Meeting of the Parliament [Draft]

Meeting date: Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Official Report 1286KB pdf

Business Motion

The next item of business is consideration of business motion S6M-12947, in the name of George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a timetable for the stage 3 consideration of the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill. I ask any member who wishes to speak against the motion to press their request-to-speak button.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I seek your guidance in relation to rule 9.10.5 of the standing orders, which talks about the proper form of amendments, and, in particular, the use of languages other than English. Indeed, there is a publication policy by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, dating from 2018, which states that the working language of the Parliament is English and that the Parliament legislates in English. There is provision for another language to be used where appropriate, and where prior approval of the head of chamber and reporting, as the role was called then, has been sought.

I have had useful correspondence with the Minister for Parliamentary Business about why Latin has been used in an amendment that was lodged quite late in the lodging period. I seek your guidance on whether prior approval was sought for the use of Latin. I understand why it has been used but, procedurally, my understanding is that, for the amendment to be in an appropriate form, that approval needs to have been sought first.

I thank Mr Whitfield for his point of order. In relation to today’s proceedings, I can confirm that the Latin terms in the amendment concerned are precise terms that are used in the Criminal Procedures (Scotland) Act 1995 and are, consequently, used as standard in criminal proceedings. There is no suitable English translation that would be commonly understood.

However, I recognise that it would be helpful to reflect on the issue that the member has raised in relation to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body policy concerned.

I call George Adam to move the motion.

I am trying to think back to my schoolboy Latin, but I will just say, “Moved”. [Laughter.]

Thank you, minister. I think that we will stick to the English translation from now on, to the extent possible.

Motion moved,

That the Parliament agrees that, during stage 3 of the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill, debate on groups of amendments shall, subject to Rule 9.8.4A, be brought to a conclusion by the time limits indicated. Those time limits, 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, are as follows:

Groups 1 to 3: 1 hour 10 minutes;
Groups 4 to 6: 2 hours 5 minutes;
Groups 7 to 9: 3 hours 5 minutes;
Groups 10 to 12: 4 hours 10 minutes;
Groups 13 to 15: 5 hours 10 minutes.—[George Adam]

Motion agreed to.