It is now 12 noon. We move to questions to the First Minister—
On a point of order, Presiding Officer.
Is your point of order so urgent that we have to take it now? Can I take it at the back end of First Minister's questions?
I would prefer that it was taken now, Presiding Officer.
Right. On you go.
I rise to highlight the most flagrant breach of the Parliament's principles. I refer to discrimination—age discrimination, in particular—which is covered by rule 6.9.1 and 6.9.2 of standing orders. I am 75 years old. However, having reached that age, I find that I am being discriminated against in this place. I should point out that I am raising this not for myself but on behalf of the others who will follow me in 2007. I want the Presiding Officer's good self to look into and rule on the matter.
What is your point of order, Mr Swinburne?
I am allowed three minutes in which to expand upon my point—
Only if you are speaking to a point of order.
I am being discriminated against because, of the 129 MSPs, I am the only one who comes into a separate category. If I and one of my colleagues were knocked down by a bus on the way up to this place, my colleague's family would be awarded three times his basic salary. However, I would receive nothing because I am too old. That is discrimination of the worst kind.
I am sorry that you find yourself in that situation, Mr Swinburne. I know that the matter is of personal importance to you, but I think that it would be better if you wrote to me. I will ensure that the parliamentary authorities respond to you.
On a different point of order, Presiding Officer. I will be very brief. Last week, for the first time ever, the independent MSPs were given a slot at First Minister's question time. Unfortunately, Margo MacDonald lost the opportunity to ask her question because the roof fell in. Why is she not being given the opportunity to ask her question this week, in the same way that last week's votes were simply postponed until this week?
We have already agreed the schedule until the end of June. I am afraid that we will just have to live with it.
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