Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Thursday, November 1, 2018

Official Report 1333KB pdf

Presiding Officer’s Ruling

Earlier, Mike Rumbles raised a point of order, which my Deputy Presiding Officer drew to my attention and which she said she would return to. The point was that the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity had been misleading in the delivery of his statement on the Aberdeen western peripheral route, or in the response to his questions.

I have had the chance to review whether any discourtesy was shown. I believe that there was a robust exchange of views, but I do not believe that there was any lack of courtesy in the situation.

The minister challenged my legitimacy to represent the people of the north-east. He referred to the “so-called ... MSP”. It is discourteous to challenge the legitimacy of anybody in the chamber.

I am glad that Mr Rumbles has clarified the particular aspect that he was concerned about. I listened to that exchange and I heard those particular words. The Parliament is used to a robust exchange of views on a number of matters and, much as I implore every member and every minister to treat each other with courtesy and respect, I do not believe that any discourtesy was shown in this case.