Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 25 February 2026 [Draft]
25 Feb 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Business Motion
No, not just now, Mr Stewart.
What is clear is that there are further questions for the Lord Advocate that have not been answered today. In particular, a direct question was put to her five times by members in the chamber. The Lord Advocate was asked five times why the justification that she gave last week for giving a minute to the First Minister—that it was after service of the indictment and therefore there was no limitation on its terms being made public—would not have applied when she gave a memo to the First Minister in March last year. On five occasions, she did not answer that question. Other members also raised questions.
There is a legitimate debate about the dual role of the Lord Advocate. Is having someone who is head of the independent Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and also the senior legal adviser to the Scottish Government and sitting in the cabinet legitimate?
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
The next item of business is consideration of business motion S6M-20898, in the name of Graeme Dey, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a busi...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I call Murdo Fraser to speak to and move amendment S6M-20898.1.18:34
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
This morning, I lodged an amendment to the business motion, to seek to insert in next week’s business a statement from the Lord Advocate and an opportunity f...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Members, let us carry out our business respectfully.
Murdo Fraser
Con
I regret that the answers that we heard from the Lord Advocate are insufficient. She has accepted that the answers that she gave to Parliament last week were...
Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Murdo Fraser
Con
No, not just now, Mr Stewart.What is clear is that there are further questions for the Lord Advocate that have not been answered today. In particular, a dire...
Kevin Stewart
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Murdo Fraser
Con
No, thank you, Mr Stewart.I speak as a Scottish lawyer. The integrity of the Scottish legal system is absolutely essential. Interruption.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Let us hear Mr Fraser.
Murdo Fraser
Con
Anything that undermines that or gives the perception of undermining that is a legitimate matter of inquiry for the Parliament.There are serious questions th...
Keith Brown (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP)
SNP
It is clear that the only reason that this issue is being raised again is desperation on the part of the Conservative Party and others to smear the Lord Advo...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I call the minister to respond on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau.18:38
The Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans (Graeme Dey)
SNP
In considering this request from the Conservatives, it is important that we reflect on the extent to which these matters have already been interrogated, incl...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The first question is, that amendment S6M-20898.1, in the name of Murdo Fraser, which seeks to amend motion S6M-20898, in the name of Graeme Dey, on behalf o...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
There will be a division. There will be a short suspension to allow members to access the digital voting system.18:40Meeting suspended.18:43On resuming—
The Presiding Officer
NPA
We move to the vote on amendment S6M-20898.1, in the name of Murdo Fraser, which seeks to amend motion S6M-20898, in the name of Graeme Dey, on behalf of the...
ForBaillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab)Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind)Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab)Boyack, Sarah ...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The result of the division on amendment S6M-20898.1, in the name of Murdo Fraser, is: For 51, Against 66, Abstentions 1.Amendment disagreed to.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The next question is, that motion S6M-20898, in the name of Graeme Dey, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a business programme, be agreed to...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
There will be a division.The vote is closed.
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Lab
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app would not refresh. I would have voted yes.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Thank you, Ms Baillie. We will ensure that that is recorded.
ForAdam, George (Paisley) (SNP)Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP)Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an I...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The result of the division on motion S6M-20898, in the name of Graeme Dey, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a business programme, is: For 9...