Contents
- Scottish Parliament Thursday 4 March 2004
- Presiding Officer's Ruling
- Business Motion
- Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
- Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Bill
- First Minister's Question Time
- Point of Order
- Question Time
- Points of Order
- Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Bill
- Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Bill
- Points of Order
- Civil Contingencies Bill
- Presiding Officer's Ruling
- Motion without Notice
- Decision Time
- Achievements of Deaf Pupils in Scotland
Points of Order
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Is the Presiding Officer aware of reports in the press today that refer to the Communities Committee's stage 1 report on the Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Bill, which will be published tomorrow? The press reports grossly misrepresent the committee's very constructive deliberations. Will the Presiding Officer investigate this clear breach of the Parliament's standing orders, which I believe represents a crude attempt to pre-empt the report, to divert attention from its findings and to shape the context in which it will be considered? Will the Presiding Officer consider referring this serious matter to the Standards Committee?
As members know, I totally deplore all leaks of that type. Of course, the matter is primarily one for the convener of the Communities Committee. The matter can be referred to the Standards Committee—indeed, if you want to raise the matter directly with the convener of the Standards Committee, you may do so.
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I gave you notice of this point of order. Next week the Parliament moves to a new form of question time, which will be in three sections. According to the business bulletin, 39 questions have been selected, rather than the 30 that are normally selected. However, there is some disappointment that, although there will be 39 questions, only 31 members will ask them. Indeed, next week will be the Dennis Canavan show, as he has been lucky enough to have a question selected in each of the three sections.
It is all right, Dennis—very good luck to you; they are good questions.
On inquiry to the chamber desk, I found that we are applying the same computer system and selection algorithm that we used previously for the 30 questions, so the system is being applied fairly and equitably. However, we might have to look again at its operation to ensure that the number of people who have the opportunity to ask a question is nearer 39, which is the number of questions that are selected. In the intervening period, will the Presiding Officer be able to consider the basis for the selection of questions?
Of course, unlike you, I do not have the advantage of being a trained mathematician, but it is certainly true that rules 13.6.7 and 13.6.7A of the standing orders require questions to be selected on a random basis. I will look into the matter, but I suggest that perhaps we give the system a little time to bed down in practice.
Further to that point of order, as part of your investigation, will you find out whether the Conservatives and the Scottish National Party actually lodged many questions? They seem to be substantially under-represented.
That is a fair point and I urge business managers to consider it.
If the points of order are finished, I will allow a slight pause while a few members leave the chamber.
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Question Time