Thursday, 28 January 2010
Scottish Parliament Thursday 28 January 2010 [THE PRESIDING OFFICER opened the meeting at 09:15]
Good morning. The first item of business today is a debate on motion S3M-5620, in the name of Pauline McNeill, on the Scottish newspaper industry.
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to promote Scottish produce. (S3O-9343)
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to make decisions on the future development of forensic and fingerprint services. (S3O-9293)
To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available for colleges to cope with additional demand for places. (S3O-9320)
To ask the Scottish Government what impact it considers a supermarket ombudsman will have on farmers and consumers. (S3O-9352)
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the use of naloxone for problem drug users. (S3O-9345)
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is giving to help landscape partnerships access rural priority funding. (S3O-9256)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2005 is being applied effectively. (S3O-9325)
To ask the Scottish Government how it supports housing co-operatives. (S3O-9334)
To ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day. (S3F-2164)
To ask the First Minister when he will next meet the Prime Minister. (S3F-2165)
To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of his Cabinet. (S3F-2166)
To ask the First Minister what efforts the Scottish Government is making to reduce the levels of self-harming among children. (S3F-2176)
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on Scottish Enterprise's decision to bring to an end the graduates for business scheme. (S3F-2170)
To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government considers that, given continuing pressure on the economy, the size of government should be getting smaller rather than bigger. (S3F-2174)
To ask the Scottish Government what South Lanarkshire Council's financial commitment to private finance initiative/public-private partnership contracts is expected to be in 2010-11 and 2011-12....
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth has had with Glasgow City Council regarding the allocation of additional funding to tackle...
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth last met housing sector representatives to discuss the 2010-11 budget. (S3O-9299)
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth last met the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and what was discussed. (S3O-9288)
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met Strathclyde partnership for transport and what issues were discussed. (S3O-9265)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth has discussed with the Minister for Housing and Communities proposals to change its guidance...
To ask the Scottish Government what reports have been received from Network Rail and First ScotRail regarding performance in the operation of train services and infrastructure during the recent...
To ask the Scottish Executive what its preferred option is for improvements at the Haudagain roundabout and when work on this will commence. (S3O-9269)
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth has had with North Lanarkshire Council during the budget process about provision of...
To ask the Scottish Government when Transport Scotland expects to publish the results of its developing rail freight in Scotland consultation. (S3O-9340)
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it uses in deciding to fund some rail projects from borrowing via Network Rail's regulatory asset base. (S3O-9282)
To ask the Scottish Executive what it would cost to introduce a boiler scrappage scheme similar to that in place in England and Wales. (S3O-9294)
To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been committed to the Glasgow airport rail link. (S3O-9287)
To ask the Scottish Government what work is required to reinforce the Dounreay to Beauly high-voltage power line and when it is envisaged that this work will start. (S3O-9337)
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the budget for public service reform and efficiency has increased to £23.9 million in the 2010-11 draft budget. (S3O-9275)
The next item of business is a debate on motion S3M-5619, in the name of Keith Brown, on the skills strategy.
The next item of business is consideration of legislative consent motion S3M-5586, in the name of Nicola Sturgeon, on the Equality Bill, which is United Kingdom legislation. Motion moved, That...
The next item of business is consideration of legislative consent motion S3M-5587, in the name of John Swinney, on the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill, which is United Kingdom...
The next item of business is consideration of a further legislative consent motion, S3M-5585, also in the name of John Swinney, on the Energy Bill, which is United Kingdom legislation. Motion...
There are 10 questions to be put as a result of today's business. The first question is, that amendment S3M-5620.2, in the name of Jim Mather, which seeks to amend motion S3M-5620, in the name of...
The next item of business is a members' business debate on motion S3M-5547, in the name of Richard Baker, on supporting Scotland's supported workplaces. The debate will be concluded without any...
The Scottish Parliament is the national legislature of Scotland, located in Edinburgh. The Parliament consists of 129 members known as MSPs, elected for four-year terms; 73 represent individual geographical constituencies, and 56 are regional representatives.