What's On

Neil Gray (S6M-15529)

That the Parliament believes that the UK Government should fully reimburse the over £500 million costs of employer national insurance contributions to the delivery of public services in Scotland as a result of the UK Autumn Statement; recognises that, if the Chancellor of the Exchequer does not fully reimburse these costs, it will have a detrimental impact on the services that the people of Scotland rely on, and notes with concern the wider impact of the increase in employer national insurance contributions on the education, hospice and charitable sectors, not least for those who deliver services such as social care.

Further details available for S6M-15529

Craig Hoy (S6M-15529.2)

As an amendment to motion S6M-15529 in the name of Neil Gray (Impact of National Insurance Increase on Public Services), leave out from "should" to end and insert "increasing employer national insurance contributions will have a detrimental impact on all sectors of Scotland’s economy, including the public, private and voluntary sectors; further believes that it will harm the ability of the NHS in Scotland to deliver services and will undermine social care and third sector organisations involved in public sector delivery; recognises that the rise in employer national insurance contributions is a breach of the Labour Party’s manifesto promise, which stated that it will not increase national insurance; acknowledges that this tax rise on jobs will disproportionately impact Scotland due to a higher number of public sector workers and higher public sector pay levels; notes that the Scottish Government’s policy decisions have already increased the tax burden on hardworking people and businesses in Scotland; calls on the UK Government to reverse its increase to employer national insurance contributions, and further calls on the Scottish Government to use its Budget on 4 December 2024 to start the process of reversing the increased tax burden that it has imposed on Scotland’s economy."

Further details available for S6M-15529.2

Jackie Baillie (S6M-15529.3)

As an amendment to motion S6M-15529 in the name of Neil Gray (Impact of National Insurance Increase on Public Services), leave out from "believes" to end and insert "understands that the decisions taken by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Autumn Statement were necessary to fix the foundations of the economy and fund public services; welcomes the increase to the Scottish devolved budget of £1.5 billion in 2024-25 and £3.4 billion next year, which will deliver the highest ever devolved budget settlement in 2025-26; recognises that the Chancellor of the Exchequer has committed to providing funding to the public sector to support it with additional costs associated with changes to employer national insurance contributions, and calls on the Scottish Government to engage with organisations in the education, care and charitable sectors in the deployment of this additional funding, and to use its Budget to guarantee the sustainable delivery of frontline public services."

Further details available for S6M-15529.3

Jamie Hepburn (S6M-15530)

That the Parliament agrees that the Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Bill be treated as an Emergency Bill.

Further details available for S6M-15530

Jamie Hepburn on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau (S6M-15545)

That, subject to the Parliament’s agreement that the Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Bill be treated as an Emergency Bill, the Parliament agrees to consider the Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Bill as follows—

Stage 1 on Thursday 21 November 2024;

and, subject to the Parliament’s agreement of the general principles of the Bill, Stages 2 and 3 on Tuesday 26 November 2024.

Further details available for S6M-15545

Jamie Hepburn on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau (S6M-15540)

That the Parliament agrees—

(a) the following programme of business—

Tuesday 26 November 2024

2.00 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Topical Questions (if selected)

followed by Committee of the Whole Parliament — Stage 2 Proceedings: Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Bill

followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Bill

followed by Committee Announcements

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

8.00 pm Decision Time

Wednesday 27 November 2024

2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.00 pm Portfolio Questions: Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands; Health and Social Care

followed by Scottish Labour Party Business

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Approval of SSIs (if required)

5.10 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

Thursday 28 November 2024

11.40 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions

11.40 am General Questions

12.00 pm First Minister's Questions

followed by Members’ Business

2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.00 pm Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Questions

2.15 pm Portfolio Questions: Social Justice

followed by Ministerial Statement: A96 Corridor Review Publication

followed by Stage 1 Debate: Housing (Scotland) Bill

followed by Financial Resolution: Housing (Scotland) Bill

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

Tuesday 3 December 2024

2.00 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Topical Questions (if selected)

followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill

followed by Committee Announcements

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

Wednesday 4 December 2024

2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.00 pm Portfolio Questions: Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, and Parliamentary Business; Justice and Home Affairs

followed by Scottish Government Business

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Approval of SSIs (if required)

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

Thursday 5 December 2024

11.40 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions

11.40 am General Questions

12.00 pm First Minister's Questions

followed by Members’ Business

2.30 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.30 pm Portfolio Questions: Education and Skills

followed by Scottish Government Business

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

(b) that, for the purposes of Portfolio Questions in the week beginning 25 November 2024, in rule 13.7.3, after the word “except” the words “to the extent to which the Presiding Officer considers that the questions are on the same or similar subject matter or” are inserted.

Further details available for S6M-15540

Jamie Hepburn on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau (S6M-15553)

That the Parliament agrees to the following revision to the programme of business for Thursday 21 November 2024—

after

followed by Stage 1 Debate: Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Bill

insert

followed by Financial Resolution: Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Bill

Further details available for S6M-15553

Jamie Hepburn on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau (S6M-15541)

That the Parliament agrees that the Funeral Expense Assistance (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024 [draft] be approved.

Further details available for S6M-15541

Jamie Hepburn on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau (S6M-15542)

That the Parliament agrees that—

Clare Haughey be appointed to replace Jackie Dunbar as the Scottish National Party substitute on the Education, Children and Young People Committee;

Clare Adamson be appointed to replace Elena Whitham as the Scottish National Party substitute on the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee; and

Jackie Dunbar be appointed to replace Gordon MacDonald as the Scottish National Party substitute on the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee.

Further details available for S6M-15542

Marie McNair (S6M-14806)

That the Parliament recognises that 20 November 2024 is World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Day, with this year's theme being Know Your Lung Function; understands that the day takes place to raise awareness of COPD and how to spot the symptoms, which include shortness of breath, a persistent chesty cough with phlegm, frequent chest infections and persistent wheezing; further understands that this lung disease causes restricted airflow and breathing problems and that it is a condition that most commonly affects people who smoke or have smoked, those who have been exposed to dust fumes or chemicals in work, and those who had chest trouble or asthma in childhood; notes with concern that, currently, the condition is estimated to affect over 140,000 people in Scotland who have had a diagnosis and that tens of thousands are living without a proper diagnosis; understands the importance of the five fundamentals of COPD care, which are smoking cessation advice, flu and pneumococcal vaccines, access to pulmonary rehabilitation, co-development of a self-management plan and treatment for co-morbidities; welcomes the work of groups such as Asthma + Lung Scotland, which provides advice and support to people living with COPD, and commends community groups, such as the Clydebank Asbestos Group, which provide support to people living with asbestos-related illnesses, which can include COPD.

Further details available for S6M-14806