Meeting of the Parliament

Portfolio Questions Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, and Parliamentary Business Carol Mochan S6O-04544 1. To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to protect the ongoing viability of local and regional museums and galleries. Fulton MacGregor S6O-04545 2. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on plans to increase funding for local museums and heritage centres, including the Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life in Coatbridge. Alex Rowley S6O-04546 3. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support young people to access the creative industries. Maggie Chapman S6O-04547 4. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how its international development work is supporting the humanitarian response in Palestine. Emma Roddick S6O-04548 5. To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring that its work to support and promote Scotland's arts and culture is geographically spread and representative. Willie Rennie S6O-04549 6. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with EU member states regarding Scotland's alignment with EU policies, in light of the election of President Trump. Karen Adam S6O-04550 7. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its strategy to further the case for Scottish independence, in light of recent reported polling indicating a majority in support. Christine Grahame S6O-04551 8. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will change its policy position in relation to an independent Scotland seeking to rejoin the EU, in light of the potential impact of US tariffs on the UK and the EU. Justice and Home Affairs Rachael Hamilton S6O-04552 1. To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any implications for its work on tackling rural crime and preventing the theft and resale of machinery in Scotland, when it was first made aware of the proposals for the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023, which applies to England and Wales. Tim Eagle S6O-04553 2. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the prisoners released under the Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Act 2025 included some who had broken prison rules. Claire Baker S6O-04554 3. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking, including through work involving Police Scotland and local authorities, to address antisocial behaviour in Mid Scotland and Fife. Evelyn Tweed S6O-04555 4. To ask the Scottish Government what steps the justice secretary is taking to prevent young people from becoming involved in gang-related activity. Mark Ruskell S6O-04556 5. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what the timescale is to adapt the HMP Stirling estate to address the ongoing noise complaints, in light of reports from residents that the noise disturbance is getting worse. Kevin Stewart S6O-04557 6. To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its work on antisocial behaviour, what discussions it has had with the UK Government about tackling the misuse of e-bikes. Alexander Stewart S6O-04558 7. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to reports of criminals using drones to infiltrate prisons. Ben Macpherson S6O-04559 8. To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with partners to tackle gang-related crime. followed by Scottish Government Debate: UK Government Welfare Reforms Shirley-Anne Somerville S6M-17242 That the Parliament calls on the UK Labour administration to immediately scrap its damaging social security reforms, as announced in the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper; highlights the UK Government’s own impact analysis, which shows that 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, will be pushed into poverty under these plans, and notes the Resolution Foundation’s report that lower-income households are set to become £500 a year poorer, following the UK Government’s Spring Statement 2025. Liz Smith S6M-17242.3 As an amendment to motion S6M-17242 in the name of Shirley-Anne Somerville (UK Government Welfare Reforms), leave out from "calls" to end and insert "notes the most recent concerns highlighted by both the Office for Budget Responsibility and the Scottish Fiscal Commission about the projected substantial increases in UK and Scottish welfare budgets, the resulting fiscal pressures, and the unsustainability of these budgets in the current economic circumstances, and expresses its deep concern that neither the UK Government nor the Scottish Government has delivered policies that will address the high levels of economic inactivity or policies that will promote sustained economic growth." Paul O'Kane S6M-17242.1 As an amendment to motion S6M-17242 in the name of Shirley-Anne Somerville (UK Government Welfare Reforms), leave out from “calls” to end and insert “agrees that any reforms to social security policy must respect the dignity of work, while also being fair and protecting the most vulnerable who are unable to work; notes the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper and that its proposals are currently under consultation; recognises that a number of the areas covered in the Green Paper are devolved to the Scottish Parliament and will therefore not change as a result of the Spring Statement; notes the proposals within the Green Paper to support and encourage people into good work and to reduce bureaucracy for those in receipt of social security; welcomes that this is backed up by a £1 billion commitment for employability services across the UK; acknowledges that well-paid, secure work is the most sustainable route out of poverty; welcomes, therefore, the action taken by the UK Labour administration to increase the National Living Wage and improve rights for workers through the Employment Rights Bill, and is concerned that the disability employment gap in Scotland is wider than elsewhere in Great Britain, that one in four people in Scotland rely on welfare spending from the Scottish Government to cover their living costs and that there are as many as 84,000 young people in Scotland who are not in work, education or training.” followed by Decision Time followed by Members' Business — S6M-16869 Jackie Dunbar: Global Intergenerational Week 2025 That the Parliament notes that Global Intergenerational Week runs from 24 to 30 April 2025; understands that the campaign originally started at a local level, grew to a national event and is now a global celebration in its sixth year; recognises that the aim of it is to inspire individuals, groups, organisations, local and national government, as well as non-government organisations, to fully embrace Intergenerational Week, which, it believes, will help connect people of all ages, particularly the younger and older generations; commends the work of Generations Working Together, which works in partnership with organisations from across the UK to promote intergenerational working across the country; recognises that this year's theme is intergenerational learning and aims to highlight the findings of the World Health Organization’s Global Report on Ageism, which outlines the negative impact of ageism on society and recommends education as a key strategy to address it; understands that, for the first time, Generations Working Together welcomes a Global Intergenerational Week sponsor in global life sciences, the company, Bayer AG; recognises what it sees as the importance of intergenerational working in helping to create a fairer society, and welcomes all intergenerational work that has taken place, not only across Aberdeen Donside, but Scotland as a whole.