Plenary, 24 Jan 2002

Meeting date: Thursday, January 24, 2002

Official Report 747KB pdf

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Business Motion

The next item of business is consideration of business motion S1M-2634, in the name of Patricia Ferguson, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a business programme. Any member who wishes to speak against the motion should press their request-to-speak button now.

Motion moved,

That the Parliament agrees the following programme of business—

Wednesday 30 January 2002

2.30 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Stage 1 Debate on the Fur Farming (Prohibition) (Scotland) Bill

followed by Debate on Adoption and Children Bill - UK Legislation

followed by Executive Motion in respect of UK Legislation

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members' Business – debate on the subject of S1M-2302 Dr Sylvia Jackson: Introduction of a Pollution Inventory

Thursday 31 January 2002

9.30 am Stage 1 Debate on the Scottish Public Sector Ombudsman Bill

followed by Financial Resolution in respect of the Scottish Public Sector Ombudsman Bill

followed by Procedures Committee Debate on its 5th Report 2001 (Changes to the Standing Orders of the Scottish Parliament) and 1st Report 2002 (Changes to the Standing Orders of the Scottish Parliament)

followed by Business Motion

2.30 pm Question Time

3.10 pm First Minister's Question Time

3.30 pm Debate on the Local Government Finance Order

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members' Business - debate on the subject of S1M-2528 by Mr Kenneth Gibson: Young Runaways

Wednesday 6 February 2002

2.30 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Stage 3 Debate on the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Bill

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members' Business

Thursday 7 February 2002

9.30 am Scottish National Party Business

followed by Business Motion

2.30 pm Question Time

3.10 pm First Minister's Question Time

3.30 pm Stage 1 Debate on the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) (Scotland) Bill

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members' Business.—[Euan Robson.]

Fiona Hyslop has indicated that she wishes to speak against the motion and has up to five minutes to do so.

I speak against the motion with some regret, but I want to share with the chamber my anxiety and disquiet at what I see as a dumbing down—it will be evident to members who look at the business motion—of some of our procedures and the debates we are having in the Parliament.

We will spend as much as an hour and a half debating the abolition of fur farming, which is hardly the most contentious issue facing the people of Scotland, whereas a debate on the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) (Scotland) Bill, which is about the abolition of cronyism, will not receive a sufficient amount of time.

Although we must debate bills that have been approved as part of the Parliament's legislative programme, we are spending too much time on non-contentious issues—issues that are not the big burning issues that face the people of Scotland. We should spend time debating health, education and transport. Significantly, the only occasions on which ministers debate those issues in the Parliament are during Opposition party debates. There have been Opposition debates on the economy and on transport—which the Scottish National Party secured—and on the environment and council tax, which were debated today.

Over the past few months, the Parliament has not had the opportunity to debate the big issues that we should debate. There is a danger that the Parliament is being dumbed down as a result of spending excessive time on issues that I feel do not reflect public opinion in Scotland. Because of that, I regret to say that the SNP might have to vote against business motions in future.

It is essential for the working of the Parliament that we have consensus in the Parliament and in the Parliamentary Bureau. I made those points in the bureau this week. I make them again in the Parliament. I sincerely hope that in future the SNP will not be put in the position of having to vote against business motions because they do not address the issues that the Parliament should address. I will not force a vote on the business motion, but I want to express my disquiet and concern.

The SNP business manager has not fully understood what will happen next Wednesday afternoon. The business motion clearly states that the Sewel motion will follow debate on the Fur Farming (Prohibition) (Scotland) Bill. If that debate finishes early, it is perfectly possible that more time might be devoted to the Sewel motion.

The claim that a legislative programme that includes debate on the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Bill is dumbing down the Parliament beggars belief.

It is important that debates are held on some more minor measures. The measure may be minor, but the prohibition of fur farming is quite important. Anybody with experience of trying to eradicate escaped mink will know how important it is for rural communities that some practices do not continue. Although such measures may not seem particularly important to the vast majority, they are important to groups, and the legislation involved must be passed.

We note what the SNP's business manager says, but the legislative programme must progress. I have no hesitation in commending the motion to the Parliament.

Motion agreed to.

Meeting suspended until 14:30.

On resuming—