Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Official Report 905KB pdf

Points of Order

On a point of order, Presiding Officer.

There are reports today that the Government’s independent poverty adviser removed criticism of Government cuts to councils from the final draft of her report on tackling poverty. It has been reported today that, in the earlier draft, before the Government’s suggested change, Naomi Eisenstadt said that the cuts to council services would hit the poorest the hardest. Can you confirm, Presiding Officer, that the questions that have been raised today will be addressed in a ministerial statement before the end of the budget process?

I do not believe that that is a point of order, but Mr Rowley has raised an important point. I am sure that the Government will have heard that point and that it will consider it in due course.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer, I intend, under rule 8.1.2 of the standing orders, to move a motion without notice. Under rule 8.14, I want to move a motion without notice to extend the debate on article 50 by up to 30 minutes. That will allow additional debating time so that members who have indicated to you that they want to speak in the debate but have been denied a speaking slot by their party managers and whips can have the opportunity to do so—subject to being called by you, of course. Such motions are moved regularly in members’ business debates. In the interests of democracy, I urge you to accept my request.

That is a point of order—the member has raised a point for me to consider.

For information, I say that although business managers may recommend members, it is for the Presiding Officer to choose which members to select, and Presiding Officers choose speakers to reflect a range of views across the chamber.

In this instance, the Parliamentary Bureau made a recommendation to set aside the whole of this afternoon for today’s business, and Parliament voted and agreed that that is sufficient time. We have not even started the debate yet, but if members think that it is overcrowded and there is not sufficient time later on, it is up to any member to move such a motion. However, I will not consider a motion for a vote at the moment.

On a further point of order, Presiding Officer.

I have stated my position and would like a motion to be put to a parliamentary vote.

You have made a suggestion, but it is up to the Presiding Officer to decide whether to accept that suggestion. In this case, I am not going to, so we will not have a vote on it.

Democracy, eh?

Members: Oh!