Business Bulletin 1999-2011

Minutes of Proceedings 1999-2011

Journal of Parliamentary Proceedings Sessions 1 & 2

Committees Sessions 1, 2 & 3

Annual reports

No. 41 Thursday 16 December 1999

The meeting opened at 9.30 am .

1. Motion without Notice: Michael Russell moved without notice that motion S1M-392 be taken at this meeting of the Parliament.

After debate, the motion was disagreed to (by division: For 52, Against 61, Abstentions 0).

2. Act of Settlement: Michael Russell moved S1M-117—That the Parliament believes that the discrimination contained in the Act of Settlement has no place in our modern society; expresses its wish that those discriminatory aspects of the Act be repealed, and affirms its view that Scottish society must not disbar participation in any aspect of our national life on the grounds of religion.

The Minister for Parliament moved amendment S1M-117.1 to motion S1M-117—

Insert at end—

“recognises that amendment or repeal raises complex constitutional issues, and that this is a matter reserved to the UK Parliament.”

After debate, the amendment was agreed to (DT).

The motion as amended was then agreed to (DT).

Accordingly, the Parliament resolved—That the Parliament believes that the discrimination contained in the Act of Settlement has no place in our modern society; expresses its wish that those discriminatory aspects of the Act be repealed; affirms its view that Scottish society must not disbar participation in any aspect of our national life on the grounds of religion; recognises that amendment or repeal raises complex constitutional issues, and that this is a matter reserved to the UK Parliament.

3. Ministerial Statement: The Minister for Children and Education made a statement on Hampden Park .

4. Business Motion: Mr Tom McCabe, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-381—That the Parliament agrees the following programme of business—

Wednesday 12 January 2000

2.30 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Executive Debate on Children and Young People Looked After by Local Authorities

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members' Business

Thursday 13 January 2000

9.30 am Executive Debate on Housing

followed by Business Motion

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.30 pm Question Time

3.10 pm First Minister's Question Time

3.30 pm Continuation of Executive Debate on Housing

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members' Business

The motion was agreed to.

5. Deputy Conveners: Mr Tom McCabe, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-388—That the Parliament agrees that the Party from which the deputy Convener should be appointed for its Committees be as set out as follows—

Committee Deputy Convener

Audit Conservative
Equal Opportunities Scottish National Party
European Labour
Finance Labour
Procedures Labour
Public Petitions Labour
Subordinate Legislation Liberal Democrat
Standards Scottish National Party
Education, Culture and Sport Labour
Social Inclusion, Housing and the Voluntary Sector Scottish National Party
Local Government Labour
Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Conservative
Health and Community Care Labour
Transport and the Environment Liberal Democrat
Justice and Home Affairs Labour
Rural Affairs Scottish National Party

The motion was agreed to (DT).

6. Question Time: Questions were answered by the First Minister and other Ministers and junior Scottish Ministers.

7. National Health Service: The Minister for Health moved S1M-383—That the Parliament is wholeheartedly committed to the NHS in Scotland and applauds the contribution and commitment of NHS staff across Scotland; welcomes the abolition of the internal market; recognises the record levels of investment in the NHS enabling the biggest ever hospital building programme; believes that the development of a modern NHS depends on a sustained programme of service redesign, greater public accountability and involvement and true partnership working across the NHS in Scotland and pledges to work with the Scottish Executive, NHS and the Scottish people to address constructively and imaginatively the challenges of building a 21st Century NHS.

Kay Ullrich moved amendment S1M-383.1 to motion S1M-383—

Leave out from “recognises” to end and insert—

“regrets the lower rise in health spending in Scotland in comparison with England, in spite of the widening gap in poverty and ill health between north and south; opposes the continued reliance on the Private Finance Initiative and calls upon the Scottish Executive to accept its responsibility to provide adequate resources in order to support a National Health Service in Scotland fit for the 21st Century.”

After debate, the amendment was disagreed to ((DT) by division: For 34, Against 83, Abstentions 0).

Mary Scanlon moved amendment S1M-383.3 to motion S1M-383—

Leave out from “welcomes” to end and insert—

“but condemns Labour's centralisation and increase in bureaucracy within the NHS and the Executive's folly of pursuing a raw waiting list target that has led to the negation of its promises on health; notes with concern the overspend by health boards in the current year, the increasing levels of bed blocking and the failure of the Arbuthnott Report to address inequality in health spending; believes that the development of a modern NHS depends on a sustained programme of service redesign, greater public accountability and involvement and true partnership working across the NHS in Scotland, and calls upon the Scottish Executive to make the reduction of waiting times and access to treatment on the basis of clinical need its top priority for all the NHS in Scotland.”

After debate, the amendment was disagreed to ((DT) by division: For 17, Against 101, Abstentions 0).

The motion was then agreed to ((DT) by division: For 67, Against 18, Abstentions 32).

8. Decision Time: The Parliament took decisions on items 2, 5 and 7 as noted above.

9. Cornton Vale Prison: The Parliament debated S1M-297 in the name of Dr Sylvia Jackson—That the Parliament recognises the contribution “half way houses” could make, not only in ensuring far more effective treatment and aftercare for drug related crimes, but also to creating a supportive and structured environment for many of the women presently within Cornton Vale.

The meeting closed at 5.49 pm.