Meeting of the Parliament [Draft]

Meeting date: Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Official Report 1122KB pdf

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Business Motions

The next item of business is consideration of business motion S6M-07735, in the name of George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a business programme. I invite George Adam to move the motion.

Motion moved,

That the Parliament agrees—

(a) the following programme of business—

Tuesday 7 February 2023

2.00 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Topical Questions (if selected)

followed by Ministerial Statement: Scottish Government's Response to the Second Round of the Levelling Up Fund

followed by Scottish Government Debate: Update on the Social Security Programme Business Case

followed by Committee Announcements

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

Wednesday 8 February 2023

2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.00 pm Portfolio Questions:
Covid Recovery and Parliamentary Business;
Finance and the Economy

followed by Scottish Liberal Democrats Business

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Approval of SSIs (if required)

5.10 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

followed by Members’ Business

Thursday 9 February 2023

11.40 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions

11.40 am General Questions

12.00 pm First Minister's Questions

followed by Members’ Business

2.30 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.30 pm Portfolio Questions:
Net Zero, Energy and Transport

followed by Scottish Government Debate: International Day of Women and Girls in Science

followed by Scottish Government Debate: Scottish Income Tax Rate Resolution 2023-24

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

Tuesday 21 February 2023

2.00 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Topical Questions (if selected)

followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Budget (Scotland) (No. 2) Bill

followed by Committee Announcements

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

Wednesday 22 February 2023

2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.00 pm Portfolio Questions:
Rural Affairs and Islands;
Health and Social Care

followed by Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Business

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Approval of SSIs (if required)

5.10 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

Thursday 23 February 2023

11.40 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions

11.40 am General Questions

12.00 pm First Minister's Questions

followed by Members’ Business

2.30 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.30 pm Portfolio Questions:
Social Justice, Housing and Local Government

followed by Scottish Government Business

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

(b) that, for the purposes of Portfolio Questions in the week beginning 6 February 2023, in rule 13.7.3, after the word “except” the words “to the extent to which the Presiding Officer considers that the questions are on the same or similar subject matter or” are inserted.—[George Adam.]

I call Stephen Kerr to speak to and move amendment S6M-07735.1.

17:09  

My amendment seeks to insert a ministerial statement next week on the disruption in our schools.

As teachers continue their industrial action, which is causing no end of disruption, the First Minister and the cabinet secretary continue to pursue a strategy of inaction. Teachers, who do not want to strike, have been left with no options. Parents are having to arrange childcare. Pupils are not in school and they are suffering further disruption to their education on top of the disruption that was caused by two years of the pandemic. That is why I am on my feet, yet again, asking for a statement.

It feels like, every time we get the cabinet secretary to come to the chamber to answer questions, be it on educational attainment, the apprenticeship programme or the current strikes, she must be forced into it. That is not the attitude of a cabinet secretary who is on top of her brief or the attitude of a cabinet secretary who is energised and engaged in her subject area. The Scottish Government’s attitude seems disengaged to the point of laziness.

Labour is happy to support calls for a statement on the strikes, which are debilitating for families and schools across the country. When I spoke to the trade unions this afternoon, they said to me that the negotiations have, in effect, ground to a halt. Is that not a disgrace?

It is a disgrace. Many members in the chamber, alongside parents and pupils in schools across the country, will have the deepest sympathy for striking teachers. I have sympathy with a profession that seems increasingly to be held in contempt by the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Government is negotiating a pay deal that is now more than 300 days overdue, and we see nothing of the First Minister in any of this. She was fast enough to rush in front of cameras over the past few days, but she shows no animation whatsoever to settle the dispute with Scotland’s teachers.

Would the member like to tell the Parliament how much he thinks should be offered to the teachers? Is it 10 per cent, 15 per cent or more? Where should that money come from?

I say to John Mason that, if we could get the cabinet secretary to come to the chamber to bring us up to date with the negotiations and where things stand, we could perhaps discuss that sort of detail.

This Parliament needs answers. I ask colleagues for their support to get a ministerial statement on the issue at the beginning of next week. We need to find out what the cabinet secretary is doing. Is she negotiating with the teachers and the councils? We know that, as of 17 January, she had not attended any of the negotiation sessions.

Will the member give way?

I will give way one more time.

Does Stephen Kerr find it surprising that the cabinet secretary is so reluctant to update the Parliament about this once-in-a-lifetime industrial dispute when the Government has spent the whole afternoon boasting about its industrial relations exercise?

Yes. Willie Rennie is right. There are inherent contradictions in what we hear from members of the front bench and their attitude to the teaching unions and the dispute.

Has the First Minister met any of the teaching unions? According to correspondence that I received this week, which I will share with the Parliament, she has been missing in action. Despite her personal intervention in the local government pay dispute and the train drivers dispute, she has yet to set her hand on the teachers strike.

No wonder members of a branch of one of the teaching unions, the Educational Institute of Scotland, have written to me saying,

“The reason why we are writing to you is because throughout this dispute we have yet to see or hear from the First Minister. We obviously want to get this dispute resolved and get back to teaching our young people, but we need the First Minister to enable us to do this. If you see her, could you let her know we are looking for her?”

That is from the EIS.

Furthermore, the EIS says:

“It is disingenuous and unacceptable for the Scottish Government and COSLA to continue to misrepresent negotiations as positive and constructive.”

Are they positive? Are they constructive? We do not know, because all that we get from the cabinet secretary are meaningless platitudes in the form of press statements while the strikes continue.

The cabinet secretary must appear before Parliament. Her laid-back, hands-off approach has failed parents, pupils, communities and teachers. I urge members to support my amendment so that we can scrutinise the cabinet secretary.

Mr Kerr, I ask you to move your amendment.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak again, Presiding Officer.

I move amendment S6M-07735.1, to leave out from “Tuesday 7 February 2023” to “followed by Ministerial Statement: Scottish Government’s Response to the Second Round of the Levelling Up Fund” and insert:

“Tuesday 7 February 2023

2.00 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Topical Questions (if selected)

followed by Ministerial Statement: Teacher Strikes

followed by Ministerial Statement: Scottish Government's Response to the Second Round of the Levelling Up Fund.”

I call George Adam to respond on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau.

17:14  

Presiding Officer, you would be a bit shocked to know that we are talking about parliamentary business, because Stephen Kerr went off on one—as I think the term is—so to speak.

Mr Kerr may have said, as he has on numerous occasions, that he was requesting a statement for next week, but this is the first time that the bureau has heard that request. As Mr Kerr knows, there is, rightly, a process—with which the Conservatives are very familiar—by which a statement can be requested. Mr Kerr understands that, as he was the Tory business manager and he used it regularly. However, this was not raised at all at the bureau.

Members: Oh!

As always, we will consider any request for a statement that is raised by business managers through the official route. What we have here is the Conservative party indulging in opposition for opposition’s sake. [Interruption.]

Let us hear the minister.

It would be helpful if the Tories moved away from such political shenanigans and discussed requests for business at bureau, as per the norm.

The first question is, that amendment SM6-07735.1, in the name of Stephen Kerr, which seeks to amend business motion S6M-07735, in the name of George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a business programme, be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members: No.

There will be a division.

There will be a brief pause, to allow members to access the digital voting system. I ask all members who have voted previously today to refresh their devices.

17:16 Meeting suspended.  

17:21 On resuming—  

The question is, that amendment S6M-07735.1, in the name of Stephen Kerr, be agreed to. Members should cast their votes now.

The vote is closed.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app failed. I would have voted no.

We will ensure that that is recorded.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I could not connect to the digital platform. I would have voted no.

I can confirm that your vote was, in fact, recorded.

For

Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Con)
Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab)
Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab)
Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con)
Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con)
Cameron, Donald (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con)
Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab)
Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab)
Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con)
Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab)
Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con)
Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con)
Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con)
Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con)
Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (Con)
Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con)
Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)
Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con)
Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con)
Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con)
Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con)
Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab)
McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD)
McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab)
Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab)
Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con)
O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab)
Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD)
Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab)
Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Con)
Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Smyth, Colin (South Scotland) (Lab)
Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab)
Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con)
Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con)
White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con)
Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab)
Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con)

Against

Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP)
Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP)
Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP)
Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP)
Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP)
Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP)
Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP)
Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green)
Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP)
Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green)
Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP)
Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP)
Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP)
Don, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP)
Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP)
Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP)
Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP)
Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP)
Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP)
Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP)
FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP)
Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP)
Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP)
Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP)
Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP)
Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green)
Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP)
Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green)
Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP)
Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP)
Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP)
Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP)
Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP)
MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP)
MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP)
Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green)
Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP)
Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP)
Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP)
Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)
Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP)
McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP)
McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP)
McKelvie, Christina (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP)
McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP)
McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP)
Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP)
Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP)
Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (SNP)
Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP)
Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)
Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green)
Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green)
Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP)
Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP)
Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP)
Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)
Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP)
Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP)
Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP)
Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP)
Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP)
Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP)

The result of the division is: For 54, Against 66, Abstentions 0.

Amendment disagreed to.

The next question is, that motion S6M-07735, in the name of George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a business programme, be agreed to.

Motion agreed to,

That the Parliament agrees—

(a) the following programme of business—

Tuesday 7 February 2023

2.00 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Topical Questions (if selected)

followed by Ministerial Statement: Scottish Government's Response to the Second Round of the Levelling Up Fund

followed by Scottish Government Debate: Update on the Social Security Programme Business Case

followed by Committee Announcements

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

Wednesday 8 February 2023

2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.00 pm Portfolio Questions:
Covid Recovery and Parliamentary Business;
Finance and the Economy

followed by Scottish Liberal Democrats Business

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Approval of SSIs (if required)

5.10 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

followed by Members’ Business

Thursday 9 February 2023

11.40 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions

11.40 am General Questions

12.00 pm First Minister's Questions

followed by Members’ Business

2.30 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.30 pm Portfolio Questions:
Net Zero, Energy and Transport

followed by Scottish Government Debate: International Day of Women and Girls in Science

followed by Scottish Government Debate: Scottish Income Tax Rate Resolution 2023-24

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

Tuesday 21 February 2023

2.00 pm Time for Reflection

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Topical Questions (if selected)

followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Budget (Scotland) (No. 2) Bill

followed by Committee Announcements

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

Wednesday 22 February 2023

2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.00 pm Portfolio Questions:
Rural Affairs and Islands;
Health and Social Care

followed by Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Business

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

followed by Approval of SSIs (if required)

5.10 pm Decision Time

followed by Members’ Business

Thursday 23 February 2023

11.40 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions

11.40 am General Questions

12.00 pm First Minister's Questions

followed by Members’ Business

2.30 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2.30 pm Portfolio Questions:
Social Justice, Housing and Local Government

followed by Scottish Government Business

followed by Business Motions

followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions

5.00 pm Decision Time

(b) that, for the purposes of Portfolio Questions in the week beginning 6 February 2023, in rule 13.7.3, after the word “except” the words “to the extent to which the Presiding Officer considers that the questions are on the same or similar subject matter or” are inserted.