Note: (DT) signifies a decision taken at Decision Time.
The meeting opened at 2.30pm.
1. Time for Reflection: Amanullah De Sondy, Centre for the Study of Islam, University of Glasgow led Time for Reflection.
2. Ministerial Statement: The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing (Nicola Sturgeon) made a statement and answered questions on Free Personal Care.
3. International Framework: The Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture (Linda Fabiani) moved S3M-1838—That the Parliament recognises the importance of ensuring that Scotland is competitive in an increasingly globalised society; agrees that creating the conditions for talented people to live, learn, visit, work and remain in Scotland is crucial to helping to deliver the goals of growing Scotland’s population and economy in a sustainable way, and welcomes the Scottish Government’s International Framework as a means to extend, focus and align the actions and policies of the government and public sector partners to these ends.
Malcolm Chisholm moved amendment S3M-1838.2 to motion S3M-1838—
insert at end—
“in co-operation with the UK Government and including international development objectives as a key priority.”
After debate, the amendment was agreed to ((DT) by division: For 79, Against 0, Abstentions 46).
Ted Brocklebank moved amendment S3M-1838.1 to motion S3M-1838—
leave out from “a means to extend” to end and insert—
“part of the means to extend, focus and align the actions and policies of the government and public sector partners to these ends while stressing the need to “make full use of the UK resources at our disposal”, including “the Foreign and Commonwealth Office network around the world to maximise business, cultural and educational opportunities for Scotland”, and “engage more directly with the British Council in our priority markets with a view to maximising the opportunities to showcase Scotland’s cultural and educational excellence abroad”, as outlined in the International Framework document.”
After debate, the amendment was agreed to ((DT) by division: For 77, Against 48, Abstentions 0).
Iain Smith moved amendment S3M-1838.3 to motion S3M-1838—
insert at end—
“but does not consider it in the best interests of Scotland for the Scottish Government to promote policies which do not command the support of the Parliament and, in particular, does not believe that the International Framework or any of the related documents or actions of the Scottish Government should contain any reference to Scottish independence, for which the minority Scottish Government has no mandate nor any authority from the Parliament to promote.”
After debate, the amendment was agreed to ((DT) by division: For 77, Against 48, Abstentions 0).
The motion, as amended, was then agreed to ((DT) by division: For 76, Against 46, Abstentions 2).
Accordingly, the Parliament resolved—That the Parliament recognises the importance of ensuring that Scotland is competitive in an increasingly globalised society; agrees that creating the conditions for talented people to live, learn, visit, work and remain in Scotland is crucial to helping to deliver the goals of growing Scotland’s population and economy in a sustainable way, and welcomes the Scottish Government’s International Framework as part of the means to extend, focus and align the actions and policies of the government and public sector partners to these ends while stressing the need to “make full use of the UK resources at our disposal”, including “the Foreign and Commonwealth Office network around the world to maximise business, cultural and educational opportunities for Scotland”, and “engage more directly with the British Council in our priority markets with a view to maximising the opportunities to showcase Scotland’s cultural and educational excellence abroad”, as outlined in the International Framework document, but does not consider it in the best interests of Scotland for the Scottish Government to promote policies which do not command the support of the Parliament and, in particular, does not believe that the International Framework or any of the related documents or actions of the Scottish Government should contain any reference to Scottish independence, for which the minority Scottish Government has no mandate nor any authority from the Parliament to promote.
4. Business Motion: Bruce Crawford, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S3M-1846—That the Parliament agrees the following programme of business—
Wednesday 14 May 2008
2.30 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by First Minister’s Statement: Moving Scotland Forward
followed by Stage 1 Debate: Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Bill
followed by Financial Resolution: Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Bill
followed by Business Motion
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members' Business
Thursday 15 May 2008
9.15 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Ministerial Statement: Equality and Diversity
followed by Scottish Government Debate: Schucksmith Report and the Future of Crofting in Scotland
11.40 am General Question Time
12 noon First Minister's Question Time
2.15 pm Themed Question Time
Finance and Sustainable Growth
2.55 pm Scottish Government Debate: Free Personal Care
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members' Business
Wednesday 21 May 2008
2.30 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Scottish Government Business
followed by Business Motion
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members' Business
Thursday 22 May 2008
9.15 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Scottish Government Business
11.40 am General Question Time
12 noon First Minister's Question Time
2.15 pm Themed Question Time
Education and Lifelong Learning;
Europe, External Affairs and Culture
2.55 pm Scottish Government Business
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members' Business
The motion was agreed to.
5. Approval of SSI: Bruce Crawford, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S3M-1845—That the Parliament agrees that the draft Victim Notification Scheme (Scotland) Order 2008 be approved.
The motion was agreed to (DT).
6. Decision Time: The Parliament took decisions on items 3 and 5 as noted above.
7. Alternative and Augmentative Communication: The Parliament debated S3M-1660 in the name of Nanette Milne—That the Parliament expresses concern following the findings by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, Capability Scotland and Augmentative Communication in Practice whose recent survey of alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) equipment and speech and language therapy support provision in Scotland revealed that eight out of 15 NHS boards, including NHS Grampian, are providing a poor service; notes that only 16% of potential beneficiaries are accessing specialist AAC services in Scotland and that AAC provision is a postcode, age, advocacy and impairment lottery, and considers that an AAC strategy for Scotland should be developed and implemented to provide for a national standard of specialist speech and language therapy provision.
8. Motion without Notice: Nanette Milne moved without notice that, under Rule 8.14.3, the debate be extended until 5.53pm. The motion was agreed to.
The meeting closed at 5.53 pm.
P E Grice
Clerk of the Parliament
7 May 2008
Appendix
(Note: this Appendix does not form part of the Minutes)
Subordinate Legislation
Negative Instruments
The following instrument was laid before the Parliament on 2 May 2008 and is subject to annulment
The Guar Gum (Restriction of First Placing on the Market) (Scotland) Regulations 2008 (SSI 2008/176)
laid under paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 to The European Communities Act 1972
Other Documents
The following document was laid before the Parliament on 7 May 2008 and is not subject to any parliamentary procedure
Managing increasing prisoner numbers in Scotland: A report and key messages paper prepared for the Auditor General for Scotland (AGS/2008/5)
laid under the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000
Committee Reports
The following reports were published on 2 May 2008—
European and External Relations Committee, 1st Report, 2008 (Session 3): Report on an inquiry into the transposition of EU directives (SP Paper 89)
Justice Committee, 11th Report, 2008 (Session 3): Stage 1 Report on the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Bill (SP Paper 91)
Subordinate Legislation Committee, 18th Report, 2008 (Session 3): Report on Subordinate Legislation (SP Paper 92)
The following report was published on 6 May 2008
Audit Committee, 2nd Report, 2008 (Session 3): Report on the 2006/07 Audit of Western Isles Health Board (SP Paper 90)
For further information on accessing committee reports, please contact either the relevant clerk or webpage (see end of Bulletin for contact details or access general committee webpage )