Note: (DT) signifies a decision taken at Decision Time.
The meeting opened at 2.30 pm.
1. Time for Reflection: Sister Patricia McKenna, St John’s, Barrhead, led Time for Reflection.
2. Budget (Scotland) (No.2) Bill: The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth (John Swinney) moved S3M-3161—That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Budget (Scotland) (No.2) Bill.
After debate, the motion was agreed to ((DT) by division: For 107, Against 16, Abstentions 1).
Accordingly the Parliament resolved—That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Budget (Scotland) (No.2) Bill.
3. Business Motion: Bruce Crawford, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S3M-3212—That the Parliament agrees the following programme of business—
Wednesday 21 January 2009
2.30 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Ministerial Statement: Mortgage to Shared Equity – Mortgage to Rent
followed by Scottish Government Debate: Common Agricultural Policy Health Check
followed by Business Motion
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Thursday 22 January 2009
9.15 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Scottish Parliamentary Pensions Bill
followed by Scottish Government Debate: Scottish Government’s Response to the Scottish Council of Economic Advisers’ Annual Report
11.40 am General Question Time
12 noon First Minister’s Question Time
2.15 pm Themed Question Time
Rural Affairs and the Environment;
Justice and Law Officers
2.55 pm Stage 1 Debate: Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Bill
followed by Financial Resolution: Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Bill
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Wednesday 28 January 2009
2.30 pm Time for Reflection
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Stage 3 Proceedings: Budget (Scotland) (No.2) Bill
followed by Business Motion
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
Thursday 29 January 2009
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
Finance and Sustainable Growth
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.
4. Business Motion: Bruce Crawford, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, moved S3M-3210—That the Parliament agrees that consideration of the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1 be completed by 8 May 2009.
The motion was agreed to.
5. Decision Time: The Parliament took decisions on item 2 as noted above.
Post Office Closures: The Parliament debated S3M-2753 in the name of Jim Hume—That the Parliament deplores the decision taken by Post Office Ltd to remain committed to its original post office branch closure programme across the South of Scotland despite the numerous strong objections made by individuals, businesses and community groups; further deplores the loss in particular of Greenlaw Post Office, which was shown to be a thriving and profitable business; notes with deep concern the detrimental impact that this loss of service provision in Greenlaw will have on the economy of the immediate local community and surrounding area, individuals and small to medium-sized businesses reliant upon a service that is very localised and customised to their specific needs and that provides face-to-face personal support and advice to elderly, disabled and vulnerable people, and considers that urgent action should be taken to retain effective and comprehensive postal services in Greenlaw and the rest of the South of Scotland.
The meeting closed at 5.36 pm.
P E Grice
Clerk of the Parliament
14 January 2009
Appendix
(Note: this Appendix does not form part of the Minutes)
Subordinate Legislation
Affirmative Instruments
The following instrument was laid in draft before the Parliament on 9 January 2009 for approval by resolution
The Non-Domestic Rating (Petrol Filling Stations, Public Houses and Hotels) (Scotland) Order 2009
laid under section 8(2) of the Local Government and Rating Act 1997
Negative Instruments
The following instruments were laid before the Parliament on 9 January 2009 and are subject to annulment—
The Rural Development Contracts (Rural Priorities) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2009 (SSI 2009/1)
laid under paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 2 to the European Communities Act 1972
The Non-Domestic Rate (Scotland) Order 2009 (SSI 2008/3)
laid under section 7B(1) and 37(1) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1975
The following instruments were laid before the Parliament on 14 January 2009 and are subject to annulment—
The Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 (Transitory Provisions in Consequence of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006) Order 2009 (SSI 2009/4)
laid under section 100(4) of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007
The Scottish Register of Tartans Fees Order 2009 (SSI 2009/6)
laid under section 14(2) of the Scottish Register of Tartans Act 2008
Other Documents
The following documents were laid before the Parliament on 12 January 2009 and are not subject to any parliamentary procedure
Scotland’s Budget Documents 2009-10: Budget (Scotland) Bill Supporting Document for the year ending 31 March 2010 (SG/2009/1)
Instrument of Appointment of Lord Penrose as Chair to the Public Inquiry into Hepatitis C/HIV infection from NHS treatment with blood and blood products (SG/2009/3)—
Letter to Lord Penrose including Terms of Reference for the Public Inquiry into Hepatitis C/HIV infection from NHS treatment with blood and blood products (SG/2009/4)—
laid under section 6 of the Inquiries Act 2005
The following document was laid before the Parliament on 14 January 2009 and is not subject to any parliamentary procedure
Central Government’s use of Consultancy Services: A report and key messages summary prepared for the Auditor General for Scotland (AGS/2009/1)
laid under the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000
Committee Reports
The following report was published on 9 January 2009
Subordinate Legislation Committee, 1st Report 2009 (Session 3): Subordinate Legislation (SP Paper 190)
The following reports were published on 14 January—
Public Audit Committee, 1st Report 2009 (Session 3): Review of palliative care services in Scotland (SP Paper 189)
Subordinate Legislation Committee, 2nd Report 2009 (Session 3): Budget (Scotland) (No.2) Bill (SP Paper 192)