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Every contribution to the Official Report — chamber and committee — searchable in one place. Pulled from data.parliament.scot, indexed for full-text search, linked through to every MSP.

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1999–2026
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Showing 60 of 2,354,908 contributions. Latest 30 days: 0. Coverage: 12 May 1999 — 25 Mar 2026.
Karen Adam SNP Chamber
25 Mar 2026
Portfolio Question Time · Older People’s Housing
Over the past five years, in representing Banffshire and Buchan Coast, I have met many older constituents who are deeply worried about the future of such complexes. Those cases have touched my heart, and they are urgent. Those people want to stay independent and they want home...
3. Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP Chamber
25 Mar 2026
Portfolio Question Time · Older People’s Housing
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that older people’s housing, including sheltered housing, is prioritised in local housing planning and delivery. (S6O-05711)
Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP Chamber
19 Mar 2026
Portfolio Question Time · Oil and Gas Supply Chain (Job Losses)
It is Labour’s reckless decision to continue the energy profits levy, but it was started by the Tories, and it is causing hundreds of job losses. Experts are warning that it is going to cost thousands more. It is going to undermine energy security and the just transition that ...
Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP Chamber
12 Mar 2026
First Minister’s Question Time
Presiding Officer,“Labour are doing to Aberdeen what Margaret Thatcher did to Middlesbrough, and it’s utterly shameful.”Those are the words and assessment of GMB general secretary Gary Smith on the impact of the Labour United Kingdom Government’s policies on the north-east and...
Karen Adam SNP Chamber
12 Mar 2026
General Question Time · Bus Services (Rural and Coastal Constituencies)
A survey that I recently carried out in my constituency of Banffshire and Buchan Coast showed extremely low satisfaction with the local Stagecoach bus services, because of repeated cancellations, poor communication and concerns about accessibility. Many people told me that the...
5. Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP Chamber
12 Mar 2026
General Question Time · Bus Services (Rural and Coastal Constituencies)
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the reliability and accountability of bus services in rural and coastal constituencies. (S6O-05631)
The Convener SNP Committee
10 Mar 2026
Decision on Taking Business in Private
We will now move into private session to consider the remaining items on our agenda.10:00Meeting continued in private until 12:04.
The Convener (Karen Adam) SNP Committee
10 Mar 2026
Decision on Taking Business in Private
Good morning, and welcome to the 8th meeting of 2026, in session 6, of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. We have received apologies from Marie McNair.Our only public agenda item is to agree to take in private, in the committee’s remaining meetings durin...
Karen Adam SNP Chamber
04 Mar 2026
Education
Does the member agree that the two-child benefit cap and a restriction in public service spending would affect the poverty-related attainment gap?
Karen Adam SNP Chamber
04 Mar 2026
Education
I understand what the member says about time, but things have changed so much in the past six years since Covid. Also, young people just do not know what type of roles and jobs will be available in the future. They might be in school right now, but the jobs that they will be g...
Karen Adam SNP Chamber
04 Mar 2026
Education
I identified in my opening remarks that we are not saying that the situation is perfect. There are areas that need improvement. The cabinet secretary said that herself. However, it is not blanket failure—absolutely not.I have lived experience of things that have not gone well,...
Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP Chamber
04 Mar 2026
Education
This debate cannot be reduced to the idea that Scottish education is simply failing, because that is just not true. Yes, there are pressures; yes, there are areas where improvement is needed; and yes, Opposition parties are right to raise those concerns. However, they should a...
Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP Chamber
04 Mar 2026
Portfolio Question Time · Future Farming Investment Scheme
Does the minister agree that the £21.4 million investment, which will be augmented by at least a further £14.25 million this financial year, in addition to the most generous direct support package in the UK, highlights that positive action is being taken to invest in our rural...
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
Subordinate Legislation
As no other members wish to comment, that concludes consideration of the instruments.Before we move into private to consider the remaining items on our agenda, I note that, although there will be further meetings in private to consider our draft reports, this is expected to be...
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
Subordinate Legislation
Do any other members wish to comment?
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
Subordinate Legislation
Do members agree to write to the Government to ask about that?Members indicated agreement.
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
Subordinate Legislation
Welcome back. Our third agenda item is consideration of six Scottish statutory instruments under the negative procedure. I refer members to paper 3. Do members have any comments to make about any of the instruments?
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”
That is really interesting, and it is great to hear that that work is on-going.That brings us to the end of the evidence session. I thank our witnesses very much for joining us. I suspend the meeting briefly before we move to our next agenda item.11:10Meeting suspended.11:18On...
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”
I was also thinking about the preventative work that you have spoken about and that early-years intervention. That would be covered as well.Another side—which you touched on, Jemina—is the education of perpetrators. In what you have said today, I hear trauma for deaf mothers a...
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”
Before we move on, I will pick up on a point that Tess White made. The committee highlighted in our post-legislative scrutiny of the British Sign Language (Scotland) Act 2015 that there should be parity with Gaelic. I am paying attention to what you have said about that. If th...
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”
We will now move on to questions from Rhoda Grant, who joins us online.
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”
Would Lucy like to come in at this point?
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”
That is great. Thank you. We will move on to questions from Marie McNair.
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”
I am cognisant of the fact that we are now an hour into this evidence session, and we still have half an hour to go, so I just want to check whether we are okay or whether anyone needs a comfort break. Do we need to suspend briefly for a few minutes, or are we all good?
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”
That is great, thank you so much, Lucy.10:15
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”
That is really interesting, Jemina, because if you do not have the language for it, how do you communicate it? That is a really pertinent point. Thank you for that.
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”
I understand that things such as sexual health, women’s hormones and sexual consent are often taboo to talk about, but coercive control is quite hard to describe in the hearing world as it is. We know that those discussions are often hard to have in the public space, so should...
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”
We will now move on to questions from Paul McLennan.
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”
Thank you for that, Lucy. Some of the most disturbing evidence that you have presented relates to children being used as interpreters. When the police arrive on the scene, children as young as six or seven are having to communicate between their mother and the police and descr...
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”
We move to questions from Maggie Chapman.
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”
I realise that you might not have the information to hand, but is the lack of interpreters due to the density of the population being in the central belt or is to a lack of access to education?
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”
Thank you all very much. We will move on to questions. Jemina, you touched on this in your opening statement. Given the shortage of interpreters, what specific approaches would most effectively improve access to qualified BSL interpreters in domestic abuse and justice settings?
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”
Our second agenda item is a consideration of the findings of a joint research report on the perspectives of deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on deaf families, by Professor Jemina Napier, Dr Claire Houghton, Lucy Clar...
The Convener (Karen Adam) SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
Decision on Taking Business in Private
Good morning and welcome to the seventh meeting in 2026, in session 6, of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. We have no apologies this morning. Pam Gosal and Rhoda Grant join us remotely.Our first agenda item is a decision on taking in private agenda ite...
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Neurodivergence
That is a great point on which to end. I thank the minister and his officials for attending the meeting.We will go into private to discuss the remaining agenda items.12:17Meeting continued in private until 12:41.
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Neurodivergence
I have a final question, which is about employment—I recognise that it is not specifically connected to your portfolio. People with lived experience of being neurodivergent have told us about their experiences in the workplace and in trying to access work. Most of them really ...
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Neurodivergence
Rhoda, do you want to ask your questions on criminal justice?
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Neurodivergence
We move on to questions from Marie McNair, who will be followed by Paul McLennan.
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Neurodivergence
Thank you very much for that really helpful feedback.
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Neurodivergence
How will the new £7.5 million of funding for neurodevelopmental assessments reduce waiting times and when will you see measurable improvements?
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Neurodivergence
Thank you. We now move to members’ questions, and I will kick us off. What concrete actions does the Scottish Government intend to take to ensure that a functioning, consistent neurodevelopmental assessment pathway is available to people across Scotland?
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Neurodivergence
Welcome back. Our next agenda item is our final evidence session in our inquiry into neurodivergence in Scotland. I welcome to the meeting Tom Arthur, who is Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing. The minister is accompanied by Georgia de Courcy Wheeler, who is CAMHS a...
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Subordinate Legislation
That brings this agenda item to a close. I thank the minister and her officials once again for joining us. We will suspend briefly for a changeover of witnesses.11:06Meeting suspended.11:09On resuming—
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Subordinate Legislation
We move on to questions from Tess White.
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Subordinate Legislation
We will move to Rhoda Grant, please.
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Subordinate Legislation
Rhoda Grant has a supplementary question.
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Subordinate Legislation
We move to questions from members, and I will kick us off. What specific progress has been made on the human rights bill?
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Subordinate Legislation
Welcome back. Our fourth agenda item is to take evidence on Scotland-specific issues raised in the concluding observations and recommendations of the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The Scottish Government published its high-level action plan ...
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Subordinate Legislation
That concludes consideration of the instruments. We will suspend briefly to set up for our next agenda item.09:47Meeting suspended.09:57On resuming—
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Subordinate Legislation
Our next item of business is consideration of three negative Scottish statutory instruments. As no member has indicated that they have comments, are members content not to make any comments to the Parliament on any of the instruments?Members indicated agreement.
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Subordinate Legislation
That concludes this agenda item. I thank the minister and officials for their attendance.
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Subordinate Legislation
Do members agree to delegate to me approval of the publication of a short factual report on our deliberations on the affirmative instrument that we have considered today?Members indicated agreement.
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Subordinate Legislation
We move to agenda item 3, which is the formal consideration of motion S6M-20605. I invite the minister to move the motion.Motion moved,That the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee recommends that the Legal Aid and Advice and Assistance (Fees) (Miscellaneous Am...
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Subordinate Legislation
We now have questions from Paul McLennan.
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Subordinate Legislation
Thank you. We will move on to questions from Maggie Chapman.
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Subordinate Legislation
Our second agenda item is consideration of a draft affirmative instrument. I welcome to the meeting Siobhian Brown, Minister for Victims and Community Safety, who is accompanied by the following Scottish Government officials: Ciaran McDonald, legal aid reform team leader, and ...
The Convener (Karen Adam) SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Decision on Taking Business in Private
Good morning, and welcome to the sixth meeting in 2026, in session 6, of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. We have received apologies from Pam Gosal, and Maggie Chapman and Paul McLennan are joining us remotely.Our first agenda item is a decision on tak...
Karen Adam SNP Chamber
19 Feb 2026
Public Services (Funding)
Will the member take an intervention?
Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP Chamber
19 Feb 2026
Public Services (Funding)
I am grateful to have the opportunity to debate the motion, and I thank Alexander Burnett for bringing it to the chamber. However, there is something quite ironic about the subject of the debate, and I will not shy away from calling that out.We cannot let the Conservatives off...
Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP Chamber
19 Feb 2026
First Minister’s Question Time
This week, Scotland reaches a milestone as more than 50,000 households receive support to live in a warmer home, with homes now being cheaper to heat. Meanwhile, the Scottish National Party Government published plans that could mean that communities across Scotland see more mo...
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Chamber

Meeting of the Parliament 19 March 2026 [Draft]

19 Mar 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Portfolio Question Time
Oil and Gas Supply Chain (Job Losses)
Martin, Gillian SNP Aberdeenshire East Watch on SPTV

It is not just me who agrees with Karen Adam; Offshore Energies UK and Scottish Renewables also agree that the energy profits levy is putting a just energy transition at risk. The Scottish Government is doing all that it can with the levers that are available to us to support Scotland’s skilled oil and gas workers to ensure that they can carry their expertise and experience into different roles as the energy sector evolves. I am pleased to report that more than 400 oil and gas workers have been approved for funding, supported by careers advice, to access training that is related to roles in the sustainable energy sector through the oil and gas transition training fund pilot.

Earlier this week, the Deputy First Minister announced new funding to support 350 workers at ExxonMobil’s Mossmorran ethylene plant to receive training and employment support at Fife College. That builds on the reskilling and job support that we have provided at Grangemouth.

In the same item of business

2. Meghan Gallacher (Central Scotland) (Con) Con
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to prevent further job losses in the oil and gas supply chain as a result of the energy transition. (S...
The Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy (Gillian Martin) SNP
Key policy levers for the offshore energy transition, including decisions on licensing, consenting and the fiscal regime for North Sea oil and gas, are reser...
Meghan Gallacher Con
Under the Scottish National Party Government and the UK Labour Government, the oil and gas industry is losing 1,000 jobs a month, which is having a catastrop...
Gillian Martin SNP
The Scottish Government does not take a position against oil and gas. We support oil and gas workers. We believe that the existing fields have much more to g...
Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP
It is Labour’s reckless decision to continue the energy profits levy, but it was started by the Tories, and it is causing hundreds of job losses. Experts are...
Gillian Martin SNP
It is not just me who agrees with Karen Adam; Offshore Energies UK and Scottish Renewables also agree that the energy profits levy is putting a just energy t...
Mercedes Villalba (North East Scotland) (Lab) Lab
The energy transition for workers in the oil and gas supply chain must be a truly just transition. It is therefore particularly concerning that approval of R...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP
Please focus on matters that lie within the cabinet secretary’s portfolio responsibility.
Gillian Martin SNP
I am singularly focused on a just transition, but approval of new oil and gas fields is reserved to the UK Government.