Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 25 February 2016
25 Feb 2016 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Scottish Elections (Dates) Bill: Stage 3
Many thanks. I appreciate your brevity. I call Joe FitzPatrick to wind up. Minister—you have up to two minutes.
15:58In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-15709, in the name of Joe FitzPatrick, on the Scottish Elections (Dates) Bill. 15:40
The Minister for Parliamentary Business (Joe FitzPatrick)
SNP
I am pleased to open the debate at stage 3 of the Scottish Elections (Dates) Bill. I thank the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee for i...
Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
In opening the debate for Scottish Labour, I say at the outset that we will support the bill at decision time tonight. The Scottish Elections (Dates) Bill i...
Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
We in Parliament debate many highly charged and contentious issues, which are robustly discussed. However, the Scottish Elections (Dates) Bill is not one of ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
We move to the open debate. I call Stewart Stevenson. You have up to three minutes, Mr Stevenson. 15:49
Stewart Stevenson (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
SNP
The bill—all 200 words of it—was looked at intensively by the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee and we reported, in a mere 1,000 words,...
Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Stewart Stevenson
SNP
No—I cannot with only three minutes. I am sorry.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
The member is in his last minute.
Stewart Stevenson
SNP
The third member was successfully elected on the seventh round of redistribution of votes, having also lost their deposit—an outcome that I wish for many of ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
Excellent. Thank you for your brevity. We move to closing speeches. I call Annabel Goldie, who has up to three minutes—although less would be more. 15:52
Annabel Goldie
Con
Goodness. It seems like only seconds since I was here, but here we go. I could say that this has been a profound and extensive examination of the bill that ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
James Kelly has up to three minutes. Less would be more for you too, Mr Kelly. 15:55
James Kelly (Rutherglen) (Lab)
Lab
I have not even started yet. Laughter. Thank you, Presiding Officer. The debate really has been a quick run around the park for everyone. I want to indicate...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
Many thanks. I appreciate your brevity. I call Joe FitzPatrick to wind up. Minister—you have up to two minutes. 15:58
Joe FitzPatrick
SNP
I thank the members who have taken part in the debate for their contributions. It is clear from them that there is consensus on changing the dates of the nex...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
Many thanks. That concludes the debate on the Scottish Elections (Dates) Bill.