Chamber and committees

Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid)

Meeting date: Tuesday, March 29, 2022

Business Motion

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)

The next item of business is consideration of business motion S6M-03853, in the name of George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out changes to this week’s business.

Motion moved,

That the Parliament agrees to the following revision to the programme of business for Thursday 31 March 2022—

delete

2.30 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.30 pm Portfolio Questions:
Constitution, External Affairs and Culture

and insert

2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.00 pm Portfolio Questions:
Constitution, External Affairs and Culture

followed by Ministerial Statement: Interim Principles for Responsible Investment in Natural Capital—[George Adam].

16:57

Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)

Over the weekend, there were some extraordinary revelations from former Scottish Government economic adviser Jim McColl regarding his company being awarded ferry contracts by the Scottish Government. McColl told The Sunday Times:

“The audit report has revealed we were given the contract for political purposes. Everything was about the optics and timing the announcements for political gain.”

That claim has been supported by a senior Scottish National Party source, who said:

“It was all done and dusted to give a big conference headline ... for ... Nicola’s first Holyrood election as leader.”

Following those reports, I wrote to the Minister for Parliamentary Business twice, requesting that a statement be made by the First Minister tomorrow on the unravelling scandal. I received no responses to my emails, but the minister confirmed at the Business Bureau meeting today that the First Minister would not be delivering a statement.

On Thursday, in response to questions from Douglas Ross on the issue, the First Minister said:

“The buck stops with me.”—[Official Report, 24 March 2022; c 12.]

Those words now ring hollow.

John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)

Nonsense.

Stephen Kerr

The member might say, “Nonsense,” but those words ring hollow—[Interruption.] Exactly—she more likely meant “passing the buck”.

My amendment would insert a statement as the first item of tomorrow afternoon’s business, at which time I know the First Minister is available.

I expect that SNP members will vote against my amendment—on what is nothing more than cover-up orders from their boss, while they further their plans to throw former ministers under the bus. I hope, however, that all other members of the Scottish Parliament, including members of the Scottish Greens, find the backbone to stand up to the SNP’s secret Scotland and back my amendment. It is time we had answers.

I move amendment S6M-03853.2, to insert after “business for”:

“(a) Wednesday 30 March 2022—

after

2:00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

insert

followed by First Minister’s Statement: Scottish Government Handling of Ferries Contracts;

(b)”.

17:00

Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Lab)

My amendment to the business motion would also insert in this week’s business a statement from the First Minister on ferry procurement.

The ferry procurement disaster is one of the biggest public procurement disasters of the past 20 years. Ferries for Scotland’s islands are five years late and two and a half times over budget.

As the Audit Scotland report makes clear, there is a lot of blame to go round. Last week, the First Minister tried to blame Derek Mackay for the enormous risk to which the taxpayer was exposed, and today Kate Forbes tried to pin all the blame elsewhere. It is clear that only a public inquiry will get to the bottom of all this.

However, right now, the Scottish Government is ultimately responsible for the promises that it made to islanders and the Ferguson Marine workforce, and it is the First Minister who is ultimately responsible for the Scottish Government. That is why, at the weekend, Opposition parties called for the First Minister to give an urgent statement on the matter.

Yesterday, Nicola Sturgeon said:

“I have no hesitation in answering any and all questions.”

My amendment would provide her with the opportunity to do so.

When the First Minister was asked whether she had given the go-ahead to ignore Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd, she said:

“I didn’t say ‘don’t go ahead’”.

That explanation is simply not good enough. In the midst of a cost of living crisis, Scottish taxpayers are paying the costs of this Government’s failure. The First Minister must make the statement. Nicola Sturgeon needs to clarify the Government’s decision-making process in ignoring CMAL. She needs to clarify the Cabinet’s role, Keith Brown’s role, John Swinney’s role and her role in that decision.

It is one of the principal duties of the Parliament to hold the Government to account. Therefore, it is our duty to get to the bottom of what went wrong and how this fiasco unfolded.

The First Minister is very good at proclaiming—repeatedly—that she is ultimately responsible and takes responsibility. The place in which she should take responsibility is this chamber.

We need openness, honesty and transparency. We cannot afford secrecy and cover-up, and it would be scandalous if Nicola Sturgeon’s party’s members and the Greens used their votes to block a statement from the First Minister this week.

I move amendment S6M-03853.1, to insert after “business for”:

“(a) Wednesday 30 March 2022—

after

2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

insert

followed by First Minister’s Statement: Ferry Procurement

(b)”.

17:03

The Minister for Parliamentary Business (George Adam)

I will stick to the parliamentary process and how we are moving forward, although I am a bit concerned that Mr Kerr seems to think that he knows the First Minister’s diary and exactly where she is going to be at any time.

There has been full and significant scrutiny of the subject. The Parliament spent nearly four hours discussing the issue in the past week, between the cabinet secretary’s statement, the Conservative debate, First Minister’s question time and today’s topical question—and that is on top of the parliamentary inquiry.

There is currently no more to add. Any further time would simply be filled with yet more interpretations of the report that Audit Scotland published last week. There have been many interpretations of that report from people outwith this Parliament.

Let us consider the background of the past week. On Wednesday 23 March, there was a Scottish Conservative debate on ferries, which lasted two hours and 49 minutes. On Thursday 24 March, at First Minister’s question time, the First Minister was on the floor of this chamber answering questions on the issue for 14 minutes. On Tuesday 29 March, a topical question from Mr Bibby was capably handled by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy, Kate Forbes, who answered numerous questions from individuals. That was a further 12 minutes.

The situation will, quite rightly, be scrutinised further by the Scottish Parliament. However, at this time and at this moment, there is nothing further to add.

The Deputy Presiding Officer

I remind members that, if the amendment in the name of Stephen Kerr is agreed to, the amendment in the name of Neil Bibby will fall.

The question is, that amendment S6M-03853.2, in the name of Stephen Kerr, which seeks to amend motion S6M-03853, in the name of George Adam, setting out changes to this week’s business, be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members: No.

The Deputy Presiding Officer

There will be a division.

There will be a short suspension to allow members to access the digital voting system.

17:06 Meeting suspended.

17:09 On resuming—

The Deputy Presiding Officer

I remind members that, if the amendment in the name of Stephen Kerr is agreed to, the amendment in the name of Neil Bibby will fall.

We move to the vote on amendment S6M-03853.2, in the name of Stephen Kerr, which seeks to amend motion S6M-03853, in the name of George Adam, setting out changes to this week’s business.

For

Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Con)
Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab)
Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab)
Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con)
Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con)
Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con)
Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab)
Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab)
Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con)
Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con)
Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con)
Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con)
Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con)
Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (Con)
Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)
Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con)
Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con)
Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con)
Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lockhart, Dean (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con)
Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab)
McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD)
McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab)
Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab)
Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con)
O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab)
Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD)
Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab)
Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Con)
Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab)
Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con)
Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con)
White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con)
Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab)
Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con)
Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD)

Against

Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP)
Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP)
Allan, Dr Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP)
Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP)
Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP)
Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP)
Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green)
Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP)
Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green)
Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP)
Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP)
Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP)
Don, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP)
Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP)
Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP)
Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP)
Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP)
FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP)
Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP)
Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP)
Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP)
Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP)
Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP)
Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green)
Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP)
Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green)
Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP)
Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP)
Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP)
Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP)
MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP)
MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP)
Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green)
Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP)
Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP)
Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP)
Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)
Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP)
McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP)
McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP)
McKelvie, Christina (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP)
McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP)
McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP)
McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP)
Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP)
Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP)
Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (SNP)
Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP)
Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP)
Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)
Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green)
Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP)
Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP)
Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP)
Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)
Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP)
Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP)
Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP)
Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP)
Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP)

The Deputy Presiding Officer

The result of the division on amendment S6M-03853.1, in the name of Stephen Kerr, is: For 52, Against 63, Abstentions 0.

Amendment disagreed to.

The Deputy Presiding Officer

The next question is, that amendment S6M-03853.1, in the name of Neil Bibby, which seeks to amend motion S6M-03853, in the name of George Adam, setting out changes to this week’s business, be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members: No.

The Deputy Presiding Officer

There will be a division.

The vote is now closed.

Jamie Halcro Johnston (Highlands and Islands) (Con)

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I could not get the app to work. I would have voted yes.

The Deputy Presiding Officer

Thank you, Mr Halcro Johnston. That is now noted and recorded.

For

Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Con)
Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab)
Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab)
Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con)
Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con)
Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con)
Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab)
Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab)
Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con)
Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con)
Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con)
Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con)
Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con)
Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (Con)
Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)
Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con)
Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con)
Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con)
Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lockhart, Dean (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con)
Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab)
McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD)
McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab)
Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab)
Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con)
O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab)
Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD)
Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab)
Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Con)
Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab)
Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con)
Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con)
White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con)
Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab)
Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con)
Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD)

Against

The Deputy Presiding Officer

The result of the division on amendment S6M-03853.1, in the name of Neil Bibby, is: For 51, Against 63, Abstentions 0.

Amendment disagreed to.

The Deputy Presiding Officer

The next question is, that motion S6M-03853, in the name of George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out changes to this week’s business, be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members: No.

The Deputy Presiding Officer

There will be a division.

For

Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP)
Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP)
Allan, Dr Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP)
Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP)
Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP)
Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP)
Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green)
Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP)
Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green)
Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab)
Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP)
Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP)
Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP)
Don, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP)
Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP)
Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP)
Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP)
Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP)
FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP)
Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP)
Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP)
Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP)
Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP)
Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP)
Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green)
Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP)
Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green)
Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP)
Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP)
Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP)
Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP)
MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP)
MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP)
Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green)
Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP)
Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP)
Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP)
Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)
Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP)
McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP)
McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP)
McKelvie, Christina (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP)
McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP)
McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP)
McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP)
Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP)
Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP)
Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (SNP)
Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP)
Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP)
Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)
Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green)
Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP)
Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP)
Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP)
Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)
Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP)
Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP)
Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP)
Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP)
Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP)

Against

Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Con)
Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab)
Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab)
Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con)
Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con)
Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con)
Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab)
Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con)
Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con)
Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con)
Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con)
Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con)
Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (Con)
Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)
Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con)
Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con)
Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con)
Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lockhart, Dean (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con)
Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab)
McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD)
McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab)
Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab)
Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con)
O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab)
Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD)
Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab)
Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Con)
Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab)
Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con)
Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con)
White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con)
Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab)
Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con)
Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD)

The Deputy Presiding Officer

The result of the division on motion S6M-03853, in the name of George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out changes to this week’s business, is: For 64, Against 51, Abstentions 0.

Motion agreed to,

That the Parliament agrees to the following revision to the programme of business for Thursday 31 March 2022—

delete

2.30 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.30 pm Portfolio Questions:
Constitution, External Affairs and Culture

and insert

2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.00 pm Portfolio Questions:
Constitution, External Affairs and Culture

followed by Ministerial Statement: Interim Principles for Responsible Investment in Natural Capital.

Stephen Kerr

Cover-up!

The Deputy Presiding Officer

Stephen Kerr has a point of order.

Stephen Kerr

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. We have tried to bring the First Minister to the chamber of the Scottish Parliament to answer questions on the ferries scandal that is engulfing her Government, and we have failed. Can you advise us on how we might, in the name of open and transparent government, be able to fulfil our responsibilities as parliamentarians to hold the Government to account and scrutinise its actions in relation to the biggest scandal in public procurement since the establishment of the Scottish Parliament?

The Deputy Presiding Officer

I thank Mr Kerr for his contribution. I will make two points. First, the Parliament has just had a vote on that matter and it voted in the way it voted, and that was the democratic result of the vote. Secondly, the member will be well aware that there will be other opportunities to pose questions on that topic or any other topic.

Scottish Local Government Elections (Candidacy Rights of Foreign Nationals) Bill: Stage 1

Decision Time

Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid)

Meeting date: Tuesday, March 29, 2022

Contents

Business Motion