Meeting of the Parliament 30 April 2025
This motion adds a statement on the programme for government to the schedule for next week. Some members will be interested to know that, unlike in other years, there will be an opportunity to ask questions of the First Minister following his statement, which will be followed by a debate in the usual fashion. There will be another programme for government debate the following day.
Members may also like to look further ahead and see that, in the following week, on 13 May, we will have a stage 1 debate on the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill. There will be Conservative Party business and Scottish Government business on the following days. That is probably as much information as I can extend on the business motion.
I move,
That the Parliament agrees—
(a) the following programme of business—
Tuesday 6 May 2025
2.00 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Topical Questions (if selected)
followed by First Minister’s Statement: Programme for Government 2025-26
followed by Scottish Government Debate: Programme for Government 2025-26
followed by Committee Announcements
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Wednesday 7 May 2025
2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2.00 pm Portfolio Questions:
Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands;
Health and Social Care
followed by Scottish Government Debate: Programme for Government: Building the Best Future for Scotland
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Approval of SSIs (if required)
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Thursday 8 May 2025
11.40 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions
11.40 am General Questions
12.00 pm First Minister’s Questions
followed by Members’ Business
2.30 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2.30 pm Portfolio Questions:
Social Justice
followed by Ministerial Statement: Relationships and Behaviour in Schools
followed by Scottish Government Debate: Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
Tuesday 13 May 2025
2.00 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Topical Questions (if selected)
followed by Stage 1 Debate: Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill
followed by Committee Announcements
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
6.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Wednesday 14 May 2025
2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2.00 pm Portfolio Questions:
Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, and Parliamentary Business;
Justice and Home Affairs
followed by Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Business
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Approval of SSIs (if required)
5.10 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Thursday 15 May 2025
11.40 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions
11.40 am General Questions
12.00 pm First Minister’s Questions
followed by Members’ Business
2.30 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2.30 pm Portfolio Questions:
Education and Skills
followed by Scottish Government Business
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
(b) that, for the purposes of Portfolio Questions in the week beginning 5 May 2025, in rule 13.7.3, after the word “except” the words “to the extent to which the Presiding Officer considers that the questions are on the same or similar subject matter or” are inserted.
Motion agreed to.