Hansard

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 Parliament have put together a programme for the next two weeks that will complete the outstanding legislation while avoiding the need to convene on Fridays or Mondays—or, indeed, to extend session 6 by 24 hours. We are giving members the earliest possible sight of the proposals in order to help them to make any arrangements that they require to make.

However, sitting until 10 pm next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday will not in itself guarantee that we achieve that. In order to avoid exceptional sittings, members—including ministers—will need to play their part by ensuring that we stick to the timings that are allocated to each item in the programme. Business managers will be able to advise their parties on what that might require of individuals, and I would be happy to have conversations with independent members if that would be helpful.

The proposed programme does not seek to curtail consideration of or debate on very important matters, but it is a fact that some of the most powerful and impactful contributions that are heard in the Parliament can also be among the most succinct.

I ask Parliament to approve the business motion.

I move,

That the Parliament agrees to the following revisions to the programme of business for—

(a) Tuesday 17 March 2026—

delete

Ministerial Statement: A Year of Progress in Bringing Down Long Waits - Driving Continued Improvement and Building a Stronger NHS

(b) Thursday 19 March 2026—

after

followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill

insert

followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill

after

followed by Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Motion: Amendments to the Scottish Parliament Salaries Scheme

insert

followed by Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee Debate: Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee's 3rd Report, 2026 (Session 6)

followed by Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee Debate: Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee's 4th Report, 2026 (Session 6)

followed by Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee Debate: Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee's 8th Report, 2026 (Session 6)

delete

9.05 pm Decision Time

and insert

10.00 pm Decision Time

(c) Tuesday 24 March 2026—

delete

followed by Scottish Government Business

and insert

followed by Ministerial Statement: Scotland’s Climate Change Plan 2026-2040

followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Restraint and Seclusion in Schools (Scotland) Bill

followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Visitor Levy (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill

followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill

followed by Motion of Legislative Consent: Crime and Policing Bill – UK Legislation

followed by Motion of Legislative Consent: Tobacco and Vapes Bill – UK Legislation

followed by Motion of Legislative Consent: Armed Forces Bill – UK Legislation

followed by Motion of Legislative Consent: Railways Bill – UK Legislation

followed by Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee Debate: Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee's 6th Report, 2026 (Session 6)

followed by Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee Debate: Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee's 7th Report, 2026 (Session 6)

followed by Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee Debate: Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee's 10th Report, 2026 (Session 6)

delete

5.00 pm Decision Time

and insert

6.00 pm Decision Time

(d) Wednesday 25 March 2026—

delete

4.45 pm Decision Time

and insert

4.30 pm Decision Time