2pm

Time for Reflection: Jim Wallace, Rt Hon Lord Wallace of Tankerness KC
Parliamentary Bureau Motions

Jamie Hepburn on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau (S6M-15071)

That the Parliament agrees to the following revisions to the programme of business for—
(a) Tuesday 29 October 2024

after

followed by Topical Questions (if selected)

insert

followed by Ministerial Statement: Legal Advice Relating to Scottish Information Commissioner Decision

delete

5.00 pm Decision Time

and insert

5.30 pm Decision Time

(b) Wednesday 30 October 2024—

delete

2.00 pm Portfolio Questions: Deputy First Minister Responsibilities, Economy and Gaelic; Finance and Local Government

and insert

2.00 pm Motion of Condolence

2.30 pm Portfolio Questions: Deputy First Minister Responsibilities, Economy and Gaelic; Finance and Local Government

delete

5.10 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

and insert

5.55 pm Decision Time

(c) Thursday 31 October 2024—

delete

2.30 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.30 pm Portfolio Questions: Net Zero and Energy, and Transport

and insert

2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.00 pm Portfolio Questions: Net Zero and Energy, and Transport

followed by Ministerial Statement: Housing (Scotland) Bill

after

followed by Finance and Public Administration Committee Debate: Scotland’s Commissioner Landscape

insert

followed by Legislative Consent Motion: Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill

Further details available for S6M-15071
Topical Questions

Liam Kerr (S6T-02150)

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it launched a court appeal against a ruling by the Scottish Information Commissioner, in light of this costing tens of thousands of pounds and it reportedly receiving legal advice that it was likely to fail.

Official Report available for S6T-02150

Daniel Johnson (S6T-02160)

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that Young Enterprise Scotland faces closure due to it withdrawing its support.

Official Report available for S6T-02160

Watch on SPTV
Ministerial Statement: Legal Advice Relating to Scottish Information Commissioner Decision
Scottish Government Debate: Fiscal Sustainability

Shona Robison (S6M-15048)

That the Parliament recognises that continued and further action is needed to address the sustainability of Scotland’s public finances; supports the creation of a five-year Fiscal Sustainable Delivery Plan, to be delivered alongside the forthcoming Medium-Term Financial Strategy; believes that tackling the social, economic and environmental challenges that Scotland faces is only possible through the delivery of sustainable funding for public services; supports the exploration of all avenues to deliver fiscal sustainability to ensure delivery of the core missions of tackling child poverty and the climate emergency, and agrees that the UK Government’s revision of fiscal rules means that it should immediately grant the Scottish Government increased capital, alongside additional borrowing and investment powers, to allow for greater investment to renew and enhance public infrastructure and deliver projects that support the transition to net zero.

Further details available for S6M-15048

Craig Hoy (S6M-15048.2)

As an amendment to motion S6M-15048 in the name of Shona Robison (Fiscal Sustainability), leave out from "recognises" to end and insert "realises that a significant change of approach is needed to deliver sustainability in Scotland’s public finances; recognises that sustained strong economic growth is essential to this; is deeply concerned that the Scottish National Party administration has failed to deliver the growth- and business-friendly policies needed to realise sustained economic growth; notes with alarm the absence of reform and the growing inefficiency of government and its agencies, and the impact that this has on fiscal sustainability; reiterates the need to prioritise productivity and government efficiency, and to keep social security costs and public sector pay under close review; stresses the importance of proper investment and infrastructure development, and calls on the Scottish Government to use its fiscal discretion to ensure that this investment is not jeopardised for any reason."

Further details available for S6M-15048.2

Daniel Johnson (S6M-15048.1)

As an amendment to motion S6M-15048 in the name of Shona Robison (Fiscal Sustainability), leave out from ", and agrees" to end and insert "; notes the Scottish Fiscal Commission’s Fiscal Sustainability Report and the specific challenges that Scotland will face in the next 50 years, including those posed by an ageing population, and required health spending forecast to increase from 35% to 50% of devolved spending, and calls on the Scottish Government to set out an approach to deal with the long-term fiscal challenges presented by demographic, climate and technological change."

Further details available for S6M-15048.1

Watch on SPTV
Committee Announcements
Business Motions
Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5:30pm

Decision Time
Members' Business — S6M-13331 Emma Roddick: Recognising the Dangers of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Emma Roddick (S6M-13331)

That the Parliament recognises what it sees as the fast evolution and potential of artificial intelligence (AI); understands that there have been many warnings from those most closely familiar with AI capabilities who say that the regulation of and limits on AI’s use is required to ensure safety; notes reports that Professor Geoffrey Hinton, known as the “godfather of AI”, has warned of the need for greater social security investment when AI is entrusted with roles currently carried out by salaried humans, and the need to consider the implications and threat to humanity of AI being given military roles and resources; further notes with concern the conclusions of researchers who report that AI is already acting independently in unexpected ways; acknowledges, for example, that a recent study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) demonstrated AI models beginning to exhibit deception, apparently becoming aware of and adapting to safety assessments of its operation by deceiving assessors and operating differently while under observation, and notes the belief that, in order to effectively regulate the operation of and reach of AI, including in the Highlands and Islands region, policymakers have a duty to seek to understand how it works, what the dangers are, and how to protect society and vulnerable individuals from harm.

Further details available for S6M-13331

Watch on SPTV

Committee business

The committee will meet at 8:45am at T4.40-CR2 The Fairfax Somerville Room and will be broadcast on www.scottishparliament.tv.

1. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will take evidence on the Local Services Franchises (Traffic Commissioner Notices and Panels) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 from—

Jim Fairlie, Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, Scottish Government
Sharon Wood, Bus Policy Manager, Transport Scotland
Kevin Gibson, Solicitor, Legal Directorate, Scottish Government
Bridget Bryden, Bus Regulatory Policy Team Leader, Scottish Government

2. Subordinate legislation: Douglas Lumsden to move—S6M-15035—That the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee recommends that the Local Services Franchises (Traffic Commissioner Notices and Panels) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (SSI 2024/229) be annulled.

3. Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider the Bill at Stage 2.

For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, Peter McGrath on 85232 or at peter.mcgrath@parliament.scot

The committee will meet at 9:00am at www.scottishparliament.tv and will be broadcast on www.scottishparliament.tv.

1. Declaration of interests: Alexander Stewart MSP and Meghan Gallagher MSP will be invited to declare any relevant interests.

2. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take items 7-12 in private.

3. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will take evidence on the following SSIs Town and Country Planning (Amendment of National Planning Framework) (Scotland) Regulations 2024;Masterplan Consent Area Scheme (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2024;Town and Country Planning (Amendment of Local Development Plan) (Scotland) Regulations 2024; andTown and Country Planning (Masterplan Consent Areas) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 from—

Ivan McKee, Minister for Public Finance, Scottish Government
Kristen Anderson, Head of Development Planning, Scottish Government
Ruairidh Anderson, Senior Policy Manager, Scottish Government
William Carlin, Senior Policy Manager, Scottish Government

4. Subordinate legislation: Minister for Public Finance to move—S6M-14644— That the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee recommends that the Town and Country Planning (Amendment of National Planning Framework) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 [draft] be approved.

5. Subordinate legislation: Minister for Public Finance to move—S6M-14815— That the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee recommends that the Masterplan Consent Area Scheme (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 [draft] be approved.

6. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following negative instruments— Town and Country Planning (Masterplan Consent Areas) (Scotland) Regulations 2024Town and Country Planning (Amendment of Local Development Plan) (Scotland) Regulations 2024Building (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024

7. Consideration of evidence: The Committee will consider the evidence heard earlier in the meeting under item 3.

8. Pre-Budget Scrutiny: The Committee will consider a draft letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government.

9. Tracker report 2023-24: The Committee will consider a draft report.

10. Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committees inquiry into Framework legislation and Henry VIII powers: The Committee will consider a draft response to the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee.

11. Scrutiny of Ombudsman, Regulators, Commissions and Commissioner accountable to the Committee: The Committee will further consider its approach to the inquiry.

12. Short-term Lets: The Committee will further consider its approach to the implementation update.

13. Housing (Scotland) Bill (in private): The Committee will further consider a draft Stage 1 report.

For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, Euan Donald on 85212 or at euan.donald@parliament.scot

The committee will meet at 9:15am at TG.60-CR3 The Fleming Room and will be broadcast on www.scottishparliament.tv.

1. Declaration of interests: Brian Whittle will be invited to declare any relevant interests.

2. Decisions on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take items 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 in private.

3. Independent Review of Gender Identity Services for Children and Young People: The Committee will take evidence from—

Professor Sir Gregor Smith, Chief Medical Officer, Scottish Government
Professor Graham Ellis, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Scottish Government
Professor Alison Strath, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, Scottish Government

4. Independent Review of Gender Identity Services for Children and Young People (in private): The Committee will consider the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 3.

5. National Performance Framework: Proposed National Outcomes: The Committee will consider a draft report.

6. Right to Addiction Recovery (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider its approach to the scrutiny of the Bill at Stage 1.

7. Regulatory alignment with EU law: The Committee will consider the third report on the EU law tracker.

8. Framework legislation and Henry VIII powers: The Committee will consider a draft response to the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee's call for views.

9. Work programme: The Committee will consider its future work programme.

For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, Alex Bruce on 85229 or at Alex.Bruce@Parliament.scot

The committee will meet at 9:30am at T1.40-CR5 The Smith Room and will be broadcast on www.scottishparliament.tv.

1. Declaration of interests: Roz McCall will be invited to declare any relevant interests.

2. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take items 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 in private.

3. Instruments subject to affirmative procedure: The Committee will consider the following—Budget (Scotland) Act 2024 Amendment Regulations 2024 (SSI 2024/Draft)Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2024 (SI 2024/Draft)

4. Instruments subject to negative procedure: The Committee will consider the following—Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (West Dunbartonshire Council) Designation Order 2024 (SSI 2024/270)Parking Attendants (Wearing of Uniforms) (West Dunbartonshire Council) Regulations 2024 (SSI 2024/271)Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003 (Rural Housing Bodies) Amendment Order 2024 (SSI 2024/273)Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965 (Prohibition on Disposal of a Body without Authorisation) Amendment Regulations 2024 (SSI 2024/281)Scotland Act 1998 (Agency Arrangements) (Specification) Order 2024 (SI 2024/989)

5. Instruments not subject to any parliamentary procedure: The Committee will consider the following—Registration of Births, Still-births, Deaths and Marriages (Prescription of Forms) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024 (SSI 2024/275)

6. Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider the delegated powers provisions in this Bill at Stage 1.

7. Right to Addiction Recovery (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider the response from the Member-in-charge to points raised on the delegated powers provisions in this Bill at Stage 1.

8. Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: The Committee will consider the Scottish Government's written and oral response to points raised on the delegated powers provisions in this Bill at Stage 1.

9. Renters' Rights Bill (UK Parliament legislation): The Committee will consider the powers to make subordinate legislation within devolved competence conferred on Scottish Ministers and UK Ministers in the Bill.

10. Product Regulation and Metrology Bill (UK Parliament legislation): The Committee will consider the powers to make subordinate legislation within devolved competence conferred on UK Ministers in the Bill.

11. Work programme: The Committee will consider its options for a fact finding visit in relation to the inquiry into framework legislation and Henry VIII powers.

For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, Greg Black at Greg.Black@parliament.scot

The committee will meet at 9:30am at TG.40-CR1 The Burns Room and will be broadcast on www.scottishparliament.tv.

1. Declaration of interests: Craig Hoy will be invited to declare any relevant interests.

2. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will take evidence on the Scotland Act 1998 (Specification of Devolved Tax) (Building Safety) Order 2024 [draft] from—

Shona Robison, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government, Scottish Government
Hugh Angus, Lawyer, Scottish Government
Hannah Taylor, Building Safety Levy Team Leader, Scottish Government
Stephen Lea-Ross, Director for Cladding, Scottish Government

3. Subordinate legislation: Shona Robison (Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government) to move—S6M-14473—That the Finance and Public Administration Committee recommends that the Scotland Act 1998 (Specification of Devolved Tax) (Building Safety) Order 2024 [draft] be approved.

4. Work programme (in private): The Committee will consider its work programme.

For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, Joanne McNaughton, at FPA.committee@parliament.scot.

The committee will meet at 10:00am at T1.60-CR4 The Clerk Maxwell Room and will be broadcast on www.scottishparliament.tv.

1. Declaration of interests: Pam Gosal and Tess White will be invited to declare any relevant interests.

2. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following negative instrument— Upper Tribunal for Scotland (Bus Registration Appeals Rules of Procedure) Regulations 2024 (SSI 2024/249)

3. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will take evidence on—The Upper Tribunal for Scotland Bus Registration Appeals (Composition) Regulations 2024 [draft]; andThe Upper Tribunal for Scotland (Transfer of Functions of the Transport Tribunal) Regulations 2024 [draft]from—

Siobhian Brown, Minister for Victims and Community Safety, Scottish Government
Alasdair Thomson, Senior Policy Officer - Tribunals, Scottish Government
Bridget Bryden, Bus Regulatory Policy Team Leader, Scottish Government
Kevin Gibson, Solicitor, Legal Directorate, Scottish Government

4. Subordinate legislation: Siobhian Brown (Minister for Victims and Community Safety) to move—S6M-14609—That the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee recommends that the Upper Tribunal for Scotland Bus Registration Appeals (Composition) Regulations 2024 [draft] be approved; andS6M-14610—That the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee recommends that the Upper Tribunal for Scotland (Transfer of Functions of the Transport Tribunal) Regulations 2024 [draft] be approved.

5. Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2025-26: The Committee will take evidence from—

Catherine Murphy, Executive Director, Engender
Lewis Ryder-Jones, Advocacy Adviser, Oxfam Scotland
Catherine Robertson, Policy Officer, Zero Tolerance

and then from—

Dr Alison Hosie, Research Officer, Scottish Human Rights Commission
Sara Cowan, Coordinator, Scottish Women's Budget Group

6. Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2025-26 (in private): The Committee will consider the evidence it heard under agenda item 5.

For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, Katrina Venters on 86244 or at Katrina.Venters@Parliament.scot

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What's On

Tuesday 29 October 2024

Business Bulletin

Chamber business

Time for Reflection: Jim Wallace, Rt Hon Lord Wallace of Tankerness KC

Parliamentary Bureau Motions

Topical Questions

Ministerial Statement: Legal Advice Relating to Scottish Information Commissioner Decision

Scottish Government Debate: Fiscal Sustainability

Committee Announcements

Business Motions

Parliamentary Bureau Motions

Decision Time

Members' Business — S6M-13331 Emma Roddick: Recognising the Dangers of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Committee business

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee

Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee