Meeting of the Parliament

Portfolio Questions Constitution, External Affairs and Culture Emma Harper S6O-03022 1. To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to cultural organisations to promote Robert Burns this Burns season. Christine Grahame S6O-03023 2. To ask the Scottish Government what support it can offer to assist in the establishing of a small museum or exhibition centre in Galashiels to celebrate the life and times of Robert Coltart, the author of the children’s song, Ally Bally Bee. Rona Mackay S6O-03024 3. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its funding for humanitarian assistance in Gaza. Alex Rowley S6O-03025 4. To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the potential impact on health and wellbeing of people in Scotland, what action it can take in response to reported calls for free-to-air broadcasting of Scotland's national team football matches. Kaukab Stewart S6O-03026 5. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the funding that it has made available for humanitarian aid for people affected by the conflict in Gaza. Ash Regan S6O-03027 6. To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its work to further the case for Scottish independence, what its position is on whether it could hold a referendum on the powers of the Scottish Parliament. Tess White S6O-03028 7. To ask the Scottish Government how it sets the priorities for its international offices each year. Meghan Gallacher S6O-03029 8. To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to support the music industry, in relation to sustaining small grassroots venues. Justice and Home Affairs Russell Findlay S6O-03030 1. To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to prevent drugs being smuggled into prisons. Jamie Halcro Johnston S6O-03031 2. To ask the Scottish Government what its priorities are for tackling crime and antisocial behaviour in the Highlands and Islands. Edward Mountain S6O-03032 3. To ask the Scottish Government whether it anticipates that the total cost of HMP Highland will remain within the £139.5 million budget by its planned completion in June 2025. Rhoda Grant S6O-03033 4. To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to tackle any police staffing shortages and operational capacity issues in the Highlands and Islands. Clare Haughey S6O-03034 5. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support survivors of domestic abuse while they are engaged in the justice system. Alexander Stewart S6O-03035 6. To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that the housing of adult male prisoners at HMP & YOI Polmont is being considered, what its position is on whether such an announcement should be made to the Parliament. Brian Whittle S6O-03036 7. To ask the Scottish Government what evidence it used as the basis for its decision to bring HMP Kilmarnock into public ownership. Murdo Fraser S6O-03037 8. To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the former Lord Advocate, Frank Mulholland, should make himself available to the Parliament to answer questions, in relation to matters for which he was responsible in his former role, in connection with Horizon information technology prosecutions in Scotland. followed by Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Debate: UK Covid-19 Inquiry Revelations Douglas Ross S6M-12010 That the Parliament expresses its concern at the evidence revealed from the UK Covid-19 Inquiry from Scottish Government ministers, special advisers and officials, both past and present, on their handling of the COVID-19 pandemic; calls for the Parliament’s COVID-19 Recovery Committee to be reconstituted for the purpose of providing parliamentary scrutiny of evidence revealed by the Inquiry; recognises that the former First Minister promised to handover WhatsApp messages to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry; believes that the former First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, and the former Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, have failed grieving families by deleting evidence that they knew would be required for the Inquiry; further believes that the current First Minister has misled the public on the detail of the retention of his WhatsApp messages, and recommends that all three be referred to the independent adviser on the Scottish Ministerial Code so that COVID-19-bereaved families and the public can get the answers that they deserve. Shona Robison S6M-12010.5 As an amendment to motion S6M-12010 in the name of Douglas Ross (UK Covid-19 Inquiry Revelations), leave out from "expresses" to end and insert "welcomes the work of the independent judge-led UK Covid-19 Inquiry and Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry to help learn lessons to ensure that the nation can be best prepared for any future emergent pandemic viruses; recognises that the COVID-19 pandemic saw the loss of life across the country, and again offers its condolences to the families and friends of those who died during the pandemic; notes that 28,000 messages and 19,000 documents have been handed to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry from the Scottish Government; agrees that one area of concern, from which lessons must be learned from the handling of the pandemic, is the size and scale of potential fraud in PPE contracts that were overseen by the UK Government; notes that this will be considered by both the UK Covid-19 Inquiry and the relevant prosecutorial authorities; supports the establishment of a UK 'COVID corruption commissioner' to seek to recoup public funds lost to waste and fraud, and believes that all governments should engage fully with the UK Covid-19 Inquiry to enable their actions and decisions during the pandemic to be scrutinised, so that COVID-19-bereaved families and the public get answers to the questions that they have." Jackie Baillie S6M-12010.3 As an amendment to motion S6M-12010 in the name of Douglas Ross (UK Covid-19 Inquiry Revelations), insert at end ", and regrets that the Scottish National Party has, for almost 17 years, presided over a culture of secrecy in government." followed by Decision Time followed by Members' Business — S6M-11073 Ben Macpherson: Enhancing Scottish Football That the Parliament celebrates what it sees as a current successful period for the Scottish national football teams; believes that, collectively as a nation, Scotland should seek to build on this progress and achievement, and therefore make further improvements to realise even more of Scotland’s footballing potential, including in the Edinburgh Northern and Leith constituency; recognises, with its determination to seek to enhance Scottish football at all levels, the work of the Scottish Football Supporters Association (SFSA) by initiating, coordinating and publishing a fan-led review of the game in Scotland, titled Rebuilding Scottish Football: A Fan Led Review of The Game in Scotland, which was published in June 2023; notes that the SFSA-sponsored review includes recommendations for strengthening and extending the role of football as a sport that is accessible to all in the population who wish to engage and participate, as a major cultural industry for the nation, as a means for encouraging positive social change, and as a source of substantial individual and community benefit especially in relation to physical and mental wellbeing; further notes the issues raised in the fan-led review and the belief that there are shared merits to considering these on a collaborative, cross-party basis with stakeholders, and, in particular, with the Scottish Football Association (SFA) and Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL); notes the key recommendation of the fan-led review that the governance, finance and conduct of Scottish football would benefit from independent scrutiny and, as necessary, appropriate regulation, which it understands is being undertaken in England and discussed within and amongst football communities worldwide, and acknowledges calls for there to be further consultation on the future development of Scottish football, including its oversight and governance, for the benefit of the continued enhancement of Scottish football.