4. To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, in light of exhibition places being oversubscribed, whether it will consider having a third exhibition space in the garden lobby area. (S5O-00730)

I recognise that the issue has been a concern to Christine Grahame; indeed, it has been the subject of written parliamentary questions. As I said in response to those questions, there are no other suitable spaces in the garden lobby or elsewhere to support an additional member-sponsored exhibition space. In addition, an extra exhibition space would have resource implications.

As she is someone who has made excellent use of member-sponsored exhibitions, Christine Grahame will know how popular they are. She will be equally aware that there are other ways that members can support organisations to share information and network with members, for example by holding a member-sponsored event.

It may be helpful to Christine Grahame and other colleagues if I confirm that bids for member-sponsored exhibitions for the period September to December 2017 will open next month.

I thank Liam McArthur for his reply, but I am not happy. There is already a putative queue for the September to December period.

Which spaces have been dismissed? If Liam McArthur cannot tell me that now, I hope that he will respond at a later date. It seems to me that we could very well have one more in the garden lobby or in the area around the top of the stairs, which would not impede parliamentary business. It would be good to know which spaces have been dismissed, so I would be obliged if he would tell me.

I will certainly ensure that Christine Grahame is provided with the information that she has asked for. As she will appreciate, not least in her role as Deputy Presiding Officer, space in the building can be in considerable demand at key periods. The garden lobby, in particular, is used by a great number of building users. The request that she has made for more detail on the spaces that have been looked at and the reasons why they have been rejected is perfectly reasonable, and I will ensure that she is provided with that information.

In the spirit of supporting international women’s day, will the SPCB give consideration to having a specific exhibition space, perhaps in the front lobby, to celebrate women?

To put that request in context, last night at the women’s dinner I was told that in Edinburgh there are more memorials to animals than to women. I was also made aware of a project about Edinburgh women abolitionists, in particular Eliza Wigham, who in 1840 took self-freed American slave Frederick Douglass up to Arthur’s Seat to carve political messages. Will the corporate body look at the Scottish women’s history group’s suggestion of having an engraved flagstone outside Parliament, with a view up to Arthur’s Seat, as a fitting tribute to Eliza and her sister abolitionists?

Elaine Smith’s request about the main hall in the Parliament is reasonable. It would be an impractical area for member-sponsored exhibitions, as it is a public space rather than a space that is routinely accessed by members. Nevertheless, she makes a reasonable point about international women’s day.

With regard to the engraving, I would not want to give the member a response at this precise moment, because I think that there are rules, procedures and protocols around the issue. As she will know only too well, the Parliament is in receipt of many applications to commemorate a variety of worthy causes. Nevertheless, I will make sure that the proposal that she has put to us this afternoon is considered and a full response provided.