Decision Time

– in the Scottish Parliament at 5:06 pm on 11 September 2024.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Alison Johnstone Alison Johnstone Green 5:06, 11 September 2024

There are seven questions to be put as a result of today’s business.

The first question is, that amendment S6M-14406.3, in the name of Jenny Gilruth, which seeks to amend motion S6M-14406, in the name of Liam Kerr, on free school meals for all primary pupils, be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members::

No.

Photo of Alison Johnstone Alison Johnstone Green

There will be a division. There will be a short suspension to allow members to access the digital voting system.

Meeting suspended.

On resuming—

Photo of Alison Johnstone Alison Johnstone Green

We come to the vote on amendment S6M-14406.3, in the name of Jenny Gilruth, which seeks to amend motion S6M-14406, in the name of Liam Kerr. Members should cast their votes now.

The vote is closed.

Photo of Angela Constance Angela Constance Scottish National Party

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I have a very poor connection and could not connect to the voting app on my mobile device. I would have voted yes.

Photo of Alison Johnstone Alison Johnstone Green

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

Photo of Sue Webber Sue Webber Conservative

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app would not connect. I would have voted no.

Photo of Alison Johnstone Alison Johnstone Green

Thank you, Ms Webber. We will ensure that your vote is recorded.

Photo of Elizabeth Smith Elizabeth Smith Conservative

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I have no connection. I would have voted no.

Photo of Alison Johnstone Alison Johnstone Green

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

Division number 1 Decision Time

Aye: 62 MSPs

No: 64 MSPs

Aye: A-Z by last name

No: A-Z by last name

Photo of Alison Johnstone Alison Johnstone Green 5:15, 11 September 2024

The result of the division on amendment S6M-14406.3, in the name of Jenny Gilruth, is: For 62, Against 64, Abstentions 0.

Amendment disagreed to.

Photo of Alison Johnstone Alison Johnstone Green

The next question is, that amendment S6M-14406.2, in the name of Pam Duncan-Glancy, which seeks to amend motion S6M-14406, in the name of Liam Kerr, on free school meals for all primary pupils, be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members::

No.

Division number 2 Decision Time

Aye: 63 MSPs

No: 63 MSPs

Aye: A-Z by last name

No: A-Z by last name

Photo of Alison Johnstone Alison Johnstone Green 5:15, 11 September 2024

The result of the division on amendment S6M-14406.2, in the name of Pam Duncan-Glancy, is: For 63, Against 63, Abstentions 0.

The vote is tied. As is usual when the Parliament has not been able to reach a decision, I am obliged to exercise a casting vote. I will not make a decision for the Parliament. The established convention is for the chair to vote in favour of the status quo, because the chair is required to act impartially. Therefore, I cast my vote against the amendment.

Amendment disagreed to.

Photo of Alison Johnstone Alison Johnstone Green

The next question is, that motion S6M-14406, in the name of Liam Kerr, on free school meals for all primary pupils, be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members::

No.

Photo of Alison Johnstone Alison Johnstone Green

There will be a division. Members should cast their votes now.

The vote is closed.

Photo of Clare Haughey Clare Haughey Scottish National Party

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I was unable to connect in the app. I would have abstained.

Photo of Alison Johnstone Alison Johnstone Green

Thank you, Ms Haughey. We will make sure that that is recorded.

Photo of Paul O'Kane Paul O'Kane Labour

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app froze. I just want to check that my “yes” vote was recorded.

Photo of Alison Johnstone Alison Johnstone Green

I can confirm, Mr O’Kane, that your vote was recorded.

Division number 3 Decision Time

Aye: 64 MSPs

No: 2 MSPs

Aye: A-Z by last name

No: A-Z by last name

Abstained: 60 MSPs

Abstained: A-Z by last name

Photo of Alison Johnstone Alison Johnstone Green 5:15, 11 September 2024

The result of the vote on motion S6M-14406, in the name of Liam Kerr, is: For 64, Against 2, Abstentions 60.

Motion agreed to,

That the Parliament believes that free school lunches should be provided for all primary school children, including provision in the school holidays, in this parliamentary session, as promised by the Scottish Government.

Photo of Alison Johnstone Alison Johnstone Green

The next question is, that amendment S6M-14405.3, in the name of Fiona Hyslop, which seeks to amend motion S6M-14405, in the name of Graham Simpson, on ending peak rail fares on ScotRail trains, be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members::

No.

Photo of Alison Johnstone Alison Johnstone Green

There will be a division. Members should cast their votes now.

The vote is closed.

Photo of Baroness Katy Clark Baroness Katy Clark Labour

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would have voted no.

Photo of Alison Johnstone Alison Johnstone Green

I can confirm that your vote was recorded, Ms Clark.

Photo of Annie Wells Annie Wells Conservative

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app would not open. I would have voted no.

Photo of Alison Johnstone Alison Johnstone Green

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

Photo of Clare Haughey Clare Haughey Scottish National Party

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I am unsure whether my vote was recorded.

Photo of Alison Johnstone Alison Johnstone Green

I can confirm that your vote has been recorded.

Division number 4 Decision Time

Aye: 62 MSPs

No: 64 MSPs

Aye: A-Z by last name

No: A-Z by last name

Photo of Alison Johnstone Alison Johnstone Green 5:15, 11 September 2024

The result of the division on amendment S6M-14405.3, in the name of Fiona Hyslop, is: For 62, Against 64, Abstentions 0.

Amendment disagreed to.

Photo of Alison Johnstone Alison Johnstone Green

The next question is, that amendment S6M-14405.2, in the name of Alex Rowley, which seeks to amend motion S6M-14405, in the name of Graham Simpson, on ending peak rail fares on ScotRail trains, be agreed to.

Amendment agreed to.

Photo of Alison Johnstone Alison Johnstone Green

The next question is, that motion S6M-14405, in the name of Graham Simpson, on ending peak rail fares on ScotRail trains, as amended, be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members:

: No.

Photo of Alison Johnstone Alison Johnstone Green

There will be a division. Members should cast their votes now.

The vote is closed.

Photo of Alex Cole-Hamilton Alex Cole-Hamilton Liberal Democrat

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app tells me that I have lost connection. Can I just check that my vote was registered?

Photo of Alison Johnstone Alison Johnstone Green

Your vote has been registered, Mr Cole-Hamilton.

Division number 5 Decision Time

Aye: 64 MSPs

No: 62 MSPs

Aye: A-Z by last name

No: A-Z by last name

Photo of Alison Johnstone Alison Johnstone Green 5:15, 11 September 2024

The result of the division on motion S6M-14405, in the name of Graham Simpson, as amended, is: For 64, Against 62, Abstentions 0.

Motion, as amended, agreed to,

That the Parliament calls on the Scottish Government to reverse its decision to reintroduce peak fares on Scotland’s railway and agrees that making public transport more accessible, affordable and reliable is key to supporting more people to use public transport.

Photo of Alison Johnstone Alison Johnstone Green

Unless any member objects, I propose to ask a single question on two Parliamentary Bureau motions. The question is, that motions S6M-14419, on committee membership, and S6M-14420, on substitution on committees, in the name of Jamie Hepburn, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, be agreed to.

Motions agreed to,

That the Parliament agrees that—

James Dornan be appointed to replace Fulton MacGregor as a member of the Public Audit Committee;

Fulton MacGregor be appointed to replace Gordon MacDonald as a member of the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee; and

Michael Matheson be appointed to replace Ben Macpherson as a member of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee.

That the Parliament agrees that Ben Macpherson be appointed to replace Collette Stevenson as the Scottish National Party substitute on the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee.

Photo of Alison Johnstone Alison Johnstone Green

That concludes decision time.

Photo of Willie Rennie Willie Rennie Liberal Democrat

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. It would be wrong to let this moment pass. It is significant that the Government has lost two votes on manifesto promises. Have you had any indication from the Government that it plans to make a statement before the end of the week?

Photo of Alison Johnstone Alison Johnstone Green

Mr Rennie, I am in no doubt whatsoever that you know that that is not a point of order.

That concludes decision time. We will now move on to members’ business.

Members’ business will be published tomorrow, 12 September 2024, as soon as the text is available.