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

The meeting opened at 9.30 am.

1. Business Motion: Patricia Ferguson, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-2566—That the Parliament agrees that for Stage 3 of the Scottish Local Government (Elections) Bill and Stage 3 of the School Education (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill, debate on each part of the proceedings, if not previously brought to a conclusion, shall be brought to a conclusion at the following times (calculated from the time when Stage 3 of the Scottish Local Government (Elections) Bill begins)—

Scottish Local Government (Elections) Bill

Consideration of Amendments - no later than 1 hour

Motion to pass the Bill - no later than 1 hour 30 minutes

School Education (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill

Consideration of Amendments - no later than 2 hours 30 minutes

Motion to pass the Bill - no later than 3 hours

After debate, the motion was agreed to.

2. Scottish Local Government (Elections) Bill - Stage 3: The Bill was considered at Stage 3.

The following amendments were agreed to without division: 1, 2.

3. Scottish Local Government (Elections) Bill - Stage 3: The Deputy Minister for Finance and Public Services moved S1M-2524—That the Parliament agrees that the Scottish Local Government (Elections) Bill be passed.

Tommy Sheridan moved amendment S1M-2524.1 to motion S1M-2524—

Leave out from "agrees" and insert—

"does not agree that the Scottish Local Government (Elections) Bill be passed because it believes that it is important for the health of local government that local elections be held separately from those for the Parliament and further believes that local government elections should next be held in 2002 since currently elected councillors have no democratic mandate after then."

After debate, the amendment was disagreed to ((DT) by division: For 21, Against 64, Abstentions 30).

The motion was then agreed to ((DT) by division: For 64, Against 50, Abstentions 1).

4. School Education (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill - Stage 3: The Bill was considered at Stage 3.

The following amendments were agreed to without division: 1, 2.

5. School Education (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill - Stage 3: The Deputy Minister for Education and Young People moved S1M-2507—That the Parliament agrees that the School Education (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill be passed.

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

6. Ministerial Statement: The Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning made a statement on NEC.

7. Emergency Question: An emergency question on strike action by Caledonian MacBrayne staff was answered by the Deputy Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning.

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

9. Election of Member of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body: The following member was nominated as candidates for appointment to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body: Duncan McNeil.

The result of the election was—

For 91

Against 0

Abstentions 7

Spoiled Votes 1

Duncan McNeil was duly elected as a member of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body.

10. Motion without notice: Alex Neil moved without notice that a motion on Individual Learning Accounts be taken at this meeting of the Parliament.

The motion was disagreed to (For 52, Against 54, Abstentions 1).

11. Designation of Lead Committee: Euan Robson, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-2560—That the Parliament agrees that the Education, Culture and Sport Committee be designated as lead committee in consideration of the Education (Disability Strategies and Pupils’ Records) (Scotland) Bill and that the Equal Opportunities Committee and the Local Government Committee be secondary committees.

The motion was agreed to (DT).

12. Membership of Committees: Euan Robson, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-2569—That the Parliament agrees that the following Members be appointed to Committees—

Duncan Hamilton to replace Margaret Ewing on the Justice 2 Committee; and

Andrew Wilson to replace Duncan Hamilton on the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee.

The motion was agreed to (DT).

13. Motion without notice: Euan Robson, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved without notice that S1M-2573 be taken at this meeting of the Parliament.

The motion was agreed to (For 74, Against 35, Abstentions 2)

14. Decision Time: Euan Robson, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S1M-2573—That the Parliament agrees under Rule 11.2.4 of the Standing Orders that Decision Time on Thursday 20 December 2001 be taken at 3.48 pm.

The motion was agreed to (For 79, Against 33, Abstentions 1).

15. Decision Time: The Parliament took decisions on items 3, 5, 11 and 12 as noted above.

16. New Lanark: The Parliament debated S1M-2529 in the name of Karen Gillon—That the Parliament recognises the significant contribution that New Lanark has made to the social, cultural and educational fabric of Scotland; congratulates the New Lanark Conservation Trust on the excellent work that it has done in restoring the village to its natural beauty, and congratulates UNESCO on granting the village full World Heritage Status.

The meeting closed at 4.31 pm.

P E Grice

Clerk of the Parliament

20 December 2001

Appendix

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

Subordinate Legislation

Negative Instruments

The following instruments were laid before the Parliament on 20 December 2001 and are subject to annulment—

The National Health Service (Scotland) (Superannuation Scheme and Additional Voluntary Contributions) (Pension Sharing on Divorce) Amendment Regulations 2001 (SSI 2001/465)

laid under the Superannuation Act 1972

The Road Traffic (NHS Charges) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2001 (SSI 2001/466)

laid under the Road Traffic (NHS Charges) Act 1999

Not Subject to any Parliamentary Procedure

The following instruments were laid before the Parliament on 20 December 2001 and are not subject to any Parliamentary procedure—

The Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions) (Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning) (West Coast) (No.13) (Scotland) Revocation Order 2001 (SSI 2001/468)—

The Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions) (Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning) (West Coast) (No.9) (Scotland) Partial Revocation Order 2001 (SSI 2001/469)—

The Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions) (Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning) (West Coast) (No.11) (Scotland) Revocation Order 2001 (SSI 2001/470)—

The Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions) (Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning) (West Coast) (No.10) (Scotland) Revocation Order 2001 (SSI 2001/471)—

The Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions) (Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning) (West Coast) (No.6) (Scotland) Order 2001 Revocation Order 2001 (SSI 2001/472)—

The Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions) (Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning) (West Coast) (No.14) (Scotland) Partial Revocation Order 2001 (SSI 2001/473)—

laid under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985

Other Documents

The following documents were laid before the Parliament on 20 December 2001 and are not subject to any Parliamentary procedure—

Scottish Homes Annual Accounts 2000-01 (SE/2001/212)—

NHS (Scotland) Summarised Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2001 (SE/2001/282)—

Scottish Executive Education Department: Cash Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2001 (SE/2001/286)—

Scottish Executive Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department: Cash Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2001 (SE/2001/287)—

Scottish Executive Health Department: Cash Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2001 (SE/2001/288)—

Scottish Executive Executive Secretariat: Cash Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2001 (SE/2001/290)—

Scottish Executive Administration: Cash Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2001 (SE/2001/291)—

General Register Office for Scotland: Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2001 (SE/2001/297)—

National Archives of Scotland: Resource Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2001 (SE/2001/298)—

laid under the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000

Scottish Conveyancing and Executry Services Board Annual Report and Accounts 2000-01 (SE/2001/302)

laid under the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990

Scottish Homes Review: Reflections on the year 2000-01 (SE/2001/312)

laid under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988

Committee Reports

The following Reports were published on 20 December 2001—

Social Justice Committee, 8^th Report 2001: Interim Report on the Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (SP Paper 479)

Justice 2 Committee, 14^th Report 2001: Report on Subordinate Legislation (SP Paper 480)

Subordinate Legislation Committee 45^th Report 2001: Report on Subordinate Legislation (SP Paper 481)

Health and Community Care Committee, 23^rd Report 2001: Report on Subordinate Legislation (SP Paper 484)