The next item of business is consideration of business motion S2M-1031, in the name of Patricia Ferguson, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a revised programme for this afternoon's business. There are two amendments to the motion.

Motion moved,

That the Parliament agrees the following revision to the programme of business for Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 March 2004 agreed on 3 March 2004—

(a) Wednesday 10 March 2004 after,

"2.30 pm Time for Reflection followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions" insert,

"followed by Ministerial Statement on GM Crops" and

(b) Thursday 11 March 2004 after,

"2.00 pm Question Time— Enterprise, Lifelong Learning and Transport;

Justice and Law Officers;

General Questions" insert,

"followed by Ministerial Statement on the Outcomes of the Ministerial Group on Tourism".—[Patricia Ferguson.]

The intention of the amendment is to allow the Parliament a proper debate on the Executive's new policy on genetically modified crops. It is a reasonable request. Following press speculation over the weekend, I made my request for a debate directly to the Minister for Parliament. However, all I was offered at the Parliamentary Bureau meeting was a ministerial statement, which is not enough. The minister has already made a statement, which was to the press yesterday. The Parliament must be allowed a voice on this issue.

The Executive has changed its policy radically. It has abandoned the precautionary principle. Farmers and consumers in Scotland do not want the commercialisation of GM crops; the Scottish Parliament needs to debate how it is taking on those concerns. The Executive has taken the first step to commercialise the growing of GM maize. A voluntary ban is a contradiction in terms. It is unworkable and—crucially—unenforceable. That is why I urge members to vote for the amendment.

The Executive must allow a proper debate on the growing of GM crops in Scotland. I ask members to support the amendment to allow that debate to take place in the Parliament.

I move amendment S2M-1031.1, after

"followed by Ministerial Statement on the Outcomes of the Ministerial Group on Tourism" insert

"followed by Debate on GM Crops".

I genuinely regret the need to oppose the business motion, but this is an issue where time is a luxury that we cannot afford. I agree that there should be a proper debate on GM crops. If that amendment were successful, it would allow the half hour allocated for the statement on GM crops to be allocated to a statement on the hunger strike by the three Iranian Kurdish men.

I want to concentrate members' minds. Farouk Haidari, Farnborz Gravindk and Mokhtar Haydary, three young men—previously fit, healthy and strapping—who are fleeing persecution in Iran, are starving themselves to death. It is not a stunt. It is not a laugh. It is not flippant. It is serious. They are starving themselves to death because no refuge is being offered to them in Scotland. They face deportation and eviction from a country that is experiencing depopulation.

The Home Office minister, Beverley Hughes, will not budge. David Blunkett has washed his hands of the matter, and the First Minister says that it is not his jurisdiction. Do those three people represent the three unwise monkeys? Will somebody assume responsibility? Will somebody assume maturity?

Order. Miss Leckie, I am not prepared to allow you, in the chamber, to refer to the First Minister as a monkey, wise or unwise.

I asked a rhetorical question.

Order. Do not bandy words. I instruct you to withdraw that remark.

I asked a rhetorical question.

Withdraw the remark.

I withdraw the remark.

If Westminster will not accept responsibility, it is incumbent on all of us to do so, as human beings, as MSPs and as citizens of Scotland. Is the First Minister concerned for these individuals' health, which is his responsibility? Is he concerned for their housing, which is his responsibility? Does it concern him that the men are lying on quilts—they do not even have mattresses—in a crummy bedsit on the south side of Glasgow, starving themselves to death? That is his responsibility. Will he visit them, as any decent human being should, to listen to their requests? That is a very simple request. Will he lift one tiny finger, if that is all that it is in his power to do, or will he wash his hands, like Pontius Pilate?

I hope that the First Minister and the Executive will agree to make a statement and that they will put humanity before protocol. If they do not do so, I will be forced to agree with Bishop Devine, who has said that Scotland is becoming a country without compassion.

I move amendment S2M-1031.2, to delete

"followed by Ministerial Statement on GM Crops" and insert

"followed by Ministerial Statement on the hunger strike by Farouk Haidari, Farnborz Gravindk and Mokhtar Haydary".

The business motion seeks to amend parliamentary business for the week to allow for the inclusion of two important ministerial statements—on GM crops and on the ministerial group on tourism. The Scottish Socialist Party is well aware that asylum and immigration are reserved matters.

We have proposed that a statement be taken this afternoon on GM crops because we believe that it is important and topical. The minister wishes to discuss the issue in the Parliament at the earliest opportunity. Mark Ballard's assertion that I ruled out a debate at the Parliamentary Bureau yesterday is incorrect. I mentioned the fact that we have had debates on GM crops and I said that I did not doubt that we would have further debates in the near future. I pointed out that the minister has some important things to say and that he will come to the chamber today, with its approval, to say them.

I find it quite distressing and disturbing that Opposition parties have again chosen to use time set aside for Executive business, rather than raising their concerns in their own time. The longer this exchange continues, the more it will impact on the time set aside for consideration of the Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Bill this afternoon.

Members on the Liberal Democrat and Labour Party benches happen to believe that antisocial behaviour is an issue that matters to the people of Scotland. This exchange is a smokescreen to cover up the fact that the Greens and the SSP are completely out of touch with the people of Scotland. They have consistently failed to make a constructive contribution on this topic; I suspect that this will continue when the debate begins. I will not waste much time talking about the matter. Antisocial behaviour is worthy of even more time than we have been able to allocate to it today.

I understand that the Tories are considering voting with the Greens this afternoon. I point out to Conservative members that the effect of doing so will be to ensure that the planned debate on tourism does not take place. Less than a month has passed since David Mundell stood up in the Parliament to say:

"If the minister had the concerns for the tourism industry that he says he has, he would proceed with the review as a matter of priority".—[Official Report, 12 February 2004; c 5856.]

I presume that the rest of David Mundell's group does not agree with him. Labour party members agree with the minister and we want to hear his statement.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I wish to clarify things for the Minister for Parliamentary Business. [ Interruption. ]

Order.

My amendment will not delete the ministerial statement on tourism. The minister was mistaken when she made that suggestion.

There are three questions to be put. The first question is, that amendment S2M-1031.1, in the name of Mark Ballard, be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members:

No.

There will be a division.

Division number 1

For: Adam, Brian, Aitken, Bill, Baird, Shiona, Ballance, Chris, Ballard, Mark, Brocklebank, Mr Ted, Byrne, Ms Rosemary, Canavan, Dennis, Cunningham, Roseanna, Curran, Frances, Davidson, Mr David, Douglas-Hamilton, Lord James, Ewing, Fergus, Ewing, Mrs Margaret, Fabiani, Linda, Fergusson, Alex, Fox, Colin, Fraser, Murdo, Gibson, Rob, Goldie, Miss Annabel, Harper, Robin, Harvie, Patrick, Hyslop, Fiona, Ingram, Mr Adam, Johnstone, Alex, Kane, Rosie, Leckie, Carolyn, Lochhead, Richard, MacAskill, Mr Kenny, Martin, Campbell, Mather, Jim, Matheson, Michael, Maxwell, Mr Stewart, McFee, Mr Bruce, McGrigor, Mr Jamie, McLetchie, David, Milne, Mrs Nanette, Mitchell, Margaret, Monteith, Mr Brian, Morgan, Alasdair, Mundell, David, Neil, Alex, Robison, Shona, Ruskell, Mr Mark, Scanlon, Mary, Scott, Eleanor, Scott, John, Sheridan, Tommy, Stevenson, Stewart, Sturgeon, Nicola, Swinburne, John, Swinney, Mr John, Turner, Dr Jean, White, Ms Sandra
Against: Alexander, Ms Wendy, Baillie, Jackie, Baker, Richard, Barrie, Scott, Boyack, Sarah, Brankin, Rhona, Brown, Robert, Butler, Bill, Chisholm, Malcolm, Craigie, Cathie, Curran, Ms Margaret, Eadie, Helen, Ferguson, Patricia, Gillon, Karen, Glen, Marlyn, Godman, Trish, Gorrie, Donald, Henry, Hugh, Home Robertson, Mr John, Hughes, Janis, Jamieson, Cathy, Jamieson, Margaret, Kerr, Mr Andy, Lamont, Johann, Livingstone, Marilyn, Lyon, George, Macdonald, Lewis, Macintosh, Mr Kenneth, Macmillan, Maureen, Martin, Paul, May, Christine, McAveety, Mr Frank, McConnell, Mr Jack, McMahon, Michael, McNeil, Mr Duncan, McNulty, Des, Morrison, Mr Alasdair, Muldoon, Bristow, Mulligan, Mrs Mary, Munro, John Farquhar, Murray, Dr Elaine, Peacock, Peter, Peattie, Cathy, Pringle, Mike, Purvis, Jeremy, Radcliffe, Nora, Raffan, Mr Keith, Robson, Euan, Rumbles, Mike, Scott, Tavish, Smith, Elaine, Smith, Iain, Stephen, Nicol, Stone, Mr Jamie, Wallace, Mr Jim, Watson, Mike, Whitefield, Karen, Wilson, Allan

The result of the division is: For 54, Against 58, Abstentions 0.

Amendment disagreed to.

The second question is, that amendment S2M-1031.2, in the name of Carolyn Leckie, be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members:

No.

There will be a division.

Division number 2

For: Adam, Brian, Baird, Shiona, Ballance, Chris, Ballard, Mark, Byrne, Ms Rosemary, Canavan, Dennis, Cunningham, Roseanna, Curran, Frances, Ewing, Fergus, Ewing, Mrs Margaret, Fabiani, Linda, Fox, Colin, Gibson, Rob, Harper, Robin, Harvie, Patrick, Hyslop, Fiona, Ingram, Mr Adam, Kane, Rosie, Leckie, Carolyn, Lochhead, Richard, MacAskill, Mr Kenny, Martin, Campbell, Marwick, Tricia, Mather, Jim, Matheson, Michael, Maxwell, Mr Stewart, McFee, Mr Bruce, Morgan, Alasdair, Neil, Alex, Robison, Shona, Ruskell, Mr Mark, Scott, Eleanor, Sheridan, Tommy, Stevenson, Stewart, Sturgeon, Nicola, Swinburne, John, Swinney, Mr John, Turner, Dr Jean, White, Ms Sandra
Against: Aitken, Bill, Alexander, Ms Wendy, Baillie, Jackie, Baker, Richard, Barrie, Scott, Boyack, Sarah, Brankin, Rhona, Brocklebank, Mr Ted, Brown, Robert, Butler, Bill, Chisholm, Malcolm, Craigie, Cathie, Curran, Ms Margaret, Davidson, Mr David, Douglas-Hamilton, Lord James, Eadie, Helen, Ferguson, Patricia, Fergusson, Alex, Fraser, Murdo, Gillon, Karen, Glen, Marlyn, Godman, Trish, Goldie, Miss Annabel, Gorrie, Donald, Henry, Hugh, Home Robertson, Mr John, Hughes, Janis, Jamieson, Cathy, Jamieson, Margaret, Johnstone, Alex, Kerr, Mr Andy, Lamont, Johann, Livingstone, Marilyn, Lyon, George, Macdonald, Lewis, Macintosh, Mr Kenneth, Macmillan, Maureen, Martin, Paul, May, Christine, McAveety, Mr Frank, McConnell, Mr Jack, McGrigor, Mr Jamie, McLetchie, David, McMahon, Michael, McNeil, Mr Duncan, McNulty, Des, Milne, Mrs Nanette, Mitchell, Margaret, Monteith, Mr Brian, Morrison, Mr Alasdair, Muldoon, Bristow, Mulligan, Mrs Mary, Mundell, David, Munro, John Farquhar, Murray, Dr Elaine, Peacock, Peter, Peattie, Cathy, Pringle, Mike, Purvis, Jeremy, Radcliffe, Nora, Raffan, Mr Keith, Robson, Euan, Rumbles, Mike, Scanlon, Mary, Scott, John, Scott, Tavish, Smith, Elaine, Smith, Iain, Stephen, Nicol, Stone, Mr Jamie, Wallace, Mr Jim, Watson, Mike, Whitefield, Karen, Wilson, Allan

The result of the division is: For 39, Against 74, Abstentions 0.

Amendment disagreed to.

The third question is, that motion S2M-1031, in the name of Patricia Ferguson, be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members:

No.

There will be a division.

Division number 3

For: Alexander, Ms Wendy, Baillie, Jackie, Baker, Richard, Barrie, Scott, Boyack, Sarah, Brankin, Rhona, Brown, Robert, Butler, Bill, Chisholm, Malcolm, Craigie, Cathie, Curran, Ms Margaret, Eadie, Helen, Ferguson, Patricia, Gillon, Karen, Glen, Marlyn, Godman, Trish, Gorrie, Donald, Henry, Hugh, Home Robertson, Mr John, Hughes, Janis, Jamieson, Cathy, Jamieson, Margaret, Kerr, Mr Andy, Lamont, Johann, Livingstone, Marilyn, Lyon, George, Macdonald, Lewis, Macintosh, Mr Kenneth, Macmillan, Maureen, Martin, Paul, May, Christine, McAveety, Mr Frank, McConnell, Mr Jack, McMahon, Michael, McNeil, Mr Duncan, McNulty, Des, Morrison, Mr Alasdair, Muldoon, Bristow, Mulligan, Mrs Mary, Munro, John Farquhar, Murray, Dr Elaine, Peacock, Peter, Peattie, Cathy, Pringle, Mike, Purvis, Jeremy, Radcliffe, Nora, Raffan, Mr Keith, Robson, Euan, Rumbles, Mike, Scott, Tavish, Smith, Elaine, Smith, Iain, Stephen, Nicol, Stone, Mr Jamie, Swinburne, John, Turner, Dr Jean, Wallace, Mr Jim, Watson, Mike, Whitefield, Karen, Wilson, Allan
Against: Adam, Brian, Aitken, Bill, Brocklebank, Mr Ted, Byrne, Ms Rosemary, Canavan, Dennis, Cunningham, Roseanna, Curran, Frances, Davidson, Mr David, Douglas-Hamilton, Lord James, Ewing, Fergus, Ewing, Mrs Margaret, Fabiani, Linda, Fergusson, Alex, Fox, Colin, Fraser, Murdo, Gibson, Rob, Goldie, Miss Annabel, Hyslop, Fiona, Ingram, Mr Adam, Johnstone, Alex, Kane, Rosie, Leckie, Carolyn, Lochhead, Richard, MacAskill, Mr Kenny, Martin, Campbell, Marwick, Tricia, Mather, Jim, Matheson, Michael, Maxwell, Mr Stewart, McFee, Mr Bruce, McGrigor, Mr Jamie, McLetchie, David, Milne, Mrs Nanette, Mitchell, Margaret, Monteith, Mr Brian, Morgan, Alasdair, Mundell, David, Neil, Alex, Robison, Shona, Scanlon, Mary, Scott, John, Sheridan, Tommy, Stevenson, Stewart, Sturgeon, Nicola, Swinney, Mr John, White, Ms Sandra
Abstentions: Baird, Shiona, Ballance, Chris, Ballard, Mark, Harper, Robin, Harvie, Patrick, Ruskell, Mr Mark, Scott, Eleanor

The result of the division is: For 60, Against 46, Abstentions 7.

Motion agreed to.

That the Parliament agrees the following revision to the programme of business for Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 March 2004 agreed on 3 March 2004—

(a) Wednesday 10 March 2004 after,

"2.30 pm Time for Reflection followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions" insert,

"followed by Ministerial Statement on GM Crops" and

(b) Thursday 11 March 2004 after,

"2.00 pm Question Time— Enterprise, Lifelong Learning and Transport;

Justice and Law Officers;

General Questions" insert,

"followed by Ministerial Statement on the Outcomes of the Ministerial Group on Tourism".