Hansard

The Presiding Officer (Alex Fergusson) NPA

The next item of business is the stage 3 debate on the Local Electoral Administration (Scotland) Bill.09:24

The Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism (Jim Mather) SNP

I am pleased to be here for the debate. The parliamentary process has been fairly smooth and has reflected the consensus across all parties on the need to co...

Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab) Lab

When we debated the bill at stage 1, I waited until my closing speech before I thanked everyone who had taken part in the deliberations on the bill, because ...

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con) Con

The bill is worthy legislation but will not take up much time in the chamber, I suspect. I hope that, at this moment, the clerks are vigorously phoning offic...

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD) LD

I welcome the opportunity to open the debate for the Scottish Liberal Democrats. As a member of the Local Government and Communities Committee over the past ...

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP) SNP

The debate is perhaps an opportunity to look at the changing nature of how we run elections. If we go back to the UK election that took place in 1832, which ...

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD) LD

Shame!

Stewart Stevenson SNP

There were 13 Liberal members and 14 nationalist members, including three Plaid Cymru members and others. It is clear that, over the piece, there were change...

Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab) Lab

I am pleased to be taking part in the stage 3 debate on the Local Electoral Administration (Scotland) Bill. This is the latest piece of legislation and actio...

Jim Tolson LD

Members will be aware that there are two key themes to this important bill, the first of which is the creation of the electoral management board. In delibera...

Stewart Stevenson SNP

I have plus fours.

Jim Tolson LD

That worries me, Presiding Officer.

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD) LD

Too much information.

Jim Tolson LD

I agree with my colleague that that is too much information.The autumn stress testing of the new system will be absolutely crucial. I hope that I am proved w...

Alex Johnstone Con

In my opening speech, I mentioned procedure, and I welcome the fact that the procedures that we use in the chamber have allowed me to upstage Michael McMahon...

Stewart Stevenson SNP

For the record, in those days, candidates required to get 12.5 per cent of the vote to keep their deposit. However, because the constituency elected three me...

The Presiding Officer NPA

You asked for it, Mr Johnstone.

Alex Johnstone Con

I stand corrected. However, I would say that, given the intervening time and what has happened in the past 12 months, it probably does not make a great deal ...

Michael McMahon Lab

I am quite pleased that the debate took the course that it did and was not as uninteresting as some might have feared. The opening speakers stuck to what was...

Jim Mather SNP

We have less than a week left of the current parliamentary session. We have debated many issues, and there has been some agreement and some disagreement, but...