Plenary,

Meeting date: Thursday, May 30, 2002

Official Report 728KB pdf

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Point of Order

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I request permission to move a motion without notice in the following terms:

"That the Parliament notes that the First Minister has breached clause 1.1(c) of the code of ministerial conduct in answers that he gave in Parliament this afternoon and calls on the First Minister to make a statement to Parliament immediately to clarify the issue."

I am not minded to accept the motion. The section of the ministerial code of conduct to which Mr Swinney referred reads as follows:

"It is of paramount importance that Ministers give accurate and truthful information to the Parliament, correcting any inadvertent error at the earliest opportunity."

My understanding is that the First Minister sought to clarify what he said at the end of First Minister's questions. Like everybody else, he will look at the Official Report when it is published. If he feels that he needs to make any further statement later, that is entirely up to him.

The First Minister is trying to catch my eye, so I will hear him before I come back to Mr Swinney.

I am happy to clarify the position of Scottish ministers in relation to fisheries delegations, which is what I thought that I had done at half-past 3. Scottish ministers have regularly led the delegation in particular discussions in the Council and at other events outwith the formal Council in Brussels. Leading the UK delegation in particular discussions is not the same as leading the whole delegation on a formal basis—[Interruption.]

Order.

However, Scottish ministers have led that delegation with pride and with some effect. Those who seek to distort that fact are wrong. I hope that I have now clarified to Parliament that the phraseology that I used is one that should be accepted by members.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. The problem is that the First Minister said in answer to questions today—[Interruption.]

Order. Let me hear the point of order.

The First Minister said that Scotland has led the fisheries delegation on a number of occasions. He said to Winnie Ewing that the Scottish Executive has regularly led the fisheries delegation and that Mr Finnie himself has led it. He then made a statement at 3.30 pm that undermined those clear answers, which contradicted parliamentary answers that had been given by Mr Wallace. Is it not important that we have a First Minister who tells the truth?

I listened carefully to what the First Minister said. It is perfectly clear that he has indicated his position to Parliament.

Further to the point of order—and I hope that this is the last thing that I will have to say on this subject—I say to members that, long before the Deputy First Minister answered questions on this subject for any member of the chamber, I myself answered a number of questions about which ministers had led delegations to European Union Council meetings. I am perfectly well aware of which members have led delegations, in the formal sense, at such meetings. The members who represent Scotland in those delegations have represented those delegations and led them in discussions on a regular basis. That is an appropriate phrase to use. It is not inaccurate and I knew exactly what I was saying when I said it.