Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

The next item of business is consideration of motion S6M-21049, in the name of Martin Whitfield, on the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committ...

Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

In these challenging times, we need to remember that the proposals for amendments to standing orders are about getting the next session of Parliament off to ...

Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) SNP

I have been a convener four times. I have long campaigned not only for conveners to be elected but for them to receive responsibility pay for the role. That ...

Martin Whitfield Lab

Christine Grahame’s intervention picks up on the workload that conveners have to take on. As an innocent, naive convener at the start of the session, I had n...

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Con

Does Martin Whitfield appreciate that, although we all expect the best from our parliamentarians, the proposed model might allow for majority-holding parties...

Martin Whitfield Lab

We spent a great deal of time listening to evidence—not necessarily specifically about any award-winning convener but about the challenges of such a process ...

Emma Roddick (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) SNP

Martin Whitfield made a comparison with the election of deputy presiding officers. Will he confirm that he does not envisage more rounds of exhaustive ballot...

Martin Whitfield Lab

I am very grateful for that intervention, which gives me the opportunity to thank Emma Roddick for her service on my committee and to draw me back to the pur...

Christine Grahame SNP

Will the member give way?

Martin Whitfield Lab

If the intervention is very quick.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

I will allow a brief intervention from Christine Grahame, but I encourage other members to settle down a bit.

Christine Grahame SNP

This is a really stupid question, because I am really tired. I want to check something. Is it the case that, if we vote for the committee’s report, we will n...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

I ask the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee to reinforce the point that members should always speak through the chair.

Martin Whitfield Lab

I believe that the Deputy Presiding Officer is fully aware that the committee that will follow the present Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Comm...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

The question on the motion will be put at decision time.