Hansard

Patrick Harvie knows that I had a discussion about the matter with him two weeks ago, I think. The Government fully recognises the importance of Rio, and the Minister for Environment and Climate Change fully recognises the importance of reporting back to the Parliament.

We are very sympathetic to Patrick Harvie’s request; indeed, the minister is keen to have a debate on the issue. However, there is a problem. Patrick Harvie thinks that there will be two stage 3 proceedings in the final week before the recess, but there will be three. Stage 3 proceedings on the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Bill are planned for the Wednesday morning, and those proceedings may well go into the afternoon, depending on the number of amendments that we have. Requests from Opposition members and others may yet be made about the time for closing speeches on the motion. Such debates usually last for just an hour, but members may well request extra time. It is planned that we will deal with the Long Leases (Scotland) Bill on the Thursday morning, and requests may be made for a longer closing debate on matters to do with the Welfare Reform (Further Provision) (Scotland) Bill.

Patrick Harvie must know that, at this stage, I cannot possibly tell how many amendments will be lodged, but I assure him that, if space is available on that day, we will do what we can to fit in a debate on Rio+20. Apart from those three stage 3 proceedings, other important Government business will need to be discharged that week, and it would be premature at this stage for me to give an absolute guarantee that that can happen. However, I give Patrick Harvie an assurance that, if space is available, we will do all that we can. Indeed, the minister is pushing me to do exactly the same thing.