Join us for First Minister’s Questions with John Swinney facing questions from opposition party leaders and a Scottish Government Debate on Growing Scotland’s Creative Economy.
Scottish Parliament – First Minister’s Questions.
1.30pm – General Questions
1. Amanda Bland (S7O-00279)
[Not Lodged]
2. David Smith (S7O-00280)
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its commitment to a 16% increase in residential rehabilitation bed capacity, for what reason a right to rehabilitation enshrined in law for everyone was not included within the Programme for Government.
3. David Green (S7O-00281)
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve access to gynaecology care for women in the Highlands.
4. Kate Campbell (S7O-00282)
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported concerns raised by third sector organisations, including Edinburgh-based Project Esperanza, what support it can provide to temporary migrant workers in Scotland, sponsored under the Certificate of Sponsorship visa system, who may be vulnerable to exploitation, including fraudulent job offers, debt bondage and wage theft.
5. Alex Kerr (S7O-00283)
To ask the Scottish Government what action it and Police Scotland are taking to reduce violence and abuse against retail workers and shoplifting.
6. Finlay Carson (S7O-00284)
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will increase support for research into brain tumour diagnostics and treatment.
7. Pauline McNeill (S7O-00285)
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure that Glasgow city centre has an enhanced police provision.
8. Willie Rennie (S7O-00286)
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will support the proposal to reopen a railway station at Newburgh, Fife.
9. Katherine Sangster (S7O-00287)
[Not Lodged]
10. Thomas Kerr (S7O-00288)
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider a ban on all face coverings in public places, including balaclavas and the burqa.
2:00pm First Minister’s Questions
1. Michael Marra (S7F-00046)
Question to be taken in Chamber.
2. Malcolm Offord (S7F-00047)
Question to be taken in Chamber.
3. Gillian Mackay (S7F-00048)
Question to be taken in Chamber.
4. Russell Findlay (S7F-00049)
Question to be taken in Chamber.
5. Alex Cole-Hamilton (S7F-00050)
Question to be taken in Chamber.
Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Questions
1. Colin Beattie (S7O-00298)
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it considers it equitable that staff employed by MSPs receive lower employer pension contributions than staff it and the Scottish Government directly employ, and what action it is taking to address any such disparity.
2. Kayleigh Kinross-O’Neill (S7O-00293)
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how it developed the four job families and pay scales for MSP staff, including the criteria used to weigh different functions within and between families, and when these will next be reviewed.
3. Kate Nevens (S7O-00297)
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, regarding its proposed facial authentication security access system, when is it due to be introduced and whether MSPs and parliamentary staff will be permitted to opt out of its use.
4. Kristopher Leask (S7O-00290)
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will consider reviewing the MSP staff travel expenses scheme to ensure that it takes account of the differences in travel distance and costs between geographically smaller parliamentary regions and larger ones, such as the Highlands and Islands.
5. Paul Sweeney (S7O-00250)
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will develop a memorandum of understanding with MSP staff trade unions concerning the matters for which it is responsible.
Submitting member has a registered interest.
6. Katherine Sangster (S7O-00300)
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it consulted MSP staff trade unions on the contents of the employer pledge that MSPs were asked to sign up to.
7. Lorna Slater (S7O-00295)
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether, with respect to the standards applied by the Parliament’s Allowances Office for MSP constituency offices, it will establish technical standards for fire detection, ventilation, heating, lighting and other safety and wellbeing factors that are recognised by surveyors and solicitors across the Scottish property sector.
8. Clare Haughey (S7O-00291)
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what assessment it has undertaken of the impact on school visits to the Scottish Parliament of the changes to the timing of First Minister’s Questions.
9. Laura Moodie (S7O-00294)
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it collects data on MSP staff pay including data on the gender pay gap.
10. Keith Brown (S7O-00292)
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what assessment and engagement with building users informed its decision to introduce facial template authentication for passholders on the parliamentary estate, whether it is aware of similar technology being used in any other UK parliament and whether it will consult with MSPs further before implementation.
11. Claire Baker (S7O-00299)
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how it is supporting MSPs to offer benefits to their employees, including those which promote healthy living and wellbeing.
12. Cara McKee (S7O-00289)
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what additional measures can be taken to ensure compliance with best practice regarding clear allergen labelling for non-pre-packaged food offered for sale in the catering outlets across the parliamentary estate.
Scottish Government Debate – Growing Scotland’s Creative Economy
Business Motions
Parliamentary Bureau Motions.
5:00pm – Decision Time.
First Minister’s Questions from Holyrood is available live and on catch-up afterwards.
You can comment on First Minister’s Questions on BlueSky.
The need for a fair and balanced independent broadcaster in Scotland has never been greater, however, to add to our funding challenges, we have now moved to new studio premises in Stirling and that is why we set a target to raise £25,000, to enable us complete the move as seamlessly as possible, so we can increase our programme output in this most important year ahead for news in Scotland. Please donate whatever you can afford.
Broadcasting Scotland is Scotland’s independent broadcaster, producing programmes from a Scottish perspective, targeting audiences, inside Scotland and beyond. We can only be the independent TV channel you want with your support, so please consider becoming a Broadcasting Scotland Supporter.
