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Chamber

Meeting of the Parliament 06 December 2022

06 Dec 2022 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament

Item of business

Standing Order Rule Change (Proxy Voting)

Mackay, Gillian Green Central Scotland Watch on SPTV

I thank Martin Whitfield for that helpful clarification.

I would also be interested to hear about the timescales for notifying the Presiding Officer of the need for a proxy. Obviously, bereavements, caring responsibilities and parental responsibilities can happen suddenly and are outwith members’ control, so I hope that the process will be responsive and adaptable to members’ needs, while respecting the need to give clerks time to get a proxy in place.

I welcome, in paragraph 36 of the report, the flexibility around allowing members to participate in chamber business

“for a period of time when the proxy is in place”.

Something akin to a phased return and participating in some but not all business would be beneficial to members who have been off with a long-term illness.

I welcome the report and the piloting of the proxy voting system, and I look forward to the outcomes of the pilot. I again thank the SPPA Committee for its work.

16:53

In the same item of business

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-07078, in the name of Martin Whitfield, on behalf of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Co...

Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

It is a pleasure to open the debate, even if the topic has one of the longest titles those in the chamber will have been confronted with. The founding prin...

Stuart McMillan (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) SNP

The committee’s report refers to three different categories to which proxy voting might apply, which I agree with. However, Mr Whitfield will know about the ...

Martin Whitfield Lab

I am grateful for that intervention. It is right that, in our short-term investigation, we limited the areas in which we think proxy votes should be used, bu...

The Minister for Parliamentary Business (George Adam) SNP

As always, I welcome the opportunity to participate in such debates on behalf of the Scottish Government. On 22 September, the Parliament held a debate on th...

Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

The Parliament prides itself on being a flexible and open institution that accommodates people from as many different backgrounds as possible and with differ...

Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I join other members in commending the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee for its work on this issue, and I am pleased to support the me...

Stuart McMillan SNP

I just make Neil Bibby aware that that was not the first time that such activity took place in Westminster. The previous time I remember it happening was whe...

Neil Bibby Lab

Mr McMillan is right. It has happened over a number of years and, frankly, it is a situation that should not be able to come to pass. We in the Scottish Par...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I call Gillian Mackay, who joins us remotely. 16:49

Gillian Mackay (Central Scotland) (Green) Green

I thank the members of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee for their work on the proxy voting scheme over the past few months. Follo...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Ms Mackay, I have received a request for an intervention from Martin Whitfield. Do you wish to accept the intervention?

Gillian Mackay Green

Martin Whitfield Lab

I am grateful to Gillian Mackay for giving way. During the trial period, we will sit under the same restrictions that apply now for voting in the chamber: na...

Gillian Mackay Green

I thank Martin Whitfield for that helpful clarification. I would also be interested to hear about the timescales for notifying the Presiding Officer of the ...

Bob Doris (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) SNP

This important, if brief, debate is part of a far wider consultative process. The committee thanks members who attended focus groups, completed surveys or pa...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

That concludes the debate.