Hansard

Graeme Dey SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

General Question Time · Scottish Information Commissioner (Government Handling of Information)

The Government has an excellent track record in responding to FOI requests. One of the two requests in question concerned releasing a huge amount of data and involved protecting the identity of individuals, and I remind Mr Ross that the other involved the Government, very unus...

Graeme Dey SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

General Question Time · Scottish Information Commissioner (Government Handling of Information)

I absolutely do not accept the thrust of Mr Ross’s point. Interruption.

Graeme Dey SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

General Question Time · Scottish Information Commissioner (Government Handling of Information)

Indeed, Presiding Officer. Oh, the irony of Douglas Ross standing up in this chamber and calling on anyone to respect authority. If anyone wants evidence of how estranged Mr Ross is from self-awareness, we have just had it. Interruption.

The Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans (Graeme Dey) SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

General Question Time · Scottish Information Commissioner (Government Handling of Information)

As the First Minister set out in the chamber on 19 March, the Scottish Government has, since the start of 2024, answered more than 13,000 freedom of information requests, of which 95 per cent have been responded to on time. The Scottish Information Commissioner has raised comp...

Graeme Dey SNP Chamber

18 Mar 2026

Parliamentary Bureau Motions

Out of respect for my good friend John Mason, I will let that one slide.On a serious point, the order will mean that, if a person who has been detained on a mental health ground has been sentenced to 12 months or less or has received a mental health detention rather than a pri...

The Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans (Graeme Dey) SNP Chamber

18 Mar 2026

Parliamentary Bureau Motions

The order responds to a European convention on human rights compliance issue that was identified in relation to voting rights for Scottish Parliament elections and which requires to be remedied ahead of the 2026 election.Section 3A(3) of the Representation of the People Act 19...

The Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans (Graeme Dey) SNP Chamber

13 Mar 2026

Business Motion

In moving the business motion on behalf of the bureau, I want briefly to provide members with context and a clear understanding of what adhering to it and avoiding the need for exceptional sittings of the kind that we have had today will require.Business managers in the Parlia...

Graeme Dey SNP Chamber

13 Mar 2026

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app was not working. I would have voted yes.

The Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans (Graeme Dey) SNP Chamber

13 Mar 2026

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I could not connect. I would have voted no.

Graeme Dey SNP Committee

12 Mar 2026

Armed Forces Bill

That is symptomatic of the good working that has been going on at both official and ministerial level. There has been a very collaborative approach.I meet monthly with Al Carns from the UK Government, who is my ministerial counterpart, and we are both committed not only to get...

Graeme Dey SNP Committee

12 Mar 2026

Armed Forces Bill

I will bring Clare McKinlay in to speak to the detail of that.

Graeme Dey SNP Committee

12 Mar 2026

Armed Forces Bill

We have local authority armed forces and veterans champions as well as national health service champions. There are some excellent local authority champions; indeed, I think that you will be aware of Chris Ahern from Perth and Kinross Council, which you served on. He is first ...

Graeme Dey SNP Committee

12 Mar 2026

Armed Forces Bill

I think that what you are alluding to, Mr Stewart, is the patchy nature of what is offered.

Graeme Dey SNP Committee

12 Mar 2026

Armed Forces Bill

I will bring in Clare McKinlay to respond to that.

Graeme Dey SNP Committee

12 Mar 2026

Armed Forces Bill

I just want to respond briefly, if I may. On housing, there are some very good examples across Scotland of local authorities having a relationship with the veterans community, and it would be recognised by them as such. However, I agree that it can be patchy, and I think that ...

Graeme Dey SNP Committee

12 Mar 2026

Armed Forces Bill

To deal with your first point, I, too, welcome the fact that that scrutiny will be in place. It has been a bugbear for some people in Parliament that there has not been that necessary interaction with veterans in the support that committees provide. That scrutiny will be helpf...

Graeme Dey SNP Committee

12 Mar 2026

Armed Forces Bill

There is a wider aspect to the question, which is what will be improved in the experience of the armed forces community and their families as a result of the new duty.I think that the new duty will focus minds among public bodies about the need to have regard to the covenant a...

The Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans (Graeme Dey) SNP Committee

12 Mar 2026

Armed Forces Bill

Good morning and thank you for inviting me along to discuss the UK Armed Forces Bill and the associated legislative consent memorandum.As you will be aware, the Armed Forces Bill 2026 was introduced to the House of Commons on Thursday 15 January. The main purpose of the bill i...

Graeme Dey SNP Chamber

11 Mar 2026

Business Motions

The Government can, of course, reflect on that. An offer was made at the bureau. Let us remember that, a few moments ago, we discussed in great detail the pressures on parliamentary business. I know that a number of members across the chamber would ideally want to ask for mini...

The Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans (Graeme Dey) SNP Chamber

11 Mar 2026

Business Motions

Members will be aware that the position regarding the Baird family hospital and ANCHOR centre continues to evolve. Commercial discussions between NHS Grampian and the contractor are still active, and those negotiations require space to conclude before any further Government up...

Graeme Dey SNP Chamber

11 Mar 2026

Business Motions

I have breaking news for Mr Briggs: the Government has sacrificed that time for that very purpose. That is the kind of challenge that we are facing. The proposal that we are considering, to be confirmed by the Parliamentary Bureau and brought back to Parliament, would be to sa...

Graeme Dey SNP Chamber

11 Mar 2026

Business Motions

On that point, Jeremy Balfour says that we should consult people who are affected, but there will be people affected by any decision that is taken.I gently point out that, at the conclusion of business last night, the Presiding Officer pointed out that we were way behind where...

Graeme Dey SNP Chamber

11 Mar 2026

Business Motions

I will make some progress and then come back to Mr Balfour.A few weeks ago, the bureau was approached by a colleague who asked that we reorder business to accommodate a childcare issue. We took that on board. An hour later, we were criticised by another colleague for making th...

The Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans (Graeme Dey) SNP Chamber

11 Mar 2026

Business Motions

It is late at night, but I hope that I can respond to all the points that have been made.Nicola Sturgeon talked about the bureau needing to take an overview of the remaining business, and that is precisely what the business managers have been attempting to do. Earlier, a comme...

Graeme Dey SNP Chamber

11 Mar 2026

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app is not working. I would have voted no.

The Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans (Graeme Dey) SNP Chamber

11 Mar 2026

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would have voted yes.

Graeme Dey SNP Committee

05 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

I will be very brief, convener. I understand Ms Webber’s position on this issue, but what we are dealing with is an anomaly in a law passed by this Parliament. The law is there; we have an issue that we need to resolve temporarily, the next Parliament can return to the matter ...

Graeme Dey SNP Committee

05 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

I will make a useful point here, for clarity. As part of considering the options that I had, I had informal discussions with the business managers of the other parties in the Parliament to get a view of what people considered the best way forward. The timing of the sunset clau...

Graeme Dey SNP Committee

05 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

We believe it to be in the region of 20 people. This is a very complex area, which is why I was reluctant to go for a permanent solution at this stage. As we are required to act for compliance reasons, we have come up with something that addresses the situation for the period ...

Graeme Dey SNP Committee

05 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

I will bring in Iain Hockenhull with the detail, but my understanding is that work has been done. The trigger for progressing all of the activity will be the signing off of the form and the passing of the SSI, if that is what Parliament decides to do. We have been engaged with...

Graeme Dey SNP Committee

05 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

The decision was reached in 2022 and predates my time. The Parliament voted for that position. In so doing, this anomaly arose, which we are now trying to address.I am not trying to duck the question, but I was not in charge of, or involved with, the bill at the time. That dec...

Graeme Dey SNP Committee

05 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

With prisoner voting?

Graeme Dey SNP Committee

05 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

Absolutely. That was always the understanding, subject to the Parliament agreeing to the instrument. The order coming into effect in November last year has allowed work to be done in advance of this year’s election. The creation of a relevant registration form is one example o...

Graeme Dey SNP Committee

05 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

Correct.

The Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans (Graeme Dey) SNP Committee

05 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

Good morning. The order that is before us today responds to a European convention on human rights compliance issue that has been identified in relation to voting rights for Scottish Parliament elections.Section 3A(3) of the Representation of the People Act 1983 prohibits some ...

The Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans (Graeme Dey) SNP Chamber

03 Mar 2026

Motion without Notice

This will probably be the last time that I do so in this session of Parliament, given what is ahead of us.Motion moved,That, under Rule 11.2.4, Decision Time be brought forward to 5.01 pm.—Graeme DeyMotion agreed to.

Graeme Dey SNP Chamber

03 Mar 2026

Business Motion

That will be a matter for the next Parliament and its committees. It is not for the Government to have a view on that. However, I recognise the frustration that Mr Mountain has articulated. As a former committee convener, I understand the challenges that are faced, particularl...

The Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans (Graeme Dey) SNP Chamber

03 Mar 2026

Business Motion

I understand Mr Mountain’s frustration on behalf of his committee if witnesses call off at short notice. As we have just heard, and as we are all aware, the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee has a packed agenda over the remaining weeks of the session. I hope that he wil...

Graeme Dey SNP Committee

26 Feb 2026

Subordinate Legislation

I think that the convener’s latter point is the most accurate one.I also want to apologise—on our part—that we find ourselves in this situation. That is for the Government and the Parliament to reflect on in relation to consultation on something of this nature. We clearly aske...

The Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans (Graeme Dey) SNP Committee

26 Feb 2026

Subordinate Legislation

I thank the committee for inviting me to give evidence on these regs.The SSI seeks to resolve a disconnect between the rules affecting dual mandate MSPs’ salaries and their pensions, as governed by the Scottish Parliamentary Pensions Act 2009 and the Scotland Act 1998. This st...

The Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans (Graeme Dey) SNP Chamber

25 Feb 2026

Business Motion

In considering this request from the Conservatives, it is important that we reflect on the extent to which these matters have already been interrogated, including directly with the Lord Advocate. Any reasonable member—even on the Tory benches such creatures still exist—would s...

Graeme Dey SNP Chamber

24 Feb 2026

Clydebank Blitz (85th Anniversary)

I absolutely agree with that sentiment. Oddly enough, as I was sitting here earlier today thinking about the debate, the thought that was going through my mind was that this is unfolding in Ukraine right now, so we really have not learned the lessons of the terrible tragedy of...

The Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans (Graeme Dey) SNP Chamber

24 Feb 2026

Clydebank Blitz (85th Anniversary)

I thank Marie McNair for securing this members’ business debate to mark the 85th anniversary of the tragic events that took place in Clydebank on 13 and 14 March 1941.It is entirely fitting that we come together today to reflect on what was the worst destruction and civilian l...

Graeme Dey SNP Chamber

24 Feb 2026

Scottish Parliament (Recall of Members) Bill

At stage 2, I committed to the Government progressing a public consultation on that very issue—well, it would be on electoral reform and would encompass that issue. I noted particularly that, if the bill did not progress, the consultation would be a vehicle for exploring that....

Graeme Dey SNP Chamber

24 Feb 2026

Scottish Parliament (Recall of Members) Bill

The Government supports the introduction of a recall process—let there be no doubt about that—but this bill, at this time, is not the right way to deliver a recall process that commands the confidence of the Parliament and those who elect us. I am not seeking to make a partisa...

The Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans (Graeme Dey) SNP Chamber

24 Feb 2026

Scottish Parliament (Recall of Members) Bill

All in this chamber care about democratic accountability—I think that that is a given. For many, the ultimate exercise in democratic accountability awaits in just a few weeks’ time, when re-election is sought. That is accountability in its most profound form.A recall process p...

Graeme Dey SNP Chamber

24 Feb 2026

Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill: Stage 3

As Mr Cole-Hamilton said, amendment 35 signals intent, so I support it.

Graeme Dey SNP Chamber

24 Feb 2026

Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill: Stage 3

At stage 2, I was happy to support Mr Cole-Hamilton’s amendment in principle, but I could not support it as it was drafted. As I noted at stage 2, his amendment called for a thorough review of a complex topic that we all agree needs careful consideration to be conducted in 12 ...

Graeme Dey SNP Chamber

24 Feb 2026

Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill: Stage 3

At stage 1 and again at stage 2, the Government made its views known on provisions to remove members of this Parliament on the grounds of non-attendance. We did not support removal for non-attendance then and we do not do so now.Mark Griffin’s amendments, which were agreed to ...

Graeme Dey SNP Chamber

24 Feb 2026

Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill: Stage 3

My amendments 19 and 20 respond to two suggestions that the Electoral Commission made in its briefing note on stage 2 proceedings.First, the commission noted that the bill did not, at that stage, contain provisions imposing a duty on it to publish reports on how well any recal...

Graeme Dey SNP Chamber

24 Feb 2026

Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill: Stage 3

I support all Mr Simpson’s amendments in the group, as they will enhance the clarity of the regional recall process by putting more detail in the bill. The committee asked for that at stage 2, and the Government agreed. New amendments that reflect consultation and engagement w...

Graeme Dey SNP Chamber

24 Feb 2026

Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill: Stage 3

Given today’s media, it is unlikely that an MSP could be sentenced in that way and that that would not be picked up on. I strongly suspect that any appeal process would also be recorded. However, there is an opportunity to take a belt-and-braces approach, and I think that the ...

Graeme Dey SNP Chamber

24 Feb 2026

Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill: Stage 3

As this is the first group with amendments from Mr Simpson, I advise Parliament that we will support all the amendments that he has lodged at stage 3.I support Mr Simpson’s minor and technical amendments in this group, particularly in relation to the short title and the remova...

Graeme Dey SNP Chamber

24 Feb 2026

Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill: Stage 3

I do not want to reduce this debate to a ridiculous level, but I have a simple question for Sue Webber. If she was nicked for speeding on her way home from Parliament tonight, should she be removed from this place? Based on what she is telling us today, the answer is yes.

Graeme Dey SNP Chamber

24 Feb 2026

Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill: Stage 3

Will the member give way?

Graeme Dey SNP Chamber

24 Feb 2026

Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill: Stage 3

I agree with Kevin Stewart. Although the Agnew report has been published and sent to the standards committee, when, in the four weeks that are left in this parliamentary session, would parliamentarians have a chance to discuss and debate it, never mind to set out and agree on ...

Graeme Dey SNP Chamber

24 Feb 2026

Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill: Stage 3

We will come to the sanctions process in due course.I will give the Parliament a flavour of what might be captured by community sentences. For example, Scottish Government statistics on community sentences cover community payback orders, restriction of liberty orders and drug ...

Graeme Dey SNP Chamber

24 Feb 2026

Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill: Stage 3

Sue Webber’s amendments are, on the whole, a mixture of her amendments at stage 2 that were either not moved or disagreed to, and, as at stage 2, the Government remains opposed to them.As I set out during stage 2, the amendments would, in the first instance, remove from the bi...

The Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans (Graeme Dey) SNP Chamber

24 Feb 2026

Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill: Stage 3

The Scottish Government cannot support any of Sue Webber’s amendments in the group, because they would change the nature of recall by removing Scottish voters from the process of determining whether their regional MSP should or should not be recalled from the Parliament as a r...

Graeme Dey SNP Chamber

24 Feb 2026

Business Motion

Let me thank Mr Kerr for today’s performance. We get this every day from Mr Kerr and Mr Ross. These are serious matters and they have been dealt with seriously by the Lord Advocate, who has provided the information on the scale on which she undertook to do so. The Conservative...