Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Official Report 939KB pdf

Parliamentary Bureau Motions

The next item is consideration of four Parliamentary Bureau motions. I call the Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans to move motions S5M-21283 to S5M-21286, on suspension and variation of standing orders.

Motions moved,

That the Parliament agrees that Rules 5.6(a), (b) and (c) of the Standing Orders be suspended for the duration of the public response to the Novel coronavirus COVID-19.

That the Parliament agrees that, for the purposes of electing an additional deputy Presiding Officer for the duration of the public response to the Novel coronavirus COVID-19, Rules 11.9.4, 11.9.5, 11.9.13 and 11.9.16 of the Standing Orders be suspended.

That the Parliament agrees that, for the purposes of committee meetings for the duration of the public response to the Novel coronavirus COVID-19—

(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 the duration of the public response to the Novel coronavirus COVID-19.”

(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 Rule 15.2.1 of the Standing Orders be suspended for the duration of the public response to the Novel coronavirus COVID-19.—[Graeme Dey]