Business Motion
We come now to the first item of business, the business motion. I call Tom McCabe.
[Laughter.]
A modern Scotland for a new age. [Laughter.]
Thank you, Sir David. This motion sets out the business for this week and for the period up to Thursday 9 September. Before moving the motion, it might be helpful if I explain some of its detail. Subject to the Parliament agreeing the terms of this motion, the business for today will be as follows.
First, there will be a statement from the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning on the proposed closing of the Continental Tyres factory at Newbridge. After that, there will be a debate on an Executive motion on the promotion of public health in Scotland. That will be followed by a formal motion to designate lead committees for Scottish statutory instruments. Decision time will be at 5 o'clock and, after that, there will be a members' business debate on motion S1M-90, in the name of Mr Duncan Hamilton, on the regeneration of Cowal.
Tomorrow, 2 September, we will begin proceedings on the Parliament's first bill. The Mental Health (Public Safety and Appeals) (Scotland) Bill aims to close the loophole in the law that was identified in a decision issued by the sheriff at Lanark sheriff court on 2 August. The bill is the result of intensive discussion and preparation and reflects the urgency given by the Executive to blocking that legislative gap.
The first item of business will be a debate for up to an hour and a half on a motion to treat the mental health bill as an emergency bill. That debate will be followed by an immediate decision. Providing that that decision is in the affirmative, it will be followed by a Parliamentary Bureau motion on the timetabling of the mental health bill. Stage 1 consideration of the bill will take place immediately after the timetabling motion. The debate will last for an hour and a half and will, again, be followed immediately by a decision. On conclusion of stage 1 there will be a motion on procedures for stages 2 and 3 of the Mental Health (Public Safety and Appeals) (Scotland) Bill.
The afternoon session will begin at 2.30 with question time lasting 30 minutes, as normal. That will be followed by open question time, which will last for 15 minutes. At 3.15 there will be a debate on an Executive motion on a national cultural strategy for Scotland. Decision time will take place at 5 pm. That will be followed by a members' business debate on motion SM1-94, in the name of Maureen Macmillan, on the subject of domestic violence.
Turning to next week, on Wednesday 8 September, business begins at 2.30. The first item of business will be a motion on a financial resolution required in relation to the provisions of the emergency mental health bill. Following on from that there will be a further motion on the timetabling of the debates in stages 2 and 3 of that bill. The remainder of the afternoon's business will be allocated to stages 2 and 3 consideration of the Mental Health (Public Safety and Appeals) (Scotland) Bill. On this occasion, due to the nature of the emergency legislation, decision time will take place at 6 pm. Due to the fact that decision time has been moved to a slightly later time, no members' business is planned on Wednesday 8 September.
On Thursday 9 September, the morning sitting will begin with a debate on an Executive motion on the programme for government. The debate will be concluded after question time in the afternoon. Immediately before lunch, I will move the business motion in respect of future business.
Question time will begin at 2.30, lasting for 30 minutes, and open question time will follow on for a further 15 minutes. Thereafter, we will conclude the debate on the Executive motion on the programme for government. At 4.30 on Thursday 9 September, there will be a debate on a Parliamentary Bureau motion on time for reflection. That debate will be followed by a motion on membership of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. Following that there will be motions to approve the Scottish statutory instruments. Decision time will take place at 5 pm, followed by a members' business debate, which, subject to a revision of the text in a motion from Mr Nick Johnston, will be on the subject of employment in Clackmannanshire and West Fife.
The final part of the motion sets out the dates by which committees, other than the lead committee, with an interest in subordinate legislation currently before the parliament, should makerecommendations on instruments or instruments to the lead committee. any draft I move, That the Parliament agrees— (a) the following programme of business— Wednesday 1 September 1999 2.30 pm Business Motion
followed by Ministerial Statement and Questions on Continental Tyres followed by Debate on an Executive motion on Public Health followed by Motion to Designate Lead Committees for Scottish Statutory Instruments (to be taken without debate)
5.00 pm Decision Time followed by Members' Business – Debate on the subject of S1M-90 Mr Duncan Hamilton: The Regeneration of Cowal
Thursday 2 September 1999
9.30 am Debate on a motion to treat the Mental Health (Public Safety and Appeals) (Scotland) Bill as an Emergency Bill, followed by a decision followed by, no later than 11.00 am Parliamentary Bureau motion on timetabling of the Mental Health (Public Safety and Appeals) (Scotland) Bill (to be taken without debate), followed by a decision followed by Stage 1 debate on the Mental Health (Public Safety and Appeals) (Scotland) Bill, followed by a decision no later than 1½ hours after the start of the debate followed by Motion on Procedures for Stages 2 and 3 of the Mental Health (Public Safety and Appeals) (Scotland) Bill (to be taken without debate), followed by a decision
2.30 pm Question Time 3.00 pm Open Question Time followed by, no later than 3.15 pm Debate on Executive motion on National Cultural Strategy
5.00 pm Decision Time followed by Members' Business – debate on the subject of SM1-94 Maureen Macmillan: Domestic Violence
Wednesday 8 September 1999
2.30 pm Motion on a Financial Resolution required in relation to the provisions of the Mental Health (Public Safety and Appeals) (Scotland) Bill (to be taken without debate), followed by a decision followed by Motion on the timetabling of debates in Stages 2 and 3 of the Mental Health (Public Safety and Appeals) (Scotland) Bill (to be taken without debate) followed by a decision followed by Debates on Stages 2 and 3 of the Mental Health (Public Safety and Appeals) (Scotland) Bill (including decisions) 6.00 pm Decision Time [followed by Members' Business]
Thursday 9 September 1999
9.30 am Debate on an Executive motion on Programme for Government 12.20 pm Business Motion 2.30 pm Question Time 3.00 pm Open Question Time followed by, no later than 3.15 pm Conclusion of Debate on an Executive motion on Programme for Government 4.30 pm Debate on a motion on Time for Reflection followed by Motion on Membership of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (to be taken without debate) followed by Motions to Approve SSIs (to be taken without debate) 5.00 pm Decision Time followed by Members' Business and (b), the following dates by which other committees should make any recommendations on instruments or draft instruments to the lead committee—
European Committee reports to Transport & Environment Committee on the subject of The Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations 1999 (SSI 1999/1) by 1 October 1999 European Committee reports to Rural Affairs Committee on the subject of The Plant Health (Amendment) (Scotland) Order 1999 (SSI 1999/22) by 1 October 1999
Thank you, Mr McCabe. Mr Neil, are you requesting the floor in order to speak against the motion?
No, but I would like to ask a point of clarification.
You may do so, provided that it is in the guise of speaking against the motion.
There are two points that need clarification. First, the failure to publish the draft concordats received from the UK Government would be a breach of the Executive's own code of practice on access to information. Will the minister therefore confirm that those drafts will be published?
Secondly, as the Minister for Parliament, will he confirm that the Scottish Parliament will have the opportunity either to amend or reject any such concordats?
Those questions do not really arise out of the minister's statement. Mr McCabe, do you want to respond to that?
No, Sir David, I do not think that it is in any way connected to the business motion that I have just moved. I would appreciate it if you would rule on that matter.
I have ruled.
In that case we put the motion as moved by Mr McCabe.
In light of what has just happened, perhaps you can advise me, Sir David, on how to elicit a response to my question.
I suggest that you lodge a question, Mr Neil.
The question is, that motion S1M-113, in the name of Tom McCabe, be agreed to.
Motion agreed to.