This new page aims to give you a wee flavour of what we are especially interested in at the Scottish Parliament and intro to the huge amount of information. We are very proud that the weekly report is compiled by a Words & Actions volunteer from an important Scottish institution, The Children’s Parliament. This page is updated by an MCP! Read about Arden on the Who We Are page.
The report includes some links to Parliamentary business happening at committees and debates, examples of what is being discussed by MSPs and the business coming up that may be of interest. Links to Cross-Party Groups often include civil society members and their contact details.
Do you have an issue you want sorting? Passionate about a cause?
How to contact an MSP
Everyone in Scotland has a constituency MSP and 7 regional MSPs to represent them. You can find yours and contact them via the website ‘writetothem’.
- enter your postcode
- choose the MSP you want to contact ( details for Councillors and MP’s are also listed)
- write your message
- fill in the required information – this shows that you are a constituent, needed for a response – and send
How to attend parliamentary business
It is free to visit all Scottish parliamentary business.
First Minister’s Questions
- FMQ’s takes place every Thursday from 12-12.45
- tickets can be booked by phone on Thursdays between 9-10am and they can be booked a week in advance
- phone 0131 348 5200 to book
Chamber business (parliamentary debates)
- this usually occurs on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday
- tickets don’t usually need to be booked in advance as they can be obtained at the front desk on the day of any item of business
- it is possible to book tickets as above if the business may attract a lot of attention
Committee meetings
- it is possible to attend most committee meetings
- find out when a committee is meeting on the parliamentary business website
- you can also ask your MSP to reserve tickets
This Week At Holyrood
Friday 22nd of September Parliamentary monitoring
Cross parties:
Monday September 25, 2023- Cancer
Tuesday September 26, 2023- Shared Parenting
Tuesday September 26, 2023- Germany
Tuesday September 26, 2023- Music
Tuesday September 26, 2023- Independent Convenience Stores
Tuesday September 26, 2023- Recreational Boating and Marine Tourism
Tuesday September 26, 2023- Heart and Circulatory Diseases
Tuesday September 26, 2023- Rural Policy
Wednesday September 27, 2023- Epilepsy
Wednesday September 27, 2023- MS
Wednesday September 27, 2023- Taiwan
Wednesday September 27, 2023- Mental Health
Wednesday September 27, 2023- Creative Economy
Thursday September 28, 2023- Space
Thursday September 28, 2023- Scotch Whisky
Friday September 29, 2023- Animal Welfare
Committee Reports:
22 September 2023- Report on the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (Green Freeport’s Relief) (Scotland) Order 2023
21 September 2023- Subordinate Legislation Considered by the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee
15 September 2023- Stage 1 Report on the Trusts and Succession (Scotland) Bill
14 September 2023- Culture in Communities: The challenges and the opportunities in delivering a place based approach
Official Reports:
21 September 2023- Meeting of the Parliament
20 September 2023- Meeting of the Parliament
19 September 2023- Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee
19 September 2023- Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
19 September 2023- Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
19 September 2023- Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
19 September 2023- Meeting of the Parliament
14 September 2023- Public Audit Committee
14 September 2023- Social Justice and Social Security Committee
14 September 2023- Meeting of the Parliament
Business Bulletin:
Tuesday 26th September 2023-
Time for Reflection: Friends of Divine Mercy Scotland
Scottish Government Debate: Climate Emergency – Ambition and Action
Committee Announcement
Members’ Business: Devolution of Employment Law
Wednesday 27th September 2023-
Stage 3 Proceedings: Patient Safety Commissioner for Scotland Bill
Members’ Business: Rural Visa Pilot Scheme
Thursday 28th September 2023-
General Questions
First Ministers Questions
Members’ Business: See Beyond – See the Lives – Scotland
Ministerial Statement: Vision for Scotland’s Future Energy System
Stage 1 Debate: Trusts and Succession (Scotland) Bill
NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT & WMD FREE MIDDLE EAST
Sharon Dolev (Israel) and Emad Kiyaei (Iran) from The Middle East Treaty Organization (METO) attended a special meeting on 26 Sep
METO was founded in 2017 to seek ways to rid the Middle East of all weapons of mass destruction as a gateway to regional security and peace. A round table discussion behind closed doors took place in Scotland at the start of METO’s efforts to create a consensus-based, legally binding treaty to establish a WMD Free Zone. Draft Treaties evolved with the help of former diplomats, experts, and civil society partners, and serve as a tool to show how to ‘achieve the possible’ within the UN treaty regime.
METO is a partner organisation in the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.
Janet Fenton
Sec, Scottish Parliament Nuclear Disarmament CPG
Friday 15th of September 2023 Parliamentary monitoring
Please note that in addition to the ND CPG on the 26th at 1.00pm
Other Cross party groups meetings include:
Tuesday September 19 2023- Families Supporting Children’s Learning
Tuesday September 19 2023- International Development
Tuesday September 19 2023- Women’s Health
Wednesday September 20 2023- Visual Impairment
Wednesday September 20 2023- Scottish Gypsy/Traveller Community
Wednesday September 20 2023- Commercial Sexual Exploitation
Wednesday September 20 2023- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Wednesday September 20 2023- Well-being Economy
Wednesday September 20 2023- Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Conditions
Wednesday September 20 2023- Malawi
Tuesday September 26 2023- Shared Parenting
Tuesday September 26 2023- Germany
Tuesday September 26 2023- Music
Tuesday September 26 2023- Independent Convenience Stores
Tuesday September 26 2023- Heart and Circulatory Diseases
Wednesday September 27 2023- Epilepsy
Wednesday September 27 2023- MS
Wednesday September 27 2023- Taiwan
Wednesday September 27 2023- Mental Health
Thursday September 28 2023- Scotch Whisky
Committee Reports:
15 September 2023- Stage 1 Report on the Trusts and Succession (Scotland) Bill
14 September 2023- Culture in Communities: The challenges and the opportunities in delivering a place-based approach
13 September 2023- Subordinate Legislation under the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act considered by the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
12 September 2023- Scotlands electricity infrastructure: inhibitor or enabler of our energy ambitions
12 September 2023- Subordinate legislation considered by the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee
12 September 2023- Embedding Public Participation in the Work of the Parliament: Summary version
12 September 2023- Embedding Participation in the Work of the Parliament
Official Reports:
13 September 2023- Meeting of the Parliament
12 September 2023- Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee
12 September 2023- Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
12 September 2023- Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Business Bulletin:
https://bb.parliament.scot/#20230928
Tuesday 19 September 2023-
Debate: Drug Law Reform
Members’ Business: Consultation on Proposed Council Tax Rises
Wednesday 20 September 2023-
Portfolio Questions: Constitution, External Affairs and Culture Justice and Home Affairs
Debate: Protecting Scotland’s Nature, and Improving Scotland’s Health
Members’ Business: Maternity Services in Scotland.
Thursday 21 September 2023-
First Ministers Questions
Members’ Business: World Rivers Day 2023
Portfolio Questions: Education and Skills
Debate: Tackling Online Child Abuse, Grooming and Exploitation
Wednesday 27 September 2023-
Portfolio Questions: Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy; Finance and Parliamentary Business
Stage 3 Proceedings: Patient Safety Commissioner for Scotland Bill
Thursday 28 September 2023-
First Ministers Questions
Portfolio Questions: Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition
Stage 1 Debate: Trusts and Succession (Scotland) Bill
2023 Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election
The by-election is taking place because of the recall of the Margaret Ferrier. She was suspended for 30 days from the House of Commons in 2023 because she breached COVID-19 regulations in 2020.
During September 2020 Margaret Ferrier violated the COVID-19 rules. She took a COVID test because she had symptoms and then still travelled to public places. She also went from Scotland to London by train and spoke at a debate in Parliament that evening. She received a positive COVID test result the same evening and took a train back to Scotland the next morning.
Afterwards she was suspended from SNP. She then confessed to both the police and the Parliamentary standards authorities, but she wasn’t arrested until the 4th of January 2021 for ”culpable and reckless conduct” by Police Scotland. She then was sentenced to 270 hours of community service after pleading guilty.
In March 2023 the Commons Select Committee on Standards recommended she should be suspended from the Parliament for 30 days. She tried to appeal the committee’s recommendation but lost because the panel found she “acted with blatant and deliberate dishonest intent. She acted with a high degree of recklessness to the public and to colleagues and staff at the House of Commons. She acted selfishly, putting her own interests above the public interest” on 22 of May 2023. The House of Commons successfully voted to have her suspend for 30 days.
However, because of the Recall of MPs Act 2015, her suspension caused a recall petition in Rutherglen and Hamilton West.
The Recall of an MPs Act 2015 means that an automatically initiated recall petition is released following any several events happening to an MP. This includes suspension from the House of Commons for longer that 14 calendar days or 10 sitting days.
A recall petition was then released, and it was then signed by almost 12,000 of her constituents.
Humza Yousaf is committed to holding the by-election as fast as possible, the earliest possible date for this would be Thursday 5 of October. 10 candidates are currently standing:
- Gloria Adebo (Scottish Liberal Democrats)
- Bill Bonnar (Scottish Socialist Party)
- Cameron Eadie (Scottish Greens)
- Ewan Hoyle (Volt UK)
- Thomas Kerr (Scottish Conservatives)
- Katy Loudon (SNP)
- Chris Sermanni (Scottish Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition)
- Michael Shanks (Scottish Labour)
- David Stark (Reform UK)
- Colette Walker (Independence for Scotland Party)
With so much attention on the seat it is very likely that other candidates will also stand for the by-election. So remember to keep checking and vote!
Meantime, get ready for The Festival for Survival held by Scottish CND which is taking place on the 4th of November 2023 at Adelaide’s & The Renfield Centre in Glasgow.
The gathering is “tackling the twin threats of nuclear weapons & the climate emergency”. Nuclear weapons and environmental destruction are both linked (a “two headed monster” if you will) and the Scottish CND are calling all climate and peace movements to come forward and act.
So, stop looking hopelessly at the headlines and come take part. Scotland has the power to act, and the Scottish CND is going to show you how. Scan the barcode to book your space and make a difference!
Parliamentary monitoring Friday 26th May 2023
Cross-party groups
Tuesday May 30 2023- Migration
Tuesday May 30 2023- Life Sciences
Tuesday May 30 2023- Pakistan
Tuesday May 30 2023- Sustainable Transport
Tuesday May 30 2023- Long COVID
Wednesday May 31 2023- Freedom of Religion or Belief
Wednesday May 31 2023- St Andrew’s Day
Friday May 26 2023- Lung Health
Thursday June 1 2023- Palliative Care
Tuesday June 6 2023- Rural Policy
Tuesday June 6 2023- Carers
Tuesday June 6 2023- Accident Prevention and Safety Awareness
Wednesday 7 June 2023- Wellbeing Economy
Wednesday June 7 2023- Cuba
Wednesday June 7 2023- Improving Scotlands Health
Wednesday June 7 2023- Towns and Town Centres
Thursday June 8 2023- Older People, Age and Ageing
Committees and their reports
Thursday May 25 2023- Annual Report of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee 2022-2023
Thursday May 25 2023- Annual Report of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee 2022-2023
Wednesday May 24 2023- Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee Annual Report 2022-2023
Friday May 19 2023- Annual Report of the Economy and the Fair Work Committee 2022-2023
Wednesday May 17 2023- Scrutinising Social justice: barriers and opportunities
Friday May 12 2023- Report on the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill
Business Bulletin
Tuesday May 30 2023- Diet and Healthy Weight, Hospital at Home Programme in Scotland, and Protecting Devolution and the Scottish Parliament.
Wednesday May 31 2023- Let’s Talk Education- The National Discussion
Thursday June 1 2023- Increasing the Participation of Women and Girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths, and Trustworthy, Ethical and Inclusive Artificial Intelligence – Seizing Opportunities for Scotland’s People and Businesses
Wednesday June 7 2023- Constitutional, External Affairs and Culture; Justice and Home Affairs, and Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Business
Thursday June 8 2023- Education and Skills and New Vessels for the Clyde and the Hebrides – Arrangements to Deliver Vessels 801 and 802
Official reports
Ending violence in schools-
Stephen Kerr: “Fourthly, that action plan must include a new standard reporting system for cases of violence and disruption in all 32 local authorities; a plan to address the increasing issues with attendance; new guidance for teachers, staff and school leaders; and reform of the exclusions procedure to ensure that pupils who are excluded receive the support that they need.”
Parliament business
Tuesday 9 May 2023
Europe Day 2023 – The Scottish Government’s Commitment to Remain Aligned with EU Laws
Transforming Justice in Scotland – Person-centred and Trauma-informed Approaches for Victims and Witnesses
Thursday 11 May 2023
Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Bill
Supporting Mental Health in Rural Communities
Fist minister questions from 12:00pm-12:45pm
Committee business
Tuesday 9 May 2023
Health, Social Care and Sport committee
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Cross Party Groups
Tuesday May 9 2023 – Women Families and justice
Wednesday May 10 2023– Sustainable Transportation
Tuesday May 16 2023 – Challenging Racialn, Religious Prejudice
Wednesday May 17 2023–Housing Deafness Food
Tuesday May 23 2023 – International development
Wednesday May 24 2023 – Women in Enterprise
Tuesday May 30 2023 – Migration
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