Kenneth Macintosh
Labour
The first question is, that motion S5M-24250, in the name of Miles Briggs, which is a motion of no confidence, be agreed to.
Richard Lyle
Scottish National Party
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. It is motion S5M-24260.
The Presiding Officer:
There will be a Division.
Division number 20
Decision Time
The Presiding Officer:
The result of the Division on motion S5M-24260, in the name of Miles Briggs, which is a motion of no confidence, is: For 57, Against 65, Abstentions 0.
Motion disagreed to.
The next question is, that motion S5M-24321, in the name of Jeane Freeman, on the University of St. Andrews (Degrees in Medicine and Dentistry) Bill, be agreed to. As this is legislation, members should cast their votes now.
Division number 21
Decision Time
The Presiding Officer:
The result of the vote on motion S5M-24321, in the name of Jeane Freeman, on the University of St. Andrews (Degrees in Medicine and Dentistry) Bill, is: For 122, Against 0, Abstentions 0.
Motion agreed to,
That the Parliament agrees that the University of St. Andrews (Degrees in Medicine and Dentistry) Bill be passed.
The next question is, that legislative consent motion S5M-24324, in the name of Humza Yousaf, on the Financial Services Bill, be agreed to.
Motion agreed to,
That the Parliament agrees that the relevant provisions of the Financial Services Bill, introduced in the House of Commons on 21 October 2020, relating to amendments to the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 and the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, so far as these matters fall within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament or alter the executive competence of the Scottish Ministers, should be considered by the UK Parliament.
The next question is, that legislative consent motion S5M-24323, in the name of Humza Yousaf, on the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Bill, be agreed to.
Motion agreed to,
That the Parliament agrees that the relevant provisions of the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Bill, introduced in the House of Commons on 20 May 2020, relating to Scottish Ministers’ executive competence with regard to the release of terrorism offenders from custodial sentences, should be considered by the UK Parliament.
I propose to ask a single question on seven Parliamentary Bureau motions. The question is, that motions S5M-24341, S5M-24342, S5M-24343, S5M-24344, S5M-24345, S5M-24346 and S5M-24347 be agreed to.
Motions agreed to,
That the Parliament agrees that the Rural Support (Controls) (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 (SSI 2021/72) be approved.
That the Parliament agrees that the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (International Travel) (Managed Accommodation and Testing) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 (SSI 2021/74) be approved.
That the Parliament agrees that the Registers of Scotland (Fees) Amendment Order 2021 [draft] be approved.
That the Parliament agrees that the Trade in Animals and Related Products (EU Exit) (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 [draft] be approved.
That the Parliament agrees that the Bankruptcy (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 [draft] be approved.
That the Parliament agrees that the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 (Supplemental Provisions) Order 2021 [draft] be approved.
That the Parliament agrees that, under Rule 12.3.3B of Standing Orders, the COVID-19 Committee, Education and Skills Committee, Finance and Constitution Committee, Local Government and Communities Committee, Public Petitions Committee and Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee can meet, if necessary, at the same time as a meeting of the Parliament between 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm on Wednesday 17 March 2021.
That concludes decision time. I thank members for their forbearance. We will be back tomorrow for First Minister’s questions at 12.30.
Meeting closed at 21:16.
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.
The House of Commons is one of the houses of parliament. Here, elected MPs (elected by the "commons", i.e. the people) debate. In modern times, nearly all power resides in this house. In the commons are 650 MPs, as well as a speaker and three deputy speakers.
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
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.
