Note: (DT) signifies a decision taken at Decision Time.
The meeting opened at 9.15 am.
1. Graduate Endowment Abolition (Scotland) Bill: The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning (Fiona Hyslop) moved S3M-964—That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Graduate Endowment Abolition (Scotland) Bill.
Jeremy Purvis moved amendment S3M-964.1 to motion S3M-964—
Insert at end—
“and, in so doing, calls for a statutory duty on Scottish Ministers to provide student support and provision made thereunder to be improved for existing and future students and further calls for more research into the barriers to accessing further and higher education to be undertaken.”
After debate, the amendment was agreed to ((DT) by division: For 65, Against 16, Abstentions 45).
The motion, as amended, was then agreed to ((DT) by division: For 65, Against 60, Abstentions 0).
Accordingly, the Parliament resolved—That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Graduate Endowment Abolition (Scotland) Bill and, in so doing, calls for a statutory duty on Scottish Ministers to provide student support and provision made thereunder to be improved for existing and future students and further calls for more research into the barriers to accessing further and higher education to be undertaken.
2. General Question Time: Questions were answered by Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers.
3. First Minister’s Question Time: Questions were answered by the First Minister (Alex Salmond).
4. Support Project Scotland: The Parliament debated S3M-953 in the name of Bill Butler—That the Parliament expresses its dismay at the decision of the Scottish Government to withdraw funding from Project Scotland, the ground-breaking volunteering project, which since its inception has secured well over 1,000 placements for young people throughout Scotland; recognises the very real and tangible benefits both to local communities and organisations, such as the Temple Shafton Youth Project in Glasgow, which have participated in the scheme and wholeheartedly applauds the effort and commitment of the volunteers involved; acknowledges that participants have been able to discover and develop new skills during their time with Project Scotland; notes the cross-party support for motion S3M-695 in the name of Sandra White, which acknowledged the positive role played by Project Scotland in helping “those previously excluded from participating fully in society to realise their true potential and aspirations”, and believes that the decision should be reversed and support given to a project which, through the sterling efforts of volunteers, has made a significant contribution to a more inclusive and co-operative Scotland.
5. Themed Question Time: Questions on Finance and Sustainable Growth Officers were answered by the Cabinet Secretary and Ministers.
6. Abolition of Bridge Toll (Scotland) Bill: Bruce Crawford, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S3M-1058—That the Parliament agrees that, during Stage 3 of the Abolition of Bridge Tolls (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:
Group 1: 20 minutes.
The motion was agreed to.
7. Abolition of Bridge Tolls (Scotland) Bill - Stage 3: The Bill was considered at Stage 3.
Amendment 2 was agreed to without division.
Amendment 1 was agreed to (by division: For 106, Against 2, Abstentions 16).
8. Abolition of Bridge Tolls (Scotland) Bill: The Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change (Stewart Stevenson) moved S3M-992—That the Parliament agrees that the Abolition of Bridge Tolls (Scotland) Bill be passed.
After debate, the motion was agreed to ((DT) by division: For 122, Against 3, Abstentions 1).
9. Climate Change Bill - UK Legislation: The Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change (Stewart Stevenson) moved S3M-1023—That the Parliament endorses the principle of introducing for the United Kingdom as a whole statutory targets and a related framework for action to mitigate climate change by reducing carbon dioxide emissions as set out in the Climate Change Bill, introduced in the House of Lords on 14 November 2007, and agrees that the provisions in the Bill which fall within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament should be considered by the UK Parliament.
After debate, the motion was agreed to (DT).
10. Decision Time: The Parliament took decisions on items 1, 8 and 9 as noted above.
The meeting closed at 4.34 pm.
P E Grice
Clerk of the Parliament
20 December 2007
Appendix
(Note: this Appendix does not form part of the Minutes)
Legislative Consent Memorandums
The following memorandum was lodged on 20 December 2007
Kenny MacAskill MSP: Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill (UK Parliament legislation (LCM(S3) 7.1)
Other Documents
The following document was laid before the Parliament on 20 December 2007 and is not subject to any parliamentary procedure
Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency Annual Report and Accounts 2006-07 (SE/2007/88)
laid under section 22(5) of the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotand) Act 2000
Committee Reports
The following report was published on 20 December 2007
Subordinate Legislation Committee, 17th Report, 2007 (Session 3): Report on Subordinate Legislation (SP Paper 41)