Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) Wednesday 9 December 2020 Session 5 © Parliamentary copyright. Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Information on the Scottish Parliament’s copyright policy can be found on the website - www.parliament.scot or by contacting Public Information on 0131 348 5000 Wednesday 9 December 2020 CONTENTS Col. PORTFOLIO QUESTION TIME ............................................................................................................................... 1 ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND LAND REFORM ........................................................................................ 1 Climate Emergency Response Group .......................................................................................................... 1 Flood Defences (Local Authority Funding) ................................................................................................... 3 Fly-tipping ..................................................................................................................................................... 4 Net Zero Emissions Target ........................................................................................................................... 5 Climate Change Targets ............................................................................................................................... 6 Crown Estate Revenues ............................................................................................................................... 7 Environmental and Emissions Targets (Local Initiatives) ............................................................................. 8 Recycling and Food Waste Collection Services ........................................................................................... 9 RURAL ECONOMY AND TOURISM ...................................................................................................................... 10 Covid-19 Christmas Restrictions (Holiday Accommodation) ...................................................................... 10 BUDGET UPDATE ............................................................................................................................................. 13 Statement—[Kate Forbes]. The Cabinet Secretary for Finance (Kate Forbes) ..................................................................................... 13 EDUCATION ..................................................................................................................................................... 25 Motion moved—[Jamie Greene]. Amendment moved—[John Swinney]. Amendment moved—[Iain Gray]. Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Con) ........................................................................................................ 25 The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills (John Swinney) ...................... 28 Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab) .................................................................................................................... 30 Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green) ......................................................................................................... 32 Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (LD) ................................................................................................... 34 Elaine Smith (Central Scotland) (Lab) ........................................................................................................ 35 Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con) ......................................................................................................... 37 Clare Adamson (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) ...................................................................................... 39 Alison Harris (Central Scotland) (Con) ....................................................................................................... 40 Rona Mackay (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) ..................................................................................... 42 George Adam (Paisley) (SNP) ................................................................................................................... 43 Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) .............................................................................................. 45 John Swinney ............................................................................................................................................. 47 Oliver Mundell (Dumfriesshire) (Con) ......................................................................................................... 49 ECONOMY........................................................................................................................................................ 52 Motion moved—[Maurice Golden]. Amendment moved—[Jamie Hepburn]. Amendment moved—[Alex Rowley]. Maurice Golden (West Scotland) (Con) ..................................................................................................... 52 The Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills (Jamie Hepburn) ............................................................. 54 Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) ................................................................................................ 58 Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green) .............................................................................................................. 59 Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD) ........................................................................................................... 61 Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) ................................................................. 62 Gordon MacDonald (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) ..................................................................................... 64 Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con) ............................................................................................... 66 Gillian Martin (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) ................................................................................................. 67 James Kelly (Glasgow) (Lab) ..................................................................................................................... 69 John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP) ................................................................................................. 70 Alex Rowley ................................................................................................................................................ 72 The Minister for Public Finance and Migration (Ben Macpherson) ............................................................ 73 Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) .............................................................................................. 75 CORONAVIRUS ACTS REPORT .......................................................................................................................... 79 Statement—[Michael Russell]. The Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs (Michael Russell) ..................... 79 BUSINESS MOTIONS ......................................................................................................................................... 92 Motions moved—[Graeme Dey]—and agreed to. PARLIAMENTARY BUREAU MOTIONS ................................................................................................................. 95 Motions moved—[Graeme Dey]. The Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans (Graeme Dey) ..................................................... 95 Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab) ........................................................................................................... 95 POINT OF ORDER ............................................................................................................................................. 99 DECISION TIME .............................................................................................................................................. 100 BUS SERVICES .............................................................................................................................................. 114 Motion debated—[Graham Simpson]. Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con) ............................................................................................. 114 Stewart Stevenson (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) ...................................................................... 117 Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab) ......................................................................................................... 118 Angus MacDonald (Falkirk East) (SNP) ................................................................................................... 120 Monica Lennon (Central Scotland) (Lab) ................................................................................................. 121 The Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands (Paul Wheelhouse) ............................................. 123 1 9 DECEMBER 2020 2 What is the minister’s assessment of why so many Scottish Parliament key policy areas have been missed? Can she confirm when the Government will deliver the key Wednesday 9 December 2020 recommendations, as outlined in the report? Roseanna Cunningham: I do not recognise [The Presiding Officer opened the meeting at Jamie Greene’s characterisation of our response 14:00] to the CRG’s asks. We have been working closely with the group