Meeting of the Parliament

Portfolio Questions Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands Finlay Carson S6O-04994 1. To ask the Scottish Government what engagement its Marine Directorate has undertaken to progress any plans to reopen a boat-based cockle fishery on the Solway Firth. Richard Leonard S6O-04995 2. To ask the Scottish Government when information on farming payments will be publicly available, in accordance with section 19 of the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024. Mark Griffin S6O-04996 3. [Not Lodged] Emma Harper S6O-04997 4. To ask the Scottish Government when it last engaged with the UK Government on domestic food and drink markets. Liam Kerr S6O-04998 5. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the agriculture minister has had with the justice secretary regarding support for farmers in relation to rural crime. Meghan Gallacher S6O-04999 6. To ask the Scottish Government what long-term action it will take to support farmers growing malting barley. Fergus Ewing S6O-05000 7. To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the existing conditions and regime, which seek to protect inshore fishing from the impact of any loss of fishing grounds due to the seabed installation of cables for, and construction of, offshore wind installations, require to be reformed in order to provide full compensation for any loss of fishing revenue as a result of having to avoid an area of 0.25 nautical miles from any such cables. Ash Regan S6O-05001 8. To ask the Scottish Government what benefits it anticipates the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill will deliver for rural and island communities, including in relation to breaking up concentrated land ownership and ensuring that land is used in the public interest and communities are not locked out of decision-making. Health and Social Care Douglas Ross S6O-05002 1. To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with the Chair of NHS Grampian and what issues were discussed. Fulton MacGregor S6O-05003 2. To ask the Scottish Government what recourse is open to patients who have experienced complications following an NHS operation. Emma Roddick S6O-05004 3. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its approach to considering a hypermobility pathway for healthcare, in line with that being brought forward in Wales. Carol Mochan S6O-05005 4. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress being made in developing the next phase of the Women’s Health Plan. Christine Grahame S6O-05006 5. To ask the Scottish Government what provisions are in place to support people in hospitals and care settings who have serious spinal injuries resulting in paralysis from the neck down. Oliver Mundell S6O-05007 6. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support NHS Dumfries and Galloway in addressing financial pressures. Jackie Dunbar S6O-05008 7. To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact on Scotland’s dentistry sector of the UK Labour administration’s recent changes to the Skilled Worker visa. Roz McCall S6O-05009 8. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that alcohol-specific deaths in Scotland remain above 1,000 for the 12th year in a row. followed by Scottish Labour Debate: Mobile Phones in Schools Pam Duncan-Glancy S6M-19123 That the Parliament agrees that mobile phones should be banned for learners in school classrooms. Further details available for S6M-19123 Jenny Gilruth S6M-19123.2 As an amendment to motion S6M-19123 in the name of Pam Duncan-Glancy (Mobile Phones in Schools), insert at end “, and acknowledges that the Scottish Government’s Guidance on Mobile Phones in Scotland's Schools makes clear that headteachers are empowered to implement full bans, should their professional judgment see fit to do so.” Further details available for S6M-19123.2 Miles Briggs S6M-19123.1 As an amendment to motion S6M-19123 in the name of Pam Duncan-Glancy (Mobile Phones in Schools), leave out from “banned” to end and insert "subject to a clear national ban in classrooms, recognising the strong evidence of how distracting they are and how disruptive they can be to pupils’ ability to learn and teachers’ ability to teach; acknowledges that while headteachers and local authorities have some powers to restrict the use of mobile phones, existing Scottish guidance is weak, and calls, therefore, on the Scottish Government to update its guidance with clear national direction on what is expected." Further details available for S6M-19123.1 followed by Scottish Labour Debate: Protecting Scotland’s Fire Service Katy Clark S6M-19124 That the Parliament expresses concern at the cuts proposed by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS); recognises the Cuts Leave Scars campaign, which was set up in 2023 in response to a decade of underfunding by the Scottish Government; notes the loss of over 1,250 firefighter jobs across Scotland since the establishment of the SFRS in 2013, leading to pumps being unavailable as a result of too few firefighters to crew them; regrets that, as a result of cuts, call handling times have increased in control rooms and response times have increased from 6 minutes and 51 seconds to 8 minutes and 20 seconds, which risks lives in Scotland; notes with concern the plans to close 13 stations and permanently withdraw 10 appliances, and encourages the Scottish Government to work alongside the SFRS and the Fire Brigades Union Scotland to ensure that there are no further cuts to firefighter numbers or fire cover and that safe crewing levels are guaranteed. Further details available for S6M-19124 Siobhian Brown S6M-19124.2 As an amendment to motion S6M-19124 in the name of Katy Clark (Protecting Scotland’s Fire Service), leave out from “expresses” to end and insert “recognises that, whilst house fires have reduced by over 20% since 2013, due to the climate emergency, incidents and risk of flooding and wildfires have significantly increased; further recognises that the recent Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's (SFRS) Service Delivery Review aims to ensure that the service can respond to these changing risks and that the right firefighters and appliances are in the right place at the right time; notes that no decisions will be taken until an independent analysis of the public consultation has been carried out and that any changes would be implemented over a five-year period; agrees that all public services need to provide efficient and effective services that deliver value for the public purse, and encourages the Scottish Government to continue to work alongside the SFRS and the Fire Brigades Union to ensure that Scotland has safer communities.” Further details available for S6M-19124.2 Sharon Dowey S6M-19124.1 As an amendment to motion S6M-19124 in the name of Katy Clark (Protecting Scotland’s Fire Service), insert at end "; recognises that the Scottish Government’s mismanagement of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has resulted in an £800 million operational backlog that has mostly resulted from the failure to bring stations up to modern standards, with 18 fire stations lacking running water; notes that the SFRS is coming under increasing strain thanks to the pressures presented by wildfires, and that the public are becoming more concerned about the fire hazards presented by battery storage sites, and calls on the Scottish Government to ensure that firefighters have the basic resources to do their job, to ensure that lives are not needlessly lost." Further details available for S6M-19124.1 followed by Ministerial Statement: Urban Gulls Summit followed by Decision Time followed by Members' Business: S6M-18639 Rona Mackay: International FASD Day and the Need for Awareness That the Parliament notes that 9 September 2025 is International FASD Day; understands that FASD, or Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, is a preventable neurodevelopmental condition with lifelong cognitive, emotional and behavioural challenges, which occurs when prenatal alcohol exposure affects the developing brain and body; acknowledges reports that 4% of the population are affected, and each person with FASD is affected differently, often requiring lifelong support in education and post school settings to optimise their life experience; understands that, while the guideline in Scotland for pregnant women, or women trying to conceive is, “no alcohol, no risk”, 46% of pregnancies in the UK are unplanned so without better awareness, people may continue their pre-conception lifestyle until they have a positive pregnancy test; recognises the importance of prevention, early diagnosis and intervention; notes that unrecognised FASD can lead to people ending up in vulnerable situations, particularly given reports that many professionals do not fully understand the symptoms and effects of FASD; understands that populations of concern include people in contact with the criminal justice system, care experienced people, people who are homeless, and people with substance misuse issues; notes the view that training for health and social care professionals in identifying possible FASD is vital; considers that the use of Alcohol Brief Interventions for pregnant women is a useful tool in reducing the risk of FASD; notes the view that alcohol producers should be mandated to provide clear written pregnancy warnings on their products, and understands that there is an estimated economic benefit of £1.4 million for each case of FASD that is avoided. Further details available for S6M-18639