Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 02 April 2025
02 Apr 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Business Motion
I hear the question, “When?” That brings me on to process. The way in which we schedule business in this place is that business managers from each party come together at the Parliamentary Bureau to discuss what we should debate. We agree it there, and we put forward a business motion on behalf of the bureau to schedule the business. I will go to the bureau first to discuss the scheduling of that debate with business managers through our agreed normal processes.
I recognise the importance of the matter, but I say to all members that I am more than amenable to being approached by any member about such matters at any stage. I am more than willing to have a discussion about what we should schedule.
Mr Kerr has written to me on these matters—I will reply to him. At least he had the good grace to correspond with me. Mr Briggs, whose amendment we are debating, has not had the courtesy even to speak to me about the matter before he brought an amendment to the Parliament. That is not a serious way to schedule business.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
The next item of business is consideration of business motion S6M-17059, in the name of Jamie Hepburn, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a b...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I call Miles Briggs to speak to and move amendment S6M-17059.1. 18:16
Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Con)
Con
I speak in support of my amendment, which seeks to change the business programme motion by replacing the debate on the first Tuesday back on the internationa...
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
LD
Miles Briggs will have heard me asking the First Minister about the issue at First Minister’s question time the week before last, when I mentioned that Scott...
Miles Briggs
Con
I absolutely agree with Alex Cole-Hamilton on that. The recent NASUWT survey points to the evidence that he has put on record. The levels of violence in our ...
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
Miles Briggs is referring to the fact that, yesterday, in responding to a topical question on the subject, the cabinet secretary went to great lengths to say...
Miles Briggs
Con
I absolutely agree. This is an area in which the Government needs to lead. The Government is not aware of the fact that many teachers and schools are not eve...
The Minister for Parliamentary Business (Jamie Hepburn)
SNP
The business motion proposes that, on 22 April, we hold a debate on the international situation, without a motion, to enable us to collectively consider the ...
Stephen Kerr
Con
Will the minister give way?
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
Of course I will.
Stephen Kerr
Con
Does the Minister for Parliamentary Business at least acknowledge that the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills was the one who said that there ought t...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
Mr Kerr is such an impatient fellow. Of course I was going to come to that matter, but he has asked me to come to it now. Let us also reflect on the fact th...
Stephen Kerr
Con
When?
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
I hear the question, “When?” That brings me on to process. The way in which we schedule business in this place is that business managers from each party come...
Douglas Ross (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
Made a request to intervene.
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
We have a process for scheduling business—we go through the bureau to schedule business, and then we agree it. I will give way to Mr Ross.
Douglas Ross
Con
Does the minister accept that there should be a principle in the Parliament that issues to be debated that are on devolved issues should take precedence over...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
International matters will inevitably have an impact on devolved matters. The impact on energy prices will have an impact on devolved services in Mr Ross’s a...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Members!
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
I have accepted a request for, and I am committed to bringing forward, a debate in Government time. I will take the request to the bureau. We can agree it th...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The question is, that amendment S6M-17059.1, in the name of Miles Briggs, which seeks to amend motion S6M-17059, in the name of Jamie Hepburn, on behalf of t...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
There will be a division. There will be a short suspension to allow members to access the digital voting system. 18:25 Meeting suspended. 18:28 On resuming—
The Presiding Officer
NPA
We come to the vote on amendment S6M-17059.1, in the name of Miles Briggs, which seeks to amend motion S6M-17059, in the name of Jamie Hepburn, on behalf of ...
Tess White (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app would not work. I would have voted yes.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Thank you, Ms White. We will ensure that that is recorded. For Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Con) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeen...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The result of the division on amendment S6M-17059.1, in the name of Miles Briggs, is: For 31, Against 60, Abstentions 26. Amendment disagreed to.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The next question is, that motion S6M-17059, in the name of Jamie Hepburn, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a business motion, be agreed to...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
There will be a division. The vote is closed.
Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP)
SNP
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I was not able to connect. I would have voted yes.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Thank you, Mr Macpherson. We will ensure that that is recorded.