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

The meeting opened at 9.30 am.

1. Special Educational Needs: Irene McGugan, on behalf of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee, moved S1M-1931—That the Parliament notes the 3^rd Report 2001 of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee, Report on Inquiry into Special Educational Needs (SP Paper 264).

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

2. Suspension of Standing Orders: Euan Robson, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-1940—That the Parliament agrees that Rule 5.6.1(c) of the Standing Orders be suspended for the duration of the Meeting of the Parliament on Wednesday 23 May 2001.

The motion was agreed to.

3. Business Motion: Euan Robson, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-1939—That the Parliament agrees the following programme of business—

Wednesday 23 May 2001

Thursday 24 May 2001

Wednesday 30 May 2001

Thursday 31 May 2001

The motion was agreed to.

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

5. Scottish Local Authorities (Tendering) Bill – Stage 1: The Deputy Minister for Finance and Local Government moved S1M-1843—That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Scottish Local Authorities (Tendering) Bill.

Mr Keith Harding moved amendment S1M-1843.1 to motion S1M-1843—

Leave out from "agrees" to end and insert—

"does not agree to the general principles of the Scottish Local Authorities (Tendering) Bill because it believes that the Executive should give priority to the drafting of a Bill on Best Value so that it can be placed before the Parliament before the end of this year, and therefore calls upon the Executive to make an early announcement of its proposals, together with a timetable, for the publication of a draft bill to introduce a statutory framework for Best Value."

After debate, the amendment was disagreed to ((DT) by division: For 14, Against 80, Abstentions 0).

The motion was then agreed to ((DT) by division: For 81, Against 13, Abstentions 0).

6. Approval of SSIs: Euan Robson, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-1933—That the Parliament agrees that the following instruments be approved—

the draft Justices of the Peace (Tribunal) (Scotland) Regulations 2001;

the draft Part-Time Sheriffs (Removal Tribunal) Regulations 2001; and

The motion was agreed to (DT).

7. Motion without notice: Mr Tom McCabe, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved without notice that, under Rule 11.2.4, Decision Time be taken at 4.44 pm.

The motion was agreed to.

8. Decision Time: The Parliament took decisions on items 1, 5 and 6 as noted above.

9. National Breastfeeding Awareness Week: The Parliament debated S1M-1859 in the name of Elaine Smith—That the Parliament notes the importance of National Breastfeeding Awareness Week from 13-19 May 2001; recognises that breastfeeding is the best form of nutrition for babies and is good for mothers’ health too; notes with concern that the Guthrie Statistics from 1999 indicate that the two main hospitals serving constituents from Coatbridge and Chryston had the lowest percentage of breastfeeding mothers in Scotland, and believes that a national campaign is required to increase public acceptance that "breast is best" in an attempt to change attitudes to mothers breastfeeding in public places and encourage more mothers to breast-feed their babies.

The meeting closed at 5.35 pm.

P E Grice
Clerk of the Parliament
17 May 2001

The following instrument was laid before the Parliament on 17 May 2001 for approval by resolution

The Consumer Protection Act 1987 (Product Liability) (Modification) (Scotland) Order 2001

laid under the Consumer Protection Act 1987

The following instrument was laid before the Parliament on 17 May 2001 and is subject to annulment

laid under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 1984

The following documents was laid before the Parliament on 17 May 2001 and are not subject to any Parliamentary procedure—

Consolidated Resource Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2001 (SE/2001/111)

Local Government Finance (Scotland) (No.2) Order: Report by the Scottish Ministers

laid under the Local Government Finance Act 1992

The following Reports were published on 17 May 2001—

European Committee, 3^rd Report 2001: Report on Reforming the Common Fisheries Policy: A Blueprint for Negotiations (Volume I) (SP Paper 330)

European Committee, 3^rd Report 2001: Report on Reforming the Common Fisheries Policy: A Blueprint for Negotiations (Volume II, Evidence) (SP Paper 331)

Subordinate Legislation Committee, 20^th Report 2001: Delegated Powers Scrutiny, Convention Rights (Compliance) (Scotland) Bill as amended at Stage 2 (SP Paper 334)

Subordinate Legislation Committee, 21^st Report 2001: Report on Subordinate Legislation (SP Paper 335)