Meeting of the Parliament 13 March 2013
On a point of order, Presiding Officer.
I understand that, under rule 8.11 of standing orders, there can be only one speaker against a business motion. Undoubtedly, occasions will occur—this is one—when there will be more than one MSP who, for separate reasons, wish to speak against the business motion. In this instance, as business manager for the Independent and Green group, I wanted to speak not to oppose the subjects listed in the business motion, which we think are worthy of debate, but to oppose the parliamentary business that is scheduled for next Wednesday, when the Public and Commercial Services union is on strike and picketing this building.
Presiding Officer, can you please advise me what opportunity exists for individual members who have not been chosen to speak against the business motion to put on record their reasons for opposing it?