Contents
- Scottish Parliament Thursday 20 March 2003
- Business Motion
- Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
- Point of Order
- Presiding Officer's Ruling
- Point of Order
- Question Time
- First Minister's Question Time
- Points of Order
- Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
- Sexual Offences Bill
- Railways and Transport Safety Bill
- Parliamentary Bureau Motions
- Motion without Notice
- Decision Time
- Suicide Emergency Telephone Hotline
Point of Order
We are ahead of time, so I propose to suspend this meeting of Parliament.
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. We are more than three hours ahead of the timetable for the bill, which leaves some time spare for our Parliament to debate another matter of an important nature. So far, at least six members of the Parliament have signed a motion that states that the Parliament condemns the commencement of war against Iraq and calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities with a view to recommencing efforts to find a peaceful solution. In view of the fact that we have time to spare, may we have a debate on that important matter?
The Parliament took a view on the issue yesterday. I stand by that view.
Further to that point of order, Presiding Officer. Yesterday, hostilities had not commenced. There is nothing that is more of an emergency than the commencement of war. Now that war has commenced, and particularly given the time that is left, surely we should have an emergency debate on the whole situation so that the Parliament's views can be heard.
I hear what you say, Mr Sheridan. The situation is very serious, but I regard the matter as being primarily for the consideration of the Parliamentary Bureau, to which your views will be passed.
Will you pass on our concerns to the Presiding Officer?
I shall do so.
Meeting suspended until 14:30.
On resuming—