This week’s Business is dominated by the Scottish Government’s request to seek… The motion tabled by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Scotland’s Choice will be debated throughout Tuesday afternoon and continued on Wednesday, reflecting the significance of the issue and the number of MSPs likely to speak. The motion focuses on the ‘sovereign right’ of the Scottish people to determine the form of government best suited to their needs and mandates the Scottish Government to take forward discussions with the UK Government on the details of an order under section 30 of the Scotland Act 1998. This will allow the Scottish Parliament to legislate for an independence referendum.

After decision time on Tuesday, Scottish Labour MSP Rhoda Grant will then lead Member’s Business with a debate on Triggers for Loneliness. The debate will note the growing interest in dealing with the problem of loneliness.

On Wednesday, Portfolio Questions will focus on Communities, Social Security and Equalities, followed by a continuation of Tuesday’s Scottish Government Debate on Scotland’s Choice. Decision time at 5pm will likely see the landmark approval from Holyrood for the Scottish Government to seek a second independence referendum. This will be followed by Members’ Business, sponsored by Scottish Greens MSP John Finnie, which will focus on Ship-to-ship Oil Transfers in the Cromarty and Moray Firth.

Thursday’s General Questions will be followed by First Minister’s Questions. SNP MSP Ben McPherson will then lead Members’ Business by discussing Justice for Yazidi People. This debate will call on the UK Government to take immediate action to support international efforts to prevent atrocities, and to meet its international obligation to provide refuge to those at risk of persecution. It will also call on the UK Government to request that the UN Security Council refer the genocide committed against the Yazidi people to the International Criminal Court.

This will be followed by a Ministerial Statement on the Expansion of Free Early Learning and Childcare. Finally, there will be a Scottish Government Debate on the British Sign Language (BSL) Consultation.