Meeting of the Parliament

Portfolio Questions Deputy First Minister Responsibilities, Economy and Gaelic Marie McNair S6O-05155 1. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage businesses to implement the real Living Wage, in light of reports that Scotland's level of real Living Wage employers is, proportionately, five times that of the UK as a whole. Jamie Halcro Johnston S6O-05156 2. To ask the Scottish Government what economic assessment it has undertaken of the potential impact of proposed workers' camps in and around communities across the Highlands and Islands. Edward Mountain S6O-05157 3. To ask the Scottish Government how much in total has been paid from the public purse to Ferguson Marine since the award of the contracts for both the Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa. Richard Leonard S6O-05158 4. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its engagement with the Financial Conduct Authority and other organisations regarding the impact on policyholders of the withdrawal of the Family Protection Plan by C Mutual and Maiden Life Försäkrings. Kenneth Gibson S6O-05159 5. To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the UK Government regarding the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Pride in Place Programme. Keith Brown S6O-05160 6. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress with delivery of the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal. Clare Haughey S6O-05161 7. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the UK Government's Pride in Place Programme in relation to its impact on devolved issues. Pauline McNeill S6O-05162 8. To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to improve Glasgow City’s regional economy, in light of the economic effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on the city. Finance and Local Government Maurice Golden S6O-05163 1. To ask the Scottish Government how the new Scottish Aggregates Tax, due to be introduced in April 2026, will contribute to creating a circular economy. Fulton MacGregor S6O-05164 2. To ask the Scottish Government what support is being provided to groups and people to make use of the Community Asset Transfer Scheme. Gordon MacDonald S6O-05165 3. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its engagement with the UK Government regarding the upcoming UK Budget and any implications for Scotland’s public finances. Audrey Nicoll S6O-05166 4. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a response to COSLA’s request for additional funding to support local authorities in the forthcoming Budget. Karen Adam S6O-05167 5. To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of UK fiscal decisions on the Scottish Budget and the certainty of local government funding. James Dornan S6O-05168 6. To ask the Scottish Government — [Withdrawn] Liz Smith S6O-05169 7. To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the Scottish Fiscal Commission's recently published Scottish median incomes fact sheet. Carol Mochan S6O-05170 8. To ask the Scottish Government how much it has allocated in its Budget for the improvement of road safety on the A77 trunk road. followed by Urgent Question Douglas Ross To ask the Scottish Government how it will recognise the Scottish Men’s National Team qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 1998. followed by Scottish Labour Party Debate: Scotland's Skills System Daniel Johnson S6M-19756 That the Parliament believes that Scotland’s skills system is letting down young people and holding back economic growth, and further believes that there needs to be a new partnership between education and industry, with better careers advice in schools central to it, and new Scottish industrial pathways to link school subjects to future careers, guaranteed industrial placements for secondary school pupils including in industry and a clearing system for apprenticeships, so that good candidates do not fall out of the system. Further details available for S6M-19756 Ben Macpherson S6M-19756.2 As an amendment to motion S6M-19756 in the name of Daniel Johnson (Scotland's Skills System), leave out from first “believes” to end and insert “agrees that there needs to be greater partnership between education and industry, with better careers advice in schools central to it, and clear and coherent Scottish pathways to link school and college courses to future careers, improved placements for secondary school pupils, and better information on career choices, job prospects and earnings, alongside an ongoing commitment to apprenticeships; acknowledges the significant progress made over the years to deliver a record number of apprentices in training at the end of 2024-25; notes that, despite the impact of Brexit and a failing UK economic model, resulting in workforce challenges and barriers to trade, Scotland is the best performing part of the UK for inward investment outside of London, has a lower unemployment rate than the UK, and has near record positive destinations, and agrees that independence offers the best opportunity for Scotland’s economy to grow and create wealth and prosperity for all.” Further details available for S6M-19756.2 Murdo Fraser S6M-19756.1 As an amendment to motion S6M-19756 in the name of Daniel Johnson (Scotland's Skills System), leave out from “, with better” to end and insert “; believes that this must be underpinned by a demand-led skills system that equips young people with the qualifications that employers need to grow Scotland’s economy; notes that the Scottish National Party administration has failed to pass on over £170 million of Apprenticeship Levy funding and has provided around 10,000 fewer apprenticeship places than learning providers requested, contributing to a widening skills gap in key sectors including hospitality, construction, engineering and care; further notes that colleges have faced a 20% real-terms funding cut, leading to job losses, falling student numbers and financial instability, and calls for urgent reform to invest in colleges, fix Scotland’s broken apprenticeship system, address skills shortages and allow local employers to shape training that matches their workforce needs.” Further details available for S6M-19756.1 followed by Scottish Labour Party Debate: Education Pam Duncan-Glancy S6M-19754 That the Parliament recognises that pupils and staff are being failed by the deteriorating learning and working environment in Scottish schools, overseen by the Scottish National Party administration. Further details available for S6M-19754 Jenny Gilruth S6M-19754.2 As an amendment to motion S6M-19754 in the name of Pam Duncan-Glancy (Education), leave out from "that pupils" to end and insert "the challenges in Scotland’s schools post-COVID-19 pandemic, particularly with attendance and an increase in additional support needs (ASN); welcomes the additional funding agreed to in the Budget for 2025-26 to support outcomes for children with ASN, and to support and enhance the ASN workforce; acknowledges the key role that staff and teachers play to support children to succeed; welcomes the agreement last week, which ensures that Scotland’s teachers remain the highest paid in the UK, with an uplift of 7.5% over two years; remains committed to undertaking further work to reduce teacher workload, which sits alongside the commitment to reduce class contact time, and agrees to recognise and celebrate the successes of Scotland’s young people." Further details available for S6M-19754.2 Miles Briggs S6M-19754.1 As an amendment to motion S6M-19754 in the name of Pam Duncan-Glancy (Education), insert at end “; notes with deep concern the decline in standards and increasing pupil violence, which are intensifying pressures on teachers and support staff; believes that these trends reflect years of underinvestment and a failure to provide the support and resources needed to maintain safe and effective learning environments, and calls on the Scottish Government to deliver urgent action to raise attainment, improve discipline in classrooms and support teachers to deliver the high-quality education that every young person in Scotland deserves.” Further details available for S6M-19754.1 followed by Urgent Question: Liam Kerr To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that Professor Alexis Jay's comments on grooming gang inquiries were misrepresented during a debate on the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill. followed by Decision Time followed by Members’ Business: Finlay Carson – The Growing Tide of Ongoing Challenges Facing Rural Communities That the Parliament notes the reported ongoing challenges faced by rural communities, including those in Stranraer, Wigtownshire and across Dumfries and Galloway, in accessing timely and high-quality healthcare; believes that people in these areas often experience longer waits for GP appointments, hospital treatment and emergency services, compared with the national average; expresses particular concern about the reported current shortage of GPs in Wigtownshire, which is placing additional strain on practices and impacting patient care; acknowledges the additional pressures on NHS boards and staff in delivering care across large geographic areas; notes the view that every person, regardless of where they live, should have equal access to essential health services; further notes the calls on the Scottish Government to set out clear plans to tackle rural health inequalities, including measures to recruit and retain healthcare professionals, including what it sees as much-needed midwives and dentists, address GP shortages, improve ambulance response times and expand diagnostic and treatment capacity in Galloway Community Hospital and other community health hubs, and notes the calls for both an increased provision of community beds and step-down facilities to reduce delayed discharge and enable care closer to home, and for the Scottish Government to work with communities to ensure that future health policy reflects the needs of rural Scotland. Further details available for S6M-19548