– in the Scottish Parliament at 5:00 pm on 10 January 2007.
George Reid
None
5:00,
10 January 2007
The next item of business is consideration of business motion S2M-5388, in the name of Margaret Curran, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a business programme.
Motion moved,
That the Parliament agrees the following programme of business— Wednesday 17 January 2007
2.00 pm Time for Reflection followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions followed by Stage 1 Debate: Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Bill followed by Financial Resolution: Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Bill followed by Stage 1 Debate: Prostitution (Public Places) (Scotland) Bill followed by Legislative Consent Motion: Consumers, Estates Agents and Redress Bill - UK Legislation followed by Legislative Consent Motion: Further Education Bill - UK Legislation followed by Business Motion followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
6.00 pm Decision Time followed by Members' Business Thursday 18 January 2007
9.15 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Bill
11.40 am General Question Time 12 noon First Minister's Question Time
2.15 pm Themed Question Time— Justice and Law Officers; Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
2.55 pm Conclusion of Stage 3 Proceedings: Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Bill followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time followed by Members' Business Wednesday 24 January 2007
2.30 pm Time for Reflection followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time followed by Members' Business Thursday 25 January 2007
9.15 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Crofting Reform etc. Bill
11.40 am General Question Time 12 noon First Minister's Question Time
2.15 pm Themed Question Time— Finance and Public Service and Communities; Education and Young People, Tourism, Culture and Sport
2.55 pm Conclusion of Stage 3 Proceedings: Crofting Reform etc. Bill followed by Stage 1 Debate: Budget (Scotland) (No.4) Bill followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time followed by Members' Business—[George Lyon.]
Donald Gorrie
Liberal Democrat
I want to speak against motion S2M-5388. It is a mistake to try to squeeze into one afternoon—even an extended afternoon—two such controversial stage 1 debates as are proposed for Wednesday 17 January. The two debates are on the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Bill and the Prostitution (Public Places) (Scotland) Bill.
The report by the Education Committee on the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Bill expresses a number of serious concerns. Those concerns will have to be properly debated so that members can form a view as to whether sufficient assurances have been given by ministers; people have to know whether they can support the principles of the bill or not. There is also a lot of interest in the bill among people in the outside world—voluntary organisations in particular.
The Prostitution (Public Places) (Scotland) Bill is also controversial, both in and outwith Parliament. I am sure that a large number of members will wish to speak in the debate on that bill.
I know that attendance at debates is sometimes disappointing, but those two debates will attract a
I accept that the Executive wishes to put through a lot of legislation before the election, but we are here to scrutinise that legislation adequately: the proposal in business motion S2M-5388 will not allow us to do that. This should be the start of there being more careful scrutiny of Executive bills by Parliament. I urge members to vote against the business motion.
George Lyon
Liberal Democrat
5:02,
10 January 2007
The proposals in the business motion were agreed unanimously by the Parliamentary Bureau, and extra time has been made available on 17 January—decision time will be put back to 6 o'clock. If, on the day, there is demand for the debates to be further extended, business managers will certainly be willing to accommodate a request from the Presiding Officer. However, because the proposals received unanimous support from the Parliamentary Bureau, I ask Parliament to support the business motion.
George Reid
None
The question is, that motion S2M-5388, in the name of Margaret Curran, be agreed to. Are we agreed?
George Reid
None
There will be a Division.
Division number 1
For: Aitken, Bill, Alexander, Ms Wendy, Arbuckle, Mr Andrew, Baillie, Jackie, Baker, Richard, Barrie, Scott, Boyack, Sarah, Brankin, Rhona, Brown, Robert, Brownlee, Derek, Butler, Bill, Chisholm, Malcolm, Craigie, Cathie, Crawford, Bruce, Cunningham, Roseanna, Davidson, Mr David, Douglas-Hamilton, Lord James, Eadie, Helen, Ewing, Fergus, Fabiani, Linda, Ferguson, Patricia, Fergusson, Alex, Finnie, Ross, Gallie, Phil, Gibson, Rob, Gillon, Karen, Glen, Marlyn, Godman, Trish, Goldie, Miss Annabel, Gordon, Mr Charlie, Grahame, Christine, Henry, Hugh, Home Robertson, John, Hughes, Janis, Hyslop, Fiona, Ingram, Mr Adam, Jackson, Dr Sylvia, Jackson, Gordon, Jamieson, Cathy, Jamieson, Margaret, Johnstone, Alex, Kerr, Mr Andy, Lamont, Johann, Lochhead, Richard, Lyon, George, MacAskill, Mr Kenny, Macdonald, Lewis, Macintosh, Mr Kenneth, Maclean, Kate, Macmillan, Maureen, Martin, Paul, Marwick, Tricia, Mather, Jim, Matheson, Michael, Maxwell, Mr Stewart, May, Christine, McAveety, Mr Frank, McCabe, Mr Tom, McConnell, Mr Jack, McFee, Mr Bruce, McGrigor, Mr Jamie, McLetchie, David, McMahon, Michael, McNeil, Mr Duncan, McNeill, Pauline, McNulty, Des, Milne, Mrs Nanette, Morgan, Alasdair, Morrison, Mr Alasdair, Muldoon, Bristow, Mulligan, Mrs Mary, Murray, Dr Elaine, Neil, Alex, Oldfather, Irene, Peacock, Peter, Peattie, Cathy, Petrie, Dave, Purvis, Jeremy, Radcliffe, Nora, Robison, Shona, Robson, Euan, Rumbles, Mike, Scott, John, Scott, Tavish, Smith, Elaine, Smith, Iain, Smith, Margaret, Stephen, Nicol, Stevenson, Stewart, Stone, Mr Jamie, Sturgeon, Nicola, Swinney, Mr John, Tosh, Murray, Wallace, Mr Jim, Watt, Ms Maureen, Welsh, Mr Andrew, Whitefield, Karen, Wilson, Allan
Against: Baird, Shiona, Ballance, Chris, Ballard, Mark, Byrne, Ms Rosemary, Curran, Frances, Fox, Colin, Gorrie, Donald, Harper, Robin, Harvie, Patrick, Leckie, Carolyn, Munro, John Farquhar, Pringle, Mike, Ruskell, Mr Mark, Scott, Eleanor, Sheridan, Tommy, Turner, Dr Jean
Abstentions: MacDonald, Margo
George Reid
None
The result of the Division is: For 98, Against 16, Abstentions 1.
Motion agreed to.
George Reid
None
The next item of business is consideration of business motion S2M-5387, in the name of Margaret Curran, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a timetable for legislation.
Motion moved,
That the Parliament agrees that consideration of the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Bill at Stage 2 be completed by 16 February 2007.—[George Lyon.]
Motion agreed to.
Question Time is an opportunity for MPs and Members of the House of Lords to ask Government Ministers questions. These questions are asked in the Chamber itself and are known as Oral Questions. Members may also put down Written Questions. In the House of Commons, Question Time takes place for an hour on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after Prayers. The different Government Departments answer questions according to a rota and the questions asked must relate to the responsibilities of the Government Department concerned. In the House of Lords up to four questions may be asked of the Government at the beginning of each day's business. They are known as 'starred questions' because they are marked with a star on the Order Paper. Questions may also be asked at the end of each day's business and these may include a short debate. They are known as 'unstarred questions' and are less frequent. Questions in both Houses must be written down in advance and put on the agenda and both Houses have methods for selecting the questions that will be asked. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P1 at the UK Parliament site.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
A proposal for new legislation that is debated by Parliament.
The House of Commons votes by dividing. Those voting Aye (yes) to any proposition walk through the division lobby to the right of the Speaker and those voting no through the lobby to the left. In each of the lobbies there are desks occupied by Clerks who tick Members' names off division lists as they pass through. Then at the exit doors the Members are counted by two Members acting as tellers. The Speaker calls for a vote by announcing "Clear the Lobbies". In the House of Lords "Clear the Bar" is called. Division Bells ring throughout the building and the police direct all Strangers to leave the vicinity of the Members’ Lobby. They also walk through the public rooms of the House shouting "division". MPs have eight minutes to get to the Division Lobby before the doors are closed. Members make their way to the Chamber, where Whips are on hand to remind the uncertain which way, if any, their party is voting. Meanwhile the Clerks who will take the names of those voting have taken their place at the high tables with the alphabetical lists of MPs' names on which ticks are made to record the vote. When the tellers are ready the counting process begins - the recording of names by the Clerk and the counting of heads by the tellers. When both lobbies have been counted and the figures entered on a card this is given to the Speaker who reads the figures and announces "So the Ayes [or Noes] have it". In the House of Lords the process is the same except that the Lobbies are called the Contents Lobby and the Not Contents Lobby. Unlike many other legislatures, the House of Commons and the House of Lords have not adopted a mechanical or electronic means of voting. This was considered in 1998 but rejected. Divisions rarely take less than ten minutes and those where most Members are voting usually take about fifteen. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P9 at the UK Parliament site.
The House of Commons votes by dividing. Those voting Aye (yes) to any proposition walk through the division lobby to the right of the Speaker and those voting no through the lobby to the left. In each of the lobbies there are desks occupied by Clerks who tick Members' names off division lists as they pass through. Then at the exit doors the Members are counted by two Members acting as tellers. The Speaker calls for a vote by announcing "Clear the Lobbies". In the House of Lords "Clear the Bar" is called. Division Bells ring throughout the building and the police direct all Strangers to leave the vicinity of the Members’ Lobby. They also walk through the public rooms of the House shouting "division". MPs have eight minutes to get to the Division Lobby before the doors are closed. Members make their way to the Chamber, where Whips are on hand to remind the uncertain which way, if any, their party is voting. Meanwhile the Clerks who will take the names of those voting have taken their place at the high tables with the alphabetical lists of MPs' names on which ticks are made to record the vote. When the tellers are ready the counting process begins - the recording of names by the Clerk and the counting of heads by the tellers. When both lobbies have been counted and the figures entered on a card this is given to the Speaker who reads the figures and announces "So the Ayes [or Noes] have it". In the House of Lords the process is the same except that the Lobbies are called the Contents Lobby and the Not Contents Lobby. Unlike many other legislatures, the House of Commons and the House of Lords have not adopted a mechanical or electronic means of voting. This was considered in 1998 but rejected. Divisions rarely take less than ten minutes and those where most Members are voting usually take about fifteen. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P9 at the UK Parliament site.
