Note: (DT) signifies a decision taken at Decision Time.
The meeting opened at 9.15 am.
1. Home Owner and Debtor Protection (Scotland) Bill: Bruce Crawford, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S3M-5717—That the Parliament agrees that, during Stage 3 of the Home Owner and Debtor Protection (Scotland) Bill, debate on groups of amendments shall, subject to Rule 9.8.4A, be brought to a conclusion by the time limit indicated, that 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 (other than a suspension following the first division in the Stage being called) or otherwise not in progress:
Groups 1 and 2: 15 minutes.
The motion was agreed to.
2. Home Owner and Debtor Protection (Scotland) Bill: The Bill was considered at Stage 3.
The following amendments were agreed to without division: 2, 3 and 1.
3. Home Owner and Debtor Protection (Scotland) Bill: The Minister for Housing and Communities (Alex Neil) moved S3M-5650—That the Parliament agrees that the Home Owner and Debtor Protection (Scotland) Bill be passed.
After debate, the motion was agreed to (DT).
4. Access to BBC Alba: The Minister for Culture and External Affairs (Fiona Hyslop) moved S3M-5720—That the Parliament welcomes the contribution made by BBC Alba to Scottish culture and the promotion of the Gaelic language since its launch in September 2008; believes that this contribution would be even greater if BBC Alba was available on a wider variety of broadcasting platforms, and urges the BBC Trust to decide to make BBC Alba available on Freeview following its recent consultation on this issue.
Pauline McNeill moved amendment S3M-5720.2 to motion S3M-5720—
After “platforms” insert—
“and therefore calls on the BBC management and Virgin Media to resolve the ongoing dispute regarding carrying BBC channels on the cable network to ensure the widest possible access to BBC Alba”.
After debate, the amendment was agreed to (DT).
Ted Brocklebank moved amendment S3M-5720.1 to motion S3M-5720—
After “2008” insert—
“; believes that BBC Alba's growing viewership, along with the direct employees and the independent broadcasters working for the channel, requires assurances about its long-term economic and cultural future”.
After debate, the amendment was agreed to (DT).
Iain Smith moved amendment S3M-5720.3 to motion S3M-5720—
Insert at end—
“however the removal of existing BBC radio stations from the digital terrestrial TV platform in Scotland should not have to be a consideration in that decision; further believes that all Scottish residents should have access to the full range of broadcasting following digital switchover, and calls on the UK Government to require that all relay transmitters in Scotland are capable of transmitting the full range of Freeview channels by the 2010 and 2011 launch dates.”
After debate, the amendment was agreed to (DT).
The motion, as amended, was then was agreed to (DT).
Accordingly the Parliament resolved—That the Parliament welcomes the contribution made by BBC Alba to Scottish culture and the promotion of the Gaelic language since its launch in September 2008; believes that BBC Alba's growing viewership, along with the direct employees and the independent broadcasters working for the channel, requires assurances about its long-term economic and cultural future; believes that this contribution would be even greater if BBC Alba was available on a wider variety of broadcasting platforms; and therefore calls on the BBC management and Virgin Media to resolve the ongoing dispute regarding carrying BBC channels on the cable network to ensure the widest possible access to BBC Alba; urges the BBC Trust to decide to make BBC Alba available on Freeview following its recent consultation on this issue, however the removal of existing BBC radio stations from the digital terrestrial TV platform in Scotland should not have to be a consideration in that decision; further believes that all Scottish residents should have access to the full range of broadcasting following digital switchover, and calls on the UK Government to require that all relay transmitters in Scotland are capable of transmitting the full range of Freeview channels by the 2010 and 2011 launch dates.
5. General Question Time: Questions were answered by Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers.
6. First Minister’s Question Time: Questions were answered by the First Minister (Alex Salmond).
7. Themed Question Time: Questions on Health and Wellbeing were answered by the Cabinet Secretary and Ministers.
8. Report on Female Offenders in the Criminal Justice System: Margaret Mitchell, on behalf of the Equal Opportunities Committee, moved S3M-5679—That the Parliament notes the conclusions and recommendations contained in the Equal Opportunities Committee’s 3rd Report 2009 (Session 3): Female offenders in the criminal justice system (SP Paper 332).
After debate, the motion was agreed to (DT).
9. Bribery Bill - UK Legislation: The Cabinet Secretary for Justice (Kenny MacAskill) moved S3M-5719—That the Parliament agrees that the relevant provisions of the Bribery Bill, introduced in the House of Lords on 19 November 2009, relating to bribery and corruption, so far as these matters fall within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament, should be considered by the UK Parliament.
The motion was agreed to (DT).
10. Crime and Security Bill - UK Legislation: The Cabinet Secretary for Justice (Kenny MacAskill) moved S3M-5718—That the Parliament agrees that the relevant provisions of the Crime and Security Bill, introduced in the House of Commons on 19 November 2009, relating to the regulation of the private security industry, so far as these matters fall within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament, should be considered by the UK Parliament.
The motion was agreed to (DT).
11. Committee Membership: Bruce Crawford, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S3M-5751—That the Parliament agrees that Michael Matheson and Ian McKee be appointed as members of the End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill Committee.
The motion was agreed to (DT).
12. Business Motion: Bruce Crawford, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S3M-5755—That the Parliament agrees the following revision to the programme of business for Wednesday 24 February 2010—
after
2.30 pm Rev Alex Noble, Saltcoats North Parish Church, Ayrshire
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
insert
followed by Ministerial Statement: Representing Constituents
The motion was agreed to.
13. Decision Time: The Parliament took decisions on items 3, 4, 8, 9, 10 and 11 as noted above.
14. Celebrating Scotland’s First Ever General Practice Week in Scotland: The Parliament debated S3M-5469 in the name of Dr Richard Simpson—That the Parliament notes that more than 21 million patient consultations take place in general practice in Scotland every year; is proud of the high quality service provided by GPs and their practice teams every day, and welcomes the first ever General Practice Week in Scotland, from 8 to 14 February 2010, hosted by the British Medical Association Scotland in partnership with the Royal College of General Practitioners Scotland, which aims to celebrate the very best of NHS general practice in Scotland.
The meeting closed at 5.49 pm.
P E Grice
Clerk of the Parliament
11 February 2010
Appendix
(Note: this Appendix does not form part of the Minutes)
Subordinate Legislation
Negative Instruments
The following instruments were laid before the Parliament on 11 February 2010 and are subject to annulment—
The Pharmacy Order 2010 (Commencement No.1) Order of Council 2010 (SI2010/299 (C.24))
The General Pharmaceutical Council (Constitution) Order 2010 (SI 2010/300)
both laid under section 70 of the Pharmacy Order 2010 (SI 2010/231)
Committee Reports
The following reports were published on 11 February 2010—
Subordinate Legislation Committee, 12th Report, 2010 (Session 3): Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1 (SP Paper 388)
Subordinate Legislation Committee, 13th Report, 2010 (Session 3): Forth Crossing Bill at Stage 1 (SP Paper 389)