Thursday, 21 November 2019
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I know that you are aware that there are 10 questions for the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body this afternoon, because I have been in correspondence...
1. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to reports that around 58,000 children will not be eligible for the Scottish child payment benefit when they turn six....
2. To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve transport connections in remote and rural areas. (S5O-03798)
4. To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be on Scotland’s local authorities of the increase in the interest rate charged by the Public Works Loan Board. (S5O-03800)
5. To ask the Scottish Government what support it gives to organisations and public sector bodies to mitigate the effects of fuel poverty in remote and rural areas. (S5O-03801)
6. To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that city region deal projects tackle climate change. (S5O-03802)
7. To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on households in Scotland, what discussions it has had with the United Kingdom Government regarding reinstating pension credit...
8. To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to announce any further delays to the R100 programme before the end of the current parliamentary session. (S5O-03804)
1. This past weekend, we learned about the tragic death of another child—a three-year-old boy—at the Queen Elizabeth university hospital campus in Glasgow. That is in addition to the...
2. Yesterday, the Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing told Parliament: “This Government is absolutely committed to a publicly owned, operated and commissioned NHS in...
One of my constituents recently raised the case of Sam, a 13-year-old who, tragically, has been diagnosed with leukaemia. Due to the children’s ward admissions closure at Glasgow’s...
The First Minister will be aware of the tragic death of a homeless man in Glasgow at the weekend. He was found dead in a car park in freezing conditions. That was reported on the day that Shelter...
Does the First Minister agree with the removal of concessionary tram fares for over-60s and disabled people, which is being considered by the City of Edinburgh Council?
Because of the ban on new admissions to the children’s cancer wards in Glasgow, it is true that there is not enough paediatric intensive care unit provision in Scotland. I know that because...
Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action, a charity in my constituency and the wider north-east region, does an incredible amount of work to support the third sector. It says that the Scottish Government...
3. Two years ago, the First Minister told us: “I have always been an opponent of fox hunting and I remain so.”—[ Official Report , 18 May 2017; c 19.] We have had plenty of...
I will ask the First Minister the same question that Jo Swinson answered so disgracefully this week. Would she ever be prepared to use nuclear weapons?
The First Minister will be well aware of the horrific fire that occurred this past weekend in student accommodation in Bolton. Students across Scotland are now deeply concerned regarding the...
Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, has claimed that the Government is not responsible for poverty. Does the First Minister agree that every Government, including hers, has a responsibility and duty...
NHS Lothian is predicting a £90 million budget deficit, yet it is paying up to £1,700 a shift to a private nursing agency to cover staff absence. Why?
As this is Scottish book week, does the First Minister agree that Scots is a living language? For example, my favourite Scots word is “boorach”, as in “Brexit boorach”. In...
4. To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government is recognising this year’s carers’ rights day. (S5F-03741)
5. To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government is supporting shipbuilding in Fife and across Scotland. (S5F-03732)
6. To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking in response to reports that one in 20 households that use food banks has an unstable income due to self-employment or...
I ask members of the public who are leaving the gallery to do so quietly—Parliament is in session. The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S5M-18735, in the...
The next item of business is Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body question time. I will try to get as many members in as possible, but we have a lot of questions.
1. To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what steps it is taking to ensure that there is access to the wi-fi service across all of the estate. (S5O-03813)
2. To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what consideration it has given to introducing remote voting and videoconferencing options for members. (S5O-03810)
3. To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, with reference to its policy that does not permit parliamentary-funded publications to be issued within three months of a United Kingdom...
4. To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what arrangements are in place to allow cross-party groups to access support such as British Sign Language interpreters or translation services...
5. To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what plans it has to make provision in future years to offer the flu vaccination to its contractor staff. (S5O-03772)
6. To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what provisions have been made for disabled people who are unable to use the fingerprint scanners that have been installed as part of the...
7. To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many members have had their fingerprints taken for the two-factor authentication system for access to the complex. (S5O-03808)
We move on to portfolio question time. In order to fit in as many members as possible, I ask for succinct questions and answers, please. Question 1 is from Maurice Corry.
1. To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of shortages, what action it is taking to ensure that there will be ample supply of the flu vaccine over the winter to meet demand. (S5O-03789)
2. To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking given the warnings from NHS Grampian about its ageing workforce. (S5O-03790)
3. To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to encourage and support new mothers to breastfeed. (S5O-03791)
4. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the cross-party group on cancer recent report on the priorities for the future of cancer care, which highlighted concerns regarding gaps...
5. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde initiative, moving forward together, which includes a review of how certain types of cancer treatment...
6. To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on NHS Scotland, what its response is to concerns that the United Kingdom might reach trade agreements following Brexit that...
8. To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the national action plan on neurological conditions, which was first announced on 14 September 2017. (S5O-03796)
The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-19967, in the name of Fiona Hyslop, on television licences for the over-75s.
If no member objects, I would be happy to accept a motion without notice, under rule 11.2.4 of the standing orders, that decision time be brought forward to now. I invite Patrick Harvie to move...
I remind members that, if the amendment in the name of Rachael Hamilton is agreed to, the amendment in the name of Claire Baker will fall. The first question is, that amendment S5M-19967.2, in...
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.