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

The meeting opened at 9.30 am.

1. Ministerial Statement: The Minister for Health and Community Care (Malcolm Chisholm) made a statement on development in vCJD, and answered questions on the statement.

2. Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill – Business Motion: Patricia Ferguson, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S2M-747—That the Parliament agrees that, during Stage 3 of the Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill, debate on each part of the proceedings shall be brought to a conclusion by the time limits indicated (each time limit being calculated from when the Stage begins and excluding any periods when other business is under consideration or when a meeting of the Parliament is suspended)

Group 1 – no later than 1 hour and 30 minutes

Groups 2 and 3 – no later than 2 hours

Groups 4 and 5 – no later than 2 hours and 30 minutes

Motion to pass the Bill – no later than 3 hours and 50 minutes

The motion was agreed to.

3. Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill - Stage 3: The Bill was considered at Stage 3.

The following amendments were agreed to (without division): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15.

The following amendments were disagreed to (by division)—

16 (For 4, Against 92, Abstentions 6)

17 (For 5, Against 92, Abstentions 6)

18 (For 5, Against 98, Abstentions 0)

4. Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill – Stage 3: The Minister for Health and Community Care (Malcolm Chisholm) moved S2M-698—That the Parliament agrees that the Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill be passed.

Shona Robison moved amendment S2M-698.1 to motion S2M-698—

Insert at end—

"but, in so doing, is concerned that rural practices unable to opt out of out-of-hours services will have serious difficulty in recruiting new doctors and therefore believes that it is imperative that the Scottish Executive ensures that NHS boards honour the principles of the Patient Services Guarantee in all areas, in particular in securing assistance for single-handed GP practices in the provision of out-of-hours services to remote and rural Scotland."

After debate, the amendment was disagreed to ((DT) by division: For 33, Against 66, Abstentions 15).

David Davidson moved amendment S2M-698.2 to motion S2M-698—

Insert at end—

"but, in so doing, expresses concern that the delivery of the objectives of the Bill requires scrutiny of all draft regulations by the Health Committee before they are laid before the Parliament."

After debate, with the agreement of the Parliament, the amendment was withdrawn.

The motion was then agreed to ((DT) by division: For 110, Against 5, Abstentions 0).

5. First Minister’s Question Time: Questions were answered by the First Minister (Mr Jack McConnell).

6. Question Time: Questions were answered by Ministers and junior Scottish Ministers.

7. Decision Time: Patricia Ferguson, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved without notice a motion under Rule 11.2.4 of Standing Orders that Decision Time on Thursday 18 December be taken at 3.50 pm.

8. Decision Time: The Parliament took decisions on item 4 as noted above.

9. Edinburgh’s Proposals for Congestion Charging: The Parliament debated S2M-365 in the name of Bristow Muldoon—That the Parliament notes that the draft congestion charging scheme approved by the City of Edinburgh Council proposes to exempt Edinburgh residents who live outwith the proposed outer cordon from paying a congestion charge, whilst still proposing to levy a charge on residents of other local authorities; believes that such a proposal is discriminatory and unfair, thus failing to meet the requirement of "fair treatment" emphasised by the Scottish Executive in giving approval in principle to a charging scheme, and therefore considers that the Scottish Executive should reject any subsequent proposal from the City of Edinburgh Council which is based on this form of charging regime.

10. Motion Without Notice: Robin Harper moved without notice a motion under Rule 8.14.3 that the Parliament agrees that Members’ Business on 18 December 2003 be extended by up to 30 minutes.

The meeting closed at 5.04 pm.

P E Grice

Clerk of the Parliament

18 December 2003

Appendix

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

Subordinate Legislation

Negative Instruments

The following instrument was laid before the Parliament on 18 December 2003 and is subject to annulment

The Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 (Principal Teachers) Order 2003 (SSI 2003/607)

laid under section 50(3) of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003

Not Subject to any Parliamentary Procedure

The following instruments were laid before the Parliament on 18 December 2003 and are not subject to any Parliamentary procedure—

The Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions) (Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning) (Orkney) (Scotland) Revocation Order 2003 (SSI 2003/605)—

The Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions) (Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning) (West Coast) (No.5) (Scotland) Partial Revocation Order 2003 (SSI 2003/606)—

laid under section 1(10) of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985

Other Documents

The following documents were laid before the Parliament on 18 December 2003 and are not subject to any Parliamentary procedure—

General Register Office for Scotland Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2003 (SE/2003/332)—

The National Archives of Scotland Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2003 (SE/2003/333)—

Erskine Bridge Accounts 2002-03 (SE/2003/337)—

Scottish Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund Account 2002-03 (SE/2003/343)—

Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Statement of Accounts for the period 23 October 2002 to 31 March 2003 (SE/2003/344)—

laid under section 22(5) of the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000

Scottish Public Services Ombudsman: Report of an investigation into three complaints against the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department (SPSO/2003/15)

laid under section 15(1) of the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002

Committee Reports

The following Reports were published on 18 December 2003

Enterprise and Culture Committee, 3rd Report 2003 (Session 2):

Report on Scottish Solutions Inquiry (SP Paper 67)

Health Committee, 12th Report 2003 (Session 2): Report on Subordinate Legislation (SP Paper 68)