Thursday, 4 March 2004
Scottish Parliament Thursday 4 March 2004 [THE PRESIDING OFFICER opened the meeting at 09:30]
Good morning. Yesterday I undertook to give my views on issues of legislative competence and admissibility of amendments, which Dennis Canavan and Allan Wilson raised. It should be clear from...
The first item of business is consideration of business motion S2M-993, in the name of Patricia Ferguson, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, which sets out a timetable for the stage 3...
The next item of business is the first part of stage 3 proceedings on the Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Bill, for which members should have the bill—SP bill 5A, as amended at stage...
Group 1 is on the definition of vulnerable witnesses. Amendment 26, in the name of Jackie Baillie, is grouped with amendments 27, 1, 2, 4, 5, 50, 51, 20, 21 and 22.
Amendment 7 moved—[Hugh Henry]—and agreed to.
Group 8 is on restrictions on evidence relating to the provision of therapy to children. Amendment 49, in the name of Patrick Harvie, is grouped with amendment 68.
The ninth group of amendments is on proceedings in which personal conduct of the defence by the accused is prohibited. Amendment 8, in the name of the minister, is grouped with amendments 11, 13,...
Amendments 16 to 19 moved—[Hugh Henry]—and agreed to.
Amendments 50 and 51 not moved. Amendments 20 and 21 moved—[Hugh Henry]—and agreed to.
Amendments 52 and 59 not moved. Amendment 22 moved—[Hugh Henry]—and agreed to.
Amendment 64 not moved.
Amendment 65 not moved.
Group 11 concerns child witnesses and the training of court personnel. Amendment 66, in the name of Mike Pringle, is grouped with amendment 67.
Amendment 67 not moved.
Amendment 23 moved—[Hugh Henry]—and agreed to. Amendment 68 not moved. Amendments 24 and 25 moved—[Hugh Henry]—and agreed to.
The next item of business is a debate on motion S2M-699, in the name of Cathy Jamieson, that the Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Bill be passed.
Eight seconds early, we come to First Minister's question time.
1. Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP): To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Scottish Executive's Cabinet. (S2F-684)
To ask the First Minister when he next plans to meet the Prime Minister and what issues he intends to raise. (S2F-691)
To ask the First Minister what the top three priorities will be for the next meeting of the Scottish Executive's Cabinet. (S2F-697)
To ask the First Minister whether the interception of personal communication in Scotland is limited and appropriate. (S2F-704)
I am sure that the First Minister will join me in welcoming to the public gallery a group from the Royal National Institute of the Blind from across Edinburgh. To ask the First Minister whether...
To ask the First Minister what progress the Scottish Executive is making on the national waste plan in respect of reducing the amount of waste being produced and landfilled. (S2F-698)
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. This point of order is further to the one that I raised with you a fortnight ago. I promised then that I would revisit the matter. With reference to the...
1. Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure a fair rate of pay for overseas workers employed in the national health service. (S2O-1423)
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in seeking to address "unintended consequences" of the December European Union fisheries negotiations. (S2O-1414)
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place between it and the Office of Communications regarding broadcasting content and regulation under the new communications regime....
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will contribute to addressing projected shortages in rail capacity between Scotland and London by 2015. (S2O-1398)
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is giving to the City of Edinburgh Council to co-ordinate future transport planning with neighbouring local authorities. (S2O-1407)
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made under the small units initiative in identifying units within the Executive that are suitable for relocation from Edinburgh to rural...
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on the reopening of the Airdrie to Bathgate rail link. (S2O-1384)
To ask the Scottish Executive what implications the rate of retirement of teachers will have for its ability to ensure that there are sufficient teacher numbers to meet its targets. (S2O-1399)
To ask the Scottish Executive what implications Sir Peter Gershon's Government efficiency review will have for the delivery of public services in Scotland. (S2O-1390)
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will respond to the representations of parents at Temple and Borthwick primary schools in Midlothian, currently facing possible closure. (S2O-1432)
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to encourage people to apply to become members of children's panels. (S2O-1397)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to allow for the suspension of tolls on the Erskine bridge during the period when the Clyde tunnel is under repair. (S2O-1394)
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage women into business. (S2O-1421)
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Is the Presiding Officer aware of reports in the press today that refer to the Communities Committee's stage 1 report on the Antisocial Behaviour etc...
Resumed debate.
The next item of business is consideration of motion S2M-973, in the name of Margaret Curran, on the Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Bill, which is UK legislation.
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I ask you to reconsider your decision not to allow a motion without notice to debate a motion at short notice. The decision is wrong. The Parliament has...
Motion S2M-974, in the name of Cathy Jamieson, is on the Civil Contingencies Bill, which is, again, United Kingdom legislation. I invite members who wish to speak in the debate to press their...
I will now deal with the extended point of order made by Margo MacDonald at the end of question time today. I promised to get back to her as quickly as possible. I confirm that the Executive is...
We are about five minutes ahead of ourselves. I am minded to accept a motion without notice to bring forward decision time. Motion moved, That Decision Time on 4 March 2004 be taken at 4.56...
The first question is, that motion S2M-699, in the name of Cathy Jamieson, that the Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Bill be passed, be agreed to. Motion agreed to. That the Parliament agrees that...
The final item of business is a members' business debate on motion S2M-758, in the name of Cathie Craigie, on the achievements of deaf pupils in Scotland project. The debate will be concluded...
The Scottish Parliament is the national legislature of Scotland, located in Edinburgh. The Parliament consists of 129 members known as MSPs, elected for four-year terms; 73 represent individual geographical constituencies, and 56 are regional representatives.
