Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 04 February 2026
04 Feb 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Parliamentary Bureau Motions
That may be beyond my exact knowledge of this matter. My point is that I do not see how the Scottish Parliament can pass a bill that we are not competent to consider. Aspects of the bill would need further UK Government clearance to be done in advance, and I have seen no evidence that that would happen.
For the three reasons that I have mentioned, I cannot support the SI, and I therefore encourage those members who share my concerns to abstain until the Scottish Government has clarified which parts of the assisted dying bill fall outwith the competence of the Scottish Parliament and how it will identify the drugs suitable for off-label use to assist in the bill.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
The next item of business is consideration of Parliamentary Bureau motion S6M-20670, on approval of a statutory instrument.Motion moved,That the Parliament a...
Edward Mountain (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I rise to speak to the motion. This is a complicated matter involving an SI in relation to the Scotland Act 1998. I believe, as do some in the UK Parliament,...
Alasdair Allan (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP)
SNP
I believe that this is a technical measure. On the wider procedural issues, does the member have a view on what options would be open to this Parliament in t...
Edward Mountain
Con
That may be beyond my exact knowledge of this matter. My point is that I do not see how the Scottish Parliament can pass a bill that we are not competent to ...
The Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans (Graeme Dey)
SNP
Although I utterly respect Edward Mountain’s perspective on the matter of assisted dying, I gently remind him that we are seeking tonight not to pass the bil...
Bob Doris (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP)
SNP
On a technical issue, if the bill was to pass at stage 3 and then a future Scottish Parliament wished to amend it further in this area, would that require a ...
Graeme Dey
SNP
We are now getting quite far ahead of ourselves, but I hope that I will cover that point as I go on. To be absolutely clear, the time limit applies only to t...
Edward Mountain
Con
I thank the minister for giving way. I am trying to prompt him—I hope—to say whether this is the only bit of the bill that will require a section 30 order. A...
Graeme Dey
SNP
As I think the member knows, a further process—a section 104 order—would have to be undertaken further down the line. However, in the context of getting the ...
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Ind)
Ind
Will the minister take an intervention?
Graeme Dey
SNP
I will, if I can just finish my point.With that in mind, the Government opted to focus its attention on the section 30 order in the first instance, given tha...
Jeremy Balfour
Ind
The minister may have covered it, but I would like to clarify the point. Before the Parliament votes on stage 3, will we have clarity on what will be in the ...
Graeme Dey
SNP
My understanding is that the discussions with the UK Government on what will be contained in that order are on-going, with a view to ensuring that the Parlia...
Stuart McMillan (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP)
SNP
Will the minister take a brief intervention?
Graeme Dey
SNP
Do I have time, Presiding Officer?
The Presiding Officer
NPA
We have gone somewhat over the time for this item. I will allow a little more time. Mr McMillan may intervene briefly.
Stuart McMillan
SNP
As members of the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee will testify to, we have been told in the past that the dialogue related to a section 104 order d...
Graeme Dey
SNP
I touched on that. I am sorry if I have misled the Parliament. The details of what such an order might contain are still being worked through. Of course, the...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The question on the motion will be put at decision time.18:13
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
The next item of business is consideration of Parliamentary Bureau motion S6M-20671, on approval of a Scottish statutory instrument. I ask Graeme Dey, on beh...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The question on the motion will be put at decision time.