Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 23 March 2021
23 Mar 2021 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
That ends consideration of amendments.
As members will be aware, at this stage in proceedings, I am required under the standing orders to decide whether, in my view, any provision of the bill relates to a protected subject matter—that is, whether it modifies the electoral system or the franchise for Scottish Parliament elections. In my view, it does not, so the bill does not require a supermajority to be passed at stage 3.
I suspend proceedings for a minute before we move to the debate on the motion to pass the bill.
16:42 Meeting suspended.In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Ken Macintosh)
NPA
The next item of business is stage 3 proceedings on the European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill. In dealing with the amend...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Group 1 is on the meaning and interpretation of the charter articles. Amendment 1, in the name of Andy Wightman, is grouped with amendments 2 to 5. I remind ...
Andy Wightman (Lothian) (Ind)
Ind
I should say in advance that I will take a little time in speaking to the amendments in group 1 because, although they are relatively minor in certain ways, ...
The Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government (Aileen Campbell)
SNP
Amendment 3, in my name, is necessary to clarify the effect of section 1(2A). It will extend subsection (2A) to require the charter articles to be read subje...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Cabinet secretary, I am very sorry to do this, but I am afraid that we have lost the virtual chamber. It is not your doing at all—it is a technical fault. Th...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I apologise for the technical problem—broadcasting is now back. As we lost the broadcast only for 30 seconds, I ask the cabinet secretary to pick up from whe...
Aileen Campbell
SNP
I hope that I am at the right bit. Mr Wightman’s amendments would also mean that there would still be a potential disconnect between the charter as incorpor...
Andy Wightman
Ind
Those were helpful comments from the cabinet secretary. The issue arises as a consequence of the two bills before Parliament—the United Nations Convention on...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Group 2 is on scrutiny of regulations under section 6(1). Amendment 6, in the name of Andy Wightman, is the only amendment in the group.
Andy Wightman
Ind
Amendment 6 does two things. First, it refines the wording of section 6A(6), which is one of two subsections to section 6A that were added by Scottish Govern...
Aileen Campbell
SNP
Amendment 6 is a technical amendment that will improve the language that is used in section 6A(6). The amendment also makes it clear that, if the Scottish mi...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Does Mr Wightman wish to make any further comments?
Andy Wightman
Ind
I have nothing to add, Presiding Officer. Amendment 6 agreed to.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
That ends consideration of amendments. As members will be aware, at this stage in proceedings, I am required under the standing orders to decide whether, in...