Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 14 December 2022
14 Dec 2022 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Business Motions
As the minister is aware, stage 3 of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill was delayed and extended over two days following our request for more time and detailed scrutiny. The stage 3 debate was also doubled in length following our request. I welcome those changes.
However, the minister will also be aware of our request for statements on key issues, as Alexander Burnett highlighted. Most notably, Scottish Labour was first to request statements on the Climate Change Committee’s report and on educational attainment. Can I therefore ask the minister to reflect on whether time, which does not take away from the time that is needed for detailed and proper scrutiny of the gender reform bill, can be set aside for additional statements next week?
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
The next item of business is consideration of business motion S6M-07242, in the name of George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a bus...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I call Alexander Burnett to speak to and move amendment S6M-07242.1.
Alexander Burnett (Aberdeenshire West) (Con)
Con
As I indicated last week, the Scottish Conservatives seek to amend next week’s business programme to bring forward statements and debates that should have be...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Can we please extend courtesy to Mr Burnett and ensure that we can hear members when they are speaking?
Alexander Burnett
Con
Indeed, since the Scottish National Party and the Greens joined forces, racing through legislation without scrutiny has become the norm. Its reasoning for ru...
The Minister for Parliamentary Business (George Adam)
SNP
Well, that was a thing, wasn’t it? We covered all of this last week and again at the Parliamentary Bureau this week. Yesterday, the bureau agreed this busin...
Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
As the minister is aware, stage 3 of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill was delayed and extended over two days following our request for more time...
George Adam
SNP
As always, Mr Bibby is reasonable in his requests, and I am quite willing to come to the points that he made. The timeline that we have set for the gender re...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The question is, that amendment S6M-07242.1, in the name of Alexander Burnett, which seeks to amend motion S6M-07242, in the name of George Adam, setting out...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
There will be a division. There will be a brief pause to allow members to access the digital voting system. 17:19 Meeting suspended. 17:23 On resuming—
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The question is, that amendment S6M-07242.1, in the name of Alexander Burnett, be agreed to. Members should cast their votes now. The vote is closed.
Michelle Thomson (Falkirk East) (SNP)
SNP
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Neither my phone nor my laptop would let me log into the system. I would have voted no.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Thank you. We will ensure that that is recorded.
The Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport (Michael Matheson)
SNP
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app is not working. I would have voted no.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Thank you. We will ensure that that is recorded. For Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Con) Briggs, Miles (Lothi...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The result of the division on amendment S6M-07242.1, in the name of Alexander Burnett, is: For 30, Against 68, Abstentions 21. Amendment disagreed to.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The next question is, that motion S6M-07242, in the name of George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a business programme, be agreed t...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
There will be a division. The vote is closed.
Michael Matheson
SNP
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app is not working. I would have voted yes.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Thank you, Mr Matheson. We will ensure that that is recorded.
Michelle Thomson
SNP
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I am afraid that I still cannot get into the system. I would have voted yes.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Thank you. We will ensure that that is recorded. For Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherw...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The result of the division on motion S6M-07242, in the name of George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a business programme, is: For ...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The next item of business is consideration of business motion S6M-07243, in the name of George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, on a stage 1 time...