Meeting of the Parliament

Portfolio Questions: Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands; Health and Social Care Karen Adam S6O-05190 1. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how the Scottish Economic Link licence is working. Claire Baker S6O-05191 2. To ask the Scottish Government what recent work it has undertaken with the agricultural sector to reduce the number of fatalities within the industry. John Mason S6O-05192 3. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress of NatureScot's species licensing review, including timelines for producing and implementing recommendations for improvements alongside charging for licensing services. Annabelle Ewing S6O-05193 4. To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any economic benefits of the growth of aquaculture in Scotland. Kevin Stewart S6O-05194 5. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how Brexit has impacted Scotland's food and drink producers. Keith Brown S6O-05195 6. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what response it has had to its letter to the UK Government regarding the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund. Dr Pam Gosal MBE S6O-05196 7. To ask the Scottish Government what correspondence it has had with the UK Government regarding support for Scottish farmers ahead of the upcoming UK budget. Pauline McNeill S6O-05197 8. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports of alleged animal welfare abuse at a Bakkafrost Scotland salmon farm. followed by Health and Social Care Katy Clark S6O-05198 1. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report by the Auditor General into the financial sustainability of NHS Ayrshire and Arran, which found that the board is facing a deficit of £33.1 million in the current year. Roz McCall S6O-05199 2. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address tooth decay in children. Davy Russell S6O-05200 3. To ask the Scottish Government what specific action it has taken to address waiting lists for hip and knee replacement surgeries. Douglas Ross S6O-05201 4. To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with the chief executive of NHS Grampian to discuss healthcare in Moray. Foysol Choudhury S6O-05202 5. To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its decision to narrow the eligibility criteria for the autumn COVID-19 booster, what assessment it has made of the cost to the NHS and the impact on hospitalisation rates. Ruth Maguire S6O-05203 6. To ask the Scottish Government whether patient complaints and feedback about the care they have received from NHS boards are used to inform inspections undertaken by Health Improvement Scotland. Douglas Lumsden S6O-05204 7. To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on reducing audiology waiting lists at NHS Grampian. Humza Yousaf S6O-05205 8. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the health secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the use of sport to support its goal to reduce child poverty. followed by Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Debate: Backing Oil and Gas Douglas Lumsden S6M-19894 That the Parliament regrets the Scottish Government's ideological drive to end North Sea oil and gas exploration and production; notes the negative impact on oil and gas jobs, energy security, the economy and the environment of the Scottish Government's failure to pursue an informed, data-led, evidence-based North Sea policy; demands the immediate and unequivocal reversal of the Scottish Government's presumption against new oil and gas exploration and production, and calls on the UK Government to immediately abolish the Energy Profits Levy. Further details available for S6M-19894 Gillian Martin S6M-19894.3 As an amendment to motion S6M-19894 in the name of Douglas Lumsden (Backing Oil and Gas), leave out from first “the Scottish” to end and insert “that the Conservative Party, while in the UK Government, extended the Energy Profits Levy and failed to replace it with a sustainable fiscal regime that supports a just transition, and recognises that communities in Scotland are now paying the price of the UK Conservative administration’s levy on Scottish industry.” Further details available for S6M-19894.3 Sarah Boyack S6M-19894.4 As an amendment to motion S6M-19894 in the name of Douglas Lumsden (Backing Oil and Gas), leave out from first "the Scottish" to end and insert "that the Scottish National Party (SNP) and the Conservative and Unionist Party stood by for years and let Scotland’s oil and gas industry decline with no plan for the future; welcomes the UK Labour administration's plans to ensure that oil and gas continue to be key parts of the country's energy mix for decades to come, while working to unlock Scotland’s huge renewable potential; condemns the two decades of SNP failure to turn this enormous potential into jobs, wealth and social good for communities across Scotland, and calls on the Scottish Government to urgently publish its Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan, and to invest now in skills development and the green jobs of the future." Further details available for S6M-19894.4 followed by Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Debate: Growing Scotland’s Economy Craig Hoy S6M-19895 That the Parliament believes that the UK Budget should be an opportunity to promote economic growth, deliver investment in Scotland and address the alarming increase in economic inactivity; recognises the importance of backing working households, easing cost pressures and protecting Scotland’s rural economy; believes that ending the Energy Profits Levy is essential to secure investment in the North Sea; emphasises that the UK Labour administration’s tax rises on family farms and small businesses are deeply damaging and should be reversed, and warns against further tax rises; calls on the Scottish Government to prioritise growth with measures to improve productivity, support small businesses, tackle soaring welfare costs and strengthen Scotland’s fiscal position, and believes that both of Scotland’s governments must urgently prioritise economic stability, investment and opportunity as the foundations of sustainable public services within the UK. Further details available for S6M-19895 Ivan McKee S6M-19895.3 As an amendment to motion S6M-19895 in the name of Craig Hoy (Growing Scotland’s Economy), leave out from “and address” to end and insert “, including through delivering investment that can be utilised for public services such as Scotland’s NHS and to help Scotland’s journey to net zero; further believes that a fiscal regime for offshore industries must support a just transition for oil and gas workers, and support the development of Scotland’s key renewables sector; notes that UK Government tax changes on family farms and employer national insurance contributions have impacted Scotland’s economy, and calls on all parties to support efforts to rejoin the European Union and the European Single Market, recognising that Brexit has been the primary and most damaging impact on the economy and public finances in the last decade.” Further details available for S6M-19895.3 Michael Marra S6M-19895.4 As an amendment to motion S6M-19895 in the name of Craig Hoy (Growing Scotland’s Economy), leave out from “UK Budget” to end and insert “delivery of a successful Scottish economy depends on stability in the UK public finances and a long-term plan to invest for future growth; recognises the challenging global circumstances, including the continued threat of tariffs, which create uncertainty and risk deterring investment and dampening growth; notes with concern that lower earnings and employment growth in Scotland compared to the rest of the UK are reducing the impact of tax policy in Scotland; agrees with the Auditor General for Scotland that ‘the Scottish Government has not set out clearly enough how it plans to address this economic challenge in future years, and what this would do to support fiscal sustainability’, and calls on the Scottish Government to work in proper partnership with the UK Government to deliver stability, long-term growth and prosperity across Scotland.” Further details available for S6M-19895.4 Lorna Slater S6M-19895.1 As an amendment to motion S6M-19895 in the name of Craig Hoy (Growing Scotland’s Economy), leave out from first "believes" to end and insert "calls on the UK Government to deliver a budget that supports a fairer, greener economy for Scotland by introducing an annual wealth tax on the wealthiest 1% of households in the UK, raising between £70 billion and £130 billion a year, to invest in communities, public services and climate action across Scotland, including reducing the cost of energy and other essentials for those who are struggling with the cost of living and inflation." Further details available for S6M-19895.1 Jamie Greene S6M-19895.2 As an amendment to motion S6M-19895 in the name of Craig Hoy (Growing Scotland’s Economy), leave out from first “should” to end and insert "must be a turning point, which delivers real economic growth, tackles the cost of living crisis and seeks a closer relationship with Europe; understands that far too many families are struggling to get by and believes that businesses have been held back by the increase to employer national insurance contributions; calls for an emergency plan to give immediate help through a 5p VAT cut for hospitality, accommodation and attractions until April 2027, alongside the removal of the main renewables obligation from people's electricity bills, funding both through a new windfall tax on large banks and saving households £270; notes the analysis by Audit Scotland that shows that there is a projected deficit of £4.7 billion in the Scottish Budget by 2029-30, for which ministers have not provided detailed plans, and believes that Scotland deserves better than this, but that it needs to be a change with fairness at its heart.” Further details available for S6M-19895.2 followed by Stage 1 Debate: Non-Domestic Rates (Liability for Unoccupied Properties) (Scotland) Bill Ivan McKee S6M-19891 That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Non-Domestic Rates (Liability for Unoccupied Properties) (Scotland) Bill. Further details available for S6M-19891 followed by Decision Time followed by Members’ Business: Patrick Harvie: Unacceptable Waiting Times for Accessing Gender Identity Clinics That the Parliament notes with deep concern the figures on what it sees as the unacceptable waiting times at NHS Scotland gender identity clinics (GIC), which were published by Public Health Scotland on 28 October 2025; further notes in particular that Scotland’s largest GIC, the Sandyford in Glasgow, which serves eight NHS boards covering nearly half of Scotland’s population, is reportedly overwhelmed, with around 4,000 people on its waiting list and fewer than 50 first appointments per year as of March 2025; shares the concern of Scottish Trans that “the most hopeful estimate is that you would wait 80 years for a first appointment” and that “without drastic action, most people on the waiting list will never be seen”; believes that the strategic action framework for 2022-24 for the improvement of NHS gender identity services, which was published in 2021, has failed to deliver its aims, which included piloting new gender identity services to reduce waiting times and improve trans people’s experiences, and notes the calls on the Scottish Government to urgently set out a plan of action to ensure that trans people in Glasgow and throughout Scotland are able to access the services they need. Further details available for S6M-19675