On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Members across the chamber are well aware of the controversy that has been generated over the recent consultation on same-sex marriage in Scotland. Members of the public on both sides of the debate engaged seriously with the consultation and had been under the impression that an analysis of the consultation responses and a decision from the Government would be published “in the spring”—that is the form of words that was used in written answers by ministers. We are now told by the media—I believe that this has been confirmed by the Government—that that will not happen until part way through the summer recess.
I thank Patrick Harvie for advance notice of his point of order. The point that he raises is not a procedural matter for the Presiding Officers. It is up to ministers to decide when to publish the results of their consultation.
I thank Patrick Harvie for his point of order because it gives me the opportunity to update Parliament. There has been slippage in the expected timetable, and that is simply due to the huge volume of responses—some 77,000 in total—and the time taken by the Cabinet to analyse and properly consider them. The Cabinet had a first discussion on the issue yesterday, and it has asked for further detail. However, Patrick Harvie will be pleased to know that we fully expect to publish the results next month, and I am sure that Parliament will have ample opportunity in due course to debate the issue.
I thank the Deputy First Minister for that clarification. I am sure that, in the light of what the minister has said, the Government will want to ensure that there are arrangements for members and the Scottish Parliament information centre to receive copies of the consultation results if they are published during the recess.
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