On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Throughout the day, concern has been raised about a report in The Herald today that the First Minister raised £9,000 for the Scottish National Party by auctioning a lunch with himself in the Parliament's restaurant. That raises serious questions about the abuse of the resources of the Parliament and, indeed, the office of the First Minister. Those questions must be answered.
I thank the member for the prior notification of his point of order. Under rule 13.2, where a member of the Scottish Executive wishes to make a statement to a meeting of the Parliament, notice shall be given to the Presiding Officer. It is therefore not for me to ask the First Minister to make such a statement.
On a point of order and procedure, Presiding Officer. Given that the Labour leader had a full and fair opportunity to raise the matter at First Minister's question time today, but failed to do so, on a point of parliamentary courtesy and order, this gives me the opportunity to say that, given that no lunch has taken place, there cannot possibly have been a breach. Why was the matter not raised at First Minister's question time today? In expanding the point of courtesy, I point out that today is the day on which every other party leader had to repay expenses to Thomas Legg, including Gordon Brown, who had to repay £13,723, while I was given the all-clear—
First Minister, I must press you to raise a point of order. You have not yet done so.
The point of order is why, given that there cannot possibly have been a breach, the matter was not raised at First Minister's question time today. Is it not a courtesy to the member to explain the matter?
Order.
We should be very careful not to get ourselves into the position where no charity, no auction—[Interruption.]
First Minister, I have to stop you there. I think that you are fully aware that that is not a point of order for me to discuss.
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. In an effort to be helpful, can I suggest that if any further information about the allegation should come to light over the weekend, it would be appropriate for the Parliamentary Bureau to discuss the matter on Tuesday? Surely the bureau could do that with a view to seeing whether it is appropriate to deal with the matter in the parliamentary timetable next week.
No. The matter is nothing to do with the proceedings of the Parliament, so that is not a legitimate point of order for me to discuss.
Previous
Marine (Scotland) Bill