Note: (DT) signifies a decision taken at Decision Time.
The meeting opened at 9.15 am.
1. Alcohol etc (Scotland) Bill: The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing (Nicola Sturgeon) moved S3M-6511—That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Bill.
Murdo Fraser moved amendment S3M-6511.1 to motion S3M-6511—
Insert at end—
“but, in so doing, believes that there is no evidence to support section 1, which would introduce a minimum price per unit of alcohol, and accordingly calls on the Scottish Government to lodge and move an amendment at stage 2 to delete section 1.”
After debate, the amendment was agreed to ((DT) by division: For 54, Against 49, Abstentions 13).
The motion, as amended, was then agreed to ((DT) by division: For 98, Against 0, Abstentions 18).
Accordingly, the Parliament resolved—That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Bill but, in so doing, believes that there is no evidence to support section 1, which would introduce a minimum price per unit of alcohol, and accordingly calls on the Scottish Government to lodge and move an amendment at stage 2 to delete section 1.
2. Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Bill: Financial Resolution: The Minister for Public Health and Sport (Shona Robison) moved S3M-5691—That the Parliament , for the purposes of any Act of the Scottish Parliament resulting from the Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Bill, agrees to (a) any expenditure of a kind referred to in Rule 9.12.3(b)(ii) of the Parliament’s Standing Orders and (b) any charges or payments in relation to which Rule 9.12.4 of the Standing Orders applies, arising in consequence of the Act.
The motion was agreed to (DT).
3. General Question Time: Questions were answered by Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers.
4. First Minister’s Question Time: Questions were answered by the First Minister (Alex Salmond).
5. Themed Question Time: Questions on Finance and Sustainable Growth were answered by the Cabinet Secretary and Ministers.
6. Violence Against Men: The Minister for Housing and Communities (Alex Neil) moved S3M-6531—That the Parliament recognises that domestic abuse is a very serious and totally unacceptable problem in Scottish society; notes in particular that all victims, whether they be women, men or children, deserve appropriate support, and therefore welcomes the Scottish Government’s provision of funding for a support helpline for male victims, which will provide the further information about their needs that is required before any future decisions about services are made.
Johann Lamont moved amendment S3M-6531.2 to motion S3M-6531—
Insert at end—
“, and reaffirms that domestic abuse is rooted in gender inequality, that overwhelmingly victims are women and that eradicating domestic abuse will only succeed where that pattern is acknowledged.”
After debate, the amendment was agreed to ((DT) by division: For 85, Against 27, Abstentions 3).
John Lamont moved amendment S3M-6531.1 to motion S3M-6531—
Leave out from fourth “that” to end and insert—
“, and requires the Scottish Government to report back to the Parliament with further details on the information collected and what action it plans to take before any future decisions about services are made.”
After debate, the amendment was disagreed to ((DT) by division: For 28, Against 42, Abstentions 46).
The motion, as amended, was then agreed to ((DT) by division: For 85, Against 17, Abstentions 14).
Accordingly, the Parliament resolved—That the Parliament recognises that domestic abuse is a very serious and totally unacceptable problem in Scottish society; notes in particular that all victims, whether they be women, men or children, deserve appropriate support; therefore welcomes the Scottish Government’s provision of funding for a support helpline for male victims, which will provide the further information about their needs that is required before any future decisions about services are made, and reaffirms that domestic abuse is rooted in gender inequality, that overwhelmingly victims are women and that eradicating domestic abuse will only succeed where that pattern is acknowledged.
7. Decision Time: The Parliament took decisions on items 1, 2 and 6 as noted above.
8. My Hero, My Soldier Laddie, Commemorating Scotland’s VC Recipients: The Parliament debated S3M-6437 in the name of Christina McKelvie—That the Parliament welcomes the publication of My Hero, My Soldier Laddie by artist and writer Duncan Brown, the illustrated story of Scotland’s 172 recipients of the Victoria Cross (VC); notes that the book tells the individual stories of each of the 14 VC recipients who came from Lanarkshire, one in every hundred of all VC recipients ever awarded; further notes that, in 2001, Duncan Brown was instrumental in securing the raising of the monument that now stands in Hamilton Town Square to the memory of these 14 men, David Mackay of Auchenheath, Frederick Aikman and John O’Neill of Hamilton, William Gardner of Bothwell, Willie Angus, Thomas Caldwell and Donald Cameron of Carluke, David Lauder and John Carmichael of Airdrie, James Richardson of Bellshill, William Milne of Wishaw, John Hamilton of Cambuslang, William Clamp of Craigneuk and Bill Reid of Coatbridge; believes that the type of oral and social history found in My Hero, My Soldier Laddie plays a crucial role in uncovering, illuminating and preserving Scotland’s past and the lives of ordinary Scots who made extraordinary contributions, and congratulates Duncan Brown on his considerable achievement in this respect.
The meeting closed at 5.36 pm.
P E Grice
Clerk of the Parliament
10 June 2010
Appendix
(Note: this Appendix does not form part of the Minutes)
New Bills introduced or reprinted on 9 June 2010
Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill—A Bill for an Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provision in connection with wildlife and the natural environment; and for connected purposes. (SP Bill 52) (Executive Bill)
Introduced by: Richard Lochhead
Supported by: Roseanna Cunningham
Explanatory Notes (and other accompanying documents) (SP Bill 52-EN) and a Policy Memorandum (SP Bill 52-PM) were printed to accompany the Bill.
Subordinate Legislation
Negative Instruments
The following instruments were laid before the Parliament on 10 June 2010 and are subject to annulment—
The National Health Service (Discipline Committees) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2010 (SSI 2010/226)
laid under section 105(2) of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978
The National Health Service (Tribunal) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2010 (SSI 2010/227)
laid under section 105(2) of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978
The Scottish Dental Practice Board Amendment Regulations 2010 (SSI2010/228)
laid under sections 4(1) and (2), 25(1), 105(7) and 108(1) of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978
The National Health Service (Vocational Training for General Dental Practice) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2010 (SSI 2010/229)
laid under section 105 of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978
The Police Pension Account (Scotland) Regulations 2010 (SSI 2010/232)
laid under section 1(6) of the Police Pensions Act 1976
Other Documents
The following documents were laid before the Parliament on 10 June 2010 and are not subject to any Parliamentary procedure
Revised Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies in Scotland – consultation version (CPA/2010/02)—
Revised Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies in Scotland – consultation questionnaire (CPA/2010/03)—
laid under section 2(4)(a) of the Public Appointments and Public Bodies etc (Scotland) Act 2003
Committee Reports
The following reports are being published on 10 June 2010—
Local Government and Communities Committee, 6th Report, 2010 (Session 3): Annual Report 2009-10 (SP Paper 461)
Subordinate Legislation Committee, 34th Report, 2010 (Session 3): Subordinate Legislation (SPPaper 462)