Meeting of the Parliament

Portfolio Questions Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands Meghan Gallacher S6O-04608 1. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it is challenging the UK Government’s proposed inheritance tax changes for farmers. Patrick Harvie S6O-04609 2. To ask the Scottish Government, when authorising fishing licences, what process it follows to comply with any legal duty under section 15 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010, and the judgement in case, The Open Seas Trust v The Scottish Ministers, to act in accordance with the National Marine Plan. Annabelle Ewing S6O-04610 3. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to promote horticulture. Jackie Dunbar S6O-04611 4. To ask the Scottish Government when it last engaged with the UK Government on the subject of food security. Audrey Nicoll S6O-04612 5. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the introduction of Quota Management Groups and whether they would benefit fishers and coastal communities. Murdo Fraser S6O-04613 6. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to figures showing that farm incomes are at a five-year low. Emma Harper S6O-04614 7. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding whether anaerobic digestion facilities can support the decarbonisation of the agricultural sector by providing low-carbon fertiliser and the creation of biogas. Pam Duncan-Glancy S6O-04615 8. To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on implementing the "Land use and agriculture" measures set out in its Climate change action: policy package published in April 2024. Health and Social Care Marie McNair S6O-04616 1. To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to improve outcomes for people with brain tumours. Clare Adamson S6O-04617 2. To ask the Scottish Government what support is currently available for those experiencing long waiting times for an ADHD assessment. Sandesh Gulhane S6O-04618 3. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress made to improve access to and reduce waiting times for breast reconstruction surgery following cancer treatment. Kenneth Gibson S6O-04619 4. To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to reverse the decline in NHS productivity since the COVID-19 pandemic, as referenced in research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Mark Ruskell S6O-04620 5. To ask the Scottish Government what pathways are available to obtain a child ADHD assessment for those who do not have a co-existing mental health disorder that meets the CAMHS mental health criteria and who cannot afford a private assessment. Willie Rennie S6O-04621 6. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported intimation from the British Medical Association that it is considering a formal dispute with it over GP underfunding. Carol Mochan S6O-04622 7. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work that it is doing to improve women’s health outcomes. Sue Webber S6O-04623 8. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve performance and close any treatment gap for prostate cancer, in light of reports that a lower proportion of patients in Scotland are treated within the 62-day target, at 49%, compared with higher rates reported in England. followed by Scottish Government Debate: Programme for Government: Building the Best Future for Scotland Kate Forbes S6M-17437 That the Parliament recognises the actions outlined in the Programme for Government 2025-26 to grow the Scottish economy and eradicate child poverty; further recognises that these missions are inextricably linked, with a strong economy providing access to fair work opportunities and supporting investment in public services and ambitious climate and anti-poverty measures; notes that, over the year ahead, the actions within the Programme for Government will build on Scotland’s economic strengths to address the additional challenges the country faces from economic volatility, capturing the economic opportunities ahead to drive improvements in living standards, reduce child poverty and build a strong foundation for the future, to weather the global economic uncertainty; welcomes the Scottish Government’s continued focus on delivering action across the drivers of child poverty reduction, to increase earned incomes, reduce the costs of living and maximise incomes from social security and benefits in kind, and commits to working together to grow the economy, and deliver on the 2030 child poverty targets unanimously supported by the Scottish Parliament. Murdo Fraser S6M-17437.4 As an amendment to motion S6M-17437 in the name of Kate Forbes (Programme for Government: Building the Best Future for Scotland), leave out from first “the actions” to end and insert “that all good Scottish Government outcomes, including supporting household incomes, reducing poverty, creating wealth and funding public services, depend on delivering stronger economic growth; regrets that, despite the overriding importance of stronger economic growth, the Programme for Government 2025-26 fails to contain the policies needed to deliver it, and instead signals the continuation of the UK’s harshest tax regime on households and businesses, and fails to commit to the actions needed to deliver a growth-promoting regulatory and planning environment, and calls on the Scottish Government to adopt the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party's common-sense proposals to grow the economy, including by reducing taxes on individuals and businesses and by improving the skills of the workforce.” Paul O'Kane S6M-17437.2 As an amendment to motion S6M-17437 in the name of Kate Forbes (Programme for Government: Building the Best Future for Scotland), leave out from first "recognises" to end and insert "believes that, after 18 years, the Scottish National Party (SNP) has taken Scotland in the wrong direction and made every institution in Scotland weaker, with almost one in six people in Scotland on an NHS waiting list, falling attainment, and thousands stuck in poverty or living in inadequate housing or on the streets; regrets that the SNP administration’s failure to use the levers that it has to meet statutory child poverty targets, tackle the housing crisis, reduce violence in schools, provide child and adolescent mental health services when young people need them, and prioritise skills development is denying young people a more prosperous and stable future; recognises that the SNP administration has had no industrial strategy or plan for skills, building a low-growth economy and delivering the lowest wage growth of any region or nation in the UK over the last two years; believes that this economic underperformance has had negative implications for public services and the living standards of families and working people, and that the Programme for Government lacks the scale of action needed to make Scotland’s economy work for people across Scotland, and calls on the Scottish Government to prioritise skills and regional economic development, reform Scotland's enterprise agencies and cut waste, harness the power of technology to help business grow, and ensure that people get the support that they need to find secure work." Lorna Slater S6M-17437.3 As an amendment to motion S6M-17437 in the name of Kate Forbes (Programme for Government: Building the Best Future for Scotland), leave out from first "to grow" to end and insert "could have been an opportunity for bold, decisive action towards building a more equal, healthier and greener Scotland with an economy that works for people and planet; recognises the substantial changes to Scotland’s transport, industry, land use and homes and buildings systems that are required to meet the challenges of the climate emergency, as described by the UK Climate Change Committee; further recognises the need for action to create well-paid, skilled jobs in growing low-carbon industries; believes that tackling poverty requires not only strong, resilient economies that provide access to fair work opportunities and support investment in public services, but also measures that secure the human rights of all citizens, from affordable, accessible housing and education to a social security system based on care and compassion; regrets the weakening of commitments to tackle climate change and the housing emergency, such as the watering down of the proposed Heat in Buildings Bill and the Housing (Scotland) Bill; expresses its dismay that the proposed Bills to tackle misogyny and end conversion practices have been dropped from this Programme for Government, and calls on the Scottish Government to reconsider its position on human rights and equalities legislation and urgently produce an ambitious plan to tax wealth more effectively in Scotland to ensure appropriate investment in public services, support communities and build a fairer Scotland." Jamie Greene S6M-17437.1 As an amendment to motion S6M-17437 in the name of Kate Forbes (Programme for Government: Building the Best Future for Scotland), insert at end "; notes that, whilst the Programme for Government 2025-26 contains plans and policies to eradicate child poverty, the Scottish Government has already missed the interim child poverty targets of less than 18% of children living in relative poverty and less than 14% living in absolute poverty by 2023-24; believes that action is also required on Scotland’s housing and planning systems in order to not only help the economy grow and encourage investment, but also to ensure that everyone has a safe, warm place to call home, particularly given that an estimated 10,360 children and their families are living in temporary accommodation in Scotland; understands that, whilst there are wider economic challenges both domestically and internationally, there remains concern that the work and reform that may be required to eradicate intergenerational poverty is not taking place at the necessary pace, as noted by The Wise Group, and is further concerned that, despite the actions announced in the Programme for Government 2025-26, these will not be enough to drive the economic growth required and the 2030 child poverty targets, of less than 10% of children living in relative poverty, will be missed." followed by Decision Time followed by Members' Business — S6M-17320 Roz McCall: Mental Health Awareness Week 2025 That the Parliament notes that 12 to 18 May 2025 is Mental Health Awareness Week; welcomes the work of the Mental Health Foundation in driving this annual campaign across the country to raise awareness, and improve education and campaigning, to ensure that no one is deprived of the opportunity for good mental health because of who they are, the community they come from or where they live; recognises what it sees as the relevance of this year’s theme of "Community" in emphasising that being part of a safe, positive community is vital for people's mental health and wellbeing; supports the idea that people thrive when they have a strong connection with other people and supportive communities that remind them that they are not alone; notes with concern reports that those living with a mental illness in Scotland continue to be left behind, despite targeted interventions by the Scottish Government and others, and still have a shorter life expectancy than the rest of the population; understands that waiting lists for child and adolescent mental health services remain too long and that access to psychological services is increasingly difficult; considers that the reported closure of autism assessment services around Scotland by health and social care partnerships has left many without access to a diagnosis; notes the belief that addressing poor mental health is something that needs to be done as a society, within communities and as individuals, and commends all who make this week possible.