– in the Scottish Parliament at 5:04 pm on 28 May 2025.
Alison Johnstone
Green
5:04,
28 May 2025
There are nine questions to be put as a result of today’s business. The first question is, that Amendment S6M-17669.3, in the name of Jenny Gilruth, which seeks to amend motion S6M-17669, in the name of Willie Rennie, on a new plan for Scotland’s teaching workforce, be agreed to. Are we agreed?
Alison Johnstone
Green
There will be a Division.
There will be a short suspension to allow members to access the digital voting system.
Alison Johnstone
Green
We move to the vote on Amendment S6M-17669.3, in the name of Jenny Gilruth, which seeks to amend motion S6M-17669, in the name of Willie Rennie. Members should cast their votes now.
The vote is closed.
Jenny Gilruth
Scottish National Party
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app would not connect. I would have voted yes.
Alison Johnstone
Green
Thank you, Ms Gilruth. We will ensure that that is recorded.
Kenneth Gibson
Scottish National Party
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I was unable to connect. I would have voted yes.
Alison Johnstone
Green
Thank you, Mr Gibson. We will ensure that that is recorded.
Division number 1
Decision Time
Alison Johnstone
Green
The next question is, that Amendment S6M-17669.2, in the name of Miles Briggs, which seeks to amend motion S6M-17669, in the name of Willie Rennie, on a new plan for Scotland’s teaching workforce, be agreed to.
Amendment agreed to.
Alison Johnstone
Green
The next question is, that Amendment S6M-17669.1, in the name of Pam Duncan-Glancy, which seeks to amend motion S6M-17669, in the name of Willie Rennie, on a new plan for Scotland’s teaching workforce, be agreed to.
Amendment agreed to.
Alison Johnstone
Green
The next question is, that motion S6M-17669, in the name of Willie Rennie, on a new plan for Scotland’s teaching workforce, as amended, be agreed to. Are we agreed?
Alison Johnstone
Green
There will be a Division.
Division number 2
Decision Time
Alison Johnstone
Green
5:15,
28 May 2025
The result of the Division on motion S6M-17669, in the name of Willie Rennie, on a new plan for Scotland’s teaching workforce, as amended, is: For 89, Against 23, Abstentions 0.
Motion, as amended, agreed to,
That the Parliament acknowledges the work carried out by Scotland’s teachers in schools across the country and commends them for all they do; recognises that the subjects that they teach provide important foundations for knowledge and skills in sectors that can be vital for Scotland’s economy; notes with concern, however, that there has been a sharp decline in the number of teachers in key subjects, such as maths, physics and modern languages, and that targets to train teachers in STEM subjects have been continuously missed; believes that, should these targets continue to be missed, and the decline in the number of teachers continues, it will add to the strain on the teaching workforce, Scottish education will suffer and Scotland’s ability to compete globally in important sectors will be impacted; further believes that a lack of permanent contracts for teachers will further compound issues with recruitment and training; notes that there are also high levels of unemployment and underemployment of primary teachers and teachers for some secondary school subjects; recognises that local workforce planning is led by local government and must be undertaken in partnership with it; supports local authorities, as the employers of teachers, to use the significant additional funding made available, including £186.5 million in the 2025-26 Budget, to increase teacher numbers and create more permanent posts, and calls for the Scottish Government to commit to working in partnership with COSLA, through the joint education and assurance board, to develop a joint evidence-led education workforce strategy with stakeholders; continues to be concerned at the levels of violence being reported in schools, including unacceptable physical and verbal attacks and threats being experienced by teachers and the wider school community; notes the significant concerns over high levels of work-related stress being reported by teachers and the health and wellbeing of the profession; calls on the Scottish Government to bring forward a national coordinated education workforce plan, including data on additional support needs (ASN) and projections on workforce capacity for additional support workers and classroom assistants across local authorities as part of the ASN review; recognises concerns that absence cover is not being consistently applied across schools and local authorities; supports the better provision of access to resources and training, including the delivery of a new model of support alongside the NHS Education for Scotland trauma informed practice training on neurodivergence and autism, and further calls on the Scottish Government to develop a consistent national system of supply to support supply teachers across local authorities, make Pupil Equity Funding permanent to empower schools to properly plan, address concerns with the teacher census to ensure that it is known where staff are and where they are needed, ensure places on teacher training are aligned to workforce planning needs, including in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects, and collect and publish data around the number of senior phase lessons being taught by non-subject specialist teachers.
Alison Johnstone
Green
The next question is, that Amendment S6M-17670.3, in the name of Maree Todd, which seeks to amend motion S6M-17670, in the name of Alex Cole-Hamilton, on addressing the inadequate provision for neurodevelopmental conditions, be agreed to. Are we agreed?
Alison Johnstone
Green
There will be a Division.
Division number 3
Decision Time
Alison Johnstone
Green
The next question is, that Amendment S6M-17670.2, in the name of Sandesh Gulhane, which seeks to amend motion S6M-17670, in the name of Alex Cole-Hamilton, on addressing the inadequate provision for neurodevelopmental conditions, be agreed to. Are we agreed?
Alison Johnstone
Green
There will be a Division.
Division number 4
Decision Time
Alison Johnstone
Green
The next question is, that Amendment S6M-17670.1, in the name of Paul Sweeney, which seeks to amend motion S6M-17670, in the name of Alex Cole-Hamilton, on addressing the inadequate provision for neurodevelopmental conditions, be agreed to.
Amendment agreed to.
Alison Johnstone
Green
The next question is, that motion S6M-17670, in the name of Alex Cole-Hamilton, on addressing the inadequate provision for neurodevelopmental conditions, as amended, be agreed to. Are we agreed?
Alison Johnstone
Green
There will be a Division.
The vote is closed.
Pauline McNeill
Labour
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I experienced connection problems. I would have voted no.
Alison Johnstone
Green
Thank you, Ms McNeill. We will ensure that that is recorded.
Ben Macpherson
Scottish National Party
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Similarly, I was unable to connect. I would have voted yes.
Alison Johnstone
Green
Thank you, Mr Macpherson. We will ensure that that is recorded.
Division number 5
Decision Time
Alison Johnstone
Green
5:15,
28 May 2025
The result of the Division is: For 96, Against 18, Abstentions 0.
Motion, as amended, agreed to,
That the Parliament recognises the scale and urgency of unmet need in both mental health and neurodevelopmental support, particularly in the context of a sharp rise in demand for neurodiversity assessments and treatment for adults and children following the COVID-19 pandemic; notes the additional pressure on services caused by the global shortage of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication, which has led to the closure of titration clinics in some areas and significantly impacted waiting times and access to care; recognises the profound distress and disruption this causes for individuals and families who are left without timely diagnosis or support; acknowledges the knock-on effects on the health service, as well as the wider economic consequences of rising levels of economic inactivity linked to unmet neurodevelopmental and mental health needs; notes with concern the widespread removal of shared care arrangements where patients who obtained a private diagnosis could receive ongoing care and medication through the Scottish NHS; calls on the Scottish Government to work urgently with NHS boards and local authorities on their shared care arrangement protocols, but understands that decisions around the best course of treatment for patients are for individual clinicians; further calls on the Scottish Government to expand and create adult neurodevelopmental pathways and stepped care models, as recommended by the National Autism Implementation Team and Royal College of Psychiatrists in the 2021 National Clinical ADHD Pathway Feasibility Study; notes the four pilots that the Scottish Government funded following these recommendations, the establishment of a neuro-affirming community of practice and ongoing scoping work on demand and capacity for adult neurodevelopmental services, including work with NHS boards and local authorities on local neurodevelopmental data; calls on the Scottish Government to convene a cross-party summit on addressing waits for neurodevelopmental support and mental health capacity to avert a crisis for individuals and families waiting too long; recognises the progress made towards the Scottish Government’s commitment to allocate 10% of NHS spending to mental health and 1% to CAMHS by the end of the current parliamentary session; thanks the dedicated NHS and wider workforce for its hard work in providing neurodevelopmental and mental health services in this time of increased demand, and calls on the Scottish Government to publish data on the number of patients with neurodevelopmental conditions who are being removed from CAMHS waiting lists.
Alison Johnstone
Green
If no member objects, I propose to ask a single question on three Parliamentary Bureau motions. The final question is, that motions S6M-17703, S6M-17704 and S6M-17705, in the name of Jamie Hepburn, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, on the designation of lead committees, be agreed to.
Motions agreed to,
That the Parliament agrees that the Criminal Justice Committee be designated as the lead committee in consideration of the Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill at stage 1.
That the Parliament agrees that the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee be designated as the lead committee in consideration of the Desecration of War Memorials (Scotland) Bill at stage 1.
That the Parliament agrees that the Social Justice and Social Security Committee be designated as the lead committee in consideration of the Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill at stage 1.
Alison Johnstone
Green
That concludes decision time.
Members’ business will be published tomorrow, 29 May 2025, as soon as the text is available.
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
The House of Commons votes by dividing. Those voting Aye (yes) to any proposition walk through the division lobby to the right of the Speaker and those voting no through the lobby to the left. In each of the lobbies there are desks occupied by Clerks who tick Members' names off division lists as they pass through. Then at the exit doors the Members are counted by two Members acting as tellers. The Speaker calls for a vote by announcing "Clear the Lobbies". In the House of Lords "Clear the Bar" is called. Division Bells ring throughout the building and the police direct all Strangers to leave the vicinity of the Members’ Lobby. They also walk through the public rooms of the House shouting "division". MPs have eight minutes to get to the Division Lobby before the doors are closed. Members make their way to the Chamber, where Whips are on hand to remind the uncertain which way, if any, their party is voting. Meanwhile the Clerks who will take the names of those voting have taken their place at the high tables with the alphabetical lists of MPs' names on which ticks are made to record the vote. When the tellers are ready the counting process begins - the recording of names by the Clerk and the counting of heads by the tellers. When both lobbies have been counted and the figures entered on a card this is given to the Speaker who reads the figures and announces "So the Ayes [or Noes] have it". In the House of Lords the process is the same except that the Lobbies are called the Contents Lobby and the Not Contents Lobby. Unlike many other legislatures, the House of Commons and the House of Lords have not adopted a mechanical or electronic means of voting. This was considered in 1998 but rejected. Divisions rarely take less than ten minutes and those where most Members are voting usually take about fifteen. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P9 at the UK Parliament site.
The House of Commons votes by dividing. Those voting Aye (yes) to any proposition walk through the division lobby to the right of the Speaker and those voting no through the lobby to the left. In each of the lobbies there are desks occupied by Clerks who tick Members' names off division lists as they pass through. Then at the exit doors the Members are counted by two Members acting as tellers. The Speaker calls for a vote by announcing "Clear the Lobbies". In the House of Lords "Clear the Bar" is called. Division Bells ring throughout the building and the police direct all Strangers to leave the vicinity of the Members’ Lobby. They also walk through the public rooms of the House shouting "division". MPs have eight minutes to get to the Division Lobby before the doors are closed. Members make their way to the Chamber, where Whips are on hand to remind the uncertain which way, if any, their party is voting. Meanwhile the Clerks who will take the names of those voting have taken their place at the high tables with the alphabetical lists of MPs' names on which ticks are made to record the vote. When the tellers are ready the counting process begins - the recording of names by the Clerk and the counting of heads by the tellers. When both lobbies have been counted and the figures entered on a card this is given to the Speaker who reads the figures and announces "So the Ayes [or Noes] have it". In the House of Lords the process is the same except that the Lobbies are called the Contents Lobby and the Not Contents Lobby. Unlike many other legislatures, the House of Commons and the House of Lords have not adopted a mechanical or electronic means of voting. This was considered in 1998 but rejected. Divisions rarely take less than ten minutes and those where most Members are voting usually take about fifteen. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P9 at the UK Parliament site.
