Business Motions
I understand that Tom McCabe wishes to move, without notice, that decision time today be moved to 5.15 pm.
I seek your permission to move a motion without notice, Presiding Officer.
I am minded to accept the motion. Are we agreed?
Members indicated agreement.
The motion is in line with standing orders. Moving decision time to 5.15 pm would allow time for a brief debate on the appointment of a Scottish minister.
I move,
That, under rule 11.2.4, Decision Time be taken at 5.15 pm.
Motion agreed to.
The next item of business is consideration of motion S1M-1777, in the name of Tom McCabe, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a business programme.
The business motion is as outlined in today's business bulletin. The non-Executive debate for next week does not have a subject. It is slightly disappointing that the Parliament is not able to see the subject that it will debate next week, but I hope that the non-Executive parties will be able to provide future subjects in time for them to be printed in the business bulletin.
I move,
That the Parliament agrees:
(a) as a revision to the Business Motion agreed on 14 March 2001:
after "First Minister's Question Time", insert:
"3.30 pm First Minister's Motion to appoint a junior Scottish Minister"
and replace:
"3.30 pm Executive Debate on Rural Scotland"
with:
"followed by Executive Debate on Rural Scotland"
(b) the following programme of business—
Wednesday 28 March 2001
2.30 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Scottish National Party Business
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members' Business - debate on the subject of S1M-1368 Pauline McNeill: Drug Assisted Sexual Assault
Thursday 29 March 2001
9.30 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Stage 3 Debate on Education (Graduate Endowment and Student Support) (Scotland) (No. 2) Bill
followed by Business Motion
2.30 pm Question Time
3.10 pm First Minister's Question Time
3.30 pm Executive Debate on Justice
followed by Executive Motion on the Armed Forces Bill – UK Legislation
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members' Business - debate on the subject of S1M-1340 Mr Keith Harding: Homelessness in Fife
Wednesday 4 April 2001
2.30 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Executive Business
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members' Business
Thursday 5 April 2001
9.30 am Executive Business
followed by Business Motion
2.30 pm Question Time
3.10 pm First Minister's Question Time
3.30 pm Executive Business
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members' Business
and (c) that the Social Justice Committee's consideration of Stage 2 of the Housing (Scotland) Bill commences during the week beginning 2 April 2001 and is completed by the week beginning 14 May 2001 and that its consideration of Stage 2 of the Mortgage Rights (Scotland) Bill commences on 21 March 2001 and is completed by the week beginning 26 March 2001; and that the Health and Community Care Committee's consideration of Stage 2 of the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Bill commences on 28 March 2001 and is completed by 16 May 2001.
Motion agreed to.
Meeting suspended until 14:30.
On resuming—
As members know by now, we are developing the happy custom of welcoming distinguished visitors to the chamber. There are two groups with us today. First, there is a delegation from the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, led by Dr Chyung Dai-Chul. We welcome the delegates Secondly, we have the largest group of ambassadors that we have ever welcomed—14 members of the Council of Arab Ambassadors, led by their acting dean, His Excellency the Ambassador of Kuwait. [Applause.]