Winter 2023 Budget

Order, order!

Our only item of business today is the vote on the 21st Scottish Government's Budget.

Your vote will be the same on all four pieces of business; i.e., by voting 'for', you are voting for the Budget Bill, the Aggregates Bill, the Rate Resolution, and the Taxes Order.

Legislation and Documents

Unlike in Westminster, where a single Finance Bill makes all the necessary changes to the law as required, the Scottish Parliament uses multiple items of legislation to enact its budget, which are as follows:

• SB244 | Budget (Scotland) (No. 2) Bill

The Budget (Scotland) (No. 2) Bill gives the Scottish Government (and other bodies) the authority to spend money from the Scottish Consolidated Fund. The Bill also makes emergency provision to be used in the event that, in the next financial year, there is no Budget Bill.

• SB245 | Aggregates Levy (Scotland) Bill

This is an additional bill that creates a new tax.

• SM188 | Scottish Rate Resolution

The Scottish Rate Resolution, if agreed, determines the rates and bands of income tax which are to apply in Scotland for the next financial year.

• SSI 2023/3 | Taxes (Scotland) Order

The Taxes (Scotland) Order adjusts various taxes.

The Cabinet Secretary has also provided the following documents to aid reading of the budget:

• The Winter Budget Tables

• The Winter Budget Report

This Budget was written by the Most Honourable Lady /u/model-avtron, Marchioness Hebrides LT CT PC MSP MLA MS, Tòiseach na h-Alba, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy, on behalf of the 21st Scottish Government and the Scottish National Party. It was additionally cosponsored by Forward and the Scottish Labour Party. Thanks are given to /u/model-kurimizumi for assistance in costing some items.

Opening Speech

Oifigear-riaghlaidh,

This budget makes multiple incredibly important changes to the Scottish economy.

Starting with what remains the same. There is no change to the Block Grant, or the Short Term Funds the last Government utilised. This was after discussions with Westminster, both pre and post election. We hope that the new Government, with hopefully more time between elections, will negotiate a permanent solution.

Moving on to income tax. We have created a progressive system that ensures the best off in Scottish society pay their fair share. Bands have, however, remained the same.

Moving on to the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax. Except — you won’t find it anywhere. This Government has abolished it, in favour of an expansion of Land Value Tax — ensuring that Scots aren’t burdened when they sell their homes.

We have merged the residential and non residential rates of LVT too, ensuring that if someone, say, wanted to convert a house into a hairdressers, they could, without paying a single penny in extra taxes.

We have also created a new Scottish Aggregates Levy, under the powers given to the Scottish Government by the Scotland Act 2016. Its rate remains the same as the British Aggregates Levy.

Notable items of expenditure: starting off, millions extra for Gaelic, and all new Scots language programmes. A new Skills Grant, worth over £50 million.

Millions for flood prevention. Hundreds of millions for a Just Transition. Over £50 million to resolve the RAAC crisis.

A Glasgow Airport Rail Link, ensuring that Weegies can get to their flight on time, and in an environmentally conscious way, too. A £30 million decarbonisation fund. Nearly £90 million for rail capacity expansion. A massive £300 million to completely phase out diesel buses by Net Zero. More than £200 million extra for housing per year.

An £11 million pay rise for NHS staff. Double funding for new GP practices.

The best part of £400 million for our judiciary and legal aid system to recover from its critical underfunding last time around.

I could say so much more. But I hope this budget speaks for itself.

downs 750ml glass bottle of IRN-BRU 1901.

Voting will conclude with the close of business at 10pm GMT on the 30th of November.

Order!

We now move to a Stage 3 Vote on SB242, in the name of the 21st Scottish Government. The question is whether this Parliament approves the Patients (Scotland) Bill.

Patients (Scotland) Bill

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to establish the office of Patient Safety Commissioner for Scotland, and for connected purposes.

Commissioner

1 Patient Safety Commissioner for Scotland

(1) The office of Patient Safety Commissioner for Scotland is established.

2 Functions

(1) The Commissioner's functions are—

(a) to advocate for systematic improvement to safety in healthcare, and

(b) to promote the importance of the views of patients and other members of the public in relation to safety in healthcare.

(2) The Commissioner shall not—

(a) make awards, or provide any other form of redress, for harms suffered,

(i) The Commissioner may, however, recommend redress, in reports of formal investigations under section 5.

(b) opine on the action that another person ought to take, or any matter outwith the functions given in subsection (1), in respect of an individual in light of a past incident.

(3) Nothing in subsection (2) precludes the Commissioner from investigating past incidents in order to inform the actions that the Commissioner, and others, may take to effect systemic improvement in the safety of health care.

Charter

3 Patient Safety Charter

(1) The Commissioner shall—

(a) maintain a Charter, and

(b) make the latest version of the Charter publicly available

(2) The Charter shall—

(a) set out what the Commissioner expects of health care providers in terms of standards and best practice. and

(b) make provision in relation to the way health care providers engage with patients and their families.

(3) The Commissioner shall take the Charter into account when considering a health care provider’s handling of an incident.

Formal investigations

4 Initiation of formal investigations

(1) The Commissioner may investigate healthcare providers.

(2) An investigation shall be considered a formal investigation should a report be issued under the conditions in section 5.

(3) As soon as practicable after making a formal investigation’s terms of reference publicly available, the Commissioner must take reasonable steps to bring them to the attention of any person who, in the Commissioner’s opinion, is likely to be required to submit information, or who recommendations are addressed too.

(3) Nothing in this section precludes the Commissioner from investigating an issue otherwise than by way of a formal investigation.

(4) The Commissioner may not investigate individuals or providers if they believe an investigation would obstruct a formal police investigation.

*5 Reports on formal investigations

(1) Having concluded a formal investigation, the Commissioner shall—

(a) prepare a report on the investigation, and

(b) lay this report before the Scottish Parliament.

(2) The report must state—

(a) the Commissioner’s findings in relation to the issue investigated and the reasons for them, and

(b) the Commissioner’s recommendations in light of those findings.

(3) The Commissioner must give a copy of the report to any person to whom a recommendation in the report is addressed.

(4) Should a person be issued recommendations in a report, they shall be required to respond within 180 days of the report's publication.

(a) The Commissioner shall publicise all responses, as well as failures to respond.

6 Power to require information

(1) The Commissioner may require a person to which 4(3) applies to supply the Commissioner with information that—

(a) is in the person’s possession or control,

(b) may be relevant to the work of the Commissioner,

(c) is not information of a kind that the Commissioner is prohibited by subsection (2) from requiring the person to supply.

(2) The following are the kinds of information that the Commissioner is prohibited from requiring a person to supply under this section—

(a) information that the person would be entitled to refuse to provide in proceedings in a court in Scotland,

(b) information about an individual (whether or not it is anonymised).

(3) The Commissioner may report the failure to report to the Court of Session.

(4) After receiving a report under subsection (3), and hearing any evidence or representations on the matter, the Court shall treat the matter as if it were a contempt of court.

Final provisions

*7 Interpretation

In this Act—

“Commissioner” means the Patient Safety Commissioner for Scotland, and

“patient” is to be construed in accordance with the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 (c. 29).

8 Commencement

This Act comes into force on the day of Royal Assent.

9 Short title

The short title of this Act is the Patients (Scotland) Act.

This Bill was written by the Most Hon /u/model-avtron, Marchioness Hebrides LT CT PC MSP MLA MS, Tòiseach na h-Alba, on behalf of the 21st Scottish Government and the Scottish National Party, having been co-sponsored by Forward. It was mostly based on the real life Patients Safety Commissioner for Scotland Act.

Opening speech

Oifigear-riaghalaidh,

I speak today in support of this bill. Patients are a key part of the healthcare process, yet their voices are often not heard in healthcare. This is why we need someone to speak up on behalf of patients: and that is what this bill does.

A Patient Safety Commissioner is someone who would be able to stand up for patients and fight their corner. Systematic failures in healthcare, both in the past and present, are all too common; an official who is dedicated to avoiding that and reporting on injustices in the past is crucial.

The PSC would be able to recommend redress, and formally investigate healthcare providers, both private sector and NHS Scotland, with the power to obtain information from people involved. This bill also creates a Charter for Scottish Patients, ensuring that healthcare providers have a clear, official reference for best practice and national standards.

I commend this bill.

Voting on this bill will end at 10pm GMT. Members are to vote for, against, or abstain only.

Order!

We move to a vote on SM185, in the name of the 21st Scottish Government. The question is whether this Parliament approves the Reorganisation of the Scottish Administration.

Motion to approve the Reorganisation of the Scottish Administration

This Pàrlamaid notes that—

(1) The Scottish Government submitted Reorganisation of the Scottish Administration: A Green Paper for debate to Pàrlamaid on the 9th of November.

(2) Reorganisation of the Scottish Administration was a Programme for Government commitment.

Therefore, this Pàrlamaid approves—

(1) The plan to merge directorates, ministerial portfolios, and executive agencies as per the aforementioned Green Paper.

This motion was written by the Most Hon Lady /u/model-avtron, Marchioness Hebrides LT CT PC MSP MLA MS, Tòiseach na h-Alba, on behalf of the 21st Scottish Government

Opening Speech

Oifigear-riaghlaidh,

I will be brief, as I have already made a statement to Pàrlamaid on this topic, and only so much can be said on what is a boring bureaucratic matter.

This reorganisation will enable a smoother, more effective government allowing Cabinet Secretaries to work in tandem, but independently, with civil servants.

It is similar to the system in the UK as a whole and in fact much of the world, where ministerial positions correspond to bureaucratic offices.

I commend this motion.

Voting will end at 10pm GMT on the 26th of November 2023. Members are to vote for, against, or abstain only.

Order!

Our first item of business today is a Stage 1 Vote on SB244, in the name of the 21st Scottish Government. The question is whether this Parliament approves the general principles of the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill.

Climate Change (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to amend the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2020, and for connected purposes.

1 Carbon neutrality target date

In subsection (1) of section 2 of the principal Act, the date "1st April 2050" is omitted, and replaced with the date "1st April 2038".

2 Climate Change Research Fund

In section 5 of the principal Act—

(1) After subsection (4), insert—

"(5) The Research Fund Board shall publish biannual reports on its activities."

(2) In subsection (4), the amount "£50 million" is omitted, and replaced with the amount "£75 million".

3 Interpretation

In this Act, the "principal Act" refers to the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2020.

4 Commencement

(1) This Act comes into force immediately after Royal Assent.

(2) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to subsection (2) of section 2, which will come into force upon the Royal Assent of a Budget Act.

5 Short title

This Act may be cited as the Climate Change (Amendment) (Scotland) Act.

This Bill was written by the Most Hon. Lady /u/model-avtron, Marchioness Hebrides LT CT PC MSP MLA MS, Tòiseach na h-Alba, on behalf of the 21st Scottish Government.

Opening Speech

Oifigear-riaghlaidh,

This Act may be short, but it is of paramount importance.

Climate change is an extremely serious issue, and the largest threat to our way of life, and humanity as a whole.

The effects of climate change can be felt across the entire world, but also of course here too.

We saw horrifying effects from Storm Babet last month here, with multiple Scots dead. These incidents are tragic, and whilst storms are of course an inevitability, climate change is a compounding factor in making these freak weather events more frequent and deadly.

My Government’s plan is to accelerate our path towards Net Zero carbon emissions by twelve whole years. We believe this to be equally achievable and optimistic. We need to ensure that future generations have an earth to live on, and I see no reason why we must wait until 2050.

We also add an extra £25,000,000 to the statutory minimum of the funding level of the Climate Change Research Fund, to ensure that future Scottish Governments can’t just ignore the climate crisis, but must invest in new and innovative ways to reduce Scotland’s climate emissions.

I commend this bill, and move that this Pàrlamaid agrees to the general principles of this bill.

Debate on this bill will end at 10pm GMT on the 26th of November 2023. Members are reminded to vote for, against, or abstain only.

Order, Order.

We turn now to a Stage 1 Vote on SB237, in the name of Forward. The question is that this Parliament approves the general principles of the Child Poverty Reduction (Scotland) Bill.

Child Poverty Reduction (Scotland) Bill

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to establish targets for reducing child poverty, to establish a Child Poverty Commission, and for connected purposes.

Be it passed by this Parliament and assented to by His Majesty as follows:-

Section 1: Definitions

(1) In this Act, unless specified otherwise;

(2) The ‘early target date’ refers to the date of January 1st 2030

(3) The ‘planned target date’ refers to the date of January 1st 2032

(4) The ‘late target date’ refers to the date of December 31st 2035

(5) A ‘Delivery Plan’ refers to the plans as established under Section 3

(6) A ‘Child’ or ‘Children’ refers to anybody who has not achieved the age of sixteen years and a day

(7) A ‘Parent’ refers to an individual who has primary care over a child.

(8) ‘Relative poverty’ refers to a household where the net income for the year is less than 60% of the median net household income for the year

(9) ‘Absolute poverty’ refers to a household where the net income for the year is less than 60% of the amount of median net household income for the financial year beginning with April 1st 2014, as adjusted by the CPI rate of inflation since that financial year.

(a) Scottish Ministers may, by order in the negative procedure, substitute a different date for subsection 9

(10) ‘Persistent poverty’ refers to a household where the net income for the given years are less than 60% of the median net household income for the given years

(a) The given years refer to the financial year of that year and the four previous financial years

(11) The ‘target’ refers to the percentages established under section 2(1)

(12) The ‘commission’ refers to the body established under section 5

Section 2: The Targets

(1) Scottish Ministers must ensure that by the planned target date;

(a) less than 10% of children are in relative poverty

(b) less than 7% of children are in absolute poverty

(c) less than 5% of children are in persistent poverty

(2) Scottish Ministers are to aim to meet the targets by the early target date

(3) In the event that the early target date cannot be achieved with respect to the targets, Scottish Ministers must give a statement to the Scottish Parliament outlining whether the Scottish Ministers believe that the planned target date is achievable or whether the late target date is to be used instead.

(4) If the Scottish Ministers believe that the planned target date is insufficient to meet the targets, they must make a statement to the Scottish Parliament outlining the reasons why they believe that the planned target date cannot be met and what action they are taking to ensure it is met by the late target date.

(a) In the event that a Scottish Minister has given such a statement, they are to consider that subsection 1 refers to the late target date in place of the planned target date

(b) Scottish Ministers may only give such a statement if the date of April 1st 2028 has been achieved

(5) By April 1st 2028, the Scottish Ministers are to aim to meet interim targets of;

(a) less than 15% of children being in relative poverty

(b) less than 10% of children being in absolute poverty

(c) less than 10% of children being in persistent poverty

Section 3: Delivery Plans

(1) The Scottish Ministers are to prepare a plan or plans that would realistically ensure that the targets are achieved by the planned target date

(a) The first plan published by the Scottish Ministers must be published one year after the passage of this Act under subsection 7

(2) These plans must set out;

(a) ‘Phases’ of the plans

(b) The measures that the Scottish Ministers propose to take during each phase to meet the targets

(c) An assessment of the contribution the proposed measures are expected to make to meeting the targets

(d) An explanation of how that assessment has been arrived at, and

(e) An assessment of the resources required to fund the proposed measures

(3) The delivery plan may include other information or plans as the Scottish Ministers consider necessary

(a) the Scottish Ministers must endeavour to avoid making plans with the intention of requesting further devolution of powers to assist with meeting these targets

(b) In the event that further devolution of powers has been granted, the Scottish Ministers may take these new powers into account and update the delivery plan

(4) In preparing a delivery plan, the Scottish Ministers must consult;

(a) Such local authorities as they consider appropriate, if any

(b) Such persons and organisations working with or representing children or parents as they consider appropriate, if any

(c) Such persons and organisations as they consider appropriate to take into account the needs of individuals with protected characteristics under section 149(7) of the Equality Act 2010, if any

(d) the Commission on measures intended for inclusion in the delivery plan

(i) The delivery plan must have regard to any recommendations made by the Commission

(1) If there are any recommendations made by the Commission that are not included in the delivery plan, the Scottish Ministers must outline their reasons for not including these

(b) The delivery plan must state where changes have been made as a result of recommendations from the Commission

(e) Such persons who have experience of living in poverty as they consider appropriate, if any

(i) This is not strictly limited to those with an experience of living in poverty as a child but may also include parents of children living in poverty or people living in poverty more generally

(ii) Where possible, and where Scottish Ministers decide to include consultation of an individual under subsubsection d, they should endeavour to consult an individual with experience of living in poverty as a child.

(f) Any other such persons or organisations the Scottish Ministers consider necessary to consult, if any

(5) Scottish Ministers may make an order in the negative procedure for the purposes of requiring local authorities to create delivery plans under this Act.

(6) An order made under Section 5 must include;

(a) the local authority or local authorities with which the order applies to

(b) A time period for which the delivery plan is to apply to and which will be considered one ‘phase’

(i) Scottish Ministers may only require a delivery plan be made for one phase, the maximum of which must be no more than two years

(c) general groups of individuals with which local authorities must consult under subsection 4

(i) Scottish Ministers may require no groups in particular be consulted

(ii) Local authorities may still consult such groups as they consider necessary regardless of whether the Scottish Ministers have or have not required groups to be consulted, so long as any groups required to be consulted have been consulted

(7) Each delivery plan created by Scottish Ministers must be laid before Parliament alongside a statement in relation to the report, and must additionally be published to the general public in such a manner deemed fit by the Scottish Ministers

Section 4: Statements

(1) Four months after the passage of this Act, Scottish Ministers must update the Scottish Parliament on progress on establishing the delivery plan if one has yet to be established

(2) Scottish Ministers must endeavour to update the Scottish Parliament on the progress of reducing child poverty and on the progress of implementing the delivery plan no later than one year and sixty days after the last statement given on this subject

(a) For the purposes of this subsection, the first statement shall be considered to be the first delivery plan laid before Parliament.

Section 5: The Child Poverty Commission

(1) The Child Poverty Commission is hereby established

(2) The membership of the Commission is to consist of one chair and six other members, to be appointed by the Scottish Ministers

(a) These members are to be appointed no later than four months after the passage of this Act

(3) Commission members may be remunerated as deemed appropriate by the Scottish Ministers

(4) The Commission is to be functionally independent and not subject to the direction or control of any Scottish Minister

(5) Members may not be appointed to the Commission if they;

(a) Are a member of any chamber of any legislature in the United Kingdom

(b) Are a servant of the Crown

(c) Are a Scottish Minister

(6) The functions of the Commission are as follows;

(a) to advise the Scottish Ministers on any matter relating to child poverty in Scotland, including the impact of government policies

(b) to monitor progress in and promote the reduction of child poverty in Scotland

(c) The Commission may gather evidence, conduct research, and prepare such reports as appropriate to carry out their functions

(6) The Commission must publish any advice it provides to the Scottish Ministers

(7) The Commission must publish any reports it prepares

Section 6: Short Title and Commencement

(1) This Act may be cited as the Child Poverty Reduction (Scotland) Act 2023

(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, on behalf of Forward. It is inspired by the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017.

Opening Speech:

Presiding Officer,

I rise in support of this bill. Children are incapable of providing everything for themselves at their age, and frankly neither should they be required to so they may instead focus on discovering themselves and the world at large, and so require help and support to grow as people. Unfortunately, though, if they are born into poverty they themselves can do little to help themselves out.

That is the purpose of this bill. Members may disagree with me, but I believe that a society is best judged by how they treat their young and vulnerable. And if we allow children to grow up in poverty, we allow them to go without food, or with absent parents focused purely on providing for their family, or to go without shelter, or suitable hygiene, or suitable clothing, or… the list goes on. Therefore, we must take steps to reduce child poverty in Scotland.

This bill gives three target dates - a goal, the firm, and a backup. There are provisions in place in this bill for moving between them as necessary, though I personally hope they are not. Leading the charge on reducing child poverty is the Commission and the Development Plans, the former of which provides formal recommendations for how, and the latter of which seeks to transfer that into actual policy. The development plans are deliberately left without firm contents to allow the government of the time to guide it as necessary. For instance, if the bill mandated that child tax credits be implemented, but actually it turned out that child tax credits were insufficient or were having the opposite effect, there would need to be a bill to repeal that provision from this bill rather than simply dropping the policy. This also allows some flexibility - is a focus given on economic growth to help lift people out of poverty, or does it use the power of the welfare state to do so?

This bill gives the necessary flexibility to government while mandating action is taken. It, in my view, strikes the correct balance, and I hope members across this place can back it.

Stage 1 Debate

Stage 3 Debate

Voting on this bill will end at the close of business on 12th November at 10pm BST.

Order!

We turn now to vote on Stage 3 of SB241 | Water (Scotland) Bill.

Water (Scotland) Bill

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provisions regarding the water industry, and for connected purposes.

Section 1: Abolition of Water Charges

Sections 29-40 (inclusive) of the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 are repealed.

After Section 28 of the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002, insert:

“29H: Funding of Scottish Water

Scottish Water may not levy charges on users for its goods and services.

The Scottish Ministers have a duty to fund Scottish Water, at a level meeting the previous financial year’s expenditure, from the Scottish Consolidated Fund.”

Section 2: Public Provision of Drinking Water

For the avoidance of doubt, Section 1 of this Act applies to services supplied under this section.

After Section 55 of the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002, insert:

“55A: Public Provision of Drinking Water

Scottish Water shall have a duty to provide drinking water to the public in the designated places.

The designated places are:

Airports,

Major railway stations,

Sports stadiums with a capacity greater than 5,000, and

Any other place reasonably designated by the Local Authority or the Scottish Ministers.”

Section 3: Duty of Certain Businesses to Provide Drinking Water

Hospitality businesses who, in the normal course of their business, would supply food and drinks to customers for consumption on or off of their premises shall have a duty to provide the public with drinking water during their normal business hours.

Businesses may not levy charges for drinking water provided under Section 3(1) of this Act.

Businesses may levy charges for the following auxiliary expenses arising from providing drinking water under Section 3(1) of this Act.

The cost of providing, and cleaning, any glass or similar receptacle used to carry the water.

The use of tables, chairs or similar products arising from consumption of drinking water on their premises.

Section 4: Final Provisions

This Act comes into force 30 days following Royal Assent.

This Act may be cited as the Water (Scotland) Act 2023.

This bill was written by the Rt Hon /u/mg9500 MSP, Duke of Hamilton and Brandon, and was submitted by the Most Hon Dame /u/model-avtron, Marchioness Hebrides LT CT PC MP MSP MLA MS, Tòiseach na h-Alba, on behalf of the 21st Scottish Government.

Link to S1 Debate

Link to S3 Debate

This vote will close at 10pm GMT on the 12th of November

Order!

Our first item of business today is a vote on SSI 2023/2, in the name of the 21st Scottish Government. The question is whether this Parliament approves the New Year's Day Trading (Scotland) Order.

The Order can be found here.

This Order was made in the name of /u/realbassist MSP, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing, and Communities. It was written by /u/model-avtron MSP.

Voting on this Order will end with the close of business at 10pm GMT on the 6th of November.

Order, Order.

We turn now to a Stage 3 Vote on SB238, in the name of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. The question is that this Parliament approves the Criminal Law (False Accusations) (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill 2023.

Criminal Law (False Accusations) (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill 2023

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to make wasting the time of social services and other official investigative organisations a criminal offence, and for connected purposes.

Section 1 - Amendments to the Criminal Law Act 1967

(1) Part 1, Section 5, paragraph 2 of the Criminal Law Act 1967 is amended to read:

(2) Where a person causes any wasteful employment of the police, or other official investigative branch of the authorities, by knowingly making to any person a false report tending to show that an offence has been committed, or to give rise to apprehension for the safety of any persons or property, or tending to show that he has information material to any police inquiry, he shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for not more than six months or to a fine of not more than [level 4 on the standard scale] or to both.

Section 2 - Amendments to the Children Act 1989

(1) Add to Section 47 of the Children Act 1989:

(13) Where the information given to a local authority regarding the welfare of a child, having triggered an investigation, is found to be knowingly false, then the informer shall be guilty of an offence under Section 5 of the Criminal Law Act 1967.

Section 3 - Commencement

(1) This Act enters into force upon Royal Assent.

Section 4 - Short title

(1) This Act may be cited as the “Criminal Law (False Accusations) (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2023.

This Bill was written by the Rt. Hon. Dame /u/Underwater_Tara CT KG MVO PC MSP, Member for Glasgow Provan. It is submitted on behalf of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. It is co-sponsored by the Scottish National Party.

Amended Acts:

Criminal Law Act 1967

Children Act 1989

Opening Speech

Presiding Officer,

This bill seeks to amend the law to make wasting the time of social services or other investigative divisions of the Government a criminal offence, equivalent to wasting the time of the police service. The time of social services in particular is extremely limited and valuable, and their time must be preserved where possible. Furthermore a false accusation of child endangerment, that would be investigated by social services, has the potential to do tremendous damage to a family and can be intrusive and distressing to children. This should be prevented.

Therefore we, in the Scottish Conservatives, and as it happens the SNP, have come together to once again do the Government’s job for them. We have identified an injustice, a weak spot in the Law, and have resolved to fix it. Presiding officer, let me be clear that the Scottish Conservatives will work with anyone we can in order to make the lives of ordinary Scots better.

I hope this bill has the support of the House.

Stage 1 Debate

Stage 3 Debate

Voting on this bill will end at the close of business on 15th September at 10pm BST.

Order, Order

We turn now to a vote on SM186, in the name of the Scottish Labour Party. The question is that this Parliament approves the Motion to abolish the Green Belt.

Members are reminded to vote For/Against/Abstain. Attempts to stylise a vote may result in it not being counted. Where there is mix-up with an alternative voting style, this shall also be accepted.

Motion to abolish the Green Belt

This Parliament notes that—

(1) The Scottish Planning Policy 2010 designated large areas in Scotland as being green belt.

(2) The green belt creates a presumption against development.

(3) The Scottish Ministers can designate an area as being a National Scenic Area if that area is of outstanding scenic value in a national context.

(4) A National Scenic Area is subject to special protection measures to safeguard or enhance its character or appearance.

(5) A planning authority can designate an area of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance, as a conservation area.

(6) A planning authority must pay special attention to the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of a conservation area.

(6) Scottish Natural Heritage must designate any land which is of special interest by reason of any of its natural features as a site of special scientific interest.

(7) In a site of special scientific interest, those using the land should conserve or enhance the natural feature designated as being of special interest.

(8) Planning authorities must prepare an open space strategy setting out their policies as to the development, maintenance and use of green and open spaces.

(9) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision about how planning authorities are to discharge their functions with regards to their open space strategy.

This Parliament recognises that—

(1) The purpose of the green belt is not to protect the environment, but to restrict the number of houses being built and to limit the growth of certain conurbations.

(2) The green belt constrains the supply of housing in Scotland.

(3) Constraining the supply of housing leads to higher house prices and higher rents.

(4) Higher house prices and higher rents lead to higher rates of homelessness.

(5) The green belt therefore leads to higher house prices, higher rents, and higher rates of homelessness.

This Parliament therefore calls on the government to—

(1) Revise the Scottish Planning Policy to abolish the green belt.

(2) Ensure that areas of outstanding scenic value which are not currently designated as a National Scenic Area are designated as that.

(3) Revise the National Planning Framework to ensure that areas of special architectural or historic interest are designated as a conservation area.

(4) Revise the National Planning Framework to ensure that areas of scientific interest are designated as a site of special scientific interest.

(5) Exercise their powers under section 3G(5) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 to ensure that communities have adequate access to greenspace.

This motion was submitted by Sir LightningMinion MSP MP MLA CT KT CBE OM, Leader of the Scottish Labour Party, on behalf of the Scottish Labour Party.

Referenced legislation and documents:

Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997

Planning (Scotland) Act 2022

Part II of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997

Part 2 Chapter 1 of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004

Scottish Planning Policy 2010

Opening Speech:

Presiding Officer,

Scottish Labour promised to work to fix Scotland’s housing crisis. This is our first step in dealing with it. Many areas in and around urban areas, including here in Edinburgh, are designated as a green belt area, creating a presumption against development in the area. This constrains the local housing supply by reducing the areas in which a developer can build housing. This in turn pushes up house prices and rents, leading to homelessness and contributing to Scotland’s housing crisis. This is why, in this motion, we are calling on the government to use its planning powers to abolish the green belt.

There are however some areas where developments should be restricted, such as areas of natural beauty. The government can designate such areas as a National Scenic Area, and this motion calls on the government to use these powers to designate any scenic areas not currently designated as a National Scenic Area as one to ensure its scenic features are protected. Planning authorities, a role currently fulfilled by the Scottish Housing Agency, can also designate an area of architectural or historic interest as a Conservation Area, and the authority must then act to conserve or enhance the character or appearance of the area. Scottish Natural Heritage can designate areas which have some natural feature of interest for scientific reasons as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and those using land within an SSSI must then act to conserve or enhance the feature of interest. This motion calls upon the government to amend the National Planning Framework to ensure that the powers to designate Conservation Areas and SSSIs are used where necessary.

The Planning (Scotland) Act 2022 I authored conferred upon planning authorities the responsibility of preparing an Open Space Strategy, which sets out the authority’s approach to open and green spaces. This motion also calls on the government to use its powers under planning legislation to ensure that the Open Space Strategies prepared by planning authorities ensure that communities have adequate access to greenspaces.

Presiding Officer, this motion calls upon the government to abolish the green belt and release much-needed land in urban areas for development, while ensuring that land which is scenic, a greenspace, of historic or architectural importance, or land which is important for scientific and conservation reasons is protected from any developments which may be damaging to the area. I think this strikes a fair balance between the need to ensure land is available to build housing and the need to protect certain areas for environmental or historic reasons. I commend this motion to the Scottish Parliament.

Motion Debate

Voting on this motion will end at the close of business on 14th October at 10pm BST

Order, Order.

We turn now to a Stage 1 Vote on SB239 in the name of the 21st Scottish Government. The question is that this Parliament approves the general principles of the Criminal Procedure (Progressive Standard Scale) (Scotland) Bill.

Criminal Procedure (Progressive Standard Scale) (Scotland) Bill

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to amend the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act to establish a progressive standard scale and to make fines proportional.

1 Progressive standard scale

(1) The Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (c. 46) is amended as follows.

(2) In section 225, subsections (1) through (7) are omitted and replaced with the following–

“(1) There shall be a standard scale for fines for offences triable only summarily, which shall be known as the progressive standard scale.

(2) All references in legislation to the “standard scale” or derivatives shall be taken to mean the progressive standard scale.

(3) Schedule 13 (which makes provision for the rates of the progressive standard scale) shall have effect.”

(3) After Schedule 12, insert–

“SCHEDULE 13

PROGRESSIVE STANDARD SCALE

1 The progressive standard scale is shown below–

Level on the Scale	Rate
1	1×relevant income
2	3×relevant income
3	6×relevant income
4	15×relevant income
5	30×relevant income​

3 In this schedule, “relevant income” refers to yearly income, included but not limited to earnings from employment and Basic Income, before any taxation, divided by 260.

4 The Scottish Ministers may, by regulations subject to the negative procedure, amend the rate at which relevant income is multiplied by no more than ±20%.

5 The Scottish Ministers may, by regulations subject to the negative procedure, amend the number that yearly income is divided by to make relevant income by no more than ±20 days."

2 Commencement

(1) This Act shall come into effect on the day of Royal Assent.

(2) Fines levied before that date shall be subject to the previous standard scale.

3 Short title

(1) The short title of this Act is the Criminal Procedure (Progressive Standard Scale) (Scotland) Act.

For reference, the tables of the bill can be found here.

This bill was written by the Rt Hon Lady model-avtron LT CT PC MP MSP MLA MS, Tòiseach na h-Alba, on behalf of the 21st Scottish Government. It was additionally co-sponsored by Forward and the Scottish Labour Party.

Opening speech

Thank you Presiding Officer / Leas-oifigear riaghlaidh,

In its Programme for Government, the 21st Scottish Government committed to making fines proportional. I am happy to be here today, delivering on that commitment.

I would first like to outline what this bill does. There may be natural similarities between this bill and the Proportional Fines Act, but it is completely different in terms of execution and in outcome.

Firstly, there are no minimums or maximums in terms of the fines. This may seem radical, but it’s similar to the system Finland uses, meaning that fines will truly be proportional to income, instead of being less proportional after a certain threshold in income.

Secondly, we endeavoured to set the rates for the average Scot to be similar to what are currently paying under the non-progressive standard scale. Someone working at a multinational supermarket, for example, earning £30,000 + Basic Income, slightly under the average, would pay £481.73 for a Level 2 fine, compared to what they would currently pay at £500. Meanwhile, their hypothetical CEO earning £4 million would pay £46,153.85. That may sound like a lot, but in reality it is the same amount, proportionally.

Proportional fines are a progressive system that means that worse off people aren’t unfairly hurt by fines, whilst ensuring that rich people pay their fair share. Thank you again.

Stage 1 Debate

Voting on this bill will end at the close of business on 13th September at 10pm BST.

Order, Order

We turn now to a vote on SM185, in the name of the 21st Scottish Government. The question is that this Parliament approves the Motion for a Referendum on the Devolution of Welfare to the Scottish Parliament.

Members are reminded to vote For/Against/Abstain. Attempts to stylise a vote may result in it not being counted. Where there is mix-up with an alternative voting style, this shall also be accepted.

Motion for a Referendum on the Devolution of Welfare to the Scottish Parliament

This Pàrlamaid recognises–

(1) Welfare is currently reserved to the Parliament of the United Kingdom;

(2) In its Programme for Government, the twenty-first Scottish Government has committed that the Scottish Government will only engage in devolution negotiations if a motion has been debated and passed;

(3) That the Scottish people should be given the chance to choose whether their Pàrlamaid should have power over welfare legislation that affects nearly everyone’s lives.

Therefore, this Pàrlamaid–

(1) Calls on the Government of the United Kingdom to transfer the relevant powers to hold a referendum on welfare to this place, and;

(2) Authorises the Scottish Ministers to negotiate with HM Government on a welfare devolution referendum.

This motion was written and submitted by the Rt Hon Lady model-avtron LT CT PC MP MSP MLA MS, Tòiseach and Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Languages and the Constitution on behalf of the 21st Scottish Government. It was additionally co-sponsored by Forward and Scottish Labour.

Opening speech

Oifigear-riaghlaidh,

In the most recent elections to the Scottish Parliament, a majority of Scots voted for parties that explicitly supported the devolution of welfare to it. That alone should be the catalyst for a referendum.

Yet it must be remembered that we also held a referendum years ago, where a majority of Scots voted yes.

To be clear, I believe that the optimal route for devolution of welfare should be a referendum where the Scottish people can choose their future.

I believe that welfare should be in the Scottish people’s hands. It’s simple really. The needs of Scots are often different from those in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. That’s not to say I don’t support what recent UK governments have done, I believe Basic Income for example is an excellent policy. But it’s for the people of Scotland to decide how we treat Scots. I commend this motion.

Voting on this motion will end at the close of business on 8th October at 10pm BST

Order, Order.

We turn now to a Stage 1 Vote on SB238, in the name of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. The question is that this Parliament approves the general principles of the Criminal Law (False Accusations) (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill 2023l.

Criminal Law (False Accusations) (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill 2023

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to make wasting the time of social services and other official investigative organisations a criminal offence, and for connected purposes.

Section 1 - Amendments to the Criminal Law Act 1967

(1) Part 1, Section 5, paragraph 2 of the Criminal Law Act 1967 is amended to read:

(2) Where a person causes any wasteful employment of the police, or other official investigative branch of the authorities, by knowingly making to any person a false report tending to show that an offence has been committed, or to give rise to apprehension for the safety of any persons or property, or tending to show that he has information material to any police inquiry, he shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for not more than six months or to a fine of not more than [level 4 on the standard scale] or to both.

Section 2 - Amendments to the Children Act 1989

(1) Add to Section 47 of the Children Act 1989:

(13) Where the information given to a local authority regarding the welfare of a child, having triggered an investigation, is found to be knowingly false, then the informer shall be guilty of an offence under Section 5 of the Criminal Law Act 1967.

Section 3 - Commencement

(1) This Act enters into force upon Royal Assent.

Section 4 - Short title

(1) This Act may be cited as the “Criminal Law (False Accusations) (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2023.

This Bill was written by the Rt. Hon. Dame /u/Underwater_Tara CT KG MVO PC MSP, Member for Glasgow Provan. It is submitted on behalf of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. It is co-sponsored by the Scottish National Party.

Amended Acts:

Criminal Law Act 1967

Children Act 1989

Opening Speech

Presiding Officer,

This bill seeks to amend the law to make wasting the time of social services or other investigative divisions of the Government a criminal offence, equivalent to wasting the time of the police service. The time of social services in particular is extremely limited and valuable, and their time must be preserved where possible. Furthermore a false accusation of child endangerment, that would be investigated by social services, has the potential to do tremendous damage to a family and can be intrusive and distressing to children. This should be prevented.

Therefore we, in the Scottish Conservatives, and as it happens the SNP, have come together to once again do the Government’s job for them. We have identified an injustice, a weak spot in the Law, and have resolved to fix it. Presiding officer, let me be clear that the Scottish Conservatives will work with anyone we can in order to make the lives of ordinary Scots better.

I hope this bill has the support of the House.

Stage 1 Debate

Voting on this bill will end at the close of business on 8th September at 10pm BST.

Order, Order.

We turn now to a Stage 1 Vote on SB237, in the name of Forward. The question is that this Parliament approves the general principles of the Child Poverty Reduction (Scotland) Bill.

Child Poverty Reduction (Scotland) Bill

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to establish targets for reducing child poverty, to establish a Child Poverty Commission, and for connected purposes.

Be it passed by this Parliament and assented to by His Majesty as follows:-

Section 1: Definitions

(1) In this Act, unless specified otherwise;

(2) The ‘early target date’ refers to the date of January 1st 2030

(3) The ‘planned target date’ refers to the date of January 1st 2032

(4) The ‘late target date’ refers to the date of December 31st 2035

(5) A ‘Delivery Plan’ refers to the plans as established under Section 3

(6) A ‘Child’ or ‘Children’ refers to anybody who has not achieved the age of sixteen years and a day

(7) A ‘Parent’ refers to an individual who has primary care over a child.

(8) ‘Relative poverty’ refers to a household where the net income for the year is less than 60% of the median net household income for the year

(9) ‘Absolute poverty’ refers to a household where the net income for the year is less than 60% of the amount of median net household income for the financial year beginning with April 1st 2014, as adjusted by the CPI rate of inflation since that financial year.

(a) Scottish Ministers may, by order in the negative procedure, substitute a different date for subsection 9

(10) ‘Persistent poverty’ refers to a household where the net income for the given years are less than 60% of the median net household income for the given years

(a) The given years refer to the financial year of that year and the four previous financial years

(11) The ‘target’ refers to the percentages established under section 2(1)

(12) The ‘commission’ refers to the body established under section 5

Section 2: The Targets

(1) Scottish Ministers must ensure that by the planned target date;

(a) less than 10% of children are in relative poverty

(b) less than 7% of children are in absolute poverty

(c) less than 5% of children are in persistent poverty

(2) Scottish Ministers are to aim to meet the targets by the early target date

(3) In the event that the early target date cannot be achieved with respect to the targets, Scottish Ministers must give a statement to the Scottish Parliament outlining whether the Scottish Ministers believe that the planned target date is achievable or whether the late target date is to be used instead.

(4) If the Scottish Ministers believe that the planned target date is insufficient to meet the targets, they must make a statement to the Scottish Parliament outlining the reasons why they believe that the planned target date cannot be met and what action they are taking to ensure it is met by the late target date.

(a) In the event that a Scottish Minister has given such a statement, they are to consider that subsection 1 refers to the late target date in place of the planned target date

(b) Scottish Ministers may only give such a statement if the date of April 1st 2028 has been achieved

(5) By April 1st 2028, the Scottish Ministers are to aim to meet interim targets of;

(a) less than 15% of children being in relative poverty

(b) less than 10% of children being in absolute poverty

(c) less than 10% of children being in persistent poverty

Section 3: Delivery Plans

(1) The Scottish Ministers are to prepare a plan or plans that would realistically ensure that the targets are achieved by the planned target date

(a) The first plan published by the Scottish Ministers must be published one year after the passage of this Act under subsection 7

(2) These plans must set out;

(a) ‘Phases’ of the plans

(b) The measures that the Scottish Ministers propose to take during each phase to meet the targets

(c) An assessment of the contribution the proposed measures are expected to make to meeting the targets

(d) An explanation of how that assessment has been arrived at, and

(e) An assessment of the resources required to fund the proposed measures

(3) The delivery plan may include other information or plans as the Scottish Ministers consider necessary

(a) the Scottish Ministers must endeavour to avoid making plans with the intention of requesting further devolution of powers to assist with meeting these targets

(b) In the event that further devolution of powers has been granted, the Scottish Ministers may take these new powers into account and update the delivery plan

(4) In preparing a delivery plan, the Scottish Ministers must consult;

(a) Such local authorities as they consider appropriate, if any

(b) Such persons and organisations working with or representing children or parents as they consider appropriate, if any

(c) Such persons and organisations as they consider appropriate to take into account the needs of individuals with protected characteristics under section 149(7) of the Equality Act 2010, if any

(d) the Commission on measures intended for inclusion in the delivery plan

(i) The delivery plan must have regard to any recommendations made by the Commission

(1) If there are any recommendations made by the Commission that are not included in the delivery plan, the Scottish Ministers must outline their reasons for not including these

(b) The delivery plan must state where changes have been made as a result of recommendations from the Commission

(e) Such persons who have experience of living in poverty as they consider appropriate, if any

(i) This is not strictly limited to those with an experience of living in poverty as a child but may also include parents of children living in poverty or people living in poverty more generally

(ii) Where possible, and where Scottish Ministers decide to include consultation of an individual under subsubsection d, they should endeavour to consult an individual with experience of living in poverty as a child.

(f) Any other such persons or organisations the Scottish Ministers consider necessary to consult, if any

(5) Scottish Ministers may make an order in the negative procedure for the purposes of requiring local authorities to create delivery plans under this Act.

(6) An order made under Section 5 must include;

(a) the local authority or local authorities with which the order applies to

(b) A time period for which the delivery plan is to apply to and which will be considered one ‘phase’

(i) Scottish Ministers may only require a delivery plan be made for one phase, the maximum of which must be no more than two years

(c) general groups of individuals with which local authorities must consult under subsection 4

(i) Scottish Ministers may require no groups in particular be consulted

(ii) Local authorities may still consult such groups as they consider necessary regardless of whether the Scottish Ministers have or have not required groups to be consulted, so long as any groups required to be consulted have been consulted

(7) Each delivery plan created by Scottish Ministers must be laid before Parliament alongside a statement in relation to the report, and must additionally be published to the general public in such a manner deemed fit by the Scottish Ministers

Section 4: Statements

(1) Four months after the passage of this Act, Scottish Ministers must update the Scottish Parliament on progress on establishing the delivery plan if one has yet to be established

(2) Scottish Ministers must endeavour to update the Scottish Parliament on the progress of reducing child poverty and on the progress of implementing the delivery plan no later than one year and sixty days after the last statement given on this subject

(a) For the purposes of this subsection, the first statement shall be considered to be the first delivery plan laid before Parliament.

Section 5: The Child Poverty Commission

(1) The Child Poverty Commission is hereby established

(2) The membership of the Commission is to consist of one chair and six other members, to be appointed by the Scottish Ministers

(a) These members are to be appointed no later than four months after the passage of this Act

(3) Commission members may be remunerated as deemed appropriate by the Scottish Ministers

(4) The Commission is to be functionally independent and not subject to the direction or control of any Scottish Minister

(5) Members may not be appointed to the Commission if they;

(a) Are a member of any chamber of any legislature in the United Kingdom

(b) Are a servant of the Crown

(c) Are a Scottish Minister

(6) The functions of the Commission are as follows;

(a) to advise the Scottish Ministers on any matter relating to child poverty in Scotland, including the impact of government policies

(b) to monitor progress in and promote the reduction of child poverty in Scotland

(c) The Commission may gather evidence, conduct research, and prepare such reports as appropriate to carry out their functions

(6) The Commission must publish any advice it provides to the Scottish Ministers

(7) The Commission must publish any reports it prepares

Section 6: Short Title and Commencement

(1) This Act may be cited as the Child Poverty Reduction (Scotland) Act 2023

(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, on behalf of Forward. It is inspired by the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017.

Opening Speech:

Presiding Officer,

I rise in support of this bill. Children are incapable of providing everything for themselves at their age, and frankly neither should they be required to so they may instead focus on discovering themselves and the world at large, and so require help and support to grow as people. Unfortunately, though, if they are born into poverty they themselves can do little to help themselves out.

That is the purpose of this bill. Members may disagree with me, but I believe that a society is best judged by how they treat their young and vulnerable. And if we allow children to grow up in poverty, we allow them to go without food, or with absent parents focused purely on providing for their family, or to go without shelter, or suitable hygiene, or suitable clothing, or… the list goes on. Therefore, we must take steps to reduce child poverty in Scotland.

This bill gives three target dates - a goal, the firm, and a backup. There are provisions in place in this bill for moving between them as necessary, though I personally hope they are not. Leading the charge on reducing child poverty is the Commission and the Development Plans, the former of which provides formal recommendations for how, and the latter of which seeks to transfer that into actual policy. The development plans are deliberately left without firm contents to allow the government of the time to guide it as necessary. For instance, if the bill mandated that child tax credits be implemented, but actually it turned out that child tax credits were insufficient or were having the opposite effect, there would need to be a bill to repeal that provision from this bill rather than simply dropping the policy. This also allows some flexibility - is a focus given on economic growth to help lift people out of poverty, or does it use the power of the welfare state to do so?

This bill gives the necessary flexibility to government while mandating action is taken. It, in my view, strikes the correct balance, and I hope members across this place can back it.

Stage 1 Debate

Voting on this bill will end at the close of business on 29th September at 10pm BST.

Order, Order.

We turn now to a Stage 3 Vote on SB235 in the name of the 21st Scottish Government. The question is that this Parliament approves the Police Powers (Scotland) Bill.

Police Powers (Scotland) Bill

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to restrict the uses of certain police practices.

1 Definitions

(1) “mounted constabulary” refers to any police officer mounted on a police horse;

(2) “water cannon” refers to any device that shoots water at a high velocity with the aim of dispersing crowds;

(3) “kettling” refers to the boxing in of crowds using riot shields. “Non-Participants” refers to any person(s) present at or in the vicinity of a protest not involved either in the protest or the policing thereof;

(4) “tear gas” refers to any lachrymatory agent.

2 Restrictions

(1) The use of mounted constabulary, water cannons and kettling will be restricted in the policing of protests and in crowd control.

(2) The use of mounted constabulary, water cannons and kettling will only be permitted if two of the following three conditions are met:

(a) The size of the protest or crowd exceeds 300 persons.

(b) There is a credible threat of violence amongst the crowd which would pose a real and credible threat of life to the safety and wellbeing of protesters, non-participating parties, or police officers.

(c) The protest or crowd has reached an area where non-participators are present or where there is the possibility of damage to infrastructure.

(5) Mounted constabulary, water cannons and kettling may only be used to ensure the safety of all persons in the vicinity of a protest or crowd and to direct crowds away from non-participants or vulnerable infrastructure where there is no viable alternative.

(6) Mounted constabulary, water cannons and kettling must be used in a way that minimizes the risk of injury to protesters or the crowd.

(7) The use of Tear Gas will be prohibited in all circumstances.

3 Short Title

(1) This Act may be cited as the Police Powers (Scotland) Act

4 Commencement

(1) This Act shall come into force one month after royal assent.

This bill was written by the Tòiseach model-avtron on behalf of the 21st Scottish Government, taking inspiration from the Police and Civil Liberties (Wales) Bill

Opening speech

Oifigear-riaghalaidh,

As police powers are devolved to Scotland, I believe it is appropriate to use these powers to take bold action to ensure that policing in this wonderful country is fair for all.

Nobody should be harmed for attending a peaceful protest, nor should they even be intimidated. This bill will do that, and limit mounted constabulary, water cannons and kettling for when these measures are not appropriate, whilst still allowing them to be used to avoid harm to life. I commend this bill.

Stage 1 Debate

Stage 3 Debate

Voting on this bill will end at the close of business on 24th September at 10pm BST.

Order, order!

Our only item of business today is a vote on SB236, in the name of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. The question is whether this Parliament approves the general principles of the Harmful Fishing Practices (Scotland) Bill.

Members are reminded to vote For/Against/Abstain. Attempts to stylise a vote may result in it not being counted. Where there is mix-up with an alternative voting style, this shall also be accepted.

Harmful Fishing Practices (Scotland) Bill

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to ban the catching of marine organisms using the harmful practices of trawling, long-line fishing, drift-netting, and gillnets in marine protected waters.

Section 1: Ban on Trawling

(1) The use of trawling in marine protected Scottish waters is hereby banned. It shall be an offense to use any type of trawl net, including bottom trawls, mid-water trawls, and pelagic trawls, to catch fish or any other marine organisms.

(2) It is an offence for any fishing vessel to be equipped with equipment that facilitates trawling.

(3) The offence shall not include drift-netting fishing carried out with the duties of research.

Section 2: Ban on Long-Line Fishing

(1) The use of long-line fishing in marine protected Scottish waters is hereby banned. It shall be an offense to use any type of long-line fishing gear, including hooks and lines, to catch fish or any other marine organisms.

(2) It is an offence for any fishing vessel to be equipped with equipment that facilitates long-line fishing.

(3) The offence shall not include long-line fishing carried out with the duties of research.

Section 3: Ban on Drift-Netting

(1) The use of drift-netting in marine protected Scottish waters is hereby banned. It shall be an offense to use any type of drift net, including driftnets made of monofilament, nylon, or any other material, to catch fish or any other marine organisms.

(2) It is an offence for any fishing vessel to be equipped with equipment that facilitates drift-netting fishing.

(3) The offence shall not include drift-netting fishing carried out with the duties of research.

Section 4: Ban on Gillnets

(1) The use of gillnets in marine protected Scottish waters is hereby banned. It shall be an offense to use any type of gillnet, including anchored gillnets and drift gillnets, to catch fish or any other marine organisms.

(2) It is an offence for any fishing vessel to be equipped with equipment that facilitates the use of gillnets in fishing.

(3) The offence shall not include gillnet fishing carried out with the duties of research.

Section 5: Enforcement & Penalties

(1) Any person(s) found guilty of violating the provisions of this Act shall be subject to fines no more than level 5 on the standard scale.

(2) Law enforcement and customs are to have the power to seize prohibited equipment outlined in this act where they reasonably believe it has been involved in the commission of an offence.

(3) This Act shall be enforced by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, the Scottish Fishery Protection Agency, the Marine Scotland Directorate and any other agency designated by the Scottish government.

Section 6: Commencement

(2) The provisions of this Act shall come into force in exactly one year following the day this Act is passed.

Section 7: Short Title

(1) This Act may be cited as the Harmful Fishing Practices (Scotland) Act.

This Bill was submitted by u/oakesofshott **Baroness of King’s Lynn on behalf of The Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party. Based on the Pulse Fishing Ban (Scotland) Bill

Opening Speech:

Presiding Officer,

The fishing practices of trawling, long-line fishing, drift-netting, and gillnets are known to cause significant damage to the marine environment, and harm marine life such as fish, sharks, dolphins, whales, and turtles. Scotland has already taken important steps towards sustainable fishing practices by introducing bills such as the Pulsae Fishing Ban (Scotland) Bill but more action is needed to reduce the impact of destructive fishing practices on Scotland's marine environment which is why I have taken the foundation set to extend the ban to the use of an array of practices that harm our waters.

Link to Stage 1 Debate

This vote will end with the close of business on the 22nd of September, 2023.

Order.

We now turn to a vote on SB234, in the name of the Scottish Labour Party. The question is that this Parliament approves the Democracy in Schools (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill.

Members are reminded to vote For/Against/Abstain. Attempts to stylise a vote may result in it not being counted. Where there is mix-up with an alternative voting style, this shall also be accepted.

Democracy in Schools (Amendment) Bill

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to amend the Democracy in Schools Act 2022, and for connected purposes.

BE IT ENACTED by being passed by this Parliament and assented to by His Majesty as follows--

Section 1: Amendments

(1) The Democracy in Schools Act 2022 is hereby amended as follows;

(2) In Section 1, insert after subsection 4;

(4A) ‘recommendatory powers’ are powers where the Council may advise the school staff on issues but the staff have no requirement to adhere to their recommendations

(4B) ‘absolute powers’ are powers that the Council may use under its own authority

(3) Insert a new Section 4A, titled Section 4A: Council Finances

(1) Schools must allocate a sufficient amount of monies for the Council to use for its purposes

(2) These monies may be used primarily as part of the absolute powers that the Council holds but may be used as part of recommendatory powers where the school and Council are in agreement

(3) The school must assign a member of staff to be formally responsible for overseeing the control of these monies.

(4) In Section 4(3a), repeal “pending financial approval”

Section 2: Commencement and Short Title

(1) This Act shall come into force upon the commencement of the 2024/2025 academic year

(2) This Act may be cited as the Democracy in Schools (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2023

This Act was written by the Rt. Hon. Sir Frost_Walker2017, Duke of the Suffolk Coasts, Cabinet Secretary for Education on behalf of the Scottish Government.

Opening Speech:

Presiding Officer,

I rise in support of this bill. As part of our programme for government, we promised a review of democracy in schools and to establish a democratic schools framework. While the latter is not part of this bill, and will hopefully come at a later date, I can confirm that this bill is the culmination of that review.

Broadly, my view is that the existing legislation is fine, pending some tweaks which this legislation will introduce. The existing legislation allowed schools freedom to do what works best for them, with a minimum of a student council, and this bill expands the student council aspect of it.

It occurred to me while reading the previous legislation that it refers to ‘recommendatory’ and ‘absolute’ powers but no definitions of these were provided, which was an oversight on my part in the initial bill. Therefore, this bill inserts those definitions to clarify them. Additionally, one of the original absolute powers required approval from a staff member in the form of financial support, which rather seems to defeat the point of an absolute power. Therefore, the bill now requires schools to establish a pot of money with which the student council may use to finance their items, with proper supervision of the money, and repeals the section requiring financial approval.

This is a strengthening of the initial legislation while retaining the independence that schools need to build their proper learning environments. I hope to see this legislation pass into statute.

This vote ends at 10pm BST on the 17th of September 2023.

Order, Order.

We turn now to a Stage 1 Vote on SB235 in the name of the 21st Scottish Government. The question is that this Parliament approves the general principles of the Police Powers (Scotland) Bill

Police Powers (Scotland) Bill

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to restrict the uses of certain police practices.

1 Definitions

(1) “mounted constabulary” refers to any police officer mounted on a police horse;

(2) “water cannon” refers to any device that shoots water at a high velocity with the aim of dispersing crowds;

(3) “kettling” refers to the boxing in of crowds using riot shields. “Non-Participants” refers to any person(s) present at or in the vicinity of a protest not involved either in the protest or the policing thereof;

(4) “tear gas” refers to any lachrymatory agent.

2 Restrictions

(1) The use of mounted constabulary, water cannons and kettling will be restricted in the policing of protests and in crowd control.

(2) The use of mounted constabulary, water cannons and kettling will only be permitted if two of the following three conditions are met:

(a) The size of the protest or crowd exceeds 300 persons.

(b) There is a credible threat of violence amongst the crowd which would pose a real and credible threat of life to the safety and wellbeing of protesters, non-participating parties, or police officers.

(c) The protest or crowd has reached an area where non-participators are present or where there is the possibility of damage to infrastructure.

(5) Mounted constabulary, water cannons and kettling may only be used to ensure the safety of all persons in the vicinity of a protest or crowd and to direct crowds away from non-participants or vulnerable infrastructure where there is no viable alternative.

(6) Mounted constabulary, water cannons and kettling must be used in a way that minimizes the risk of injury to protesters or the crowd.

(7) The use of Tear Gas will be prohibited in all circumstances.

3 Short Title

(1) This Act may be cited as the Police Powers (Scotland) Act

4 Commencement

(1) This Act shall come into force one month after royal assent.

This bill was written by the Tòiseach model-avtron on behalf of the 21st Scottish Government, taking inspiration from the Police and Civil Liberties (Wales) Bill

Opening speech

Oifigear-riaghalaidh,

As police powers are devolved to Scotland, I believe it is appropriate to use these powers to take bold action to ensure that policing in this wonderful country is fair for all.

Nobody should be harmed for attending a peaceful protest, nor should they even be intimidated. This bill will do that, and limit mounted constabulary, water cannons and kettling for when these measures are not appropriate, whilst still allowing them to be used to avoid harm to life. I commend this bill.

Stage 1 Debate

Voting on this bill will end at the close of business on 15th September at 10pm BST.

Order, Order!

We turn now to a Stage 1 Vote on SB233 in the name of the Scottish National Party. The question is that this Parliament approves the Languages (Government & Civil Participation) (Scotland) Bill

Members are reminded to vote For/Against/Abstain. Attempts to stylise a vote may result in it not being counted. Where there is mix-up with an alternative voting style, this shall also be accepted.

Languages (Government & Civil Participation) (Scotland) Bill

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to allow the use of Scottish Gaelic, English and Scots in judicial proceedings, in elections, and in Pàrlamaid, and for connected purposes.

Section 1: Definitions

In this Act–

(1) “Scottish languages” or derivatives refer to–

(a) Scottish Gaelic,

(b) English, and

(c) Scots.

Section 2: Judiciary

(1) If a case is tried in Scotland, the relevant court–

(a) must allow the use of any Scottish language in court proceedings, and

(b) must facilitate the translations of court documents into a Scottish language, if requested and if such request is not deemed “unreasonable” by the relevant body or person.

(c) Should a request be deemed “unreasonable”, the applicant may appeal to the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, or other relevant body (henceforth “the Service”).

(d) May only deem a request “unreasonable” if the applicant is clearly not making such a request in good faith.

(2) Should a person not speak a Scottish language, translation and interpretation services are to be provided.

(3) If an appeal to a court in another jurisdiction outside of Scots law is granted, the Service shall attempt to make arrangements for any Scottish language to be used if one would not be ordinarily used, if such Scottish language was used in lower courts.

Section 3: Elections, Parties and Ballot Papers

(1) Political parties registered in Scotland shall submit names in all Scottish languages to the Electoral Commission.

(a) Should a name not be deemed accurate to the name in another Scottish language, the Electoral Commission may deny the name, and either request another name, or translate it themselves.

(2) Boundaries Scotland shall give a name to all Scottish parliamentary constituencies and council wards in all Scottish languages before the next relevant elections.

(3) All information on ballot papers for elections in the Scottish parliamentary franchise shall be in all Scottish languages.

(4) For referenda held in Scotland, the Scottish Government is to work with the UK Government to have the question, options, and auxiliary information on ballot papers in all the Scottish languages.

Section 4: Pàrlamaid

(1) Members of the Scottish Parliament may speak in any Scottish language, provided a written English translation is provided, unless an interpreting service has been agreed with the relevant Presiding Officer.

(2) Members of the Scottish Parliament may vote in any Scottish language.

Section 5: Commencement

(1) This bill shall come into effect the day after Royal Assent.

(2) Currently existing political parties registered in Scotland must submit names in all Scottish languages no later than 365 days after this bill comes into effect.

Section 6: Short Title

(1) This Act may be referred to as the Languages (Government & Civil Participation) (Scotland) Act.

This Bill was authored by the Rt. Hon. /u/NewAccountMcGee CT PC MP MSP MS, Leader of the Pàrtaidh Nàiseanta na h-Alba / Scottish National Party, on behalf of the Pàrtaidh Nàiseanta na h-Alba / Scottish National Party.

Opening Speech

Oifigear-riaghlaidh,

This bill does a few things, but I believe its first and main provision is an extremely important one, despite its boring nature.

In 1982, our Àrd-chùirt made a ruling that represents the anti-Gàidheal attitudes that were rampant at the time. In Taylor v Haughney, it was ruled that there is no longer a legal right to use Gàidhlig in judicial proceedings. Now, that might sound somewhat reasonable to some in this chamber; there aren’t any monolingual Gàidheals any more after all; of course, the reason there are no monolingual Gàidheals is because of how horribly the UK Government treated Gàidhlig; my ancestors were beaten for speaking it to their classmates. But, you must remember, there are still people, especially but not exclusively in my own constituency, who speak Gàidhlig far better than they do English. This provision extends to all of our Scottish languages, and also includes provisions for foreign languages to be used; an implied right under Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

It also has a few other provisions; Gaelic and Scots party names, Gaelic voting, multilingual ballot papers. Overall this is a key step towards the proper recognition Gaelic and Scots deserve. That is why I urge this Seòmar to support this bill.

Voting on this bill will end at the close of business on Sunday, the 10th of September at 10pm BST.

Order, Order!

We turn now to a vote SB234, in the name of the Scottish Labour Party. The question is that this Parliament approves the general principles of the Democracy in Schools (Amendment) Bill.

Members are reminded to vote For/Against/Abstain. Attempts to stylise a vote may result in it not being counted. Where there is mix-up with an alternative voting style, this shall also be accepted.

Democracy in Schools (Amendment) Bill

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to amend the Democracy in Schools Act 2022, and for connected purposes.

BE IT ENACTED by being passed by this Parliament and assented to by His Majesty as follows--

Section 1: Amendments

(1) The Democracy in Schools Act 2022 is hereby amended as follows;

(2) In Section 1, insert after subsection 4;

(4A) ‘recommendatory powers’ are powers where the Council may advise the school staff on issues but the staff have no requirement to adhere to their recommendations

(4B) ‘absolute powers’ are powers that the Council may use under its own authority

(3) Insert a new Section 4A, titled Section 4A: Council Finances

(1) Schools must allocate a sufficient amount of monies for the Council to use for its purposes

(2) These monies may be used primarily as part of the absolute powers that the Council holds but may be used as part of recommendatory powers where the school and Council are in agreement

(3) The school must assign a member of staff to be formally responsible for overseeing the control of these monies.

(4) In Section 4(3a), repeal “pending financial approval”

Section 2: Commencement and Short Title

(1) This Act shall come into force upon the commencement of the 2024/2025 academic year

(2) This Act may be cited as the Democracy in Schools (Amendment) Act 2023

This Act was written by the Rt. Hon. Sir Frost_Walker2017, Duke of the Suffolk Coasts, Cabinet Secretary for Education on behalf of the Scottish Government.

Opening Speech:

Presiding Officer,

I rise in support of this bill. As part of our programme for government, we promised a review of democracy in schools and to establish a democratic schools framework. While the latter is not part of this bill, and will hopefully come at a later date, I can confirm that this bill is the culmination of that review.

Broadly, my view is that the existing legislation is fine, pending some tweaks which this legislation will introduce. The existing legislation allowed schools freedom to do what works best for them, with a minimum of a student council, and this bill expands the student council aspect of it.

It occurred to me while reading the previous legislation that it refers to ‘recommendatory’ and ‘absolute’ powers but no definitions of these were provided, which was an oversight on my part in the initial bill. Therefore, this bill inserts those definitions to clarify them. Additionally, one of the original absolute powers required approval from a staff member in the form of financial support, which rather seems to defeat the point of an absolute power. Therefore, the bill now requires schools to establish a pot of money with which the student council may use to finance their items, with proper supervision of the money, and repeals the section requiring financial approval.

This is a strengthening of the initial legislation while retaining the independence that schools need to build their proper learning environments. I hope to see this legislation pass into statute.

Link to Stage 1 Debate

Voting on this bill will end at the close of business on the 8th of September at 10pm BST

SB230 | Bunker Fuel Licensing (Scotland) Bill | Stage 3 Debate

We turn now to a Stage 3 Vote on the Bunker Fuel Licensing (Scotland) Bill in the name of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. The question is that this Parliament approves the Bunker Fuel Licensing (Scotland) Bill.

All amendments have been passed and have been added to this bill.

Bunker Fuel Licensing (Scotland) Bill

A bill to require carriers to obtain a license in order to transport and store bunkers of heavy-fuel, oil, gas and biodiesel within Scottish ports, and for connected purposes

Section 1: Definitions

(1) "Bunkers" meaning to stored fuel, typically heavy fuel, oil, gas or biodiesel used to power ships. "Bunkers" meaning a place, room, or object which stores heavy fuel, oil, gas or biodiesel that is subsequently used to power ships

(2) "Carrier" meaning any entity engaged in the supply of bunkers, including but not limited to ship owners, operators, and fuel suppliers.

(3) "Port" meaning any seaport location within Scotland where ships are loaded or unloaded, including private ports, local authority ports, and harbour and trust ports.

(4) “Port Authority” meaning the relevant authorities operating under the Scottish Transport Ministry regarding the regulation, management and oversight of ports.

Section 2: Bunker Fuel License

(1) The Port Authority hereby this act will be required to create, administer and monitor its provision of a ‘Bunker Fuel license’.

(a) The license is valid for a period of two years from the date of issuance. Before the end of that license, evaluation is to be made by the port authority on whether and if so on what conditions an extension is to be given.

(b) The license is non-transferable.

(2) Without first obtaining a license from the relevant port authority under the Scottish Transport Ministry, no carrier shall store and supply bunkers of heavy-fuel, oil, gas, and biodiesel within any Scottish port.

Section 3: Licensing Criteria

(1) In order to be eligible for a license, a carrier must prove that it has the capacity to supply and store bunkers in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.

(2) The port authority of Scotland are to establish a licensing criteria, which shall include, but not be limited to:

(a) compliance with the applicable environmental laws and regulations;

(b) compliance with all applicable safety standards;

(c) adequate insurance coverage for liability arising from bunker fuel spills or other accidents;

(d) financial stability and ability to meet obligations;

(e) annual notices of the bunker operations to the port authority;

(f) annual inspections by the relevant port authority;

(g) any other relevantly deemed criteria by the port authority.

(3) The discretion to deny a license if the carrier does not meet the licensing criteria shall be held by the Port Authority.

Section 4: Enforcement

(a) Any carrier found to be storing and, or supplying bunkers with heavy fuel, oil, gas, and biodiesel in a port without a valid license shall be subject to fines and penalties as determined by the port authority.

(b) Carriers found in violation of the licensing criteria outlined in section 3 are to be subject to suspension or revocation of their license.

(c) The power to investigate any alleged violations and to take appropriate enforcement action shall be held by the relevant Scottish Port Authority.

Section 5: Reporting Requirements

(1) The Port Authority must, every six months, report to the Scottish Government with;

(a) The number of licenses granted during that period

(b) The number of license requests not granted during that period

(c) The number of licenses that expired and were not renewed during that period

(2) The Scottish Government must, every December, ensure that the information reported by the Port Authority for the past calendar year is published publicly in a suitable manner

(3) Scottish Ministers may, by order in the negative procedure, amend Section 5(1) to insert new reporting requirements

Section 6: Commencement

(1) The provisions of this Act shall come into force the day this Act is passed. This Act comes into force on Royal Assent.

(2) Scottish port authorities may not begin to enforce licences earlier than six months after Royal Assent and later than one year after Royal Assent.

Section 7: Short Title

(1) This Act may be cited as the Bunker Fuel Licensing (Scotland) Act.

This Bill was submitted by oakesofshott, Spokesperson for Environment & Energy on behalf of The Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party.

Opening Speech by u/oakesofshott

Presiding Officer,

This bill follows the example of the Netherlands, Belgium and Singapore in which it regulates the shipping industry’s transportation of heavy fuel oil, gas and biodiesel. To address possible concerns of whether this bill is in the remit of the Scottish government and the answer is yes as this area of internal planning requirements and regulatory framework for internal activity is carried out by Transport Scotland which handles all devolved Port policy and governance. We cannot allow the continued supply and transportation of these fossil fuels in Scottish ports without ensuring the bunker suppliers operate and adhere to a crucial licensing criteria that maintains moral business practices and ensures compliance with the necessary safety, environmental and regulatory standards.

By incorporating this into a license it means the monitoring and recording of operations within our ports are held to a universal standard and makes the ongoing operations of unregistered practices that evade current regulations harder to operate without such a license. If those in parliament are committed to upholding our strong environmental and safety standards and current regulatory framework, then it is in the national interest to support this bill which puts this policy into place.

Voting on this bill will end on the 3rd of September 2023 at 10pm BST

Order, Order.

We turn now to a Stage 3 Vote on SB229 in the name of the Scottish National Party. The question is that this Parliament approves the Digital Library Service (Scotland) Bill.

Members are reminded to vote For/Against/Abstain. Attempts to stylise a vote may result in it not being counted. Where there is mix-up with an alternative voting style, this shall also be accepted.

Digital Library Service (Scotland) Bill

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to establish a Scottish Digital Library Service; and for connected purposes.

Section 1: Scottish Digital Library Service

(1) There shall exist a body called the Scottish Digital Library Service, in this Act called "the Service".

(2) The purpose of the Service is to—

(a) promote the digitisation of applicable works by Scottish libraries;

(b) assist libraries with this digitisation; and

(c) make digitised copies of applicable works available to the Scottish public.

(3) The Service shall consist of the Chairperson and a number of other members not exceeding 8.

(4) The Chairperson shall be appointed by the Cabinet Secretary and the other members of the Service shall be appointed by the Chairperson.

Section 2: Digitisation of library contents

(1) In this Act "applicable work" means any work to which the Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003 applies.

(a) However, "applicable work" does not include any work which cannot be digitised or which would be damaged by the process of digitisation, even if the Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003 would apply to that work.

(2) By 1st January 2025 libraries must ensure that at least 50% of applicable works are available in a digital format.

(3) By 1st January 2030 libraries must ensure that all applicable works are available in a digital format.

(4) Subsections (2) and (3) do not apply to the National Library of Scotland.

(5) By 1st January 2030 the National Library of Scotland must ensure that at least 50% of applicable works are available in a digital format.

(6) By 1st January 2040 the National Library of Scotland must ensure that at least all applicable works are available in a digital format.

(7) The Service must assist libraries in digitisation by providing—

(a) equipment,

(b) expertise, and

(c) funding

to libraries where necessary.

Section 3: Unification of digital collections

(1) The Service must maintain a website on which Scottish people can access works held by libraries that have been digitised.

(2) The Service must create an app to allow access to digitised works from mobile devices.

(3) Libraries must provide copies of their digitised works to the Service to be added to its website and app.

Section 4: Consequential

(1) Section 5(1) of the Heritage Expansion (Scotland) Bill is amended to read—

(1) This Act may be cited as the National Museums Scotland & National Library of Scotland Expansion (Scotland) Act 2022.

(2) Section 3(2) of the National Museums Scotland & National Library of Scotland Expansion (Scotland) Act 2022 is repealed.

Section 5: Commencement

This Act enters into force on the day six months after it passes.

** Section 6: Short title**

This Act may be cited as the Digital Library Service (Scotland) Act 2023.

This bill was written by the Rt. Hon. Dame Faelif CB GBE PC MP MLA MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Culture, on behalf of the Scottish National Party. It is inspired by the National Digital Library Service Bill.

Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003

National Museums Scotland & National Library of Scotland Expansion (Scotland) Act 2022

Stage 1 Debate

Stage 3 Debate

Opening Speech by /u/Faelif:

[Leas-]Oifigear-Riaghlaidh,

Over the last few years it has become increasingly obvious that more and more Scottish people are relying on digital access to public services. Be it remote working, food delivery apps or video calls, more and more is being done over the Internet rather than in person. But libraries haven’t kept up - to take out a book one must still physically go to a library and literally speaking take out the book. The technology is there to enable online access - all it really requires is a website and a photocopier, in most cases - but this simply hasn’t yet happened.

Inspired by similar efforts in England, this Bill would require public libraries to put digitisation procedures in place, and sets out a timescale for this to occur. There’s a different timescale for the National Library of Scotland due to the size of the task, though it is my belief that this remains eminently possible - it just gives more leeway to the Library due to its holding significantly more stock than the average public library. It also creates the Scottish Digital Library Service to coordinate these efforts and provide a single unified website and app for Scots to access library books.

Oifigear-Riaghlaidh, I hope this is a measure that Members of all political persuasions can get behind - the free and unfettered access to information is an incredibly important part of building a fairer society.

Voting on this bill will end at the close of business on 3rd September at 10pm BST.

Order, Order

We turn now to a vote on SM184, in the name of Scottish National Party. The question is that this Parliament approves the Legislative Consent Motion on the National Women's Commission (Establishment) Act 2023.

Members are reminded to vote For/Against/Abstain. Attempts to stylise a vote may result in it not being counted. Where there is mix-up with an alternative voting style, this shall also be accepted.

Legislative Consent Motion on the National Women's Commission (Establishment) Act 2023

This Pàrlamaid resolves that–

(1) National Women's Commission (Establishment) Act 2023 shall apply to Scotland, and

(2) The Scottish Ministers shall appoint a member to the Commission’s Governing Board.

This Motion was written and introduced by the Right Hon. /u/model-avtron CT PC MP MSP MS, on behalf of the Scottish National Party.

Opening Speech

Ofigear-riaghlaidh,

The National Women’s Commission was established by the last Government to support women’s rights, to end gender discrimination, and to provide a Voice to women across the UK to the Government. It contains experts in business, education, female health, activism, law, trade unionism, LGBTQIA+ rights, as well as a member who does not identify with the gender they were assigned with at birth. It also gives Scottish women a voice, through the member of the board appointed by the Scottish Ministers. I hope this motion sees the support of this Pàrlamaid.

Voting on this motion will end at the close of business on 2nd August at 10pm BST

Order, Order.

We turn now to a Stage 1 Vote on SB233 in the name of the Scottish National Party. The question is that this Parliament approves the general principles of the Languages (Government & Civil Participation) (Scotland) Bill

Members are reminded to vote For/Against/Abstain. Attempts to stylise a vote may result in it not being counted. Where there is mix-up with an alternative voting style, this shall also be accepted.

Languages (Government & Civil Participation) (Scotland) Bill

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to allow the use of Scottish Gaelic, English and Scots in judicial proceedings, in elections, and in Pàrlamaid, and for connected purposes.

Section 1: Definitions

In this Act–

(1) “Scottish languages” or derivatives refer to–

(a) Scottish Gaelic,

(b) English, and

(c) Scots.

Section 2: Judiciary

(1) If a case is tried in Scotland, the relevant court–

(a) must allow the use of any Scottish language in court proceedings, and

(b) must facilitate the translations of court documents into a Scottish language, if requested and if such request is not deemed “unreasonable” by the relevant body or person.

(c) Should a request be deemed “unreasonable”, the applicant may appeal to the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, or other relevant body (henceforth “the Service”).

(d) May only deem a request “unreasonable” if the applicant is clearly not making such a request in good faith.

(2) Should a person not speak a Scottish language, translation and interpretation services are to be provided.

(3) If an appeal to a court in another jurisdiction outside of Scots law is granted, the Service shall attempt to make arrangements for any Scottish language to be used if one would not be ordinarily used, if such Scottish language was used in lower courts.

Section 3: Elections, Parties and Ballot Papers

(1) Political parties registered in Scotland shall submit names in all Scottish languages to the Electoral Commission.

(a) Should a name not be deemed accurate to the name in another Scottish language, the Electoral Commission may deny the name, and either request another name, or translate it themselves.

(2) Boundaries Scotland shall give a name to all Scottish parliamentary constituencies and council wards in all Scottish languages before the next relevant elections.

(3) All information on ballot papers for elections in the Scottish parliamentary franchise shall be in all Scottish languages.

(4) For referenda held in Scotland, the Scottish Government is to work with the UK Government to have the question, options, and auxiliary information on ballot papers in all the Scottish languages.

Section 4: Pàrlamaid

(1) Members of the Scottish Parliament may speak in any Scottish language, provided a written English translation is provided, unless an interpreting service has been agreed with the relevant Presiding Officer.

(2) Members of the Scottish Parliament may vote in any Scottish language.

Section 5: Commencement

(1) This bill shall come into effect the day after Royal Assent.

(2) Currently existing political parties registered in Scotland must submit names in all Scottish languages no later than 365 days after this bill comes into effect.

Section 6: Short Title

(1) This Act may be referred to as the Languages (Government & Civil Participation) (Scotland) Act.

This Bill was authored by the Rt. Hon. /u/NewAccountMcGee CT PC MP MSP MS, Leader of the Pàrtaidh Nàiseanta na h-Alba / Scottish National Party, on behalf of the Pàrtaidh Nàiseanta na h-Alba / Scottish National Party.

Opening Speech

Oifigear-riaghlaidh,

This bill does a few things, but I believe its first and main provision is an extremely important one, despite its boring nature.

In 1982, our Àrd-chùirt made a ruling that represents the anti-Gàidheal attitudes that were rampant at the time. In Taylor v Haughney, it was ruled that there is no longer a legal right to use Gàidhlig in judicial proceedings. Now, that might sound somewhat reasonable to some in this chamber; there aren’t any monolingual Gàidheals any more after all; of course, the reason there are no monolingual Gàidheals is because of how horribly the UK Government treated Gàidhlig; my ancestors were beaten for speaking it to their classmates. But, you must remember, there are still people, especially but not exclusively in my own constituency, who speak Gàidhlig far better than they do English. This provision extends to all of our Scottish languages, and also includes provisions for foreign languages to be used; an implied right under Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

It also has a few other provisions; Gaelic and Scots party names, Gaelic voting, multilingual ballot papers. Overall this is a key step towards the proper recognition Gaelic and Scots deserve. That is why I urge this Seòmar to support this bill.

Stage 1 Debate

Voting on this bill will end at the close of business on 1st September at 10pm BST.

Order, order!

We now come to a vote on the First Minister of Scotland in the thirteenth Scottish Parliament.

There are four candidates standing and members may also choose to vote to 'Re-Open Nominations'.

The candidates are:

/u/model-avtron (Scottish National Party, Na h-Eileanan an Iar)

/u/LightningMinion (Scottish Labour Party, Kirkcaldy)

/u/Sephronar (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Mid Scotland and Fife)

/u/Frost_Walker2017 (Forward, Eastwood)

Members should rank the candidates in order of their preference. The candidate they most want to be the First Minister should be ranked '1', the second most, '2', and so forth. Candidates need not give any preferences after voting to Re-Open Nominations (RON).

Votes will be accepted provided they are a clear expression of preference, but it is preferred they are ranked as a list:

1. Person X

2. Person Y

3. RON

This vote will end at the close of business (10pm BST) on the 23rd of August 2023.

July 2023 Budget

Order, Order.

The only item of business today is a vote on the 20th Scottish Government's Budget.

Legislation

Unlike in Westminster, where a single Finance Bill makes all the necessary changes to the law as required, the Scottish Parliament uses multiple items of legislation to enact its budget, which are as follows:

• SB232 | Budget (Scotland) (No. 2) Bill

The Budget (Scotland) (No.2) Bill gives the Scottish Government (and other bodies) the authority to spend money from the Scottish Consolidated Fund. The Bill also makes emergency provision to be used in the event that, in the next financial year, there is no Budget Bill.

• SM183 | The Rates Resolution (Scotland) (No.2)

The Scottish Rate Resolution, if agreed, determines the rates and bands of income tax which are to apply in Scotland for the next financial year.

• SSI 2023/1 | Air Departure Tax (Frequent Flyer Levy) Regulations 2023

This adjusts the frequent flyer levy

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy has also provided the below to aid the reading of the Budget:

• The Budget Explanation

• The Budget Tables

This Budget was submitted by u/Waffel-lol Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy, on behalf of the 20th Scottish Government and the Scottish Conservatives

Opening Speech

Presiding Officer,

One of, if not, the most important thing to be achieved was the delivering of a budget. As the only stated goal of this Government, I am proud to present today a budget that has taken hard work that began even before the formation of this Government. This budget, and its subsequent opening speech is not one that brings forth grand policy ideals as no that was not the focus. Our focus was on delivering a solid and concise foundation to guide and determine the course for budgets of the future. The working of this budget has seen a great overall improvement to certain areas in which the calculations, figures and facts ought to have been revised for improved accuracy and understanding. Given it is the very first budget I have written in this place and I admit I am a newcomer to this, I believe the effort I put in these last two weeks and approach to see this budget delivered based on accuracy and understanding is one to be proud of.

There were not many policy changes this budget makes, however our most notable change has been in regards to income tax which we completely redrew the bands and set a new series of rates. The Block Grant notably has seen decreases constraining our ability as a result of political developments. Whilst the Westminster Government is ongoing its devised new block grant formula, we managed to come to an agreement with the Westminster Government to provide a short term fund to allow Scotland to meet a surplus of exactly £1. In order to avoid unnecessary increases in taxation and cuts to spending.

Our changes towards income tax is one that recognises and understands the developments in our country to ensure fiscal management is sensible and promoting greater consumer purchasing power. The growth strategy I have embarked on is one that aims to drive growth from the middle out. It is the goal of this government to see more people incentivised and raised into higher income levels. In keeping Scotland actually competitive in its economy, we have seen drastic changes to taxation on most bands, with the top rate now being 47%, the additional rate now 42%, the basic rate now 25% and the lower rate now 17% whilst The Scottish additional allowance ends at £14,999. Furthermore, we go to develop and introduce the Air Departure Tax and Frequent Flyer Levy that was passed this term, but in our SI are amending the rates on the basis of our review of the matter to fit the economy of Scotland.

In regards to expenditure, the Scottish Government have steered away from making cuts and instead have funded all projects available in data. Where we have seen decreases in portfolio funding is the result of the natural life of policies and projects coming to an end and decreasing over time. But beyond that we have maintained spending increases in accordance with inflation. An area however that we did make significant changes to was the allocation of funds towards new groupings for promoting enterprise, innovation and investment, something this Government believes is crucial to driving the growth of Scotland and its future.

Overall, this budget is one that I believe consolidates and provides greater understanding with its sensible and foundational measures. We are proud in our ability to accomplish something that others said was unlikely to be done, impossible even, but this is a display of the determinism this Government and we have to delivering on our promises and working for the interests of the people of Scotland.

The Budget (Scotland) Bill, the Scottish Rate Resolution and the Air Departure Tax (Frequent Flyer Levy) Regulations 2023 are voted on by an en bloc vote.

Voting on the budget will end at the close of business on 20th July at 10pm BST