Plenary, 15 Jan 2004
Meeting date: Thursday, January 15, 2004
Official Report
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Business Motion
The next item of business is consideration of business motion S2M-781, in the name of Patricia Ferguson, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a timetable for legislation.
Before moving the motion, I draw members' attention to something that has arisen this afternoon in connection with the motion. Members may recall that, at today's question time, Miss Goldie, who sits on the Conservative benches, asked my colleague Ms Jamieson when there was likely to be an Executive debate about the supreme court. Quite correctly, Ms Jamieson responded by referring to her letter to Miss Goldie dated 12 January, in which she had advised Miss Goldie that the Executive intended to put a proposal for a debate on the issue to the Parliamentary Bureau in the very near future.
Unfortunately, Miss Goldie has now chosen to issue a press release, in which she accuses the Executive of dodging a debate on the issue. I point out that neither in their previous opportunity to choose a subject for debate nor at the Parliamentary Bureau have the Conservatives raised the issue. I also point out that the letter was issued only several days ago—perhaps Miss Goldie has not had an opportunity to consider it.
We have a meeting of the bureau next Tuesday. By chance—or perhaps not—we have two slots for Executive debates on 29 January. Miss Goldie will not be surprised to know that, at this stage, I am not in a position to confirm whether one of those slots will be used for that subject. However, if she pays attention to the decisions that emanate from the bureau next week, she might find some elucidation of the matter.
I move,
That the Parliament agrees—
(a) that the Justice 1 Committee reports to the Justice 2 Committee by 30 January 2004 on the Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003 (Conservation Bodies) Amendment Order 2003 (SSI 2003/621); and
(b) that consideration of the Fire Sprinklers in Residential Premises (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1 be completed by 30 April 2004.
No member has asked to speak against the motion, so I will put the question. The question is, that motion S2M-781, in the name of Patricia Ferguson, be agreed to.
Motion agreed to.