Note: (DT) signifies a decision taken at Decision Time.
The meeting opened at 9.15 am.
1. A Budget for Scotland’s People: Johann Lamont moved S3M-7474—That the Parliament notes that the Scottish Government has been presented with its spending budgets for the four-year spending review period yet has chosen to provide local authorities, NHS boards, universities, colleges, the voluntary sector and the wider public sector with only one-year budget proposals for 2011-12; believes that such uncertainty is corrosive as it does not allow those organisations to plan effectively; believes that this inability to plan will have an adverse impact on services, individuals, families and communities, and calls on the Scottish Government to follow the example of the Welsh Assembly Government and the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body and publish indicative figures until at least 2013-14, in addition to its planned one-year budget for 2011-12.
John Swinney moved amendment S3M-7474.3 to motion S3M-7474—
Leave out from first “Scottish Government” to end and insert—
“Scottish Parliament is always asked to approve a budget for one financial year; acknowledges that £3.3 billion of cuts in Scotland’s budget imposed by the UK Government in the Comprehensive Spending Review, with the largest cuts due to fall in 2011-12, means that radical reform of public services will be needed; welcomes the Scottish Government’s work in setting out clear priorities for long-term success in the Scottish economy and the announcement of a £2.5 billion programme of infrastructure investment to be delivered through the non-profit distributing model; further notes the work of the Christie Commission that will inform public service delivery in the years to come, and calls for the Parliament to be given the opportunity to fully consider those proposals before setting further detailed spending plans.”
After debate, the amendment was disagreed to ((DT) by division: For 43, Against 71, Abstentions 0).
Derek Brownlee moved amendment S3M-7474.1 to motion S3M-7474—
Insert at end—
“, and believes that the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000 should be amended to place a duty on the Scottish Government to produce in each UK spending review year such indicative annual figures for the whole period for which the UK Government has set out totals for the Scottish Government.”
After debate, the amendment was agreed to ((DT) by division: For 71, Against 43, Abstentions 0).
Jeremy Purvis moved amendment S3M-7474.4 to motion S3M-7474—
Leave out from “indicative” to end and insert—
“longer-term figures up to 2014-15.”
After debate, the amendment was agreed to ((DT) by division: For 71, Against 43, Abstentions 0).
The motion as amended was then agreed to ((DT) by division: For 71, Against 42, Abstentions 0).
Accordingly, the Parliament resolved—
That the Parliament notes that the Scottish Government has been presented with its spending budgets for the four-year spending review period yet has chosen to provide local authorities, NHS boards, universities, colleges, the voluntary sector and the wider public sector with only one-year budget proposals for 2011-12; believes that such uncertainty is corrosive as it does not allow those organisations to plan effectively; believes that this inability to plan will have an adverse impact on services, individuals, families and communities, and calls on the Scottish Government to follow the example of the Welsh Assembly Government and the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body and publish longer-term figures up to 2014-15.
2. General Question Time: Questions were answered by Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers.
3. First Minister’s Question Time: Questions were answered by the First Minister (Alex Salmond).
4. Themed Question Time: Questions on Education and Lifelong Learning, and on Europe, External Affairs and Culture were answered by Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers.
5. Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Bill - Stage 3: The Parliament resumed consideration of the Bill at Stage 3.
The following amendments were agreed to (without division): 146, 96A, 96, 147, 97, 98A, 98, 148, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 161, 150A, 150B, 150C, 150, 151, 152, 107, 108, 162, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 153, 154, 118, 119, 120 and 121.
Amendment 105 was moved and, with the agreement of the Parliament, withdrawn.
The following amendments were not moved: 149 and 106.
The Minister for Parliamentary Business moved a motion without notice under Rule 9.8.5A that the remaining time limits be extended by 10 minutes.
The Minister for Parliamentary Business moved a motion without notice under Rule 9.8.5A that the remaining time limit be extended by up to 20 minutes.
6. Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Bill - Stage 3: The Minister for Children and Early Years (Adam Ingram) moved S3M-7399—That the Parliament agrees that the Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Bill be passed.
After debate, the motion was agreed to (DT).
7. Decision Time: The Parliament took decisions on items 1 and 6 as noted above.
8. St Andrew’s Day 2010: The Parliament debated S3M-7351 in the name of John Wilson—That the Parliament reiterates support for the passing of the St Andrew’s Day Bank Holiday (Scotland) Act 2007 to mark St Andrew’s Day on 30 November as a national holiday; considers with regret that very few public bodies have taken on board the spirit of the legislation to fully appreciate that St Andrew’s Day should be granted full public holiday status, and would welcome widespread support for St Andrew’s Day throughout Central Scotland in 2010.
The meeting closed at 5.32 pm.
P E Grice
Clerk of the Parliament
25 November 2010
Appendix
(Note: this Appendix does not form part of the Minutes)
Other Documents
The following documents were laid before the Parliament on 25 November 2010 and are not subject to any Parliamentary procedure––
The Care Commission Annual Report and Accounts 2009/10 (SG/2010/232)
laid under section 10(1) of Schedule 1 to the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001
Private Rented Housing Panel Annual Report 2009 (SG/2010/239)
laid under section 29(4) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006
Committee Reports
The following reports were published on 25 November 2010—
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee, 8th Report 2010 (Session 3): Complaint against Kenneth Gibson MSP (SP Paper 530)
Rural Affairs and Environment Committee, 8th report 2010 (Session 3): Stage 1 Report on Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill (SP Paper 531)