Meeting of the Parliament 15 January 2026
I am grateful to the member for his intervention. We are always curious, inquisitive and iterative as regards changes that can improve the functioning of the Scottish Parliament. The member is aware of this, but I reiterate that the offer is always open to members to write to the committee with proposals, which we will consider before responding accordingly.
The bureau suggested that the temporary rule change should apply until the end of 2026, and the committee recommends that. The reason is that, as Stephen Kerr said in his intervention, we are coming to the end of the current session of Parliament and a new session will start in the near future. We believe that the rule change should be subject to interim review at the end of the current session and again at the end of 2026. We support the operation of the temporary rule being reviewed at those two points. We consider that the bureau will be best placed to undertake the interim review at the end of the session, and I look forward to the committee that will follow mine receiving a note on that. The motion proposes that the change take effect from next Monday, 19 January.
I move,
That the Parliament notes the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee’s 1st Report, 2026 (Session 6), Standing Order Rule changes – lodging deadlines for public bills (SP Paper 954), and agrees that the temporary rule change to Standing Orders set out in Annexe B of the report be made with effect from 19 January 2026.