Note: (DT) signifies a decision taken at Decision Time.

The meeting opened at 9.31 am.

1. Housing: The Minister for Communities moved S1M-408—That the Parliament acknowledges the need for action to provide good quality and accessible housing and strong and secure communities; welcomes the Executive’s proposals to achieve this through a range of measures including the introduction of a single social tenancy, the development of a single regulatory framework for social housing, the promotion of a stronger strategic role in housing for local authorities, and a new role and status for Scottish Homes, and notes that the Executive will bring forward a Housing Bill to deliver these objectives.

Fiona Hyslop moved amendment S1M-408.1 to motion S1M-408—

"notes the Executive’s proposals to achieve this through a range of measures, including the introduction of a single social tenancy, the development of a single regulatory framework for social housing, the promotion of a stronger strategic role in housing for local authorities, and a new role and status for Scottish Homes, but believes that these measures alone will not improve the position of Scotland’s 80,000 homeless people and that the Executive must give greater priority to dealing with chronic under investment in Scotland’s public and voluntary housing including the reversal of their policy of wholesale stock transfer."

After debate, the amendment was disagreed to ((DT) by division: For 32, Against 81, Abstentions 0).

Keith Harding moved amendment S1M-408.1 to motion S1M-408—

After debate, the amendment was disagreed to ((DT) by division: For 17, Against 95, Abstentions 0).

The motion was then agreed to ((DT) by division: For 82, Against 4, Abstentions 28).

2. Business Motion: Mr Tom McCabe, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M410—That the Parliament agrees—

Thursday 13 January 2000

after Continuation of Executive Debate on Housing insert:

followed by Executive Motion on Representation of the People Bill – UK Legislation

and, (b) the following programme of business—

Wednesday 19 January 2000

2.30 pm Time For Reflection

followed by Ministerial Statement on Air Quality Strategy

followed by Executive Debate on Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members' Business – debate on the subject of S1M-371 Mr Duncan McNeil: Flooding in Inverclyde

Thursday 20 January 2000

9.30 am Ministerial Statement

followed by Executive Debate on Tackling Drug Misuse in Scotland

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 Tackling Drug Misuse in Scotland

followed by Motion to amend Standing Orders (definition of Budget Bill)

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members' Business – debate on the subject of S1M-372 Jamie Stone: Dispersal of Civil Service Jobs to Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross

The motion was agreed to.

3. Designation of Lead Committee: Mr Tom McCabe, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-409—That the Parliament agrees the following designation of Lead Committee—

The Health and Community Care Committee to consider The Beef Bones (Scotland) Regulations 1999 (SSI 1999/186)

The motion was agreed to (DT).

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

5 Representation of the People Bill: The Minister for Communities moved S1M-405—That the Parliament endorses the principle of ensuring consistency of absent voting provisions for parliamentary and local elections in Scotland as set out in the Representation of People Bill and agrees that the relevant provision to achieve this end in the Bill should be considered by the UK Parliament.

The motion was agreed to (DT).

6. Motion Without Notice: Mr Tom McCabe, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved without notice that motion S1M-422 be taken at this meeting of the Parliament.

7. Membership of Committee: Mr Tom McCabe, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-422—That the Parliament agrees that Michael Matheson be appointed to the Justice and Home Affairs Committee and that Tricia Marwick be appointed to the Equal Opportunities Committee.

The motion was agreed to (DT).

8. Decision Time: Decisions were taken on items 1, 3, 5 and 7 as noted above.

9. Social Workers and Violence: The Parliament debated S1M-283 in the name of Mrs Margaret Smith—That the Parliament deplores the escalating levels of violence visited upon social workers in Edinburgh in the course of their duties; recognises that this is a national problem, and calls upon the Scottish Executive to promote the view that having to face the threat of violence is not an acceptable feature of any profession.

The meeting closed at 5.40 pm.