Meeting of the Parliament

Time for Reflection Rev Dr Robin Hill, Church of Scotland minister of Gladsmuir linked with Longniddry followed by Topical Questions Tess White S6T-02747 1. To ask the Scottish Government what its justification is for pursuing legal action in relation to its policy on transgender prisoners, in light of the judgment in the case, For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers. Katy Clark S6T-02748 2. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported comments by Professor Catriona Matheson, former chair of the Drug Deaths Taskforce, that the national mission on drug deaths has failed to deliver robust, evidence-based clinical care for people affected by drug use, due to clinical and practitioner expertise being sidelined. followed by Ministerial Statement: Wildfire Summit followed by Stage 1 Debate: UEFA European Championship (Scotland) Bill Richard Lochhead S6M-19613 That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the UEFA European Championship (Scotland) Bill. Further details available for S6M-19613 followed by Urgent Question Stephen Kerr To ask the Scottish Government whether the culture secretary will correct the record regarding reports that he told a parliamentary committee that he had not been invited to attend a board meeting of Historic Environment Scotland, despite evidence to the contrary. followed by Decision Time followed by Members’ Business: Liam Kerr: The Insights of the Reports of the Energy Transition Institute at Robert Gordon University, Striking the Balance That the Parliament notes the report, Striking the Balance, which was produced by the Energy Transition Institute at Robert Gordon University; understands that it provides predictions for the future of the offshore energy workforce in the UK, which, it states, employs around 154,000 people, including in the North East Scotland region; understands that the report states that a best case outcome could see a need for 210,000 roles in offshore energy production, but that this would only be achievable through the installation of a further 6GW approximately of offshore wind each year and by managing the decline of oil and gas production over a prolonged timeframe; notes the report’s claim that the worst-case situation anticipates around 400 oil and gas job losses in the UK each fortnight across the next five years; acknowledges with concern the report’s claim that, if Scotland does not pursue renewable activities comprehensively and oil and gas production continues to decline, employment across the offshore energy industry could drop from around 75,000 jobs in 2024 to a figure in the range of 45,000 to 63,000 in the initial years of the next decade; welcomes the growth predicted in the report of the number of offshore renewables jobs in the UK, notes with concern, however, the suggestion in the report that the sector will likely struggle to absorb the amount of former oil and gas workers before 2028; recognises the report’s cautioning that a decrease in offshore energy jobs of nearly 20% could take place without decisive or prompt action, and commends the work of the Energy Transition Institute in producing what it sees as rigorous data regarding a pressing issue in Scotland. Further details available for S6M-18800 followed by Members’ Business: Emma Harper: Supporting People Living with Secondary Breast Cancer in Scotland That the Parliament recognises that October 2025 is Breast Cancer Awareness Month; welcomes the raising of awareness of secondary (metastatic) breast cancer, which, it understands, is an incurable disease that affects an estimated 61,000 people across the UK, including around 4,000 in Scotland; acknowledges that this condition occurs when cancer cells spread from the breast to other parts of the body; understands that it is one of the leading causes of death among women under 50 in the UK; believes with concern that many people are unaware of the condition and its symptoms, and that misconceptions persist around its nature and terminology; understands that Public Health Scotland does not currently collect comprehensive data on metastatic cancer, particularly in cases where it is a recurrence of primary breast cancer; notes commitments made in the Scottish Government’s 2016 strategy, Beating Cancer: Ambition and Action, and the 2023-2026 Cancer Action Plan, to progress data collection; further notes calls from charities such as Make 2nds Count and Breast Cancer Now for improved national data collection, better access to specialist care and increased investment in research and support services; commends the work of these organisations in supporting patients and families, raising awareness and advocating for change, and notes requests for the Scottish Government to ensure that the commitment to improve data collection on metastatic cancers is fulfilled by March 2026, and that people living with the condition are better supported, counted and empowered. Submitting member has a registered interest. Further details available for S6M-19043