Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Official Report 786KB pdf

Business Motions

The next item of business is consideration of two business motions. Motion S5M-10976 sets out a revised business programme for Thursday, and motion S5M-10975 is on stage 2 of the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Legal Continuity) (Scotland) Bill. I invite Joe FitzPatrick to move the motions on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau.

Motions moved,

That the Parliament agrees to the following revision to the programme of business for Thursday 15 March—

delete

2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.00 pm Ministerial Statement: Update on South of Scotland Partnership and insert

2.30 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.30 pm Ministerial Statement: Update on South of Scotland Partnership

That the Parliament agrees that consideration of the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Legal Continuity) (Scotland) Bill at stage 2 may continue on Wednesday 14 March.—[Joe FitzPatrick]

Motions agreed to.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I did not wish to object to the motions, but I wish to draw your attention to a potential problem. If the amendments are not dealt with tonight, and we continue tomorrow morning, the meeting that we have then could potentially—indeed, will—clash with other committee meetings. Those of us who have lodged amendments take them seriously and would want to move them. However, people such as I have committee responsibilities that are as important.

You will probably tell me that this is not a point of order, but I bring the point to your attention because it is an important one, and I ask for your advice on it.

I can assure you that it is a point of order, Mr Simpson—not only that but quite an important one. I am sure that you are not the only member who will find themselves in the situation that you describe.

Many times in the past, members have been attending one committee meeting but have also wanted to move amendments at another committee meeting. The standing orders allow members a choice in these circumstances—I stress, however, that it is a choice. Rule 12.2A, on committee substitutes, allows another member to attend committees in place of a member, and rule 9.10.14 says that any member present may move an amendment if the member who lodged it does not do so.

I thank Mr Simpson for raising that point of order, and I ask all the members who might find themselves in that situation to think about how they wish to proceed should the situation arise.