Points of Order

– in the Scottish Parliament at 5:06 pm on 26 September 2007.

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Photo of Alison McInnes Alison McInnes Liberal Democrat 5:06, 26 September 2007

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My point is about rule 12.4 of standing orders, which is on witnesses and documents. As is normal practice, at the outset of its stage 1 scrutiny of the Abolition of Bridge Tolls (Scotland) Bill, the Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee identified witnesses that it wished to call, one of whom was Transport Scotland. When the committee met yesterday, we heard that Transport Scotland had declined to attend. Asking Transport Scotland to attend is clearly in the committee's competence and it surely should not have to require a representative of a public body that is in the service of the Government to attend. We can only conclude that Transport Scotland is acting under instruction from the minister to avoid scrutiny. Will the Presiding Officer investigate the matter and report to Parliament?

Photo of Alex Fergusson Alex Fergusson None

No, I will not, because that is a matter to take up with the committee's convener.

Photo of Jackie Baillie Jackie Baillie Labour

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My point is separate and relates to the points of order that Kenny Gibson and Bob Doris of the Scottish National Party raised earlier today. At First Minister's question time last week, Wendy Alexander asked Alex Salmond why the SNP was reviewing the central heating programme, with targeting the likely outcome. Alex Salmond made a truly valiant attempt to twist the facts by suggesting that targeting was not part of the review.

I will point out the factual position to the Parliament—a full transcript of the relevant Local Government and Communities Committee meeting is of course available. Quote number 1 is from Stewart Maxwell, who said:

"The review that we must conduct should examine targeting and how things are done."—[Official Report, Local Government and Communities Committee, 19 September 2007; c 85.]

If members are not satisfied by that, I present them with quote number 2, which is again about the central heating programme. The committee's convener said:

"So there are no guarantees for its future in its present form", and Stewart Maxwell replied:

"Nothing stays the same forever ... It is entirely reasonable to review it"—[Interruption.]

Photo of Jackie Baillie Jackie Baillie Labour

Stewart Maxwell continued:

"The programme will continue, but we have to ensure that it targets those who live in fuel poverty".—[Official Report, Local Government and Communities Committee, 19 September 2007; c 88.]

So the SNP is reviewing the central heating programme; it is considering targeting; and it will not say whether all pensioners will qualify for the programme. I am sure that the Presiding Officer agrees that accuracy in the Parliament is essential.

Photo of Alex Fergusson Alex Fergusson None

I am not entirely clear what the point of order that the member raised was.

Photo of Alex Fergusson Alex Fergusson None

I would like to deal with this point of order, Mr Doris, although I am not sure whether it was a point of order.

I repeat my response to points of order that were raised last Thursday: I am not here to adjudicate on the accuracy of what members say in exchanges in the chamber.

I also take the opportunity to remind members that, under the rules, points of order should concern whether proper procedures are being, or have been, followed. I am not prepared to allow a continual run of points of order on what are essentially debating matters. That being the case, I would like to consider the matter closed.