Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 20 December 2017
20 Dec 2017 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-09648, in the name of Roseanna Cunningham, on the Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (Scotland) Bill at stage 3.
Before the debate begins, I remind members that the Presiding Officer is required under standing orders to decide whether, in his view, any provision of the bill relates to a protected subject matter. Put briefly, that is whether it modifies the electoral system and franchise for Scottish parliamentary elections. If it does, the motion to pass the bill will require support from a supermajority of members: that is, a two-thirds majority, which is 86 members. In the case of this bill, the Presiding Officer has decided that, in his view, no provision of the Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (Scotland) Bill relates to a protected subject matter. Therefore, the bill does not require a supermajority to be passed at stage 3.
15:43References in this contribution
Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Christine Grahame)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-09648, in the name of Roseanna Cunningham, on the Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (Scotland) Bill at ...
The Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform (Roseanna Cunningham)
SNP
I am pleased to open this brief debate. At the outset, I thank all stakeholders who provided evidence and the committee members involved for their detailed a...
John Scott (Ayr) (Con)
Con
Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
It has to be very brief, Mr Scott, as the cabinet secretary is over her time.
John Scott
Con
Thank you. Will the guidance be issued timeously?
Roseanna Cunningham
SNP
Yes, it will. I move, That the Parliament agrees that the Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (Scotland) Bill be passed. 15:48
Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
Here we are again, ringside, at stage 3 of the bill. In sincerity, I am delighted that, as we reach the end of what has been an eventful year in politics, we...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I know that there is more of that to come. 15:52
David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
Labour will support the Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (Scotland) Bill at decision time. As a member of the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform...
Graeme Dey (Angus South) (SNP)
SNP
The road to the point at which, in less than a couple of hours, we will, I hope, pass the bill has been long, to say the least. It was 13 years ago that the ...
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Con
In the stage 1 debate there were plenty of puns. My contribution will certainly not be as slick as Donald Cameron’s, but I ask members to bear with me, as it...
Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I am pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to what I hope will be the next step in ending cruelty and distress inflicted on animals in travelling cir...
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green)
Green
I declare an interest as a member of the British Veterinary Association. I welcome today’s stage 3 debate, which marks a watershed moment. For years, there ...
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD)
LD
As Mark Ruskell did, I declare that I am an honorary member of the BVA. Unlike most other speakers in the debate, I do not have the benefit of having sat thr...
Angus MacDonald (Falkirk East) (SNP)
SNP
I am sure that I speak for all members of the committee when I say that I am pleased to see the bill finally being put to sleep at the end of stage 3, not le...
Claudia Beamish (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Scottish Labour welcomes the passing of the bill, which is, I hope, imminent. As the cabinet secretary stated, wild animals in circuses should not be a spect...
John Scott (Ayr) (Con)
Con
I declare an interest as an honorary member of the British Veterinary Association. Along with it, I welcome the passage of the bill. The BVA and the Scottis...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Thank you, Mr Scott. I call Roseanna Cunningham to close for the Government. Cabinet secretary, you can have seven minutes if you want. You obviously do not—...
Roseanna Cunningham
SNP
I will speak very slowly, Presiding Officer. I thank all the members who are here today and who have taken part in a lively, informed and very interesting d...
John Scott
Con
Colin Smyth raised the matter of local authorities. Is the cabinet secretary optimistic that the amendments that she lodged at stage 2 and the guidance that ...
Roseanna Cunningham
SNP
We will continue to engage with stakeholders including COSLA. I thank the ever-gallant John Scott for his intervention, which helped to use up some time. I ...
Mark Ruskell
Green
Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?
Roseanna Cunningham
SNP
I am at the limit of the time that I have for my closing speech. I ask members to support the motion and agree that the Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses ...