Scottish Parliament Wednesday 24 April 2002 (Afternoon) [THE PRESIDING OFFICER opened the meeting at 14:30]

To lead our time for reflection today I welcome the Rev John Butler, who is a minister of the Congregational Federation in Scotland.

The next item of business is consideration of Parliamentary Bureau motions. I ask Euan Robson to move business motion S1M-3025, which is the timetabling motion on stage 3 of the Freedom of...

Members should have before them a copy of the bill—SP Bill 36A, as amended at stage 2—the marshalled list, which contains the amendments that I have selected for debate, and the...

• Section 1 — General entitlement

  10 speeches

  Amendment 59 is grouped with amendment 60.

After section 1

Amendment 55 not moved.

Section 3 — Scottish public authorities

4 speeches

Amendment 61, in the name of Michael Matheson, is grouped with amendments 62, 65, 67, 68 and 69.

After section 5

11 speeches

Amendment 63 is in a group on its own.

Section 6 — Publicly-owned companies

26 speeches

We move to the fifth group of amendments. Amendment 1 is grouped with amendment 2.

Section 7 — Public authorities to which Act has limited application

4 speeches

We move to group 6. Amendment 64, in the name of Donald Gorrie, is grouped with amendment 76. In terms of the limits that were set by the timetabling motion, we have only four minutes left, Mr...

Section 8 — Requesting information

23 speeches

We completed that group of amendments just before the bell. We now come to group 7. Amendment 12 is grouped with amendments 56, 22, 58, 28 and 36. I point out that amendment 12 does not pre-empt...

Section 9 — Fees

17 speeches

We move to group 8. Conscious that the clock stops at 16:21, I ask members to make their contributions tight, as I want to get in a debate on group 10. Amendment 57 is grouped with amendments...

Section 10 — Time for compliance

3 speeches

Amendment 65 not moved.

Section 11 — Means of providing information

12 speeches

Amendment 15 moved—[Mr Jim Wallace].

Section 12 — Excessive cost of compliance

22 speeches

Amendment 66 is grouped with amendments 17 and 18. If amendment 66 is agreed to, members will not be able to vote on amendment 17.

Section 18 — Further provision as respects responses to request

Amendments 20 and 21 moved—[Mr Jim Wallace]—and agreed to.

Section 20 — Requirement for review of refusal etc

8 speeches

Amendment 22 moved—[Mr Jim Wallace].

Section 21 — Review by Scottish public authority

Amendment 67 not moved.

Section 22 — Special provisions relating to records transferred to Keeper

Amendment 68 not moved.

Section 25 — Information otherwise accessible

1 speech

Amendment 69 not moved.

Section 27 — Information intended for future publication

13 speeches

Amendment 24 stands in a group of its own.

Section 29 — Formulation of Scottish Administration policy etc

8 speeches

Amendment 70 is in a group on its own.

Section 33 — Commercial interests and the economy

10 speeches

Amendment 5 is in a group on its own.

Section 36 — Confidentiality

8 speeches

Amendment 71 is in the name of Michael Matheson. I am afraid that the clock has beaten us, so I ask Mr Matheson only whether he is moving amendment 71.

Section 37 — Court records, etc

2 speeches

Amendment 25 is in a group on its own.

Section 43 — General functions of Commissioner

2 speeches

Amendment 26 is also grouped on its own.

Section 45 — Confidentiality of information obtained by or furnished to Commissioner

2 speeches

Amendment 27 is in a group on its own.

Section 46 — Laying of reports

4 speeches

Amendment 72 is in a group on its own.

Section 47 — Application for decision by Commissioner

4 speeches

Amendment 28 moved—[Mr Jim Wallace].

Section 52 — Exception from duty to comply with certain notices

21 speeches

Amendment 29 is grouped with amendments 30, 7 and 8.

Section 62 — Power to make provision relating to environmental information

19 speeches

Amendment 74, in the name of Bruce Crawford, is grouped with amendments 75, 10 and 11.

After section 62

2 speeches

Amendment 31, in the name of the minister, is grouped with amendments 33 and 53.

After section 67

2 speeches

Amendment 32, in the name of the minister, is in a group on its own.

After section 68

Amendment 33 moved—[Mr Jim Wallace]—and agreed to.

Section 69 — Orders and regulations

2 speeches

Amendment 76 not moved.

Section 70 — Interpretation

Amendment 36 moved—[Dr Richard Simpson]—and agreed to.

Section 72 — Commencement

25 speeches

I call Robin Harper formally to move amendment 11, which was debated with amendment 74. [Interruption.] I think that all the technicalities have surprised Mr Harper. Does any other member feel...

Schedule 1 — Scottish Public Authorities

27 speeches

Amendment 78 is grouped with amendments 42 to 47, 79, 48 to 51, 80 and 52.

After schedule 3

Amendment 53 moved—[Mr Jim Wallace]—and agreed to.

The next item of business is a debate on motion S1M-2855, in the name of Mr Jim Wallace, which seeks agreement that the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill be passed.

There is one question to be put as a result of today's business. The question is, that motion S1M-2855, in the name of Jim Wallace, asking that the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill be...

The final item of business today is a members' business debate on motion S1M-2950, in the name of Fiona McLeod, on the United Nations children's summit on 8 to 10 May 2002. The debate will be...