Meeting of the Parliament [Draft]

Meeting date: Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Official Report 1062KB pdf

Points of Order

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I seek your guidance in relation to section 7.5 of the code of conduct, the requirement to treat each other “with courtesy and respect”, given the repeated heckling, mainly from men, mainly of women who are on their feet answering questions. I refer specifically to an incident at topical questions earlier this afternoon, with Stephen Kerr’s repeated interruptions of the minister Jenni Minto, which I can only imagine were designed to try and knock her off her feet, when, as a Parliament, we should be valuing and welcoming the contribution of women ministers. I would welcome your guidance on that.

Thank you for your point of order, Ms Chapman. I believe that I dealt with the matter at the time. I am sure that it is no surprise to any member that I am very determined that we all treat one another with courtesy and respect at all times.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. In respect of the previous vote, I put it on the record that the decision to terminate the contract of the former chief executive officer of Ferguson Marine, including the timing thereof, was entirely for the company’s board. As in respect of all matters concerning Ferguson Marine, I will be pleased to take questions from members at the appropriate time.

I am sure that the cabinet secretary is aware that, while her comments are now on the record, that is not a point of order.

We will move on to the next item of business. I will allow a moment or two for members on the front benches to organise themselves.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I am very sorry to have to do this but, in the exchanges across the gangway here before the cabinet secretaries left the row next to me, I perceived that I was threatened. The exact words used were that I was going to “fall from a very high place.” That that is what was said is attested to by my colleagues.

I ask you for guidance, please, as to whether it is at all appropriate for such threats to be made in the chamber by members of the Parliament.

I suggest that members of the Parliament should not be involved in conversations across the aisles, particularly when business has not been suspended. In particular, they should not be involved in any conversation in which they are discourteous or disrespectful to one another. I do not know how many more times I can ask colleagues to please bear that extremely important standing order in mind. We are elected representatives of the Scottish people, and it is extremely important that we conduct ourselves in a manner that reflects that.