Order!

The Speaker of the Devolved Assemblies has announced that the Scottish Parliament shall be dissolved on the 24th of May in order for an election to be held on the 6th of June.

This means that all business will come to a close over the coming weeks, in line with this timetable. The dissolution of the Parliament means that all business - including votes and the publication of results - should be completed by the close of business on the 24th of May.

Any business that is currently on the docket that is not read before the end of this term will be carried over and scheduled as normal at the beginning of the next term, unless the author instructs the Parliament not to do so.

The Schedule for Dissolution is detailed below.

Wed. 15 May, by 10pm BST - the final date the Scottish Government is able to submit a budget in order for a vote to be held before dissolution.

Thu. 16 May to Sun. 19 May - the debate on the budget, assuming it is submitted exactly on time; and a statement from the Scottish Government, or an Opposition Day Debate, or a Free Debate.

Fri. 17 May to Mon. 20 May - the final Stage 1 Debate of the term.

Sat. 18 May to Tue. 21 May - the final Motion Debate of the term.

Sun. 19 May to Thu. 23 May - the final Portfolio Questions of the term, currently scheduled to be to the Culture, Sports, and Languages Portfolio.

Mon. 20 May to Thu. 23 May - the vote on the budget, assuming it is submitted exactly on time.

Fri. 24 May - the declaration of the results for the vote on the budget, and the dissolution of the Parliament.

Parliament shall dissolve on the 24th of May 2024 at 10pm BST following the conclusion of the final debate and any open votes.

Order!

Our last item of business today is questions to the Justice Portfolio.

The Justice Portfolio will now take questions from the Scottish Parliament. The Cabinet Secretary, /u/Lady_Aya and Ministers within the department are entitled to respond to questions.

As the Justice spokesperson for the largest opposition grouping (Scottish Greens), /u/zakian3000 is entitled to ask six initial questions and six follow-up questions (12 questions total). Every other person may ask up to four initial questions and four follow-up questions (8 questions total).

Initial questions should be made as their own top-level comment, and each question comment only contain one questions. Members are reminded that this is a questions session and should not attempt to continue to debate by making statements once they have exhausted their question allowance.

This session of Portfolio Questions will end with the close of business at 10pm BST on the 25th of April 2024. Initial questions may not be asked after 10pm BST on the 24th of April 2024.

Order!

Our next item of business today is a Stage 3 Debate on bill SB252, in the name of the 22^nd Scottish Government. The question is that the Parliament agrees to the Housing (Scotland) Bill, as amended.

Amendment 1 (/u/LightningMinion) passed [F: 112, Ag: 17, Ab: 0, DNV: 0] and has been added to the bill.

Two SPaG amendments (both /u/LightningMinion) have been accepted as such.

Housing (Scotland) Bill

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to repeal the right to buy, make provision about planning authorities, make provision about homelessness, and for connected purposes.

The right to buy

1 Repeal of the right to buy

(1) The Right to Buy (Revival) (Scotland) Act 2020 is repealed.

(2) Sections 61 to 81, 84 and 84A of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 are repealed.

(3) Sections 42 to 52 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 are repealed.

The Scottish Planning and Housing Agency The Scottish Housing and Planning Authority

2 The Scottish Planning and Housing Agency The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency

(1) The Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 is amended as follows.

(2) For sections 1 to 1A, substitute—

"1 Planning authorities

(1) The planning authority for the purposes of this Act shall be the regional committee of the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency established for the district and the district of the planning authority shall be the area of the regional committee.

(2) In any enactment or instrument made under or by virtue of an enactment, a reference to a planning authority shall, unless otherwise provided, or unless the context otherwise requires, be construed as a reference to a regional committee of the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency.

1A Scottish Housing and Planning Agency

(1) The Scottish Housing Agency is continued into force as the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency.

(2) It is a body corporate.

(3) Schedule 19 makes further provision about the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency.

1B Regional planning committees

(1) The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency must establish bodies called regional committees in accordance with this section.

(2) There must be one regional committee for the area of each local authority.

(3) Each regional committee is to be established by order made by the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency for an area within Scotland.

(4) The area for which a regional committee is established must not coincide or overlap with the area of any other regional committee.

(5) The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency must ensure that, at all times on and after the appointed day, the areas of regional committees together cover the whole of Scotland.

(6) An order establishing a regional committee must provide for the constitution of the body, either by setting out the constitution or by making provision by reference to a published document where it is set out.

(7) The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency must publish orders under this section.

(8) In this section “the appointed day” means a day appointed under this subsection by regulations subject to the negative procedure made by the Scottish Ministers.

(9) Schedule 20 makes further provision about regional committees.".

(2) After Schedule 18, insert—

"SCHEDULE 18

Scottish Housing and Planning Agency

(introduced by section 1A(3))

Independence from Ministers

1 (1) In performing its functions, the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency is not subject to the direction or control of any member of the Scottish Government.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1) is subject to any contrary provision in this or any other enactment.

Appointment of members

2 (1) The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency is to consist of—

(a) a member appointed by the Scottish Ministers to chair the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency, and

(b) at least 4 but no more than 6 other members appointed by the Scottish Ministers.

(2) The Scottish Ministers may appoint a person as a member only if the Scottish Parliament has approved the appointment.

(3) In appointing members, the Scottish Ministers must have regard, among other things, to the desirability of ensuring that the membership (taken as a whole) has expertise or experience in—

(a) law relating to planning,

(b) housing policy,

(c) planning policy, and

(d) other matters which the Scottish Ministers consider relevant to planning and housing.

(4) A member is appointed for such period not exceeding 4 years as the Scottish Ministers determine.

(5) The Scottish Ministers may reappoint a person as a member if—

(a) the person—

(i) is a member at the time of reappointment, or

(ii) ceased to be a member not more than 3 months before the date of reappointment, and

(b) the person has not previously been reappointed.

(6) Sub-paragraphs (2) and (4) apply to the reappointment of a person as a member as they apply to the appointment of a person as a member.

(7) The Scottish Ministers may determine other terms and conditions of membership in relation to matters not covered by this Act.

Persons who may not be members

2 (1) The Scottish Ministers may not appoint a person as a member if sub-paragraph (2) or (4) applies to the person.

(2) This sub-paragraph applies to a person who is—

(a) a member of—

(i) the Scottish Parliament,

(ii) the House of Commons,

(iii) the House of Lords,

(iv) Senedd Cymru, or

(v) the Northern Ireland Assembly,

(b) a member of the Scottish Government,

(c) a Minister of the Crown,

(d) an office-holder in the Scottish Administration,

(e) an office-holder of the Crown in right of Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom,

(f) the holder of any other relevant elective office as defined by paragraph 1(8) of schedule 7 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000,

(g) a civil servant.

(3) Sub-paragraph (2) does not apply to a person who is a councillor or an employee of a local authority.

(4) This sub-paragraph applies to a person who is or has been—

(a) insolvent,

(b) disqualified as a company director under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986,

(c) disqualified as a charity trustee under the Charities Act 2011,

(d) disqualified under a disqualification provision analogous to either of those mentioned in paragraphs (b) and (c) anywhere in the world.

(4) For the purpose of sub-paragraph (3)(a), a person is or has been insolvent if—

(a) the person’s estate is or has been sequestrated,

(b) the person has granted a trust deed for creditors or has made a composition or arrangement with creditors,

(c) the person is or has been the subject of any other kind of arrangement analogous to either of those mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b) anywhere in the world.

Members’ remuneration and expenses

3 (1) The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency may pay—

(a) its members, and

(b) the members of any regional committee established by it

such remuneration as it may, with the approval of the Scottish Ministers, determine.

(2) The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency may pay—

(a) its members, and

(b) the members of any regional committee established by it,

such sums as it may, with the approval of the Scottish Ministers, determine in respect of expenses incurred by them in performing their functions.

Early termination of membership

4 (1) A person’s membership of the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency ends if—

(a) the person gives notice in writing to the Scottish Ministers and the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament that the person resigns,

(b) the person becomes disqualified from being a member,

(c) the Scottish Ministers give the person notice in writing that the person is removed from being a member.

(2) The Scottish Ministers may remove a member under sub-paragraph (1)(c) only if—

(a) the member has been absent, without permission or reasonable excuse, from meetings of the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency for a period of longer than 3 consecutive months,

(b) the member has been convicted of a criminal offence, or

(c) the Scottish Ministers consider that the member is—

(i) unable to perform the member’s functions, or

(ii) unsuitable to continue as a member.

(3) Where they propose to give a person, other than the person who is the member appointed to chair the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency, notice under sub-paragraph (1)(c) that the person is to be removed from being a member, the Scottish Ministers must consult the member appointed to chair the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency.

(4) The Scottish Ministers may remove a member under sub-paragraph (1)(c) only with the approval of the Scottish Parliament.

(5) For the purpose of sub-paragraph (1)(b), a person becomes disqualified from being a member if paragraph 3(2) or (4) applies to the person.

Chief executive and other staff

5 (1) The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency is to have, as a member of staff, a chief executive.

(2) The chief executive may not be a member of the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency.

(3) The Scottish Ministers are to appoint the first chief executive with the approval of the Scottish Parliament.

(4) The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency is to appoint each subsequent chief executive.

(5) The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency may appoint other staff.

(6) The chief executive and other staff are to be appointed on such terms and conditions as the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency, with the approval of the Scottish Ministers, determines.

Authority to perform functions

6 (1) The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency may authorise—

(a) any of its members,

(b) any regional committee established by it,

(c) its chief executive, or

(d) any other member of its staff,

to perform such of its functions (and to such extent) as it may determine.

(2) The giving of authority under sub-paragraph (1) to perform a function does not—

(a) affect the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency’s responsibility for the performance of the function, or

(b) prevent the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency from performing the function itself.

Regulation of procedure

7 The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency may regulate its own procedure (including quorum) and that of any regional committee.

Validity of things done

8 The validity of anything done by the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency or a regional committee is not affected by—

(a) a vacancy in membership,

(b) a defect in the appointment of a member,

(c) the disqualification of a person from being a member after appointment.

General powers

10 The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency may do anything which appears to it—

(a) to be necessary or expedient for the purposes of, or in connection with, the performance of its functions, or

(b) to be otherwise conducive to the performance of its functions.

Ministerial direction

11 (1) The Scottish Ministers may direct the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency to exercise its powers in a specified way.

(2) A direction under sub-paragraph (1) must—

(a) be in writing, and

(b) be published (as soon as practicable after it is communicated to the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency), and

(c) set out the Scottish Ministers’ reasons for making it.

(3) The Scottish Ministers may revise or revoke a direction under sub-paragraph (1).

(4) Sub-paragraph (3) applies to the revision or revocation of a direction under sub-paragraph (1) as it applies to such a direction.

Directions from the Scottish Parliament

12 (1) The Scottish Parliament may direct the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency to exercise its powers in a specified way by passing a motion resolving as such.

(2) The Scottish Parliament may revise or revoke a direction under sub-paragraph (1) by passing a motion resolving as such.

Directions to regional committees

13 (1) The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency may direct a regional committee to exercise its powers in a specified way.

(2) The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency must ensure that regional committees exercise their powers in a way which meets the National Outcomes.

(3) A direction under sub-paragraph (1) must—

(a) be in writing, and

(b) be published (as soon as practicable after it is communicated to the regional committee), and

(c) set out the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency’s reasons for making it.

(4) The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency may revise or revoke a direction under sub-paragraph (1).

(5) Sub-paragraph (4) applies to the revision or revocation of a direction under sub-paragraph (1) as it applies to such a direction.

Annual report

14 (1) The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency must, as soon as practicable after the end of each financial year—

(a) prepare and publish a report on its activities during that year,

(b) send a copy of the report to the Scottish Ministers, and

(c) lay a copy of the report before the Scottish Parliament.

(2) It is for the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency to determine the form and content of each report.

Resources

15 (1) The Scottish Ministers must seek to ensure that the amount of resources allocated for use by the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency is reasonably sufficient to enable it to perform its functions.

(2) Each report prepared under paragraph 14 must include an assessment by the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency of whether the amount of resources allocated for use by it in the financial year to which the report relates was sufficient to enable it to perform its functions.

(3) Sub-paragraph (2) does not affect the generality of paragraph 14(2).

SCHEDULE 20

REGIONAL COMMITTEES

Appointment of members

1 (1) Regional committees are to consist of members appointed by the local authority (“the council”) which the regional committee’s area covers.

(2) The council is to appoint one of the members of the regional committee the chair.

(3) The council may appoint a person as a member only if the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency has approved the appointment.

(4) In appointing members, the council must have regard, among other things, to the desirability of ensuring that the membership (taken as a whole) has expertise or experience in—

(a) law relating to planning,

(b) housing policy,

(c) planning policy, and

(d) other matters which the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency consider relevant to planning and housing.

(5) A member is appointed for such period not exceeding 4 years as the council determine.

(6) The council may reappoint a person as a member if—

(a) the person—

(i) is a member at the time of reappointment, or

(ii) ceased to be a member not more than 3 months before the date of reappointment, and

(b) the person has not previously been reappointed.

(7) Sub-paragraphs (3) and (5) apply to the reappointment of a person as a member as they apply to the appointment of a person as a member.

(8) The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency may determine other terms and conditions of membership in relation to matters not covered by this Act.

Persons who may not be members

2 (1) The council may not appoint a person as a member if sub-paragraph (2) or (4) applies to the person.

(2) This sub-paragraph applies to a person who is—

(a) a member of—

(i) the Scottish Parliament,

(ii) the House of Commons,

(iii) the House of Lords,

(iv) Senedd Cymru, or

(v) the Northern Ireland Assembly,

(b) a member of the Scottish Government,

(c) a Minister of the Crown,

(d) an office-holder in the Scottish Administration,

(e) an office-holder of the Crown in right of Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom,

(f) the holder of any other relevant elective office as defined by paragraph 1(8) of schedule 7 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000,

(g) a civil servant, or

(h) a member of the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency

(3) Sub-paragraph (2) does not apply to a person who is a councillor or an employee of a local authority.

(4) This sub-paragraph applies to a person who is or has been—

(a) insolvent,

(b) disqualified as a company director under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986,

(c) disqualified as a charity trustee under the Charities Act 2011,

(d) disqualified under a disqualification provision analogous to either of those mentioned in paragraphs (b) and (c) anywhere in the world.

(4) For the purpose of sub-paragraph (3)(a), a person is or has been insolvent if—

(a) the person’s estate is or has been sequestrated,

(b) the person has granted a trust deed for creditors or has made a composition or arrangement with creditors,

(c) the person is or has been the subject of any other kind of arrangement analogous to either of those mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b) anywhere in the world.

Early termination of membership

3 (1) A person’s membership of a regional committee ends if—

(a) the person gives notice in writing to the chair of the regional committee and the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency that the person resigns,

(b) the person becomes disqualified from being a member,

(c) the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency give the person notice in writing that the person is removed from being a member.

(2) The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency may remove a member under sub-paragraph (1)(c) only if—

(a) the member has been absent, without permission or reasonable excuse, from meetings of the regional committee for a period of longer than 3 consecutive months,

(b) the member has been convicted of a criminal offence, or

(c) the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency consider that the member is—

(i) unable to perform the member’s functions, or

(ii) unsuitable to continue as a member.

(3) For the purpose of sub-paragraph (1)(b), a person becomes disqualified from being a member if paragraph 2(2) or (4) applies to the person.

General Powers

4 (1) A regional committee may do anything which appears to it—

(a) to be necessary or expedient for the purposes of, or in connection with, the performance of its functions, or

(b) to be otherwise conducive to the performance of its functions.

(2) In exercising its powers, a local planning board must have regard to—

(a) the National Planning Framework, and

(b) the National Outcomes.".

(3) The Schedule makes further provision regarding the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency.

3 Transitional provision

The Scottish Housing Agency may make any transitional provision connected to the coming into force of this Act.

Homelessness

4 Homelessness

(1) In section 20 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 (persons to have priority on housing list and allocation of housing), for subsection (1) substitute—

“(1) A social landlord must, in relation to all houses held by it for housing purposes, secure that in the selection of its tenants a reasonable preference is given to the persons mentioned in subsection (1ZA).

(1ZA) The persons are—

(a) persons who, subject to subsection (1A), are homeless persons and persons threatened with homelessness (within the meaning of Part 2), and

(b) persons who—

(i) are living under unsatisfactory housing conditions, and

(ii) have unmet housing needs, and

(c) tenants of houses which—

(i) are held by a social landlord, and

(ii) the social landlord selecting its tenants considers to be under-occupied.

(1ZB) For the purposes of subsection (1ZA), persons have unmet housing needs where the social landlord considers the persons to have housing needs which are not capable of being met by housing options which are available.”.

(2) In section 338(1) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987, immediately after the definition of “the year 1986-87”, insert–

""unsatisfactory housing conditions" means–

(a) overcrowded housing conditions,

(b) housing conditions which do not meet the tolerable standard, or

(c) housing conditions which are otherwise unsatisfactory.".

(3) In section 86(1) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 (definition of house meeting tolerable standard), after paragraph (i) insert—

“(j) has satisfactory equipment installed for detecting, and for giving warning of, fire or suspected fire;

(k) has satisfactory equipment installed for detecting, and for giving warning of, carbon monoxide present in a concentration that is hazardous to health,”.

(4) Section 4 of the Armed Forces Covenant (Scotland) Act 2023 is repealed.

(5) After section 2(1) of the Armed Forces Covenant (Scotland) Act 2023, insert—

"(2) This section does not apply to the powers of local authorities to provide housing accommodation under section 2 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987.".

Final provisions

5 Regulations

(1) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make any incidental, supplementary, consequential, transitional, transitory or saving provision they consider appropriate for the purposes of, in connection with or for giving full effect to this Act or any provision made under it.

(2) Regulations under subsection (1) may modify any enactment (including this Act).

(3 Regulations under this section—

(a) which add to, replace or omit any part of the text of an Act are subject to the affirmative procedure,

(b) otherwise, are subject to the negative procedure.

6 Commencement

(1) This section and sections 3, 5 and 7 come into force on the day after Royal Assent.

(2) Sections 1 and 4 come into force 3 months after the date of Royal Assent.

(3) Section 2 comes into force one month after the date of Royal Assent.

7 Short title

The short tile title of this Act is the Housing (Scotland) Act 2024.

SCHEDULE

SCOTTISH HOUSING AND PLANNING AGENCY: LEGISLATION RELATING TO PUBLIC BODIES

(introduced by section 2(3))

(1) In schedule 3 of the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 (devolved public bodies), before the entry relating to The Scottish Housing Regulator insert— “Scottish Housing and Planning Agency”.

(2) In schedule 1 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (Scottish public authorities: non ministerial office holders in the Scottish Administration), after paragraph 18B insert—

“18C Scottish Housing and Planning Agency.”.

(3) In schedule 2 of the Public Appointments and Public Bodies etc. (Scotland) Act 2003 (specified authorities), under the heading “Executive bodies”, before the entry relating to the Scottish Housing Regulator insert— “Scottish Housing and Planning Agency”.

(4) In schedule 8 of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (information on exercise of public functions: listed public bodies), before the entry relating to the Scottish Housing Regulator insert— “Scottish Housing and Planning Agency”.

(5) In the schedule of the Public Records (Scotland) Act 2011 (authorities to which Part 1 applies), under the heading “Scottish Administration”, before the entry relating to the Scottish Housing Regulator insert— “Scottish Housing and Planning Agency”.

(6) In the schedule of the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 (contracting authorities: Scottish Administration and Scottish Parliament), after paragraph 13 insert—

“13AA Scottish Housing and Planning Agency.”.

This bill was written by First Minister the Rt. Hon. Sir LightningMinion KT OM OM CT CT CBE, Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Affairs and leader of Scottish Labour, on behalf of the 22nd Scottish Government. It has been co-sponsored by the Scottish Green Party.

A formatted version of the bill may be accessed here.

The bill borrows language from the following real-life legislation: UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021, The Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 (Tolerable Standard) (Extension of Criteria) Order 2019 and Health and Care Act 2022

Opening Speech:

Presiding Officer,

This legislation implements the government's policies with regards to planning, homelessness, and the housing market.

Section 1 abolishes the right to buy. Right to buy policies have led to council homes being sold-off without replacement council houses built, leading to a depletion of social housing stock. The repeal of the right to buy now will ensure that social housing stock cannot be depleted.

Section 2 makes a number of changes to the Scottish Housing Agency. It renames it to the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency, in recognition of the fact it also deals with planning for non-residential land and properties in addition to housing developments. Section 2 also lays out the rules regulating this Agency in more detail than the Planning (Scotland) Act 2022 which originally established it did. It also explicitly allows the government to give directions to the Agency. The government plans to exercise this power to direct the Agency to identify what land currently on the green-belt should be identified as a National Scenic Area or should be protected from development, following which the government will then be able to abolish the green belt system as promised. The government also plans to exercise this power to direct the Agency to ensure that Scotland meets its target of building 240 thousand houses between 2021 and 2031, to take over control of the construction of social housing and ensure that Scotland meets its target of building 70 thousand social houses between 2021 and 2031, and to take over the administration of housing construction-related funds, such as the Affordable Housing Fund.

Section 3 ensures that the Scottish Housing Agency can make any necessary transitional provision to ensure that the coming into force of section 2 doesn't inadvertently disrupt its activities.

Section 4 amends legislation relating to housing priority lists. It ensures that those who are homeless or are at risk of homelessness, those who live in overcrowded, unsafe or otherwise poor housing conditions, and those who are already social tenants get priority when a social landlord selects a new tenant. It repeals provisions giving those who served in the armed forces priority allocation for social housing, as I do not believe that someone having served in the armed forces alone should give them priority for accessing social housing. If they are homeless or are at risk of becoming homeless, or if they live in bad housing conditions, then they will have priority; but someone who doesn't need social housing but happened to serve in the armed forces should not get priority due to that. Section 4 also defines houses without a fire detector and alarm, and houses without a carbon monoxide detector and alarm, as houses of a poor condition.

Presiding Officer, this bill will help build more affordable and social housing, and helps tackle homelessness. I commend this bill to Parliament.

Debate on this bill will end with the close of business at 10pm BST on the 24^th of April 2024.

Order!

Our first item of business today is results.

SM195 | Motion to Liberate the Mace | Motion Vote

For: 49

Against: 53

Abstain: 13

Did Not Vote: 14

Turnout: 89%

Therefore, the Parliament has rejected the motion, and it will be thrown out.

SB252 | Housing (Scotland) Bill | Stage 1 Vote

For: 115

Against: 0

Abstain: 0

Did Not Vote: 14

Turnout: 89%

Therefore, the Parliament has approved the general principles of the bill, and it will proceed to Stage 3.

Order!

Our only item of business today is a debate on motion SM196, in the name of the Scottish Green Party. The question is that the Parliament agrees to the Devolution of Employment Law Motion.

Devolution of Employment Law Motion

That the Pàrlamaid:

recognises that—

(a) employment law is currently reserved to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, under head H of Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998 (c. 46);

(b) the Programme for Government of the 22^nd Scottish Government indicated that the Government intended to create a ‘Good Work Charter’, in collaboration with trade unions, setting out ‘good standards of employment’;

(c) the Scottish Government has indicated that the Scottish Government will follow the Good Work Charter, make following the Charter a ‘requirement to benefit from public procurement’, and, if the Scottish Government creates a National Scottish Investment Bank, require businesses receiving funding from the Bank to follow the Charter;

(d) the Scottish Government cannot make the Good Work Charter a requirement for all businesses without employment law being devolved;

(e) the Scottish Trade Union Congress has called for the devolution of employment law to the Pàrlamaid;

therefore, urges the Scottish Government to—

(f) immediately begin negotiating with the Government of the United Kingdom to repeal head H, in whole or for the most part;

(g) consider the debate on this motion a ‘comprehensive debate’ under the Programme for Government.

This motion was moved and written by the Most Honourable /u/model-avtron, Marchioness Hebrides LT OM CT PC MSP, Leader of the Scottish Green Party and the Opposition, on behalf of the Scottish Green Party.

Opening Speech

Oifigear-riaghlaidh,

One of the flagship commitments of this government is a Good Work Charter. The details in the Programme for Government are quite sparse, though we do know it will involve businesses being environmentally conscious. However, if you look back at the last Labour-led Scottish Government’s Programme for Government, you can see that Government’s plan would have employers signed up to the Charter end exploitative working practices, a guarantee to pay all employees a living wage, not undermine trade unions, and reduce greenhouse gases in line with the targets at the time.

However, the thing to note about the Charter is that it is not mandatory. Indeed, it cannot be mandatory, because employment law is a reserved matter under the Scotland Act 1998. Now, I agree with the principles of a Good Work Charter, assuming this government’s plan’s are similar to the aforementioned previous Labour government’s plans. However, I think it is a failure that the Government is advocating for workers rights reform, but refuses to ask Westminster for the powers to enforce it.

Nationalists often have their calls for greater devolution to Scotland’s national Pàrlamaid branded as ideological. However, this Government refusing to call for the devolution of welfare seems even more ideological. Considering the fact that the Government clearly want to do everything they can to get as many businesses and organisations signed up to the Good Work Charter, I don’t see why the Government can’t go the last mile and ask Westminster for this common-sense devolution, backed by workers through the Scottish Trade Unions Congress.

Thank you.

Debate on this motion will end with the close of business at 10pm GMT on the 23^rd of April 2024.

Order!

Our first item of business today is a debate on bill SB253, in the name of Forward. The question is that the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Anti-Radicalisation (Education) Bill.

###Anti-Radicalisation (Education) Bill

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to mandate the teaching of the Fundamental British Values, to codify anti-radicalisation guidance into statute, and for connected purposes.

Section 1: Definitions

(1) In this Act, unless specified otherwise;

(2) The ‘Fundamental British Values’ refers to the values set out as part of the anti-terror Prevent strategy, as below:

(a) Democracy

(b) Rule of Law

(c) Individual Liberty

(d) Tolerance

(e) Mutual Respect

(3) ‘School’ or derivatives refers to any education institution in Scotland.

(4) ‘Secondary School’ or derivatives refers to institutions that teach the years S1 to S6

Section 2: Requirement to teach the Fundamental British Values

(1) Secondary schools in Scotland must ensure that pupils are aware of the Fundamental British Values

(2) Secondary schools must develop a comprehensive and age-appropriate strategy to teach the Fundamental British Values, including (but not limited to):

(a) The strengths and limitations of democracy, including;

(i) The national British democracy

(ii) The Scottish democracy

(iii) International democracy

(iv) International non-democratic processes for governance

(b) How the rule of law operates in Scotland, including;

(i) The functions of the police in investigating and deterring crime

(ii) How the rule of law protects citizens equally

(iii) The implicit separation of powers and how institutions are kept accountable

(3) Schools are to promote individual liberty and independence inside and outside of school as part of their normal functions

(4) Schools are to encourage and develop free thinking and the autonomous development of ideas in their students, including;

(a) How to effectively debate ideas

(b) How to determine right from wrong

(c) How to show responsibility for their actions

(5) Schools are to promote mutual respect and tolerance of different values and ideas.

Section 3: Anti-Radicalisation Measures

(1) Schools are to take appropriate action against a student when they display such values that:

(a) Directly and seriously go against one or more of the Fundamental British Values, including;

(i) Seeking to promote ideologies that would overturn democracy

(ii) Seeking to promote ideologies that would undermine the rule of law in Scotland and the United Kingdom

(iii) Obsessive or extreme disregard for tolerating those with differing views to them

(iv) Constraining the development of individual liberty to such a degree that legitimate debate is unable to occur

(b) Suggest the student is at risk of radicalisation

(c) Suggest that the student has been radicalised

(2) Secondary schools are to take measures to educate students on radicalisation, including but not limited to;

(a) How people may be radicalised, including;

(i) The common signs that place people at risk of radicalisation

(ii) The common backgrounds of those at risk of radicalisation

(iii) Who is considered a person vulnerable to radicalisation

(b) The risks associated with radicalisation

(c) Recognising the signs of radicalisation in yourself and in others

(d) Who to report any concerns to

(e) How to support those who may be undergoing radicalisation

(3) Secondary schools must, where possible, ensure that the most up-to-date information on radicalisation and anti-radicalisation processes is delivered to students and that this knowledge is regularly disseminated to students.

(4) Schools must ensure that their staff are aware of all of the criteria in Section 3(2) and that training is regularly given to refresh this knowledge.

(a) The maximum gap between training may be no more than four years

Section 4: Short Title and Commencement

(1) This Bill may be cited as the Anti-Radicalisation (Education) Act 2024

(2) This Bill shall come into force on the 1st August 2025

This Bill was written by the Rt. Hon. Sir Frost_Walker2017, Duke of the Suffolk Coasts, as a member of Forward.

Opening Speech:

Presiding Officer,

I rise in support of this bill. While national security and counter-terrorism is reserved to Westminster, education is entirely devolved to Scotland, and it is through this lens that I have written this bill.

I think we can all agree that we should not allow our youth to be radicalised. We should not allow our youth to fall for ideologies actively harmful to a liberal democratic society, the likes of which we in the UK and her constituent regions operate in. Such radicalisation puts our society at risk at multiple levels - not only from a security point of view, if such individuals begin to threaten mass violence to get their way, but also from a social point of view as relationships between individuals and also between the individual and the state begin to break down.

The Fundamental British Values form a key part of these measures. This is a well known term south of the border, in England, and I seek to transpose them into our legislation here. The values of democracy, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance, and the rule of law form the backbone of civic society, and by respecting these values we hold respect for our country and for one another. It is important, in my view, that students are made aware of this to gain that respect early, especially considering they are at a key part of their life where small actions can have a great impact.

Presiding Officer, I recently sat through some safeguarding training. In it, we were told how to identify the common signs of radicalisation (alongside the common signs of abuse) and the importance of catching things early and taking it seriously. While social media has led to an alarming rise in the number of inappropriate “jokes” among young people, it is essential that students and staff alike are to recognise the signs of radicalisation. Off the top of my head, this can include sudden behavioural changes, isolation from family and friends, and dangerous rhetoric. Hand in hand with it is how to recognise when people are at risk of radicalisation. Such common signs for this include a recent death in the family, a loss of a support network, and mental health issues. The list of common signs for both could go on - but I feel I have made my point. Both student and staff being aware of these mean that those who are best placed to recognise the signs can report any concerns they have to catch it quickly, before it spirals out of control.

This legislation is designed to protect our young people, Presiding Officer. I commend this bill to this Parliament.

Debate on this bill will end with the close of business at 10pm BST on the 22^nd of April 2024.

Order! The first item of business today is the third Free Debate of the term.

Members may, so long as they do so within the parliamentary procedure, make a statement to this place on whatever topic they so wish. Members are encouraged to debate others' statements as well as make their own.

For instance, a member may make a statement on the merits of devolving energy to this place, and another member may respond to that with a counter. Simultaneously, another member may speak on the downsides of tuition fees as their own statement, to which other members may respond.

There are no limits to what can be debated, though members are requested to not make an excessive amount of statements and to keep it relevant to this place.

This Free Debate will end at the close of business on the 21st of April 2024 at 10pm GMT.

Order!

Our last item of business today is questions to the Education and Skills Portfolio.

The Education and Skills portfolio will now take questions from the Scottish Parliament. The Cabinet Secretary, /u/model-kurimizumi and Ministers within the department are entitled to respond to questions.

As the Education and Skills spokesperson for the largest opposition grouping (Scottish Greens), /u/realbassist is entitled to ask six initial questions and six follow-up questions (12 questions total). Every other person may ask up to four initial questions and four follow-up questions (8 questions total).

Initial questions should be made as their own top-level comment, and each question comment only contain one questions. Members are reminded that this is a questions session and should not attempt to continue to debate by making statements once they have exhausted their question allowance.

This session of Portfolio Questions will end with the close of business at 10pm GMT on the 18th of April 2024. Initial questions may not be asked after 10pm GMT on the 17th of April 2024.

Order!

Our next item of business today is a debate on bill SB251, in the name of Forward. The question is that the Parliament agrees to the Nuclear Power (Consent) (Scotland) Bill, as amended.

Amendment 1 (/u/LightningMinion) passed [F: 127, Ag: 0, Ab: 0] and has been added to the bill.

Amendment 2 (/u/model-avtron) failed [F: 59, Ag: 68, Ab: 0] and has been discarded.

One SPaG amendment (/u/model-avtron) would have been added to the bill, but was not as the section it was amending has been removed by another amendment.

###Nuclear Power (Consent) (Scotland) Bill

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to automatically give consent to the construction of Nuclear Power Stations, and for connected purposes.

Section 1: Automatic Consent

(1) The Electricity Act 1989 is amended as follows.

(2) In section 36(1), for “(1A) to (2) and (4)”, substitute “(1A) to (2), (4) and (10)”.

(3) After section 36(9), insert—

“(10) The Scottish Ministers must give consent to proposals to construct a nuclear installation in Scotland, unless—

(a) one of the conditions in subsection (11) applies to the proposal, and

(b) the Scottish Ministers are of the view that consent should not be granted to the proposal.

(11) The conditions are that—

(a) the Scottish Ministers are of the view that the site of the proposed nuclear installation has significant—

(i) cultural,

(ii) natural, or

(iii) environmental

importance;

(b) the Scottish Ministers are of the view that the proposed nuclear installation would damage the national security of Scotland or the United Kingdom.

(12) The Scottish Ministers may, by regulations subject to the affirmative procedure, amend subsection (11) to add, vary or remove conditions.

[(13) In subsections (10) to (12), "nuclear installation" has the same meaning as in the Nuclear Installations Act 1965.”.](https://www.reddit.com/r/MHOCHolyrood/comments/1bwnvy0/sb251_nuclear_power_consent_scotland_bill_stage_1/kyhs16s/)

(1) Any authority in Scotland with power over granting planning permission must give consent to any proposal to build nuclear power stations within Scotland, subject to section 1(3).

(2) A nuclear power station is a facility that produces electricity for public or private consumption or sale which is generated by use of a nuclear reactor.

(3) A planning authority may only withhold consent in one of the following situations:

(a) The proposed site is of significant natural, environmental, or cultural importance

(b) Granting consent to the proposed site would violate national security.

(i) This applies to both the UK’s national security and to Scotland’s national security.

(4) The Scottish Ministers may, by order in the positive procedure, add or remove exceptions to automatic consent in section 1(3).

Section 2: Short Title and Commencement

(1) This Act may be cited as the Nuclear Power (Consent) (Scotland) Act 2024

(2) This Act shall come into force immediately upon Royal Assent.

This Act was written by the Rt. Hon. Sir Frost_Walker2017, Duke of the Suffolk Coasts, as a member of Forward.

Opening Speech:

Presiding Officer,

I rise in support of this bill. As we move forward to meet our net zero goals, it is important that we decarbonise our energy network. A large portion of this will come from renewable sources, like wind, solar, or tidal generation, but I believe that this alone cannot make up for the loss of fossil fuels in our energy network.

That is where nuclear power comes in. It produces a significant amount of clean energy with a relatively limited fuel input, and in operation produces minimal carbon emissions. Nuclear energy can be used as a base for our energy network, topped up by renewables as demand rises. While this Parliament rightly does not have powers over our energy network, we are in a position where we can choose to give consent to the planning permission required to build power stations. This bill would require the relevant authorities to give consent to such construction to speed up the process and assist with the decarbonisation of the UK - and, by extension, of Scotland.

This bill is common sense. I urge members to pass it into statute.

Debate on this bill will end with the close of business at 10pm BST on the 17th of April 2024.

Order!

Our first item of business today is results.

SB251 | Nuclear Power (Consent) (Scotland) Bill | Stage 1 Vote

For: 55

Against: 49

Abstain: 0

Did Not Vote: 25

Turnout: 81%

Therefore, the Parliament has approved the general principles of the bill, and it will proceed to Stage 3.

SM194 | Scottish Energy Motion | Motion Vote

For: 49

Against: 51

Abstain: 0

Did Not Vote: 29

Turnout: 78%

Therefore, the Parliament has rejected the motion, and it will not proceed further..

Order!

Our next item of business today is a debate on motion SM195, in the name of the Scottish Green Party. The question is that the Parliament approves the Motion to Liberate the Mace.

Motion to Liberate the Mace

That the Pàrlamaid:

recognises that—

(a) the Mace of the Scottish Parliament is an iconic tool of government in this country,

(b) the simultaneous presentation of and access to the mace is an intentional part of the symbolism of the Westminster parliament,

(c) the Scottish Mace is locked behind a glass cover,

therefore, urges the Scottish Government to—

(d) Remove the glass cover over the mace to improve the symbolism of our parliament.

**This motion was moved and written by The Most Hon. Dame Ina LG LT LP LD GCB GCMG DBE CT CVO MP FRS, the Viscountess of Carstairs Junction, on behalf of the Scottish Green Party.

Opening Speech

Oifigear-riaghlaidh,

Symbolism is of greatest importance. The symbolism of this house especially so. When I consider symbolism in this house, we are surrounded by it, but one of the greatest pieces of symbolism is that we, the members of this House, cannot ever reach the mace of this House. It is locked in place and covered by a glass cage: the powers of this mace are limited and the members of this house unable to hold onto it, if we wanted to. Now, of course, it is not the intention we do so: but in Westminster, we would be able to. The power of the Speaker is on display, but seldom used, and seldom do members challenge that power by holding on to the mace themselves. But I believe that our members, all of us in this House, should have the right to do that. To make a statement. That is important and proper in a democratic nation as Scotland.

Debate on this motion will end with the close of business at 10pm BST on the 16th of April 2024.

Order!

Our first item of business today is a debate on bill SB252, in the name of the 22^nd Scottish Government. The question is that the Parliament approves the general principles of the Housing (Scotland) Bill.

Housing (Scotland) Bill

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to repeal the right to buy, make provision about planning authorities, make provision about homelessness, and for connected purposes.

The right to buy

1 Repeal of the right to buy

(1) The Right to Buy (Revival) (Scotland) Act 2020 is repealed.

(2) Sections 61 to 81, 84 and 84A of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 are repealed.

(3) Sections 42 to 52 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 are repealed.

The Scottish Planning and Housing Agency

2 The Scottish Planning and Housing Agency

(1) The Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 is amended as follows.

(2) For sections 1 to 1A, substitute—

"1 Planning authorities

(1) The planning authority for the purposes of this Act shall be the regional committee of the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency established for the district and the district of the planning authority shall be the area of the regional committee.

(2) In any enactment or instrument made under or by virtue of an enactment, a reference to a planning authority shall, unless otherwise provided, or unless the context otherwise requires, be construed as a reference to a regional committee of the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency.

1A Scottish Housing and Planning Agency

(1) The Scottish Housing Agency is continued into force as the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency.

(2) It is a body corporate.

(3) Schedule 19 makes further provision about the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency.

1B Regional planning committees

(1) The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency must establish bodies called regional committees in accordance with this section.

(2) There must be one regional committee for the area of each local authority.

(3) Each regional committee is to be established by order made by the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency for an area within Scotland.

(4) The area for which a regional committee is established must not coincide or overlap with the area of any other regional committee.

(5) The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency must ensure that, at all times on and after the appointed day, the areas of regional committees together cover the whole of Scotland.

(6) An order establishing a regional committee must provide for the constitution of the body, either by setting out the constitution or by making provision by reference to a published document where it is set out.

(7) The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency must publish orders under this section.

(8) In this section “the appointed day” means a day appointed under this subsection by regulations subject to the negative procedure made by the Scottish Ministers.

(9) Schedule 20 makes further provision about regional committees.".

(2) After Schedule 18, insert—

"SCHEDULE 18

Scottish Housing and Planning Agency

(introduced by section 1A(3))

Independence from Ministers

1 (1) In performing its functions, the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency is not subject to the direction or control of any member of the Scottish Government.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1) is subject to any contrary provision in this or any other enactment.

Appointment of members

2 (1) The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency is to consist of—

(a) a member appointed by the Scottish Ministers to chair the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency, and

(b) at least 4 but no more than 6 other members appointed by the Scottish Ministers.

(2) The Scottish Ministers may appoint a person as a member only if the Scottish Parliament has approved the appointment.

(3) In appointing members, the Scottish Ministers must have regard, among other things, to the desirability of ensuring that the membership (taken as a whole) has expertise or experience in—

(a) law relating to planning,

(b) housing policy,

(c) planning policy, and

(d) other matters which the Scottish Ministers consider relevant to planning and housing.

(4) A member is appointed for such period not exceeding 4 years as the Scottish Ministers determine.

(5) The Scottish Ministers may reappoint a person as a member if—

(a) the person—

(i) is a member at the time of reappointment, or

(ii) ceased to be a member not more than 3 months before the date of reappointment, and

(b) the person has not previously been reappointed.

(6) Sub-paragraphs (2) and (4) apply to the reappointment of a person as a member as they apply to the appointment of a person as a member.

(7) The Scottish Ministers may determine other terms and conditions of membership in relation to matters not covered by this Act.

Persons who may not be members

2 (1) The Scottish Ministers may not appoint a person as a member if sub-paragraph (2) or (4) applies to the person.

(2) This sub-paragraph applies to a person who is—

(a) a member of—

(i) the Scottish Parliament,

(ii) the House of Commons,

(iii) the House of Lords,

(iv) Senedd Cymru, or

(v) the Northern Ireland Assembly,

(b) a member of the Scottish Government,

(c) a Minister of the Crown,

(d) an office-holder in the Scottish Administration,

(e) an office-holder of the Crown in right of Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom,

(f) the holder of any other relevant elective office as defined by paragraph 1(8) of schedule 7 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000,

(g) a civil servant.

(3) Sub-paragraph (2) does not apply to a person who is a councillor or an employee of a local authority.

(4) This sub-paragraph applies to a person who is or has been—

(a) insolvent,

(b) disqualified as a company director under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986,

(c) disqualified as a charity trustee under the Charities Act 2011,

(d) disqualified under a disqualification provision analogous to either of those mentioned in paragraphs (b) and (c) anywhere in the world.

(4) For the purpose of sub-paragraph (3)(a), a person is or has been insolvent if—

(a) the person’s estate is or has been sequestrated,

(b) the person has granted a trust deed for creditors or has made a composition or arrangement with creditors,

(c) the person is or has been the subject of any other kind of arrangement analogous to either of those mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b) anywhere in the world.

Members’ remuneration and expenses

3 (1) The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency may pay—

(a) its members, and

(b) the members of any regional committee established by it

such remuneration as it may, with the approval of the Scottish Ministers, determine.

(2) The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency may pay—

(a) its members, and

(b) the members of any regional committee established by it,

such sums as it may, with the approval of the Scottish Ministers, determine in respect of expenses incurred by them in performing their functions.

Early termination of membership

4 (1) A person’s membership of the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency ends if—

(a) the person gives notice in writing to the Scottish Ministers and the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament that the person resigns,

(b) the person becomes disqualified from being a member,

(c) the Scottish Ministers give the person notice in writing that the person is removed from being a member.

(2) The Scottish Ministers may remove a member under sub-paragraph (1)(c) only if—

(a) the member has been absent, without permission or reasonable excuse, from meetings of the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency for a period of longer than 3 consecutive months,

(b) the member has been convicted of a criminal offence, or

(c) the Scottish Ministers consider that the member is—

(i) unable to perform the member’s functions, or

(ii) unsuitable to continue as a member.

(3) Where they propose to give a person, other than the person who is the member appointed to chair the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency, notice under sub-paragraph (1)(c) that the person is to be removed from being a member, the Scottish Ministers must consult the member appointed to chair the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency.

(4) The Scottish Ministers may remove a member under sub-paragraph (1)(c) only with the approval of the Scottish Parliament.

(5) For the purpose of sub-paragraph (1)(b), a person becomes disqualified from being a member if paragraph 3(2) or (4) applies to the person.

Chief executive and other staff

5 (1) The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency is to have, as a member of staff, a chief executive.

(2) The chief executive may not be a member of the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency.

(3) The Scottish Ministers are to appoint the first chief executive with the approval of the Scottish Parliament.

(4) The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency is to appoint each subsequent chief executive.

(5) The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency may appoint other staff.

(6) The chief executive and other staff are to be appointed on such terms and conditions as the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency, with the approval of the Scottish Ministers, determines.

Authority to perform functions

6 (1) The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency may authorise—

(a) any of its members,

(b) any regional committee established by it,

(c) its chief executive, or

(d) any other member of its staff,

to perform such of its functions (and to such extent) as it may determine.

(2) The giving of authority under sub-paragraph (1) to perform a function does not—

(a) affect the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency’s responsibility for the performance of the function, or

(b) prevent the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency from performing the function itself.

Regulation of procedure

7 The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency may regulate its own procedure (including quorum) and that of any regional committee.

Validity of things done

8 The validity of anything done by the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency or a regional committee is not affected by—

(a) a vacancy in membership,

(b) a defect in the appointment of a member,

(c) the disqualification of a person from being a member after appointment.

General powers

10 The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency may do anything which appears to it—

(a) to be necessary or expedient for the purposes of, or in connection with, the performance of its functions, or

(b) to be otherwise conducive to the performance of its functions.

Ministerial direction

11 (1) The Scottish Ministers may direct the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency to exercise its powers in a specified way.

(2) A direction under sub-paragraph (1) must—

(a) be in writing, and

(b) be published (as soon as practicable after it is communicated to the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency), and

(c) set out the Scottish Ministers’ reasons for making it.

(3) The Scottish Ministers may revise or revoke a direction under sub-paragraph (1).

(4) Sub-paragraph (3) applies to the revision or revocation of a direction under sub-paragraph (1) as it applies to such a direction.

Directions from the Scottish Parliament

12 (1) The Scottish Parliament may direct the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency to exercise its powers in a specified way by passing a motion resolving as such.

(2) The Scottish Parliament may revise or revoke a direction under sub-paragraph (1) by passing a motion resolving as such.

Directions to regional committees

13 (1) The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency may direct a regional committee to exercise its powers in a specified way.

(2) The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency must ensure that regional committees exercise their powers in a way which meets the National Outcomes.

(3) A direction under sub-paragraph (1) must—

(a) be in writing, and

(b) be published (as soon as practicable after it is communicated to the regional committee), and

(c) set out the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency’s reasons for making it.

(4) The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency may revise or revoke a direction under sub-paragraph (1).

(5) Sub-paragraph (4) applies to the revision or revocation of a direction under sub-paragraph (1) as it applies to such a direction.

Annual report

14 (1) The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency must, as soon as practicable after the end of each financial year—

(a) prepare and publish a report on its activities during that year,

(b) send a copy of the report to the Scottish Ministers, and

(c) lay a copy of the report before the Scottish Parliament.

(2) It is for the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency to determine the form and content of each report.

Resources

15 (1) The Scottish Ministers must seek to ensure that the amount of resources allocated for use by the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency is reasonably sufficient to enable it to perform its functions.

(2) Each report prepared under paragraph 14 must include an assessment by the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency of whether the amount of resources allocated for use by it in the financial year to which the report relates was sufficient to enable it to perform its functions.

(3) Sub-paragraph (2) does not affect the generality of paragraph 14(2).

SCHEDULE 20

REGIONAL COMMITTEES

Appointment of members

1 (1) Regional committees are to consist of members appointed by the local authority (“the council”) which the regional committee’s area covers.

(2) The council is to appoint one of the members of the regional committee the chair.

(3) The council may appoint a person as a member only if the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency has approved the appointment.

(4) In appointing members, the council must have regard, among other things, to the desirability of ensuring that the membership (taken as a whole) has expertise or experience in—

(a) law relating to planning,

(b) housing policy,

(c) planning policy, and

(d) other matters which the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency consider relevant to planning and housing.

(5) A member is appointed for such period not exceeding 4 years as the council determine.

(6) The council may reappoint a person as a member if—

(a) the person—

(i) is a member at the time of reappointment, or

(ii) ceased to be a member not more than 3 months before the date of reappointment, and

(b) the person has not previously been reappointed.

(7) Sub-paragraphs (3) and (5) apply to the reappointment of a person as a member as they apply to the appointment of a person as a member.

(8) The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency may determine other terms and conditions of membership in relation to matters not covered by this Act.

Persons who may not be members

2 (1) The council may not appoint a person as a member if sub-paragraph (2) or (4) applies to the person.

(2) This sub-paragraph applies to a person who is—

(a) a member of—

(i) the Scottish Parliament,

(ii) the House of Commons,

(iii) the House of Lords,

(iv) Senedd Cymru, or

(v) the Northern Ireland Assembly,

(b) a member of the Scottish Government,

(c) a Minister of the Crown,

(d) an office-holder in the Scottish Administration,

(e) an office-holder of the Crown in right of Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom,

(f) the holder of any other relevant elective office as defined by paragraph 1(8) of schedule 7 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000,

(g) a civil servant, or

(h) a member of the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency

(3) Sub-paragraph (2) does not apply to a person who is a councillor or an employee of a local authority.

(4) This sub-paragraph applies to a person who is or has been—

(a) insolvent,

(b) disqualified as a company director under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986,

(c) disqualified as a charity trustee under the Charities Act 2011,

(d) disqualified under a disqualification provision analogous to either of those mentioned in paragraphs (b) and (c) anywhere in the world.

(4) For the purpose of sub-paragraph (3)(a), a person is or has been insolvent if—

(a) the person’s estate is or has been sequestrated,

(b) the person has granted a trust deed for creditors or has made a composition or arrangement with creditors,

(c) the person is or has been the subject of any other kind of arrangement analogous to either of those mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b) anywhere in the world.

Early termination of membership

3 (1) A person’s membership of a regional committee ends if—

(a) the person gives notice in writing to the chair of the regional committee and the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency that the person resigns,

(b) the person becomes disqualified from being a member,

(c) the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency give the person notice in writing that the person is removed from being a member.

(2) The Scottish Housing and Planning Agency may remove a member under sub-paragraph (1)(c) only if—

(a) the member has been absent, without permission or reasonable excuse, from meetings of the regional committee for a period of longer than 3 consecutive months,

(b) the member has been convicted of a criminal offence, or

(c) the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency consider that the member is—

(i) unable to perform the member’s functions, or

(ii) unsuitable to continue as a member.

(3) For the purpose of sub-paragraph (1)(b), a person becomes disqualified from being a member if paragraph 2(2) or (4) applies to the person.

General Powers

4 (1) A regional committee may do anything which appears to it—

(a) to be necessary or expedient for the purposes of, or in connection with, the performance of its functions, or

(b) to be otherwise conducive to the performance of its functions.

(2) In exercising its powers, a local planning board must have regard to—

(a) the National Planning Framework, and

(b) the National Outcomes.".

3 Transitional provision

The Scottish Housing Agency may make any transitional provision connected to the coming into force of this Act.

Homelessness

4 Homelessness

(1) In section 20 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 (persons to have priority on housing list and allocation of housing), for subsection (1) substitute—

“(1) A social landlord must, in relation to all houses held by it for housing purposes, secure that in the selection of its tenants a reasonable preference is given to the persons mentioned in subsection (1ZA).

(1ZA) The persons are—

(a) persons who, subject to subsection (1A), are homeless persons and persons threatened with homelessness (within the meaning of Part 2), and

(b) persons who—

(i) are living under unsatisfactory housing conditions, and

(ii) have unmet housing needs, and

(c) tenants of houses which—

(i) are held by a social landlord, and

(ii) the social landlord selecting its tenants considers to be under-occupied.

(1ZB) For the purposes of subsection (1ZA), persons have unmet housing needs where the social landlord considers the persons to have housing needs which are not capable of being met by housing options which are available.”.

(2) In section 338(1) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987, immediately after the definition of “the year 1986-87”, insert–

""unsatisfactory housing conditions" means–

(a) overcrowded housing conditions,

(b) housing conditions which do not meet the tolerable standard, or

(c) housing conditions which are otherwise unsatisfactory.".

(3) In section 86(1) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 (definition of house meeting tolerable standard), after paragraph (i) insert—

“(j) has satisfactory equipment installed for detecting, and for giving warning of, fire or suspected fire;

(k) has satisfactory equipment installed for detecting, and for giving warning of, carbon monoxide present in a concentration that is hazardous to health,”.

(4) Section 4 of the Armed Forces Covenant (Scotland) Act 2023 is repealed.

(5) After section 2(1) of the Armed Forces Covenant (Scotland) Act 2023, insert—

"(2) This section does not apply to the powers of local authorities to provide housing accommodation under section 2 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987.".

Final provisions

5 Regulations

(1) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make any incidental, supplementary, consequential, transitional, transitory or saving provision they consider appropriate for the purposes of, in connection with or for giving full effect to this Act or any provision made under it.

(2) Regulations under subsection (1) may modify any enactment (including this Act).

(3 Regulations under this section—

(a) which add to, replace or omit any part of the text of an Act are subject to the affirmative procedure,

(b) otherwise, are subject to the negative procedure.

6 Commencement

(1) This section and sections 3, 5 and 7 come into force on the day after Royal Assent.

(2) Sections 1 and 4 come into force 3 months after the date of Royal Assent.

(3) Section 2 comes into force one month after the date of Royal Assent.

7 Short title

The short tile of this Act is the Housing (Scotland) Act 2024.

This bill was written by First Minister the Rt. Hon. Sir LightningMinion KT OM OM CT CT CBE, Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Affairs and leader of Scottish Labour, on behalf of the 22nd Scottish Government. It has been co-sponsored by the Scottish Green Party.

A formatted version of the bill may be accessed here.

The bill borrows language from the following real-life legislation: UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021, The Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 (Tolerable Standard) (Extension of Criteria) Order 2019 and Health and Care Act 2022

Opening Speech:

Presiding Officer,

This legislation implements the government's policies with regards to planning, homelessness, and the housing market.

Section 1 abolishes the right to buy. Right to buy policies have led to council homes being sold-off without replacement council houses built, leading to a depletion of social housing stock. The repeal of the right to buy now will ensure that social housing stock cannot be depleted.

Section 2 makes a number of changes to the Scottish Housing Agency. It renames it to the Scottish Housing and Planning Agency, in recognition of the fact it also deals with planning for non-residential land and properties in addition to housing developments. Section 2 also lays out the rules regulating this Agency in more detail than the Planning (Scotland) Act 2022 which originally established it did. It also explicitly allows the government to give directions to the Agency. The government plans to exercise this power to direct the Agency to identify what land currently on the green-belt should be identified as a National Scenic Area or should be protected from development, following which the government will then be able to abolish the green belt system as promised. The government also plans to exercise this power to direct the Agency to ensure that Scotland meets its target of building 240 thousand houses between 2021 and 2031, to take over control of the construction of social housing and ensure that Scotland meets its target of building 70 thousand social houses between 2021 and 2031, and to take over the administration of housing construction-related funds, such as the Affordable Housing Fund.

Section 3 ensures that the Scottish Housing Agency can make any necessary transitional provision to ensure that the coming into force of section 2 doesn't inadvertently disrupt its activities.

Section 4 amends legislation relating to housing priority lists. It ensures that those who are homeless or are at risk of homelessness, those who live in overcrowded, unsafe or otherwise poor housing conditions, and those who are already social tenants get priority when a social landlord selects a new tenant. It repeals provisions giving those who served in the armed forces priority allocation for social housing, as I do not believe that someone having served in the armed forces alone should give them priority for accessing social housing. If they are homeless or are at risk of becoming homeless, or if they live in bad housing conditions, then they will have priority; but someone who doesn't need social housing but happened to serve in the armed forces should not get priority due to that. Section 4 also defines houses without a fire detector and alarm, and houses without a carbon monoxide detector and alarm, as houses of a poor condition.

Presiding Officer, this bill will help build more affordable and social housing, and helps tackle homelessness. I commend this bill to Parliament.

Debate on this bill will end with the close of business at 10pm BST on the 16th of April 2024.

Order, Order.

We will now turn to First Minister's Questions. The First Minister /u/LightningMinion, is taking questions from the Parliament.

As leader of the largest opposition party (Scottish Greens), /u/model-avtron may ask up to six initial questions and six follow-up questions (12 questions total).

All others may ask up to four initial questions and four follow-up questions (8 questions total).

Initial questions should be made as their own top-level comment, and each question comment only contain one questions. Members are reminded that this is a questions session and should not attempt to continue to debate by making statements once they have exhausted their question allowance.

No initial questions should be submitted on the final day of questions.

This session of First Minister's Questions will end with the close of business at 10pm GMT on the 15th of April 2024.

No initial questions may be asked after the close of business at 10pm GMT on the 14th of April 2024.

Order!

Our last item of business today is results.

SB250 | Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill | Stage 1 Vote

For: 51

Against: 68

Abstain: 0

Did Not Vote: 10

Therefore, the Parliament has rejected the general principles of this Bill, and it will not proceed further.

SM193 | Motion on the Beyond 16 White Paper | Motion Vote

For: 93

Against: 0

Abstain: 26

Did Not Vote: 10

Therefore, the Parliament has approved this Motion, and it will be sent to the Government for their consideration.

Order!

Our next item of business today is questions to the Finance and the Economy Portfolio.

The Finance and the Economy portfolio will now take questions from the Scottish Parliament. The Cabinet Secretary, /u/model-kurimizumi and Ministers within the department are entitled to respond to questions.

As the Finance and the Economy spokesperson for the largest opposition grouping, /u/model-avtron is entitled to ask six initial questions and six follow-up questions (12 questions total). Every other person may ask up to four initial questions and four follow-up questions (8 questions total).

Initial questions should be made as their own top-level comment, and each question comment only contain one questions. Members are reminded that this is a questions session and should not attempt to continue to debate by making statements once they have exhausted their question allowance.

This session of Portfolio Questions will end with the close of business at 10pm BST on the 11th of April 2024. Initial questions may not be asked after 10pm BST on the 10th of April 2024.

Order!

The first item of business is a debate on motion SM194, in the name of the Scottish Federalist Party. The question is that the Parliament approves the Scottish Energy Motion.

Scottish Energy Motion

Definitions

(1) Central Government: The central government in the United Kingdom, also commonly referred to as Her Majesty's Government, is the national government of the UK.

(2) Tidal Lagoon: An energy source that utilizes trial waves to produce energy.

(3) Scottish Parliament: the devolved government of Scotland.

This Parliament Recognises:

Under the 2019 budget central government passed legislation to build a Swansea Tidal Lagoon creating a brand new industry in the United Kingdom,

that such an industry could be valuable to Scotland as we have plenty of locations capable of such a project

This Parliament therefore resolves that:

(1) The Scottish Government should arrange a meeting with the relevant cabinet ministers to Lobby Central Government to see if such a project is viable.

(2) That the Scottish Parliament shall create a Cross-Party delegation to lobby Central Government to discuss the viability of a tidal lagoon project in Scotland.

(3) The following locations should be recommended to the Central Government are Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee and finally Edinburgh as the best potential sites for such a project.

Source: Liberal Budget (Page 14)

This Motion was written by Adsea260 (Oracle on Discord) submitted as a motion on Behalf of the Scottish Federalist Party and shall be known as the “Scottish Energy Motion”

Opening Statement

Presiding Officer, Scotland has a historic opportunity to take advantage of our beautiful natural landscape and invest in green energy that our beautiful country already possesses through our natural borders.

Therefore we should open up discussions with the Central government to find a way forward to build such a project for the future of our planet.

We should aim to build a cross party consensus on the project both here at home at Holyrood and in the House of Commons.

Thank you Presiding Officer.

Debate on this motion will end with the close of business at 10pm BST on the 10th of April 2024.

Order!

Our only item of business today is a debate on bill on SB251, in the name of Forward. The question is that the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Nuclear Power (Consent) (Scotland) Bill.

###Nuclear Power (Consent) (Scotland) Bill

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to automatically give consent to the construction of Nuclear Power Stations, and for connected purposes.

Section 1: Automatic Consent

(1) Any authority in Scotland with power over granting planning permission must give consent to any proposal to build nuclear power stations within Scotland, subject to section 1(3).

(2) A nuclear power station is a facility that produces electricity for public or private consumption or sale which is generated by use of a nuclear reactor.

(3) A planning authority may only withhold consent in one of the following situations:

(a) The proposed site is of significant natural, environmental, or cultural importance

(b) Granting consent to the proposed site would violate national security.

(i) This applies to both the UK’s national security and to Scotland’s national security.

(4) The Scottish Ministers may, by order in the positive procedure, add or remove exceptions to automatic consent in section 1(3).

Section 2: Short Title and Commencement

(1) This Act may be cited as the Nuclear Power (Consent) (Scotland) Act 2024

(2) This Act shall come into force immediately upon Royal Assent.

This Act was written by the Rt. Hon. Sir Frost_Walker2017, Duke of the Suffolk Coasts, as a member of Forward.

Opening Speech:

Presiding Officer,

I rise in support of this bill. As we move forward to meet our net zero goals, it is important that we decarbonise our energy network. A large portion of this will come from renewable sources, like wind, solar, or tidal generation, but I believe that this alone cannot make up for the loss of fossil fuels in our energy network.

That is where nuclear power comes in. It produces a significant amount of clean energy with a relatively limited fuel input, and in operation produces minimal carbon emissions. Nuclear energy can be used as a base for our energy network, topped up by renewables as demand rises. While this Parliament rightly does not have powers over our energy network, we are in a position where we can choose to give consent to the planning permission required to build power stations. This bill would require the relevant authorities to give consent to such construction to speed up the process and assist with the decarbonisation of the UK - and, by extension, of Scotland.

This bill is common sense. I urge members to pass it into statute.

Debate on this bill will end with the close of business at 10pm GMT on the 8th of April 2024.

Order! The first item of business today is the first Free Debate of the term.

Members may, so long as they do so within the parliamentary procedure, make a statement to this place on whatever topic they so wish. Members are encouraged to debate others' statements as well as make their own.

For instance, a member may make a statement on the merits of devolving energy to this place, and another member may respond to that with a counter. Simultaneously, another member may speak on the downsides of tuition fees as their own statement, to which other members may respond.

There are no limits to what can be debated, though members are requested to not make an excessive amount of statements and to keep it relevant to this place.

This Free Debate will end at the close of business on the 7th of April 2024 at 10pm GMT.

Order!

Our next item of business today is questions to the Housing and Local Affairs Portfolio.

The Housing and Local Affairs Portfolio will now take questions from the Scottish Parliament. The Cabinet Secretary, /u/LightningMinion and Ministers within the department are entitled to respond to questions.

As the Housing and Local Affairs spokesperson for the largest opposition grouping (Scottish Greens), /u/Weebru_m is entitled to ask six initial questions and six follow-up questions (12 questions total). Every other person may ask up to four initial questions and four follow-up questions (8 questions total).

Initial questions should be made as their own top-level comment, and each question comment only contain one questions. Members are reminded that this is a questions session and should not attempt to continue to debate by making statements once they have exhausted their question allowance.

This session of Portfolio Questions will end with the close of business at 10pm BST on the 4th of April 2024. Initial questions may not be asked after 10pm BST on the 3rd of April 2024.

Order!

Our first item of business today is results.

SB248 | Parole Requirements (Serious Offences) (Scotland) Bill | Stage 3 Vote

For: 75

Against: 0

Abstain 0

Did Not Vote: 54

Turnout: 58%

Therefore, the Parliament has approved the bill, and it will be sent for Royal Assent.

SB249 | Democracy in Schools (Repeal) (Scotland) Bill | Stage 1 Vote

For: 17

Against: 112

Abstain: 0

Did Not Vote: 0

Turnout: 100%

Therefore, the Parliament has rejected the general principles of this bill, and it will not proceed further.

SM192 | Parliamentary Accountability Motion | Motion Vote

For: 61

Against: 0

Abstain: 68

Did Not Vote: 0

Turnout: 100%

Therefore, the Parliament has approved the motion.

Order!

Our only item of business today is a debate on motion SM193, in the name of Forward. The question is that the Parliament approves the Motion on the Beyond 16 White Paper.

###Motion on the Beyond 16 White Paper

This Parliament recognises that:

(1) The Scottish Government has pledged to implement the remaining portions of the Beyond 16 White Paper

(2) The Beyond 16 White Paper is over two years old

(3) In the time since the Beyond 16 White Paper was first published, the situation facing Scotland has drastically changed in light of the Cost of Living Crisis and the weakness of existing trade routes in light of global conflict.

This Parliament therefore calls on the government to:

(1) Not implement the remainder of the Beyond 16 White Paper

(2) Develop an alternative White Paper focused on further, higher, and adult education

(3) Put skills development at all ages at the heart of education policy

This motion was written by the Rt. Hon. Sir Frost_Walker2017, Duke of the Suffolk Coasts, as a member of Forward.

Opening Speech:

Presiding Officer,

I rise in support of this motion. It barely seems possible that it’s been two years since I introduced the Beyond 16 White Paper to the Scottish Parliament, but here we are.

It may seem difficult to believe because of everything that’s plagued mainstream politics since then. From Putin’s war of aggression in Ukraine to the conflicts bubbling in the Middle East, and the potential for an isolationist US should Trump win a second term, the past two years have seen remarkable developments that, in my view, mean the Beyond 16 White Paper is outdated.

When I wrote it, I kept a core of developing skills in mind, focusing more on the practical side of things. I firmly believe that this should remain the core of any future education white paper, though with less of a focus on technical/vocational qualifications and apprenticeships and a more general focus put across all types of education so that people can develop their soft skills and practical skills more effectively.

But the simple fact is that rather than following the ideas of one man from two years ago, the government should - as all politicians ought to, really - demonstrate a bit of ingenuity, some creativity, and develop their own strategy instead of that of an entirely different party not even in Scottish politics anymore. This could be the government’s chance to make their mark on the frontier of education, instead of just tinkering around the edge, and pursue wholesale reforms to improve the life chances of those around Scotland. Education is, after all, an engine of social mobility, and while the policies of the Beyond 16 White Paper would help out young people they were designed for the state of the world two years ago.

It’s time to move on from the past and start thinking Forward to the future. I commend this motion to the house and urge members to back it.

Debate on this motion will end with the close of business at 10pm BST on the 2nd of April 2024.

Order!

Our only item of business today is a debate on bill SB250, in the name of the Scottish Green Party. The question is that this Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill.

Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provision about the price at which alcohol may be sold from licensed premises; and for connected purposes.

Minimum price of alcohol

1 Minimum price of alcohol

(1) Alcohol must not be sold at a price below its minimum price.

(2) Where alcohol is supplied together with other products or services for a single price, subsection (1) applies as if the alcohol were supplied on its own for that price.

(3) The minimum price of alcohol is to be calculated according to the following formula—

M × S × V × 100

where—

M is the minimum price per unit,

S is the strength of the alcohol by volume, and

V is the volume of the alcohol in litres.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (3), the minimum price per unit is 65 pence.

(5) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations made in the affirmative procedure amend subsection (4) to change the minimum price per unit.

(6) In this section, "alcohol" has the same meaning as in the 2005 Act.

2 Licensing

(1) The 2005 Act is amended as follows.

(2) After paragraph 7A in schedule 3 of the 2005 Act, insert—

7B (1) Alcohol is not to be sold at a price below its minimum price.

(2) "Minimum price" is to be construed in accordance with the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) Act 2024.

(2) After paragraph 6A in schedule 4 of the 2005 Act, insert—

6B (1) Alcohol is not to be sold at a price below its minimum price.

(2) "Minimum price" is to be construed in accordance with the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) Act 2024.

3 Repeal

(1) The 2018 Act is repealed.

(2) For greater clarity, the enactments repealed by the 2018 Act remain repealed.

(3) In this section, "the 2018 Act" means the Abolition of Alcohol Minimum Pricing (Scotland) Act 2018 (asp 4).

Supplementary and general

4 Interpretation

In this Act, "the 2005 Act" means the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 (asp 16).

5 Short title

This Act may be cited as the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) Act 2024.

6 Commencement

This Act comes into force 90 days after Royal Assent.

Legislation referenced:

• Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 (asp 16)
• Abolition of Alcohol Minimum Pricing (Scotland) Act 2018 (asp 4)

Illustration:

• Minimum price for a standard sized (700ml) bottle of spirits at 37.5% ABV = £17.06
• Minimum price for a standard sized (750ml) bottle of wine at 12.5% ABV = £6.09
• Minimum price for a strong pint (568ml) of lager at 5% ABV = £1.85

This bill was written by the Most Hon. Lady /u/model-avtron, Marchioness Hebrides, Countess Kintyre, Baroness Tiree LT OM CT PC MSP MS MLA, Leader of the Scottish Green Party and Leader of the Opposition, on behalf of the Scottish Green Party. This bill was partially based on the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Act 2012 (asp 4).

Opening speech

Oifigear-riaghlaidh,

I move, That the Pàrlamaid agrees to the general principles of the bill.

Minimum unit pricing has never existed in Scotland. It was legislated for by the Alex Salmond government, but required a statutory instrument to come into force; no such statutory instrument was ever introduced. Indeed, the Act that legislated for MUP was repealed in 2018 by the Scottish Libertarians. Even though, generally, repealing a bill has no effect on the amendments it makes, the amendments were not put into effect because the bill making said amendments hadn't come into force.

That's why I've introduced this bill. It is textually quite similar to the repealed 2012 bill, albeit it specifies a minimum price per unit rather than getting the Scottish Ministers to do it by order.

Minimum unit pricing works. It saves lives, and stops people from falling into alcoholism. As the illustration shows, 65 pence per unit of alcohol is a fair rate that is not overly burdensome but still has effect.

I commend this bill to the Pàrlamaid.

Debate on this bill will end with the close of business on the 1st of April 2024.

Order, Order.

We will now turn to First Minister's Questions. The First Minister /u/LightningMinion, is taking questions from the Parliament.

As leader of the largest opposition party (Scottish Greens), /u/model-avtron may ask up to six initial questions and six follow-up questions (12 questions total).

All others may ask up to four initial questions and four follow-up questions (8 questions total).

Initial questions should be made as their own top-level comment, and each question comment only contain one questions. Members are reminded that this is a questions session and should not attempt to continue to debate by making statements once they have exhausted their question allowance.

No initial questions should be submitted on the final day of questions.

This session of First Minister's Questions will end with the close of business at 10pm GMT on the 1st of April 2024. No funny business, First Minister!

No initial questions may be asked after the close of business at 10pm GMT on the 31st of March 2024.

Order!

Our only item of business today is questions to the Culture, Sport, and Languages Portfolio.

The Culture, Sport, and Languages Portfolio will now take questions from the Scottish Parliament. The Cabinet Secretary, /u/theverywetbanana and Ministers within the department are entitled to respond to questions.

As the Culture, Sport, and Languages spokesperson for the largest opposition grouping (Scottish Greens), /u/realbassist is entitled to ask six initial questions and six follow-up questions (12 questions total). Every other person may ask up to four initial questions and four follow-up questions (8 questions total).

Initial questions should be made as their own top-level comment, and each question comment only contain one questions. Members are reminded that this is a questions session and should not attempt to continue to debate by making statements once they have exhausted their question allowance.

This session of Portfolio Questions will end with the close of business at 10pm GMT on the 28th of March 2024. Initial questions may not be asked after 10pm GMT on the 27th of March 2024.

Order!

Our only item of business today is a debate on motion SM192, in the name of the Scottish Green Party. The question is that the Parliament agrees to the Parliamentary Accountability Motion.

Parliamentary Accountability Motion

That the Pàrlamaid:

recognises that—

(a) parliamentary accountability is a fundamental Scottish constitutional convention;

(b) ministers are expected to answer questions posed to them in Pàrlamaid;

notes that—

(c) the Scottish Green Party asked fourteen questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing at his session of Portfolio Questions;

(d) none of these questions were answered;

(e) the Scottish Green Spokesperson for Health and Drugs Policy and the Leader of the Opposition sent a letter to the Scottish Government, requesting answers to these missed questions,

(f) the Scottish Government has, as of the 22nd of March 2024, not provided answers to these questions;

(g) the Scottish Green Party and the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party asked eight questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport at their session of Portfolio Questions;

(h) none of these questions were answered;

(i) the Scottish Government has also not provided answers in a statement after the fact to these questions;

(j) all nine questions asked of the Cabinet Secretary for the Environment and Climate Change were not answered on time by the Cabinet Secretary;

therefore, urges the Scottish Government to—

(k) provide answers to the dozens of questions missed by members of the Scottish Government in recent weeks; and

(l) commit to improving their record at answering questions in the remainder of the term.

This motion was moved and written by the Most Hon. Lady /u/model-avtron, Marchioness Hebrides, Countess Kintyre, Baroness Tiree LT OM CT PC MP MSP MS MLA, Leader of the Scottish Green Party, Leader of the Opposition, on behalf of the Scottish Green Party.

Opening Speech

Oifigear-riaghlaidh,

No government is perfect. Indeed, it is often the hurdle of questions where they fall down, at least momentarily; I know this well from my time as Tòiseach. But a good government will recognise where they've gone wrong, answer the questions, and try their best to make sure it does not happen again.

The Scottish Labour—Forward government has not done any of that. The First Minister promised answers to the Health and Wellbeing Questions the better part of a week ago: as you might expect, the questions have not been answered yet.

Transport Questions are a similar story: questions from the opposition, neither answers nor accountability from the Government.

The Scottish Government has a choice to make. They can ignore this motion in the debate, vote against it, leave the questions unanswered, and continue to do the square root of nothing. Or, they can acknowledge they need to do better, answer the missed questions, and start actually working for Scotland.

I move the motion in my name. Thank you.

Debate under this bill will end with the close of business at 10pm GMT on the 26th of March 2024.

Order!

Our only item of business today is a debate on bill SB249, in the name of Forward. The question is that the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Democracy in Schools (Repeal) (Scotland) Bill.

###Democracy in Schools (Repeal) (Scotland) Bill

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to repeal statutory provisions for democracy in schools, and for connected purposes.

Section 1: Repeals

(1) The Democracy in Schools Act 2022 is hereby repealed in full.

(2) The Democracy in Schools (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2023 is hereby repealed in full.

Section 2: School Choice

(1) Individual schools shall be able to set their own policies with regards to democracy in schools.

(2) In this section, unless specified otherwise, ‘school’ refers to any state-funded provider of secondary level education

Section 3: Short Title and Commencement

(1) This Act may be cited as the Democracy in Schools (Repeal) (Scotland) Act 2024

(2) This Act shall come into force immediately upon Royal Assent

This Bill was written by the Rt. Hon. Sir Frost_Walker2017, Duke of the Suffolk Coasts, as a member of Forward.

Opening Speech:

Presiding Officer,

I rise in support of this bill. While I don’t necessarily disagree with the intents and aims of the original bills, having amended one and authored the other, on review I believe that being overly prescriptivist with how schools exercise their functions unnecessarily limits the creativity and ingenuity of schools. It should be up to schools to decide how best to implement things like student councils, and the powers it has.

I commend this bill to this Parliament.

Debate under this bill will end with the close of business at 10pm GMT on the 25th of March 2024.

Order!

Our only item of business today is an Opposition Day Debate, in the name of the Scottish Green Party.

The motion is as follows:

That the Pàrlamaid believes the Scottish Government ought to reconsider its plan to put ferries under local authority control.

There shall be no vote after this debate.

Any member, opposition or government, may make a debate on this topic. There are no limits to the number of comments members may make.

This debate will end at 10pm GMT on the 24th of March.

Order!

Our only item of business today is questions to the Environment and Climate Change Portfolio.

The Environment and Climate Change Portfolio will now take questions from the Scottish Parliament. The Cabinet Secretary, /u/veeravuthi and Ministers within the department are entitled to respond to questions.

As the Environment and Climate Change spokesperson for the largest opposition grouping (Scottish Greens), /u/model-avtron is entitled to ask six initial questions and six follow-up questions (12 questions total). Every other person may ask up to four initial questions and four follow-up questions (8 questions total).

Initial questions should be made as their own top-level comment, and each question comment only contain one questions. Members are reminded that this is a questions session and should not attempt to continue to debate by making statements once they have exhausted their question allowance.

This session of Portfolio Questions will end with the close of business at 10pm GMT on the 21st of March 2024. Initial questions may not be asked after 10pm GMT on the 20th of March 2024.

Order, Order. Welcome to your extra special leap day business.

We will now turn to First Minister's Questions. The First Minister /u/LightningMinion, is taking questions from the Parliament.

As leader of the largest opposition party (Scottish Greens), /u/model-avtron may ask up to six initial questions and six follow-up questions (12 questions total).

All others may ask up to four initial questions and four follow-up questions (8 questions total).

Initial questions should be made as their own top-level comment, and each question comment only contain one questions. Members are reminded that this is a questions session and should not attempt to continue to debate by making statements once they have exhausted their question allowance.

No initial questions should be submitted on the final day of questions.

This session of First Minister's Questions will end with the close of business at 10pm GMT on the 18th of March 2024.

No initial questions may be asked after the close of business at 10pm GMT on the 17th of March 2024.

Order!

Our only item of business today is questions to the Transport Portfolio.

The Transport Portfolio will now take questions from the Scottish Parliament. The Cabinet Secretary, /u/localds124 and Ministers within the department are entitled to respond to questions.

As the Transport spokesperson for the largest opposition grouping (Scottish Greens), /u/crazyratlady is entitled to ask six initial questions and six follow-up questions (12 questions total). Every other person may ask up to four initial questions and four follow-up questions (8 questions total).

Initial questions should be made as their own top-level comment, and each question comment only contain one questions. Members are reminded that this is a questions session and should not attempt to continue to debate by making statements once they have exhausted their question allowance.

This session of Portfolio Questions will end with the close of business at 10pm GMT on the 14th of March 2024. Initial questions may not be asked after 10pm GMT on the 13th of March 2024.