Meeting of the Parliament

Portfolio Questions Deputy First Minister Responsibilities, Economy and Gaelic Pam Duncan-Glancy S6O-04480 1. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the economy secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the contribution that the cultural sector makes to Glasgow and the west of Scotland’s economy. David Torrance S6O-04481 2. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the steps that it is taking to encourage investment in Scotland's green economy. Karen Adam S6O-04482 3. To ask the Scottish Government what immediate and longer-term actions it can take to support businesses, including in the seafood processing sector, to compete effectively in a UK and global market. John Mason S6O-04483 4. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the provision of Gaelic-medium education at primary level in the Glasgow Shettleston constituency. Roz McCall S6O-04484 5. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle long-term economic inactivity in Fife. Patrick Harvie S6O-04485 6. To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the regulatory approach to AI and any impact that differences between regulations in the UK and the EU could have on Scotland's economy. Evelyn Tweed S6O-04486 7. To ask the Scottish Government, as part of the development and delivery of its economic strategy, what assessment it has made of the contribution of the net zero sector to the economy. Sharon Dowey S6O-04487 8. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to invest in the west of the South Scotland region. Finance and Local Government Clare Adamson S6O-04488 1. To ask the Scottish Government how the Scottish Budget 2025-26 will improve local services in Motherwell and Wishaw. Kenneth Gibson S6O-04489 2. To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be on discretionary funding in the current financial year of the International Financial Reporting Standard 16 changes outlined in its Spring Budget Revision. Oliver Mundell S6O-04490 3. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support local authorities with managing planning applications. Miles Briggs S6O-04491 4. To ask the Scottish Government when ministers last met with the City of Edinburgh Council to discuss the reported financial pressures facing the capital. Christine Grahame S6O-04492 5. To ask the Scottish Government how much it has allocated in its Budget to fund applications to the Rural Affordable Homes for Key Workers Fund, including from housing associations where there have been housing stock transfers from a local authority. Neil Bibby S6O-04493 6. To ask the Scottish Government how much it has allocated in its Budget for revenue and capital funding for Strathclyde Partnership for Transport for 2025-26. Jeremy Balfour S6O-04494 7. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the finance secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the allocation of additional funding for health and social care, in light of the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board's reported plans to end funding for its third sector grant programme. Jamie Halcro Johnston S6O-04495 8. To ask the Scottish Government what ongoing assessment it is undertaking regarding the impact of the visitor levy. followed by Ministerial Statement: Secure Accommodation in Scotland – Capacity followed by Stage 1 Debate: Land Reform (Scotland) Bill Mairi Gougeon S6M-16892 That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill. followed by Decision Time followed by Members' Business — S6M-16539 Maggie Chapman: Ending Destitution in Scotland – a Road Map for Policymakers That the Parliament notes the recent publication by Professor Jen Ang of the legal briefing, Ending Destitution in Scotland – a Road Map for Policymakers; further notes that this report was commissioned by I-SPHERE and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, as part of the Fair Way Scotland partnership, following the publication in September 2024 of the paper Destitution by Design: righting the wrongs of UK immigration policy in Scotland; understands that the legal briefing sets out clear, actionable steps that lie within the powers of the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government to reduce destitution for people coming to Scotland to study, work, join family or seek sanctuary; further understands that there are clear recommendations about access to social security and financial support, housing, transport, health and social care, justice and legal aid, education, and work; notes the view that the Scottish Government can and should be doing more to prevent destitution in Scotland, including in the North East Scotland region; further notes the view that the complexity of UK immigration law, and the challenges of striking the right balance in the exercise of powers within the devolution settlement, must no longer be an excuse for failure to act on the part of the Scottish Government and local authorities, in the face of what it sees as overwhelming evidence of the harms caused to people with no recourse to public funds/other restricted eligibility, and to the communities in which they live; notes the view that Scotland can create a fairer system based on need and the realisation of rights, ensuring that everyone has access to essential services and what they need to live a life of dignity, regardless of their immigration status; further notes the calls on the Scottish Government to act on each of the recommendations, including to review devolved policy to eliminate unintended exclusions from support, to establish and scale up the financial support available, to ensure appropriate training and resources for all frontline workers, and to negotiate a clearer understanding of “public funds”, as defined by the Home Office, and congratulates the Fair Way Scotland Partnership on its ongoing work to prevent destitution in Scotland.