Meeting of the Parliament

General Questions Collette Stevenson S6O-03110 1. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Read Write Count with the First Minister programme. Rachael Hamilton S6O-03111 2. To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of the £58.7 million reduction to the College Operational Expenditure budget for 2024-25 on the Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire constituency. Kevin Stewart S6O-03112 3. To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the operations of the Parole Board for Scotland. Stephen Kerr S6O-03113 4. To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of its current relationship with local authorities. Paul Sweeney S6O-03114 5. To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that railway infrastructure is safe and fit for the future. Ash Regan S6O-03115 6. To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its work to further the case for Scottish independence, and in light of the Supreme Court ruling that the Scottish Parliament cannot legislate for a referendum on Scottish independence, for what reason its position is that there should not be a referendum at this stage on the powers of the Scottish Parliament. Martin Whitfield S6O-03116 7. To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the First Minister’s reported comments that it “has to go further” to ensure that plans to radically reform how young people are cared for in Scotland are realised, whether it has identified what steps it will take to achieve this. Colin Smyth S6O-03117 8. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its inquiries with Glasgow City Council regarding the circumstances in which children came to be placed at Fornethy House. followed by First Minister's Questions Douglas Ross S6F-02823 1. Question to be taken in Chamber. Anas Sarwar S6F-02824 2. Question to be taken in Chamber. Maggie Chapman S6F-02825 3. To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on whether successive changes to national taxation policy in Scottish Budgets will support the redistribution of wealth and help sustain vital public services. Fergus Ewing S6F-02848 4. To ask the First Minister, regarding the delivery of the Scottish Government's recently published depopulation action plan, what will be different about this approach, which is described as "local by default, national by agreement", particularly towards the approval of new developments supported by local communities. Douglas Lumsden S6F-02845 5. To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government still has a policy of a presumption against any new oil and gas licences. Paul Sweeney S6F-02847 6. To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the analysis by Citizens Advice Scotland suggesting that over 660,000 people are experiencing mental health problems due to increasing household debt. followed by Members' Business — S6M-12177 Ivan McKee: Immediate Ceasefire in Palestine and Israel That the Parliament notes with concern reports of the recent upsurge in violence in Palestine and Israel, which, it understands, has seen more than 28,000 people, including mostly women and children, killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, 1,400 people killed by Hamas and other terrorist organisations in Israel, and more than 300 Palestinian civilians killed by Israeli armed settlers in the West Bank; believes strongly that there is no justification for inflicting terror or killing innocent civilians, or for the taking of civilian hostages, and condemns violence in all its forms; notes with concern what it considers to be the risk of disease and malnutrition in Gaza as a consequence of the Israeli blockade of the strip, which, it believes, may itself constitute a breach of international law; recognises what it sees as the critically important relief work of organisations such as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) and Medical Aid for Palestinians, and notes that the UK Government and others are being urged to continue to financially support this work; considers that this conflict did not begin on 7 October 2023, and notes the belief that a lasting peace with justice will only come through a negotiated settlement; notes the calls for an immediate ceasefire in Palestine and Israel to allow diplomatic discussions to take place that will safeguard innocent civilians; further notes the reported ruling by the International Court of Justice and the view that there may be a case to answer that the actions of Israel in Gaza constitute genocide against the Palestinian people; commends the work of Israeli human rights organisations, including B’Tselem and Breaking the Silence, which, it considers, continue to make the case for a lasting and just peace in what it sees as these horrific times; notes the calls on the UK Government, including from communities in the Glasgow Provan constituency, to do its part in working with other UN nations to demand an end to deadly military action in Gaza and settler violence in the West Bank, and to bring to justice those responsible for terror attacks and any who may be guilty of war crimes or incitement to genocide, and further notes the calls on the UK Government to recognise the State of Palestine. followed by Portfolio Questions: Social Justice Social Justice Annie Wells S6O-03102 1. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the housing emergency in Glasgow. Sarah Boyack 2. [Not Lodged] Michelle Thomson S6O-03104 3. To ask the Scottish Government what work is underway to ensure that eligible families across Falkirk East, and the wider country, are aware of and can apply for the Best Start Grant before the deadline of 29 February. Ivan McKee S6O-03105 4. To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to attract more working age people from the rest of the UK to come and live, work and pay tax in Scotland. Christine Grahame S6O-03106 5. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to raise awareness of the support and benefits that are available to older people in Scotland, in light of the reported calls for a publicity campaign to address low uptake of Pension Credit and the potential impact of any such low uptake on accessing other devolved benefits. Stephanie Callaghan 6. [Withdrawn] Evelyn Tweed S6O-03108 7. To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that people are claiming all the benefits that they are entitled to, in light of figures obtained by Policy in Practice showing that £18.7 billion of benefits went unclaimed across the UK in 2022-23. Monica Lennon S6O-03109 8. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking through the delivery of benefits to help families with the cost of nappies, in light of the reported increase in nappy theft linked to the cost of living crisis. followed by Ministerial Statement: Grangemouth Refinery followed by Stage 1 Debate: Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill Siobhian Brown S6M-12248 That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill. followed by Financial Resolution: Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill Shona Robison S6M-11800 That the Parliament, for the purposes of any Act of the Scottish Parliament resulting from the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill, agrees to any expenditure of a kind referred to in Rule 9.12.3A of the Parliament’s Standing Orders arising in consequence of the Act. followed by Scottish Government Debate: Scottish Income Tax Rate Resolution 2024-25 Shona Robison S6M-12252 That the Parliament agrees that, for the purposes of section 11A of the Income Tax Act 2007 (which provides for Income Tax to be charged at Scottish rates on certain non-savings and non-dividend income of a Scottish taxpayer to be charged above the personal allowance), the Scottish rates and limits for the tax year 2024-25 are as follows— (a) a starter rate of 19%, charged on income up to a limit of £2,306, (b) the Scottish basic rate is 20%, charged on income above £2,306 and up to a limit of £13,991, (c) an intermediate rate of 21%, charged on income above £13,991 and up to a limit of £31,092, (d) a higher rate of 42%, charged on income above £31,092 and up to a limit of £62,430, (e) an advanced rate of 45%, charged on income above £62,430 and up to a limit of £125,140, and (f) a top rate of 48%, charged on income above £125,140. followed by Legislative Consent Motion: Trade (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) Bill - UK Legislation Shona Robison S6M-12249 That the Parliament agrees that the relevant provisions of the Trade (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) Bill, introduced in the House of Lords on 8 November 2023, relating to procurement, so far as these matters fall within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament, should be considered by the UK Parliament. followed by Legislative Consent Motion: Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill - UK Legislation Jim Fairlie S6M-12250 That the Parliament agrees that the relevant provisions of the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill, introduced in the House of Commons on 4 December 2023, relating to animal welfare, so far as these matters fall within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament or alter the executive competence of the Scottish Ministers, should be considered by the UK Parliament. followed by Decision Time