– in the Scottish Parliament at 5:30 pm on 30 April 2025.
Alison Johnstone
Green
5:30,
30 April 2025
There are seven questions to be put as a result of today’s business.
I remind members that, if the Amendment in the name of Jim Fairlie is agreed to, the amendment in the name of Claire Baker will fall.
The first question is, that amendment S6M-17362.4, in the name of Jim Fairlie, which seeks to amend motion S6M-17362, in the name of Sue Webber, on ending the war against Scotland’s motorists, 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
I remind members that, if the Amendment in the name of Jim Fairlie is agreed to, the amendment in the name of Claire Baker will fall.
We come to the vote on amendment S6M-17362.4, in the name of Jim Fairlie, which seeks to amend motion S6M-17362, in the name of Sue Webber, on ending the war against Scotland’s motorists. Members should cast their votes now.
Division number 1
Decision Time
Alison Johnstone
Green
The Amendment in the name of Claire Baker therefore falls.
The next question is, that motion S6M-17362, in the name of Sue Webber, on ending the war against Scotland’s motorists, as amended, be agreed to. Are we agreed?
Alison Johnstone
Green
There will be a Division.
Division number 2
Decision Time
Alison Johnstone
Green
5:44,
30 April 2025
The result of the Division on motion S6M-17362, in the name of Sue Webber, on ending the war against Scotland’s motorists, as amended, is: For 79, Against 37, Abstentions 0.
Motion, as amended, agreed to,
That the Parliament believes that language used out of context to maximise political traction and which fails to consider the sensitivities of such language is reckless, given wider global considerations; further believes that demonising car users is unhelpful to rural communities in particular, which, as a result of a deregulated bus market, often have no alternative to using a car; acknowledges, however, that Scotland needs to reduce carbon emissions from transport, especially from car use; welcomes that Scotland has reached its target of 6,000 public EV charge points two years early through a combination of Scottish Government funding, delivery by local authorities and private sector investment, with approximately 24,000 to be delivered by 2030 through continued Scottish Government funding and increasing private sector investment; recognises that supporting EV car use contributes to Scotland’s connectivity, and further recognises the value that connectivity has in helping to support the economy, education, social mobility and leisure across Scotland; notes that connectivity is being enhanced by free bus travel for over two million people in Scotland, which provides alternatives to car usage for those that can make the switch; respects the responsibilities of local authorities for local road provision and maintenance, and some local bus services, and that they will be able to have more control through transport legislation, which puts more power into the hands of local transport authorities; is concerned at the ongoing impact of UK Conservative administrations’ deregulation of bus services in the 1980s and 1990s; recognises the need for safe, clean and, importantly, reliable punctual bus services, which can be improved through bus infrastructure, and that improvements can be made in public health by creating low emission zones, as has been done in over 40 areas across Europe, but does have concerns that the punctuality of bus services can be hampered by road works; welcomes the Scottish Government’s approach through engaging collaboratively with the Scottish Road Works Commissioner, who oversees road works, with roads authorities, which have responsibility for coordination of works, and with the road works industry, which is responsible for duration and quality of works, to find reasonable solutions to help in this area; agrees that further investigation is needed of the role that those undertaking the works play in the quality of road surfaces after works have been completed; further agrees to await the results of the National Speed Management Review consultation, noting that an estimated 10mph reduction in the national speed limit on single carriageway roads can reduce deaths by 23% and serious casualties by 18%, and that there is a need to make Scotland’s roads safer to cut the number of people being injured and killed on the roads, and welcomes the roll-out of 20mph limits across all local authorities on roads determined by them.
Alison Johnstone
Green
The next question is, that Amendment S6M-17360.3, in the name of Mairi Gougeon, which seeks to amend motion S6M-17360, in the name of Tim Eagle, on protecting Scotland’s fishing industry, be agreed to. Are we agreed?
Alison Johnstone
Green
There will be a Division.
Division number 3
Decision Time
Alison Johnstone
Green
5:44,
30 April 2025
The result of the Division on Amendment S6M-17360.3, in the name of Mairi Gougeon, is: For 65, Against 45, Abstentions 6.
Amendment agreed to.
Alison Johnstone
Green
The next question is, that Amendment S6M-17360.1, in the name of Rhoda Grant, which seeks to amend motion S6M-17360, in the name of Mairi Gougeon, on protecting Scotland’s fishing industry, be agreed to. Are we agreed?
Alison Johnstone
Green
There will be a Division.
The vote is closed.
Mairi Gougeon
Scottish National Party
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app would not connect. I would have voted no.
Alison Johnstone
Green
Thank you, Ms Gougeon. We will ensure that that is recorded.
Jackie Baillie
Labour
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app would not connect either. I would have voted yes.
Alison Johnstone
Green
Thank you, Ms Baillie. We will ensure that that is recorded.
I can confirm that Mr Allan’s vote was recorded.
Division number 4
Decision Time
Alison Johnstone
Green
5:44,
30 April 2025
The result of the Division on Amendment S6M-17360.1, in the name of Rhoda Grant, is: For 17, Against 87, Abstentions 11.
Amendment disagreed to.
Alison Johnstone
Green
The next question is, that motion S6M-17360, in the name of Tim Eagle, on protecting Scotland’s fishing industry, as amended, be agreed to. Are we agreed?
Alison Johnstone
Green
There will be a Division.
Division number 5
Decision Time
Alison Johnstone
Green
5:44,
30 April 2025
The result of the Division on motion S6M-17360, in the name of Tim Eagle, on protecting Scotland’s fishing industry, as amended, is: For 65, Against 45, Abstentions 6.
Motion, as amended, agreed to,
That the Parliament expresses its deep concern at reports that the UK Labour administration may agree a deal on fishing with the EU that enhances access for EU fishing vessels to UK waters without consulting the Scottish Government, despite the fishing industry being of comparatively greater importance to the Scottish economy than to the UK economy as a whole; understands that the reported deal could result in a multi-year access guarantee as opposed to annual negotiations between the UK and the EU; notes the need for an agreement that delivers improvements for Scotland’s fishing communities, including access to the single market for fish and seafood and long-term stability for fishing businesses; further notes the poor record of successive UK Conservative and Labour administrations in delivering for Scotland’s coastal communities; calls on the UK Government to engage with fishing stakeholders and the Scottish Government to ensure that Trade and Cooperation Agreement renegotiations reflect the needs and priorities of the Scottish fishing industry; further calls on the UK Government to provide multi-annual funding that keeps pace with the equivalent EU funding that Scotland would have received as a member state, and that all marine funding be devolved; recognises the significant economic harm created by Brexit in reducing trade and access to labour for fishing businesses, and believes that there should be an annual debate on fisheries to highlight its importance to Scotland’s economy.
Alison Johnstone
Green
Unless any member objects, I propose to ask a single question on four Parliamentary Bureau motions.
As no member objects, the final question is, that motions S6M-17382 and S6M-17383, on approval of Scottish statutory instruments, motion S6M-17384, on the designation of a lead committee, and motion S6M-17415, on committee meeting times, all in the name of Jamie Hepburn, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, be agreed to.
Motions agreed to,
That the Parliament agrees that the Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 [draft] be approved.
That the Parliament agrees that the Social Security Information-sharing (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 [draft] be approved.
That the Parliament agrees that the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee be designated as the lead committee in consideration of the Greyhound Racing (Offences) (Scotland) Bill at stage 1.
That the Parliament agrees that, under Rule 12.3.3B of Standing Orders, the Education, Children and Young People Committee can meet, if necessary, at the same time as a meeting of the Parliament from 6.15 pm on Wednesday 30 April 2025.
Alison Johnstone
Green
That concludes decision time.
Members’ business will be published tomorrow, 1 May 2025, as soon as the text is available.
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.
