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

The meeting opened at 9.30 am.

1. Ministerial Statement: The Minister for Transport and the Environment made a statement on CalMac and New State Aids.

2. Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Bill: The Minister for Communities moved S1M-637—That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Bill.

After debate, the motion was agreed to ((DT) by division: For 103, Against 16, Abstentions 5).

3. Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Bill: The Minister for Finance moved S1M-623—That the Parliament, for the purposes of any Act of the Scottish Parliament resulting from the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Bill, agrees to the expenditure payable out of the Scottish Consolidated Fund of sums required to meet expenses of the Scottish Ministers in consequence of the Act.

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

4. Business Motion: Mr Tom McCabe, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-776— That the Parliament agrees—

the following programme of business—

Wednesday 3 May 2000

2.30 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Business Motion to include timetabling of Stage 3 of the Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc. (Scotland) Bill

followed by Stage 3 of the Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc. (Scotland) Bill

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members' Business – debate on the subject of S1M-750 Gordon Jackson: Govan Shipyard

Thursday 4 May 2000

9.30 am Non-Executive Business - Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

followed by Business Motion

2.30 pm Question Time

3.10 pm First Minister's Question Time

3.30 pm Executive Business

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members' Business – debate on the subject of S1M-626 Margaret Ewing: Glenrinnes School Closure

Wednesday 10 May 2000

2.30 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Non-Executive Business – Scottish National Party

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members' Business – debate on the subject of S1M-769 Mr John Munro: The Cuillins

Thursday 11 May 2000

9.30 am Ministerial Statement

followed by Committee Business – Transport and Environment Committee Report on Telecommunications

followed by Business Motion

2.30 pm Question Time

3.10 pm First Minister's Question Time

followed by Debate on Special Educational Needs

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

and (b) that the Stage 1 of the National Parks (Scotland) Bill be completed by 24 May 2000.

The motion was agreed to.

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

6. Abolition of Poindings and Warrant Sales Bill: Tommy Sheridan moved S1M-772—That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Abolition of Poindings and Warrant Sales Bill.

The Deputy First Minister and Minister for Justice moved amendment S1M-772.1 to motion S1M-772—

Leave out from "agrees" to end and insert—

"notes that the Scottish Executive will:-

(a) during the 2001/02 Parliamentary year bring forward legislation to introduce a new system to:

(i) abolish the present system of poindings and warrant sales which in many of its aspects is archaic and inhumane and replace it with a modern system that protects those who can’t pay, ending the indignities they suffer, and supports the interests of those who pay their bills regularly;

(ii) ensure that those who can pay but won’t are rigorously pursued, including for debts incurred in the course of business;

(b) in the meantime, introduce secondary legislation to expand the list of goods exempt from domestic poindings and warrant sales; and

(c) establish a working group to consult widely and develop proposals for reforming the law of diligence against moveables, including proposals for debtor protection and debt arrangement schemes;

and for these reasons, while agreeing to the principle of abolition of the poindings and warrant sales system, does not agree to the general principles of the Abolition of Poindings and Warrant Sales Bill."

After debate, the Deputy First Minister and Minister for Justice sought leave to withdraw the amendment. Agreed to.

The motion was then agreed to ((DT) by division: For 79, Against 15, Abstentions 30).

7. Designation of lead committee: Mr Tom McCabe, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-775—That the Parliament agrees the following designation of Lead Committees—

The Justice and Home Affairs Committee to consider The Census (Scotland) Regulations 2000; and,

The Transport and the Environment Committee to consider The Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications and Deemed Applications) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2000.

The motion was agreed to (DT).

8. Decision Time: The Parliament took decisions on items 2, 3, 6 and 7 as noted above.

9. Relocation of Maternity Units: The Parliament debated S1M-718—That the Parliament notes the proposed relocation of maternity wards throughout Scotland, including the Ayrshire Central Maternity Unit, Irvine; further notes the concerns of the communities affected; believes that any review of services should take into account all relevant factors, including the wishes of those communities and the effect of such closures on mothers and the local economy, and further believes that all health boards concerned should engage in full consultation with those affected, and take every factor into account when taking such decisions.

The meeting closed at 5.44 pm.

P E Grice
Clerk of the Parliament
27 April 2000

 Appendix

The following instrument was laid before the Parliament on 27 April 2000 and is not subject to any Parliamentary procedure

The Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions) (Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning) (Orkney) (No.2) (Scotland) Revocation Order 2000 (SSI 2000/118)

laid under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985

The following document was laid before the Parliament on 27 April 2000 and is not subject to any Parliamentary procedure

Sea Fisheries (Shellfish) Act 1967: Shellfish Orders and Applications 1999 (SE/2000/53)

laid under the Sea Fisheries (Shellfish) Act 1967

Committee Reports

The following Reports were published on 27 April 2000—

European Committee, 4^th Report, 2000: Report on Mainstreaming Environmental Issues Into Government Policy in Scotland: A Contribution to the Debate on the European Commission’s 6^th Environmental Action Programme – Initial Findings (SP Paper 108)

Finance Committee, 5^th Report 2000: Report on the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Bill (SP Paper 112)

Local Government Committee, 7^th Report 2000: Report on Subordinate Legislation (SP Paper 113)

Health and Community Care Committee, 7^th Report 2000: Report on Subordinate Legislation (SP Paper 114)