The next item of business is consideration of business motion S2M-3692, in the name of Margaret Curran, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, on a suspension of standing orders.
Motion moved,
That the Parliament agrees that—
(a) for the purposes of allowing the meeting of the Parliament on Thursday 15 December 2005 to continue beyond 5.30 pm, the word "Wednesday" in Rules 2.2.4 and 2.2.5(c) be suspended and that the word "Thursday" be substituted for it in each place, and that Rule 2.2.5(a) be suspended;
(b) under Rule 2.2.4 thus varied, the meeting of the Parliament on Thursday 15 December 2005 may continue to 7.00 pm; and
(c) Decision Time on Thursday 15 December 2005 shall begin at 6.30pm.—[Ms Margaret Curran.]
We do not seek to block the business motion, because its purpose is to allow appropriate legislation to be dealt with next week. However, I reserve the right to object most strongly to the way in which the matter has been handled. The entire business for next week was agreed yesterday at the Parliamentary Bureau. Yesterday evening, we received telephone calls to the effect that this change was necessary. That is not a satisfactory way in which to proceed. I hope that there will be no similar cause for complaint in future.
I thank Bill Aitken for alerting me to the fact that he would raise the issue. In the best of worlds, I would have preferred to give the bureau notice, but prior to the bureau meeting, I had not received representations from the legislation team on the need to extend the time for the bill, otherwise I would have raised the issue.
Motion agreed to.
The next item of business is consideration of three business motions, in the name of Margaret Curran, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau: motion S2M-3693, on a suspension of standing orders; motion S2M-3689, setting out a business programme; and motion S2M-3679, setting out a timetable for legislation.
Motions moved,
That the Parliament agrees that Rule 5.6.1(c) of Standing Orders be suspended for the purposes of Members' Business on Thursday on 15 December 2005.
That the Parliament agrees the following programme of business—
Wednesday 14 December 2005
2.30 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Ministerial Statement: Energy Performance of Buildings Directive
followed by Stage 1 Debate: Interests of Members of the Scottish Parliament Bill
followed by Business Motion
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members' Business
Thursday 15 December 2005
9.15 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Family Law (Scotland) Bill
11.40 am General Question Time
12 noon First Minister's Question Time
followed by Members' Business
2.15 pm Themed Question Time—
Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning;
Justice and Law Officers
2.55 pm Conclusion of Stage 3 Proceedings: Family Law (Scotland) Bill
followed by Motion on Animal Welfare Bill – UK Legislation
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
6.30 pm Decision Time
Wednesday 21 December 2005
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 22 December 2005
9.15 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Scottish Socialist Party Business
11.40 am General Question Time
12 noon First Minister's Question Time
2.15 pm Themed Question Time—
Education and Young People, Tourism, Culture and Sport;
Finance and Public Services and Communities
2.55 pm Executive Business
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members' Business
That the Parliament agrees that the timetable of consideration of the Council Tax Abolition and Service Tax Introduction (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1 be extended to 3 February 2006.—[Ms Margaret Curran.]
Motions agreed to.
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