We now move to the next item of business, consideration of business motion S1M-463, in the name of Mr McCabe, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau.
Motion moved,
That the Parliament agrees a) the following programme of business— Thursday 27 January 2000
9.30 am Debate on the Executive's Proposals as set out in the Framework Document on Wider Access to Further and Higher Education 2.30 pm Question Time 3.10 pm First Minister's Question Time 3.30 pm Continuation of the Debate on the Executive's Proposals as set out in the Framework Document on Wider Access to Further and Higher Education followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time followed by Members' Business - debate on the subject of S1M-361 David Mundell: Rural Sub Post Offices
Wednesday 2 February 2000
2.30 pm Time for Reflection followed by Executive Debate on British Irish Council followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time followed by Members' Business – debate on the subject of S1M-349 Mr Jamie Stone: A9 Improvements
Thursday 3 February 2000
9.30 am Non-Executive Debate on Motions by the Scottish National Party followed by Business Motion followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2.30 pm Question Time 3.10 pm First Minister's Question Time 3.30 pm Executive Debate on Sustainable Development 5.00 pm Decision Time followed by Members' Business – debate on the subject of S1M-280 Elaine Smith: UN Convention Report on the Rights of the Child
Wednesday 9 February 2000
2.30 pm Time for Reflection followed by Executive Debate on the Census (Scotland) Order 2000 followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time followed by Members' Business
Thursday 10 February 2000
9.30 am Non-Executive Debate on a Motion by the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party followed by Business Motion followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2.30 pm Question Time 3.10 pm First Minister's Question Time 3.30 pm Stage 3 Debate on the Budget (Scotland) Bill 5.00 pm Decision Time followed by Members' Business and, b) that Stage 1 consideration of the Standards in Scotland's Schools etc. Bill be completed by 24 March 2000.—[Mr McCabe.]
Does any member wish to speak against the motion?
I do not want to speak against the motion but I must say that members must be astonished to find themselves in this chamber today with a meltdown in the Administration taking place—
Mr Russell, you must speak against the motion.
I will speak against the motion, but I will not move a vote against it. I want to speak against the motion on the grounds that—
This is an abuse of standing orders.
The standing orders allow me to do this.
You must speak against the motion, Mr Russell.
I speak against the motion on the ground that, since the business motion was put together, there has been a meltdown in the Administration. There is, as we speak—
On a point of order. Mr Russell is part of the Parliamentary Bureau. If he was unhappy with the motion, he could have asked for the bureau to be reconvened.
Events are moving so fast—
On a point of order. Mr Russell said that he did not wish to move a vote against the motion. That must mean that he should not be allowed to continue with his speech.
I told him that he would have to speak against the motion.
On a point of order. Is it in order for someone who is a member of the bureau on whose behalf Mr McCabe is moving this motion to speak against something that he has already agreed to? Another member of his party might speak on the matter but he should not.
Dr Simpson may have a point, Mr Russell.
I understand Dr Simpson's point, but wish simply to reiterate what I started to say.
What has that to do with the business motion?
The Executive should explain to members what is happening about that.
I will take that as a speech against the business motion, which I now put to the chamber.
Motion agreed to.
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