The next item of business is consideration of business motion S6M-09622, in the name of George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a business programme.

Motion moved,

That the Parliament agrees—

(a) the following programme of business—

Tuesday 27 June 2023

2.00 pm Time for Reflection followed by

Parliamentary Bureau Motions followed by

Topical Questions (if selected) followed by

Scottish Government Debate: Illegal Migration Bill - UK Legislation followed by

Ministerial Statement: Reconsideration of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill followed by

Scottish Government Debate: Building a New Scotland - The Constitution of an Independent Country followed by

Legislative Consent Motion: Electronic Trade Documents Bill - UK Legislation followed by

Committee Announcements followed by

Business Motions followed by

Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time followed by

Members’ Business

Wednesday 28 June 2023

2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.00 pm Portfolio Questions:

Constitution, External Affairs and Culture;

Justice and Home Affairs;

Education and Skills followed by

Scottish Government Debate: Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill - UK Legislation followed by

Scottish Government Debate: Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill - UK Legislation followed by

Stage 3 Proceedings: Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Bill followed by

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Motion: Appointment of a New Scottish Information Commissioner followed by

Business Motions followed by

Parliamentary Bureau Motions followed by

Approval of SSIs (if required)

5.25 pm Decision Time followed by

Members’ Business

Thursday 29 June 2023

11.40 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions

11.40 am General Questions

12.00 pm First Minister's Questions followed by

Ministerial Statement: Highly Protected Marine Areas followed by

Ministerial Statement: Leading Scotland’s Journey to Becoming a Start-up Nation

1.45 pm Decision Time followed by

Members’ Business

Tuesday 5 September 2023

2.00 pm Time for Reflection followed by

Parliamentary Bureau Motions followed by

Topical Questions (if selected) followed by

Scottish Government Business followed by

Committee Announcements followed by

Business Motions followed by

Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time followed by

Members’ Business

Wednesday 6 September 2023

2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.00 pm Portfolio Questions:

Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy;

Finance and Parliamentary Business followed by

Scottish Government Business followed by

Business Motions followed by

Parliamentary Bureau Motions followed by

Approval of SSIs (if required)

5.00 pm Decision Time followed by

Members’ Business

Thursday 7 September 2023

11.40 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions

11.40 am General Questions

12.00 pm First Minister's Questions followed by

Members’ Business

2.30 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.30 pm Portfolio Questions:

Net Zero and Just Transition followed by

Scottish Government Business followed by

Business Motions followed by

Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

(b) that, for the purposes of Portfolio Questions in the week beginning 26 June 2023, in rule 13.7.3, after the word “except” the words “to the extent to which the Presiding Officer considers that the questions are on the same or similar subject matter or” are inserted.—[

George Adam

]

The Presiding Officer:

I call Alexander Burnett to speak to and move amendment S6M-09622.1.

I do not wish to keep members here any longer than necessary. Unfortunately, though, next week the Scottish Government is insisting on spending parliamentary time debating the fantasy constitution of a made-up independent Scotland. I remind the benches to my right that Scotland voted no to independence, and the United Kingdom Supreme Court unanimously proved that the Scottish Government was wrong—[Interruption.]

The Presiding Officer:

Colleagues, please.

The Scottish National Party has to move on. [

Interruption.

]

The Presiding Officer:

Let us hear Mr Burnett.

We know that the Government likes to sneak out embarrassing announcements in the dying hours before recess. Two statements are scheduled for after First Minister’s question time next week, and my amendment replaces Tuesday’s independence debate with those two statements. It also inserts two more statements: one is on Circularity Scotland, which has gone into administration under the SNP and the Greens—[

Interruption

.]

The Presiding Officer:

Can we hear Mr Burnett, please?

—and the other is an update on the agriculture bill, although I note that a Government-initiated question was lodged on that topic while we have been in the chamber today.

Also snuck out this evening, while we have been considering amendments, was a press release that Asulox will not be permitted for use in Scotland. We should have a proper ministerial statement on that policy announcement tomorrow, and I note that the Presiding Officer has repeatedly stated that announcements such as that should be made to the Parliament in the first instance.

All of those matters are of importance to the people of Scotland, something that cannot be said of the proposed debate on Tuesday. I urge members to back my amendment.

I move amendment S6M-09622.1, to leave out from “Scottish Government Debate: Building a New Scotland—The Constitution of an Independent Country” to “1.45 pm Decision Time” and insert:

“Ministerial Statement: Highly Protected Marine Areas followed by

Ministerial Statement: Leading Scotland’s Journey to Becoming a Start-up Nation followed by

Ministerial Statement: Circularity Scotland followed by

Ministerial Statement: Agriculture Bill Update followed by

Legislative Consent Motion: Electronic Trade Documents Bill - UK Legislation followed by

Committee Announcements followed by

Business Motions followed by

Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.20 pm Decision Time followed by

Members’ Business

Wednesday 28 June 2023

2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.00 pm Portfolio Questions:

Constitution, External Affairs and Culture;

Justice and Home Affairs;

Education and Skills followed by

Scottish Government Debate: Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill - UK Legislation followed by

Scottish Government Debate: Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill - UK Legislation followed by

Stage 3 Proceedings: Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Bill followed by

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Motion: Appointment of a New Scottish Information Commissioner followed by

Business Motions followed by

Parliamentary Bureau Motions followed by

Approval of SSIs (if required)

5.25 pm Decision Time followed by

Members’ Business

Thursday 29 June 2023

11.40 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions

11.40 am General Questions

12.00 pm First Minister's Questions

12.45 pm Decision Time”

The Presiding Officer:

I call George Adam to respond on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau.

First and foremost, those of us on the SNP benches respect this Parliament, which is entirely different to the position of those on the Conservative benches.

Listening to Mr Burnett is sometimes like watching that movie “Everything, Everywhere All at Once” because there are snippets of reality there but it is not quite right. When we have these conversations, I sometimes feel that he does not actually listen to what is going on. However, as always, I will try to be helpful.

We have already said that there will be an agriculture bill. The cabinet secretary has committed to introducing an agriculture bill this year. That bill will seek powers to deliver our published vision for agriculture, and the findings of our consultation will be published shortly.

Regarding Circularity Scotland, the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity has made three statements to Parliament about Scotland’s deposit return scheme in the past two months, appeared last week before the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee and answered a topical question on that very issue this week. It is my belief that there is more than a whiff of misogyny here, as the Tories suddenly find themselves to be concerned about the catastrophic decision made by their colleagues in Westminster. They should raise those concerns with them instead of grandstanding and staging stunts here in our chamber.

On independence, we are bringing our proposals for a modern constitution for an independent Scotland to this Parliament to be debated by politicians who have been elected to represent the people of Scotland. [

Interruption

.]

The Presiding Officer:

Members!

This is Scotland’s Parliament and the paper sets out an ambitious proposal to protect and enhance the rights of the people of Scotland. [

Interruption

.]

The Presiding Officer:

Let us hear the minister.

The Tories seem to think that the rights of the people of Scotland are not important. That may be the way that the Tories think but it is not the way that we think. This is the place to discuss the rights of the people of Scotland and this, more than any other, is the time to discuss them. Opposition members frequently, and rightly, remind us that the Government is accountable to Parliament. That is why we are bringing forward a debate that will enable Parliament to scrutinise and discuss the prospectus paper.

The Tories are running scared of having a debate because our proposition is to enable human rights —[

Interruption

.]

The Presiding Officer:

Members!

—at the very heart of civic Scotland while the Tories look to scrap human rights at UK level.

The Presiding Officer:

The question is, that amendment S6M-09622.1, in the name of Alexander Burnett, which seeks to amend business motion S6M-09622, in the name of George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a business programme, be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members:

No.

The Presiding Officer:

There will be a division.

The vote is closed.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My device would not connect. I would have voted yes.

The Presiding Officer:

Thank you. We will ensure that that is recorded.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app did not connect, but I would have voted yes.

The Presiding Officer:

We will ensure that that is recorded.

The Presiding Officer:

The result of the division is: For 48, Against 62, Abstentions 0.

Amendment disagreed to.

The next question is, that business motion S6M-09622, in the name of George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a business programme, be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members:

Yes.

The Presiding Officer:

The motion is, therefore, agreed to.

The next item of business is consideration—

Members:

No, no!

The Presiding Officer:

Okay—[

Interruption.

] Members, I am going to take the vote again on this occasion—and on this occasion only. I make it absolutely clear that, if we cannot hear whether members are objecting or agreeing to a motion or amendment, we will act accordingly.

The question is, that business motion S6M-09622, in the name of George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a business programme, be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members:

No.

The Presiding Officer:

Thank you. The Parliament is not agreed. There will be a division. We will move to a vote, and members should cast their votes now.

The vote is closed.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app would not connect. I would have voted yes.

The Presiding Officer:

Thank you, Ms Callaghan. We will ensure that that is recorded.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app would not connect. I would have voted yes.

The Presiding Officer:

Thank you. We will ensure that that is recorded.

The Presiding Officer:

The result of the division is: For 81, Against 28, Abstentions 0.

Motion agreed to,

That the Parliament agrees—

(a) the following programme of business—

Tuesday 27 June 2023

2.00 pm Time for Reflection followed by

Parliamentary Bureau Motions followed by

Topical Questions (if selected) followed by

Scottish Government Debate: Illegal Migration Bill - UK Legislation followed by

Ministerial Statement: Reconsideration of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill followed by

Scottish Government Debate: Building a New Scotland - The Constitution of an Independent Country followed by

Legislative Consent Motion: Electronic Trade Documents Bill - UK Legislation followed by

Committee Announcements followed by

Business Motions followed by

Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time followed by

Members’ Business

Wednesday 28 June 2023

2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.00 pm Portfolio Questions:

Constitution, External Affairs and Culture;

Justice and Home Affairs;

Education and Skills followed by

Scottish Government Debate: Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill - UK Legislation followed by

Scottish Government Debate: Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill - UK Legislation followed by

Stage 3 Proceedings: Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Bill followed by

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Motion: Appointment of a New Scottish Information Commissioner followed by

Business Motions followed by

Parliamentary Bureau Motions followed by

Approval of SSIs (if required)

5.25 pm Decision Time followed by

Members’ Business

Thursday 29 June 2023

11.40 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions

11.40 am General Questions

12.00 pm First Minister’s Questions followed by

Ministerial Statement: Highly Protected Marine Areas followed by

Ministerial Statement: Leading Scotland’s Journey to Becoming a Start-up Nation

1.45 pm Decision Time followed by

Members’ Business

Tuesday 5 September 2023

2.00 pm Time for Reflection followed by

Parliamentary Bureau Motions followed by

Topical Questions (if selected) followed by

Scottish Government Business followed by

Committee Announcements followed by

Business Motions followed by

Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time followed by

Members’ Business

Wednesday 6 September 2023

2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.00 pm Portfolio Questions:

Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy;

Finance and Parliamentary Business followed by

Scottish Government Business followed by

Business Motions followed by

Parliamentary Bureau Motions followed by

Approval of SSIs (if required)

5.00 pm Decision Time followed by

Members’ Business

Thursday 7 September 2023

11.40 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions

11.40 am General Questions

12.00 pm First Minister’s Questions followed by

Members’ Business

2.30 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.30 pm Portfolio Questions:

Net Zero and Just Transition followed by

Scottish Government Business followed by

Business Motions followed by

Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

(b) that, for the purposes of Portfolio Questions in the week beginning 26 June 2023, in rule 13.7.3, after the word “except” the words “to the extent to which the Presiding Officer considers that the questions are on the same or similar subject matter or” are inserted.