Business Motion
The next item of business is consideration of business motion S1M-3165, in the name of Patricia Ferguson, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out the business programme.
Motion moved,
That the Parliament agrees—
(a) the following programme of business—
Wednesday 12 June 2002
2.30 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Stage 1 Debate on the University of St. Andrews (Postgraduate Medical Degrees) Bill
followed by Executive Debate on the Value of Participation in Sport increasing the Quality of Life in Scotland
followed by Motion on the Publication of the Scottish Parliamentary Ombudsman and Health Service Ombudsman for Scotland's Annual Report for 2001-02
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members' Business
Thursday 13 June 2002
9.30 am Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Business
followed by Business Motion
2.30 pm Question Time
3.10 pm First Minister's Question Time
3.30 pm Executive Debate on Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members' Business
Wednesday 19 June 2002
2.30 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Stage 3 Debate on the Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Bill
followed by Local Government Committee Debate on its Report on Local Government Finance
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members' Business
Thursday 20 June 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 School Meals (Scotland) Bill
followed by Financial Resolution in respect of the School Meals (Scotland) Bill
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members' Business
(b) that the Justice 1 Committee reports to the Justice 2 Committee by 16 June 2002 on the Act of Sederunt (Fees of Solicitors in the Sheriff Court) (Amendment) 2002 and that the Justice 2 Committee reports to the Justice 1 Committee by 16 June 2002 on the draft Civil Legal Aid (Financial Conditions) (Scotland) (No 2) Regulations 2002, the draft Advice and Assistance (Financial Conditions) (Scotland) (No 2) Regulations 2002 and by 23 June 2002 on the draft Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) Amendment (Scotland) Order 2002; and
(c) that Stage 1 of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Bill be completed by 20 September 2002.—[Euan Robson.]
Tommy Sheridan has asked to speak against the motion. You have up to five minutes, Mr Sheridan.
I do not need anything like five minutes to speak in opposition to the business motion. My opposition is to the final paragraph, which concerns the time that has been set aside for stage 1 of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Bill, which is to be completed by 20 September.
My concern is that the time scale will not allow the full range of anti-poverty and community groups to give evidence on the bill. Such evidence was influential in the consideration of the Abolition of Poindings and Warrant Sales Bill. It will not be able to be heard because of the tightness of the schedule if we stick to 20 September.
I hope that the Minister for Parliamentary Business will agree to delay the time scale by at least a month to allow more witnesses who represent the anti-poverty and community groups to be invited. Those groups will be opposed to the bill, which simply seeks to reintroduce poindings and warrant sales under another name.
I have no intention of involving myself in a debate about stage 1 with Mr Sheridan, but I will explain the background. The bill was introduced on 7 May 2002 after wide consultation with all interests. It must complete its passage through the Parliament by the end of the year to meet the deadline that the Parliament has predetermined.
The Social Justice Committee timetable works within that tight time frame. The committee is taking oral and written evidence between May and July, extending into the parliamentary recess to ensure that as much time as possible is given to the stage 1 evidence gathering. The stage 1 debate will take place after the summer recess by 20 September. That will give members ample time to consider the bill. Stage 3 must be completed during November to enable royal assent to be given and the bill to be enacted by the end of December 2002. The timetable was agreed not only by the Parliamentary Bureau but by the Social Justice Committee.
The question is, that motion S1M-3165 be agreed to. Are we agreed?
No.
There will be a division.
For
Adam, Brian (North-East Scotland) (SNP)
Aitken, Bill (Glasgow) (Con)
Alexander, Ms Wendy (Paisley North) (Lab)
Barrie, Scott (Dunfermline West) (Lab)
Boyack, Sarah (Edinburgh Central) (Lab)
Brankin, Rhona (Midlothian) (Lab)
Brown, Robert (Glasgow) (LD)
Butler, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab)
Craigie, Cathie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab)
Crawford, Bruce (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP)
Cunningham, Roseanna (Perth) (SNP)
Curran, Ms Margaret (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab)
Davidson, Mr David (North-East Scotland) (Con)
Eadie, Helen (Dunfermline East) (Lab)
Ewing, Fergus (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP)
Ferguson, Patricia (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab)
Fergusson, Alex (South of Scotland) (Con)
Finnie, Ross (West of Scotland) (LD)
Fitzpatrick, Brian (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab)
Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Godman, Trish (West Renfrewshire) (Lab)
Gorrie, Donald (Central Scotland) (LD)
Grahame, Christine (South of Scotland) (SNP)
Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Gray, Iain (Edinburgh Pentlands) (Lab)
Hamilton, Mr Duncan (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)
Harding, Mr Keith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Home Robertson, Mr John (East Lothian) (Lab)
Hughes, Janis (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab)
Hyslop, Fiona (Lothians) (SNP)
Ingram, Mr Adam (South of Scotland) (SNP)
Jackson, Dr Sylvia (Stirling) (Lab)
Jackson, Gordon (Glasgow Govan) (Lab)
Jamieson, Cathy (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab)
Jamieson, Margaret (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab)
Jenkins, Ian (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD)
Johnstone, Alex (North-East Scotland) (Con)
Kerr, Mr Andy (East Kilbride) (Lab)
Lamont, Johann (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab)
Livingstone, Marilyn (Kirkcaldy) (Lab)
Lyon, George (Argyll and Bute) (LD)
Macintosh, Mr Kenneth (Eastwood) (Lab)
MacKay, Angus (Edinburgh South) (Lab)
Maclean, Kate (Dundee West) (Lab)
Macmillan, Maureen (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Martin, Paul (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab)
Marwick, Tricia (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP)
Matheson, Michael (Central Scotland) (SNP)
McAllion, Mr John (Dundee East) (Lab)
McCabe, Mr Tom (Hamilton South) (Lab)
McConnell, Mr Jack (Motherwell and Wishaw) (Lab)
McIntosh, Mrs Lyndsay (Central Scotland) (Con)
McLeish, Henry (Central Fife) (Lab)
McLeod, Fiona (West of Scotland) (SNP)
McMahon, Mr Michael (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab)
McNeil, Mr Duncan (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab)
McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab)
McNulty, Des (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab)
Morgan, Alasdair (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (SNP)
Morrison, Mr Alasdair (Western Isles) (Lab)
Muldoon, Bristow (Livingston) (Lab)
Murray, Dr Elaine (Dumfries) (Lab)
Oldfather, Irene (Cunninghame South) (Lab)
Paterson, Mr Gil (Central Scotland) (SNP)
Peacock, Peter (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Peattie, Cathy (Falkirk East) (Lab)
Radcliffe, Nora (Gordon) (LD)
Robson, Euan (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD)
Rumbles, Mr Mike (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD)
Russell, Michael (South of Scotland) (SNP)
Scott, Tavish (Shetland) (LD)
Simpson, Dr Richard (Ochil) (Lab)
Smith, Elaine (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab)
Smith, Iain (North-East Fife) (LD)
Stephen, Nicol (Aberdeen South) (LD)
Stone, Mr Jamie (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD)
Swinney, Mr John (North Tayside) (SNP)
Thomson, Elaine (Aberdeen North) (Lab)
Ullrich, Kay (West of Scotland) (SNP)
Wallace, Mr Jim (Orkney) (LD)
Watson, Mike (Glasgow Cathcart) (Lab)
Whitefield, Karen (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab)
Wilson, Allan (Cunninghame North) (Lab)
Wilson, Andrew (Central Scotland) (SNP)
Young, John (West of Scotland) (Con)
Against
Canavan, Dennis (Falkirk West)
Sheridan, Tommy (Glasgow) (SSP)
The result of the division is: For 85, Against 2, Abstentions 0.
Motion agreed to.
I remind members that we start again at 2 pm.
Meeting suspended until 14:00.
On resuming—
Before we begin this afternoon's business—the last part of our meeting in Aberdeen—I would like to record the Parliament's thanks to the University of Aberdeen and Aberdeen City Council for the excellent arrangements that they have made for our three meeting days. I have no hesitation in repeating what members have told me: we have greatly enjoyed all the events surrounding our meeting here, we appreciate the efficiency of all the burdensome technical facilities that have been provided and we welcome the pleasant helpfulness of all the staff who have assisted us. It will be for a future Parliament to decide whether to continue occasional meetings outside Edinburgh. We have been greatly heartened by the experience and by the warmth of the people of Aberdeen. We are deeply grateful. [Applause.]