Alison Johnstone
Green
There are four questions to be put as a result of today’s business. I remind members that, if the amendment in the name of Meghan Gallacher is agreed to, the amendment in the name of Paul O’Kane will fall.
The first question is, that amendment S6M-10343.2, in the name of Meghan Gallacher, which seeks to amend motion S6M-10343, in the name of Shirley-Anne Somerville, on equality in the 2023-24 programme for government, be agreed to. Are we agreed?
The Presiding Officer:
There will be a division.
There will be a short suspension to allow members to access the digital voting system.
17:01 Meeting suspended.
17:04 On resuming—
I remind members that, if the amendment in the name of Meghan Gallacher is agreed to, the amendment in the name of Paul O’Kane will fall.
Members should cast their votes now.
The vote is closed.
Stephanie Callaghan
Scottish National Party
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. There was an error in my voting app. I would have voted no.
The Presiding Officer:
Thank you. We will ensure that that is recorded.
Brian Whittle
Conservative
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app would not connect. I would have voted yes.
The Presiding Officer:
Thank you, Mr Whittle. We will ensure that that is recorded.
Graham Simpson
Conservative
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app also would not connect. I would have voted yes.
The Presiding Officer:
Thank you, Mr Simpson.
Division number 1
Decision Time
The Presiding Officer:
The result of the division on amendment S6M-10343.2, in the name of Meghan Gallacher, is: For 31, Against 91, Abstentions 0.
Amendment disagreed to.
The next question is, that amendment S6M-10343.1, in the name of Paul O’Kane, which seeks to amend motion S6M-10343, in the name of Shirley-Anne Somerville, on equality in the 2023-24 programme for government, be agreed to. Are we agreed?
The Presiding Officer:
There will be a division. Members should cast their votes now.
The vote is closed.
Michael Matheson
Scottish National Party
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app has not connected. I would have voted no.
The Presiding Officer:
Thank you. We will ensure that that is recorded.
Division number 2
Decision Time
The Presiding Officer:
The result of the division on amendment S6M-10343.1, in the name of Paul O’Kane, is: For 19, Against 102, Abstentions 0.
Amendment disagreed to.
The next question is, that motion S6M-10343, in the name of Shirley-Anne Somerville, on equality within the 2023-24 programme for government, be agreed to. Are we agreed?
George Adam
Scottish National Party
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. For the first time ever, my digital voting system did not work. I would have voted yes.
The Presiding Officer:
Thank you. We will ensure that that is recorded.
Division number 3
Decision Time
The Presiding Officer:
The result of the division on motion S6M-10343, in the name of Shirley-Anne Somerville, on equality within the 2023-24 programme for government, is: For 68, Against 54, Abstentions 0.
Motion agreed to,
That the Parliament notes the actions set out in the Programme for Government 2023-24 to build stronger communities, improve social justice, reduce inequalities, including in health and social care, and tackle child poverty; welcomes the investment of £5.3 billion in Scottish Government benefits in 2023-24, supporting over 1.2 million people, including £405 million for the Scottish Child Payment, which is currently helping to improve the lives of over 316,000 children; further welcomes the continued use of the Scottish Government’s fixed budget and limited powers to tackle inequality and poverty and protect people, as far as possible, from the harm inflicted by UK Government cuts and austerity, as well as the ongoing cost of living crisis; notes the continued action to tackle child poverty in key areas including parental employability, early learning and childcare, mental health, transport, and affordable housing; welcomes that 90,000 fewer children will live in relative and absolute poverty in 2023 as a result of Scottish Government policies; notes that reprehensible UK Government welfare policies, including the two-child limit and benefit cap, inflict hardship on families on the lowest incomes, with the two-child limit affecting 80,000 children in Scotland and removing £341.3 million from families in Scotland since 2017, and commends successful pay deals with NHS staff and unions that have ensured there have been no strikes in Scotland, thereby protecting patients and helping the workforce to deal with the ongoing cost of living crisis, and ensuring that people can access the social care support that they need, while recognising the valuable contribution of Scotland’s social care workforce.
If no member objects, I propose to ask a single question on three Parliamentary Bureau motions.
The question is, that motion S6M-10301, on the office of the clerk, motion S6M-10341, on designation of a lead committee, and motion S6M-10342, on suspension of standing orders, in the name of George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, be agreed to.
Motions agreed to,
That the Parliament agrees that between 1 February 2024 and 31 January 2025, the Office of the Clerk will be open on all days except: Saturdays and Sundays, 29 March and 1 April, 6 May, 24 May, 27 May, 13 September, 29 November, 24 December (pm), 25 and 26 December 2024, and 1 and 2 January 2025.
That the Parliament agrees that the Economy and Fair Work Committee be designated as the lead committee in consideration of the legislative consent memorandum on the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill.
That the Parliament agrees, for the purposes of consideration of the second supplementary legislative consent memorandum on the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill (UK Legislation), that Rule 9B.3.5 of Standing Orders is suspended.
That concludes decision time.
Members’ business will be published tomorrow, Thursday 7 September 2023, as soon as the text is available.
