Meeting of the Parliament (Accessible)

Portfolio Questions Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, and Parliamentary Business Annabelle Ewing S6O-05026 1. To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of its relations with the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly. David Torrance S6O-05027 2. [Withdrawn] Fulton MacGregor S6O-05028 3. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support libraries within local communities. Clare Haughey S6O-05029 4. To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the implementation of its international strategy, how and by what mechanisms it is engaging with the governments of other European nations. Ruth Maguire S6O-05030 5. To ask the Scottish Government what representations NGOs have made to it regarding its work to support humanitarian assistance in Palestine. Meghan Gallacher S6O-05031 6. To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its role in proposing the scheduling of parliamentary business, how it can help ensure that parliamentary time is used constructively for the remainder of this parliamentary session. Edward Mountain S6O-05032 7. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the veterans minister has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the role of local authorities in maintaining Commonwealth War Graves to a national standard. Gordon MacDonald S6O-05033 8. To ask the Scottish Government how it supports the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in relation to its overseas tours and performances, in light of their reported contribution to the Tattoo’s reputation and economic impact in Scotland. Justice and Home Affairs Evelyn Tweed S6O-05034 1. To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve access to legal aid for survivors of domestic abuse. Michael Marra S6O-05035 2. To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of rising levels of knife crime in Dundee over the summer, how it is supporting Police Scotland and local partners to prevent and reduce incidents of violent crime. Daniel Johnson S6O-05036 3. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on legal enforcement measures being taken with regard to retailers committing age of sale offences when selling age-restricted items, such as vapes and cigarettes. Submitting member has a registered interest. Bob Doris S6O-05037 4. To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to address the misuse of e-bikes and off-road vehicles, in light of reported concerns that it is a growing community safety issue. Oliver Mundell S6O-05038 5. To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure there is appropriate policing cover for communities in Dumfriesshire. Liam McArthur S6O-05039 6. To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of sustained overcrowding in prisons on suicide and self-harm prevention. George Adam S6O-05040 7. [Withdrawn] Kevin Stewart S6O-05041 8. To ask the Scottish Government what actions Police Scotland is taking to deal with problem street drinkers. followed by Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Debate: Stopping Illegal Immigration and Recognising its Impact on Housing Russell Findlay S6M-19252 That the Parliament believes that illegal immigration must be stopped because of the damaging impact on public finances and local communities; recognises that the Scottish Government’s decision to suspend local connection rules in relation to homelessness provision back in 2022 has contributed towards attracting asylum seekers to Scotland at an unsustainable level, and calls on the Scottish Government to immediately reverse this decision. Further details available for S6M-19252 Màiri McAllan S6M-19252.5 As an amendment to motion S6M-19252 in the name of Russell Findlay (Stopping Illegal Immigration and Recognising its Impact on Housing), leave out from “believes” to end and insert “notes that the suspension of local connection referrals in 2022 did not change the rights of newly recognised refugees to choose where they settle in Scotland, nor did it prevent Scottish local authorities from referring households presenting as homeless to an English or Welsh local authority with which they have a local connection; reaffirms that Scotland is a welcoming nation to people fleeing persecution, seeking safety and who have been granted refugee status, ensuring that they can rebuild their lives in the country through the New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy; highlights action in Scotland to tackle homelessness and destitution, including new prevention measures in the Housing (Scotland) Bill, increased investment in affordable homes and the £4 million investment in homelessness prevention pilots, alongside the extension of rapid rehousing transition plan funding of £8 million into 2026-27, and calls again on the UK Government to urgently uphold the European Convention on Human Rights, 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol.” Further details available for S6M-19252.5 Mark Griffin S6M-19252.4 As an amendment to motion S6M-19252 in the name of Russell Findlay (Stopping Illegal Immigration and Recognising its Impact on Housing), leave out from "because" to end and insert “; regrets that the previous UK Conservative administration left the immigration system in a state of collapse; recognises the progress made by the UK Labour administration to clear the backlog of asylum claims, and believes that the failure to tackle the challenges facing Scotland’s local authorities, public services and housing system, for which the Scottish Government has devolved responsibility and has received record levels of funding from the UK Government, is the root cause of the housing emergency.” Further details available for S6M-19252-4 followed by Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Debate: Backing Scotland’s Colleges and Apprenticeships Murdo Fraser S6M-19253 That the Parliament recognises that future economic growth is reliant on providing the right opportunities to create good jobs that allow businesses to expand; notes with concern the findings of the recent Audit Scotland report, highlighting a 20% real-terms cut in funding to the college sector over the past five years, and believes that this has a negative impact on the economy and limits opportunities for young people to get ahead; acknowledges the concern from business representative groups about the future of apprenticeships, and the harm that a restriction in apprenticeship numbers causes to job creation in Scotland, and calls on the Scottish Government to restore funding to Scotland’s colleges and raise the number of modern apprenticeship places from 25,507 in 2024-25 to at least the 34,000 identified by Skills Development Scotland as necessary to meet Scottish economic growth ambitions. Further details available for S6M-19253 Richard Lochhead S6M-19253.3 As an amendment to motion S6M-19253 in the name of Murdo Fraser (Backing Scotland’s Colleges and Apprenticeships), leave out from “with concern” to end and insert “the Audit Scotland report entitled, Scotland’s colleges 2025, and the importance of continued investment in Scotland’s colleges and skills system to support inclusive economic success, prosperity and job creation, including provision of around three quarters of a billion pounds in Scotland’s colleges in 2025-26, and an additional £3.5 million for skills, through the Scottish Budget; acknowledges that this is particularly important in the thriving sectors, like those critical to realising the transition to net zero, and the shared opportunities of this; recognises the key role that colleges, employers and training providers have played in ensuring that 93% of school leavers have a positive destination, and providing apprenticeships and training to a record 39,000 individuals, and notes, however, concern about the impact of Brexit and the UK Government's migration system, which is contributing to key skills gaps and labour market shortages.” Further details available for S6M-19253-3 Lorna Slater S6M-19253.2 As an amendment to motion S6M-19253 in the name of Murdo Fraser (Backing Scotland’s Colleges and Apprenticeships), leave out from “that future” to end and insert "the transformative power of education and training, and the vital roles that colleges and apprenticeships play in supporting young people and building resilient communities, including in a just transition away from fossil fuels; acknowledges the importance of having college facilities located close to where people live, ensuring accessibility and inclusion; believes that improved college governance is essential to prevent poor management decisions and to safeguard the quality of provision; acknowledges the work of EIS-FELA and UNISON in campaigning for better further education provision and supporting college staff across the country who face uncertainty about the future; calls for enhanced outcomes for women, students and apprentices, to ensure that they are not disproportionately channelled into low-waged sectors; urges colleges to align their skills offerings with the ambitions of the National Performance Framework; supports the introduction of regulated minimum training hours and standards for apprenticeships; believes that colleges must be living wage employers and exemplars of fair work practices, and calls for all apprentices to be paid a living wage." Further details available for S6M-19253-2 followed by Ministerial Statement: Secure Accommodation – Capacity and Future of Secure followed by Scottish Government Debate: Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 (Scottish Carbon Budgets) Amendment Regulations 2025 followed by Decision Time followed by Members’ Business — S6M-18931 Edward Mountain: Bowel Cancer Screening That the Parliament congratulates the Scottish Government in taking the lead in bowel cancer screening; understands that Scotland has the most sensitive level of screening in the whole of the UK; notes calls on the Scottish Government to continue to lead the way by working with bowel cancer charities to ensure that Scotland remains at the forefront of UK bowel cancer screening; congratulates all bowel cancer charities on their continued work, and notes that Stoma Aware Day/World Ostomy Day is on 4 October 2025, which, it believes, is vital in continuing to raise awareness. Further details available for S6M-18931