– in the Scottish Parliament at 4:30 pm on 26 June 2025.
Alison Johnstone
Green
4:30,
26 June 2025
There are five questions to be put as a result of today’s business. The first question is, that motion S6M-18076, in the name of Kaukab Stewart, on the legislative consent motion for the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, which is United Kingdom legislation, 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 motion S6M-18076, in the name of Kaukab Stewart, on the legislative consent motion on the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, which is United Kingdom legislation. Members should cast their votes now.
The vote is closed.
Baroness Katy Clark
Labour
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I could not vote. I would have voted yes.
Alison Johnstone
Green
Thank you, Ms Clark. We will ensure that that is recorded.
Division number 1
Decision Time
Alison Johnstone
Green
4:39,
26 June 2025
The result of the Division on motion S6M-18076, in the name of Kaukab Stewart, on the legislative consent motion on the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, which is United Kingdom legislation, is: For 86, Against 0, Abstentions 28.
Motion agreed to,
That the Parliament agrees that the relevant provisions in the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, introduced in the House of Commons on 30 January 2025, relating to the provision and sharing of trailer registration information (amended clauses 30 to 33), the provision of Biometric information at ports in Scotland (Clause 36), the repeal of certain provisions of the Illegal Migration Act 2023 (clause 38), the detention and exercise of functions pending deportation (clause 41), powers to take biometric information at detention centres (clause 44), offences relating to articles for use in serious crime (clauses 49 and 50), applicants for making of orders and interim orders (clause 54), and the validation of fees charged in relation to qualifications (clause 57), so far as these matters fall within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament and alter the executive competence of the Scottish Ministers, should be considered by the UK Parliament.
Alison Johnstone
Green
The next question is, that motion S6M-18080, in the name of Richard Lochhead, on the legislative consent motion on the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill, which is UK legislation, be agreed to. Are we agreed?
Alison Johnstone
Green
There will be a Division.
Division number 2
Decision Time
Alison Johnstone
Green
4:39,
26 June 2025
The result of the Division on motion S6M-18080, in the name of Richard Lochhead, on the legislative consent motion on the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill, which is UK legislation, is: For 80, Against 0, Abstentions 34.
Motion agreed to,
That the Parliament agrees that all relevant provisions of the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill, introduced in the House of Lords on 4 September 2024, so far as these matters fall within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament, should be considered by the UK Parliament.
Alison Johnstone
Green
The next question is, that motion S6M-18075, in the name of Richard Lochhead, on a legislative consent motion on the Employment Rights Bill, which is UK legislation, be agreed to. Are we agreed?
Alison Johnstone
Green
There will be a Division.
Division number 3
Decision Time
Alison Johnstone
Green
4:39,
26 June 2025
The result of the Division on motion S6M-18075, in the name of Richard Lochhead, on a legislative consent motion on the Employment Rights Bill, which is UK legislation, is: For 88, Against 1, Abstentions 27.
Motion agreed to,
That the Parliament agrees that the relevant provisions in the Employment Rights Bill, introduced in the House of Commons on 10 October 2024, and subsequently amended, relating to the protection of workers in relation to relevant outsourcing contracts (amended Clause 30), and the establishment of the Social Care Negotiating Body for Scotland (amended clauses 36 to 46 and 48 to 52, alongside related amended clauses 153 and 155), so far as these matters alter the executive competence of the Scottish Ministers, should be considered by the UK Parliament.
Alison Johnstone
Green
The next question is, that motion S6M-18081, in the name of Natalie Don-Innes, on a legislative consent motion on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which is UK legislation, be agreed to. Are we agreed?
Alison Johnstone
Green
There will be a Division.
The vote is closed.
Jenny Gilruth
Scottish National Party
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app would not connect. I would have voted yes.
Alison Johnstone
Green
Thank you, Cabinet secretary. We will ensure that that is recorded.
Foysol Choudhury
Labour
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app did not refresh. Will you check whether my vote went through? If it did not, I would have voted yes.
Alison Johnstone
Green
Thank you, Mr Choudhury. I can confirm that your vote will be recorded—it had not been previously.
Michael Marra
Labour
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I do not think that my app connected. I would have voted yes.
Alison Johnstone
Green
Thank you, Mr Marra. We will ensure that that is recorded.
Division number 4
Decision Time
Alison Johnstone
Green
4:39,
26 June 2025
The result of the Division on motion S6M-18081, in the name of Natalie Don-Innes, on a legislative consent motion on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which is UK legislation, is: For 87, Against 0, Abstentions 28.
Motion agreed to,
That the Parliament agrees that the relevant provisions of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, introduced in the House of Commons on 17 December 2024, and subsequently amended, affecting child employment and community-based and secure accommodation, so far as these matters fall within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament and alter the executive competence of the Scottish Ministers, should be considered by the UK Parliament.
Alison Johnstone
Green
Unless any member objects, I propose to ask a single question on three Parliamentary Bureau motions.
As no member has objected, the final question is, that motions S6M-18141 and S6M-18142, on committee membership, and motion S6M-18143, on committee substitutes, all in the name of Jamie Hepburn, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, be agreed to.
Motions agreed to,
That the Parliament agrees that—
Paul McLennan be appointed to replace Joe FitzPatrick as a member of the Education, Children and Young People Committee; and
Joe FitzPatrick be appointed to replace Stuart McMillan as a member of the Public Audit Committee.
That the Parliament agrees that—
Jamie Halcro Johnston be appointed to replace Alexander Stewart as a member of the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee;
Stephen Kerr be appointed to replace Jamie Halcro Johnston as a member of the Economy and Fair Work Committee; and
Alexander Stewart be appointed to replace Liz Smith as a member of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee.
That the Parliament agrees that—
Brian Whittle be appointed to replace Stephen Kerr as the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party substitute on the Criminal Justice Committee; and
Jamie Halcro Johnston be appointed to replace Brian Whittle as the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party substitute on the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee.
Alison Johnstone
Green
That concludes decision time.
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.
The House of Commons is one of the houses of parliament. Here, elected MPs (elected by the "commons", i.e. the people) debate. In modern times, nearly all power resides in this house. In the commons are 650 MPs, as well as a speaker and three deputy speakers.
A parliamentary bill is divided into sections called clauses.
Printed in the margin next to each clause is a brief explanatory `side-note' giving details of what the effect of the clause will be.
During the committee stage of a bill, MPs examine these clauses in detail and may introduce new clauses of their own or table amendments to the existing clauses.
When a bill becomes an Act of Parliament, clauses become known as sections.
A measured and/or recorded biological parameter. Example: passport-type photo, finger print, iris detail, retina blood vessel detail, voice pattern, and DNA signature. Technically speaking, mentally stored information is also biometric, so this includes: signature or monograph, PIN number, password and passphrase.
The house of Lords is the upper chamber of the Houses of Parliament. It is filled with Lords (I.E. Lords, Dukes, Baron/esses, Earls, Marquis/esses, Viscounts, Count/esses, etc.) The Lords consider proposals from the EU or from the commons. They can then reject a bill, accept it, or make amendments. If a bill is rejected, the commons can send it back to the lords for re-discussion. The Lords cannot stop a bill for longer than one parliamentary session. If a bill is accepted, it is forwarded to the Queen, who will then sign it and make it law. If a bill is amended, the amended bill is sent back to the House of Commons for discussion.
The Lords are not elected; they are appointed. Lords can take a "whip", that is to say, they can choose a party to represent. Currently, most Peers are Conservative.
The cabinet is the group of twenty or so (and no more than 22) senior government ministers who are responsible for running the departments of state and deciding government policy.
It is chaired by the prime minister.
The cabinet is bound by collective responsibility, which means that all its members must abide by and defend the decisions it takes, despite any private doubts that they might have.
Cabinet ministers are appointed by the prime minister and chosen from MPs or peers of the governing party.
However, during periods of national emergency, or when no single party gains a large enough majority to govern alone, coalition governments have been formed with cabinets containing members from more than one political party.
War cabinets have sometimes been formed with a much smaller membership than the full cabinet.
From time to time the prime minister will reorganise the cabinet in order to bring in new members, or to move existing members around. This reorganisation is known as a cabinet re-shuffle.
The cabinet normally meets once a week in the cabinet room at Downing Street.
