Note: (DT) signifies a decision taken at Decision Time.
The meeting opened at 9.15 am.
1. The Convention Rights Proceedings (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill: The Cabinet Secretary for Justice (Kenny MacAskill) moved S3M-4395—That the Parliament agrees that the Convention Rights Proceedings (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill be treated as an Emergency Bill.
The motion was agreed to.
2. The Convention Rights Proceedings (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill: The Cabinet Secretary for Justice (Kenny MacAskill) moved S3M-4396—That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Convention Rights Proceedings (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill.
After debate the motion was agreed to.
3. Proposal for a Committee Bill: Trish Godman moved S3M-4243—That the Parliament agrees to the proposal for a Committee Bill, under Rule 9.15, contained in the Review of SPCB Supported Bodies Committee’s 1st Report, 2009 Review of SPCB Supported Bodies (SP Paper 266).
After debate, the motion was agreed to (DT).
4. General Question Time: Questions were answered by Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers.
5. First Minister’s Question Time: Questions were answered by the First Minister (Alex Salmond).
6. Themed Question Time: Questions on Education and Lifelong Learning, and on Europe, External Affairs and Culture were answered by Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers.
The meeting was suspended at 2.57 pm
The meeting re-convened at 2.57 pm
7. The Convention Rights Proceedings (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill: The Cabinet Secretary for Justice (Kenny MacAskill) moved S3M-4397—That the Parliament agrees that the Convention Rights Proceedings (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill be passed.
After debate, the motion was agreed to (DT).
8. The Energy, Commitment and Creativity of Scotland’s Festivals and their Contribution to the Financial Success and Quality of Life in Scotland: The Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution (Michael Russell) moved S3M-4421—That the Parliament recognises the international success of the Edinburgh festivals, along with Scotland’s other festivals, their contribution to the Scottish economy, their role in the cultural life of the nation and the positive messages that they promote about Scotland’s cultural confidence and ambition in this Year of Homecoming.
After debate, the motion was agreed to (DT).
9. Decision Time: The Parliament took decisions on items 3, 7 and 8 as noted above.
10. Rights of Former Gurkha Soldiers: The Parliament debated S3M-4032 in the name of Jim Tolson—That the Parliament welcomes the victory for the rights of Gurkha soldiers achieved in the Commons defeat on 29 April 2009 when MPs voted by 267 to 246 for a Liberal Democrat motion offering all Gurkhas equal right of residence in Britain; believes that this is a historic victory for the Gurkhas who have served the United Kingdom so bravely; notes the widespread opposition to the UK Government’s proposed guidelines, which are considered to permit only a small minority of Gurkhas and their families to settle while preventing the vast majority from doing so; believes that the UK Government’s decision fails to recognise the long history of dedicated service by Gurkha soldiers; welcomes the support for justice for the Gurkha soldiers by former Gurkha officer, Major Bill MacKay of Dunfermline; commends the 70 years of continuous service given by Sergeant Sunar Gurung, who served with Major MacKay, and Sergeant Gurung’s six sons who all served with the Gurkha regiment, and believes that such service should be recognised.
The meeting closed at 5.28 pm.
P E Grice
Clerk of the Parliament
18 June 2009
Appendix
(Note: this Appendix does not form part of the Minutes)
The following reports were published on 18 June 2009––
Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee, 5th Report 2009 (Session 3): Report on the Stage 1 report on the Arbitration (Scotland) Bill (SP Paper 302)
Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee, 6th Report, 2009 (Session 3): Report on Subordinate Legislation (SP Paper 303)
Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee, 5th Report, 2009 (Session 3): Report on subordinate legislation (SP Paper 304)
Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee, 6th Report, 2009 (Session 3): Report on the legislative consent memorandum on the Holocaust (Return of Cultural Objects) Bill (LCM(S3) 21.1) (SP Paper 305)