The meeting opened at 9.30 am.

1. Inquiry into the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council Reviews of Teaching and Research Funding: Alex Neil, on behalf of the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee, moved S1M-2380—That the Parliament welcomes the 12th Report 2001 of the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee on the inquiry into the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council reviews of teaching and research funding (SP Paper 423).

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

2. Police and Fire Services (Finance) (Scotland) Bill - Business Motion: Euan Robson, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-2390— That the Parliament agrees that time for consideration of Stages 2 and 3 of the Police and Fire Services (Finance) (Scotland) Bill be allocated as follows, so that debate on proceedings at each Stage, if not previously brought to a conclusion, shall be brought to a conclusion at the time specified –

Stage 2 – no later than 4.30 pm

Stage 3 – no later than 5.00 pm.

The motion was agreed to.

3. Business Motion: Euan Robson, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-2382—That the Parliament agrees the following programme of business—

The motion was agreed to.

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

The meeting closed at 3.32 pm.

A second meeting opened at 3.45 pm.

5. Police and Fire Services (Finance) (Scotland) Bill - Stage 3: The Deputy Minister for Justice moved S1M-2379—That the Parliament agrees that the Police and Fire Services (Finance) (Scotland) Bill be passed.

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

6. Motion without notice: Euan Robson, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved without notice that S1M-2394 be taken at this meeting of the Parliament.

The motion was agreed to.

7. Decision Time: Euan Robson, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-2394— That the Parliament agrees under rule 11.2.4 of Standing Orders that Decision Time on Thursday 1 November shall begin at 3.54 pm.

The motion was agreed to.

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

9. Inverness Airport and Links with Hub Airports: The Parliament debated S1M-2142 in the name of Mrs Margaret Ewing—That the Parliament recognises the huge significance of direct links between Inverness Airport and London hub airports to the economic and social well-being of the Highlands and Islands, particularly in relation to tourism, exports, the business economy and employment; expresses its grave concern at the possible loss of landing slots at Gatwick; seeks not only to have such links preserved but also to have similar slots at Heathrow restored, and believes that the Scottish Executive should pursue these matters vigorously with the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions and the European Commission.

10. Motion without notice: Mrs Margaret Ewing moved that, under Rule 8.14.3, the debate be extended up to 5.00 pm.

The motion was agreed to.

The meeting closed at 4.58 pm.

P E Grice

Clerk of the Parliament

1 November 2001

Appendix

(Note: this Appendix does not form part of the Minutes)

Subordinate Legislation

Affirmative Instruments

The following instrument was laid in draft before the Parliament on 1 November 2001 for approval by resolution

The Budget (Scotland) Act 2001 (Amendment) Order 2001

Negative Instruments

The following instrument was laid before the Parliament on 1 November 2001 and is subject to annulment

Other Documents

The following document was laid before the Parliament on 1 November 2001 and is not subject to any Parliamentary procedure

Scottish Qualifications Authority Annual Report 2000-01 (SE/2001/261)

laid under the Education (Scotland) Act 1996

Committee Reports

The following Reports were published on 1 November 2001—