Business Motion
The standing orders allow for 10 minutes' debate on the business motion, with one speaker for and one against. Members should indicate if they wish to speak against the business motion.
Before I move the motion, perhaps it will help if I explain that in the light of developments relating to the Holyrood project, I intend to propose to the Parliamentary Bureau that time be set aside in next week's business for a debate, on an Executive motion, on the Holyrood project.
If that is acceptable, I propose to amend next week's business as follows. On Wednesday 16 June at 9.30 am, I will move a revised business motion after discussion with the bureau. That will be followed by a statement by the First Minister on the Executive's legislative proposals. That debate will continue all day on Wednesday and will conclude at 5 pm. That will make space on Thursday 17 June for a debate on the Holyrood project, which will commence at 10.30 am and conclude at 12.20 pm.
On the afternoon of 17 June, the business will be as proposed in the motion before Parliament today: oral questions will begin at 2.30 pm and will be followed by a debate on the motion on tuition fees, in the name of the Deputy First Minister. At the conclusion of that business, we will be asked to agree a motion on committee membership and convenerships.
The business to be taken in the second week, on Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 June, is provisional. However, I confirm that it is intended that the Deputy First Minister will make a statement on a subject to be announced on Wednesday 23 June and that a debate on financial issues will take place during the afternoon of Thursday 24 June. In addition, members will wish to note that provision has been made for the first non-Executive business to be held on the morning of Thursday 24 June on a motion from the Scottish nationalist party. [MEMBERS: "We are the Scottish National party."] I apologise. If members submit a range of suggestions for that motion, I will try to ensure that the one that is suitable to most members is selected.
Just the correct name would do.
A further question time will then be held on the afternoon of Thursday 24 June.
The motion is before the chamber. Nobody has asked to speak against it.
It might be helpful to members if I make a statement from the chair to add to what Mr McCabe said about the Holyrood project. I remind everyone that responsibility for the Holyrood project passed on 1 June from the Executive to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body.
The corporate body, which has five members who were elected by MSPs, has held its first meeting. The corporate body is answerable to members for the project and is responsible for it in law. Members of the corporate body are, in effect, the clients of the project. For that reason, we will discuss the implications of the project with the architect and the project team this afternoon. We have instructed that no further works contracts should be signed in the next 10 days, which is the maximum period for which we can make such an arrangement without penalty. That gives us time to discuss the whole matter further.
I am arranging for the full paper that the corporate body has already discussed to be available to all members this afternoon. I also hope to arrange a series of informal seminars—at least two, and possibly three—to allow members to ask the project team questions. The seminars will take place next week, before we debate the matter. They will be chaired by the Deputy Presiding Officers. Details will be announced in the business bulletin.
We in the corporate body are conscious of the fact that, although we are responsible for the project, we are answerable to the whole of this Parliament and that the Parliament must give us instructions.
I am grateful to the Business Manager for proposing a rearrangement of next week's business to allow the Parliament to take a fundamental decision on the Holyrood project in time, without incurring any penalties on the contract.
I hope that what I have said clarifies the position and that it has been helpful to all members.
The question is, that motion S1M-44, in the name of Tom McCabe, be agreed to.
Motion agreed to.
That the Parliament agrees the following business programme:
Wednesday 16 June 1999
2.30 pm Statement by the First Minister and debate on the Executive's legislative proposals 5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by
Members' Business Debate on the subject of motion S1M-42 in the name of David Mundell
Thursday 17 June 1999
9.30 am Continuation of debate on the proposed legislative programme followed by
Business Motion
2.30 pm Question Time 3.00 pm Open Question Time followed by No later than 3.15 pm
Debate on S1M-2 (Mr Jim Wallace) on Tuition Fees followed by
Motion proposing establishment of committees (to be taken without debate)
5.00 pm Decision Time Wednesday 23 June 1999 2.30 pm Statement by the Deputy First Minister followed by No later than 3.00 pm
Executive Business
5.00 pm Decision Time followed by
Members' Business Thursday 24 June 1999
9.30 am Non-executive Business (on a motion from the SNP) followed by
Business Motion
2.30 pm Question Time 3.00 pm Open Question Time followed by No later than 3.15 pm Debate on Financial Issues
5.00 pm Decision Time
I now ask Mr McCabe to move motion S1M-34 formally.
Motion moved,
That the Parliament agrees that - (1) the Office of the Clerk should be open on each of the following days:
Monday 21 to Friday 25 June and Monday 28 June to Friday 2 July and (2) the summer recess should begin on Friday 2 July 1999 after the business of that day has been concluded and should end on Monday 30 August 1999, with the next meeting of the Parliament being held on or after Tuesday 31 August 1999.—[Mr McCabe.]