Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 04 February 2014
04 Feb 2014 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill
Before we start, I say to Parliament that, as a consequence of the earlier decision to extend the debate on amendments by 30 minutes, decision time will also be moved by 30 minutes.
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-08915, in the name of Alex Neil, on the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill. I call Alex Neil to speak to and move the motion—cabinet secretary, you have 14 minutes.
16:10
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-08915, in the name of Alex Neil, on the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill. I call Alex Neil to speak to and move the motion—cabinet secretary, you have 14 minutes.
16:10
References in this contribution
Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
Before we start, I say to Parliament that, as a consequence of the earlier decision to extend the debate on amendments by 30 minutes, decision time will also...
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing (Alex Neil)
SNP
I am pleased to open the stage 3 debate on the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill.I thank the members of the Equal Opportunities Committee; its c...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Cabinet secretary, you just destroyed all my calculations and I will have to start all over again.16:19
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Lab
Like the cabinet secretary, I am pleased to participate in the stage 3 debate on the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill.I commend the members and...
Jackson Carlaw (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
When this parliamentary year started and we came back from the summer recess in full anticipation of passing momentous legislation on same-sex marriage, my p...
Jackson Carlaw
Con
—but in his own time.On re-reading that Official Report I saw that there were also eloquent speeches from Nigel Don and John Mason, who put the alternative p...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
We now move to the open debate. We are heavily subscribed, notwithstanding the cabinet secretary’s efforts. I advise members that the first few speakers can ...
Marco Biagi (Edinburgh Central) (SNP)
SNP
Presiding Officer,“I am a migrant with a German passport who was born in a former Soviet country. I want to stay because I learned that Scotland is a place w...
Margaret McCulloch (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I support same-sex marriage as a matter of principle. Not long after I was elected to the Parliament, I was proud to pledge my support to the equal marriage ...
Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
Members will not be surprised to discover—if they do not know already—that I will vote with the minority at decision time tonight. However, I have no intenti...
John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Ind)
Ind
Will the member accept that it should be the quality rather than the quantity that matters when it comes to amendments?
Alex Johnstone
Con
Indeed. That is very much the case, as the way in which the evidence has been treated throughout the process indicates.As I said, I am disappointed that we w...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The next speeches will be of five minutes.16:51
James Dornan (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP)
SNP
I start by responding to the point that Alex Johnstone just made. I would have thought that, if anything, the bill would strengthen marriage because it makes...
Richard Lyle (Central Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
Tonight, I will be out of step with the majority of the Parliament, and I regret that. However, I am grateful for the opportunity to speak at what is undoubt...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
Will the member give way?
Richard Lyle
SNP
No, I will not. I have only five minutes.There are adoptive parents out there who are frightened that their opposition to same-sex marriage will be misunders...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
You need to bring your remarks to a close.
Richard Lyle
SNP
That happened before the law is changed.I know that I will not win tonight, but I will vote in line with my conscience, in the way that I have always stood u...
Drew Smith (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
The debate is no less welcome for being long awaited. At decision time, Scotland can become the 17th or the 26th country or territory around the world—it dep...
Linda Fabiani (East Kilbride) (SNP)
SNP
It is an absolute delight to be in the chamber today and to pass the bill very soon, I hope.I thank not only all those who have worked hard to bring to fruit...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
It will have to be brief, Ms Fabiani.
Linda Fabiani
SNP
Absolutely. The Equality Network is saying that there is still a lot more work to do to tackle prejudice and to ensure that LGBT people receive equal treatme...
Jim Hume (South Scotland) (LD)
LD
Fairness and equality run through the veins of every true Liberal Democrat I know. We want Scotland to be one of the fairest and most equal places in the wor...
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)
SNP
The process has been a long one. I thank members, the clerks and others who have helped with a professional attitude throughout. I first said something publi...
Jim Hume
LD
I do not like to say that the member is scaremongering, but does he have any evidence at all of religious organisations being squeezed out?
John Mason
SNP
We have gone over some of this already, but it appears that, for example, somebody with traditional committed Christian or Muslim beliefs cannot be a registr...
John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Ind)
Ind
I thank the various groups that provided briefings for the debate. One line in the Equality Network briefing said that it would make Scotland fair and more e...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
You need to make it brief.
John Finnie
Ind
Martin Luther King Jnr said:“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too big a burden to bear.”I ask others to facilitate the love that would allow people...