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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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Showing 60 of 2,354,908 contributions. Latest 30 days: 0. Coverage: 12 May 1999 — 25 Mar 2026.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Presiding Officer’s Closing Remarks

I have the great pleasure of handing over the microphone to our Presiding Officer, who wishes to address the chamber.16:48

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

There is one question to be put as a result of today’s business. The question is, that motion S6M-21180, in the name of John Swinney, on a motion of thanks, be agreed to.Motion agreed to,That the Parliament expresses its thanks to its Presiding Officer, Alison Johnstone, for h...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Motion of Thanks

That concludes the debate on the motion of thanks.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Motion of Thanks

I call Russell Findlay.16:30

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Motion of Thanks

First Minister, could I possibly ask you to move the motion? Laughter.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Motion of Thanks

Before we turn to the next item of business, I hope that members do not mind if I say a few words. I would like to say specifically what an honour it has been for me to serve in the Scottish Parliament, which, of course, was reconvened by my late mother, Winnie Ewing, in 1999....

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Temporary Accommodation

That concludes portfolio question time. There will be a short pause before we move on to the next item of business.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Heating Oil Prices (Low-income Rural and Off-grid Households)

I call Clare Adamson, who joins us remotely.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · First-time Buyers

I beg your pardon. That was my fault.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · First-time Buyers

Fulton MacGregor has a supplementary question.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · First-time Buyers

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Mobile Phone Use in Schools (Ban)

That concludes the debate. There will be a short pause before we move on to the next item of business.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Mobile Phone Use in Schools (Ban)

Cabinet secretary, I appreciate that you are trying to respond to everybody, but I am conscious of the next debate and of the fact that all the members are here and ready for that to go ahead. Perhaps you could bring your remarks to a close.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Mobile Phone Use in Schools (Ban)

I remind the member to always speak through the chair.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Mobile Phone Use in Schools (Ban)

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Mobile Phone Use in Schools (Ban)

Thank you, Mr O’Kane, for your kind words.13:15

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Mobile Phone Use in Schools (Ban)

The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-20881, in the name of Pam Gosal, on a Scotland-wide ban on the use of mobile phones in schools. The debate will be concluded without any question being put.Motion debated,That the Parliament notes what it se...

Annabelle Ewing (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) SNP Chamber

First Minister’s Question Time

A new medical centre for Lochgelly is a shovel-ready project, but its delivery has been combined, at the 11th hour and to everyone’s surprise, with an entirely separate capital project that, although welcome, is not yet out of the starting blocks. Can a phased approach be cons...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Bank of Scotland Branch Closures

Thank you, minister. That concludes the debate. There will be a short pause before we move on to the next item of business.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Bank of Scotland Branch Closures

I ask the minister, Richard Lochhead, to respond to the debate.18:50

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Bank of Scotland Branch Closures

The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-20791, in the name of Clare Haughey, on the closure of Bank of Scotland branches. The debate will be concluded without any question being put.I invite those members who wish to speak in the debate to press ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Visitor Levy (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill

That concludes the debate on the Visitor Levy (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill at stage 3. There will be a short pause before we move on to the next item of business.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Visitor Levy (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill

I call the minister, Ivan McKee, to wind up on behalf of the Scottish Government.16:50

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Visitor Levy (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill

We move to closing speeches.16:34

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Visitor Levy (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill

We move to the open debate.16:25

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Visitor Levy (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill

Thank you, cabinet secretary. I invite members who wish to speak in the debate to press their request-to-speak buttons.15:58

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Visitor Levy (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-21103, in the name of Ivan McKee, on the Visitor Levy (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill at stage 3.Before we move to the debate, I call Shona Robison to signify Crown consent to the bill.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Sport and Activity as a Force for Good

That concludes the debate. There will be a short pause before we move on to the next item of business.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Sport and Activity as a Force for Good

I sincerely thank members for their co-operation in more or less sticking to their agreed speaking slots. We have been able to hear from everybody. I have made a list with the clerk—I think that 14 sports have been covered thus far—and we are still to hear from the minister. N...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Sport and Activity as a Force for Good

I advise members that, given the number of members who still wish to speak in the debate, I am minded to accept a motion under rule 8.14.3 that the debate be extended by up to 30 minutes.Motion moved,That, under Rule 8.14.3, the debate be extended by up to 30 minutes.—Brian Wh...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Sport and Activity as a Force for Good

Before we commence the open debate, I note that a couple of speakers who had previously indicated that they might wish to speak have not pressed their request-to-speak button.We move to the open debate, with back-bench members having speeches of up to four minutes, as I said.1...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Sport and Activity as a Force for Good

Good morning. The first item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-20497, in the name of Brian Whittle, on sport and activity as a force for good. The debate will be concluded without any question being put.I advise members that the debate is oversubscribed, ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: Stage 3

Group 7 is on Crofting Commission: landlord representation. Amendment 56, in the name of Edward Mountain, is grouped with amendment 57.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: Stage 3

The result of the division is: For 42, Against 66, Abstentions 0.Amendment 51 disagreed to.Amendments 52 to 55 not moved.Section 27G—Decrofting in case of resumption or vacancy of croft: requirement for croft to be registeredAmendments 22 to 24 moved—Jim Fairlie—and agreed to....

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: Stage 3

There will be a division.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: Stage 3

The question is, that amendment 51 be agreed to. Are we agreed?Members: No.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: Stage 3

I call Edward Mountain to press or withdraw amendment 51.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: Stage 3

Group 6 is on registration requirements. Amendment 51, in the name of Edward Mountain, is grouped with amendments 52 to 55, 22 to 24, 32 and 33.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: Stage 3

The result of the division is: For 22, Against 84, Abstentions 1.Amendment 47 disagreed to.After section 18Amendments 48 and 49 not moved.Amendment 50 moved—Edward Mountain—and agreed to.Section 24—Requirement for certain applications for first registration to be copied to lan...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: Stage 3

There will be a division.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: Stage 3

The question is, that amendment 47 be agreed to. Are we agreed?Members: No.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: Stage 3

The result of the division is: For 82, Against 22, Abstentions 0.Amendments 17 to 21 agreed to.Amendment 47 moved—Rhoda Grant.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: Stage 3

There will be a division.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: Stage 3

The question is, that amendments 17 to 21 be agreed to. Are we agreed?Members: No.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: Stage 3

The result of the division is: For 102, Against 1, Abstentions 0.Amendment 16 agreed to.Amendments 17 to 21 moved—Alasdair Allan.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: Stage 3

There will be a division.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: Stage 3

The question is, that amendment 16 be agreed to. Are we agreed?Members: No.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: Stage 3

Does Alasdair Allan wish to press or withdraw amendment 16?

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: Stage 3

The result of the division is: For 83, Against 21, Abstentions 0.Amendment 15 agreed to.Amendment 16 moved—Alasdair Allan.Amendment 16A not moved.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: Stage 3

There will be a division.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: Stage 3

The question is, that amendment 15 be agreed to. Are we agreed?Members: No.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: Stage 3

The result of the division is: For 67, Against 36, Abstentions 0.Amendment 13 agreed to.Amendment 14 moved—Jim Fairlie—and agreed to.Section 18—Use of common grazings for forestry or environmental purposesAmendments 43 to 45 not moved.Amendment 46 moved—Rhoda Grant—and agreed ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: Stage 3

Your vote will be recorded.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: Stage 3

There will be a division.The vote is closed.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: Stage 3

The question is, that amendment 13 be agreed to. Are we agreed?Members: No.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: Stage 3

I call Rhoda Grant to wind up and to press or withdraw amendment 36.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: Stage 3

As no other member has sought to speak, I call the minister.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: Stage 3

Group 5 is on resumption. Amendment 36, in the name of Rhoda Grant, is grouped with amendment 37.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: Stage 3

I invite Alasdair Allan to wind up and to press or withdraw amendment 6.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP Chamber

Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: Stage 3

We come to group 4, on common grazings. Amendment 6, in the name of Alasdair Allan, is grouped with amendments 7 to 14 and 48 to 50.

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Chamber

Meeting of the Parliament 19 March 2026 [Draft]

19 Mar 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament

Item of business

Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: Stage 3

Ewing, Annabelle SNP Cowdenbeath Watch on SPTV

The question is, that amendment 13 be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members: No.

In the same item of business

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

The next item of business is stage 3 proceedings on the Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill. In dealing with the amendments, members should have the bill a...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

Group 1 is on duties and enforcement. Amendment 1, in the name of Beatrice Wishart, is grouped with amendments 2 to 4, 38 to 42 and 25.

Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (LD) LD

I have only one amendment, and, coincidentally, it is the last one in my name before I leave the Parliament.Following my stage 2 amendment 168, amendment 1 m...

The Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity (Jim Fairlie) SNP

I am delighted to support Beatrice Wishart’s final amendment, and, as that might be her final contribution, I would like to say that it has been an absolute ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

I call Rhoda Grant to speak to amendment 38 and other amendments in the group.

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Lab

I will speak to amendments 38 to 42. I thank the minister for his assistance with the amendments.Amendments 38 to 41 seek to deal with the issue that often a...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

I call Beatrice Wishart to wind up and to press or withdraw amendment 1.

Beatrice Wishart LD

I press amendment 1.Amendment 1 agreed to.Section 4—Enforcement of dutiesAmendments 2 to 4 moved—Jim Fairlie—and agreed to.Section 8—Assignations to family m...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

Group 2 is on assignations. Amendment 34, in the name of Rhoda Grant, is grouped with amendment 35.

Rhoda Grant Lab

Amendment 34 would amend section 8 of the Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993 to provide a simplified process for obtaining the commission’s consent to an assignati...

Tim Eagle (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Con

Amendment 35 is my only amendment to the bill, so I will just speak briefly to it.Section 8 of the bill, which deals with assignations to family members, wil...

Jim Fairlie SNP

I am very happy to support Rhoda Grant’s amendment 34. Crofters want a genuinely fast-tracked process. I have heard that at first hand, particularly on my to...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

I call Rhoda Grant to wind up and to press or withdraw amendment 34.

Rhoda Grant Lab

I will press amendment 34. I have nothing else to add.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

The question is, that amendment 34 be agreed to. Are we agreed?Members: No.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

There will be a division. Members should cast their vote now.I am terribly sorry—there will not be a division immediately. We have to suspend, because this i...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

We will proceed with the division on amendment 34. Members should cast their votes now.

ForAdam, George (Paisley) (SNP)Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP)Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (S...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

The result of the division is: For 81, Against 25, Abstentions 0.Amendment 34 agreed to.Amendment 35 not moved.Section 8A—New crofts: power to determine appl...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

Group 3 is on environmental and other purposeful uses. Amendment 5, in the name of the minister, is grouped with amendments 43 to 46, 15, 16, 16A, 17 to 21, ...

Jim Fairlie SNP

My amendments in the group seek to clarify the powers of the commission when it considers proposals by a grazings committee for the grazings to be used as wo...

Rhoda Grant Lab

I will speak to amendments 43 to 46, 16A and 47. As the minister said, the bill was amended at stage 2 to remove the words “substantially”, “undue” and “sign...

Alasdair Allan (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) SNP

I will speak to my amendments 16 to 21. Proposed new sections 50 and 50ZA of the 1993 act make changes to the regime for crofter-led forestry projects on com...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

I call the minister to wind up.

Jim Fairlie SNP

I have nothing further to add.Amendment 5 agreed to.Section 10A—Power to make provision about the sale of owner-occupied crofts

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

We come to group 4, on common grazings. Amendment 6, in the name of Alasdair Allan, is grouped with amendments 7 to 14 and 48 to 50.

Alasdair Allan SNP

I will speak to my amendment 6, but I begin by saying that I strongly support sections 14A and 15 of the bill, which will prevent the further separation of g...

Jim Fairlie SNP

I am happy to support Alasdair Allan’s amendment 6, for the reasons that he has set out. The link between owner-occupied crofts and grazing rights is a compl...

Rhoda Grant Lab

Amendment 13 seeks to increase, from three months to five months, the time for the Crofting Commission to respond. People already complain that it takes far ...