Something Wicked This Way Comes

Yes, Parliament’s seriously short October recess is officially over, just as we all start gearing up for Halloween. With oral questions, debates and committees all back, followers of Scottish politics have reasons to be fearful. The Economy, Energy & Fair Work Committee will discuss the proposed Publicly Owned Energy Company tomorrow, and the Committee for the Pow of Inchaffray Drainage Commission (Scotland) Bill will meet for the final (yes, the FINAL time!) on Wednesday.

Trick-or-Treat

Ministerial Statements are enough to give even the hardiest politician a lump in their throat. On Thursday, John Swinney will update MSPs on P1 assessments. Yikes! Will the opposition be treated to an announcement that the tests will be scrapped or is this all a trick from the Cabinet Secretary?

A Scottish Convener in London

Not quite a sequel to the cult 80s classic but probably just as much of a thriller. Everyone’s favourite Finance & Constitution Convener, Bruce Crawford, is off Westminster to give evidence to the Lords’ Liaison Committee on Tuesday. He’s set to discuss interparliamentary working. As relations between some parliaments in the UK have been a bit fraught lately, it could make for an interesting listen.

Double, Double

Labour will debate not one, but two issues on Wednesday. Following all the toil and trouble of the party’s reshuffle earlier this month, Monica Lennon will get to flex her muscles as the new health spokesperson as members debate heath and then inequalities.

The Conference Before Christmas

 I might be stretching with my last kicker, but NFU Scotland isn’t with its jam-packed annual conference, which kicks off on Friday. Attendees can expect a wide range of topics, including health and wellbeing, to be covered over the course of the day. Look out for guest lecturers on mental health and the agriculture sector from National Rural Mental Health Forum and the RSABI.