Meeting of the Parliament 08 March 2023
On behalf of Scottish Labour, I would like to pay tribute once again to our parliamentary staff for all their hard work in supporting us and ensuring the efficient running of Parliament. Their work is vital, and we cannot thank them enough.
We must also recognise the decision by members of the Public and Commercial Services Union in Parliament to take part in industrial action next Wednesday, as is their right, and we should all respect their decision to do so.
In the light of the industrial action, we propose to move parliamentary business next Wednesday. We would move the agriculture debate to Tuesday and portfolio questions to Thursday. We are also happy to support additional statements being included on Ferguson Marine, children’s orchestra funding and the deposit return scheme. That is all business that can easily be done next week on alternative dates. The Welsh Senedd is moving its business, and we should do the same here.
The last time that Parliament sat during industrial action, the public gallery was closed. That was regrettable and should not have happened. It has not been confirmed yet by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether that will happen next Wednesday. If there is still the possibility of our having to meet without the public gallery being open—which there is—we should not plan to meet at all unless there is urgent or critical business.
Of course, we hope that the industrial dispute can be resolved as soon as possible. However, until then, we must recognise the importance of our staff to the safe and professional running of the Parliament and its business. Our staff are essential. Any other course of action here would send a message that they are not. Our staff support us; we should support them where we can.
I move amendment S6M-08150.2, to leave out from first
“followed by Committee Announcements”
to
“Tuesday 21 March 2023”
and insert:
“followed by Scottish Government Debate: Delivering the Scottish Government’s Vision for Agriculture through the Agricultural Reform Route Map
followed by Committee Announcements
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Thursday 16 March 2023
11.40 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions
11.40 am General Questions
12.00 pm First Minister's Questions
followed by Members’ Business
2.30 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2.30 pm Portfolio Questions:
Social Justice, Housing and Local Government;
Rural Affairs and Islands;
Health and Social Care
followed by Stage 1 Debate: Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill
followed by Legislative Consent Motion: Procurement Bill - UK Legislation
followed by Legislative Consent Motion: Social Security (Additional Payments) (No. 2) Bill - UK Legislation
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Approval of SSIs (if required)
5.25 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business”
Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.