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

The meeting opened at 2.30 pm.

1.   Time for Reflection: The Reverend Canon Kenyon Wright CBE, Convener, ‘Vision 21’ and ‘People and Parliament’ led Time for Reflection.

2.   British-Irish Council: The First Minister moved S1M-481—That the Parliament welcomes the establishment and recent inaugural meeting of the British-Irish Council; believes it has an important role to play in the promotion and development of harmonious and mutually beneficial relationships among the peoples of these islands in promoting co-operation between the participating administrations within their competencies and in working together on issues of importance to the peoples they serve; welcomes the fact that the Scottish Executive has lead responsibility, with the National Assembly for Wales, for co-ordinating the Council’s consideration of social justice issues, and intends to develop corresponding links with the Parliaments concerned.

Mr Alex Salmond moved amendment S1M-481.1 to motion S1M-481—

Insert at end—

With the agreement of the Parliament, Alasdair Morgan moved an amendment to S1M-481.1—

Leave out "is not just for members of the various governments but" and insert—

"as envisaged in Strand 3 of the Belfast Agreement".

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

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

Accordingly, the Parliament resolved—That the Parliament welcomes the establishment and recent inaugural meeting of the British-Irish Council; believes it has an important role to play in the promotion and development of harmonious and mutually beneficial relationships among the peoples of these islands in promoting co-operation between the participating administrations within their competencies and in working together on issues of importance to the peoples they serve; welcomes the fact that the Scottish Executive has lead responsibility, with the National Assembly for Wales, for co-ordinating the Council’s consideration of social justice issues, and intends to develop corresponding links with the Parliaments concerned recognising that this Council as envisaged in Strand 3 of the Belfast Agreement should also have effective Parliamentary representation.

3.   Designation of Lead Committees Mr Tom McCabe, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-490—That the Parliament agrees the following designations of Lead Committees—

The Health and Community Care Committee to consider The Food (Animal Products from Belgium) (Emergency Control) (Scotland) Order 2000 (SSI 2000/15)

The Health and Community Care Committee to consider The Animal Feedingstuffs from Belgium (Control) (Scotland) Regulations 2000 (SSI 2000/16)

The motion was agreed to (DT).

4.   Decision Time: The Parliament took decisions on items 2 and 3 as noted above.

5.   A9 Improvements: The Parliament debated S1M-349 in the name of Mr Jamie Stone—That the Parliament calls upon the Scottish Executive to bring forward as a matter of urgency the much needed improvements to the A9 north of Helmsdale.

The meeting closed at 5.36 pm.

P E Grice
Clerk of the Parliament
2 February 2000

The following instrument was laid before the Parliament on 31 January 2000 and is subject to annulment

The Sea Fishing (Enforcement of Community Satellite Monitoring Measures) (Scotland) Order 2000 (SSI 2000/20)

laid under the Sea Fisheries Act 1981

The following Report was published on 27 January 2000

Health and Community Care Committee, 1st Report 2000: Report on Subordinate Legislation (SP Paper 63)

The following Reports were published on 31 January 2000

Transport and Environment Committee, 1st Report 2000: Report on Subordinate Legislation (SP Paper 60)

Subordinate Legislation Committee, 3rd Report 2000: Report on Subordinate Legislation (SP Paper 62)

The following Reports were published on 2 February 2000—