plans, and acknowledges that the six Carbon Neutral Islands will demonstrate Scotland’s climate change ambitions on the international stage. Liam Kerr S6M-07558.3 As an amendment to motion S6M-07558 in the name of Mairi Gougeon (Carbon Neutral Islands Project – First Steps Towards Decarbonisation), insert at end “; welcomes UK Government investment in carbon-reducing initiatives on Scotland’s islands, such as the work of Reflex Orkney; notes the good work currently underway at a local level in many island communities; believes that Carbon Neutral Islands can only be achieved through a co-ordinated cross-government approach; emphasises that the desired outcome will require adequate, timely and demonstrably beneficial, targeted investment and resource in transport to and within the islands; recognises the need for a fit-for-purpose ferry fleet that achieves equally carbon-neutral objectives, adequate EV charging or hydrogen alternatives and opportunities to enable islanders, businesses and public transport to move to non-carbon or electric vehicles; advocates for a holistic approach to housing stock and insulation, transport, localised energy provision and storage and support for small businesses working towards net-zero operability, and believes that full decarbonisation of these islands will only be successful if all cogs of the governmental wheel back up that ambition with suitable investment.” Rhoda Grant S6M-07558.2 As an amendment to motion S6M-07558 in the name of Mairi Gougeon (Carbon Neutral Islands Project – First Steps Towards Decarbonisation), insert at end "; recognises that the cost of living crisis is hitting some of the islands’ communities hardest, including fuel poverty being highest among some of the islands that are not included in the Carbon Neutral Islands Project, and therefore awaits Scottish Government plans to assist all islands during the energy crisis; calls for guarantees that a just transition for workers is included in all areas of the strategy, and believes that the Scottish Government, UK Government, local authorities and all other island-related agencies must be involved to truly reach net zero.” Liam McArthur S6M-07558.1 As an amendment to motion S6M-07558 in the name of Mairi Gougeon (Carbon Neutral Islands Project – First Steps Towards Decarbonisation), insert at end ", which it believes must also be underpinned by a commitment to decarbonise lifeline ferry services across all routes that serve Scotland's island communities." followed by Decision Time