Plenary, 04 Oct 2006

Meeting date: Wednesday, October 4, 2006

Official Report 415KB pdf

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Business Motions

The next item of business is consideration of business motion S2M-4907, in the name of Margaret Curran, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a business programme.

Motion moved,

That the Parliament agrees the following programme of business—

Wednesday 25 October 2006

9:00 am Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Education Committee Debate – 7th Report 2006, Early Years

followed by Local Government and Transport Committee Debate – 10th Report 2006, Report on Inquiry into Freight Transport in Scotland

2.30 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Tourists Boards (Scotland) Bill

followed by Independents' Group Business

followed by Business Motion

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members' Business

Thursday 26 October 2006

9.15 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Scottish Green Party Business

11.40 am General Question Time

12 noon First Minister's Question Time

2.15 pm Themed Question Time—

Health and Community Care;

Environment and Rural Development;

2.55 pm Executive Debate: Coastal and Marine National Parks

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members' Business

Wednesday 1 November 2006

2.30 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Executive Business

followed by Business Motion

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members' Business

Thursday 2 November 2006

9.15 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Executive Business

11.40 am General Question Time

12 noon First Minister's Question Time

2.15 pm Themed Question Time—

Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning;

Justice and Law Officers;

2.55 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Scottish Commissioner for Human Rights Bill

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members' Business—[Ms Margaret Curran.]

I draw Parliament's attention to the first item of business on Wednesday 25 October, which is a debate on the Education Committee's report on its early years inquiry. Although I appreciate the opportunity to debate early years, which is an important issue, I have concerns about the start time of the debate. I have raised the issue with my business manager, and the committee convener has also expressed concerns.

We must find space and time for legislation and for debates on inquiry reports. However, there was no consultation about changes in the allocation of time. Four members of the Education Committee did not arrive for several hours this morning because of disruption on the transport system. Many people travel to the Parliament. Given the changes in timetables that we expect from December, we must consider carefully how we conduct our business. There should be consultation on changes in business, especially with those members who have child care responsibilities.

Fiona Hyslop knows that I have every sympathy with those who have child care responsibilities and that I would want to ensure that we manage business in the Parliament in a way that reflects their needs. Having had representations, I tried to amend the motion to see whether we could accommodate those needs. As I said to everyone who made representations, that was not possible, which has been acknowledged.

I would be concerned about consultation not taking place. I will check that out with Fiona Hyslop, but it is clear from the practice of my office that we undertake consultation with conveners. I believe that the recommendations on the order of business in the morning in question came from the Conveners Group, but I am happy to be corrected about that. I will look into the matter to give the Parliament reassurance.

It is not an easy job to keep all the plates spinning, but we do our best to accommodate the needs of all the different business managers, those of committees and those of women with children.

I notice that other members have asked to speak, but, under our procedures, there is only one speaker for and one against such motions.

The question is, that motion S2M-4907, in the name of Margaret Curran, be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Motion agreed to.

That the Parliament agrees the following programme of business—

Wednesday 25 October 2006

9:00 am Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Education Committee Debate – 7th Report 2006, Early Years

followed by Local Government and Transport Committee Debate – 10th Report 2006, Report on Inquiry into Freight Transport in Scotland

2.30 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Tourists Boards (Scotland) Bill

followed by Independents' Group Business

followed by Business Motion

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members' Business

Thursday 26 October 2006

9.15 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Scottish Green Party Business

11.40 am General Question Time

12 noon First Minister's Question Time

2.15 pm Themed Question Time—

Health and Community Care;

Environment and Rural Development;

2.55 pm Executive Debate: Coastal and Marine National Parks

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members' Business

Wednesday 1 November 2006

2.30 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Executive Business

followed by Business Motion

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members' Business

Thursday 2 November 2006

9.15 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Executive Business

11.40 am General Question Time

12 noon First Minister's Question Time

2.15 pm Themed Question Time—

Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning;

Justice and Law Officers;

2.55 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Scottish Commissioner for Human Rights Bill

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members' Business

The next item of business is consideration of business motions S2M-4908 and S2M-4909, in the name of Margaret Curran, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out timetables for legislation.

Motions moved,

That the Parliament agrees that consideration of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1 be completed by 19 January 2007.

That the Parliament agrees that consideration of the St Andrew's Day Public Holiday (Scotland) Bill at Stage 2 be completed by 17 November 2006.—[Ms Margaret Curran.]

Motions agreed to.