Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 16 December 2025 [Draft]
16 Dec 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Aphasia Awareness
We move to the open debate.
18:15
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-18720, in the name of Rona Mackay, on awareness of aphasia. The debate will be conclu...
Rona Mackay (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
SNP
This is the Parliament’s first debate on aphasia, and it is a historic moment for those who are living with the condition and for their loved ones. I am deli...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
We move to the open debate. 18:15
Roz McCall (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I thank Rona Mackay for securing this members’ business debate today, more so because it is the first time that aphasia has been debated as a stand-alone iss...
Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I am happy to support and speak to the motion, and I congratulate Rona Mackay on securing this debate on aphasia, which is a hidden communication disorder th...
Carol Mochan (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I thank Rona Mackay for bringing this debate to the chamber. As others have said, it is a historic first debate about the condition. I also welcome the visit...
Mercedes Villalba (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I am grateful to my constituents who volunteer at Speakability Tayside, who contacted me ahead of tonight’s debate. Does Ms Mochan agree that something that ...
Carol Mochan
Lab
I absolutely agree with the member. I always take every opportunity to promote training, particularly from allied health professionals—Eileen Smith and I wer...
Jamie Hepburn (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP)
SNP
I am pleased to speak in support of Rona Mackay’s motion. I thank her for securing the debate and for shining a light on aphasia and on the realities that ar...
Michael Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I thank Rona Mackay for the opportunity to speak in this debate about aphasia. Among those who are joining us in the public gallery today are just some of th...
The Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health (Jenni Minto)
SNP
I thank Rona Mackay for lodging the motion, which highlights the important and often overlooked impacts of aphasia. As colleagues have noted, this is a histo...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Thank, you minister. That concludes the debate. Meeting closed at 18:45.