Meeting of the Parliament

General Questions Keith Brown S6O-02773 1. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress towards addressing the reported concerns raised by local residents about HMP Stirling. Christine Grahame S6O-02774 2. To ask the Scottish Government what measures it has in place to reduce disruption to public services due to severe winter weather. Alexander Stewart S6O-02775 3. To ask the Scottish Government how many civil servants worked on the production of the latest Building a New Scotland paper on immigration and EU policy. Jamie Halcro Johnston S6O-02776 4. To ask the Scottish Government how many health services across the Highlands and Islands have been downgraded or lost entirely over the last 16 years. Neil Bibby S6O-02777 5. To ask the Scottish Government when the education secretary last met with Renfrewshire Council, and what issues were discussed. Bob Doris 6. [Not Lodged] Audrey Nicoll S6O-02779 7. To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with third sector agencies to improve outcomes for vulnerable people. Monica Lennon S6O-02780 8. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the roll-out of HPV home testing and plans to prevent and eradicate cervical cancer. followed by First Minister's Questions Douglas Ross S6F-02551 1. Question to be taken in Chamber. Anas Sarwar S6F-02552 2. Question to be taken in Chamber. Edward Mountain S6F-02557 3. To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government policy to require households to replace their fossil fuel boilers with heat pumps or other green energy systems in off gas properties from 2025 and in on gas areas from 2030 is still going ahead. Alasdair Allan S6F-02572 4. To ask the First Minister what support the Scottish Government is providing to households that are experiencing the pressure of increased energy bills, in light of Citizens Advice Scotland launching its Worried This Winter awareness campaign. Sue Webber S6F-02562 5. To ask the First Minister what work is being done to support the expanding role of the GP surgery. Kenneth Gibson S6F-02554 6. To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the Autumn Statement. followed by Members' Business — S6M-11227 Martin Whitfield: Keeping the Promise Oversight Board Report That the Parliament notes that on 16 March 2021 the Scottish Parliament committed to delivering what it considers a “revolution in children’s rights”, by unanimously passing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill; acknowledges The Promise Oversight Board Report Two, which was published in June 2023; notes that the report examines three thematic areas, including education, brothers and sisters and homelessness; further notes the Oversight Board’s concern that Keeping the Promise is not being fully considered and implemented across all relevant policy areas; notes the findings of the report, which highlight the challenging financial landscape facing local authorities and the fears that resources focus more on supporting existing services, rather than upscaling to meet the aims of The Promise; further notes the request in the report for greater evidence that funding is not being used to simply mitigate cuts, and for a strategic investment plan to deliver the required change so that at least 5% of all community-based health and social care spend will be on preventative whole-family support measures by 2030; notes the view that all care experienced children and young people must have a range of individual in-school relationships that they can trust and rely on, with school staff being trauma-informed and using nurture practices, and school moves avoided; further notes the view, according to the report, that there must be more data transparency on informal exclusions, as well as on the use of limited timetables and attendance data specifically for care experienced young people, and that reduced timetables must be reviewed regularly and must not become another form of exclusion, with care experienced young people being supported in attending and attaining all subjects, at all levels; notes the belief that, where living with their family is not possible, children must stay with their brothers and sisters, where it is safe to do so, so that they belong to a loving home; understands that care experienced people have more than double the chance of experiencing homelessness, usually before their 30th birthday; notes the view that more must be done so that there are housing pathways for care experienced young people, including restarting the prevention pathway for care leavers; further notes that, according to the report, “care experienced” is not defined in statute and that this is expected to be rectified in the Scottish Government’s forthcoming The Promise Bill; notes the view that it is important to recognise all types of care experience and to understand what it means for the individual person and their family so that their experiences are not discounted, and further notes the belief that Keeping the Promise is non-negotiable and that any delay would not keep the promise made to children, families and the care experienced community, including in the South Scotland region.