Official Report 72KB pdf
Good morning, and a warm welcome to the 20th meeting in 2025 of the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee. Our first agenda item is to take evidence from the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture on the Scottish Government’s humanitarian response to Gaza. We are joined in the room by the cabinet secretary, Angus Robertson, along with Joanna Keating, head of international development; Alice Guinan, humanitarian and conflict lead; and Stuart Adam, head of Asia team, international relations, from the Scottish Government. We welcome you all to the committee. Cabinet secretary, would you like to make an opening statement?
Good morning, and a warm welcome to the 20th meeting in 2025 of the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee. Our first agenda item is to take evidence from the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture on the Scottish Government’s humanitarian response to Gaza. We are joined in the room by the cabinet secretary, Angus Robertson, along with Joanna Keating, head of international development; Alice Guinan, humanitarian and conflict lead; and Stuart Adam, head of Asia team, international relations, from the Scottish Government. We welcome you all to the committee. Cabinet secretary, would you like to make an opening statement?
That the Parliament agrees—
(a) the following programme of business—
Tuesday 9 December 2025
2.00 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Topical Questions
followed by Public Audit Committee Debate: The 2023/24 Audit of Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Holdings Limited
followed by Scottish Government Debate: Support for the Veterans and Armed Forces Community in Scotland
followed by Motion on Legislative Consent: Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill – UK Legislation
followed by Committee Announcements
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.30 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Wednesday 10 December 2025
2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2.00 pm Portfolio Questions: Deputy First Minister Responsibilities, Economy and Gaelic; Finance and Local Government
followed by Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Business
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.10 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Thursday 11 December 2025
11.40 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions
11.40 am General Questions
12.00 pm First Minister's Questions
followed by Members’ Business
2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2.00 pm Portfolio Questions: Climate Action and Energy, and Transport
followed by Ministerial Statement: Progressing a Just Transition at Grangemouth
followed by Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee Debate: British Sign Language (Scotland) Act 2015 Inquiry
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
Tuesday 16 December 2025
2.00 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Topical Questions
followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Dog Theft (Scotland) Bill
followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (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 17 December 2025
2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2.00 pm Portfolio Questions: Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands; Health and Social Care
followed by Committee Business
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Thursday 18 December 2025
11.40 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions
11.40 am General Questions
12.00 pm First Minister's Questions
12.45 pm Portfolio Questions: Social Justice and Housing
followed by Stage 1 Debate: Contract (Formation and Remedies) (Scotland) Bill
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2.40 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
(b) that, for the purposes of Portfolio Questions in the week beginning 8 December 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.
The Official Report is a written record of what was said in public meetings of the Scottish Parliament and in committee meetings. KRTEST It is a substantially verbatim report. This means that repetitions and redundancies are omitted and obvious mistakes are corrected. Official Report staff exercise editorial judgment to convey the spoken word in written text while maintaining the flavour of the speech.
The Official Report is a written record of what was said in public meetings of the Scottish Parliament and in committee meetings. It is a substantially verbatim report. This means that repetitions and redundancies are omitted and obvious mistakes are corrected. Official Report staff exercise editorial judgment to convey the spoken word in written text while maintaining the flavour of the speech.
The Official Report is a written record of what was said in public meetings of the Scottish Parliament and in committee meetings. It is a substantially verbatim report. This means that repetitions and redundancies are omitted and obvious mistakes are corrected. Official Report staff exercise editorial judgment to convey the spoken word in written text while maintaining the flavour of the speech.
The Official Report is a written record of what was said in public meetings of the Scottish Parliament and in committee meetings. It is a substantially verbatim report. This means that repetitions and redundancies are omitted and obvious mistakes are corrected. Official Report staff exercise editorial judgment to convey the spoken word in written text while maintaining the flavour of the speech.
The Official Report is a written record of what was said in public meetings of the Scottish Parliament and in committee meetings. It is a substantially verbatim report. This means that repetitions and redundancies are omitted and obvious mistakes are corrected. Official Report staff exercise editorial judgment to convey the spoken word in written text while maintaining the flavour of the speech.
The Official Report is a written record of what was said in public meetings of the Scottish Parliament and in committee meetings. It is a substantially verbatim report. This means that repetitions and redundancies are omitted and obvious mistakes are corrected. Official Report staff exercise editorial judgment to convey the spoken word in written text while maintaining the flavour of the speech.
The Lord Advocate(Rt Hon Dorothy Bain KC):TheOfficial Reportis a written record of what was said in public meetings of the Scottish Parliament and in committee meetings. It is a substantially verbatim report. This means that repetitions and redundancies are omitted and obvious mistakes are corrected. Official Report staff exercise editorial judgment to convey the spoken word in written text while maintaining the flavour of the speech.
The Lord Advocate:TheOfficial Reportis a written record of what was said in public meetings of the Scottish Parliament and in committee meetings. It is a substantially verbatim report. This means that repetitions and redundancies are omitted and obvious mistakes are corrected. Official Report staff exercise editorial judgment to convey the spoken word in written text while maintaining the flavour of the speech.
The Solicitor General for Scotland(Ruth Charteris KC):TheOfficial Reportis a written record of what was said in public meetings of the Scottish Parliament and in committee meetings. It is a substantially verbatim report. This means that repetitions and redundancies are omitted and obvious mistakes are corrected. Official Report staff exercise editorial judgment to convey the spoken word in written text while maintaining the flavour of the speech.
The Solicitor General for Scotland:TheOfficial Reportis a written record of what was said in public meetings of the Scottish Parliament and in committee meetings. It is a substantially verbatim report. This means that repetitions and redundancies are omitted and obvious mistakes are corrected. Official Report staff exercise editorial judgment to convey the spoken word in written text while maintaining the flavour of the speech.
Motion agreed to,
Members indicated agreement.
[Interruption.]
[Interruption.]
[Interruption.]
The rest of this Official Report will be published progressively as soon as the text is available.