Time for Reflection
We welcome to lead our time for reflection today Reverend Susan Brown, minister of Dornoch cathedral.
Reverend Susan Brown (Minister of DornochCathedral):
I quote:
"Put all your trust in the Lord and do not rely on your own understanding. Think of him in all your ways, and he will smooth your path."
This weekend I walked with my dog along Dornoch's beautiful beach towards Embo. Because of the storms of 10 days ago, sand had been blown against the harbour wall at Embo creating a bank the length of the pier that rose to within a foot of the top of the wall. My dog, who had been enthusiastically chasing sticks, leapt up on to the pier after me and up the sand bank without stopping. Obviously not fully realising that it was the harbour wall, she leapt over what she thought was just a wee dyke. There was, I have to say, a yelp of surprise as she hit the water. Thankfully, though, she enjoys a good swim.
For you as MSPs and for your electorate, the setting up of the Scottish Parliament was as big a leap into the unknown as Embo pier was to my dog—a leap enthusiastically jumped at by some, and not quite so by others. Now you have all hit the water and the trick is to keep swimming. Do not let the fall into political reality paralyse you, and do not let your over-enthusiasm take you out of your depth. Remember what inspired you to enter politics, and allow that memory constantly to refresh and renew you in your work. Above all, remember the people whom you serve—their needs, their skills, their shared responsibility for this land. It was in their name that you leapt and it is for their sake that you now swim.
Let us pray.
Lord God, our heavenly Father, you hold us, this nation and this world in your hands and you call us to work with you in it. Grant us the courage to care as passionately as you do about those whom we serve and the communities in which they live. Make us responsive to the needs that we see around us, both of people and of the environment.
Teach us to listen, and when we grow weary in the task, rekindle in us that unquenchable fire that demands justice for all.
Almighty God, ruler of all the earth, bless, we pray, our land and all to whom she relates. Guide her wisely and guard her well. Direct, inspire and enthuse these her servants in all the tasks before them this and every day. So may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. These things we ask in the name of Jesus Christ.
Now may the blessing of our gracious God grant you the courage to care, the energy to pursue what is right and the grace to acknowledge mistakes. Peace be to you and to this place, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
I must inform members that because of a technical fault, 15 of the microphone voting consoles in the chamber will be out of operation during the whole of this afternoon's meeting. Those consoles are all in the back row: four on the Conservative benches, seven on the Labour benches and four on the Scottish National party benches. The Liberal Democrats and the three other members have escaped the affliction.
All the affected consoles are marked clearly and the microphone stems have been removed. Members will be able neither to speak nor to vote from the affected seats. I will deal with the arrangements for voting later this afternoon, when we come to that.
Members who wish to speak should occupy one of the unaffected seats. I ask colleagues to co-operate in making that possible.
The good news is that new equipment will arrive from Germany overnight, and we expect all the consoles in the main chamber to be fully functional for the start of tomorrow morning's meeting.
On a point of order, Sir David. I wrote to you on 4 February about a parliamentary news release of 2 February, which stated that a letter was to be issued by you to the Prime Minister, inviting him to visit the Parliament and to address a meeting of members. In my letter, I pointed out that paragraph 5 of rule
15.3 of the standing orders states that "Any person may, on the invitation of the Parliament, address the Parliament." but that parliamentary approval had not been sought for an invitation to the Prime Minister.
I thank you for your reply, which I received today. It stated that the Prime Minister had not been invited to address the Parliament, but that you had invited him to address a meeting of members, which—for convenience—will be held in the chamber. I am grateful to you for making it clear that the Prime Minister has not, in fact, been invited to address an official meeting of the Parliament, because the general impression was that such an invitation had been extended.
Can we have an assurance that normal parliamentary business will not be disrupted, and can you perhaps use your influence to ensure that there will be an opportunity for members to question the Prime Minister after his address? Some of us may wish to express our approval—or disapproval—of whatever he has to say.
First, I am grateful to Mr Canavan, as always, for giving me notice of his point of order. Secondly, he is absolutely correct.
The Prime Minister has not been invited to address the Parliament in the terms of our standing orders, and the address will not be part of our official proceedings. The meeting could have been held either in one of the committee rooms or in the chamber; it will be held here, at a time when the Parliament is not meeting.
The arrangements have not yet been made and, because the meeting will not be a parliamentary proceeding, I cannot comment on what those arrangements will be. No doubt they will be announced in due course. I have no idea what the Prime Minister will want to do—whether he will want a question-and-answer session, or a speech, or whatever, is a matter for him and not for me.
On a point of order.
Is it the same point of order?
It is similar.
Given that the situation is still fluid, would you perhaps consider that the speech should also be vetted, in line with what happened on the Parliament's opening day? Whether the meeting takes place in the chamber or not, will you give a clear commitment on the content and style of the speech, so that we can be absolutely sure that it will not be a party political rant from a Prime Minister who is trying to seek electoral advantage?
As I explained, the meeting will not be part of parliamentary proceedings, so no point of order can arise from it. There can be plenty of points of argument about what might happen, but they should be directed to the Prime Minister, not to me.