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Plenary, 26 Oct 2005

Meeting date: Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Official Report 431KB pdf

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Business Motions

The next item of business is consideration of business motions. We begin with motion S2M-3462, in the name of Margaret Curran, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a business programme.

Motion moved,

That the Parliament agrees the following programme of business—

Wednesday 2 November 2005

2.30 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Executive Debate: Freedom of Information

followed by Ministerial Statement: Influenza Contingency Plan

followed by Business Motion

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members' Business

Thursday 3 November 2005

9.15 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Business

11.40 am General Question Time

12 noon First Minister's Question Time

2.15 pm Themed Question Time—Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning;

Justice and Law Officers

2.55 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Management of Offenders etc. (Scotland) Bill

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members' Business

Wednesday 9 November 2005

2.30 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Bill

followed by Business Motion

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members' Business

Thursday 10 November 2005

9.15 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Executive Business

11.40 am General Question Time

12 noon First Minister's Question Time

2.15 pm Themed Question Time—

Education and Young People, Tourism, Culture and Sport;

Finance and Public Services and Communities

2.55 pm Executive Business

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members' Business.—[Ms Margaret Curran.]

In raising this question, I have no wish to oppose the Government's programme for business next week or to wreck it. I have already cleared that with the minister and I think that she understands why I am doing this.

I did not expect to hear from the senior policemen who gave evidence to the justice committees this morning that the measure that is being debated at Westminster as we speak—the Terrorism Bill—would have such an impact on the operational requirements of Scottish policing, an area for which the Scottish Parliament has complete, autonomous devolved responsibility. I therefore oppose the business motion simply because we do not appear to have any mechanism for debating that urgent and utterly relevant matter for which the Parliament is responsible. If the minister can assure me that she will find time for a debate on the matter in the Parliament—from our perspective not as the primary policy makers but as the body that is responsible for carrying out the policy in a practical sense—I will be happy not to push the motion to a vote. However, if she cannot give me such an assurance, I will push it to a vote.

I thank Margo MacDonald for giving me prior warning of the point that she has raised—she has raised similar points at the Parliamentary Bureau, as I think you are aware, Presiding Officer. As in all circumstances when business managers raise points, those points will be discussed at the bureau. I will take the matter to the appropriate Executive minister and attempt to respond constructively to the business manager concerned. In this circumstance, I will take the point that Margo MacDonald has raised—I recognise the gravity that she attaches to it—to the appropriate Executive minister and return to the bureau with a response.

Motion agreed to.

That the Parliament agrees the following programme of business—

Wednesday 2 November 2005

2.30 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Executive Debate: Freedom of Information

followed by Ministerial Statement: Influenza Contingency Plan

followed by Business Motion

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members' Business

Thursday 3 November 2005

9.15 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Business

11.40 am General Question Time

12 noon First Minister's Question Time

2.15 pm Themed Question Time—Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning;

Justice and Law Officers

2.55 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Management of Offenders etc. (Scotland) Bill

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members' Business

Wednesday 9 November 2005

2.30 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Bill

followed by Business Motion

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members' Business

Thursday 10 November 2005

9.15 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Executive Business

11.40 am General Question Time

12 noon First Minister's Question Time

2.15 pm Themed Question Time—

Education and Young People, Tourism, Culture and Sport;

Finance and Public Services and Communities

2.55 pm Executive Business

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members' Business.

Motion moved,

That the Parliament agrees that consideration of the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1 be completed by 3 February 2006.—[Ms Margaret Curran.]

Motion agreed to.

Motion moved,

That the Parliament agrees that the timetable for consideration of the Abolition of NHS Prescription Charges (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1 be extended to 26 January 2006.—[Ms Margaret Curran.]

Motion agreed to.