We come to the Parliamentary Bureau motions that are set out in the business bulletin. I draw members' attention to the fact that the first three motions are on the same issue and I ask Euan Robson to move all three together.
Motions moved,
That the Parliament agrees under Rules 2.2.4, 2.2.5 and 2.2.6(a) of the Standing Orders that the meeting of the Parliament on Wednesday 13 November 2002 may continue beyond 7.00 pm.
That the Parliament agrees under Rule 11.2.4 of the Standing Orders that Decision Time on Wednesday 13 November 2002 shall begin at 7.00 pm.
That the Parliament agrees that Rule 5.6.1(c) of the Standing Orders be suspended for the duration of the Meeting of the Parliament on Wednesday 13 November 2002.—[Euan Robson.]
Presiding Officer, I have a point of order that relates to Parliamentary Bureau motion S1M-3549.
I have not reached that one yet.
That is what I am going to ask you about. Will that motion be discussed today? If not, it would appear that we will have 24 hours between the discussion of the motion and the deadline for lodging amendments for a scheduled stage 3. Are you satisfied with that length of time or do you believe that it has been rushed?
I am sorry, but I do not have motion S1M-3549 in front of me. It is still to come, but it will not be discussed today.
My understanding was that S1M-3549 was the revised Parliamentary Bureau motion that was moved at half-past 2 this afternoon.
I am sorry, Presiding Officer, but the motion that we debated at lunch time related to the change to tomorrow morning's business only; it did not relate to next week's business, which is what I am concerned about. If you are saying that the motion will be discussed tomorrow, we are leaving only 24 hours for amendments to be lodged to an important bill that we are to discuss on Wednesday.
I have just been dealing with this matter in my room. The deadline for lodging amendments was on Friday—I am sorry, I am advised that the period began on 30 October and ends this coming Friday, so you have until Friday to lodge amendments.
My point is that motion S1M-3549 will trigger the deadline for the lodging of amendments to an important bill.
That is correct.
If the motion is discussed tomorrow, that deadline will be truncated to only 24 hours, because the last day for the submission of amendments will be Friday at 4.30 pm.
That has always been the case.
It has not always been the case in relation to the notification of a stage 3 debate. My point is that you are allowing only 24 hours' notification.
The chamber agreed to that, following the motion that was moved earlier today. You are correct that the deadline for lodging amendments was brought forward; it closes this Friday and everybody now knows that. I do not know what your problem is.
I am sorry, but we did not agree to that motion today. The motion that we agreed to earlier today related to the change to tomorrow's business only.
There will be another business motion tomorrow, so if you want to make a point you can speak then.
On a point of order. I wonder whether it would be of assistance if, as the convener of the Social Justice Committee, I informed the chamber that stage 2 of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Bill was completed on 30 October and it was known what we would need to amend thereafter. Therefore, it has been possible to prepare amendments from 30 October.
Indeed. I said that a moment ago. To be absolutely clear, I confirm what the convener of the Social Justice Committee said. Members had from 30 October until this Friday to lodge amendments, so I do not know what the problem is—[Interruption.] There is plenty of time for the lodging of amendments, but if there is any quarrel about the business motion members will have another opportunity to discuss it tomorrow.
Motion moved,
That the Parliament agrees that the Justice 2 Committee be designated as lead committee in consideration of the Discontinuance of Legalised Police Cells (Ayr) Rules 2002 (SSI 2002/472).—[Euan Robson.]
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