– in the Scottish Parliament at 5:00 pm on 3 December 2025.
Alison Johnstone
Green
5:00,
3 December 2025
There are seven questions to be put as a result of today’s business. I remind members that if the Amendment in the name of Neil Gray is agreed to, the amendment in the name of Sandesh Gulhane will fall.
The first question is, that amendment S6M-19977.1, in the name of Neil Gray, which seeks to amend motion S6M-19977, in the name of Jackie Baillie, on crisis in social care, 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 come to the vote on Amendment S6M-19977.1, in the name of Neil Gray, which seeks to amend motion S6M-19977, in the name of Jackie Baillie, on crisis in social care. I remind members that if the amendment in the name of Neil Gray is agreed to, the amendment in the name of Sandesh Gulhane will fall.
Members should cast their votes now.
The vote is closed.
Michael Marra
Labour
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My application would not connect. I would have voted no.
Alison Johnstone
Green
Thank you, Mr Marra. We will ensure that that is recorded.
Division number 1
Decision Time
Alison Johnstone
Green
The Amendment in the name of Dr Gulhane falls.
The next question is, that motion S6M-19977, in the name of Jackie Baillie, on crisis in social care, as amended, be agreed to. Are we agreed?
Alison Johnstone
Green
There will be a Division.
Division number 2
Decision Time
Alison Johnstone
Green
5:11,
3 December 2025
The result of the Division on motion S6M-19977, in the name of Jackie Baillie, as amended, is: For 67, Against 51, Abstentions 5.
Motion, as amended, agreed to,
That the Parliament believes that the UK Government must reverse its hostile and damaging migration policies, which have led to a 77% drop in the number of Health and Social Care visas granted, which in turn is having a devastating impact on the social care sector across Scotland; welcomes the valuable contribution that international workers make to Scotland’s care sector, communities and economy, and notes that the Scottish social care sector has called for the reversal of these harmful policies; reiterates that Scotland is a welcoming nation and that the Scottish Government must continue to ensure that those who have chosen to make Scotland their home can continue to do so; calls for a reversal of the increase in employer national insurance contributions, which has placed an additional £84 million pressure on the sector; recognises that the 2025-26 Budget includes over £15 billion for the local government settlement, including almost £2.2 billion for social care integration, but agrees that the Scottish Government must continue to work closely with partners across the sector, including funding local government and the third sector, to continue making improvements for the social care workforce, and all of those who they support.
Alison Johnstone
Green
The next question is, that Amendment S6M-19980.2, in the name of Jenny Gilruth, which seeks to amend motion S6M-19980, in the name of Pauline McNeill, on transparency in tackling group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse, 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-19980.1, in the name of Russell Findlay, which seeks to amend motion S6M-19980, in the name of Pauline McNeill, on transparency in tackling group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse, be agreed to. Are we agreed?
Alison Johnstone
Green
There will be a Division.
The vote is closed. I am aware of a great deal of a conversation this evening; I would be grateful if members could be courteous.
Division number 4
Decision Time
Alison Johnstone
Green
5:11,
3 December 2025
The result of the Division on Amendment S6M-19980.1, in the name of Russell Findlay, is: For 50, Against 73, Abstentions 0.
Amendment disagreed to.
Alison Johnstone
Green
The next question is, that motion S6M-19980, in the name of Pauline McNeill, on transparency in tackling group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse, as amended, be agreed to. Are we agreed?
Alison Johnstone
Green
The motion is therefore agreed—
Alison Johnstone
Green
I am afraid that it was probably a quiet no from where I am sitting.
There will be a Division.
Division number 5
Decision Time
Alison Johnstone
Green
5:11,
3 December 2025
The result of the Division on motion S6M-19980, in the name of Pauline McNeill, on transparency in tackling group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse, as amended, is: For 95, Against 27, Abstentions 1.
Motion, as amended, agreed to,
That the Parliament believes that there should be independent oversight of the Police Scotland review into group-based sexual exploitation of children and calls on the Scottish Government to urgently clarify whether it will conduct an inquiry into grooming gangs in Scotland, and, in doing so, to give consideration to the continuing work of the statutory Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, which is considering the abuse of children in care in Scotland, the effects of that abuse and if changes to the law, policies or procedures are needed; recognises the independence of Police Scotland and that the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 stipulates that the Chief Constable is responsible for the policing of Scotland, and is accountable to the Scottish Police Authority, and acknowledges that the information and data being gathered by members of the National Child Abuse and Exploitation Strategic Group is necessary to ensure that informed evidence-based decisions are taken on the need for further independent inquiries or reviews.
Alison Johnstone
Green
Unless any member objects, I propose to ask a single question on four Parliamentary Bureau motions. The question is, that motions S6M-19993 and S6M-19994, on approval of Scottish statutory instruments, motion S6M-19995, on committee meeting times, and motion S6M-19996, on committee membership, all in the name of Graeme Dey, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, be agreed to.
Motions agreed to,
That the Parliament agrees that the Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2025 [draft] be approved.
That the Parliament agrees that the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (Notification Requirements) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 [draft] be approved.
That the Parliament agrees that, under Rule 12.3.3B of Standing Orders, the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee can meet, if necessary, at the same time as a meeting of the Parliament during Members’ Business on Wednesday 3 December 2025.
That the Parliament agrees that Paul O’Kane be appointed to replace Rhoda Grant as a member of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee.
Alison Johnstone
Green
That concludes decision time.
Members’ business will be published tomorrow, 4 December 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.
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.
