[THE PRESIDING OFFICER opened the meeting at 09:30]
The first item of business this morning is a statement by Jim Wallace on family law. The minister will take questions at the end of the statement, so there should be no interventions.
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I want to raise an issue—it has been raised before—about the notice that is given to the Parliament of the business that will be discussed in the chamber. In particular, this morning's statement—a copy of which was not vouchsafed to Opposition parties until 8.30 this morning—was heavily discussed and journalists were briefed on it yesterday. Yesterday afternoon, I was phoned by journalists, advised on what the statement was going to contain and asked for comment. I watched a lengthy item on the matter on one of last night's news programmes. This morning, when the statement was handed to Opposition parties, the minister was being interviewed on "Good Morning Scotland" about its contents.
On a point of order.
Mr Robson, do you have the same point of order?
No.
I share Ms Cunningham's concern. As I have said before, the issue of when Opposition spokespeople get advance copies of statements is not a matter for the chair; it is a matter for negotiation between the parties. However, if it is the case that copies of the statement are being given out to the press before they go to Opposition party spokespeople, I deplore it. Although there is every reason to distribute a morning statement to the media so that the evening press and midday bulletins can carry it, I see no reason for statements to be given out the day before. I hope that that practice will stop. If it does not, I may refer the matter to the Procedures Committee.
I am not aware that any statement was given to the press. Those people who heard me on "Good Morning Scotland" would have heard me say very clearly that Parliament had to get the detail—I spoke only about the general principles. We are talking about a consultation document and nothing is particularly new—much of the information was already in the public domain. I will check that the statement was not given to the press. It is my understanding that journalists did not receive copies of the statement in advance.
I would be grateful, minister, if you would check that and find out what happened. I heard the interview on "Good Morning Scotland" and I have to say that I thought that you were skating on thin ice—although rather successfully. That is something to be admired but not necessarily encouraged.
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Family Law