Meeting of the Parliament

Time for Reflection Rev Malcolm Macleod, Moderator of the Free Church of Scotland followed by Topical Questions Carol Mochan S6T-02277 1. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prevent the spread of avian influenza, following the outbreak in Kirriemuir. Douglas Ross S6T-02279 2. To ask the Scottish Government what early assessment it has made following the opening of the safer drug consumption facility, The Thistle. followed by Ministerial Statement: Winter Heating Payment followed by Scottish Government Debate: Valuing Culture: Scotland's Support to the Culture Sector Angus Robertson S6M-16092 That the Parliament celebrates arts and culture in Scotland in all their diverse forms, past, present and emerging; recognises the transformational impact that they can have on people’s lives across Scotland; welcomes the economic contribution that the cultural and creative industries workforces make to society and the economy; acknowledges the importance of the community culture sector, and commends the innovative local organisations, in both rural and urban areas, for the work that they do to support participation in cultural pursuits; considers that a strong and successful culture sector is central to the prosperity of the nation; welcomes that, against a backdrop of cultural funding being cut by the UK Government, the draft Scottish Government Budget for 2025-26 increases frontline culture funding by £34 million, and believes that Scotland’s cultural communities can be supported to continue to develop and innovate in exhibition, performance and participation in Scotland’s artistic life. Murdo Fraser S6M-16092.3 As an amendment to motion S6M-16092 in the name of Angus Robertson (Valuing Culture: Scotland’s Support to the Culture Sector), leave out from second “welcomes” to end and insert “recognises the important contribution that volunteers make to the vitality of Scotland’s culture sector; acknowledges that the culture sector has been subjected to repeated budgetary mismanagement by the Scottish Government and that the draft Budget 2025-26 still leaves the sector in a precarious position; notes that large music venues are not supported by the provisions on business rates relief in the draft Budget; recognises that key cultural areas, such as libraries and music tuition, still face cuts due to the constraints facing local authority budgets; notes that Creative Scotland remains under review by the Scottish Government, and trusts that public funds will not in future be used to support pornographic material, and urges the Scottish Government to foster innovation and participation in Scotland’s culture sector to ensure that it remains vibrant for generations to come.” Neil Bibby S6M-16092.2 As an amendment to motion S6M-16092 in the name of Angus Robertson (Valuing Culture: Scotland's Support to the Culture Sector), leave out from second “welcomes” to end and insert “acknowledges the scale of the crisis that the culture sector has been suffering over a number of years; notes that the Scottish Government has not held a debate on support for the culture sector in the current parliamentary session until now; welcomes the intention to increase the culture budget by £34 million in 2025-26, following the record budget settlement of £47.7 billion to the Scottish Government from the UK Labour administration; notes the observation by the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee that the culture sector’s ‘confidence remains low due to the lack of clarity from the Scottish Government regarding its priorities for the additional investment’, and believes that Scotland’s cultural communities must be supported to continue to develop and innovate in exhibition, performance and participation in Scotland’s artistic life.” followed by Decision Time followed by Members' Business — S6M-15972 Meghan Gallacher: Introduction of NOVA Scotland That the Parliament recognises what it sees as the importance of having a service of support and guidance for veterans, such as those in the Central Scotland region, including those in the justice system; understands that, whilst veterans are not more likely to commit a crime than civilians, they are more likely to engage with the justice system; further understands that, in England, Op NOVA has a decade of experience working in partnership with health and justice systems to support veterans in living healthy, stable and crime-free lives, and that it provides emotional and practical support to veterans at all points of the justice system, including pre-arrest, arrest, post-arrest and those serving a custodial sentence; considers that, having been built on the foundations of Forces Employment Charity’s Project Nova, it has an evidence base and proven framework to deliver life-changing support to veterans with established partnerships in the justice sector; notes the belief, therefore, that NOVA Scotland would be crucial in enabling veterans to live stable lives by providing access to practical and emotional support across a variety of areas, and further notes the calls for the Scottish Government to look at measures to introduce NOVA Scotland.