– in the Scottish Parliament at 5:26 pm on 15 May 2024.
Alison Johnstone
Green
5:26,
15 May 2024
The next item of business is consideration of business motion S6M-13218, in the name of Jamie Hepburn, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, on the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences (Scotland) Bill, timetable and procedures for consideration. Any member who wishes to speak to the motion should press their request-to-speak button now. I call Jamie Hepburn to move the motion.
Motion moved,
That, subject to the Parliament’s agreement that the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences (Scotland) Bill be treated as an Emergency Bill, the Parliament agrees to consider the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences (Scotland) Bill as follows—
Stage 1 on Tuesday 21 May 2024; and
Stage 2 on Thursday 23 May 2024.—[Jamie Hepburn]
Motion agreed to.
Alison Johnstone
Green
The next item of business is consideration of business motion S6M-13217, in the name of Jamie Hepburn, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a business programme.
Motion moved,
That the Parliament agrees—
(a) the following programme of business—
Tuesday 21 May 2024
2.00 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Topical Questions (if selected)
followed by Stage 1 Debate: Post Office (Horizon System) Offences (Scotland) Bill
followed by Committee Announcements
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Wednesday 22 May 2024
2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2.00 pm Portfolio Questions:
Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy;
Finance, Deputy First Minister Responsibilities and Parliamentary Business
followed by Public Audit Committee Debate: Audit Scotland Report, Adult Mental Health
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 23 May 2024
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:
Transport
followed by Committee of the Whole Parliament — Stage 2 Proceedings: Post Office (Horizon System) Offences (Scotland) Bill
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
Tuesday 28 May 2024
2.00 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Topical Questions (if selected)
followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill
followed by Committee Announcements
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.30 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Wednesday 29 May 2024
2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions
2.00 pm Portfolio Questions:
Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands;
NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care
followed by Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Business
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Approval of SSIs (if required)
5.10 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Thursday 30 May 2024
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:
Social Justice
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 20 May 2024, 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.—[Jamie Hepburn]
Motion agreed to.
Alison Johnstone
Green
The next item of business is consideration of business motion S6M-13219, in the name of Jamie Hepburn, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, on a stage 1 extension.
Motion moved,
That the Parliament agrees that consideration of the Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill at stage 1 be extended to 7 June 2024.—[Jamie Hepburn]
Motion agreed to.
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.
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.
