Meeting of the Parliament

General Questions Rhoda Grant S6O-01860 1. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will conduct an independent review into the maternity model in Caithness. Gillian Martin S6O-01861 2. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the development of a Menopause Specialist Network. Jamie Greene S6O-01862 3. To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support young people with speech difficulties. Liam McArthur S6O-01863 4. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work of the ferries task force with Orkney Islands Council. John Mason S6O-01864 5. To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether any increased number and cost of commissions and commissioners for which it is responsible will mean resources being diverted away from frontline services. Roz McCall S6O-01865 6. To ask the Scottish Government what impact its Town Centre Action Plan is having in communities in the Mid Scotland and Fife region. Bill Kidd S6O-01866 7. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will support the continuation of the Scottish Crisis Fund project, in order to support people with no recourse to public funds as its anti-destitution strategy moves into year two. Kaukab Stewart S6O-01867 8. To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting Glasgow to improve its sustainable transport infrastructure. followed by First Minister's Questions Douglas Ross S6F-01765 1. Question to be taken in Chamber. Anas Sarwar S6F-01766 2. Question to be taken in Chamber. Alex Cole-Hamilton S6F-01775 3. To ask the First Minister when the Cabinet will next meet. Christine Grahame S6F-01787 4. To ask the First Minister what discussions the Scottish Government has had with COSLA with regard to the proposals in some local authorities to reduce teacher numbers, given its commitment to increase teacher numbers by 3,500 by the end of the current parliamentary session. Jeremy Balfour S6F-01771 5. To ask the First Minister what schemes the Scottish Government has in place to support disabled people with the energy costs of running lifesaving and independent living equipment at home. Monica Lennon S6F-01770 6. To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to research commissioned by Citizens Advice Scotland, reportedly finding that people are struggling to afford everyday goods, including period and hygiene products, and the energy costs associated with showering, bathing, and laundry, due to the cost of living crisis. followed by Members' Business — S6M-06112 Sue Webber: Scottish Government Commissioned Review of ME Services and Future Action That the Parliament notes that the Scottish Government commissioned and welcomed an independently-produced stakeholder review of the NICE guideline on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), published on 5 July 2022; further notes that the review states that myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complex chronic medical condition affecting an estimated 250,000 people in the UK and that around 20,000 people in Scotland are living with the condition, including in the Lothian region; highlights the four key symptoms characteristic of the condition, which are debilitating fatigue that is worsened by activity, post-exertional malaise (PEM)/symptom exacerbation, unrefreshing sleep and/or sleep disturbance, and cognitive dysfunction, and which affect multiple physiological systems and can fluctuate from mild to very severe in individuals and across the population affected; understands that the review recommends consideration be given to identifying the most effective approaches to improving GP knowledge, confidence and understanding of ME/CFS through an appropriate education programme, and further understands that the review recommends that pilot services should be funded in a selection of NHS boards to test the development of specialist services with patient involvement and third sector collaboration embedded in the design.