Chamber and committees

Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Business Motions

The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)

The next item of business is consideration of business motion S6M-04461, in the name of George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a business programme.

Motion moved,

That the Parliament agrees—

(a) the following programme of business—

Tuesday 24 May 2022

2.00 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Topical Questions (if selected)

followed by Ministerial Statement: European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill – Next Steps

followed by Scottish Government Debate: Keeping Care Close to Home and Improving Outcomes

followed by Committee Announcements

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

Wednesday 25 May 2022

2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.00 pm Portfolio Questions:
Health and Social Care;
Social Justice, Housing and Local Government

followed by Scottish Government Debate: Community Wealth Building – Delivering Transformation in Scotland’s Local and Regional Economies

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Approval of SSIs (if required)

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

Thursday 26 May 2022

11.40 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions

11.40 am General Questions

12.00 pm First Minister’s Questions

followed by Members’ Business

2.30 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.30 pm Portfolio Questions:
Constitution, External Affairs and Culture

followed by Scottish Government Debate: Update on Delivery of Social Security Benefits

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

Tuesday 31 May 2022

2.00 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Topical Questions (if selected)

followed by Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee, Health, Social Care and Sport Committee and Social Justice and Social Security Committee Debate: Reducing Scotland’s Drugs Deaths and Drugs Harm

followed by Committee Announcements

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

Wednesday 1 June 2022

2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.00 pm General Questions

2.20 pm First Minister’s Questions

3.05 pm Portfolio Questions:
Justice and Veterans;
Finance and Economy;
Education and Skills

followed by The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee 2022

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Approval of SSIs (if required)

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

(b) that, for the purposes of Portfolio Questions in the week beginning 23 May 2022, in rule 13.7.3, after the word “except” the words “to the extent to which the Presiding Officer considers that the questions are on the same or similar subject matter or” are inserted.—[George Adam]

17:18

Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)

Last Wednesday, during Conservative Party business, Jenny Gilruth, the Minister for Transport, proudly proclaimed that the missing document in the ferries fiasco had been found. Audit Scotland’s reckoning is that key information is still hidden, but the email in question implicated the Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, in the affair—[Interruption.]

The Presiding Officer

Excuse me a moment, Mr Kerr. Colleagues, can we please have some peace to hear Mr Kerr?

Stephen Kerr

As outlined by Douglas Ross at First Minister’s question time the next day, the email clearly shows that Mr Swinney had the final approval before the contract was awarded to Ferguson Marine. That was new information, and it contradicted the supposed truth that the First Minister had been telling the chamber up to that point, which was that Derek Mackay had the final approval. Indeed, the First Minister continued to purport that line, despite Mr Swinney eventually admitting that he had given approval.

Therefore, I was rather surprised when the Scottish Government rejected my request for an immediate statement from the Deputy First Minister. I was surprised further when it was revealed that neither this week nor next week had any time been set aside for Mr Swinney to outline his actions and answer questions from elected parliamentarians. The Deputy First Minister appeared to have plenty of time to give multiple, somewhat contradictory quotes to the media, but had no time to speak to the Parliament. Once again, we see just how little this arrogant Scottish National Party Government respects the Parliament.

What is this place for, if not to be the first line of scrutiny of the Scottish Government? Throughout Covid, the Parliament was often sidelined and the media were prioritised as the Government’s policy announcement hub. That situation has, sadly, continued and we are now in the ludicrous position of the media being not only the first, but the only line of scrutiny on Mr Swinney on that matter. If that remains true, then the Parliament has failed.

My amendment therefore inserts into the business motion a statement from the Deputy First Minister, next Tuesday after topical questions, in which he can explain himself to the Parliament and answer questions. We should not have to fight tooth and nail for such things.

To pre-empt the Minister for Parliamentary Business’s reply, in which he is likely to say that the Deputy First Minister believes that there is not enough to say in a statement, I say that I have seen enough of the Deputy First Minister’s statements to know that he is adept at using a lot of words to make very few points, so I would not worry—[Interruption.]

The Presiding Officer

Colleagues.

Stephen Kerr

I am grateful that the SNP acknowledges the truth of what I am saying, so I would not worry about that—[Interruption.]

The Presiding Officer

Colleagues, we will hear Mr Kerr.

Stephen Kerr

If that is not enough for Mr Adam, I think that all parties will agree when I say that Mr Swinney’s statement need not take up the usual 10 minutes but need be only as long as it takes Mr Swinney to explain his role in the matter. The rest of the time should, of course, be given to MSPs to provide adequate scrutiny. Therefore, I encourage all members of the Scottish Parliament to support my amendment, so that we can restore some faith in the effectiveness of the Parliament.

I move amendment S6M-04461.1, after

“Tuesday 24 May 2022

2.00 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Topical Questions (if selected)”

insert—

“followed by Deputy First Minister’s Statement: Ferries Contract Approval”.

17:23

The Minister for Parliamentary Business (George Adam)

Thank you, Presiding Officer. Dearie me. It is my intention to stick to the facts of the matter at hand and not to the flawed interpretation from some people in the room.

Last week, the Scottish Government published the exchange of 9 October 2015 and set out that the Deputy First Minister spoke with officials following the approval by the Minister for Transport and Islands earlier that day. The short note of that meeting, which is in the email trail, confirms that the decision was taken by Mr Mackay.

It reads, “He”

—the Deputy First Minister—

“now understands the background and that Mr Mackay has cleared the proposal.”

The submission noted that the Deputy First Minister had approved the financial implications and the budget availability in his role as Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy at that time. That documentation has been published since 2019.

The matter was a major part of last week’s First Minister’s question time, as the chief whip of the Conservative Party has alluded to, and of a topical question this week. The issue has been discussed numerous times over the past week, and if other members wish to discuss it further, I encourage them to use the usual routes, as we have done in the past.

The Presiding Officer

The question is, that amendment S6M-04461.1, in the name of Stephen Kerr, which seeks to amend motion S6M-04461, in the name of George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, on setting out a business programme, be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members: No.

The Presiding Officer

There will be a division. There will be a short suspension to allow members to access the digital voting system.

17:25 Meeting suspended.

17:31 On resuming—

The Presiding Officer

We come to the division on amendment S6M-04461.1, in the name of Stephen Kerr.

The vote is now closed.

Ariane Burgess (Highlands and Islands) (Green)

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app did not work. I would have voted no.

The Presiding Officer

Thank you, Ms Burgess, we will ensure that that is recorded.

For

Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab)
Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab)
Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con)
Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con)
Cameron, Donald (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con)
Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab)
Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab)
Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con)
Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab)
Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con)
Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con)
Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con)
Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con)
Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (Con)
Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con)
Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)
Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con)
Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con)
Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con)
Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con)
Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab)
McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD)
Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab)
Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con)
O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab)
Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD)
Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab)
Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Con)
Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab)
Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab)
Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con)
Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con)
White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con)
Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab)
Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con)
Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD)

Against

Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP)
Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP)
Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP)
Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP)
Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP)
Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP)
Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP)
Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green)
Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP)
Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green)
Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP)
Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP)
Don, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP)
Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP)
Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP)
Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP)
Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP)
Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP)
FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP)
Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP)
Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP)
Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP)
Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP)
Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP)
Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green)
Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP)
Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green)
Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP)
Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP)
Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP)
Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP)
Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP)
MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP)
MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP)
Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green)
Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP)
Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP)
Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)
Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP)
McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP)
McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP)
McKelvie, Christina (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP)
McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP)
McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP)
McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP)
Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP)
Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP)
Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (SNP)
Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP)
Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP)
Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)
Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green)
Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green)
Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP)
Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP)
Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP)
Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)
Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP)
Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP)
Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP)
Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP)
Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP)
Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP)
Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP)

The Presiding Officer

The result of the division on amendment S6M-04461.1, in the name of Stephen Kerr is: For 52, Against 67, Abstentions 0.

Amendment disagreed to.

The Presiding Officer

The next question is, that motion S6M-04461, in the name of George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, on setting out a business programme, be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members: No.

The Presiding Officer

There will be a division.

The vote is now closed.

Alexander Burnett (Aberdeenshire West) (Con)

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app did not connect. I would have voted no.

The Presiding Officer

Thank you, Mr Burnett. We will ensure that that is recorded.

David Torrance (Kirkcaldy) (SNP)

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would have voted yes.

The Presiding Officer

Thank you, Mr Torrance.

Monica Lennon (Central Scotland) (Lab)

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My vote was not recorded. I would have voted no.

The Presiding Officer

Thank you, Ms Lennon. We will ensure that that is recorded.

Katy Clark (West Scotland) (Lab)

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My vote was not recorded. I would have voted no.

The Presiding Officer

Thank you, Ms Clark.

For

Against

The Presiding Officer

The result of the division on motion S6M-04461, in the name of George Adam, is: For 68, Against 51, Abstentions 0.

Motion agreed to,

That the Parliament agrees—

(a) the following programme of business—

Tuesday 24 May 2022

2.00 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Topical Questions (if selected)

followed by Scottish Government Debate: Keeping Care Close to Home and Improving Outcomes

followed by Committee Announcements

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

Wednesday 25 May 2022

2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.00 pm Portfolio Questions:
Health and Social Care;
Social Justice, Housing and Local Government

followed by Scottish Government Debate: Community Wealth Building – Delivering Transformation in Scotland’s Local and Regional Economies

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Approval of SSIs (if required)

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

Thursday 26 May 2022

11.40 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions

11.40 am General Questions

12.00 pm First Minister’s Questions

followed by Members’ Business

2.30 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.30 pm Portfolio Questions:
Constitution, External Affairs and Culture

followed by Scottish Government Debate: Update on Delivery of Social Security Benefits

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

Tuesday 31 May 2022

2.00 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Topical Questions (if selected)

followed by Committee Announcements

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

Wednesday 1 June 2022

2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.00 pm General Questions

2.20 pm First Minister’s Questions

3.05 pm Portfolio Questions:
Justice and Veterans;
Finance and Economy;
Education and Skills

followed by The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee 2022

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Approval of SSIs (if required)

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

The Presiding Officer

The next item of business is consideration of business motions S6M-04462 and S6M-04476, on stage 2 timetabling, and S6M-04477, on stage 2 consideration of a bill.

Motions moved,

That the Parliament agrees that consideration of the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill at stage 2 be completed by 8 June 2022.

That the Parliament agrees that consideration of the Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill at stage 2 be completed by 14 June 2022.

That the Parliament agrees that under Rule 9.7.1(b) and 9.7.4 stage 2 of the Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill be taken as follows—

(a) the following committees will consider the Bill in the following order:

(i) the Criminal Justice Committee to consider sections 26, 30, 31, 32 in Part 3 and Part 5 with the schedule being considered immediately after the section that introduces it,

(ii) the Covid-19 Recovery Committee to consider Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 of the Bill (other than sections 26, 30, 31, 32), Part 4, Part 6 and the long title,

(b) the Criminal Justice Committee to consider (in the order set out in paragraph (a))—

(i) Sections 26, 30, 31, 32 in Part 3,

(ii) Part 5, including the schedule being considered immediately after the section that introduces it,

(iii) any amendment to provisions in sections 26, 30, 31, 32 and Part 5,

(iv) any other amendments specifically on matters relating to justice, including civil and criminal justice,

(c) the Covid-19 Recovery Committee to consider (in the order set out in paragraph (a)) all amendments other than those that are to be considered by the Criminal Justice Committee in accordance with paragraph (b).—[George Adam]

Motions agreed to.

Points of Order

Decision Time

Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Contents

Business Motions