Plenary, 29 Jun 2000

Meeting date: Thursday, June 29, 2000

Official Report 676KB pdf

---

Business Motion

The next item of business is consideration of business motion S1M-1062, in the name of Mr Tom McCabe, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out the business programme.

Before I move the business motion for the final week before the summer recess, it is worth noting that this will mark the end of the first year in which the Parliament has had its full powers. It is worth putting on record that we have passed six acts of the Scottish Parliament; that two further bills are awaiting royal assent; and that subject to agreement to the business motion and decisions of the Parliament, another three bills will have completed stage 3 by the end of the first year. That is a substantial achievement, which it is worth marking.

I move,

That the Parliament agrees

Wednesday 5 July 2000

9.30 am Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Stage 3 Debate on the Bail, Judicial Appointments etc. (Scotland) Bill

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Stage 3 Debate on the National Parks (Scotland) Bill

2.30 pm Continuation of Morning's Business

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members' Business – debate on the subject of S1M-756 Allan Wilson: West Kilbride: Scotland's Craft Town

Thursday 6 July 2000

9.30 am Ministerial Statement

followed by Executive Debate on Modernisation in the NHS

followed by Business Motion

2.30 pm Question Time

3.10 pm First Minister's Question Time

3.30 pm Continuation of Executive Debate on Modernisation in the NHS

followed by Motion on Government Resources and Accounts Bill – UK Legislation

followed by Motion on Witness Expenses and Allowances Scheme

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members' Business – debate on the subject of S1M-1009 George Lyon: University of the Highlands and Islands

Today, the time that was allowed for a bill was again inadequate. Some members who wished to speak were not allowed to and others were asked to be extremely brief. We still have lessons to learn.

On Wednesday, there will be debates on two bills. When we know what amendments have been lodged, if necessary, will the time for debates extend beyond 5 o'clock, as has happened in the past, so that there is adequate time to debate them?

As I said on a previous occasion, decision time at 5 o'clock is marked as a requirement of standing orders. The Executive intends to lodge a timetabling motion for both bills next week, which will take into account the length of time that is expected for debate. It is possible to reduce the time that is allocated for lunch, which is two hours, or to move that decision time be held later. It is certainly intended that there should be adequate time in which to debate both of these very important bills.

The question is, that motion S1M-1062 be agreed to.

Motion agreed to.

Meeting suspended until 14:30.

On resuming—

Before we start, I inform members that, in view of the problems that we encountered this morning, all the consoles have been checked and should be working this afternoon. I take this opportunity to remind members that we have issued notices in the business bulletin asking members not to allow any parties into the chamber during the last half hour before we meet, to enable our staff to check the electronic equipment. I am afraid that members have not been obeying that rule. I repeat, the last party has to be clear of the chamber by 2 o'clock.

Members have been allowing schoolchildren greater access to the seats and the voting equipment than we had planned. I ask that school parties be kept in the middle of the floor or at the back of the chamber and not be allowed to tamper with the equipment as that is causing problems.