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The next item of business is consideration of nine Parliamentary Bureau motions. I ask Martin Whitfield, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, to move motions S6M-19443 to S6M-19450, on approval of Scottish statutory instruments, and motion S6M-19451, on suspension of standing orders.
Motions moved,
That the Parliament agrees that the Scottish Aggregates Tax (Administration) Regulations 2025 [draft] be approved.
That the Parliament agrees that the Scottish Parliament (Disqualification of Councillors) Regulations 2025 [draft] be approved.
That the Parliament agrees that the Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2025 [draft] be approved.
That the Parliament agrees that the Scottish Parliament (Disqualification of Members of the House of Commons) Regulations 2025 [draft] be approved.
That the Parliament agrees that the Scottish Parliament (Disqualification of Members of the House of Lords) Regulations 2025 [draft] be approved.
That the Parliament agrees that the Revenue Scotland and Tax Powers Act (Postponement of Tax Pending a Review or Appeal) Amendment Regulations 2025 [draft] be approved.
That the Parliament agrees that the Free-Range Poultrymeat Marketing Standards (Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 [draft] be approved.
That the Parliament agrees that the Revenue Scotland and Tax Powers Act (Record Keeping) Amendment Regulations 2025 [draft] be approved.
That the Parliament agrees that, for the purposes of consideration of the second supplementary legislative consent memorandum on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, Rule 9B.3.5 of Standing Orders is suspended.—[Martin Whitfield]
14:05
I want to speak briefly to three of the motions on SSIs that are before the chamber today.
The regulations that are referred to in motions S6M-19444, S6M-19446 and S6M-19447 were laid as a result of amendments that I lodged, working with the Government, on ending the practice whereby members of the Scottish Parliament can also be members of Parliament, peers or councillors. There was unanimous backing for my amendments, and I worked very closely with the Government on them. That is what led to the laying of the regulations that are before us today.
My position is that being an MSP is a full-time job, and we should not be juggling that with being an MP or being in the House of Lords—or, indeed, after a period of time, being a councillor. The regulations on MPs and membership of the House of Lords set a short period of time after which those roles should end. The regulations on councillors set a slightly longer period of time. The reason for that is that we do not want a whole a raft of by-elections after a Scottish Parliament election, given that, in every Scottish Parliament election, a number of people who are elected as MSPs are also councillors.
I think that the regulations are extremely sensible.
Will the member take an intervention?
I will.
Mr Simpson, will you comment on the provisions that now make it clear that councillors should give up their allowances when they are in those dual roles? Could you also refer to and comment on your position?
Always speak through the chair.
The regulations on councillors say that, if an MSP remains a councillor, their pay will be deducted by the same amount as their councillor pay—unless they receive extra pay as a councillor.
As I said, I fully support all three sets of regulations. They are sensible and will have public approval, and I commend them to members.
Thank you, Mr Simpson.
I propose to ask a single question on the nine Parliamentary Bureau motions. As no member objects, the question is, that motions S6M-19443 to S6M-19450, on approval of SSIs, and motion S6M-19451, on suspension of standing orders, in the name of Graeme Dey, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, be agreed to.
Motions agreed to,
That the Parliament agrees that the Scottish Aggregates Tax (Administration) Regulations 2025 [draft] be approved.
That the Parliament agrees that the Scottish Parliament (Disqualification of Councillors) Regulations 2025 [draft] be approved.
That the Parliament agrees that the Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2025 [draft] be approved.
That the Parliament agrees that the Scottish Parliament (Disqualification of Members of the House of Commons) Regulations 2025 [draft] be approved.
That the Parliament agrees that the Scottish Parliament (Disqualification of Members of the House of Lords) Regulations 2025 [draft] be approved.
That the Parliament agrees that the Revenue Scotland and Tax Powers Act (Postponement of Tax Pending a Review or Appeal) Amendment Regulations 2025 [draft] be approved.
That the Parliament agrees that the Free-Range Poultrymeat Marketing Standards (Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 [draft] be approved.
That the Parliament agrees that the Revenue Scotland and Tax Powers Act (Record Keeping) Amendment Regulations 2025 [draft] be approved.
That the Parliament agrees that, for the purposes of consideration of the second supplementary legislative consent memorandum on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, Rule 9B.3.5 of Standing Orders is suspended.
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