Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid)

Meeting date: Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Official Report 852KB pdf

Decision Time

The first question is, that motion S5M-21711, in the name of Michael Russell, on treating the Coronavirus (Scotland) (No 2) Bill as an emergency bill, be agreed to.

Motion agreed to,

That the Parliament agrees that the Coronavirus (Scotland) (No. 2) Bill be treated as an Emergency Bill.

I propose to ask a single question on the three Parliamentary Bureau motions.

There being no objections, the question is that motion S5M-21720, on the suspension and variation of the standing orders, motion S5M-21721, on the suspension and variation of standing orders, and motion S5M-21722, on the designation of a lead committee, be agreed to.

Motions agreed to,

That, subject to the Parliament’s agreement that the Coronavirus (Scotland) (No. 2) Bill be treated as an Emergency Bill, the Parliament agrees:

(a) to consider the Coronavirus (Scotland) (No. 2) Bill as follows: stage 1 on Wednesday 13 May 2020; stage 3 on Wednesday 20 May 2020;

(b) that, for the purposes of consideration of the Coronavirus (Scotland) (No. 2) Bill at stages 1 and 2, paragraphs 5 and 6 of Rule 9.21 of Standing Orders be suspended and replaced with:

“5. The COVID-19 Committee shall consider, and report to the Parliament on, the general principles of the Bill. Once that Committee has reported on the Bill, the Parliament shall consider the general principles of the Bill and decide, on a motion of the member in charge of the Bill, whether to agree to those general principles. Any provisions in the Bill conferring powers to make subordinate legislation, or conferring powers on the Scottish Ministers to issue any directions, guidance or code of practice, are not required to be considered by the committee mentioned in Rule 6.11.

6. Stage 2 of the Bill shall be taken by the COVID-19 Committee. The committee mentioned in Rule 6.11 is not required to consider the Bill if it has been amended at stage 2 so as to insert or substantially alter provisions conferring powers to make subordinate legislation, or conferring powers on the Scottish Ministers to issue any directions, guidance or code of practice.”;

(c) that, under Rule 12.3.3B of Standing Orders, the COVID-19 Committee can meet, if necessary, at the same time as a meeting of the Parliament on Tuesday 19 May 2020 for the purpose of considering the Coronavirus (Scotland) (No. 2) Bill at stage 2; and

(d) that, for the purposes of consideration of the Coronavirus (Scotland) (No. 2) Bill, Rules 9.7.8.A and 9.7.8B of Standing Orders be suspended.

That the Parliament agrees that for meetings of committees or sub-committees established by the Parliament, for the duration of the public response to the Novel coronavirus, COVID-19, this being the period up to and including 26 June 2020, and such further period or periods as are determined by the Presiding Officer from time to time following consultation with the Bureau and notified to the Parliament in the Business Bulletin:

Rule 11.8.3 be suspended and replaced with—

“3. Except as provided in any direction given to a committee by the Parliament, members of a committee (other than a Committee of the Whole Parliament) or sub-committee shall vote either by show of hands, or by means of a roll call vote as described in Rule 11.7.4, or by an electronic voting system. The convener shall determine at the start of each meeting which of those methods of voting the convener considers it appropriate, in all the circumstances of the meeting, to use for that meeting.”

That the Parliament agrees that the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee be designated as the lead committee in consideration of the legislative consent memorandum in relation to the Agriculture Bill (UK Legislation).