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AG/S5/19/5 PARLIAMENTARY BUREAU AGENDA FOR MEETING ON TUESDAY 5 FEBRUARY 2019 12noon: Room Q1.03 1. Minutes (a) Draft minutes of 29 January 2019 (b) Matters arising. 2. Future business programme (PB/S5/19/16)

3. Approval of Scottish Statutory Instruments (PB/S5/19/17)

4. Approval of the Scottish Social Security Charter (PB/S5/19/18)

5. Request for an external meeting: Equalities and (PB/S5/19/19) Human Rights Committee

Date of next meeting—

Tuesday 19 February 2019 @ 12noon

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PARLIAMENTARY BUREAU MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 29 JANUARY 2019 AT 12 noon. Attending: Ken Macintosh (chair), Linda Fabiani, Christine Grahame, Graeme Dey, Maurice Golden, James Kelly, Patrick Harvie, Willie Rennie. Observing: Tom Arthur Apologies: Neil Findlay Officials present: Paul Grice, Tracey White, Catherine Fergusson, Lewis McNaughton, Kathryn Stewart, Joanne McNaughton, Jennifer Bell, Linda Peters.

1. Item 1a: Minutes of last meeting — The minutes of 22 January 2019 were agreed. Item 1b: Matters arising — The Bureau noted that a request from the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee to meet at the same time as the Parliament on Tuesday 29 January 2019 was received following the Bureau’s meeting on Tuesday 22 January 2019. The request was agreed to by the Parliament on Wednesday 23 January 2019.

2. Future business programme — The Bureau agreed to recommend to the Parliament a revised programme of business for the week commencing 28 January 2019 and a programme of business for the weeks commencing 4 and 18 February 2019. The Bureau noted that Members’ Business on Tuesday 5 February 2019 would be motion S5M-15410 Emma Harper on World Cancer Day 2019, on Wednesday 6 February 2019 would be motion S5M-15106 Jeremy Balfour on The Scottish Powerchair Football Association; and on Thursday 7 February 2019 would be motion S5M-15230 Willie Coffey on Congratulations to Kilmarnock FC on its 150th Anniversary.

3. Timetabling of a Bill at Stage 1 — The Bureau agreed to recommend to the Parliament that the deadline for consideration of the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill at stage 1 be extended to Friday 15 March 2019.

4. Approval of a Scottish Statutory Instrument — The Bureau noted that a motion would be lodged on its behalf, inviting the Parliament to agree that the Cremation (Scotland) Regulations 2019 [draft] be approved.

5. Committee of inquiry — Further to its discussion on 15 January 2019, the Bureau agreed to establish a nine-member committee. The Bureau noted that, under the d’Hondt formula, the Convenership and Deputy Convenership would be allocated to the Scottish National Party. The Bureau discussed whether another party should chair the committee. The Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans indicated that the SNP would forgo the Deputy Convenership. It was agreed that the Convener would be a member of the Scottish National Party and the Deputy Convener would be a member of the Scottish

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Conservative and Unionist Party. The Bureau also agreed to further consider the remit and membership of the committee at its next meeting.

6. Publication scheme — It was agreed that all papers considered at the meeting should be published.

7. Date of next meeting — The next meeting of the Bureau would be 12 noon on Tuesday

5 February 2019. Catherine Fergusson Senior Assistant Clerk to the Parliamentary Bureau 29 January 2019

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PARLIAMENTARY BUREAU FUTURE BUSINESS PROGRAMME: POSSIBLE MOTIONS FOR MEMBERS’ BUSINESS 1. Bureau Members will be aware that under Rule 5.6.1(c) the Bureau has a duty to

ensure that there is a period of time available for Members’ Business at each meeting of the Parliament.

2. Motions submitted for Members’ Business are shown below.

S5M-15106 Jeremy Balfour: The Scottish Powerchair Football Association - That the Parliament recognises the work of the Scottish Powerchair Football Association (SPFA), which was formed with support from the SFA in 2015; notes that it was established in recognition of the growth in the sport's popularity in Lothian and across the country, with the Peak Sports Centre in Stirling considered to be the sport's home; believes that it is run by volunteers who have made a genuine difference to the lives of powerchair users in Scotland; understands that, in March 2018, the SPFA applied for charitable status; hopes that the SCIO process will enable it to access greater funding opportunities; commends it on organising a national league and two knockout competitions, the League and Scottish cups; understands that, in May 2018, the SPFA organised a para-football event at which a number of players were selected for the Scotland international squad; believes that the organisation's commitment to the sport has enabled it to almost double the number of teams in the country, and wishes all involved with the SPFA continued success.

S5M-15226 Alexander Stewart: World Hearing Day and Hearing Awareness Week 2019 - That the Parliament acknowledges World Hearing Day on 4 March 2019 and Hearing Awareness Week, which runs from 2 to 9 March 2019; notes the view that hearing access needs to be a priority if there is to be greater public involvement and participation in many varied events; accepts that noise and poor acoustics can often be a significant cause of discomfort, distress and exclusion when it comes to group activities for older age groups and people with conditions such as hearing loss, dementia and autism; considers that there are opportunities for employability schemes to emerge from initiatives that manufacture affordable noise-absorption panels, which could be installed into community venues to help tackle noise and acoustic issues, in addition to others that design and manufacture hearing enhancement devices, and commends all groups, companies and charities that work to benefit the lives of people who live with hearing loss and the stigma that can be associated with the condition.

S5M-15230 Willie Coffey: Congratulations to Kilmarnock FC on its 150th Anniversary - That the Parliament congratulates Kilmarnock FC, the oldest professional football club in Scotland, on its 150th anniversary; notes that the first recorded general meeting of the club took place on 5 January 1869 in the Temperance Hotel in Kilmarnock, notified by secretary, John Wallace; recognises the many achievements of the club, which include becoming one of the first clubs to contest an official Scottish Cup match along with Renton in 1873, winning the Championship under the manager Willie Waddell in 1965 by defeating Hearts 2-0 on the last day of the season to win the league on goal average by 0.042 goals, winning the Scottish Cup in 1920 by defeating Albion Rovers 3-2 and again in 1929 by beating Rangers 2-0 and in 1997 defeating Falkirk 1-0, winning the League Cup in 2012 by beating Celtic 1-0, winning the Ayrshire Cup 42 times, recording 189 victories out of 256 meetings with local rivals, Ayr United, regularly representing Scotland in the New York International Tournament in the 1960s, qualifying for European competitions on nine occasions, notably defeating Eintracht Frankfurt 5-4 on aggregate in the club’s first European tie in 1964 after being four goals down, welcoming Real Madrid to Rugby Park as league champions in 1965, drawing 2-2, and reaching the semi-final of the Inter Cities Fairs Cup in 1966-67 against Leeds United; recognises that the club is enjoying its 26th season in a row in the top flight in


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Scotland; notes that the club recorded the highest points tally of 74 points in the calendar year 2018, and sends the club, staff and supporters its best wishes for the year ahead and for many years to come.

S5M-15256 Claire Baker: Scottish Ballet at 50 - That the Parliament warmly welcomes the news that Scotland’s national dance company, Scottish Ballet, will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2019; notes that the company, which was originally known as Scottish Theatre Ballet, was founded by the choreographer, Peter Darrell, who brought Scotland its own resident company in 1969; looks forward to the year of celebrations, which will include three world premieres, Dextera, The Crucible, and The Snow Queen, a return of its digital season in May, which will see a month-long programme of work, including short films, live streams, virtual reality experiences and digitally-driven projects, and the announcement of the winners of the company's Five Wishes competition, which has seen a celebrity jury chose five winning wishes from a shortlist of 50 submitted by people from across the country; welcomes its regular performances all over Scotland, throughout the rest of the UK and internationally; recognises that it aims to nurture and inspire the talent of tomorrow through its support of dancers, choreographers and artists; acknowledges its engagement programme, including the Dance Health programme; congratulates everyone who has played a part in Scottish Ballet’s success for the last 50 years, and wishes the company all the best with its work.

S5M-15292 Gordon MacDonald: Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal - That the Parliament welcomes Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal, which runs throughout each March; notes that 2019 marks the appeal's 33rd year; commends the care and support that Marie Curie provides to over 8,600 people and their families every year in Scotland in their own homes, across 31 local authorities and in the charity's hospices in Edinburgh and Glasgow; praises its information and support services, which are available for everyone affected by a terminal illness, and its volunteer helper services, which provide emotional support, companionship and information to people, carers and families; recognises the dedication, hard work and contribution of the charity's volunteers across Scotland, including the 421 volunteers across the Lothians, who raise funds and awareness during the appeal and throughout the year to support its vital services; believes that there is a story behind every daffodil pin, with people donating and wearing them to remember someone who has died or to show support for Marie Curie's services; understands that some people who need palliative care toward the end of life are still missing out, especially people with terminal conditions other than cancer; notes that the charity is highlighting that, every five minutes, someone in Scotland dies without getting the care and support they need at the end of their life; recognises that Marie Curie is working to change this and to improve the lives of all people living with a terminal illness, their carers and families; notes the view that wearing the daffodil pin unites millions of people together who believe dying people should get the care and support they deserve, and looks forward to as many people as possible supporting the annual appeal.

S5M-15299 Miles Briggs: World Tuberculosis Day - That the Parliament notes that 24 March 2019 marks World Tuberculosis Day; understands that tuberculosis (TB) is the world’s deadliest infectious disease, killing 1.6 million people each year; notes the recent UN High-Level Meeting on TB and acknowledges the commitment made to scale up TB programmes globally to successfully diagnose and treat 40 million people by 2022; understands that there is a persistent funding shortfall for TB programmes globally; notes what it sees as the importance of the forthcoming replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria in closing that financing gap, and acknowledges what it considers to be the vital work carried by academics and researchers in Scotland in partnership with academics across the world in delivering the innovation necessary to reach the sustainable development goal of ending TB by 2030.

S5M-15338 Mary Fee: Mental Health of LGBT People - That the Parliament notes with concern the findings by Stonewall Scotland in its publication, LGBT in Scotland - Health Report; notes that it suggests that that 49% of LGBT people have experienced depression in the last year, with that figure rising to 72% for trans people; understands that the LGBT people surveyed reported facing discrimination accessing health services, unequal treatment and a lack of understanding from some healthcare staff; notes the report's recommendations to improve LGBT people's mental health and access to health services, and


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acknowledges the view that LGBT people in West Scotland and across the country should be able to access healthcare services without fear of discrimination or being outed.

S5M-15359 Jenny Gilruth: Funding Boost for the River Leven Project - That the Parliament congratulates the River Leven project on receiving £312,000 in awards to help connect the communities, encourage biodiversity, improve water quality, develop the river as an economic driver for the area, and promote its use for sports and leisure; understands that the work will begin at the Levenmouth end of the river and continue along to the source at Loch Leven; notes that the funding, which consists of £250,000 from Sustrans and £62,000 from the SEPA Water Environment Fund, will assist with a feasibility study and scoping work that will begin in January 2019, wishes everyone involved in the project the very best of luck.

S5M-15408 Gil Paterson: Health Issues Raised by Aircraft Noise - That the Parliament notes the recent World Health Organization report, Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region, which looks at the effect of aircraft noise on people who live under flightpaths in the vicinity of airports; understands that the paper indicates that noise above 45dBA during the day and 40dBA at night damages people's health, and notes the view that consideration should be given to what it sees as this important report, including the action that could make a difference to people in the Clydebank and Milngavie area and across Scotland who live under flight paths.

S5M-15410 Emma Harper: World Cancer Day 2019 - That the Parliament notes that 4 February 2019 marks World Cancer Day; understands that one-in-two people will get cancer in their lifetime but that, over the last, 40 years survival rates have doubled, with half of people now surviving cancer thanks to the great progress that research has made; acknowledges the importance of early detection; understands the need for continued action to help prevent cancers; believes that 40% of cases could be prevented by positive action, including by not smoking and keeping a healthy bodyweight, and notes that Members can show their support for World Cancer Day through the wearing its unity band.

S5M-15431 Pauline McNeill: Prevalence of Crohn’s and Colitis in Scotland - That the Parliament is concerned about the reported high incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Scotland, including in Glasgow, particularly the rise in incidence among children and young people; understands that, despite being viewed as an invisible disease, it can be severely debilitating and life-threatening; applauds the work of specialist IBD nurses, doctors and consultants who treat patients with the condition; commends the ongoing research into the root cause of the disease; congratulates Crohn’s and Colitis UK on developing the National Blueprint for IBD in Scotland to improve the quality of IBD services; notes the calls on the Scottish Government to work towards the plan by improving access to age appropriate paediatric and transition services, as well as dedicated psychological support for IBD patients; supports the work of the Cross Party Group on IBD, which raises awareness of the issues faced by people with the disease and the impact that it has on their lives; notes the importance to people with IBD of public toilets, including on all public transport; is concerned at the rate of public toilet closures; notes the calls for there to be recognition, as a public health issue and in line with equalities legislation, that more public toilets are needed, and for this to be reflected in the planning system, and further notes the calls for more work to improve awareness of the radar key scheme, which allows people with IBD to use accessible toilets.

S5M-15474 Gillian Martin: International Women’s Day, 8 March 2019 - That the Parliament recognises that 8 March 2019 is International Women's Day; acknowledges that the day both celebrates women's achievements and aims to tenaciously challenge bias; notes this year's focus on gender balance and the campaign theme, #BalanceforBetter, which is a call-to-action for driving gender balance across the world in all areas of life, including political representation and the world of work, and acknowledges that the day seeks to encourage everyone to ensure that women are equally represented and remunerated in any sector that they choose so that everyone can reach their full potential without discriminatory barriers being put in their way.


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S5M-15475 Neil Findlay: Scottish Government Declines Help of Mesh Expert - That the Parliament notes with much disappointment reports that the Scottish Government has declined an invitation from the St Louis-based obstetrician-gynaecologist, Dr Dionysios Veronikis, to travel to Scotland to help safely remove transvaginal and other mesh implants from people in Lothian and across the country who are experiencing life-changing pain and disability and to train other surgeons how to do this safely; understands that Dr Veronikis has developed specialist skills and instruments that allow entire mesh implants to be removed with positive results; believes that full mesh removal is currently unavailable in Scotland, and notes the calls for the Scottish Government to reconsider this invitation and to do all that it can to help facilitate the offer that Dr Veronikis has made.

S5M-15482 David Torrance: Celebrating Scouts Scotland - That the Parliament congratulates Scouts Scotland on what it sees has been the movement's amazing work and continued growth in 2018; understands that the year saw its 11,946 adult volunteers supporting 39,425 youth members in their personal development by empowering them to make a positive contribution to society; recognises the core scouting values of integrity, respect, care, belief and co-operation; notes Scouts Scotland's many achievements of 2018, including the launch of its strategy and brand and of its Silver Youth Approved award, which encourages and celebrates youth involvement, support for the TIE campaign and attendance at a number of Pride festivals all over the country, its first Outdoors and Adventure Conference, participation with the Education and Skills Committee and a highly successful summer camp at Blair Atholl, which was attended by more than 1,000 young people and volunteers from 19 countries; commends Scouts Scotland on its work, which it believes makes a positive impact to the lives of young people and communities in Kirkcaldy and across Scotland, and wishes the movement all the best as it continues with its strategy to prepare more young people with skills for life through its inspiring programme.

S5M-15489 Stuart McMillan: Rise in European Visitors to Scotland - That the Parliament welcomes reports that the number of visitors to, and tourism spend in, Scotland continues to increase; believes that, in the 12 months to the end of September 2018, there was a 22% rise in the number of visitors from Europe and that their spending increased by almost 7%, from £1.08 billion to £1.15 billion; recognises that official figures record a 14.3% increase in the number of overnight visits from people from overseas, and an overall 3.3% increase in tourism expenditure; considers that Scotland has a fantastic tourist offering and that tourism is growing in a number of areas, including Greenock and Inverclyde; acknowledges that official statistics indicate that, in the first nine months of 2018, visitors from EU countries to London fell by around 750,000, which is a fall of approximately 9%; understands that this is because of what has been described as a "Brexit boycott", and believes with regret that Brexit will have a potentially negative impact on tourism once the UK has left the EU, including in Scotland, where 62% of the electorate voted to remain.

S5M-15513 Annabelle Ewing: Settled Status Scheme for EU Citizens in Scotland - That the Parliament notes the UK Government’s decision to abandon its plans to charge EU citizens a fee when applying for their right to remain in Scotland through the EU Settlement Scheme; believes that it was wrong for the UK Government to oblige EU citizens who have built their lives in Scotland, and who contribute to the economy and communities, to pay for the status and rights they already have; acknowledges the persistence of the Scottish National Party, Scottish Labour, Scottish Green Party and the Scottish Liberal Democrats in their respective campaigns to abolish the settled status fee; considers that it remains unfair to oblige EU citizens in Scotland to apply to retain the rights that they already hold, regardless of the fee; recognises what it considers the significant economic, social and cultural contributions made by EU citizens in communities across Scotland, including in the Cowdenbeath constituency, and notes the calls on the UK Government to scrap the settlement scheme for EU citizens.

S5M-15519 Colin Smyth: Report on Beating High Blood Pressure - That the Parliament welcomes the publication of the report, Beating High Blood Pressure: Scotland’s Silent Killer, which has been produced by the Cross Party Group on Heart Disease and Stroke; notes that it recognises that high blood pressure affects 30% of adults across the country, including many in South Scotland, and increases a person's risk


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of stroke and heart disease; acknowledges the recommendations in the report, and thanks the members of the advisory panel who supported and informed the formation of the report and its recommendations.

S5M-15541 Bob Doris: Efforts to Save St Rollox Railway Works - That the Parliament expresses its dismay and disappointment at the reported proposal by Gemini Rail Services to close the St Rollox Railway Works, which threatens the employment of up to 200 highly-skilled workers in Springburn; considers that the St Rollox site has had a proud history within the world locomotive industry since 1856 and is still affectionately known as "the Caley"; understands, however, that its future is now under threat as a result of Gemini serving a statutory notice regarding redundancies, and that a 45-day consultation period has now commenced; regrets that the company has taken this course of action, which it believes is likely to reduce the time period within which to identify and implement solutions to save both jobs and operations at the site; acknowledges the formation of a stakeholder group in December 2018 by the Scottish Government, chaired by the transport secretary, which aims to save St Rollox Railway Works; notes that this stakeholder group was established following representations made to the First Minister on 13 December 2018 at First Minister’s Questions, and understands that there have been proactive efforts to save St Rollox Railway Works, including the Unite campaign, Rally Roon the Caley, which has made a number of suggestions such as the electrification of the track into the site to reduce business costs and the identification of contract work for the order book to allow the lifespan of St Rollox in its current form to be extended, and allow time for further work to restructure or diversify activities at the works.

S5M-15544 Jenny Gilruth: Fife College Students Use Their Creativity to Make an Impact on Climate Change in Levenmouth - That the Parliament congratulates Fife College’s Fiona Howe, who is from Kinglassie, and her fellow performing arts students on their award-winning performance that helped raise awareness of climate change in the Levenmouth area, in particular at the River Leven; recognises that this is the first collaboration between Fife College and the River Leven project, which saw acting and theatre performance students set the task of producing a media project centred around the immediate Leven area that highlighted concerns about climate change and adaptation; understands that this particular project is a partnership between Creative Carbon Scotland, SEPA, Fife Council, Adaptation Scotland and Fife College; thanks everyone involved for their involvement, and wishes Fiona, all the students at Fife College and the River Leven Project all the best in 2019.

S5M-15631 Christine Grahame: Ally Bally Bee - That the Parliament welcomes the commissioning of a statue of the Galashiels weaver and sweetmaker, Robert Coltart, to be made by the Innerleithen-based sculptor, Angela Hunter, and placed in the town’s Market Square; notes that Coltart, who was predominantly a weaver, made Coulter’s Candy to supplement his income; further notes that he penned the song, Ally Bally Bee, in the mid-19th century to boost its sales, and sang it to attract customers as he visited Borders' fairs and markets; understands that, while the recipe for the sweets unfortunately died with Coltart in 1880, the song has continued to be popular as a nursery rhyme with children, receiving a boost when it was published in a newspaper in the 1950s; considers that such local rhymes and songs represent an important part of Scotland’s history and culture, and that many children sing these Scottish songs unaware of their pedigree, and believes that it is important that such folk memory, often using the Scots language, is recognised and preserved for future generations.

S5M-15647 Lewis Macdonald: Aberdeen Hydrogen Buses Hit the Million-mile Mark - That the Parliament recognises that Aberdeen’s fleet of hydrogen buses has now completed more than one million miles since the vehicles were introduced to the city’s streets in 2015; understands that the Aberdeen Hydrogen Bus Project is delivered by Aberdeen City Council, with support from the Scottish Government, the UK Government and the EU; notes that it consists of 10 buses, which are owned by the council and operated by Stagecoach and FirstGroup; understands that the city is also home to Scotland’s first commercial-scale hydrogen production and refuelling stations at Kittybrewster and Cove; welcomes the success of the project in reaching the million-mile mark and reducing carbon emissions and air pollution, and notes the hopes for more hydrogen-powered vehicles being used in Aberdeen and across Scotland.


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Record of Members’ Business taken by the Parliament from 6 June 2016

Date MSP Party Subject 07/06/16 James Dornan SNP Celebrating Glasgow’s Third Sector 08/06/16 Clare Adamson SNP Child Safety Week 2016 09/06/16 Murdo Fraser CON 750th Anniversary of the Treaty of Perth 14/06/16 Iain Gray LAB Closure of RBS Prestonpans Branch 15/06/16 Clare Haughey SNP Increase in Trade Union Membership in

Scotland 16/06/16 Kate Forbes SNP Rural Communities and the Post-study Work

Visa 28/06/16 Douglas Ross CON Scottish Team at Euro 2016 29/06/16 Michael Russell SNP Commemorating the 21st Anniversary of the

Srebenica Genocide 30/06/16 Neil Findlay LAB Scotland, Pitchford and Undercover Policing 06/09/16 Fulton MacGregor SNP Stand Up to Bullying 07/09/16 Miles Briggs CON Opposition to Centralisation of Cleft Lip and

Palate Surgery 08/09/16 James Dornan SNP Living Wage in Scottish Football 13/09/16 Jackie Baillie LAB Save our Services 14/09/16 Ivan McKee SNP Reusable Nappies and the Scottish Baby Box 15/09/16 Jeremy Balfour CON Glow Gold September 20/09/16 Stuart McMillan SNP Eye Health Week 21/09/16 Graeme Dey SNP Promoting Good Food from Angus 22/09/16 Margaret Mitchell CON The Standing Safe Campaign 27/09/16 Monica Lennon LAB Feminine Hygiene Products 28/09/16 Mark Ruskell GRN Action on Residential Road Safety 29/09/16 Jenny Gilruth SNP Mental Health Education 04/10/16 Kenneth Gibson SNP Hate Crimes Against Polish Migrants 05/10/16 Neil Findlay LAB Retain Tax Jobs in Bathgate 06/10/16 Liam McArthur LD Island Heath Boards 25/10/16 Christine Grahame SNP Adopt a Station 26/10/16 David Stewart LAB Support for Campeltown Airport as SpacePort 27/10/16 Richard Lochhead SNP Standard of Mortuaries 01/11/16 Jeremy Balfour CON 100th Anniversary of the Cub Scouts 02/11/16 Sandra White SNP Welfare Conditionality Study 03/11/16 Alex Rowley LAB The Cost of Saying Goodbye, Burial and

Cremation Charges in Scotland 08/11/16 Graeme Dey SNP Species Champions Re-launch 09/11/16 Ruth Maguire SNP Celebrating International Credit Union Day 2016 10/11/16 Liz Smith CON Accessible Hospital Transport in Scotland 15/11/16 Jackie Baillie LAB Supporting Women-led Business in Global

Entrepreneurship Week 16/11/16 Angus MacDonald SNP State of Nature 2016 Report 17/11/16 Gillian Martin SNP Celebrating Flexible Working Practices 22/11/16 Maurice Corry CON 100th Anniversary of Erskine 23/11/16 Bob Doris SNP The Year of the Dad 24/11/16 Miles Briggs CON Edinburgh Waverley Station Access

Arrangements 29//11/16 Rona Mackay SNP Men who have Sex with Men, Blood Donations 30/11/16 Kezia Dugdale LAB World AIDS Day 2016


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Date MSP Party Subject 01/12/16 Ash Denham SNP Small Business Saturday 06/12/16 Johann Lamont LAB Care Tax in Scotland 07/12/16 George Adam SNP Paisley for City of Culture 2021 08/12/16 Brian Whittle CON Doon Valley Boxing Club 13/12/16 Fulton MacGregor SNP Walk This Way at Dunbeth Park 14/12/16 Maree Todd SNP Scotland’s Climate Targets 15/12/16 Gordon Lindhurst CON The Future of Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site 20/12/16 Kezia Dugdale LAB Tackling Mesothelioma in Scotland 21/12/16 Alison Johnstone GRN Extending Maternity and Paternity Leave for

Parents of Premature Babies 21/12/16 Emma Harper SNP Ending the Illegal Puppy Trade 10/01/17 Clare Adamson SNP Type 1 Diabetes in Scotland 11/01/17 Liz Smith CON STEP Physical Literacy Programme 12/01/17 Colin Smyth LAB Marie Curie Report on Challenging Inequities in

Palliative Care 17/01/17 Stewart Stevenson SNP A Sea of Opportunity 18/01/17 Richard Leonard LAB 30th Anniversary of Workers’ Occupation of

Caterpillar Plant in Tannochside 19/01/17 Bob Doris SNP Closure of Glasgow Jobcentres 24/01/17 Donald Cameron CON World Cancer Day, an Opportunity to Tackle

Obesity 25/01/17 Emma Harper SNP Celebrating Burns and the Scots Language 26/01/17 Jackson Carlaw CON Holocaust Memorial Day 2017 31/01/17 Graeme Dey SNP Scotland’s Veterans 01/02/17 Sandra White SNP WASPI Campaign 02/02/17 Liam Kerr CON The Awards for Valour (Protection) Bill 07/02/17 Mike Rumbles LD Blackhillock to Kintore Transmission Line 08/02/17 Bill Kidd SNP The Jimmy Reid Foundation Report, Trident and

its Successor Programme 09/02/17 Stuart McMillan SNP Barnardo's Scotland, Nurture Week 21/02/17 Annie Wells CON LGBT History Month Scotland 2017 22/02/17 Colin Beattie SNP Industrial Strategy for a More Prosperous, Fairer

Britain 23/02/17 Lewis Macdonald LAB Co-investment in the UK Oil and Gas Sector 28/02/17 Kenneth Gibson SNP It’s OK to Talk. Period. 01/03/17 Alexander Stewart CON Safe Drive, Stay Alive Project 02/03/17 Fulton MacGregor SNP Apprenticeship Week 07/03/17 Alex Rowley LAB Local Government Finance and the State of the

Debt 08/03/17 Linda Fabiani SNP Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal 09/03/17 Adam Tomkins CON Community Jobs Scotland 14/03/17 Ruth Maguire SNP Welcoming Play Scotland's Play Charter 15/03/17 Stuart McMillan SNP Commonwealth Day 2017 16/03/17 Ross Thomson CON Impact on North East Businesses of the Hike in

Non-domestic Rates 21/03/17 Rhoda Grant LAB Triggers for Loneliness 23/03/17 Ben Macpherson SNP Justice for Yazidi People 28/03/17 Graeme Dey SNP Included in the Main?! 29/03/17 John Lamont CON Congratulations to Rotary District 1020 and

Other Champions of Change Winners


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Date MSP Party Subject 30/03/17 Willie Rennie LD The Future of Elmwood Campus 18/04/17 Christine Grahame SNP Addaction 19/04/17 Monica Lennon LAB Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) Campaign 20/04/17 Clare Haughey SNP International Workers Memorial Day 2017 25/04/17 Maurice Golden CON WWF Earth Hour 2017 26/04/17 George Adam SNP MS Awareness Week 27/04/17 Neil Findlay LAB Flawed Airport Consultation 02/05/17 John Finnie GRN Ship-to-ship Oil Transfers in the Cromarty and

Moray Forths 09/05/17 Pauline McNeill LAB Food Banks, Scotland's Hunger Crisis 10/05/17 Emma Harper SNP Celebrating International Nurses Day on 12 May

2017 11/05/17 Gail Ross SNP 12 May, International ME Day 16/05/17 Brian Whittle CON Heritage and Environmental Conservation

Charities Support for Outdoor Learning 17/05/17 Ash Denham SNP Neurofibromatosis Awareness Day 17/05/17 Ben Macpherson SNP UK Government Restrictions for 18 to 21-year-

olds Accessing Financial Support for Housing 18/05/17 Colin Smyth LAB Snaring 23/05/17 Maree Todd SNP May 2017, World Hypertension Month 24/05/17 Liam Kerr CON Cycle Capacity on Scotland's Railways 24/05/17 Finlay Carson CON The Establishment of New National Parks 25/05/17 James Dornan SNP When the Lisbon Lions Roared, 50th

Anniversary of Celtic's European Cup Win 30/06/17 Jackie Baillie LAB Vale of Leven Hospital GP Out-of-hours

Services 31/06/17 Clare Adamson SNP Child Safety Week 5 to 11 June 2017, Safe

Children: Sharing is Caring 01/06/17 Maurice Corry CON Combat Stress Finds Veterans in Scotland Face

Higher Levels of Deprivation Than Those in Rest of UK

06/06/17 Ivan McKee SNP UK Green Deal, Supporting Aggrieved Householders

13/06/17 Neil Findlay LAB Leading Journalists Criticise the Scottish Government over FOISA

14/06/17 Mark Ruskell GRN National Clean Air Day 2017 14/06/17 Alexander Burnett CON Lyme Disease, The Need To Do More 15/06/17 Christine Grahame SNP Stink Pits Stink 20/06/17 Linda Fabiani SNP The Scottish Civic Trust, 50 Years of Protecting

Scotland's Built Heritage 21/06/17 Christina McKelvie SNP Motor Neurone Disease Global Awareness Day 21/06/17 Alexander Stewart CON Stroke Care in Scotland 22/06/17 Tavish Scott LD Island Games, Support Scotland's Athletes 27/06/17 Gillian Martin SNP Not on My Screen 28/06/17 Kenneth Gibson SNP BT to Remove One-in-Five Phone Boxes in

Scotland 28/06/17 James Kelly LAB Charter of Rights for People with Dementia and

Carers 05/09/17 Alexander Stewart CON Boys' Brigade Juniors 100th Anniversary 06/09/17 Christine Grahame SNP Generations Working Together


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Date MSP Party Subject 07/09/17 Alex Rowley LAB Support for Citizens Advice Scotland's Call to

Stop Accelerated Roll-out of Universal Credit 12/09/17 Kate Forbes SNP Serve Scotland 13/09/17 Bruce Crawford SNP Stirling University's 50th Anniversary 14/09/17 Rachael Hamilton CON 25th Anniversary of the Borders Talking

Newspaper 19/09/17 Mary Fee LAB Tackling Homophobia in Sport 20/09/17 Linda Fabiani SNP Fighting for Tax Jobs, Fighting for Tax Justice 21/09/17 Stuart McMillan SNP National Eye Health Wek 2017 and the Threat to

Vision Posed by Diabetic Retinopathy 21/09/17 James Dornan SNP Congratulations to the Which? Campaign to Call

Time On Nuisance Calls In Scotland 26/09/17 Jamie Greene CON GP Recruitment in West Kilbride and Across

Scotland 27/09/17 Jenny Gilruth SNP Levenmouth Rail Link 28/09/17 Richard Leonard LAB Importance of Worker Ownership to the Scottish

Economy 28/09/17 Ruth Maguire SNP Flexible Working, Maximising Talent and Driving

Inclusive Growth 03/10/17 Maree Todd SNP The Garbh Allt Community Initiative Reaches

Funding Target 04/10/17 Edward Mountain CON Shortage of Radiologists 24/10/17 Lewis Macdonald LAB Workforce Concerns Regarding Helicopter

Safety in the North Sea 25/10/17 Tom Arthur SNP Brexit's Impact on Working Musicians and

Scotland's Music Industries 26/10/17 Jeremy Balfour CON Scottish Disability Sport 31/10/17 Ben Macpherson SNP Unfair Police Scotland and Fire Service VAT

Charges 01/11/17 Clare Adamson SNP Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month 02/11/17 Annie Wells CON Raising Awareness of Diabulimia 07/11/17 Daniel Johnson LAB Respect for Shopworkers Week, 13 to 19

November 08/11/17 Andy Wightman GRN Homes First 09/11/17 Gillian Martin SNP Global Entrepreneurship Week 14/11/17 Emma Harper SNP World COPD Day 15/11/17 Gordon Lindhurst CON Barclay Review Recommendations and the

Sport and Leisure Sector 16/11/17 Alex Cole-Hamilton LD Incontinence in Scotland 21/11/17 Clare Adamson SNP Road Safety Week 2017 22/11/17 Elaine Smith LAB Thyroid Patients Deserve Fair Treatment 23/11/17 Ivan McKee SNP The Day of the Imprisoned Writer, 15 November 28/11/17 Annie Wells CON World AIDS Day 2017 29/11/17 Ash Denham SNP Small Business Saturday 2017 30/11/17 Jackie Baillie LAB Gourock-Kilcreggan Ferry Service 05/12/17 Bruce Crawford SNP Sue Ryder Report, Don't Write Me Off 06/12/17 Richard Lochhead SNP Unfair Parcel Delivery Charges 07/12/17 Alexander Stewart CON Brain Tumour Awareness in Scotland 12/12/17 Rhoda Grant LAB The International Day for the Elimination of

Violence Against Women and Tackling


10

Date MSP Party Subject Commercial Sexual Exploitation

13/12/17 Mairi Gougeon SNP Heads Up for Harriers Project and the Role of Species Champions

14/12/17 Kate Forbes SNP Bank Branch Closures in Scotland 19/12/17 Murdo Fraser CON Street Pastors Scotland, 10th Anniversary 20/12/17 Monica Lennon LAB Alcohol and Drug-related Deaths 21/12/17 Emma Harper SNP Adopt Don't Shop 09/01/18 Ben Macpherson SNP Maintenance of Tenement Communal Property 10/01/18 Adam Tomkins CON Holocaust Memorial Day 2018 11/01/18 Tom Arthur SNP Carer Positive Employer Initiative 16/01/18 James Kelly LAB The Scottish Sports Association 17/01/18 Joan McAlpine SNP The Economic Potential of Robert Burns 18/01/18 Maurice Corry CON 100 Years of Women in the British Armed

Forces 23/01/18 Rona Mackay SNP Condemns Unpaid Trial Shifts 24/01/18 Gail Ross SNP Adverse Childhood Experiences 25/01/18 Maurice Golden CON Electric Shock Training Collars in Scotland 30/01/18 Johann Lamont LAB St Andrew’s First Aid 31/01/18 Ross Greer GRN Bus Services 01/02/18 Richard Lochhead SNP World Cancer Day 2018 06/02/18 Gillian Martin SNP Encouraging Cyber-resilience Among Young

People 07/02/18 Liam Kerr CON Increasing Awareness of the Work of Veteran

Charities in Scotland 08/02/18 Willie Rennie LD East Neuk First Responders 20/02/18 Christina McKelvie SNP Quick Credit Voucher, Tackling Fuel Poverty in

Scotland 21/02/18 Neil Findlay LAB St John’s Children’s Ward, Still Closed to Out-of-

Hours Inpatients 22/02/18 Graeme Dey SNP Establishment of the Scottish Stone Group 27/02/18 Rachael Hamilton CON Scotch Whisky Contribution to Scottish Tourism

Industry 28/02/18 Clare Haughey SNP Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2018 01/03/18 Debate moved to 6 March

adverse weather

06/03/18 Colin Smyth LAB Atrial Fibrillation 06/03/18 Mairi Gougeon SNP LEADER Programme 07/03/18 Stewart Stevenson SNP Electronic and Internet Voting 08/03/18 Graham Simpson CON Save the Greenbelt 13/03/18 Debate moved to 14

March to accommodate EU Bill in Chamber

14/03/18 Stuart McMillan SNP Commonwealth Day 2018 14/03/18 Monica Lennon LAB Incinerators, Public Health and Planning in

Scotland 15/03/18 Ivan McKee SNP Driverless Cars bringing Transformative Change

to Scotland 20/03/18 Peter Chapman CON Holodomor Remembrance Day 2017 21/03/18 Fulton McGregor SNP UN International Day for the Elimination of

Racial Discrimination


11

Date MSP Party Subject 22/03/18 Johann Lamont LAB Down’s Syndrome Awareness Week 27/03/18 Rona Mackay SNP Cancer Awareness for Young People 28/03/18 Graeme Dey SNP Earth Hour 2018 29/03/18 Jamie Halcro Johnston CON Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2018 17/04/18 Lewis Macdonald LAB 150th Anniversary of Aberdeen Trades Union

Council 18/04/18 Kenneth Gibson SNP Artificial Intelligence, Future Prosperity, a Threat

to Employment or Existential Threat? 19/04/18 Alexander Stewart CON RAF100, the Centenary of the RAF 24/04/18 Stuart McMillan SNP Show Some Heart, the Jayden Orr Campaign 01/05/18 Kezia Dugdale LAB Support for Rape Crisis Centres and

Prosecutions 02/05/18 Dean Lockhart CON Campaign to Save ATMs 02/05/18 Mark Ruskell GRN Civil Contingency in Nuclear Weapon Transport 03/05/18 James Dornan SNP Save the Hampden Roar Campaign 08/05/18 Alex Neil SNP Dog Attack Figures 09/05/18 Tom Arthur SNP Eliminating Hepatitis C in Scotland: A Call to

Action 09/05/18 Rachael Hamilton CON The Condition of Scotland’s Roads 10/05/18 Tavish Scott LD HIAL's Car Parking Charges 15/05/18 Sandra White SNP Nakba 70th Anniversary 16/05/18 Rhoda Grant LAB Campaign for Focus Ultrasound Device 17/05/18 Clare Haughey SNP The Everyone’s Business Campaign 22/05/18 Liam Kerr CON Increasing Awareness of Restorative Justice

within the Criminal Justice System 23/05/18 Bruce Crawford SNP 10 Years of Sistema Scotland and the Big Noise

Orchestra 24/05/18 Mary Fee LAB Celebrating Scotland’s Gypsy/Traveller

Community 29/05/18 Fulton MacGregor SNP Support for Families of Missing People 30/05/18 Joan McAlpine SNP Appropriate Housing for People with Learning

Disabilities 31/05/18 Miles Briggs CON Improving Edinburgh’s City Bypass 05/06/18 Daniel Johnson LAB The Portrayal of ADHD Treatment 06/06/18 Ruth Maguire SNP The Citizen Girl Initiative 07/06/18 Richard Lochhead SNP Ensuring Apporpriate Community Benefit from

Onshore Wind Farm Development 12/06/18 Maurice Corry CON Orkambi 13/06/18 Graeme Dey SNP Banning the Sales of Energy Drinks to Under-

16s 14/06/18 Alex Rowley LAB Impact of Mossmorran Flaring 19/06/18 Gillian Martin SNP Welcoming Women in Engineering Day 20/06/18 Adam Tomkins CON Welcome to Glasgow, a World City of Music 21/06/18 Christina McKelvie SNP MND Awreness Week 2018 26/06/18 Richard Leonard LAB NHS’s 70th Birthday 27/06/18 Rachael Hamilton CON The Culture and Heritage Value of Agriculture 28/06/18 Ash Denham SNP NHS at 70 04/09/18 Bill Kidd SNP Glasgow and Berlin’s Successful European

Championships 2018 05/09/18 Keith Brown SNP University of Stirling, 10 Years as Scotland’s


12

Date MSP Party Subject University for Sporting Excellence

06/09/18 Liam Kerr CON The Michelle’s Law Campaign 11/09/18 Claire Baker LAB The Ecology Centre, Kinghorn, Marks its 20th

Anniversary 12/09/18 Patirick Harvie GRN Social Enterprises Working to Tackle Child Poverty 13/09/18 Linda Fabiani SNP East Kilbride Workers said "Nae Pasaran!" 18/09/18 Bill Kidd SNP UN International Day of Peace 2018 19/09/18 Donald Cameron CON Celebrating 10 Years of BBC ALBA 20/09/18 Liam McArthur LD Scotland’s Marine Energy Industry has Potential to

Grow 25/09/18 Stuart McMillan SNP Eye Health Week 2018 26/09/18 David Stewart LAB The Impact of Leaving EURATOM 27/09/18 Fulton MacGregor SNP Paternity Leave and Tackling Inequality 02/10/18 Oliver Mundell CON The Cycle to Syracuse to Mark the 30th

Anniversary of the Lockerbie Disaster 03/10/18 Sandra White SNP 75th Anniversary of Age Scotland 04/10/18 Elaine Smith LAB Challenge Poverty Week 23/10/18 Jenny Gilruth SNP Fife Out-of-hours Closure 24/10/18 Angela Constance SNP Support for Families of Loved Ones Killed Abroad 25/10/18 Jamie Halcro Johnston CON Regulation of Electricians as a Profession 30/10/18 Colin Smyth LAB Ban on the Export of Live Animals for Slaughter

and Fattening 31/10/18 Joan McAlpine SNP Restoring the Caledonian Pinewood Forest 01/11/18 Ruth Maguire SNP Outdoor Classroom Day 06/11/18 Emma Harper SNP The Maybole Bypass and South Scotland Road

Infrastructure 07/11/18 Liam Kerr CON Emergency Service Workers 08/11/18 Monica Lennon LAB South Lanarkshire Care Homes Under Threat 13/11/18 Stuart McMillan SNP Texas Instruments 14/11/18 Maurice Golden CON Special Report by the Intergovernmental Panel on

Climate Change 15/11/18 Ruth Maguire SNP Day of the Imprisoned Writer 20/11/18 Lewis Macdonald LAB Offshore Wind Week 2018 21/11/18 Clare Adamson SNP Pancreatic Cancer Awareness 22/11/18 Rachael Hamilton CON Arthritis Research UK Survey on Access to Work 27/11/18 Edward Mountain CON Investigation into Bullying Claims at NHS Highland 28/11/08 Sandra White SNP Planned Bank of Scotland Branch Closures 29/11/18 Tom Arthur SNP St Andrew’s Day 2018, Make Someone’s Day 04/12/18 Daniel Johnson LAB Report on Autistic Children's Experiences of

School 05/12/18 Alison Johnstone GRN Remembering Conscientious Objectors 06/12/18 Emma Harper SNP 30th World AIDS Day 11/12/18 Angela Constance SNP 60th Anniversary of the Ultrasound Scanner,

Invented in Scotland 12/12/18 Gordon Lindhurst CON Remembering the Korean War 13/12/18 Willie Rennie LD St Andrews’ GP out-of-hours Facility 18/12/18 David Torrance SNP Fife Alcohol Support Service, Supporting Fifers for

40 Years 19/12/18 Alasdair Allan SNP Centenary of the Iolaire Disaster 19/12/18 Jackie Baillie LAB Scottish Government to Penalise Scots for Living


13

Date MSP Party Subject Alone

08/01/19 Brian Whittle CON Transport Infrastructure in South West Scotland 09/01/19 Gordon MacDonald SNP Rotary Club of Currie Balerno Recycling PCs 10/01/19 Mark Griffin LAB Marie Curie and Macmillan Cancer Support,

Getting it right for carers supporting someone at the end of life

15/01/19 George Adam SNP Paisley Voted Britain’s Top Town 16/01/19 Gail Ross SNP Highland Youth Survey 17/01/19 Edward Mountain CON Fairer Hospital TV Charges 22/01/19 Monica Lennon LAB Cervical Screening Uptake Statistics 23/01/19 Colin Beattie SNP Celebrating the Reach of Adult Learning 24/01/19 Richard Lyle SNP Remembering the Holocaust 29/01/19 Graham Simpson CON Housing Through the Lens of Ageing 30/01/19 Gail Ross SNP Equally Safe at Work 31/01/19 Iain Gray LAB The Royal Society of Edinburgh’s Tapping all our

Talents 2018 Progress Report of Women in STEM Record of Members’ Business taken by the Parliament in Session 5 Party SNP CON LAB GRN LD TOTAL

Frequency (no) 140 65 56 9 9 279

Frequency % 50.17 23.30 20.07 3.23 3.23 100


1

PARLIAMENTARY BUREAU APPROVAL OF A SCOTTISH STATUTORY INSTRUMENT The First-tier Tribunal for Scotland Housing and Property Chamber (Incidental Provisions) Regulations 2019 [draft]

1. The Justice Committee has recommended that the above instrument be approved by the Parliament. Under Rule 10.6.5, the Bureau is required to lodge the following motion—

Graeme Dey on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau: That the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland Housing and Property Chamber (Incidental Provisions) Regulations 2019 [draft] be approved.

2. Business Managers should advise the Bureau if their party intends to speak against

or oppose the motion when it is taken in the Chamber. Purpose

3. The purpose of the instrument is to make incidental provisions relating to functions or powers of the First-tier Tribunal Housing and Property Chamber. The technical amendments made by the Regulations address issues that have come to light since the transfer of functions and jurisdiction from the sheriff court to the Tribunal in December 2017. Consideration by committee

4. The instrument was considered by the Justice Committee at its meeting on 29 January 2019. The instrument was agreed to without division. The Committee expects to publish its report on 1 February 2019. The Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 (Supplemental Provision) Order 2019 [draft]

5. The Local Government and Communities Committee has recommended that the above instrument be approved by the Parliament. Under Rule 10.6.5, the Bureau is required to lodge the following motion—

Graeme Dey on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau: That the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 (Supplemental Provision) Order 2019 [draft] be approved.



7. The purpose of the instrument is to make amendments to the repairing standard, which is the statutory minimum standard for houses that are let as private tenancies, to improve the condition of those houses. The order will amend the 2006 Act by adding a new paragraph to section 16, which provides for exceptions to a landlord’s duty to ensure a house meets the repairing standard to make provision for circumstances where the landlord cannot get the majority consent required to carry


2

out work to common parts, whether under title deeds or the Tenement Management Scheme. Consideration by committee

8. The instrument was considered by the Local Government and Communities Committee at its meeting on 30 January 2019. The instrument was agreed to without division. The Committee expects to publish its report on 1 February 2019. The Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 (Modification of the Repairing Standard) Order 2019 [draft]

9. The Local Government and Communities Committee has recommended that the above instruments be approved by the Parliament. Under Rule 10.6.5, the Bureau is required to lodge the following motion—

Graeme Dey on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau: That the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 (Modification of the Repairing Standard) Order 2019 [draft] be approved.



11. The purpose of the instrument is to make amendments to the repairing standard, which is the statutory minimum standard for houses that are let under private tenancies, to improve the condition of those houses. The regulations consolidate and expand the power of Scottish Ministers to issue guidance on elements of the repairing standard, to which landlords must have regard. This will allow guidance to be provided on new elements that are added to the repairing standard by these regulations. Consideration by committee

12. The instrument was considered by the Local Government and Communities Committee at its meeting on 30 January 2019. The instrument was agreed to without division. The Committee expects to publish its report on 1 February 2019. Parliamentary Business Team January 2019


1

PARLIAMENTARY BUREAU APPROVAL OF THE DRAFT SOCIAL SECURITY CHARTER The Draft Social Security Charter

1. The Social Security Committee has recommended that the above document be approved by the Parliament. The document requires to be approved by the Parliament using the same procedures as apply to affirmative SSIs. Under the rules in Chapter 10 of Standing Order, the Bureau is therefore required to lodge the following motion—

Graeme Dey on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau: That the Draft Social Security Charter be approved.

2. Business Managers should advise the Bureau if their party intends to speak against or

oppose the motion when it is taken in the Chamber. Purpose

3. The purpose of the Draft Social Security Charter is to set out and explain what the principles set out in Section 1 of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 will mean in practice and what people are entitled to expect from the Scottish Government and Social Security Scotland. Under the terms of the Act, the Charter may not be made unless a draft of it has been laid before, and approved by resolution of, the Scottish Parliament. Consideration by committee

4. The document was considered by the Social Security Committee at its meeting on 31 January 2019. The instrument was agreed to without division. The Committee expects to publish its report on 1 February 2019. Parliamentary Business Team January 2019

PB/S5/19/19

PARLIAMENTARY BUREAU EQUALITIES AND HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE: REQUEST TO MEET IN SKYE Nature of request

1. The Equalities and Human Rights Committee (EHRiC) invites the Parliamentary Bureau to approve its request to meet on Skye on Friday 15 March 2019 to take evidence on the Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Bill.

Number of participants

2. It is expected that all seven Committee members will travel to Skye to attend the meeting. In addition, three members of the clerking team would be required to attend, given the clerking and administrative functions which need to be performed. Appropriate staff from Broadcasting, Media Relations Office, Web and Social Media, Outreach, Official Report, SPICe and Security will also attend.

Justification

3. EHRiC is the lead committee on the Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Bill. There is significant public interest in the scrutiny of the Bill and its subject matter would make the meeting of interest to a diverse audience. As part of its scrutiny, the Committee wishes to have a Stage 1 committee meeting and an associated series of informal visits and meetings with interested parties in Skye.

4. Skye has been chosen to represent the interests of the island groups and faith communities who have responded in large numbers to the consultation by the Member in Charge, and the subsequent Committee’s call for views. At the proposed committee meeting, the focus will be on taking evidence from faith groups.

5. In addition to the formal meeting, Committee members will visit several community groups and organisations to hear views on the Bill. Skye offers the opportunity to meet with a range of groups, including Gaelic playgroups, additional support needs parenting groups, youth groups, and diverse faith groups and community churches.

6. An external committee meeting and a range of informal visits would also give a larger number of people, who may not have the means or time to travel to Edinburgh, to engage with the Committee.

7. The Committee has not held a formal external committee meeting this Parliamentary session.

PB/S5/19/19

Programme

Date Activity Thursday 14 March

• Travel to Skye. • Overnight in Portree.

Friday 15 March

Morning • Visit community groups to discuss the Bill. Afternoon • External Committee Meeting • Formal meeting will be followed by a public Q&A session

Friday 15 March/Saturday 16 March

• Return to constituencies • Potential for a small group of members to carry out

additional meetings/visits on Friday evening/Saturday morning will be explored.

8. Due to the driving distances involved and the length of travel time, it is anticipated a few Members and supporting staff may wish to stay in Portree overnight and leave on the Saturday rather than begin the journey back late on the Friday evening.

Venue and other activities

9. The Fingal Centre in Portree is being considered as a location for the external meeting. This venue is a modern, accessible building with accessible toilet facilities and is in a central location with good transport links.

10. Work is currently underway with the Parliament’s outreach services to identify interested parties, who will participate in the informal visits / meetings. MRO has created a media plan in order to publicise the event and encourage public attendance.

Method of travel and cost

11. The Committee has chosen a Friday to cause minimal disruption to parliamentary business. Members will travel to Skye after parliamentary business has been concluded on the Thursday evening. It is proposed that the Committee meeting take place in the late afternoon, after standard school hours, so that the maximum number of local parents will be able to attend.

12. The Committee has considered all sustainable travel options. On this occasion, public transport is not a practical option. However, Members and supporting staff will car share when possible to reduce the number of private cars making the journey.

Conveners Group

13. The Conveners Group endorsed the request and approved the associated costs on 24 January 2019. All costs would fall within the current financial year and sufficient budget is available to cover them.

PB/S5/19/19

Conclusion

14. The Bureau is invited to approve the request by the Equalities and Human Rights Committee to meet on Skye on Friday 15 March 2019 to take evidence on the Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Bill.

Parliamentary Business Team January 2019

ag/s5/19/5 parliamentary bureau agenda for meeting …€¦ · parliamentary bureau . agenda for...

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