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Showing 60 of 2,097,005 contributions. Latest 30 days: 4,406. Coverage: 12 May 1999 — 17 Jun 2026.
The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Decision Time
That concludes decision time. I would just like to say that, in about one and a half minutes, a reception, which I am to chair, for the consular corps, who have been invited to the Parliament, will begin. If we had not changed our standing orders, we would have had to wait for...
The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Decision Time
The result of the division on motion S7M-00397, in the name of Jamie Hepburn, on the suspension of standing orders, is: For 108, Against 10, Abstentions 0.Motion agreed to,That the Parliament agrees that, for the purposes of consideration of the legislative consent memorandum ...
Speaker unknown Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Decision Time
ForAdam, George (Paisley) (SNP)Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP)Ahmed, Irshad (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab)Anderson, Heather (Dundee City West) (SNP)Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire West and Levern Valley) (SNP)Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab)Baker, Claire (Mid Scot...
The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Decision Time
There will be a division.
The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Decision Time
The final question is, that motion S7M-00397, in the name of Jamie Hepburn, on the suspension of standing orders, be agreed to. Are we agreed?Members: No.
The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Decision Time
The next question is, that motion S7M-00379, in the name of Jamie Hepburn, on the designation of a lead committee, be agreed to.Motion agreed to,That the Parliament agrees that the Economy, Tourism and Energy Committee be designated as the lead committee in consideration of th...
The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Decision Time
The next question is, that motion S7M-00378, in the name of Jamie Hepburn, on the suspension and variation of standing orders, be agreed to.Motion agreed to,That the Parliament agrees—(a) under Rule 17.2.1(b) to suspend and vary Standing Orders as follows for the purpose of De...
The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Decision Time
The result of the division on motion S7M-00367, in the name of Stephen Flynn, on affordable bus fares, as amended, is: For 93, Against 26, Abstentions 0.Motion, as amended, agreed to,That the Parliament recognises the importance of affordable bus services connecting people to ...
Speaker unknown Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Decision Time
ForAdam, George (Paisley) (SNP)Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP)Ahmed, Irshad (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab)Anderson, Heather (Dundee City West) (SNP)Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire West and Levern Valley) (SNP)Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab)Baker, Claire (Mid Scot...
The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Decision Time
Your vote will be recorded.
Katherine Sangster (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab) Lab Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Decision Time
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I could not connect to the digital voting platform. I would have voted yes.
The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Decision Time
There will be a division.The vote is closed.
The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Decision Time
The next question is, that motion S7M-00367, in the name of Stephen Flynn, on affordable bus fares, as amended, be agreed to. Are we agreed?Members: No.
The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Decision Time
The result of the division on amendment S7M-00367.4, in the name of Craig Hoy, is: For 10, Against 107, Abstentions 0.Amendment disagreed to.
Speaker unknown Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Decision Time
ForBriggs, Miles (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Con)Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con)Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con)Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Con...
The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Decision Time
Your vote has been recorded.
The Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs (Gillian Martin) SNP Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Decision Time
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I could not connect. I would have voted no.
The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Decision Time
There will be a division.The vote is closed.
The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Decision Time
The next question is, that amendment S7M-00367.4, in the name of Craig Hoy, which seeks to amend motion S7M-00367, in the name of Stephen Flynn, on affordable bus fares, be agreed to. Are we agreed?Members: No.
The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Decision Time
The result of the division on amendment S7M-00367.3, in the name of Daniel Johnson, is: For 84, Against 26, Abstentions 9.Amendment agreed to.
Speaker unknown Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Decision Time
ForAdam, George (Paisley) (SNP)Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP)Ahmed, Irshad (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab)Anderson, Heather (Dundee City West) (SNP)Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire West and Levern Valley) (SNP)Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab)Baker, Claire (Mid Scot...
The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Decision Time
Your vote has been recorded.
Kate Nevens (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green) Green Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Decision Time
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My technology did not work. I would have voted yes.
The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Decision Time
There will be a division.The vote is closed.
The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Decision Time
The next question is, that amendment S7M-00367.3, in the name of Daniel Johnson, which seeks to amend motion S7M-00367, in the name of Stephen Flynn, on affordable bus fares, be agreed to. Are we agreed?Members: No.
The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Decision Time
The result of the division on amendment S7M-00367.1, in the name of Graham Simpson, is: For 23, Against 78, Abstentions 15.Amendment disagreed to.
Speaker unknown Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Decision Time
ForBannerman, Max (Highlands and Islands) (Reform)Baxter, Andrew (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (LD)Beresford, Senga (South Scotland) (Reform)Bland, Amanda (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Reform)Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh North Western) (LD)Currie, Victor (Highlands and I...
The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Decision Time
There will be a division.
The Presiding Officer (Kenneth Gibson) NPA Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Decision Time
There are seven questions to be put as a result of today’s business.The first question is, that amendment S7M-00367.1, in the name of Graham Simpson, which seeks to amend motion S7M-00367, in the name of Stephen Flynn, on affordable bus fares, be agreed to. Are we agreed?Membe...
Speaker unknown Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Decision Time
17:49
The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Parliamentary Bureau Motions
The question on the motion will be put at decision time.
Jamie Hepburn SNP Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Parliamentary Bureau Motions
Again, I say with respect that it is not the Government’s place to handhold a committee and talk through the entire process of how it might want to consider such matters. There is a limit to how far I can undertake that exercise. The point is that the Government has engaged wi...
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh North Western) (LD) LD Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Parliamentary Bureau Motions
The minister will forgive me, because Liberal Democrats are not represented on the Economy, Tourism and Energy Committee, so we are unclear as to the process that has been followed on this occasion. Is he clear that, when he asked the convener of the committee, the convener ha...
Jamie Hepburn SNP Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Parliamentary Bureau Motions
With the best will in the world, I say to Mr Sweeney that that sounds very much like a matter for the substantive debate on the LCM next week, when Parliament decides to grant or withhold consent. The Scottish Government has taken a position and is presenting that to Parliamen...
Paul Sweeney (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Parliamentary Bureau Motions
The only consideration operationally in Scotland in relation to the bill would be the Dalzell steelworks in Motherwell, which is a critical industrial facility. Does the minister have an indication of whether the bill will have a direct impact on the operation of and efforts t...
Jamie Hepburn SNP Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Parliamentary Bureau Motions
I believe that that was communicated to all business managers—that is my understanding—and it was certainly communicated to me. With the best will in the world, I can do only so much to try to facilitate committee consideration. At every opportunity that I have, I will seek to...
Rachael Hamilton Con Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Parliamentary Bureau Motions
The minister will know that the committee has not yet met and that the committee members were not aware that the convener had rejected the possibility that we could bring in witnesses next week.
Jamie Hepburn SNP Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Parliamentary Bureau Motions
I was going to come on to that. I recognise that point, and it was considered, given Ms Hamilton’s concerns. There was engagement with the Economy, Tourism and Energy Committee, and the convener of that committee indicated that he was content for the committee not to consider ...
Rachael Hamilton Con Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Parliamentary Bureau Motions
We are a powerful Parliament. The Parliamentary Bureau should consider that the committee can request to sit on another day. We have a full week left next week. The committee could request that witnesses give evidence on a day when it does not normally sit—that is entirely pos...
The Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans (Jamie Hepburn) SNP Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Parliamentary Bureau Motions
I recognise that it is regrettable that I must stand before Parliament today and ask that it suspend standing orders to allow the first motion on legislative consent in this parliamentary session to come straight to the chamber.By way of background, the UK Government introduce...
Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Parliamentary Bureau Motions
First, I acknowledge that the Scottish Government requested that the United Kingdom legislation be amended to require consent for the exercise of powers in relation to steel undertakings in Scotland, where those powers are exercised for a devolved purpose. That request was not...
The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Parliamentary Bureau Motions
The questions on the motions will be put at decision time.The next item of business is consideration of Parliamentary Bureau motion S7M-00397, in the name of Jamie Hepburn, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, on suspension of standing orders. I ask Jamie Hepburn, on behalf ...
The Presiding Officer (Kenneth Gibson) NPA Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Parliamentary Bureau Motions
The next item of business is consideration of two Parliamentary Bureau motions. I ask Jamie Hepburn, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, to move motion S7M-00378, on suspension and variation of standing orders, and motion S7M-00379, on designation of lead committee.Motions ...
Speaker unknown Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Parliamentary Bureau Motions
17:40
The Presiding Officer (Kenneth Gibson) NPA Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Business Motion
The next item of business is consideration of business motion S7M-00377, in the name of Jamie Hepburn, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a business programme.Motion moved,That the Parliament agrees—(a) the following programme of business—Tuesday 23 June 20262....
Speaker unknown Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Business Motion
17:40
The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Law Officers
The result of the division on motion S7M-00380, in the name of John Swinney, on the appointment of law officers, is: For 102, Against 16, Abstentions 0.Motion agreed to,That the Parliament agrees that it be recommended to His Majesty that Ruth Charteris KC be appointed as the ...
Speaker unknown Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Law Officers
ForAdam, George (Paisley) (SNP)Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP)Ahmed, Irshad (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab)Anderson, Heather (Dundee City West) (SNP)Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire West and Levern Valley) (SNP)Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab)Baker, Claire (Mid Scot...
The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Law Officers
Your vote has been recorded.
The Minister for Public Finance (Hannah Mary Goodlad) SNP Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Law Officers
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would have voted yes as well, but I was not able to.
The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Law Officers
Your vote has been recorded.
Paul McLennan (East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs) (SNP) SNP Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Law Officers
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I was unable to connect; I would have voted yes.
The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Law Officers
We come to the vote on motion S7M-00380, in the name of John Swinney, on the appointment of law officers. Members should cast their votes now.The vote is closed.
The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Law Officers
There will be a division. There will be a short suspension to allow members to access the digital voting system.17:34Meeting suspended.17:38On resuming—
The Presiding Officer NPA Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Law Officers
Thank you. That concludes the debate on the appointment of law officers.The question is, that motion S7M-00380, in the name of John Swinney, on the appointment of law officers, be agreed to. Are we agreed?Members: No.
The First Minister SNP Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Law Officers
I thank colleagues for their contributions to the debate. On the specific point that Amanda Bland raised about the conduct of criminal cases, I confirm on the record, as has been confirmed on many occasions in the past, that wherever there is a legal issue in connection with a...
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh North Western) (LD) LD Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Law Officers
Before I come to the appointments before the Parliament today, I, too, on behalf of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, pay tribute to Dorothy Bain KC—the second woman to hold the post of Lord Advocate in our country. She was very generous with her time with me, and forgiving of m...
Maggie Chapman (North East Scotland) (Green) Green Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Law Officers
I am pleased to speak in support of the motion recommending the appointment of Ruth Charteris KC as Lord Advocate and Brian Gill KC as Solicitor General for Scotland.Before I turn to the appointments before us, however, I will take a moment to recognise, as other members have,...
Anas Sarwar (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Law Officers
I put on the record my thanks, and the thanks of the Scottish Labour Party, for the work done by Dorothy Bain KC as Lord Advocate over the past five years. Dorothy Bain is a highly regarded professional who has given dedicated service to her country and her profession, and we ...
Amanda Bland (Central Scotland and Lothians West) (Reform) Reform Chamber
17 Jun 2026
Law Officers
The First Minister seeks Parliament’s agreement to recommend to His Majesty the King the appointment of Ruth Charteris KC to the role of Lord Advocate and Brian Gill KC to the role of Solicitor General.The Lord Advocate has a unique position as both the chief legal adviser to ...
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Chamber

Meeting of the Parliament 17 June 2026 [Last updated 18:21]

17 Jun 2026 · S7 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Bus Fares
Flynn, Stephen SNP Aberdeen Deeside and North Kincardine Watch on SPTV

I am not sure that we have ever willingly been pushed out of our comfort zone, let alone by Mr Harvie.

We are proud of the commitment that we have made to Scotland’s young people. In a Parliament of minorities, it is important that, where we can get consensus and work together in relation to the budget, we seek to do so.

In real terms, more than 3 million journeys are being made every single week with the Scottish Government bus pass. I had the good fortune to visit Buchanan bus station in Glasgow this morning to hear from young folk who have been making the most of it. They told me about the positive impact that free bus travel has had on their lives, saving them money and opening up work, education, leisure, social and even relationship opportunities—

In the same item of business

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Katy Clark) Lab
The next item of business is a Scottish Government debate on affordable bus fares. I call Stephen Flynn to speak to and move motion S7M-00367.15:07
The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport (Stephen Flynn) SNP
Presiding Officer, I—Interruption. Sorry, Presiding Officer—I forgot to put my card in. I am stuck in my ways from down the road, as I have not been used to ...
Willie Rennie (Fife North East) (LD) LD
Will the cabinet secretary give way?
Stephen Flynn SNP
On that note, I am happy to give way to Mr Rennie.
Willie Rennie LD
I do not disagree with what the cabinet secretary says. However, does he also recognise that people in my constituency and in many other constituencies compl...
Stephen Flynn SNP
I thank Mr Rennie for his intervention; I will come to address those points during my speech.To return to my speech, that is why, in the election just five s...
Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Lab
Made a request to intervene.
Stephen Flynn SNP
I can see that Mr Johnson is very keen to welcome that fact.
Daniel Johnson Lab
I invite the cabinet secretary to welcome the fact that it was the Scottish Labour-Lib Dem coalition Government that introduced the bus pass for the over-60s...
Stephen Flynn SNP
We are challenging each other now to welcome facts. I notice that he did not do so in respect of the young people’s bus pass. I see that he is now correcting...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green) Green
Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?
Stephen Flynn SNP
Yes, of course I will take an intervention from Mr Harvie, who I would imagine is about to indicate his role during the course of the previous parliamentary ...
Patrick Harvie Green
The cabinet secretary has predicted correctly. Just to complete that conversation, I will say that I am sure that the cabinet secretary is proud—and he shoul...
Stephen Flynn SNP
I am not sure that we have ever willingly been pushed out of our comfort zone, let alone by Mr Harvie.We are proud of the commitment that we have made to Sco...
Craig Hoy (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Con
Made a request to intervene.
Stephen Flynn SNP
—which Mr Hoy seems to have a particular interest in.
Craig Hoy Con
I rise not in a spirit of self-congratulation, unlike the other members who have intervened so far. I have a question about young people beyond the cities. I...
Stephen Flynn SNP
Mr Hoy tries to drag me into a conversation in relation to the reliability and availability of buses, but he need not do that, because I understand and recog...
Patrick Harvie Green
I am grateful to the cabinet secretary for being so generous in taking interventions. Does he agree that one of the further steps that needs to be taken is t...
Stephen Flynn SNP
I understand Mr Harvie’s argument and I am more than willing to engage with him on that particular issue.However, I turn to a different pilot. Earlier this y...
Paul Sweeney (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab
For several years, my constituents have been frustrated that they are paying the most expensive bus fares in the United Kingdom when other parts of the UK ha...
Stephen Flynn SNP
I am not sure that I can go much quicker, having just been elected to this Parliament, than to give the commitment that I just made in relation to our party’...
Craig Hoy Con
Will Mr Flynn take an intervention?
Stephen Flynn SNP
I will make some progress, if that is okay—actually, I see that Craig Hoy is desperate to come in, so I will let him.
Craig Hoy Con
For clarification, is the cabinet secretary now proposing to extend the pilot scheme to the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport area? In light of the exper...
Stephen Flynn SNP
I feel as though I need to repeat myself: we just ran an election campaign with the commitment to extend the £2 bus fare cap to those areas front and centre....
Daniel Johnson Lab
That may be true, but why have no such partnerships been brought forward? Why did it take six years for the Government to publish guidelines on bus franchisi...
Stephen Flynn SNP
The SPT has come forward with such plans, as I am sure Mr Johnson is aware.Of those powers, franchising has perhaps been the subject of the greatest attentio...
Graham Simpson (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Reform) Reform
The cabinet secretary has been extremely generous with interventions. I want him to address the question on franchising. I know that the issue precedes him, ...
Stephen Flynn SNP
I will come to that point in just a second.It is that interest that led us to work on a cross-party basis during the current budget process and to commit up ...