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 followed by Stage 1 Debate: Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Bill followed by Financial Resolution: Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Bill followed by Business Motion 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.]

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 lot of interest and it is a mistake to try to squeeze them in. I therefore recommend that the Parliamentary Bureau rejig its timetable in the next week or two so that we can find enough time to have a proper whole-afternoon stage 1 debate on each of these important bills.

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.

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.

The question is, that motion S2M-5388, in the name of Margaret Curran, be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members:

No.

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

The result of the division is: For 98, Against 16, Abstentions 1.

Motion agreed to.

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.