Meeting of the Parliament

Portfolio Questions Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, and Parliamentary Business Maggie Chapman S6O-04346 1. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how its work on international development and support for humanitarian aid is being used to ensure the safety and security of those who are fleeing war and persecution. Foysol Choudhury S6O-04347 2. To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to increase the number of film and television productions created in Scotland. Colin Beattie S6O-04348 3. To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to local authorities to maintain arts and cultural programmes. Jackie Baillie S6O-04349 4. To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for Dumbarton Castle. Emma Harper S6O-04350 5. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the announcement by Creative Scotland that it will provide multi-year funding to deliver cultural and creative programmes. Willie Coffey S6O-04351 6. To ask the Scottish Government how it supports virtual libraries. Mark Griffin 7. [Not Lodged] Audrey Nicoll 8. [Not Lodged] Justice and Home Affairs Collette Stevenson S6O-04354 1. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its National Strategy for Community Justice, including the delivery of the sustainable housing on release for everyone standards across all local authorities. Roz McCall S6O-04355 2. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the justice secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding action to counter the reported proliferation of child sex abuse images online. John Mason S6O-04356 3. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on Police Scotland’s work to tackle the issue of uncontrolled pyrotechnics at football matches. Annabelle Ewing S6O-04357 4. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the establishment of the Emma Caldwell public inquiry. Willie Rennie S6O-04358 5. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the number of police officer and police staff working days lost due to mental health illness has risen in recent years. Kevin Stewart S6O-04359 6. To ask the Scottish Government what action it and its partner organisations are taking to tackle antisocial behaviour in city centres. Bill Kidd S6O-04360 7. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Cashback for Communities programme. Maurice Golden S6O-04361 8. To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to improve the way the justice system handles crimes involving animals. followed by Scottish Green Party Debate: Scottish Enterprise Funding for Arms Companies Lorna Slater S6M-16571 That the Parliament notes with concern that at least £8 million of Scottish Enterprise grants have been awarded to 13 companies involved in arms dealing and manufacturing since 2019, including £700,000 to Leonardo and £500,000 to Raytheon Systems; further notes that a number of these businesses have directly supplied weapons and equipment to Israel during its assault on Gaza; understands that, despite this, no company has failed the current Scottish Enterprise human rights due diligence checks; believes, therefore, that the current due diligence process at Scottish Enterprise is failing to ensure that Scotland upholds its international obligations, and calls on the Scottish Government to end all public funding to companies complicit in the arms trade with Israel. Richard Lochhead S6M-16571.3 As an amendment to motion S6M-16571 in the name of Lorna Slater (Scottish Enterprise Funding for Arms Companies), leave out from first “notes“ to end and insert “reiterates its unwavering support for the ceasefire in Gaza, for the calls for all efforts to be made to ensure an extension of the ceasefire, for humanitarian aid to reach people in Gaza, and for the remaining hostages to be released; recognises and supports the humanitarian assistance that the Scottish Government has provided to the people of Gaza; calls for recognition of a Palestinian state and a two-state solution; recognises that Scottish Enterprise does not provide funding for the manufacture of weapons or munitions; notes that Scottish Enterprise operates a human rights due diligence process in the awarding of any funding; recognises that responsibility for issuing licences for the export of arms is reserved to the UK Government; calls for the suspension of arms exports to Israel, and does not believe that any public funding should be going to supply arms to Israel.” Craig Hoy S6M-16571.1 As an amendment to motion S6M-16571 in the name of Lorna Slater (Scottish Enterprise Funding for Arms Companies), leave out from “with concern” to end and insert “that Scotland is home to a wide range of defence, aerospace and security companies that collectively play a vital role in supporting the UK in its endeavours to assist in its international duties to maintain peace, including via its membership of NATO; understands that the defence, aerospace and security sectors support more than 30,000 jobs, including 1,500 apprentices, and contribute £3.2 billion to Scotland’s economy; welcomes Scottish Enterprise funding that supports these vital sectors and the jobs and investment that they provide; reiterates Israel’s right to defend itself, and acknowledges that policy decisions regarding the arms trade are reserved to the UK Parliament.” Daniel Johnson S6M-16571.2 As an amendment to motion S6M-16571 in the name of Lorna Slater (Scottish Enterprise Funding for Arms Companies), insert at end "; acknowledges that across the UK, arms export licences have been suspended for items with a clear risk that they may be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law; calls on Scottish Enterprise to review its human rights due diligence checks to ensure that they take account of where products’ end use is, and that they fully comply with legal obligations under the Export Control Act 2002 and international law, and recognises the contribution of the defence sector in Scotland and the role that Scotland-based businesses have played in defending democracy and freedom." followed by Scottish Green Party Debate: Cheaper Rail Fares Mark Ruskell S6M-16572 That the Parliament believes that rail fares in Scotland must be cheaper; regrets the decision by the Scottish Government to end the off-peak all-day pilot in September 2024, despite an increase of passenger demand by 6.8% and an average 17% cost saving to passengers; understands that expensive and complex ticketing deters passengers from choosing to travel by train; acknowledges that, in order to fulfil the Scottish Government’s ambition of reducing car kilometres by 20% by 2030, rail services and public transport must be cheaper and more accessible, and calls, therefore, on the Scottish Government to reverse the 3.8% increase to rail fares coming into effect from 1 April 2025, to permanently remove peak-time rail fares, and to simplify public transport fares, through the introduction of integrated ticketing, as soon as possible. Fiona Hyslop S6M-16572.3 As an amendment to motion S6M-16572 in the name of Mark Ruskell (Cheaper Rail Fares), leave out from first “fares” to end and insert “and bus fares must be affordable to encourage the use of public transport; welcomes that rail passenger numbers, since the off-peak all-day pilot ended, have continued to grow, with demand in each four-week period being an average of 4.5% more than the same period in 2024, when the trial was in place; notes that the Scottish Budget for 2025-26 includes provision for a pilot of a £2 bus fare cap; recognises that the results of the off-peak all-day pilot mirror the results of Transport for London’s similar trial, which also saw no significant increase in travel as a result of lower fares; further recognises that reinstating off-peak fares all day from 1 April 2025 would cost up to £40 million of resource funding, which would require a commensurate reduction elsewhere in the Transport portfolio’s resource budget; recognises that not implementing a fares rise in 2025 would require an additional £11 million, which would require a commensurate reduction elsewhere in the Transport portfolio’s resource budget, and believes that any further consideration of off-peak fares all day should take account of the Transport Scotland and Transport for London research, be part of future budget planning and must also consider progress on bus affordability, availability and reliability across Scotland.” Sue Webber S6M-16572.1 As an amendment to motion S6M-16572 in the name of Mark Ruskell (Cheaper Rail Fares) insert at end “; notes that the operation of ScotRail has cost £600 million more compared to when it was in private hands, and that rail fares also increased by 8.7% in the 2024-25 financial year; calls on the Scottish Government to deliver value for money for taxpayers, which is a significant concern for rail users; urges the Scottish Government to increase access to ScotRail by opening new railway stations, in areas such as Winchburgh, Cove and Newtonhill, and calls on the Scottish Government to consider how a nationalised rail service can provide for all people in Scotland.” Claire Baker S6M-16572.2 As an amendment to motion S6M-16572 in the name of Mark Ruskell (Cheaper Rail Fares), insert at end “; recognises that ScotRail requires investment and sustainable funding, but believes that passengers should not carry the burden of this while services are underperforming.” followed by Appointment of Member of the Standards Commission for Scotland Claire Baker S6M-16561 That the Parliament agrees, under section 8 of the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000, that Malcolm Bell be appointed as a member of the Standards Commission for Scotland. followed by Decision Time followed by Members' Business — S6M-16389 Fulton MacGregor: Northern Corridor Community Forum's Evidence-based Report That the Parliament acknowledges the publication of the 2024 Northern Corridor Community Forum’s publication, Northern Corridor Community Forum - Evidence Based Report, which, it believes, offers a comprehensive statistical and literary analysis of the challenges facing the Northern Corridor area in North Lanarkshire, encompassing the communities of Glenboig, Gartcosh, Moodiesburn, Chryston, Stepps and Muirhead; commends the report for its detailed findings on critical issues such as housing, economic development, infrastructure, local amenities and community wellbeing; notes the report’s identification of what the authors see as the urgent need for modernised and enhanced infrastructure to support these communities; understands that, while the area is open to appropriate new housing developments, there is significant concern about the unprecedented scale of private housing projects, which threaten the long-term sustainability of the communities; notes the report’s call for a more constructive and collaborative relationship between the Community Forum and North Lanarkshire Council to rebuild democratic trust and ensure that local decision-making reflects the needs, desires and plans of the people who live and work in the area, and further notes the view that implementing the report’s recommendations will prioritise actions to foster inclusive economic growth, improve accountability in local governance and enhance the living and working conditions for residents and workers across the Northern Corridor.