Business Motion
The next item of business is consideration of business motion S1M-2589, in the name of Patricia Ferguson, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, which sets out a business programme.
Before moving the motion, I wish to indicate that a revision has been made, as may be seen in the business bulletin. It allows for a vote to be taken at decision time today on the motion and amendments for the debate on foot-and-mouth disease that was held on 8 November 2001.
I move,
That the Parliament agrees—
(a) as a revision to the Business Programme agreed on 19 December 2001—
Thursday 10 January 2002
after "Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Debate on Scotland's Economy", insert—
followed by Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Motion on the subject of S1M-2577 Alex Fergusson: Foot-and-Mouth Disease - Public Inquiry
(b) the following programme of business
Wednesday 16 January 2002
2.30 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Scottish National Party Debate on Scotland's Railways
followed by Standards Committee Motion
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members' Business – debate on the subject of S1M-2588 Mr Alasdair Morrison: Renewable Energy in the Western Isles
Thursday 17 January 2002
9.30 am Stage 1 Debate on the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill
followed by Financial Resolution in respect of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill
followed by Business Motion
followed by Adoption and Children Bill - UK Legislation
2.30 pm Question Time
3.10 pm First Minister's Question Time
3.30 pm Stage 1 Debate on the Marriage (Scotland) Bill
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members' Business – debate on the subject of S1M-2472 Richard Lochhead: Promoting Aberdeen as Europe's Energy Capital
Wednesday 23 January 2002
2.30 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Stage 1 Debate on the Budget (Scotland) Bill
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members' Business – debate on the subject of S1M-2402 by Alex Fergusson: Research into Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
Thursday 24 January 2002
9.30 am Green Party / Scottish Socialist Party Business
followed by Business Motion
2.30 pm Question Time
3.10 pm First Minister's Question Time
3.30 pm Executive Business
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members' Business
(c) that Stage 1 of the Education (Disability Strategies and Pupils' Records) (Scotland) Bill be completed by 8 March 2002
and (d) that the Justice 1 Committee and Justice 2 Committee report to the Local Government Committee by 21 January 2002 on the Police Pensions (Pension Sharing on Divorce) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2001 (SSI 2001/459) and the Police Pensions (Additional Voluntary Contributions and Increased Benefits) (Pension Sharing) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2001 (SSI 2001/461); and
that the Justice 2 Committee reports to the Justice 1 Committee by 21 January 2002 on the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986 (Availability of Solicitors) Regulations 2001 (SSI 2001/464); and
that the Justice 1 Committee and the Justice 2 Committee report to the Health and Community Care Committee by 22 January 2002 on the National Health Service (Scotland) (Superannuation Scheme and Additional Voluntary Contributions) (Pension Sharing on Divorce) Amendment Regulations 2001 (SSI 2001/465).
Mr Sheridan has indicated that he wishes to oppose the motion. After he has spoken, I will ask Mr Robson to reply.
The element of the motion that I wish to oppose concerns not the Conservative debate on foot-and-mouth disease, but the business of the Scottish Socialist Party and the Scottish Green Party scheduled for 24 January. The only correspondence on the matter between the parties took place last year and related to business scheduled for 31 January, which was the date initially proposed for consideration of Scottish Socialist Party and Scottish Green Party business. Both Robin Harper and I opposed what was suggested, because it involved cutting 30 minutes from our debating time.
No other correspondence has been exchanged and there has been no further negotiation or discussion. Not until yesterday did we find out that our business had been rescheduled for 24 January. It is unreasonable for the Parliamentary Bureau to change our business time, which in the past two years has been scheduled for March and has now been moved to January, and to give us only 24 hours' notice of that. I ask for consideration to be given to retimetabling the business of the Scottish Socialist Party and the Scottish Green Party.
I understand what Mr Sheridan is saying, but the information that I have is slightly different. I understand that an e-mail was sent to Mr Sheridan and Mr Harper on 14 December, indicating the date on which Scottish Socialist Party and Scottish Green Party business would be debated. I do not have in front of me details of subsequent correspondence, but six weeks, even including a holiday period, should be enough notice to allow Mr Sheridan and Mr Harper to prepare for a debate on the date specified.
If Mr Sheridan wants to make further representations to the Parliamentary Bureau, it is open to him to do so. The bureau is minded to proceed with the timetable that is set out in the business motion, but if further representations are made they will be considered.
The question is, that motion S1M-2589 be agreed to. Are we agreed?
No.
There will be a division.
For
Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Barrie, Scott (Dunfermline West) (Lab)
Brankin, Rhona (Midlothian) (Lab)
Butler, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab)
Chisholm, Malcolm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab)
Craigie, Cathie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab)
Ferguson, Patricia (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab)
Fitzpatrick, Brian (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab)
Gibson, Mr Kenneth (Glasgow) (SNP)
Gillon, Karen (Clydesdale) (Lab)
Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Jackson, Dr Sylvia (Stirling) (Lab)
Jamieson, Cathy (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab)
Jenkins, Ian (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD)
Johnstone, Alex (North-East Scotland) (Con)
Lochhead, Richard (North-East Scotland) (SNP)
MacLean, Kate (Dundee West) (Lab)
McGugan, Irene (North-East Scotland) (SNP)
McMahon, Mr Michael (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab)
Monteith, Mr Brian (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Muldoon, Bristow (Livingston) (Lab)
Mulligan, Mrs Mary (Linlithgow) (Lab)
Munro, John Farquhar (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD)
Peattie, Cathy (Falkirk East) (Lab)
Radcliffe, Nora (Gordon) (LD)
Robson, Euan (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD)
Rumbles, Mr Mike (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD)
Simpson, Dr Richard (Ochil) (Lab)
Stephen, Nicol (Aberdeen South) (LD)
Stevenson, Stewart (Banff and Buchan) (SNP)
Tosh, Mr Murray (South of Scotland) (Con)
White, Ms Sandra (Glasgow) (SNP)
Whitefield, Karen (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab)
Against
Canavan, Dennis (Falkirk West)
Sheridan, Tommy (Glasgow) (SSP)
The result of the division is: For 33, Against 2, Abstentions 0.
Motion agreed to.
Meeting suspended until 14:30.
On resuming—