Alison Johnstone
No Party Affiliation · Scotland
“We will use the same voting procedure as before. Members voted by secret ballot. The Presiding Officer: Voting in this round of the Presiding Officer election is closed. I invite the scrutineers to proceed to the back of the chamber for the counting of votes. Again, candidates may also observe the count.”
“I now invite any scrutineers appointed by the candidates to go to the back of the chamber to observe the counting of ballot papers. Candidates may also observe the count.”
“The first meeting of the seventh session of the Parliament is resumed. I have received four valid nominations for the position of Presiding Officer. I shall now announce the nominations and ask all candidates, as their names are announced, to make themselves known to the chamber.”
“Ballot papers should be marked with an X before being folded and then placed in one of the ballot boxes provided at the rear of the chamber. At the end of each voting period, I shall invite any scrutineers that have been nominated by each candidate to monitor the counting of votes at the back of the chamber, which is where clerks will emp…”
“Members should remain in their seats until I invite them to collect their ballot paper from clerks at the back of the chamber. Members with surnames beginning with the letters A to F should collect their ballot papers from the desk on my left at the back of the chamber—the clerks there have their hands up.”
“15:29 On resuming— The Presiding Officer: This voting period is now open, using the same voting procedure as before. Members voted by secret ballot. The Presiding Officer: Voting in the third round of the election of the Presiding Officer is closed.”
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“Let us hear Ms Webber. Sue Webber: We are desperate for the A9, the A75, the A77, the A96 and the A90 to be dualled. Instead, we have had this daft proposal, along with other anti-car ideas that are in the pipeline, such as local authority congestion charges, punitive low-emission zones and the extrapolation of controlled parking zones, as well as roads that continue to deteriorate. Although I welcome the move to drop this foolish idea to reduce the speed limit to 50mph, can the cabinet secretary guarantee that she will finally end—for good—the war on our motorists? Fiona Hyslop: That extreme language betrays a lack of understanding of the need to tackle road safety. I chair the national road safety strategic partnership board, and we met just last week.”
“The next item of business is consideration of business motion S6M-20196, in the name of Graeme Dey, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, on a change to business. Any member who wishes to speak to the motion should press their request-to-speak button now. Motion moved, That the Parliament agrees to the following revisions to the programme of business for— (a) Tuesday 16 December 2025— after followed by Topical Questions insert followed by Motion of No Confidence (b) Thursday 18 December 2025— delete 3.10 pm Decision Time and insert 2.40 pm Decision Time—[Graeme Dey.] Motion agreed to. Topical Question Time 14:04 Jewish Community Safety 1.”
“Good afternoon. Our first item of business is time for reflection. Our time for reflection leader today is the Rev Gordon Kennedy, minister, Craiglockhart parish church.”
“There will be a short suspension to allow members to access the digital voting system. 16:54 Meeting suspended. 16:58 On resuming— The Presiding Officer: We come to the vote on motion S6M-20099, in the name of Shona Robison, on a financial resolution for the Children (Withdrawal from Religious Duty and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill. Members should cast their votes now. The vote is closed.”
“There are two questions to be put as a result of today’s business. The first question is, that motion S6M-20059, in the name of Karen Adam, on behalf of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee, on the British Sign Language (Scotland) Act 2015, be agreed to. Motion agreed to, That the Parliament notes the findings and recommendations in the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee’s 4th Report, 2025 (Session 6), Report on British Sign Language (Scotland) Act 2015 (SP Paper 872). The Presiding Officer: The final question is, that motion S6M-20099, in the name of Shona Robison, on a financial resolution for the Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“I am minded to accept a motion without notice, under rule 11.2.4 of standing orders, that decision time be brought forward to now. Motion moved, That, under Rule 11.2.4, Decision Time be brought forward to 4.53pm.—[Graeme Dey] Motion agreed to. Decision Time 16:53”
“The next item of business is consideration of motion S6M-20099, in the name of Shona Robison, on a financial resolution for the Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill. Motion moved, That the Parliament, for the purposes of any Act of the Scottish Parliament resulting from the Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill, agrees to any expenditure of a kind referred to in Rule 9.12.3A of the Parliament’s Standing Orders arising in consequence of the Act.—[Jenny Gilruth] The Presiding Officer: The question on the motion will be put at decision time. Motion without Notice 16:53”
“I call Maggie Chapman to wind up the debate on behalf of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. You have a very generous eight minutes, Ms Chapman. 16:43”
“I apologised to Taylor, because it was obvious from what she said to me that she had been failed, as so many young people in care have been failed by our care system. That is why we established the Scottish child abuse inquiry, to ensure that those individuals could find justice. That is why we commissioned the independent review of care. That is why we are taking forward the delivery of the Promise, to ensure that care- experienced individuals in our society are never subjected to any abuse in the future. That is the commitment of my Government, that is my focus and that of all the members of my Cabinet, and that is exactly what we will continue to do. Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs 2.”
“The First Minister: It is really important that I make it clear to Parliament that the Government has no ability whatsoever to close the door of any route of inquiry of the Scottish child abuse inquiry—indeed, we would break the law if we tried to do so. [Interruption.] More to the point, Lady Smith would have none of it from the Scottish Government. [Interruption.] The Presiding Officer: I am sure that members will agree that robust scrutiny is possible without shouting from a sedentary position. The First Minister: It is really important that I make it clear to Parliament and to the public that the Government has no ability to hinder the role of the Scottish child abuse inquiry in any way. I met Taylor on Tuesday, with members of her family.”
“They, along with other victims, have lost all trust in Angela Constance. John Swinney is continuing to defend a justice secretary who misrepresented an expert, misled the Parliament, misled the public and misled victims. Everyone in the chamber, no matter their politics, should expect honesty from Government ministers, and, if mistakes are made, they should at least be corrected. If John Swinney will not sack the justice secretary, we will give the Parliament the chance to have its say with a vote of no confidence. Will the First Minister order his MSPs to support his failing justice secretary?”
“particular circumstances, be within” the terms of reference. The Government has already established a statutory public inquiry that has the ability, as Lady Smith has confirmed, to examine issues in relation to grooming gangs. [Interruption.] The Presiding Officer: Thank you, members. The First Minister: That is some of the work that the Government has to do to make sure that we properly respect the independent inquiry that we established by statute, which has the power to look at many of these issues. Russell Findlay: That is desperate, desperate deflection. The SNP has repeatedly closed the door to the Scottish child abuse inquiry for grooming gang victims in the past, and it will continue to do so. On Tuesday, I met a grooming gang victim known as Taylor, along with her mother. That afternoon, they then went to meet John Swinney.”
“The First Minister: One of the points that I have been trying to stress to Parliament on the handling of this important issue—I recognise its importance—is about the care that the Government has to take about decisions about a grooming gangs inquiry, given the role of the Scottish child abuse inquiry, which the Government established in 2015. Earlier this week, Lady Smith, who chairs the Scottish child abuse inquiry, set out the basis of the phase 10 hearings of that inquiry. The inquiry’s press statement says: “It should be noted that, where any conduct which constitutes grooming is alleged”, the Scottish child abuse inquiry “is able to investigate it if, overall, the circumstances in which it occurred are within its Terms of Reference”. It adds that “Grooming which took place outwith the establishments themselves may, depending on ...”
“Professor Jay asked her to correct this falsehood on 26 September, but she did not do so, and she has still not done so. Then, on 25 November, Angela Constance doubled down. She told the media that she had not misrepresented Alexis Jay. We only know about that now, in December, because we have dragged the information out of this secretive Government. Grooming gang victims were failed by the authorities, and they are now being failed again by the Scottish National Party Government. How can they trust John Swinney and his justice secretary to deliver the honest answers that they deserve?”
“I say to members that this session is for scrutiny, and it is difficult to have that when we cannot hear one another. The First Minister: That amendment relied on the appointment of a victims commissioner, who has not yet been established in office and cannot take the action that was proposed. The Government is addressing the substance of the issue to ensure that we come to the correct conclusion on the steps that we have to take. Russell Findlay: I know that Angela Constance was not making a general point. Everyone in the chamber knows that Angela Constance was not making a general point. John Swinney knows that Angela Constance was not making a general point. She twisted a statement about England to deny victims an inquiry in Scotland.”
“What the Government is doing, which is what the justice secretary was setting out to Parliament at that time and which has been set out to Parliament on numerous occasions, is taking forward the essential work that is necessary to make a judgment about whether a separate grooming gangs inquiry is required, because the view that has been expressed to us— [Interruption.] The Presiding Officer: Let us hear one another. The First Minister: —is that the evidence base is not sufficient for us to take such a decision at this time. As I pointed out to Mr Findlay previously, even if the amendment had been agreed to by Parliament on that occasion, there would have been no ability to take forward a grooming gangs inquiry, because it relied on the appointment of—[Interruption.] The Presiding Officer: Sorry, First Minister.”
“The First Minister: For the reason that I set out in my earlier answer today and in my answers last week—that the justice secretary was making a general comment on the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill. The issue about which Professor Jay was concerned— [Interruption.] The Presiding Officer: Let us hear the First Minister. The First Minister: —has been addressed in the minutes of the national child sexual abuse and exploitation strategic group.”
“I call Russell Findlay. [Interruption.] Let us hear Mr Findlay. Russell Findlay: That answer might have held water last week, but it does not any more. The justice secretary brazenly misrepresented a leading child abuse expert in order to block a grooming gangs inquiry in Scotland. The Scottish ministerial code requires Government ministers to correct “any ... error at the earliest opportunity.” It also states: “Ministers who knowingly mislead the Parliament will be expected to offer their resignation to the First Minister”. The justice secretary misrepresented an expert and then denied doing so when asked by journalists. She failed to correct the record and she has not even apologised. Why is it not obvious to John Swinney that she has broken the ministerial code?”
“There are nine questions to be put as a result of today’s business. I remind members that, if the amendment in the name of Shirley-Anne Somerville is agreed to, the amendment in the name of Claire Baker will fall. The first question is, that amendment S6M- 20056.3, in the name of Shirley-Anne Somerville, which seeks to amend motion S6M-20056, in the name of Alexander Stewart, on controlling the rising benefits bill in Scotland, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division. Members should cast their votes now. The vote is closed.”
“The next item of business is consideration of Parliamentary Bureau motion S6M-20070, on approval of a Scottish statutory instrument. I ask Graeme Dey, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, to move the motion. Motion moved, That the Parliament agrees that the Rural Support (Improvement) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) (No. 2) Regulations 2025 [draft] be approved.—[Graeme Dey] 17:35”
“Motion moved, That the Parliament agrees— (a) the following programme of business— Tuesday 16 December 2025 2.00 pm Time for Reflection followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions followed by Topical Questions followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Dog Theft (Scotland) Bill followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill followed by Committee Announcements followed by Business Motions followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions 6.00 pm Decision Time followed by Members’ Business Wednesday 17 December 2025 2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions 2.00 pm Portfolio Questions: Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands; Health and Social Care followed by Ministerial Statement: Protecting Children from Harm followed by Criminal Justice Committee Debate: Cybercrime followed by Motion on Legislative Consent: Pension Schemes Bill – UK Legislation followed by Business Motions followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions 5.30 pm Decision Time followed by Members’ Business Thursday 18 December 2025 11.40 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions 11.40 am General Questions 12.00 pm First Minister’s Questions 12.45 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions followed by Portfolio Questions: Social Justice and Housing followed by Stage 1 Debate: Contract (Formation and Remedies) (Scotland) Bill followed by Motion on Legislative Consent: Sentencing Bill – UK Legislation followed by Business Motions followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions 3.10 pm Decision Time followed by Members’ Business Tuesday 6 January 2026 2.00 pm Time for Reflection followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions followed by Topical Questions followed by Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee Debate: Legal Aid followed by Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee Debate: Petition PE2018: Recognise the value of swimming pools and provide financial relief to help keep pools open followed by Committee Announcements followed by Business Motions followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions 5.00 pm Decision Time followed by Members’ Business Wednesday 7 January 2026 2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions 2.00 pm Portfolio Questions: Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, and Parliamentary Business; Justice and Home Affairs followed by Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Business followed by Business Motions followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions 5.10 pm Decision Time followed by Members’ Business Thursday 8 January 2026 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: Education and Skills followed by Stage 1 Debate: Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill followed by Financial Resolution: Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill 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 15 December 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.—[Graeme Dey] The Presiding Officer: I call Douglas Lumsden to speak to and move amendment S6M-20068.1.”
“The Presiding Officer: The next item of business is consideration of business motion S6M- 20068, in the name of Graeme Dey, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a business programme. I call the Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans to move the motion.”
“The next item of business is consideration of business motion S6M-20101, in the name of Graeme Dey, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, on a change to business. Apologies—I ask members to bear with me for a moment. Thank you. I just wished to confirm that I had the correct motion number. Motion moved, That the Parliament agrees to the following revision to the programme of business for Thursday 11 December 2025— after followed by Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee Debate: British Sign Language (Scotland) Act 2015 Inquiry insert followed by Financial Resolution: Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill— [Graeme Dey] Motion agreed to.”
“I am not aware of publication this afternoon, but I reiterate whole-heartedly the comments that I made yesterday in the chamber, and I certainly ask that the Government reflect on those comments. Urgent Question 17:07 Professor Alexis Jay (Correspondence)”
“That concludes the debate on connecting Scotland, and it is time to move on to the next item of business, which is an urgent question. Point of Order 17:06”
“There are six questions to be put as a result of today’s business. The first question is, that amendment S6M-20036.1, in the name of Daniel Johnson, which seeks to amend motion S6M- 20036, in the name of Richard Leonard, on behalf of the Public Audit Committee, on its report “The 2023/24 audit of Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Holdings Limited” be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division. There will be a short suspension to allow members to access the digital voting system. 17:51 Meeting suspended. 17:54 On resuming— The Presiding Officer: We come to the vote on amendment S6M-20036.1, in the name of Daniel Johnson, which seeks to amend motion S6M- 20036, in the name of Richard Leonard, on behalf of the Public Audit Committee. Members should cast their votes now. The vote is closed.”
“I am minded to accept a motion without notice, under rule 11.2.4 of standing orders, that decision time be brought forward to now. I invite the Minister for Parliamentary Business to move such a motion. Motion moved, That, under Rule 11.2.4, Decision Time be brought forward to 5.51 pm.—[Graeme Dey] Motion agreed to. Decision Time 17:51”
“The “Scottish Ministerial Code” states: “The Scottish Government should be accountable to the Scottish Parliament”. As a matter of courtesy and respect, I would expect that, when a minister cannot provide information in answer to a question in the chamber, and when the minister has committed to providing that answer in the chamber, they should undertake to provide such detail to the member as soon as it is available. Motion without Notice 17:51”
“The next item of business is consideration of Parliamentary Bureau motion S6M-20067, on a committee meeting time. Motion moved, 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 10 December 2025.—[Graeme Dey] The Presiding Officer: The question on the motion will be put at decision time. Point of Order 17:48”
“The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-20037, in the name of Neil Gray, on a legislative consent motion for the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which is United Kingdom legislation. I call the cabinet secretary to speak to and move the motion. 17:33”
“Thank you, Mr Mountain. Your comments are on the record. That concludes the debate on support for the veterans and armed forces community in Scotland. Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill”
“The next item of business is a statement by Jenny Gilruth on education statistics and the 2026 national improvement framework. The cabinet secretary will take questions at the end of her statement, so there should be no interventions or interruptions. I call the cabinet secretary to speak for up to 10 minutes, please.”
“The next item of business is consideration of business motion S6M-20066, in the name of Graeme Dey, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, on changes to business. Motion moved, That the Parliament agrees to the following revisions to the programme of business for Tuesday 9 December 2025— after followed by Topical Questions insert followed by Ministerial Statement: Education Statistics and the 2026 National Improvement Framework delete 5.30 pm Decision Time and insert 6.00 pm Decision Time—[Graeme Dey]. Motion agreed to. Topical Question Time 14:04 National Health Service Boards (Winter Pressures) 1.”
“That, members, is the moral that the Scottish Parliament must carry forward—not the false security of being “justified” but the living, daily duty of being just. Thank you. Business Motion 14:03”
“However, there is also compassion in Hogg’s story. The “justified sinner” is not born a monster. He is misled, he is persuaded and he is drawn step by step into darkness. Is that not a lesson for us, too? For in our own time, when neighbours are consumed by extremism, or seduced by conspiracy, our duty is not only to condemn; our duty is to understand, to educate and to bring back into community those who might otherwise be lost. Let us hear Hogg’s voice today not as an echo from the past but as a warning for the present. He reminds us that democracy, like faith, requires humility. It requires us to admit mistakes; to question ourselves; to accept that none of us—not saint nor statesman—is beyond accountability.”
“The moral is clear. When people believe themselves to be beyond question, beyond scrutiny and beyond doubt, disaster follows. This is not a story only of religion; this is a story of politics, a story of power and a story of the human heart, for when certainty hardens into pride, and when conviction turns to fanaticism, the result is always the same: division, intolerance and, sometimes, tragedy. This Parliament was not founded on such pride. Devolution was not given to Scotland so that its leaders might rule as if they were without fault. It was given so that you, the people’s representatives, might answer daily to those who sent you here. Hogg’s tale warns us of what happens when humility is lost. When one voice insists that it cannot be wrong. When dialogue is silenced. When doubt is treated as weakness.”
“Good afternoon. The first item of business is time for reflection, and our time for reflection leader today is Tim Maguire, humanist. Tim Maguire (Humanist): Presiding Officer, members of the Scottish Parliament, thank you so much for inviting me to address you today. I invite you to cast your minds back to one of Scotland’s darkest and most unsettling novels, “The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner”. It was published in 1824 and it was written by a man who was baptised in Ettrick on this very day in 1770—James Hogg—but it speaks to us still. The novel tells the story of a young man who believes that his salvation is guaranteed; that whatever he does—however cruel, however violent—he is safe in the eyes of God. With that belief, he falls into arrogance, into cruelty, into despair and, ultimately, into ruin.”
“On that basis, the Government is absolutely focused on ensuring that the national health service meets the needs of people in Scotland as we recover from Covid and delivers on the expectations of the people of our country. National Health Service 3.”
“Why is John Swinney forcing Scots in need to choose between paying the financial cost and paying the human cost of his incompetence and failure? The First Minister: I simply remind Mr Sarwar that our national health service was disrupted for a period of two years because of Covid, and there is a backlog in treatment. We are working hard to ensure that we reduce that backlog. To reassure Mr Sarwar, the amount of hip and knee operations reached an all-time high in 2024. As I have just recounted, we are now performing more operations in the national health service, and we are now back to performing at the pre- pandemic level, which is an indication of the effectiveness of the reforms that I have put in place and of the plans that are being delivered for people in Scotland.”
“The truth is that Scots are paying the price for John Swinney’s incompetence. Thousands are forced to go private to get the treatment that they need, remortgaging homes or borrowing money to pay, for example, £15,000 for a knee replacement, more than £14,000 for a hip replacement or £3,000 for cataract surgery. That means that Scots have been forced to pay at least £59 million of their own money, on top of their taxes, for cataracts and hip and knee replacements in the past year alone. That breaches the founding principles of our NHS that healthcare is free and available at the point of need and that access is not based on the ability to pay. People who cannot raise the money are left to wait in pain and anxiety.”
“Let us hear one another. The First Minister: Between April and October this year, new out-patient waits of more than a year reduced by 17.9 per cent—that is just since April. In the same period, the waiting list size for new in-patient and day-case procedures waiting more than 52 weeks has reduced by 26.1 per cent. I say to Mr Sarwar that I accept that there are challenges in the national health service as a consequence of the Covid pandemic, but this Government is delivering on the progress that I said would be made. Anas Sarwar: I think, on the basis of that rambling response from the First Minister, that he needs some time off and a wee rest. SNP-run Scotland was the only United Kingdom nation where there was an increase in private admissions during the period that I cited.”
“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.”
“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? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division. There will be a short suspension to allow members to access the digital voting system. 17:09 Meeting suspended. 17:11 On resuming— The Presiding Officer: 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 am minded to accept a motion without notice, under rule 11.2.4 of standing orders, that decision time be brought forward to now. I invite the Minister for Parliamentary Business to move the motion. Motion moved, That, under Rule 11.2.4, Decision Time be brought forward to 5.08 pm—[Graeme Dey] Motion agreed to. Decision Time 17:08”
“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.— [Graeme Dey] The Presiding Officer: The question on the motions will be put at decision time. Motion without Notice 17:08”
“The next item of business is consideration of four Parliamentary Bureau motions. I ask Graeme Dey, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, to move 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. Motions moved, 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.”
“The next item of business is consideration of business motion S6M-19992, in the name of Graeme Dey, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a business programme. Motion moved, That the Parliament agrees— (a) the following programme of business— Tuesday 9 December 2025 2.00 pm Time for Reflection followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions followed by Topical Questions followed by Public Audit Committee Debate: The 2023/24 Audit of Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Holdings Limited followed by Scottish Government Debate: Support for the Veterans and Armed Forces Community in Scotland followed by Motion on Legislative Consent: Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill – UK Legislation followed by Committee Announcements followed by Business Motions followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions 5.30 pm Decision Time followed by Members’ Business Wednesday 10 December 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 Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Business followed by Business Motions followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions 5.10 pm Decision Time followed by Members’ Business Thursday 11 December 2025 11.40 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions 11.40 am General Questions 12.00 pm First Minister’s Questions followed by Members’ Business 2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions 2.00 pm Portfolio Questions: Climate Action and Energy, and Transport followed by Ministerial Statement: Progressing a Just Transition at Grangemouth followed by Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee Debate: British Sign Language (Scotland) Act 2015 Inquiry followed by Business Motions followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions 5.00 pm Decision Time Tuesday 16 December 2025 2.00 pm Time for Reflection followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions followed by Topical Questions followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Dog Theft (Scotland) Bill followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill followed by Committee Announcements followed by Business Motions followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions 6.00 pm Decision Time followed by Members’ Business Wednesday 17 December 2025 2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions 2.00 pm Portfolio Questions: Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands; Health and Social Care followed by Committee Business followed by Business Motions followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions 5.00 pm Decision Time followed by Members’ Business Thursday 18 December 2025 11.40 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions 11.40 am General Questions 12.00 pm First Minister’s Questions 12.45 pm Portfolio Questions: Social Justice and Housing followed by Stage 1 Debate: Contract (Formation and Remedies) (Scotland) Bill followed by Business Motions followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions 2.40 pm Decision Time followed by Members’ Business (b) that, for the purposes of Portfolio Questions in the week beginning 8 December 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.—[Graeme Dey] Motion agreed to.”
“That concludes the debate on transparency in tackling group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse. Business Motion 17:07”
“Motion agreed to, That the Parliament unites in its commitment to 2025’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign; warns that digital violence is the fastest growing form of abuse against women and girls worldwide; highlights the UN Women campaign, “UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls”, which reminds everyone that digital safety is central to gender equality; recognises that protecting women and girls online will take concerted societal action from all spheres of government, tech companies, organisations, institutions and individuals, and commits to strengthening efforts to prevent violence against women and girls across all sectors and in all its forms. The Presiding Officer: That ends decision time. International Day of Persons with Disabilities”
“Amendment disagreed to. The Presiding Officer: The final question is, that motion S6M-19970, in the name of Shirley- Anne Somerville, on uniting local and national efforts across sectors to end violence against women and girls, be agreed to.”