Plenary,

Meeting date: Wednesday, May 12, 1999

Official Report 317KB pdf

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Deputy Presiding Officers

This time, members should remember to insert their cards in the machines, not only if they want to speak, but if they want to vote. The voting period for the election of the Deputy Presiding Officers is now open. The following valid nominations have been received:

This time, members should remember to insert their cards in the machines, not only if they want to speak, but if they want to vote. The voting period for the election of the Deputy Presiding Officers is now open. The following valid nominations have been received:

Ms Patricia Ferguson
Mr George Reid
John Young

Will each of the candidates please stand to identify themselves?

Ms Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab) stood.

Mr George Reid (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP) stood.

John Young (West of Scotland) (Con) stood.

Will each of the candidates please stand to identify themselves?

Ms Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab) stood.

Mr George Reid (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP) stood.

John Young (West of Scotland) (Con) stood.

The election will proceed in accordance with rule 11.9 of the standing orders. I do not need to read that out, as it describes the same procedure that we have just followed—members will not have forgotten it already. Candidates should each nominate a scrutineer to monitor the counting of the votes; they should notify the clerks at the back of the chamber of their scrutineer when they collect their ballot papers. At the end of the voting period, I shall announce the names of the scrutineers and invite them to the vote-counting table in the well of the chamber.

Members voted by secret ballot.

The election will proceed in accordance with rule 11.9 of the standing orders. I do not need to read that out, as it describes the same procedure that we have just followed—members will not have forgotten it already. Candidates should each nominate a scrutineer to monitor the counting of the votes; they should notify the clerks at the back of the chamber of their scrutineer when they collect their ballot papers. At the end of the voting period, I shall announce the names of the scrutineers and invite them to the vote-counting table in the well of the chamber.

Members voted by secret ballot.

The voting time for this round is now closed. The following members should come to the well of the chamber to scrutinise the count of the ballot papers: Mr Jack McConnell for Ms Patricia Ferguson; Colin Campbell for Mr George Reid; and Miss Annabel Goldie for John Young.

The voting time for this round is now closed. The following members should come to the well of the chamber to scrutinise the count of the ballot papers: Mr Jack McConnell for Ms Patricia Ferguson; Colin Campbell for Mr George Reid; and Miss Annabel Goldie for John Young.

In the first round of voting in the election of the first Deputy Presiding Officer, the number of votes cast for each candidate was as follows:

In the first round of voting in the election of the first Deputy Presiding Officer, the number of votes cast for each candidate was as follows:

Ms Patricia Ferguson 54
Mr George Reid 54
John Young 17
Abstentions 1
Spoilt papers 2

Accordingly, as no candidate received a majority of the votes cast, and as John Young received the fewest votes, he is eliminated from the election and a second round will take place with Ms Patricia Ferguson and Mr George Reid as candidates. There will be a short delay while new ballot papers are printed. So that there are no further spoilt papers, I remind members that they should vote for one person only.

Accordingly, as no candidate received a majority of the votes cast, and as John Young received the fewest votes, he is eliminated from the election and a second round will take place with Ms Patricia Ferguson and Mr George Reid as candidates. There will be a short delay while new ballot papers are printed. So that there are no further spoilt papers, I remind members that they should vote for one person only.

The voting period is now open. The voting procedure is as before.

The voting period is now open. The voting procedure is as before.

Members have one minute remaining in which to vote.

Members have one minute remaining in which to vote.

The voting time for this round is now closed. The two candidates and their scrutineers should now come to the well.

The voting time for this round is now closed. The two candidates and their scrutineers should now come to the well.

In the second round of voting in the election of the first Deputy Presiding Officer, the number of votes cast for each candidate was as follows:

In the second round of voting in the election of the first Deputy Presiding Officer, the number of votes cast for each candidate was as follows:

Ms Patricia Ferguson 66
Mr George Reid 59
Abstentions 2

Accordingly, as Ms Patricia Ferguson received more votes than the total number of votes that were received by the other candidate, and as more than 25 per cent of the members voted, Ms Patricia Ferguson is elected as a Deputy Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament. [Applause.]

The following members are candidates in the first round of voting in the election of the second Deputy Presiding Officer:

Accordingly, as Ms Patricia Ferguson received more votes than the total number of votes that were received by the other candidate, and as more than 25 per cent of the members voted, Ms Patricia Ferguson is elected as a Deputy Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament. [Applause.]

The following members are candidates in the first round of voting in the election of the second Deputy Presiding Officer:

Mr George Reid
John Young

There will now be a short pause while new ballot papers are printed, but I understand that that will be done almost instantly.

There will now be a short pause while new ballot papers are printed, but I understand that that will be done almost instantly.

The voting period in the first round of voting in the election of the second Deputy Presiding Officer is now open.

The voting period in the first round of voting in the election of the second Deputy Presiding Officer is now open.

In the first round of voting in the election of the second Deputy Presiding Officer, the number of votes cast for each candidate was as follows:

In the first round of voting in the election of the second Deputy Presiding Officer, the number of votes cast for each candidate was as follows:

Mr George Reid 72
John Young 34
Abstentions 22

Accordingly, as Mr George Reid received majority support from those members who voted, and as more than 25 per cent of members voted, Mr George Reid is elected as a Deputy Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament. [Applause.]

The business for today is now concluded. However, before I close this meeting, I remind members that we will meet tomorrow at 2.30 pm to select the Parliament's nominee for appointment as First Minister. I also remind members that nominations for this post need to be submitted to the clerk no later than 30 minutes before the voting period begins. From 9.30 am onwards, nomination forms will be available from the chamber office in the Parliamentary Headquarters at George IV Bridge, where nominations may be lodged with the clerk.

Finally, as members will be aware, at the close of today's business an official photograph will be taken of all members who have taken the oath or who have made the affirmation. Members should remain in their seats while the photograph is taken.

I now close this meeting. [Applause.]

Accordingly, as Mr George Reid received majority support from those members who voted, and as more than 25 per cent of members voted, Mr George Reid is elected as a Deputy Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament. [Applause.]

The business for today is now concluded. However, before I close this meeting, I remind members that we will meet tomorrow at 2.30 pm to select the Parliament's nominee for appointment as First Minister. I also remind members that nominations for this post need to be submitted to the clerk no later than 30 minutes before the voting period begins. From 9.30 am onwards, nomination forms will be available from the chamber office in the Parliamentary Headquarters at George IV Bridge, where nominations may be lodged with the clerk.

Finally, as members will be aware, at the close of today's business an official photograph will be taken of all members who have taken the oath or who have made the affirmation. Members should remain in their seats while the photograph is taken.

I now close this meeting. [Applause.]

Meeting closed at 16:44.