Linda Fabiani: Good afternoon, everyone. I remind members that social distancing measures are in place in the chamber and across the campus. I ask members to take care to observe those measures, including when entering and exiting the chamber. The next item of business is portfolio questions, and the first portfolio is education and skills. Members who wish to ask supplementary questions should press their...
Linda Fabiani: The next item of business is consideration of motion S5M-24442, in the name of Nicola Sturgeon, on a motion of thanks. All our party leaders will speak in the debate, and then we will take a vote. I hope that our last vote of the session will be unanimous. You are not to run off at that point, however, because we will then have a few words from our esteemed Presiding Officer. I will take...
Linda Fabiani: There is one question to be put as a result of our business. The question is, that motion S5M-24442, in the name of Nicola Sturgeon, on a motion of thanks, be agreed to. Motion agreed to, That the Parliament expresses its thanks to its Presiding Officer, Ken Macintosh, for his service to the Parliament and pays tribute to all of those Members who are standing down at the end of this session.
Linda Fabiani: 1. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service regarding any court delays in cases relating to domestic abuse. (S5O-05114)
Linda Fabiani: I thank the cabinet secretary for that detailed answer. I know that he recognises the added stress that delayed court cases cause to victims of alleged domestic abuse, in the form of uncertainty, family worries and, in too many cases, fear. Of course, such delays happened pre-pandemic, but the situation has got worse, for understandable reasons. When he meets the Crown Office and Procurator...
Linda Fabiani: The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-24381, in the name of Ash Denham, on the Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Bill.
Linda Fabiani: On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Something went wrong with the voting app, and it would not work. I would have voted yes.
Linda Fabiani: The next item is a debate on motion S5M-24338, in the name of John Swinney, on the Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Bill.
Linda Fabiani: Good afternoon, everyone. I remind members that social distancing measures are in place in the chamber and across the whole campus. I ask that members take care to observe those measures, including when entering and exiting the chamber. Please only use the aisles and walkways to access your seat and when moving around the chamber. Question 1 is from James Dornan. [ Interruption .] Perhaps. If...
Linda Fabiani: Good afternoon, everyone. I remind all members that social distancing measures are in place in the chamber and that masks should be worn on entering and leaving or when wandering about. The first item of business is portfolio questions.
Linda Fabiani: Good afternoon. The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-24165, in the name of Michael Russell, on “Doing Politics Differently: The Report of the Citizens’ Assembly of Scotland”. I invite members who wish to speak in the debate to press their request-to-speak buttons, and I call Michael Russell to speak to and move the motion. You have around 12 minutes, please.
Linda Fabiani: We move to the open debate. We are already over time so please be very tight with speeches, which should last no longer than four minutes.
Linda Fabiani: Good afternoon, everyone. I give the usual reminder that social distancing measures are in place in the chamber and across the Holyrood campus. The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-24095, in name of Murdo Fraser, on the Crown Office. Members who wish to speak in the debate should please press their request-to-speak buttons if they are in the chamber, or press R in the chat box...
Linda Fabiani: Good afternoon, and welcome to this virtual meeting of the Scottish Parliament. The first item of business is portfolio question time. If members want to ask a question that is within the portfolio that is under discussion, they should please put an R in the chat box.
Linda Fabiani: Good evening, everyone. The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S5M-23310, in the name of Alasdair Allan, on “Plantation slavery and landownership in the west Highlands and Islands: legacies and lessons”. The debate will be concluded without any question being put. Motion debated, That the Parliament welcomes the publication by Community Land Scotland of an...
Linda Fabiani: I remind everyone that social distancing measures are in place in the chamber and across the campus. I ask everyone to take particular care when they are entering or exiting the chamber. The next item of business is a Scottish Green Party debate on motion S5M-24029, in the name of Mark Ruskell, on universal support for self-isolation.
Linda Fabiani: Good afternoon, everyone. I remind members that social distancing measures are in place in the chamber and across the campus. The next item of business is a statement by Kate Forbes on the Scottish budget for 2021-22. The cabinet secretary will take questions at the end of her statement, so there should be no interventions or interruptions.
Linda Fabiani: Thank you for your point of order, Mr Findlay. The reason why I felt that I had to suspend the meeting was that business could not carry on as it should have, because there was no one here who could move the motion that we will be debating. However, it was not acceptable and it should not have happened. Business should indeed have followed on from the cabinet secretary’s statement on the budget.
Linda Fabiani: We shall now carry on with that very important business, which is a debate on motion S5M-23983, in the name of Humza Yousaf, on the Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Bill at stage 1.
Linda Fabiani: 4. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with European Union member states following the end of the Brexit transition period. (S5O-04948)