Note: (DT) signifies a decision taken at Decision Time.
The meeting opened at 9.10 am.
1. Business Motion: Bruce Crawford, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S3M-8053—That the Parliament agrees that, during Stage 3 of the Damages (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 to 3: 15 minutes.
The motion was agreed to.
2. Business Motion: Bruce Crawford, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S3M-8054—That the Parliament agrees that, during Stage 3 of the Property Factors (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 to 4: 15 minutes
Groups 5 to 9: 30 minutes.
The motion was agreed to.
3. 2015 Election: The Minister for Housing and Communities (Jim Mather) moved S3M-8058—That the Parliament notes the potential clash of UK and Scottish general election dates in 2015; invites the UK Government to set the next Scottish general election after 5 May 2011 for Thursday 5 May 2016, and looks forward to UK Government consultation on a legislative provision that would set apart UK and Scottish general election dates on a permanent basis.
After debate, the motion was agreed to (DT).
4. Session 3 reports of the Public Audit Committee, Key Themes: Hugh Henry, on behalf of the Public Audit Committee, moved S3M-8005—That the Parliament notes the conclusions and recommendations contained in the Public Audit Committee’s 1st Report, 2011 (Session 3): Session 3 reports of the Public Audit Committee – key themes (SP Paper 559).
After debate, the motion was agreed to (DT).
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. There Is a Better Way: The Parliament debated S3M-7752 in the name of —That the Parliament commends the STUC on the launch of its There is a Better Way campaign; believes that deep, savage and immediate cuts are neither unavoidable nor inevitable and that they would actually threaten economic recovery across Scotland and in areas such as Coatbridge and Chryston; further believes that a sensible and sustainable response to the current economic crisis is to promote growth and ensure fairness through creating jobs and protecting services, through fair taxation and a living wage, and *would welcome widespread support for the STUC campaign.
8. Themed Question Time: Questions on Finance and Sustainable Growth were answered by the Cabinet Secretary and Ministers.
9. Damages (Scotland) Bill - Stage 3: The Bill was considered at Stage 3.
The following amendments were agreed to (without division): 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
Amendment 5 was moved and, with the agreement of the Parliament, withdrawn
The Deputy Presiding Officer extended the time limit under Rule 9.8.4A (c).
10. Damages (Scotland) Bill - Stage 3: Bill Butler moved S3M-8028—That the Parliament agrees that the Damages (Scotland) Bill be passed.
After debate, the motion was agreed to (DT).
11. Property Factors (Scotland) Bill - Stage 3: The Bill was considered at Stage 3.
The following amendments were agreed to (without division): 1, 2, 31, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 32, 15, 33, 34, 16A, 16B, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30.
12. Property Factors (Scotland) Bill - Stage 3: Patricia Ferguson moved S3M-8029—That the Parliament agrees that the Property Factors (Scotland) Bill be passed.
After debate, the motion was agreed to (DT).
13. Decision Time: The Parliament took decisions on items 3, 4, 10 and 12 as noted above.
14. Grampian Police: The Parliament debated S3M-7977 in the name of —That the Parliament notes with concern comments from the Chief Constable of Grampian Police, Colin McKerracher, that merging Scotland's police forces could lead to the loss of 4,000 police officers’ jobs, including up to 400 in Grampian; further notes Mr McKerracher’s view that there is not a shred of evidence that a single force would be the best option; welcomes the vote by Northern Constabulary officers and staff to reject a single police force by 86.6%, and expresses its disappointment that the Cabinet Secretary for Justice has, it considers, undermined and pre-empted the current consultation on the issue by stating that a strong case had been made for a single force.
The meeting closed at 5.38 pm.
P E Grice
Clerk of the Parliament
3 March 2011
Appendix
(Note: this Appendix does not form part of the Minutes)
Legislative Consent Memorandums
The following memorandum was lodged on 3 March 2011
Nicola Sturgeon: Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Welfare Reform Bill (UK Parliament Legislation) (LCM(S3) 35.1)
Subordinate Legislation
Negative Instruments
The following instrument was laid before the Parliament on 3 March 2011 and is subject to annulment
The Animal By-Products (Enforcement) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 (SSI2011/171)
laid under paragraph 2(2) of schedule 2 to the European Communities Act 1972
Committee Reports
The following reports were published on 3 March 2011––
Finance Committee, 4th Report, 2011 (Session 3): Report on the draft Budget (Scotland) Act 2010 Amendment Order 2011 (SP Paper 604)
Finance Committee, 5th Report, 2011 (Session 3): Report on the legislative consent memorandum on the Public Bodies Bill (LCM(S3) 32.1) (SP Paper 605)
Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee, 3rd Report, 2011 (Session 3): Report on Subordinate Legislation (SP Paper 606)
Scotland Bill Committee, 1st Report, 2011 (Session 3): Report on the Scotland Bill and relevant legislative consent memoranda (SP Paper 608)