– in the Scottish Parliament at 5:04 pm on 29 January 2025.
Alison Johnstone
Presiding Officer
5:04,
29 January 2025
The next item of business is consideration of business motion S6M-16265, in the name of Jamie Hepburn, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a business programme.
Motion moved,
That the Parliament agrees—
(a) the following programme of business—
Tuesday 4 February 2025
2.00 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Topical Questions (if selected)
followed by Stage 1 Debate: Budget (Scotland) (No. 4) Bill
followed by Committee Announcements
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Wednesday 5 February 2025
2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2.00 pm Portfolio Questions:
Deputy First Minister Responsibilities, Economy and Gaelic;
Finance and Local Government
followed by Ministerial Statement: Implementing the Medication Assisted Treatment Standards
followed by Scottish Government Debate: Addressing Child Poverty Through Education
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Approval of SSIs (if required)
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Thursday 6 February 2025
11.40 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions
11.40 am General Questions
12.00 pm First Minister’s Questions
followed by Members’ Business
2.30 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2.30 pm Portfolio Questions:
Net Zero and Energy, and Transport
followed by Ministerial Statement: Simplifying the Post-School Education and Skills Funding Body Landscape in Scotland
followed by Scottish Government Debate: Improving Miscarriage Care
followed by Legislative Consent Motion: Great British Energy Bill - UK Legislation
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.30 pm Decision Time
Tuesday 18 February 2025
2.00 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Topical Questions (if selected)
followed by Scottish Government Business
followed by Committee Announcements
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Wednesday 19 February 2025
2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2.00 pm Portfolio Questions:
Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands;
Health and Social Care
followed by Scottish Government Business
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Approval of SSIs (if required)
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Thursday 20 February 2025
11.40 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions
11.40 am General Questions
12.00 pm First Minister’s Questions
followed by Members’ Business
2.30 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2.30 pm Portfolio Questions:
Social Justice
followed by Scottish Government Business
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
(b) that, for the purposes of Portfolio Questions in the week beginning 3 February 2025, in rule 13.7.3, after the word “except” the words “to the extent to which the Presiding Officer considers that the questions are on the same or similar subject matter or” are inserted.—[Jamie Hepburn]
Motion agreed to.
Alison Johnstone
Presiding Officer
The next item of business is consideration of business motions S6M-16266, on a stage 1 timetable for a bill, and motion S6M-16267, on a stage 2 timetable for a bill. I ask Jamie Hepburn, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, to move the motions.
Motions moved,
That the Parliament agrees that consideration of the Leases (Automatic Continuation etc.) (Scotland) Bill at stage 1 be completed by 19 September 2025.
That the Parliament agrees that consideration of the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill at stage 2 be completed by 28 March 2025.—[Jamie Hepburn]
Motions agreed to.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
