Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 26 January 2016
26 Jan 2016 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Trade Union Bill
I express my disappointment that, on the day that the Welsh Assembly is debating a legislative consent motion that will restrict the imposition of the anti-trade union bill on Welsh public services, we in the Scottish Parliament are unable to do similarly as a result of the Presiding Officer’s ruling.
Members have debated the undemocratic Trade Union Bill in the chamber before and, barring Conservative members, a sizeable majority has expressed opposition to it. All members who have done so have a duty to do all that they can to stop the bill and they should therefore do what the Labour amendment calls for and support my colleague Mary Fee’s proposal to amend the standing orders.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-15414, in the name of Roseanna Cunningham, on the Trade Union Bill. I call on Roseanna Cunningham to sp...
The Cabinet Secretary for Fair Work, Skills and Training (Roseanna Cunningham)
SNP
I thank the Devolution (Further Powers) Committee and its convener, Bruce Crawford, for its swift consideration of the legislation and the memorandum that wa...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
I call Neil Findlay to speak to and move amendment S4M-15414.1. 14:57
Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
I declare an interest, in that I am a member of Unite the union, the Educational Institute of Scotland and the West Lothian Trade Union Council. I also chair...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
Stick to parliamentary language, please, Mr Findlay.
Neil Findlay
Lab
It was clear from that previous debate that an overwhelming majority of members in the Parliament are opposed to the bill. The bill was referred to the Devol...
Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)
SNP
Would it not be easier if we had all the powers in this Parliament so that we did not have to rely on LCMs?
Neil Findlay
Lab
Mr Stewart makes my case for me: he says, “If only this, if only that.” The reality is that we have the opportunity to take practical steps that will prevent...
Kevin Stewart
SNP
Will Mr Findlay give way?
Neil Findlay
Lab
No. The cabinet secretary is right to work with us on that; I am just a bit disappointed that Mr Stewart appears not to want to go down that route. My colle...
Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
The Trade Union Bill gives effect to manifesto commitments that the Conservative Party made in advance of being elected as the majority Government of the Uni...
Kevin Stewart
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Alex Johnstone
Con
No—I will not be taking interventions. It is not unreasonable to require an opt-in process for union political donations. Often, members are unaware that th...
Neil Findlay
Lab
Will the member take an intervention on that point?
Alex Johnstone
Con
No, thank you. Taken together, the proposed measures are not an unreasonable addition to the provisions that previous Governments put in place to facilitate...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
We move to the open debate. I call Bruce Crawford to speak on behalf of the Devolution (Further Powers) Committee. 15:12
Bruce Crawford (Stirling) (SNP)
SNP
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak in my capacity as the convener of the Devolution (Further Powers) Committee. As members are aware, the Scott...
Neil Findlay
Lab
Will Bruce Crawford respond to the point that I made about what happens in principle when the two Parliaments disagree and how we can bring forward a procedu...
Bruce Crawford
SNP
I am speaking on behalf of the Devolution (Further Powers) Committee as its convener. That point was not subject to any of the processes that we went through...
Stewart Stevenson (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
SNP
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I wish to raise a point of order that concerns chapter 12 of standing orders, in so far as it relates to the operatio...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
I thank Mr Stevenson for the advance warning of his point of order. He is correct that the Parliament cannot compel a committee to take any particular course...
Margaret McDougall (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I express my disappointment that, on the day that the Welsh Assembly is debating a legislative consent motion that will restrict the imposition of the anti-t...
Sandra White (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Margaret McDougall
Lab
I have just started. Perhaps I will take an intervention later. Let us be clear: this anti-trade union bill is bad for business and bad for workers. The onl...
Sandra White
SNP
With reference to what the member said when she opened her speech, will she and her colleagues support employment law being devolved to the Scottish Parliame...
Margaret McDougall
Lab
That is not what we are here to discuss and it is not an issue. Removing the ban on the use of agency workers to break strike action—that ban was introduced...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
The member should draw to a close, please.
Margaret McDougall
Lab
I am just closing, Presiding Officer. I am delighted that, in my area, North Ayrshire Council last month became the first Scottish National Party-led local a...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
You must draw to a close, please.
Margaret McDougall
Lab
—so that members are not only setting out their opposition to the bill, but making sure that it is not imposed on Scottish public services. I hope that we c...