Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 21 December 2022
21 Dec 2022 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Business Motions
Although I can only commend the hard work of the parliamentary staff, it has been a sorry couple of days in the Parliament. The lengths that the Scottish National Party has gone to in order to force through the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill by Christmas have well and truly crossed a line. It is not emergency legislation. There was no requirement for everything else to be put aside. There was no need to force parents of young children to worry about finding childcare at ridiculous hours and very short notice. There was no good reason for carers or cared-for people to have had to change their plans on a whim to suit the Government’s timetable or have their concerns branded irrelevant by SNP MSPs. [Interruption.]
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
The next item of business is consideration of business motion S6M-07367, in the name of George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, on changes to thi...
Alexander Burnett (Aberdeenshire West) (Con)
Con
Although I can only commend the hard work of the parliamentary staff, it has been a sorry couple of days in the Parliament. The lengths that the Scottish Nat...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Members, can we ensure that we can hear Mr Burnett, please?
Alexander Burnett
Con
Supporters of the bill from all parties have highlighted that the rushed timetable has made engaging with the detail of the bill unnecessarily difficult for ...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Thank you, members. Interruption. Members! Let us hear Mr Burnett, please.
Alexander Burnett
Con
Of course he has. I move amendment S6M-07367.1, after “12.00 pm First Minister’s Questions insert” leave out “followed by Stage 3 Debate: Gender Recogni...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I call Neil Bibby to speak to and move amendment S6M-07367.2. 01:23
Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I will be very brief. We support there being statements tomorrow on NHS strikes and educational attainment. However, we will not support Alexander Burnett’s ...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I call George Adam to respond on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau.
George Adam
SNP
Alexander Burnett—God loves a trier. It is 1.20 am. Nobody is watching, Mr Burnett. Nobody is watching at this stage. Yet still, they feel that they have to ...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Minister, let us ensure that our language is always courteous.
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My point is in relation to the use of the term “dirty tricks”. I think that you may have already dealt with it—Interr...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I can confirm that, and, of course, the Deputy Presiding Officers and I would always ensure that that is the case, Mr Kerr.
George Adam
SNP
Presiding Officer, perhaps “dirty tricks” was a bit of hyperbole on my part. It is probably better to say that the Conservatives have used every single reaso...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Members, let us hear the minister.
George Adam
SNP
That was the disrespect that has been shown. I hope that, in the new year, when people come back and we sit in the next meeting of our Parliamentary Bureau, ...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The question is, that amendment S6M-07367.1, in the name of Alexander Burnett, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
There will be a division. For Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Con) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Cameron, Donal...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The result of the division on amendment S6M-07367.1 is: For 29, Against 96, Abstentions 0. Amendment disagreed to.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The question is, that amendment S6M-07367.2, in the name of Neil Bibby, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
There will be a division. For Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Con) Bibby, Neil ...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The result of the division on amendment S6M-07367.2 is: For 55, Against 70, Abstentions 0. Amendment disagreed to.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The next question is, that motion S6M-07367, in the name of George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, on changes to this week’s business, be agreed...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
There will be a division. For Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) ...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The result of the division is: For 97, Against 28, Abstentions 0. Motion agreed to, That the Parliament agrees to the following revisions to the programme ...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The next item of business is consideration of business motion S6M-07332, in the name of George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a bus...