Alison Johnstone
Green
The next item of business is consideration of business motion S6M-12864, in the name of George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, on changes to the business programme. Any member who wishes to speak against the motion should press their request-to-speak button now. I call George Adam to move the motion.
Motion moved,
That the Parliament agrees to the following revisions to the programme of business for—
(a) Tuesday 16 April 2024—
after
followed by Topical Questions (if selected)
insert
followed by Ministerial Statement: Implementation of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021
delete
5.00 pm Decision Time
and insert
5.30 pm Decision Time
(b) Thursday 18 April 2024—
delete
2.30 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2.30 pm Portfolio Questions:
Social Justice
and insert
2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2.00 pm Portfolio Questions:
Social Justice
followed by Ministerial Statement: Climate Change Committee Scotland Report: Next Steps—[George Adam]
Alison Johnstone
Green
I call Meghan Gallacher to speak to and move Amendment S6M-12864.1.
Meghan Gallacher
Conservative
2:04,
16 April 2024
The Cass review, which was published last week, raises serious concerns about gender-affirming care for children in Scotland.
Not only does the report conclude that there is a lack of evidence to support the use of puberty-suppressing hormones, but it details how children and young people might not be being offered the right psychological support and assessment when they experience gender distress. That should worry us all. It certainly worries me, as a parent who would never wish any harm to come to any child, especially to children who need support when they are going through difficult times.
The truth is that we do not know what harms are caused by gender care, because we need more research, here in Scotland. I have repeatedly warned the Government about the Sandyford clinic. I have asked for a review, similar to the Cass review, of gender-related services for children and young people, and I have warned about the lack of evidence regarding puberty blockers. Those calls have been ignored time and again. I do not raise these issues to cause problems; I do so because I want to ensure that children receive the right safeguards when they embark on a course of medication that could have life-altering consequences.
We now have a report that suggests that we should approach gender care with caution, but the Scottish Government is burying its head in the sand and refusing to give any indication of whether it will accept any of the report’s 32 recommendations or will, at the very least, pause the use of puberty blockers until we have more evidence that they are safe. The Scottish Government must implement those 32 recommendations now—or explain why it will not do so, if that is the case.
It is not as if this Government or Parliament has been starved of opportunities for scrutiny. I have requested Ministerial Statements, written to the First Minister, submitted a question for First Minister’s Question Time, submitted a topical question and have submitted today an urgent question—all about the Cass review. All were either not taken, refused or ignored by this Government. What more must an elected member do to try to get answers?
Our Parliament’s principles are openness, accountability, the sharing of power and equality of opportunity, yet we have a Government that is in hiding and is unwilling to address a serious issue in the chamber.
I stand here today for countless parents, carers and young people and for those who have been failed by gender-affirming care in Scotland who want, and deserve, answers. That is all that they want. They want confirmation of what this Government will do, now that the Cass report has been published in full. The Scottish National Party Government has had two years since publication of the interim report to think about that, but I believe that it has done nothing, in hope that the issue will go away and that no one will dare to challenge it.
Scottish Conservatives seek to amend today’s business motion. If the SNP Government stands for the principles of this Parliament, it should allow a ministerial statement on the Cass review. Otherwise, it will confirm my suspicion that it is trying to dodge any scrutiny and is therefore letting down vulnerable children and young people right across Scotland.
I move Amendment S6M-12864.1, to insert after “followed by Ministerial Statement: Climate Change Committee Scotland Report: Next Steps”:
“followed by Ministerial Statement: Scottish Government Response to the Cass Review
delete
5.00 pm Decision Time
and insert
5.30 pm Decision Time”.
George Adam
Scottish National Party
2:08,
16 April 2024
I begin with an important part of what Dr Hilary Cass said. Dr Cass highlighted the
“increasingly toxic, ideological and polarised public debate”
that does nothing to serve young people who are accessing care, their families or the national health service staff who work to care for them. We should be aware of that when we have such discussions.
The Cass review is undoubtedly important and the Scottish Government has consistently been clear that the review’s final report and findings will be considered closely by the Government, health boards and wider partners, in the context of how healthcare can best be delivered in Scotland. That will take some time, because Dr Cass’s considered 400-page report was published only last Wednesday. We are also clear that much of the report deals with clinical decisions, which are—rightly—made by clinicians, not politicians.
However, the main point that members are aware of is that the Cass review deals with services in NHS England, not in NHS Scotland. It is therefore clearly not the responsibility of the Scottish Government to respond: it is for the UK Government to respond with ideas for its NHS.
Alison Johnstone
Green
The question is, that Amendment S6M-12864.1, in the name of Meghan Gallacher, which seeks to amend motion S6M-12864, in the name of George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, on changes to the business programme, be agreed to. Are we agreed?
Alison Johnstone
Green
There will be a Division. There will be a short suspension to allow members to access the digital voting system.
Alison Johnstone
Green
We move to the vote on Amendment S6M-12864.1. Members should cast their votes now.
The vote is closed.
Alex Rowley
Labour
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would have voted yes.
Alison Johnstone
Green
Thank you, Mr Rowley. We will make sure that that is recorded.
Division number 1
Business Motion
Alison Johnstone
Green
The next question is, that motion S6M-12864, in the name of George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, on changes to the business programme, be agreed to.
Motion agreed to,
That the Parliament agrees to the following revisions to the programme of business for—
(a) Tuesday 16 April 2024—
after
followed by Topical Questions (if selected)
insert
followed by Ministerial Statement: Implementation of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021
delete
5.00 pm Decision Time
and insert
5.30 pm Decision Time
(b) Thursday 18 April 2024—
delete
2.30 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2.30 pm Portfolio Questions:
Social Justice
and insert
2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2.00 pm Portfolio Questions:
Social Justice
followed by Ministerial Statement: Climate Change Committee Scotland Report: Next Steps
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
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With a lower-case ‘c’, ‘conservative’ is an adjective which implies a dislike of change, and a preference for traditional values.
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.
