Plenary, 13 Dec 2001

Meeting date: Thursday, December 13, 2001

Official Report 729KB pdf

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Business Motion

The next item of business is consideration of business motion S1M-2548, in the name of Patricia Ferguson, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau.

Motion moved,

That the Parliament agrees—

(a) the following programme of business—

Wednesday 19 December 2001

2.30 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Debate on the Finance Committee's Report on Stage 2 of the Budget Process

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members' Business – debate on the subject of S1M-2345 Fiona McLeod: Scottish Science Library and Scottish Business Information Service

Thursday 20 December 2001

9.30 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Stage 3 Debate on the Scottish Local Government (Elections) Bill

followed by Stage 3 Debate on the School Education (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill

followed by Business Motion

2.30 pm Question Time

3.10 pm First Minister's Question Time

3.30 pm Continuation of Stage 3 Debate on the School Education (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members' Business – debate on the subject of S1M-2529 Karen Gillon: New Lanark

(b) that Stage 2 of the Water Industry (Scotland) Bill be completed by 1 February 2002 and that Stage 1 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill be completed by 15 March 2002, and

(c) that the Justice 1 Committee reports to the Justice 2 Committee on the Act of Sederunt (Fees of Solicitors in the Sheriff Court) (Amendment) 2001 (SSI 2001/438) and on the Act of Sederunt (Fees of Sheriff Officers) 2001 (SSI 2001/439) by 8 January 2002.—[Euan Robson.]

I draw members' attention to my entry in the register of members' interests.

Paragraph (b) of the motion asks the Parliament to agree

"that Stage 1 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill be completed by 15 March 2002".

It will be a surprise to many people outside the chamber that such a tight timetable has been set for a bill that took two and a half years to draft. Because of the complexity of the bill, I ask for guidance on the element of flexibility and on the options for extending the committee time that is available at stage 1.

The bill timetable allows for more time at stage 1 than has been the case for any other bill that has come before the Parliament. We have allowed 16 weeks in total for the committees to gather information and produce their reports. I understand that the Rural Development Committee will complete its evidence on the bill before the end of January—some six weeks in advance of the proposed date for the end of stage 1.

The timetable is reasonable, but I can confirm that—as Mr Johnstone knows—if a committee needs more time, it can always return to the Parliamentary Bureau. At this stage, it is too early to make a judgment, but there is a clear commitment that a committee can ask for more time if it needs it. The bureau extended stage 1 proceedings when the Justice 2 Committee wanted extra time for the Sexual Offences (Procedure and Evidence) (Scotland) Bill. I can only repeat that the bureau will consider any request on its merits.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. The First Minister is on record as saying that he would outline a timetable for progress on electoral reform before Christmas. There is no provision in business motion S1M-2548 for progress on electoral reform or for a statement to the chamber before the Christmas recess. Will you remind ministers that important announcements should be made first to the Parliament and not through the media?

That is not a point of order. It is for the relevant minister to request the Presiding Officer for an opportunity to make a statement. However, the Minister for Parliamentary Business is present and, although the point is not a matter for me in my capacity, no doubt the Executive will take note of it.

The question is, that motion S1M-2548, in the name of Patricia Ferguson, be agreed to.

Motion agreed to.

Meeting suspended until 14:30.

On resuming—