Chamber and committees

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-03030, in the name of Martin Whitfield on behalf of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee, entitled “Standing Order Rule Changes—Committee Name and Remit and Miscellaneous Changes”.

The questions on the motions will be put at decision time.

I am minded to take a motion without notice to bring forward decision time.

Motion moved,

That, under Rule 11.2.4 of Standing Orders, Decision Time on Wednesday 9 February be brought forward to 4.57 pm.—[George Adam]

Motion agreed to.

The next item of business is consideration of business motion S6M-03144, in the name of George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a business programme.

Motion moved,

That the Parliament agrees—

(a) the following programme of business—

Tuesday 22 February 2022

2.00 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Topical Questions (if selected)

followed by First Minister’s Statement: COVID-19 Update

followed by Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee Debate: Inquiry into the Use of the Made Affirmative Procedure During the Coronavirus Pandemic

followed by Scottish Government Debate: Nationality and Borders Bill (UK Legislation)

followed by Committee Announcements

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

Wednesday 23 February 2022

2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.00 pm Portfolio Questions:
Justice and Veterans;
Finance and Economy

followed by Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Business

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Approval of SSIs (if required)

5.10 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

Thursday 24 February 2022

11.40 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions

11.40 am General Questions

12.00 pm First Minister's Questions

followed by Members’ Business

2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.00 pm Portfolio Questions:
Education and Skills

followed by Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee Debate: COP26 - Outcomes and Implications for Scotland’s Climate Change Policies

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

Tuesday 1 March 2022

2.00 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Topical Questions (if selected)

followed by First Minister’s Statement: COVID-19 Update

followed by Scottish Government Business

followed by Committee Announcements

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

Wednesday 2 March 2022

2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.00 pm Portfolio Questions:
Covid Recovery and Parliamentary Business; Net Zero, Energy and Transport

followed by Scottish Government Business

followed by Scottish Government Debate: Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2022

followed by Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee Debate: Internal Market Inquiry

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Approval of SSIs (if required)

5.40 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

Thursday 3 March 2022

11.40 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions

11.40 am General Questions

12.00 pm First Minister’s Questions

followed by Members’ Business

2.30 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.30 pm Portfolio Questions:
Rural Affairs and Islands

followed by Scottish Government Business

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

(b) that, for the purposes of Portfolio Questions in the week beginning 21 February 2022, in rule 13.7.3, after the word “except” the words “to the extent to which the Presiding Officer considers that the questions are on the same or similar subject matter or” are inserted.—[George Adam]

Motion agreed to.

The next item of business is consideration of 11 Parliamentary Bureau motions. I ask George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, to move motions S6M-03145 to S6M-03150, on the approval of Scottish statutory instruments; motion S6M-03151, on committee meeting times; motions S6M-03152 and S6M-03153, on the designation of a lead committee; motion S6M-03154, on the suspension and variation of standing orders; and motion S6M-03155, on temporary amendments to standing orders.

Motions moved,

That the Parliament agrees that the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Requirements) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2022 (SSI 2022/13) be approved.

That the Parliament agrees that the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (International Travel and Operator Liability) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2022 (SSI 2022/25) be approved.

That the Parliament agrees that the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Requirements) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 3) Regulations 2022 (SSI 2022/29) be approved.

That the Parliament agrees that the Disability Assistance for Working Age People (Scotland) Regulations 2022 [draft] be approved.

That the Parliament agrees that the Registers of Scotland (Digital Registration, etc.) Regulations 2022 [draft] be approved.

That the Parliament agrees that the Social Security Information-sharing (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2022 [draft] be approved.

That the Parliament agrees that, under Rule 12.3.3B of Standing Orders, the Finance and Public Administration Committee can meet, if necessary, at the same time as a meeting of the Parliament between 12.45 pm and 2.30 pm on Thursday 24 February 2022.

That the Parliament agrees that the Social Justice and Social Security Committee be designated as the lead committee in consideration of the legislative consent memorandum in relation to the Nationality and Borders Bill (UK Legislation).

That the Parliament agrees that the Criminal Justice Committee be designated as the lead committee in consideration of the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill at stage 1.

That the Parliament agrees that, with effect from 11 February 2022, for the purposes of committee meetings up to 1 April 2022—

(a) in Rule 6.3A.1 after “member” the words “or members” be inserted;

(b) Rule 6.3A.2 be suspended;

(c) in Rule 6.3A.4 the first sentence be suspended;

(d) after Rule 6.3A.5(d) be inserted “(e) a political party withdraws in writing to the Bureau that nomination of the member or members nominated for the purposes of committee meetings up to 1 April 2022.”; and

(e) in Rule 12.1.15 the words “(other than a committee substitute)” be omitted in both instances where they occur.

That the Parliament agrees that, with effect from 11 February 2022, Temporary Standing Orders Rule 3 be amended—

(a) in paragraph 1 to delete “11 February 2022” and insert “1 April 2022, except to the extent determined by the Presiding Officer, having regard to relevant legislation and public health guidance. Such determinations shall be notified in the Business Bulletin”; and

(b) to delete paragraph 2.—[George Adam]

I call Pam Duncan-Glancy.

The next question is, that motion S6M-03100, in the name of Maggie Chapman, on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, on “Reimbursement of Members’ Expenses Scheme—Local Offices”, be agreed to.

Motion agreed to,

That the Parliament, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 81(2) and (5)(b) and 83(5) of the Scotland Act 1998, determines that the Reimbursement of Members’ Expenses Scheme, which was agreed to by resolution of the Parliament on 2 March 2021, be amended to:

(a) in paragraph 4.3.5, delete “the” where it appears at the beginning of the fourth line and delete “members concerned” in that same line and insert instead “those members who establish a local parliamentary office”;

(b) delete “When” at the beginning of paragraph 4.3.6 and insert instead “Subject to paragraphs 4.3.9 and 4.3.10, when”;

(c) insert after paragraph 4.3.8:

“4.3.9 Where one or more regional members, returned from a registered political party’s regional list, do not establish and run a local office the limit of entitlement to office cost provision of those members remaining who do establish and run a local office, in the circumstances set out in paragraphs 4.3.4 to 4.3.7, will be recalculated as though the member or members who do not establish an office had not been returned on that registered political party’s regional list.

Number of Regional Members originally returned on regional list

2
3
4
3
4
4

Number of Members not establishing a local office

1
1
1
2
2
3

Number of Regional Members recalculations subsequently based on

1
2
3
1
2
1

4.3.10 Should a member, who has previously not established a local office, decide at any subsequent point to establish a local office then all of those members returned from a registered political party’s regional list who establish a local office will require to share a local office as set out in paragraphs 4.3.4 to 4.3.7 and those members’ entitlement to office cost provision will be recalculated in accordance with paragraph 4.3.9 from the point of establishing that shared office.”;

(d) renumber paragraphs currently numbered as 4.3.9 to 4.3.13 to paragraphs 4.3.11 to 4.3.15 and amend any references to those paragraphs to take account of the number change accordingly; and

(e) insert after paragraph 4.4.1:

“4.4.2 The above calculation will be based on the number of members originally returned on the regional list for the political party, taking no account of any change made to calculations for those members who do establish and run a local office as set out in paragraphs 4.3.9 and 4.3.10.”

The result of the division on motion S6M-03080, in the name of John Swinney, as amended, is: For 122, Against 0, Abstentions 0.

Motion, as amended, agreed to,

That the Parliament agrees that the Coronavirus (Discretionary Compensation for Self-isolation) (Scotland) Bill be passed, and, in so doing, calls on the Scottish Government to review the amount paid in the self-isolation grant to ensure that it at least matches the National Living Wage.

That concludes the First Minister’s statement on a Covid-19 update.

As there will be a brief pause while people move seats, I take this opportunity to remind members that Covid-related measures are in place and face coverings should be worn as you move around the chamber and across the campus.

The next item of business is a statement by Nicola Sturgeon on Covid-19.

Could we please have some quiet when the cabinet secretary responds?