Meeting of the Parliament

Portfolio Questions Justice and Veterans Graham Simpson S6O-01054 1. To ask the Scottish Government what impact the boycott announced by the Scottish Solicitors Bar Association will have on the number of outstanding trials in Scotland. Meghan Gallacher S6O-01055 2. To ask the Scottish Government when its policy on ending custodial sentences for 16- and 17-year-olds will be implemented. Willie Coffey S6O-01056 3. To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering any reforms to the justice system in relation to convicted and incarcerated persons who own and control property in Scotland. Craig Hoy S6O-01057 4. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the latest recorded crime statistics. Kenneth Gibson 5. [Not Lodged] Sandesh Gulhane S6O-01059 6. To ask the Scottish Government when it last corresponded with Poppyscotland regarding support for veterans. Katy Clark S6O-01060 7. To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve the effectiveness of fatal accident inquiries into deaths in custody. Pam Duncan-Glancy S6O-01061 8. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the veterans secretary has had with the minister for mental wellbeing regarding any urgent action that can be taken to meet the mental health needs of veterans. Finance and the Economy Evelyn Tweed S6O-01062 1. To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on a recent report by the London School of Economics Centre for Economic Performance that states that Brexit-related trade barriers have resulted in a 6% increase in UK food prices. Jackie Dunbar S6O-01063 2. To ask the Scottish Government what its latest engagement has been with the UK Government regarding programmes to deliver a replacement for EU structural funding. Stephanie Callaghan 3. [Not Lodged] Collette Stevenson S6O-01065 4. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support the economy in East Kilbride. Colin Beattie S6O-01066 5. To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on implementing the delivery of its National Strategy for Economic Transformation. Russell Findlay S6O-01067 6. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans for income tax. Jenni Minto S6O-01068 7. To ask the Scottish Government how the Just Transition will support Argyll and Bute's local economy through innovation in the renewables sector. Alex Rowley S6O-01069 8. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address reported shortages in the labour market. followed by Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Debate: Ferry Problems That the Parliament believes that the way the Scottish Government has been running ferry services has been a scandal; calls on the Scottish Government to say why it awarded the contract for ferries 801 and 802 to Ferguson Marine Engineering Limited against the advice of its own experts; is concerned about why 15 stage payments were agreed for each ferry; notes concerns that the deal may have broken EU state aid rules; further notes concerns that the lack of documentary evidence to explain the contract award could be in breach of the law; is disappointed that the Scottish Government failed to listen to the experienced workforce who had concerns about the management of the yard; believes that the yard could have survived without the orders for vessels 801 and 802; agrees with the view of the majority of people in Scotland who think that the Scottish National Party administration has done a bad job of running ferries; is concerned that this will contribute to island depopulation, and calls on the Scottish Government to spell out how it plans to run and procure ferry services in the future. followed by Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Debate: Tackling Violent Crime That the Parliament notes with concern that the number of police-recorded violent crimes is at its highest level in a decade; further notes that Scottish Government decisions have contributed to this rise by underfunding the police, which has led to full-time police officer numbers being at their lowest level since 2008; recognises that the Scottish Government’s justice strategy is failing victims of crime, as is evident through the 931,991 hours of community sentences that have been written off or not yet carried out; notes that organised crime and domestic abuse contribute to a deteriorating picture of crimes of violence in Scotland, and urges the Scottish Government to take action to address this; recognises that the Scottish Government’s justice strategy is failing to keep the public safe by diverting dangerous criminals away from prison, instead allowing them to carry out inadequate non-custodial alternatives; believes that proposals such as those outlined in the Scottish Government’s consultation on bail and release from custody arrangements, which include proposals to automatically release offenders after serving just a third of their prison sentence, do not address the shift in balance in the justice system away from victims, and further distil a lack of confidence in sentencing, and calls, therefore, on the Scottish Government to change strategy by acknowledging that punishment remains an important part of the criminal justice system, and to support proposals contained in the proposed Victims, Criminal Justice and Fatal Accident Inquiries (Scotland) Bill, such as the introduction of Michelle's Law and Suzanne's Law, to improve the landscape of support for the victims of crime, which it believes is currently letting down too many in society. followed by Decision Time followed by Members' Business — S6M-03631 Emma Roddick: LGBTQ+ People's Experiences of Alcohol Services in Scotland That the Parliament welcomes the publication of the report, What are LGBTQ+ people’s experiences of alcohol services in Scotland? A qualitative study of service users and service providers, which was carried out by Prof Carol Emslie and colleagues at Glasgow Caledonian University, and funded by Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP); understands that the report highlights significant alcohol-related health inequalities experienced by LGBTQ+ people in Scotland, including in the Highlands and Islands region; further understands that people who identify as LGBTQ+ are more likely to experience problems with alcohol; considers that the central role of alcohol in the community, combined with barriers to accessing treatment and support, are the key areas that surfaced with regards to alcohol misuse; notes the calls for alcohol services to demonstrate appropriate inclusivity and diversity policies, LGBTQ+ training, and work towards the LGBT Charter; further notes the view that alcohol services need stronger links to mental health services, and notes the recommendations to policy makers that LGBTQ+ people should be considered in the forthcoming Alcohol Treatment Guidelines, that alcohol-free spaces for LGBTQ+ people should be supported, and that the Parliament should show leadership on LGBTQ+ issues to help tackle the stigma that people face.