Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 26 January 2016
26 Jan 2016 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Pentland Hills Regional Park Boundary Bill: Stage 1
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. All members who spoke in the debate gave credit to Christine Grahame for the effort that she put into bringing the bill to this stage. She mentioned in her opening remarks the shortage of time given to the debate, and however much I might disagree with her I think that a 20-minute debate, following two years of hard work, hardly does justice to the work that she has put in, or to the work of the committee. I wonder whether you and your fellow Presiding Officers could ensure—even if it is in a legacy paper to the next session of Parliament—that the matter will be looked at, because the length of time that was given to the debate was almost insulting.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-15130, in the name of Christine Grahame, on the Pentland Hills Regional Park Boundary Bill. I call Chris...
Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
SNP
Thank you, Presiding Officer. I am pleased to open today’s debate on the Pentland Hills Regional Park Boundary Bill. It is a short bill, but in my view it de...
James Dornan (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP)
SNP
Before I set out the committee’s findings, I thank the committee members and clerks for all their help and support during the committee’s consideration of th...
The Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform (Aileen McLeod)
SNP
I thank the Pentland Hills Regional Park Boundary Bill Committee for its consideration of the bill, and I thank everyone who gave oral and written evidence. ...
David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the opportunity to speak today as a member of the Pentland Hills Regional Park Boundary Bill Committee. I am sure that everyone here today shares ...
Alex Fergusson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Con
I cannot begin by thanking Christine Grahame for bringing forward the bill, but I congratulate her. It takes no little commitment and effort to bring forward...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
I call David Stewart to make his closing speech—two minutes, Mr Stewart. 14:37
David Stewart
Lab
A point that has not been covered particularly in the debate is one that the committee convener made, which is that the committee wrote to the Standards, Pro...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
I call Aileen McLeod to wind up on behalf of the Government. 14:38
Aileen McLeod
SNP
I have listened with interest to the contributions to the debate. The member in charge of the bill, Christine Grahame, described it as enabling legislation t...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
Finally, I call Christine Grahame to wind up. 14:40
Christine Grahame
SNP
I find myself in the unusual position of being in disagreement with my Government. It is a strange place to be. I go back to that ubiquitous line on the map...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
Thank you for that spirited contribution. That concludes the debate.
Alex Fergusson
Con
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. All members who spoke in the debate gave credit to Christine Grahame for the effort that she put into bringing the bi...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
Thank you, Mr Fergusson. As a past Presiding Officer of the Parliament, you will be well aware that that is not a point of order. However, you have made your...