– in the Scottish Parliament at 4:54 pm on 1 May 2024.
Alison Johnstone
Green
4:54,
1 May 2024
There are four questions to be put as a result of today’s business. The first question is, that Amendment S6M-13041.2, in the name of Douglas Ross, which seeks to amend motion S6M-13041, in the name of Humza Yousaf, on Women Against State Pension Inequality, be agreed to. Are we agreed?
Alison Johnstone
Green
There will be a Division. Given that members have already voted today, I would be grateful if they refreshed their screens before we move to the vote.
We move to the vote on Amendment S6M-13041.2, in the name of Douglas Ross, which seeks to amend motion S6M-13041, in the name of Humza Yousaf, on Women Against State Pension Inequality. Members should cast their votes now.
The vote is closed.
Christine Grahame
Scottish National Party
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My gadget would not connect. I would have voted no.
Alison Johnstone
Green
Thank you, Ms Grahame. We will ensure that that is recorded.
Division number 2
Decision Time
Alison Johnstone
Green
The next question is, that Amendment S6M-13041.1, in the name of Paul O’Kane, which seeks to amend motion S6M-13041, in the name of Humza Yousaf, on Women Against State Pension Inequality, be agreed to. Are we agreed?
Alison Johnstone
Green
There will be a Division.
Division number 3
Decision Time
Alison Johnstone
Green
The next question is, that motion S6M-13041, in the name of Humza Yousaf, on Women Against State Pension Inequality, be agreed to. Are we agreed?
Alison Johnstone
Green
There will be a Division.
Division number 4
Decision Time
Alison Johnstone
Green
4:54,
1 May 2024
The result of the Division on motion S6M-13041, in the name of Humza Yousaf, is: For 75, Against 0, Abstentions 52.
Motion agreed to,
That the Parliament welcomes the report from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman into the pension injustices on women born in the 1950s; agrees that the UK Government must now urgently deliver on the ombudsman’s recommendations to pay compensation in full to those women without delay; echoes the Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign’s calls for a higher level of compensation to properly reflect the financial harm; notes the report’s conclusions on the UK Government’s failings of communication and maladministration; congratulates the WASPI women on this milestone in their campaign, and highlights cross-party commitments to delivering justice for them all.
Alison Johnstone
Green
The next question is, that motion S6M-13045, in the name of George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, on parliamentary recess dates, be agreed to.
Motion agreed to,
That the Parliament agrees the following parliamentary recess dates under Rule 2.3.1: 8 to 16 February 2025 (inclusive), 5 to 20 April 2025 (inclusive), 28 June to 31 August 2025 (inclusive), 11 to 26 October 2025 (inclusive), 20 December 2025 to 4 January 2026 (inclusive).
Alison Johnstone
Green
That concludes—
Ross Greer
Green
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I seek clarification on an email circulated from the chief executive’s office to all members of the Scottish Parliament in relation to the protest camp that is currently taking place outside the Parliament building.
I understand entirely that, if an MSP or a member of staff were to take part in camping outside the building, we or they would, indeed, have breached the policy. However, I have been contacted by a number of staff and by other MSPs because there is some ambiguity about the message that has been sent to us, and some have been left under the impression that any engagement at all with those taking part in the protest, such as simply speaking to them on the way in or out of this building, would also be in breach of that policy. Can the Presiding Officer offer reassurance to MSPs and staff that simply by speaking to those who are protesting outside we would not have breached the Parliament’s protest policy?
Alison Johnstone
Green
Thank you, Mr Greer. As you will be aware, that is not a question about whether proper procedures are or have been followed in the chamber.
The code of conduct for MSPs states that
“Members must abide by the policies that are adopted by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body”.
One of those policies, the protest policy, includes the restriction that protesters should not camp
“at any time, including overnight, for protest or any other reason”.
It has been made clear to the current protesters that, although we support the right to protest at Holyrood, they do not have permission to camp on the Parliament’s grounds and they are not in compliance with the corporate body’s protest policy. It is expected that members would withdraw from any protest that breaches the terms and conditions that are set out in the Parliament’s policy.
That concludes decision time.
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.
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.
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.
