Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Official Report 939KB pdf

Business Motion

Members, staff and the public will wish to note that the Parliamentary Bureau agreed today that the priorities for parliamentary business in the coming weeks should be the response to Covid-19 and other time-bound legislation. Conveners are also being consulted on their committee business priorities. We have therefore agreed to propose to the Parliament a number of temporary procedural changes that will allow us to do that

The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body has also agreed today to close access to our public galleries. All our decisions are consistent with public health advice and are designed to minimise the impact of Covid-19, to help keep our staff and members of the public safe, and with a view to safely and sustainably delivering essential parliamentary business.

The Parliament will now be invited to agree a series of motions that put those decisions into effect. Business motion S5M-21282, in the name of Graeme Dey, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, sets out revisions to the week’s business programme.

Motion moved,

That the Parliament agrees the following revisions to the programme of business on:

(a) Wednesday 18 March 2020—

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2.00 pm Portfolio Questions:
Justice and the Law Officers;
Constitution, Europe and External Affairs

followed by Scottish Labour Party Debate: Women in Scotland

after

2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

insert

2.00 pm Ministerial Statement: Education – COVID-19

followed by Ministerial Statement: Economy – COVID-19

followed by Portfolio Questions:
Justice and the Law Officers;
Constitution, Europe and External Affairs

followed by SPCB Motion: Reimbursement of Members Expenses Scheme

delete

followed by Members’ Business

(b) Thursday 19 March 2020—

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2.30 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.30 pm Portfolio Questions:
Economy, Fair Work and Culture

insert

2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.00 pm Ministerial Statement: COVID-19: Supporting our Communities

followed by Ministerial Statement: UK Coronavirus Legislation

followed by Portfolio Questions:
Economy, Fair Work and Culture

delete

followed by Members’ Business—[Graeme Dey]

Motion agreed to.