Business Motions
The next item of business is consideration of business motion S3M-5971, in the name of Bruce Crawford, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a business programme.
Motion moved,
That the Parliament agrees the following programme of business—
Wednesday 24 March 2010
2.00 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Stage 1 Debate: Scottish Parliamentary Commissions and Commissioners etc. Bill
followed by Scottish Government Debate: Double Jeopardy
followed by SPCB Motion on the Allowances Scheme
followed by Scottish Ministers’ Nominations to the European Economic and Social Committee
followed by Business Motion
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Thursday 25 March 2010
9.00 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Public Services Reform (Scotland) Bill
11.40 am General Question Time
12 noon First Minister’s Question Time
2.15 pm Themed Question Time
Justice and Law Officers;
Rural Affairs and the Environment
2.55 pm Continuation of Stage 3 Proceedings: Public Services Reform (Scotland) Bill
followed by Ministerial Statement: Scottish Government’s Response to the UK Budget
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Wednesday 14 April 2010
2.30 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Scottish Government Business
followed by Business Motion
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Thursday 15 April 2010
9.15 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Scottish Government Business
11.40 am General Question Time
12 noon First Minister’s Question Time
2.15 pm Themed Question Time
Finance and Sustainable Growth
2.55 pm Scottish Government Business
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business—[Bruce Crawford.]
Motion agreed to.
Can we wait until the end of decision time, Ms MacDonald?
My point of order refers to the motion.
Ms MacDonald has asked why this matter has been brought before us; I offer the minister an opportunity to respond.
I note that there was a paper before the bureau—which I was at on Tuesday—that suggested that a situation potentially existed whereby that particular committee would not be able to report on stage 1 until much closer to the end of the year.
Therefore, the bureau took—I think—the right decision, given that the paper said that, on that timetable, a debate could at the very earliest take place on 24 November, and given that the committee had made a plea for a longer period. The bureau rightly decided to take the shortest possible timescale that was available to it, on the committee’s advice.
The next item of business is consideration of business motion S3M-5970, in the name of Bruce Crawford, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a revised time for the start of business on 25 March 2010.
Motion moved,
That the Parliament agrees that “09:00” be substituted for “09:15” in Rule 2.2.3 for the purpose of allowing the meeting of the Parliament on Thursday 25 March 2010 to begin at 9.00 am.—[Bruce Crawford.]
Motion agreed to.
A special committee was set up to deal expeditiously with the bill. I therefore wonder why there should be such a long period before it reports.
I hope that that clarifies the position.
Motion moved,
That the Parliament agrees that consideration of the End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1 be completed by 24 November 2010—[Bruce Crawford.]
Motion agreed to.
The next item of business is consideration of business motion S3M-5974, in the name of Bruce Crawford, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, which sets out a timetable for stage 1 of the End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill. If any member wishes to speak against the motion, they should press their request-to-speak button now.
On a point of order, Presiding Officer.
Do you wish to speak against the motion?
I wish to ask why this has happened.
I would be grateful if Ms MacDonald could first answer my question: what is she actually asking about?
Would you like to clarify, Ms MacDonald?