Plenary, 08 Sep 2004
Meeting date: Wednesday, September 8, 2004
Official Report
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Point of Order
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I gave notice of this point of order yesterday. I seek the Presiding Officer's guidance on what appears to be a manifest breach of protocol by the Scottish Executive.
Next week, we are to debate the Finance Committee's report on relocation, which is a substantial piece of work. Paragraph 17 of the protocol between the Scottish Executive and the Parliament states that, normally, the Executive response should be provided within two months of the publication of any committee report. Paragraph 17 further continues that if the Scottish Executive anticipates that it will be unable to comply within that two-month period, it is required to provide an explanation of why it cannot meet that deadline and also give a timetable of when its response will be published. It has done neither and it is therefore in breach.
Next Wednesday's debate must be informed by a response from the Executive. I therefore seek the Presiding Officer's guidance as to what remedy there is under standing orders against an Executive that breaches the rules so flagrantly. Does the rule book simply apply to others? Before close of proceedings today, will the Minister for Parliamentary Business give a clear explanation of what is happening and say when the report will be published?
First, I thank Mr Ewing for giving me notice of his point of order.
As I have already confirmed to Mr Ewing, the protocol to which he refers does not have authority under standing orders. I have some sympathy with the Finance Committee's predicament, but it is not for the Presiding Officer to intervene. As paragraph 19 of the protocol goes on to indicate, the next course of action would be for the committee to agree that the convener of the committee should write directly to the minister concerned.
Further to that point of order, Presiding Officer.
If you keep it brief.
There might not be an opportunity for the Finance Committee to deliberate on that matter before the debate, which is scheduled for next Wednesday. In the circumstances, will the Minister for Parliamentary Business make a statement about what is happening?
The ministers have heard what you have said and they will take your remarks into consideration, Mr Ewing.