Ag/S3/08/33 PARLIAMENTARY BUREAU
AGENDA FOR MEETING ON TUESDAY 18 NOVEMBER 2008 2.00pm: Room Q1.03
1. Minutes (a) Draft minutes of 11 November 2008 (attached) (b) Matters arising
2. Future Business Programme (PB/S3/08/127)
3. Procedural motions (a) Scottish Statutory Instruments (PB/S3/08/128)
Legislation 4. (a) Damages (Asbestos-related Conditions) (Scotland) Bill – Stage 2 timetable (PB/S3/08/129)
(b) Proposed Regulation of Bus Services Bill – referral of draft proposal (PB/S3/08/130)
5. Christmas Recess Issues (PB/S3/08/131)
6. Scotland Week 2009 (PB/S3/08/132)
7. Scottish Public Services Ombudsman – selection panel (PB/S3/08/133)
8. Publication scheme – consideration of any exempt papers
9. Date of next meeting – Tuesday 25 November 2008 PB/S3/08/127
PARLIAMENTARY BUREAU
POSSIBLE MOTIONS FOR MEMBERS BUSINESS
1. Bureau Members will be aware that under Rule 5.6.1(c) the Bureau has a duty to ensure that there is a period of time available for Members’ Business following Decision Time.
2. Motions submitted for Members’ Business are shown below.
S3M-2873# Sandra White: Successful Mercy Mission to Gaza—That the Parliament congratulates the success of the European Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza and the Free Gaza Movement on their successful mission to break the blockade of Gaza and deliver much needed medical supplies and equipment to the people of Gaza; notes that alongside politicians from around Europe, such as Claire Short MP and Lord Nazir Ahmed, the successful delegation included Sandra White MSP, Pauline McNeill MSP and Hugh O’Donnell MSP; further notes that, after the refusal of the Egyptian authorities to provide safe passage, the group successfully sailed from Cyprus to Gaza despite the close attention of the Israeli navy; hopes that these actions will give hope to the many Palestinians throughout the world, including Glasgow, that the blockade will be ended, and believes that only by all parties working together can we resolve this issue, which is causing untold suffering to the ordinary people of Gaza.
Supported by: Bill Kidd, Hugh Henry, Robin Harper, Marlyn Glen, Christina McKelvie, Bob Doris*, Gil Paterson*, Bill Wilson*, Rob Gibson*, Joe FitzPatrick*, Aileen Campbell*, Pauline McNeill*, Keith Brown*, Jamie Hepburn*, Alex Neil*, Hugh O’Donnell*, Bashir Ahmad*
S3M-2842# Bill Butler: The Hospital Broadcasting Service—That the Parliament recognises the work of the Hospital Broadcasting Service (HBS), which broadcasts to a number of hospitals in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area; commends its commitment to providing a regular and varied selection of programmes to patients; praises the recent revamp of the service at Drumchapel Hospital through the relaunch of the request programme; salutes the efforts and hard work of HBS volunteers, who provide a vital link with and ongoing point of contact for patients through regular hospital visits; further recognises that HBS provides high quality training and encouragement to its members as well as the role that it has played in the development of the careers of several distinguished Scottish broadcasters, and wishes HBS continued success in the years ahead.
Supported by: Brian Adam, Bob Doris, Kenneth Gibson, Bill Kidd, Bashir Ahmad, Jamie McGrigor, Iain Gray, Cathy Peattie, John Park, Cathy Jamieson, Jackson Carlaw, Jackie Baillie, Patrick Harvie, Robin Harper, Dr Richard Simpson, James Kelly, Ross Finnie, David Whitton, Mary Mulligan, Marilyn Livingstone, Andy Kerr, Jamie Hepburn, Karen Whitefield, Ken Macintosh, Sarah Boyack, Cathie Craigie, Jack McConnell, David Stewart, Patricia Ferguson, Pauline McNeill*, Mr Frank McAveety*
S3M-2817# Marlyn Glen: World AIDS Day 2008—That the Parliament recognises the importance of World AIDS Day on 1 December 2008 and its aim of highlighting the challenges and consequences of the HIV epidemic around the world; acknowledges that there are 33 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide and that countries face a myriad challenges in halting the spread of the virus and improving the lives and experiences of people affected; recognises that HIV diagnoses in Scotland have been increasing in recent years with 2007 seeing the highest annual number on record; acknowledges that it is estimated that there are 5,500 people now living with HIV in Scotland; regrets that a recent poll found that people in Scotland had comparatively poorer rates of HIV knowledge than in other areas of the United Kingdom; considers that this lack of public understanding about the virus and how it is transmitted compounds and exacerbates the stigma and prejudice experienced by many people living with HIV in Scotland, and therefore supports this year’s theme of Respect and Protect, which highlights the responsibility of everyone to transform attitudes to HIV and encourage actions that stop its spread.
Supported by: Mary Mulligan, Ms Wendy Alexander, Ken Macintosh, John Park, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Bill Kidd, Jackie Baillie, Patrick Harvie, Robin Harper, Stuart McMillan, Sarah Boyack,
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Alasdair Allan, Hugh O’Donnell, David Stewart, Elaine Murray, Liam McArthur, Jamie Hepburn, Trish Godman, Sandra White, Christine Grahame, James Kelly, Rob Gibson, Karen Whitefield, Dr Richard Simpson, Claire Baker, Kenneth Gibson, Bill Butler, Rhona Brankin, Christina McKelvie, Hugh Henry, Nanette Milne, Jack McConnell, Cathy Peattie, Bob Doris, Joe FitzPatrick, Marilyn Livingstone, Rhoda Grant, Peter Peacock, Gil Paterson*
S3M-2808# Stuart McMillan: 65 Years of Piping Excellence—That the Parliament congratulates the College of Piping in Glasgow on its 65th anniversary year in 2009; acknowledges the importance of the college in teaching people of all ages and from all backgrounds since 27 October 1944; notes that it also welcomes students from around the world, and further congratulates the college for being the oldest piping educational establishment in Scotland.
Supported by: Bob Doris, Jamie Hepburn, Sandra White, Alasdair Allan, Bill Kidd, Mary Scanlon, Jamie McGrigor, John Lamont, Bill Wilson, Jackson Carlaw, Nanette Milne, Robin Harper, Jackie Baillie, Ken Macintosh, Kenneth Gibson, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Paul Martin, Mike Pringle, Roseanna Cunningham, Gil Paterson, Ian McKee, Alex Neil, Dave Thompson, Cathy Peattie, Bill Aitken, Jack McConnell, Christina McKelvie, Michael Matheson, Willie Coffey
S3M-2805# Cathy Jamieson: Carers’ Rights Day—That the Parliament welcomes Carers’ Rights Day 2008 on Friday 5 December, aimed at increasing awareness of the invaluable role of carers across Scotland in looking after a disabled or vulnerable loved one, as well as the advice and support available to them; notes with concern research by Carers Scotland that nearly three quarters of the estimated 666,000 carers in Scotland are financially worse-off as a result of caring, with many living in poverty; is further concerned that many carers do not realise the range of financial help and advice that they are entitled to; therefore congratulates Carers Scotland on its work to improve the uptake of available assistance through the publication of its booklet Looking after someone: a guide to carers’ rights and benefits and its website www.carerscotland.org, which also includes details of over 1,000 outreach events in conjunction with similar organisations across the United Kingdom, and further notes the role that MSPs of all parties can play in the Parliament and in their constituencies or regions to help ensure that carers receive the support that they richly deserve.
Supported by: Trish Godman, John Scott, Jamie Hepburn, Jack McConnell, Sarah Boyack, David Stewart, Rhoda Grant, Karen Whitefield
S3M-2794# Nanette Milne: Seabirds—That the Parliament notes with concern recent data from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) Scotland highlighting another terrible season for Scotland’s breeding seabirds, notably Arctic skuas, Arctic terns and kittiwakes; is alarmed that many of our internationally important species have now suffered successive poor breeding seasons over a period of years, with evidence suggesting that the Scottish populations of these species are experiencing substantial declines; notes that Scotland is an internationally important breeding ground for seabirds, with spectacular coastal seabird colonies in areas such as north-east Scotland and the Northern Isles containing 45% of the European Union’s breeding populations; further notes that seabird populations are a key health indicator for the marine environment as a whole, and considers that the forthcoming Scottish marine bill offers an opportunity to examine what can be done to address the catastrophic decline of our seabird populations.
Supported by: John Scott, Jackson Carlaw, Elizabeth Smith, Roseanna Cunningham, John Lamont, Joe FitzPatrick, Bill Aitken, Elaine Murray, Jamie McGrigor, Ms Wendy Alexander, Murdo Fraser, Hugh O’Donnell, Liam McArthur, Bill Wilson, Bill Kidd, Alex Johnstone, John Wilson, Ken Macintosh, Kenneth Gibson, Robin Harper, Sarah Boyack, Ted Brocklebank, Jack McConnell, Jamie Hepburn, Annabel Goldie, Cathy Jamieson, Cathy Peattie
S3M-2768# Alex Neil: Lloyds TSB Takeover of HBOS—That the Parliament gives a general welcome to the measures taken by the UK and other governments to tackle the current banking crisis; considers, however, that the recapitalisation plans announced by HM Treasury in October 2008 have fundamentally changed the landscape under which competition rules were waived to enable a merger between Lloyds TSB and Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS); further considers that inconsistent statements have come from the Treasury about whether or not the banks would independently have access to the recapitalisation funds; believes that this ambiguity is not serving anyone’s interests in the present environment; further believes that losing HBOS corporate headquarters and jobs in
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Edinburgh would seriously jeopardise the city’s position as a financial centre; sees no reason why HBOS should not be able to access UK Treasury recapitalisation and, therefore, liquidity funding on the same independent basis as other major banks, and, with this in mind, considers it a very real possibility that an independent HBOS solution could be found that may well be in the best interests of shareholders, employees, customers and the Scottish economy at large.
Supported by: Ian McKee, Rob Gibson, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Kenneth Gibson, Sandra White, Christine Grahame, Bashir Ahmad, Aileen Campbell, Bill Kidd, Jamie Hepburn, Gil Paterson, Angela Constance, Robin Harper, Roseanna Cunningham, Bill Wilson, Bob Doris, Brian Adam, Michael Matheson, Christina McKelvie, Dave Thompson, Stuart McMillan, Joe FitzPatrick
S3M-2712# Bill Butler: Show Racism the Red Card’s Fortnight of Action—That the Parliament supports Show Racism the Red Card’s (SRTRC) 5th annual Fortnight of Action, which takes place from 16 to 30 October 2008 and will see a number of high profile events aimed at tackling racism and celebrating cultural diversity at football matches across the country; notes that, since it inception in Scotland, SRTRC has proved consistently successful in using football as a tool to challenge racism, ignorance, intolerance and bigotry in both sport and wider society; recognises the quality of SRTRC educational resources and programmes, which are rolled out across schools in Scotland; welcomes the development of SRTRC’s Islamophobia package, which seeks to challenge many of the myths that have become attached to the subject of Islam, and wishes the Scottish Parliament’s football team the best of luck with its contribution to the campaign when it plays against the SRTRC team at Tynecastle on 17 October 2008.
Supported by: Michael McMahon, Bill Kidd, Jamie McGrigor, Brian Adam, Bob Doris, Bashir Ahmad, Jackson Carlaw, Alex Neil, Hugh Henry, Kenneth Gibson, Patrick Harvie, John Park, Roseanna Cunningham, Bill Wilson, Stuart McMillan, Marlyn Glen, Ken Macintosh, Dr Richard Simpson, Pauline McNeill, Sarah Boyack, Joe FitzPatrick, Cathie Craigie, Liam McArthur, Malcolm Chisholm, Jackie Baillie, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Mary Mulligan, Elaine Smith, Jamie Hepburn, Angela Constance, Trish Godman, Mr Frank McAveety, James Kelly, Nanette Milne, Hugh O’Donnell, Cathy Peattie, Robin Harper, Charlie Gordon, Gil Paterson, Irene Oldfather, Tom McCabe, Jack McConnell, David Stewart, Rhoda Grant
S3M-2687# Elaine Murray: Save Scottish Sharks—That the Parliament notes that 11 to 19 October 2008 is European Shark Week; is concerned at the dramatic decline in European shark numbers; is further concerned that most Scottish shark species are classed as critically endangered but that none is currently afforded any protection; regrets the Scottish Government’s refusal to offer the tope the same protection as it has in England, resulting in the landing of tope being legal on the Scottish side of the Solway but not on the English side; looks forward to the publication of the Scottish Government Marine Directorate’s policy on sharks, and considers that action to protect these endangered species is urgently required.
Supported by: Ken Macintosh, Kenneth Gibson, Robin Harper, Trish Godman, David Stewart, Hugh Henry, Paul Martin, Joe FitzPatrick, Mike Pringle, Marlyn Glen, Karen Gillon, Mary Mulligan, Rhona Brankin, Patrick Harvie, Dr Richard Simpson, John Scott, Jamie McGrigor, Cathy Peattie
S3M-2684# Dave Thompson: Welcoming the Launch of Community Energy Scotland—That the Parliament welcomes the launch of Community Energy Scotland, the new Highland-based Scottish charity that has taken over the work of the Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company to support communities throughout Scotland to develop sustainable energy projects; commends the organisation’s aim to build confidence, resilience and wealth at community level in Scotland through sustainable energy development, and further commends its leadership role in the growing grass-roots movement dedicated to reinforcing local control and decision-making within the community sector through sustainable energy development and the contribution that this will make to achieving Scotland’s ambitious climate change targets.
Supported by: Alex Neil, Roseanna Cunningham, John Wilson, Alasdair Allan, Jamie Hepburn, Brian Adam, Bill Kidd, Kenneth Gibson, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Robin Harper, Rob Gibson, Patrick Harvie, Jim Tolson, Joe FitzPatrick, Angela Constance, Keith Brown, Liam McArthur, Stuart McMillan, Christina McKelvie, Bill Wilson, Gil Paterson, Nanette Milne, Michael Matheson, Bob Doris, Sandra White, Mary Scanlon
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S3M-2673# Bob Doris: Scottish Asian Action Committee’s 25th Anniversary—That the Parliament congratulates the Scottish Asian Action Committee (SAAC) on its 25th anniversary celebrations, having been founded in 1983 as a broad-based secular organisation providing a community development, campaigning and advice information service for ethnic minority communities in Scotland, originally made up of groups representing Pakistani, Indian, Kashmiri, Bengali and Bangladeshi communities, and notes that SAAC was a catalyst for activities such as the Glasgow Mela and the annual day of action against racism and was recently honoured with an Outstanding Achievement Award at the Scottish BME Achievement Awards, acknowledging its work in community development and anti-racism initiatives as well as its welfare rights and immigration advice services.
Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Michael Matheson, Roseanna Cunningham, Alasdair Allan, Robert Brown, Joe FitzPatrick, Elaine Smith, Bill Kidd, Sandra White, Robin Harper, Bill Wilson, Ken Macintosh, Alex Neil, Patrick Harvie, Aileen Campbell, Brian Adam, Hugh O’Donnell, Stuart McMillan, Gil Paterson, Cathy Peattie
S3M-2665# Des McNulty: Eco-Congregation Scotland Programme—That the Parliament recognises the important role played by churches and other faith groups in Scotland in raising awareness of environmental issues and in particular climate change; congratulates the Eco- Congregation Scotland programme on achieving its 200th registration; notes the rapid growth of the programme across Scotland from its inception less than a decade ago to become the largest network of community environment groups in Scotland and its spread to include congregations from nine denominations, including the congregation of the Abbotsford Parish Church in Clydebank, and welcomes the new commitment that the programme is making to help congregations and communities understand the impact of climate change here and in the developing world, respond appropriately to the challenge climate change presents and take collective and personal responsibility for reducing their carbon emissions.
Supported by: Brian Adam, Hugh O’Donnell, Bill Kidd, James Kelly, Ms Wendy Alexander, Nanette Milne, Hugh Henry, Dr Richard Simpson, Bill Butler, Robin Harper, Sarah Boyack, Trish Godman, Mary Mulligan, Jackie Baillie, Elaine Murray, John Park, Alison McInnes, Helen Eadie, Kenneth Gibson, David Whitton, Karen Whitefield, Angela Constance, Karen Gillon, Ken Macintosh, Jamie Hepburn, Cathy Peattie, Gil Paterson, David Stewart
S3M-2660# Sandra White: Growing Old Together - Older People and Debt—That the Parliament notes the publication of Growing Old Together - Older People and Debt by Citizens Advice Scotland; is concerned that the average debt level for older people seeking advice from their local citizens advice bureau is £17,767, a 25% increase since 2003; further notes the finding that levels of debt increased as levels of income decreased, with clients in the survey who had a net income of less than £6,000 having debt levels on average 42% higher than those with an income higher than £10,000; recognises the excellent work of citizens advice bureaux in Glasgow and across Scotland in advising older debt clients; supports the need for early and effective benefits take up and debt advice to be available for all older people, and considers that measures to deal with debt, such as debt arrangement schemes and the low income low asset regulations, should be accessible and beneficial for older clients.
Supported by: Bashir Ahmad, Joe FitzPatrick, Kenneth Gibson, Roseanna Cunningham, Angela Constance, Robin Harper, Bill Kidd, Christine Grahame, Pauline McNeill, Hugh O’Donnell, Bill Wilson, Alex Neil, Jamie Hepburn, Alasdair Allan, Christopher Harvie, Michael Matheson, Mary Scanlon, Stuart McMillan, Ken Macintosh, Nigel Don, Karen Whitefield, Liam McArthur, John Lamont, Christina McKelvie, Gil Paterson, Dave Thompson, Marlyn Glen, Bob Doris, Patrick Harvie, Jackie Baillie, Robert Brown, Patricia Ferguson, Cathy Peattie
S3M-2653# Cathy Peattie: Fare Deal—That the Parliament congratulates the 12 charities which, on UK Older People’s Day, 1 October 2008, launched a Fare Deal campaign for the concessionary travel scheme to be extended to cover special transport schemes used by elderly and disabled people, such as Dial-a-Journey in Forth Valley; considers that thousands of people who have or are entitled to a free bus pass are missing out because they cannot use regular scheduled services, and believes that an extension to the national concessionary travel scheme to include demand-responsive community transport should be considered.
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Supported by: Kenneth Gibson, Bill Butler, Patrick Harvie, Marlyn Glen, Paul Martin, Mary Mulligan, Robin Harper, John Park, Elaine Murray, Charlie Gordon, Hugh O’Donnell, Sandra White, Jackie Baillie, Des McNulty, Dr Richard Simpson, Alex Neil, Karen Whitefield, Trish Godman, Ken Macintosh, Cathy Jamieson, Helen Eadie, Mr Frank McAveety, Jack McConnell, Marilyn Livingstone, Hugh Henry, George Foulkes, Peter Peacock, Sarah Boyack, David Stewart, Alison McInnes, Jim Tolson, Margo MacDonald
S3M-2650# Alison McInnes: Safe Drivers are Made, Not Born—That the Parliament welcomes the publication of the Young drivers - where and when they are unsafe report by the IAM motoring trust; notes with dismay the number of young people killed and seriously injured on Scotland’s roads in the last five years, including nearly 100 people aged 17 to 25 in the Grampian area alone; further notes the 10 key recommendations of the IAM report, and believes that schools, young people, road agencies and local and national authorities should work together in order to introduce these measures and improve road safety for all our young drivers.
Supported by: Liam McArthur, Elaine Smith, Ross Finnie, Jim Tolson, Elaine Murray, Robert Brown, Bill Kidd, Aileen Campbell, Robin Harper, Angela Constance, Mary Mulligan, Mike Pringle, Nicol Stephen, Jamie Stone, Dave Thompson, Kenneth Gibson, Roseanna Cunningham, Hugh O’Donnell, Stuart McMillan, Tom McCabe, Cathy Jamieson, Gil Paterson, Nanette Milne, Ken Macintosh, Cathy Peattie
S3M-2630# Jamie Hepburn: 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights— That the Parliament notes that 10 December 2008 will be the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the General Assembly of the United Nations; believes that the UDHR is one of the outstanding statements of the dignity, integrity and rights belonging to every human being, and further believes that the principles of the UDHR should continue to serve as inspiration for the future development of Scotland.
Supported by: Alasdair Allan, Bashir Ahmad, Bob Doris, Aileen Campbell, John Wilson, Stuart McMillan, Trish Godman, Robert Brown, Hugh O’Donnell, Bill Wilson, Rob Gibson, Bill Kidd, Alex Neil, Robin Harper, Roseanna Cunningham, Sandra White, Mike Pringle, Joe FitzPatrick, Dave Thompson, Gil Paterson, Hugh Henry, Christopher Harvie, Keith Brown, Jim Hume, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Ken Macintosh, Liam McArthur, Sarah Boyack, Nicol Stephen, Dr Richard Simpson, Alison McInnes, Cathy Jamieson, Malcolm Chisholm, Patrick Harvie, Cathy Peattie
S3M-2599# Elaine Smith: Summerlee - The Scottish Museum of Industrial Life—That the Parliament welcomes the re-opening in Coatbridge of Summerlee, the Scottish Museum of Industrial Life, on Friday 26 September 2008 following a major £10 million redevelopment; congratulates North Lanarkshire Council, its employees and the Friends of Summerlee Redevelopment Appeal, who have worked tirelessly to ensure the project’s completion; welcomes the £5 million contribution made by the Heritage Lottery Fund alongside the contributions from North Lanarkshire Council, the Scottish Museums Council, the European Regional Development Fund and the redevelopment appeal; encourages further donations to that appeal, which can be made up until 31 October 2008; notes that Summerlee was formerly one of Scotland’s most important ironworks; recognises the importance of keeping our industrial heritage alive through the preservation of the history of local iron, steel, coal and engineering industries; considers that Summerlee offers an invaluable educational resource providing an opportunity to reflect on the hard work and sacrifice of the working class of Scotland’s industrial heartland and to remember the difficult circumstances in which they worked and lived; further considers it appropriate that North Lanarkshire Workers Memorial is situated at the gates of Summerlee, commemorating International Workers Memorial Day, and encourages visitors to come and see first-hand the excellent facilities, which include interactive displays, a kids’ discovery zone, children’s outdoor play area, shop, café and exhibition area, ensuring that Summerlee takes its place as a leading visitor attraction and a landmark heritage facility for the 21st century.
Supported by: Bill Butler, Karen Whitefield, Cathie Craigie, Jamie Hepburn, David Whitton, Marlyn Glen, John Wilson, Dr Richard Simpson, David Stewart, Hugh O’Donnell, James Kelly, Mary Mulligan, Trish Godman, Charlie Gordon, Jim Hume, Michael McMahon, Christina McKelvie, Hugh Henry, Cathy Jamieson, Kenneth Gibson, Sarah Boyack, Bill Kidd, Jackie Baillie, Bob Doris, Sandra White, Ken Macintosh, John Park, Robin Harper, Marilyn Livingstone, Margaret Mitchell, Gil Paterson, Jack McConnell, Cathy Peattie
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S3M-2565# Joe FitzPatrick: Friendly Football—That the Parliament notes with concern the decision of the Scottish Football Association (SFA) to withdraw its referees from the Dundee Saturday Morning Friendly League due to its lack of affiliation; recognises that this decision has ramifications for friendly leagues across Scotland, which now face an uncertain future; notes with further concern that this decision has threatened the viability of a league which has for 15 years proved to be a resounding success based on the principles of fair and friendly play; recognises the value of this league not only in raising money for local charities but also as income for Dundee City Council in pitch and facilities fees; believes that the approach taken by the SFA whereby registered referees can participate in any other non-affiliated league except this one is inconsistent and simply unfair, and applauds the organisers of the Dundee Saturday Morning Friendly League for their drive and determination to make sure the league continues in spite of the SFA’s position.
Supported by: Mike Pringle, Jamie Hepburn, Stuart McMillan, Bashir Ahmad, Bill Kidd, Brian Adam, Hugh O’Donnell, Bob Doris, Sandra White, Jim Tolson, Alex Neil, Gil Paterson
S3M-2564# Sandra White: Cambuslang and Rutherglen for Fairtrade—That the Parliament welcomes the Camglen Fair Trade Forum’s “Big Sign Up” events to be held in Cambuslang and Rutherglen on 25 October and 1 November 2008 respectively; notes that the events are aimed at supporting and highlighting the campaign for Fairtrade Town status for Rutherglen; commends the Forum for the great work it has done in campaigning for Fairtrade status for these towns, and hopes that in the near future Cambuslang and Rutherglen will become the 47th and 48th Fairtrade Towns in Scotland.
Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Bill Kidd, Stuart McMillan, Kenneth Gibson, Patrick Harvie, Rob Gibson, Bob Doris, Ken Macintosh, Robert Brown, Aileen Campbell, Alex Neil, Christina McKelvie, Angela Constance, Gil Paterson
S3M-2554# Rhona Brankin: Scottish Qualifications Authority—That the Parliament is concerned by proposals to move the Scottish Qualification Authority’s offices from Midlothian; notes that the Minister for Schools and Skills has not ruled out such a possibility; acknowledges that the SQA is a major employer in Midlothian, with more than 200 permanent posts, 67% of which are currently filled by Midlothian residents; recognises that there are fewer than 20 employers employing over 100 people in Midlothian, and understands the importance of keeping jobs locally in the county to support the local economy and minimise the environmental impact of any relocation.
Supported by: Ken Macintosh, Mary Mulligan, Trish Godman, John Park, Karen Whitefield, Dr Richard Simpson, Hugh Henry, Sarah Boyack, Robin Harper, Marilyn Livingstone
S3M-2544# Kenneth Gibson: Missed Out, Missing Out—That the Parliament welcomes the publication by Quarriers of Missed Out, Missing Out and shares Quarriers’ concern that service provision for adults with learning disabilities is inconsistent in Ayrshire and across Scotland, especially for those 12,500 adults with learning disabilities who live at home, and considers that there should be a review of data collection, planning services and the current eligibility criteria used to determine service provision for these vulnerable individuals and that all disabled adults should be provided with the proactive support required to achieve their lifestyle aspirations, including appropriate housing options, advocacy and short breaks.
Supported by: Robin Harper, Alex Neil, Elaine Smith, Hugh O’Donnell, Rob Gibson, Alasdair Allan, Joe FitzPatrick, Jamie Hepburn, Stuart McMillan, Bill Kidd, Christina McKelvie, Roseanna Cunningham, Gil Paterson, Liam McArthur, Michael Matheson, Bill Wilson, Sarah Boyack, Marlyn Glen, Jackie Baillie, Charlie Gordon, Trish Godman, James Kelly, Ken Macintosh, Karen Gillon, Irene Oldfather, Johann Lamont, Hugh Henry, Dave Thompson, John Park, Cathy Peattie
S3M-2539# Des McNulty: Aircraft Noise—That the Parliament believes that increased protection is needed for communities directly under airport flight paths, such as Whitecrook, Linnvale and Drumry in Clydebank, which are affected by aircraft noise, a problem which also affects adjacent areas such as Drumchapel, Bearsden and Milngavie, and considers that there should be an examination of what fresh legislative or administrative steps might be taken to prevent any forced sale of Glasgow Airport leading to a worsening of noise pollution experienced by local residents.
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Supported by: David Whitton, Jamie Stone, Bill Butler, Trish Godman, Jackie Baillie, Dr Richard Simpson, Robin Harper
S3M-2529# James Kelly: Parkinson’s Disease Society - Get it on Time Campaign—That the Parliament congratulates the Parkinson’s Disease Society on its award-winning Get it on Time campaign highlighting the problems faced by people with Parkinson’s in hospital, with materials aimed at patients, health professionals and NHS managers; notes that there are about 10,000 people with Parkinson’s in Scotland, including in Rutherglen and Cambuslang, and that more than a quarter of them will be admitted to hospital at least once each year; is concerned that many people with Parkinson’s are unable to follow their medication regime in hospital; recognises that if people with Parkinson’s do not get their medication on time they can suffer serious and distressing problems, including being unable to move, speak or swallow and that extended hospital stays are needed to restore effective symptom control; believes that many of the barriers to receiving medication on time can be addressed through straightforward measures, including policies enabling people who wish to self-medicate to do so, involvement from a Parkinson’s disease nurse specialist or pharmacist on admission, education for hospital staff, listening to people with Parkinson’s, their carers and families and wider availability of anti-Parkinsonian drugs in hospital pharmacies, and believes that measures should be taken to ensure that people with Parkinson’s get their medication on time, every time.
Supported by: Jackson Carlaw, Marlyn Glen, Hugh Henry, Michael McMahon, Jackie Baillie, Stuart McMillan, Robert Brown, Paul Martin, David Whitton, Karen Gillon, Trish Godman, Andy Kerr, Elaine Smith, Liam McArthur, David Stewart, Margaret Curran, Kenneth Gibson, Bashir Ahmad, Jamie McGrigor, Iain Gray, Elaine Murray, Christine Grahame, Jamie Hepburn, Mary Scanlon, Sandra White, Gil Paterson, Bill Butler, Karen Whitefield, Ken Macintosh, Dr Richard Simpson, Roseanna Cunningham, John Lamont, Jack McConnell, Mike Pringle, John Scott, Robin Harper, Sarah Boyack, Christopher Harvie, Cathy Peattie, Richard Baker, Jamie Stone, George Foulkes, John Park, Bill Wilson, Hugh O’Donnell, Patrick Harvie, Helen Eadie, Keith Brown, Lewis Macdonald, Margo MacDonald
S3M-2519# John Scott: Introduction of Sellers’ Single Survey—That the Parliament notes with concern the fragile state of the housing market in Ayrshire and Scotland; believes that adding to the cost of moving house will further damage Scotland’s housing market; notes the intention of the Scottish Government to introduce from December of this year a sellers’ single survey, which, it is forecast, could add between £500 and £700 to the cost of moving home, and considers therefore that it would be unhelpful to introduce a sellers’ single survey at this time.
Supported by: Jamie McGrigor, John Lamont, Margaret Mitchell, Murdo Fraser, Alex Johnstone, Elizabeth Smith, David McLetchie, Jackson Carlaw, Mary Scanlon, Nanette Milne, Bill Aitken, Elaine Smith, Tom McCabe
S3M-2515# Richard Baker: Aberdeen Crossrail Project—That the Parliament supports the Aberdeen Crossrail project as an integral part of a future transport strategy for the north east; believes that a frequent rail service with new stations running between Stonehaven, Inverurie and Aberdeen is vital to tackling congestion in Aberdeen and to economic growth in the north east; believes that the project is essential for a sustainable transport strategy in the area and to provide much improved public transport options for residents and commuters; believes that supporting Aberdeen Crossrail will enable even more ambitious plans to be developed for new rail services in other parts of Aberdeenshire; is concerned at recent reports that the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland are no longer supporting the scheme, and hopes that the long-established consensus to support Aberdeen Crossrail will continue.
Supported by: Jackie Baillie, Rhona Brankin, Nanette Milne, Alex Johnstone, Mary Mulligan, Iain Gray, John Park, Sarah Boyack, Robin Harper, Lewis Macdonald, Marlyn Glen, Alison McInnes, Brian Adam, Dr Richard Simpson
S3M-2512# Sandra White: Glasgow 2014 Lottery Funding—That the Parliament welcomes the commitment of the Deputy First Minister to engage with all parties in the effort to secure lottery funding for Glasgow’s 2014 Commonwealth Games and further welcomes the unity displayed by all parties of the Parliament in their public backing in support of this initiative, which will ensure that the legacy of 2014 is a great success both for Glasgow and the rest of Scotland.
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Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Bashir Ahmad, Bob Doris, Alasdair Allan, Kenneth Gibson, Christina McKelvie, Alex Neil, Stuart McMillan, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Joe FitzPatrick, Rob Gibson, Brian Adam, Gil Paterson, John Scott
S3M-2502# Murdo Fraser: Bannockburn Battlefield—That the Parliament observes the importance of the Battle of Bannockburn in Scottish history, where Robert the Bruce led a significant Scottish victory against the English in the Wars of Scottish Independence in June 1314; believes that Scotland’s historic battlefields are important to Scottish history and that the sites must be protected as a memorial to the men who fought and died in the battles as well as allowing future generations to visit the sites and learn more about Scotland’s past; notes the concerns of the National Trust for Scotland that the Bannockburn battlefield may fail to qualify for Historic Scotland’s planned inventory of battlefields as too much housing has already been allowed on and around the historic site, and considers that the battlefield site has already been subject to enough development and that it now requires protection to stop any future development.
Supported by: Cathy Peattie, Bill Aitken, Jamie McGrigor, John Lamont, Bill Kidd, Robin Harper, Kenneth Gibson, Mary Scanlon, Bashir Ahmad, Elizabeth Smith, Nanette Milne, Jamie Hepburn, John Wilson, Jackson Carlaw, Dr Richard Simpson, Angela Constance, Hugh O’Donnell, Christine Grahame, Joe FitzPatrick, Dave Thompson, Gil Paterson, John Scott
S3M-2497# Cathy Peattie: Sex and Power—That the Parliament welcomes the publication of Sex and Power 2008, the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s annual report looking at women in positions of power and influence across the public and private sector; notes the theme of the report, “missing women”, and its statement that “if women hope to shatter the glass ceiling and achieve equal representation, we would need to find the women who are missing from top positions of power in Scotland”; is concerned that despite higher academic attainment, with 57% of university students being women, women constitute only 7.4% of senior police officers, 11.8% of judges of the Court of Session and 13.6% of Scottish MPs and that, while Falkirk Council has women as leader of the administration and Chief Executive and in many senior posts, this is rare elsewhere, with women constituting only 12.5% of local authority chief executives and only 18.8% of local authority leaders; is further concerned that the report shows a declining percentage of women among public appointments, senior police officers, judges of the Court of Session, Scottish MPs and MSPs and highlights that ethnic minority women experience greater barriers in the workplace and are almost completely absent from positions of power; considers that Scotland is failing to get talented women into these positions and consequently is losing out on their contribution to Scotland’s social and political life and our economy, and believes that much more should be done to find the 130 women missing from public appointments, the 85 missing women headteachers in secondary schools, the 21 missing women MSPs and many others, as identified by the report.
Supported by: Bashir Ahmad, Robin Harper, Bill Kidd, Jackie Baillie, Patrick Harvie, Elaine Murray, Malcolm Chisholm, Sarah Boyack, Sandra White, Bill Butler, Jamie Hepburn, Elaine Smith, John Park, Dr Richard Simpson, Hugh O’Donnell, Margaret Curran, Trish Godman, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Marlyn Glen, Cathie Craigie, Alison McInnes, Ken Macintosh, Rhoda Grant
S3M-2486# Cathie Craigie: Muscle Disease Awareness Week—That the Parliament recognises Muscle Disease Awareness week, taking place from 20 to 27 September 2008, during which the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign will publish a new report, Building on the Foundations: Scotland; is concerned that the report reveals that families with rare and debilitating conditions are being denied treatments that could prolong and improve their lives, particularly home ventilation and physiotherapy, and are faced with major delays in the provision of essential equipment and barriers to independent living; notes that care from a multidisciplinary team, with a lead professional or key worker to coordinate care, improves patient outcomes; welcomes the work of the Scottish Muscle Network to improve patient care in terms of quality, access and appropriateness, and hopes to achieve improved standards of care for all patients with muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular conditions.
Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Patrick Harvie, Jackson Carlaw, David Stewart, Malcolm Chisholm, Elaine Murray, Bashir Ahmad, Hugh Henry, Jackie Baillie, David Whitton, Alex Neil, Margaret Curran, Elaine Smith, Iain Gray, Kenneth Gibson, Karen Gillon, Liam McArthur, Brian Adam, Marlyn Glen, Hugh O’Donnell, Karen Whitefield, Paul Martin, Nanette Milne, James Kelly, Sandra White, Sarah Boyack, Trish Godman, Angela Constance, Dr Richard Simpson, Helen Eadie, Ken Macintosh, Joe
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FitzPatrick, George Foulkes, Marilyn Livingstone, Cathy Peattie, Jack McConnell, Gil Paterson, Rhoda Grant, Mary Scanlon, Margaret Mitchell
S3M-2472# Stuart McMillan: Sailing and Boating Continues to Expand and Contribute to the Scottish Economy—That the Parliament acknowledges that sailing and boating continues to expand as an industry bringing substantial benefits to the economy and offering people jobs; notes that there are some 250,000 yachts in the United Kingdom, of which 15,000 are currently resident in Scotland and that, of these, approximately 5,000 are based on the River Clyde, with 3,000 in marinas and 2,000 on moorings in the Clyde; further notes that the leisure marine industry turnover in Scotland is £98.9 million per annum, that the industry employs 1,816 full-time equivalents in Scotland and supports 7,900 jobs and that the economic benefit of recreational boating in Scotland is estimated to be in excess of £250 million; acknowledges that further marina development is scheduled throughout Scotland with proposals for marinas in Greenock that would further enhance the reputation of sailing on the west coast; congratulates everyone connected with recreational sailing and boating for this economic success, and looks forward to even more economic delivery in the future.
Supported by: Jamie McGrigor, Alasdair Allan, Bob Doris, Robin Harper, Kenneth Gibson, Ian McKee, Margaret Mitchell, Christine Grahame, Bill Kidd, Bill Wilson, Jamie Hepburn, Sandra White, Gil Paterson, Jackie Baillie, Ross Finnie, Brian Adam
S3M-2449# Keith Brown: All Aboard to Alloa, Again—That the Parliament notes the first journey by a passenger train from Dunfermline to Alloa in 28 years, by Pathfinder Tours, that took place by special arrangement with the route’s owners on Monday 25 August 2008; recognises that the rail route between Alloa and the Fife Circle does not currently meet specifications for regular passenger travel, with problems including inadequate signalling; believes, however, that the possibility of resuming regular passenger services is made more practical by there already being usable track over the route; also notes the potential for such a route to bring a rail service to Clackmannan and the West Fife villages, as well as a new direct route between Stirling and Edinburgh; further notes the stated long- term aim of SESTRAN to resume passenger services between Alloa and Dunfermline, and is encouraged that relevant bodies are increasingly taking steps to make more journeys like this one a reality.
Supported by: Rob Gibson, Alasdair Allan, Kenneth Gibson, Bill Kidd, John Park, Christine Grahame, Christopher Harvie, Bob Doris, Aileen Campbell, Robin Harper, Jamie Hepburn, Michael Matheson, Gil Paterson, Brian Adam
S3M-2437# John Scott: Farming’s Retreat from the Hills—That the Parliament notes the publication of the Scottish Agricultural College report, Farming’s Retreat from the Hills, detailing the dramatic and ongoing decline in sheep and, to a lesser extent, cattle numbers on Scotland’s hills; notes in particular that between 1998 and 2007 the national sheep flock declined by around 2.3 million animals with the impact especially felt in less favoured areas such as the north west Highlands and Ayrshire; further notes the potentially negative implications of this decline on wider rural economies and biodiversity, and therefore considers that all relevant agencies should carefully examine the findings of the report and consider what measures might be taken to alleviate the problems it outlines. R
Supported by: Bill Aitken, Bob Doris, Mary Scanlon, Bill Kidd, David Whitton, Kenneth Gibson, Rob Gibson, John Lamont, Murdo Fraser, Alex Johnstone, Jamie McGrigor, Derek Brownlee, Ian McKee, Margaret Mitchell, Nanette Milne, Jamie Hepburn, Roseanna Cunningham, Liam McArthur, Jim Hume, Annabel Goldie, Sarah Boyack, Jamie Stone
S3M-2423# Ian McKee: Childhood and Sport-Related Injuries—That the Parliament notes with concern the lack of data available in Scotland on childhood and sport-related injuries; understands, however, that Scotland has signed up to the Child Safety Action Plan, part of the European Commission’s public health programme that will provide an opportunity to address child safety; observes that Sweden, with its child injury and surveillance system, has the lowest rates of injury and the highest levels of sports activity in Europe, as well as obesity rates half that of the United Kingdom; notes the partnership between NHS Lothian and the Scottish Rugby Union, and hopes that this and similar initiatives to increase sport participation across deprived communities will include provision for surveillance and monitoring of injuries.
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Supported by: Kenneth Gibson, Christine Grahame, David Stewart, Bill Wilson, John Park, Bill Kidd, Mary Scanlon, Gil Paterson, Elaine Smith, Rob Gibson, Robin Harper, Jamie Hepburn, Keith Brown, Joe FitzPatrick, Dr Richard Simpson, Elaine Murray, Sarah Boyack, Ken Macintosh, Karen Gillon, George Foulkes
S3M-2415# Sandra White: Glasgow: City of Music—That the Parliament congratulates the city of Glasgow on winning the UNESCO City of Music title, an achievement that makes Scotland the only nation in the world with two UNESCO Creative Cities, with Edinburgh having already been designated as a City of Literature; notes that Glasgow has long been renowned for its rich diversity of music and its strong cultural musical identity, and considers that this is a historic victory which highlights the wonderful musical talent and support and appreciation for it that exist in Glasgow and sends out a signal that Glasgow is a city of cultural excellence that enlivens the lives of all Glaswegians, musicians and people throughout the world.
Supported by: Bob Doris, Michael Matheson, Jamie Hepburn, Keith Brown
S3M-2374# Alasdair Allan: Gaelic Language Development—That the Parliament commends Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, along with other local authorities and public bodies, for the recent publication of their Gaelic language plans; likewise commends the Gaelic plan of the Scottish Parliament and the soon to be published Gaelic language plan of the Scottish Government; notes the important work done by the community and by many agencies and bodies in Scotland to maintain and develop the Gaelic language; recognises that in the coming few years it will become clear whether or not Gaelic is to survive as a community language, and therefore recognises that a sense of urgency in this area of policy is essential, particularly in respect of the expansion of Gaelic medium education, if we are to ensure that the number of speakers has, by the 2021 census, been stabilised at 2001 levels as the prerequisite for long term growth.
The member has provided the following Gaelic translation:
Gu bheil a’ Phàrlamaid a’ moladh Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, cho math ri ùghdarrasan ionadail agus buidheannan phoblach eile, airson na planaichean Gàidhlig aca fhoillseachadh o chionn ghoirid; gu bheil i cuideachd a’ moladh nam planaichean Gàidhlig aig Pàrlamaid na h-Alba agus a’ phlana a tha Riaghaltas na h-Alba gu bhith a’ foillseachadh a dh’aithghearr; gu bheil i a’ toirt fa-near an obair chudromach a tha a’ choimhearsnachd agus tòrr bhuidheannan ann an Alba air dèanamh airson Gàidhlig a leasachadh agus a ghlèidheadh; gu bheil i ag aithneachadh gum fàs e soilleir anns na beagan bhliadhnaichean a tha romhainn am mair a’ Ghàidhlig mar chànan coimhearsnachd agus mar sin gu bheil i ag aithnicheadh gu bheil cùis-èiginn anns an roinn phoileasaidh seo, gu h-àraidh a thaobh leudachadh foghlam tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig ma tha sinn a’ dol a dhèanamh cinnteach gu bheil àireamhan an luchd-labhairt aig àm cunntas-sluaigh 2021, air an glèidheadh aig ìrean 2001 mar riatanas airson fàs san fhad-ùine.
Supported by: Alex Neil, Stuart McMillan, Rob Gibson, Bashir Ahmad, Jamie Hepburn, Brian Adam, Bob Doris, Bill Kidd, Kenneth Gibson, Aileen Campbell, Dave Thompson, Gil Paterson, Roseanna Cunningham, Keith Brown, Robin Harper, Christine Grahame, Shirley-Anne Somerville, John Wilson, Andrew Welsh, Ken Macintosh, Ted Brocklebank
S3M-2338# Christina McKelvie: Deserving Dignity - Children Seeking Sanctuary in Scotland— That the Parliament welcomes the publication of Deserving Dignity, the third report from the Independent Asylum Commission, in particular the recommendations relating to the treatment of children in the asylum system; notes the commission’s recognition of the additional support and opportunities offered to the children seeking sanctuary in Scotland, and encourages the Scottish Government to continue in its efforts to end the detention of children at the Dungavel detention centre, to work to implement the recommendations of the report and to continue in its efforts to improve the lives and opportunities of children seeking sanctuary in Scotland.
Supported by: Christine Grahame, Jamie Hepburn, Keith Brown
S3M-2209# Roseanna Cunningham: Community First Responders—That the Parliament recognises and welcomes the service provided to rural communities, such as Comrie in Perthshire, by the First Response scheme; notes that Community First Responders are local volunteers who
PB/S3/08/127 undertake training in order to be able to provide lifesaving treatment, in the first few minutes prior to the arrival of an ambulance, to those people in the community who are critically injured or ill, and looks forward to the scheme being developed in communities across Scotland.
Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Elizabeth Smith, Brian Adam, Christine Grahame, Robin Harper, Stuart McMillan, Nanette Milne, Alasdair Allan, Bashir Ahmad, Kenneth Gibson, Bill Kidd, John Lamont, Gil Paterson, Alex Neil, Jim Tolson, Christina McKelvie, Angela Constance, Rob Gibson, Michael Matheson, Jamie McGrigor
S3M-1975# Gavin Brown: South Edinburgh Suburban Railway—That the Parliament notes the wide public and cross-party political support that the campaign for the reopening of the South Sub railway has gathered; acknowledges the importance of the work carried out by groups such as Capital Rail Action Group (CRAG), E-Rail and TRANSform Scotland; observes that the most recent report on the reopening of the South Sub did not contain a benefit-cost ratio, which was positive in previous reports; believes that the reopening of the South Sub would ease the impact of traffic on the main routes into the city as well as playing an important role in the reduction of fuel emissions in the south of Edinburgh, and believes that there is a case for the reopening of passenger services on the South Edinburgh Suburban Railway.
Supported by: Elizabeth Smith, Mike Pringle, Jackson Carlaw, Jamie McGrigor, Bill Aitken, Murdo Fraser, David McLetchie, Robin Harper, Nanette Milne, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Ian McKee, Sarah Boyack
S3M-1964# Ted Brocklebank: Fife Energy Park—That the Parliament recognises the importance of renewables in Scotland’s energy equation; notes the endorsement by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth of the importance of the energy park, based at Methil, Fife; further notes that there is an active campaign to restore the rail link between Levenmouth and Thornton junction; recognises that the Levenmouth area which includes Methil is among the most deprived parts of Fife and that there is growing local concern about the apparent lack of progress in developing the energy park, and considers that the momentum must be maintained in putting Methil and Levenmouth firmly at the heart of Scotland’s renewable energy industry.
Supported by: John Scott, David McLetchie, Mary Scanlon, Sandra White, Murdo Fraser, Robin Harper, Nanette Milne, Elizabeth Smith, Jamie McGrigor, Tricia Marwick, Claire Baker, Bill Aitken, Margaret Mitchell, John Park, Annabel Goldie, Keith Brown, Gil Paterson
Record of Members’ Business Taken by the Parliament from 6 June 2007
Date MSP Party Subject 06.06.07 Roseanna Cunningham SNP Rescue from Moving Water 07.06.07 Des McNulty LAB Alimta for Mesothelioma Sufferers 13.06.07 Karen Whitefield LAB Education is a Human Right 14.06.07 Rob Gibson SNP Scottish Norwegian Commercial Co- operation 20.06.07 Margaret Mitchell CON Motor Neurone Disease 21.06.07 Jim Hume LD Local Food 27.06.07 Andrew Welsh SNP Tartan Day Celebrations 28.06.07 David Stewart LAB National Diabetes Week 05.09.07 Sandra White SNP Asylum Seekers in Scotland 06.09.07 Trish Godman LAB Maintenance of Common Land on Scottish Housing Estates 12.09.07 Sarah Boyack LAB Save the Land Reform Act and Restore the Will of Parliament 13.09.07 Brian Adam SNP MacMillan Cancer Support’s Recovered but not Covered Campaign 19.09.07 Murdo Fraser CON Beauly Denny Public Inquiry 20.09.07 Patricia Ferguson LAB ICL Factory Explosion – Call For Public Inquiry
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26.09.07 Mike Rumbles LD Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route 2709.07 Kenneth Gibson SNP Warm Zones 03.10.07 Cathie Craigie LAB NDCS Change Your World Consultation 04.10.07 Bob Doris SNP Glasgow Milton and Chirnsyde Community Initiative 24.10.07 Christine Grahame SNP Can't Afford to Foster 25.10.07 Michael McMahon LAB Public-Social Partnership Pilot in North Lanarkshire 31.10.07 Elaine Murray LAB Further Job Losses at Young’s Seafood, Annan 01.11.07 Tavish Scott LD Crown Estate Taxation on Harbour Developments 07.11.07 Stuart McMillan SNP House of Lords Ruling on Pleural Plaques 08.11.07 Nanette Milne CON Autism Parliamentary Network 14.11.07 Paul Martin LAB Car Parking Charges at Stobhill Hospital 15.11.07 Bill Wilson SNP Perceived Norms of Alcohol and Tobacco Consumption - Pilot Studies in Scottish Educational Institutions 21.11.07 Bill Kidd SNP Recycling Waste Wood 22.11.07 Mary Scanlon CON Bog Myrtle (Sweet Gale) Industry 28.11.07 Des McNulty LAB Science and the Parliament, Wednesday 28 November 2007 29.11.07 Cathy Jamieson LAB Coalfields Regeneration Trust in Scotland 5.12.07 Christine Grahame SNP Lancastria 6.12.07 Robert Brown LD 100 Years of Scouting 12.12.07 Liam McArthur LD Air Ambulance Service in Orkney 13.12.07 Bashir Ahmad SNP Standing United with Glasgow's Pakistani Community 19.12.07 John Lamont CON Support for Border News 20.12.07 Bill Butler LAB Support Project Scotland 9.01.08 Keith Brown SNP Government Powers to Ensure Terrestrial Broadcast of Sport 10.01.08 Des McNulty LAB The St Margaret of Scotland Hospice 16.01.08 Cathy Peattie LAB Young People in the Workplace 17.01.08 Roseanna Cunnigham SNP Defence Aviation and Repair Agency Almondbank - No To Privatisation 23.01.08 Patrick Harvie GRN Scottish Campuses Can Go Greener 24.01.08 George Foulkes LAB Time for Fresh Debate on Organ Donation 30.01.08 Margo MacDonald IND Maximising Migrants' Opportunities 31.01.08 Elizabeth Smith CON Extra-curricular Outdoor Education for Every School Pupil 06.02.08 Rob Gibson SNP Congratulations to the Fifth Annual Scots Trad Music Awards 07.02.08 Margaret Smith LD Edinburgh Park Railway Station 20.02.08 Marilyn Livingstone LAB Supporters Direct in Scotland 21.02.08 Jamie Hepburn SNP Central Scotland Rail Improvements 27.02.08 John Scott CON Recreational Sea Angling 28.02.08 Cathy Jamieson LAB Proposed Closure of Rural Schools 05.03.08 Trish Godman LAB Scottish Wheelchair Users and their Human Rights 06.03.08 Kenneth Gibson SNP Anorexia and Bulimia 12.03.08 David Thompson SNP Make Scotland's Roads Safer -
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Reduce the Drinking Limits 13.03.08 Aileen Campbell SNP No End in Sight to the War in Iraq 19.03.08 Patricia Feruson LAB Celebrating Fairtrade Fortnight 20.03.08 Gil Paterson SNP Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings 26.03.08 Jeremy Purvis LD Choices for People Coming to the End of Terminal Illness 27.03.08 Mary Scanlon CON Elgin Bypass 16.04.08 Hugh O’Donnell LD A Call for Better Epilepsy Care 17.04.08 Bill Butler LAB Strathclyde Partnership for Transport Report on Glasgow Crossrail
23.04.08 Mary Mulligan LAB Yes to Bathgate Business Improvement District 24.04.08 Tricia Marwick SNP Leven to Thornton Rail Link 30.04.08 Willie Coffey SNP Fenwick Weavers' Society and the Co-operative Model 01.05.08 Elaine Smith LAB Remember the Dead, Fight for the Living 07.05.08 Nanette Milne CON Alternative and Augmentative Communication 08.05.08 Alison McInnes LD RNIB Scotland's Right to Read Campaign 14.05.08 Christopher Harvie SNP Supermarket Dominance in Scottish Retailing 15.05.08 John Park LAB Upper Forth Crossing 21.05.08 David Stewart LAB Increasing Access to Insulin Pumps 22.05.08 Ian McKee SNP National Association of Youth Orchestras 28.05.08 Alasdair Allan SNP Fuel Costs 29.05.08 Angela Constance SNP No Recourse No Safety 04.06.08 Bill Butler LAB 60th Anniversary of the National Health Service 05.06.08 Jackson Carlaw CON Holocaust Education in Scotland 11.06.08 Jim Hume LD Tackling Excess Packaging 12.06.08 Lewis Macdonald LAB Best Value Audit of Aberdeen City Council 18.06.08 Claire Baker LAB A Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme for Scotland 19.06.08 Sandra White SNP Glasgow Passport Office 25.06.08 Karen Whitefield LAB Sweet 16?: The Age of Leaving Care in Scotland 26.06.08 John Park LAB Rosyth to Zeebrugge Ferry Service 03.09.08 Ted Brocklebank CON Upgrading of the A92 04.09.08 Iain Smith LD Enforcement of Planning Legislation 10.09.08 Brian Adam SNP Shortage of Indian Chefs in Aberdeen 11.09.08 Nigel Don SNP Family Law Disputes 17.09.08 Jack McConnell LAB 2014: A Year of Sport for Scotland 18.09.08 Michael Matheson SNP Cancer Poverty 24.09.08 Keith Brown SNP Support for Veterans in Scotland 25.09.08 Murdo Fraser CON Action to Protect the Red Squirrel 01.10.08 Trish Godman LAB Action on Thrombosis 02.10.08 Jim Tolson LD Alloa to Fife and Edinburgh Rail Link 08.10.08 Christopher Harvie SNP The Kingdom of Fife and Fife in the World - A Platform of Partnership 09.10.08 Michael McMahon LAB Living and Dying with Advanced Heart
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Failure 29.10.08 Elaine Murray LAB Success of First Year of Co-Operative Development Scotland 30.10.08 Kenneth Gibson SNP Become Lupus Aware 5.11.08 Jeremy Purvis LD Digital Switchover 6.11.08 Nanette Milne CON Community Service Volunteers (CSV) 12.11.08 Dave Thompson SNP Welcoming the Launch of Community Energy Scotland 13.11.08 Wendy Alexander LAB Paisley Festival Company/Voices in Paisley 2008 19.11.08 James Kelly LAB Parkinson's Disease Society - Get it on Time Campaign 20.11.08 Alasdair Allan SNP Gaelic Language Development
Record of Members’ Business Taken by the Parliament in Session 3
Party SNP LAB CON LD GRN IND TOTAL
Frequency (no.) 36 36 13 13 1 1 100 Frequency % 36 36 13 13 1 1 100
PB/S3/08/127
BUSINESS MOTION
Date of Lodging:
2.55 pm Scottish Government Debate: A Fresh Start for Scottish Aquaculture insert followed by Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Motion: Expenses Scheme
PB/S3/08/127
BUSINESS MOTION
Date of Lodging:
(a) the following programme of business—
Wednesday 26 November 2008
2.00 pm Time for Reflection followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions followed by Ministerial Statement: Scottish Government’s Response to the Pre-budget Report followed by Stage 1 Debate: Disabled Persons’ Parking Places (Scotland) Bill followed by Financial Resolution: Disabled Persons’ Parking Places (Scotland) Bill followed by Business Motion followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time followed by Members' Business
Thursday 27 November 2008
9.15 am Parliamentary Bureau Motions followed by Ministerial Statement: A Framework for Science in Scotland followed by Scottish Government Debate: Sea Fisheries
11.40 am General Question Time
12 noon First Minister's Question Time
2.15 pm Themed Question Time Education and Lifelong Learning; Europe, External Affairs and Culture
2.55 pm Scottish Government Debate: St Andrew’s Day followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time followed by Members' Business
Wednesday 3 December 2008
2.30 pm Time for Reflection followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
PB/S3/08/127 followed by Scottish Government Business followed by Business Motion followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time followed by Members' Business
Thursday 4 December 2008
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 Health and Wellbeing
2.55 pm Scottish Government Business followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
5.00 pm Decision Time followed by Members' Business (b) that the period for members to submit their names for selection for Question Times on 8 January 2009 ends at 12 noon on Tuesday 16 December 2008; (c) that the deadline for lodging questions for Question Times on 8 January 2009 shall be 12 noon on Tuesday 23 December 2008; (d) that the period for members to submit their names for selection for Question Times on 15 January 2009 ends at 12 noon on Thursday 18 December 2008.
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BUSINESS MOTION
Date of Lodging:
BUSINESS FOR WEEK COMMENCING 17 NOVEMBER
DAY MORNING AFTERNOON Monday 17 Constituency Constituency Tuesday 18 0930-1230 Committees 1430-1700 Committees
Wednesday 19 1430 Time for Reflection
Followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions (if required)
1435- 1520 Ministerial Statement on Fuel Poverty
1520-1700 Scottish Government debate on ID cards
Followed by Business Motion
Followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions (if required)
1700 Decision Time followed by Members’ Business (Lab) S3M-02529 James Kelly: Parkinson's Disease Society - Get it on Time Campaign
Thursday 20 0915 Parliamentary 1415-1455 Themed Question Time Bureau Motions (if [Finance and Sustainable Growth] required) 1455-1700 Scottish Government Debate 0915-1140 Scottish on a Fresh Start for Scottish Government Debate: Aquaculture Supporting Scotland’s Looked after Children Followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions (if required) 1140 – 1200 General Question Time 1700 Decision Time followed by Members’ Business (SNP) S3M-02374 1200 - 1230 First Alasdair Allan: Gaelic Language Minister’s Question Development Time
Friday 21 Constituency Constituency
BUSINESS FOR WEEK COMMENCING 24 NOVEMBER
DAY MORNING AFTERNOON Monday 24 Constituency Constituency Tuesday 25 0930-1230 Committees 1430-1700 Committees
Wednesday 26 1430 Time for Reflection
Followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions (if required)
1435-1700 Stage 1 Debate: Disabled Persons’ Parking Places (Scotland) Bill
1700 Financial Resolution in respect of the: Disabled Persons’ Parking Places (Scotland) Bill (tbc)
Followed by Business Motion
Followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions (if required)
1700 Decision Time followed by Members’ Business (SNP)
Thursday 27 0915 Parliamentary 1415-1455 Themed Question Time Bureau Motions (if [Education and Lifelong Learning; required) Europe, External Affairs and Culture]
0915 – 0945 Ministerial 1455-1700 Scottish Government Statement: A framework Debate: St Andrews Day for Science in Scotland Followed by Parliamentary Bureau 0945 -1140 Scottish Motions (if required) Government Debate: Sea Fisheries 1700 Decision Time followed by Members’ Business (Lab) 1140 – 1200 General Question Time
1200 - 1230 First Minister’s Question Time
Friday 28 Constituency Constituency
BUSINESS FOR WEEK COMMENCING 1 DECEMBER
DAY MORNING AFTERNOON Monday 1 Constituency Constituency Tuesday 2 0930-1230 Committees 1430-1700 Committees
Wednesday 3 1430 Time for Reflection
Followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions (if required)
1435-1700 Scottish Government Business
Followed by Business Motion
Followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions (if required)
1700 Decision Time followed by Members’ Business (Con)
Thursday 4 0915 Parliamentary 1415-1455 Themed Question Time Bureau Motions (if [Health and Wellbeing] required) 1455-1700 Scottish Government 0915-1140 Scottish Business Government Business Followed by Parliamentary Bureau 1140 – 1200 General Motions (if required) Question Time 1700 Decision Time followed by 1200 - 1230 First Members’ Business (LD) Minister’s Question Time
Friday 5 Constituency Constituency
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PARLIAMENTARY BUREAU
APPROVAL OF STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS
Introduction
1. The Bureau is invited to agree the following motion—
Bruce Crawford on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau: That the Parliament agrees that the following instruments be approved:
the draft Pre-release Access to Official Statistics (Scotland) Order 2008;
the draft Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 (Scheme of Assistance) Regulations 2008.
Purpose and consideration by Committees
The draft Pre-release Access to Official Statistics (Scotland) Order 2008 2. This Order provides for rules and principles relating to the granting of pre-release access to official statistics which are wholly Scottish devolved statistics. 3. The rules and principles set out in the Schedule are relevant for the assessment or re-assessment of the official statistics as to whether they can be given National Statistics status by the UK Statistics Authority. 4. The rules and principles describe the persons who may receive pre-release access to official statistics, the circumstances in which access may be given, and the duties of the persons giving and receiving such access. 5. The Finance Committee considered the instrument at its meeting on 4 November. During the evidence session, the Committee sought and received clarification on a number of points. The Committee noted that the Scottish Government committed to provide further explanation on issues surrounding the leaking of official statistics. Specifically, the Committee sought clarity on where responsibility lies for investigating such leaks, including whether they are covered in the Ministerial Code. The Committee also sought explanation on the mechanisms and basis for the UK Statistics Authority to report to the Scottish Parliament on devolved matters. 6. After debate, the motion to approve the instrument was agreed to without division.
The draft Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 (Scheme of Assistance) Regulations 2008 7. The purpose of this instrument is to put financial assistance for adaptations to disabled peoples’ properties on a separate footing from assistance with the owner’s responsibility for the condition of the property. 8. The Local Government and Communities Committee considered the instrument at its meeting on 12 November. After debate, the motion to approve the instrument was agreed to without division.
Parliamentary Business Team November 2008
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PARLIAMENTARY BUREAU
DAMAGES (ASBESTOS-RELATED CONDITIONS) (SCOTLAND) BILL – STAGE 2 TIMETABLE
1. At its meeting on 11 November 2008, the Bureau agreed to refer the Damages (Asbestos-related Conditions) (Scotland) Bill back to the Justice Committee for consideration at Stage 2.
2. The Bureau is invited to recommend to the Parliament a deadline of 5 December 2008 for that Stage.
Parliamentary Business Team November 2008
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PARLIAMENTARY BUREAU
Regulation of Bus Services Bill: Referral of Draft Proposal
Introduction 1. The draft proposal for the proposed Regulation of Bus Services Bill was lodged by Charlie Gordon on 5 November 2008. The purpose of the proposed Bill is to provide transport authorities with powers relating to the provision of local bus services and their standards and to widen the National Bus Travel Concession Scheme
Lead Committee 2. The proposal falls within the remit of the following committees—
Transport, Infrastructure and The Bill proposal relates to powers Climate Change Committee contained in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 governing quality partnership and quality contract schemes. It also relates to the powers contained in the National Bus Travel Concession Scheme for Older and Disabled Persons (Eligible Persons and Eligible Services)(Scotland) Order 2006 (SSI 2006/117). Both of these areas of legislation concern transport policy, which a resulting Bill will either complement or seek to amend. Local Government and Any amendment to existing transport Communities Committee policy is likely to affect local authorities in their capacity as transport authorities under the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001
Equal Opportunities Committee The Bill proposal includes consideration of the existing National Bus Travel Concession Scheme which affects older and disabled people.
3. The draft proposal is accompanied by a consultation document. The consultation closes on Friday 27 February 2009.
4. Under Rule 9.14.5, the Bureau is required to refer the draft proposal to a committee within whose remit the subject matters falls.
5. The draft proposal primarily concerns the review and amendment of existing transport legislation and it is therefore recommended that it be referred to the Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee for consideration.
Non-Executive Bills Unit November 2008 PB/S3/08/131
PARLIAMENTARY BUREAU
CHRISTMAS RECESS ISSUES
Introduction
1. This paper considers the various deadlines for General and Themed question times on 8 and 15 January 2009 in light of the timing of Christmas recess and the normal practice that the Office of the Clerk be closed throughout the period between Christmas and the New Year.
2. The Parliament has already agreed that the Christmas recess will run from 20 December 2008 to 4 January 2009. In addition, it has already agreed that the Office of the Clerk will be closed on 24 December (pm only), 25 and 26 December 2008 and 1 and 2 January 2009.
Consideration
3. In each year since 2000, the Parliament has agreed that the Office of the Clerk be closed on the non-public-holiday days between Christmas and the New Year. If this practice is maintained in the current year, the Office of the Clerk will be closed on 29, 30 and 31 December 2008.
4. General and Themed question times on 8 January 2009 will be the first question times after the Christmas recess. Members wishing to be selected for those question times would normally be required to submit their names to the Chamber Desk for selection by 12 noon on Wednesday 24 December 2008, with the selected members then being required to lodge their questions by 12 noon on Wednesday 31 December.
5. If these deadlines are adhered to, the earliest that members can be advised of the outcome of the selection will be the afternoon of 24 December 2008 (at a time when it has already been agreed that the Office of the Clerk will be closed), with selected members then requiring to lodge their questions on 31 December which is during the recess, at a time when the Office of the Clerk would normally be closed.
6. The Chamber Desk often needs to be in contact with members or their staff on admissibility issues in relation to their questions. Setting the deadline for lodging questions as Wednesday 31 December may therefore also have an adverse impact on members’ staffing arrangements for the festive period with an increased risk of questions being inadmissible if members or their staff cannot be contacted.
7. Rule 13.6A of Standing Orders allows the deadlines for submitting names for selection and for submitting questions to be altered, exceptionally, by the Parliament on a motion of the Parliamentary Bureau. On that basis, it would be possible to set either earlier or later deadlines for the submission of names and lodging of questions.
PB/S3/08/131
Suggested Options
Option 1 8. One approach would be to leave the deadline for submitting names as 24 December 2008 and put back the deadline for lodging questions. Given the Parliament’s previous decisions on opening dates for the Office of the Clerk, the deadline for lodging would be Monday 5 January 2009. This approach would mean a substantial reduction in the timescale normally available to the Scottish Government to prepare answers to the questions and was discounted as an option on the last occasion on which the Christmas and New Year public holidays fell on Thursdays and Fridays.
Option 2 9. An alternative approach would be to set the deadline for the submission of names for question times on 8 January 2009 as 12 noon on Tuesday 16 December 2008 with the deadline for subsequently lodging questions as 12 noon on Tuesday 23 December 2008. While this approach may risk reducing the topicality of the questions lodged, it offers the benefit of allowing members the same period of time between selection to ask a question and the lodging of that question as exists under the normal arrangement. It also means that those members who wish to lodge their questions ahead of the recess will have an opportunity to do so. Members will also still have the opportunity to submit topical questions for First Minister’s Question Time on 8 January.
Question Times on 15 January
10. The deadline for submitting names for selection to ask a question during General and Themed question times on 15 January falls on 31 December 2008, with those members who are selected requiring to submit their questions by 12 noon on the first Wednesday after recess (7 January 2009). It is recommended that the deadline for submitting names for these question times be brought forward to Wednesday 17 December 2008, allowing those members selected in the draw to be advised of this ahead of recess. Again, if the Parliament agrees to this change, announcements will be placed in the Business Bulletin during the weeks beginning 1 and 10 December 2008.
Recommendations
11. In light of the various issues that arise from the options set out above, it is recommended that:
(i) the Office of the Clerk be closed on 29, 30 and 31 December 2008;
(ii) the deadline for the submission of names for question times on 8 January 2009 be set as 12 noon on Tuesday 16 December 2008 and the deadline for subsequently lodging question be set for 12 noon on Tuesday 23 December 2008 (Option 2); PB/S3/08/131
(iii) the deadline for the submission of names for question times on 15 January 2009 be set as 12 noon on Thursday 18 December 2008.
12. The necessary draft Bureau motions are attached in the annex.
Chamber Office November 2008
PB/S3/08/131
ANNEX
Parliamentary Bureau Motions
That the Parliament agrees that the Office of the Clerk be closed on 29, 30 and 31 December 2008.
That the Parliament agrees that the—
a. period for members to submit their names for selection for Question Times on 8 January 2009 ends at 12 noon on Tuesday 16 December 2008; b. deadline for lodging questions for Question Times on 8 January 2009 shall be 12 noon on Tuesday 23 December 2008; c. period for members to submit their names for selection for Question Times on 15 January 2009 ends at 12 noon on Thursday 18 December 2008.
PB/S3/08/133
PARLIAMENTARY BUREAU
SELECTION PANEL FOR APPOINTMENT OF SCOTTISH PUBLIC SERVICES OMBUDSMAN
Issue
1. To invite the Parliamentary Bureau to determine the Committee Convener to sit on a selection panel to appoint a new Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO).
Background
2. The present Ombudsman, Professor Alice Brown, has informed the Presiding Officer of her intention to demit office on 31 March 2009.
3. The SPCB has agreed that the recruitment of her successor should now commence. In reaching this decision the SPCB noted the establishment of an ad-hoc Committee of the Parliament to inquire into the existing structures of office holders funded by the SPCB, and that it was possible that the ad-hoc Committee may recommend that a Committee Bill is introduced to make some changes to the existing structural set up of officeholders’ offices including those of the Ombudsman.
4. The SPCB also noted, however, that any Committee Bill would be unlikely to receive Royal Assent until early 2010 with time required subsequent to that to implement any possible structural changes/amalgamations. In the light of this, the SPCB has agreed that the next appointment as SPSO for these 2 offices should be for a 2-year period with the possibility of a further 1-year renewal, rather than the current 5-year appointment, in order to provide as much flexibility as possible.
Recruitment Process
5. The recruitment of individuals to these offices is by way of a Selection Panel of Members as provided for under Rule 3.11 of Standing Orders (see Annex).
6. Rule 3.11.3 states that the members of the Selection Panel shall be the Presiding Officer, the convener of the committee within whose remit the relevant enactment or provision falls and at least 4 but not more than 7 other members appointed by the Presiding Officer. Where the subject matter of the relevant enactment or provision falls within the remit of more than one committee, the committee convener member will be determined by the Parliamentary Bureau.
7. The committee convener member to sit on the panel to consider the appointment of the Ombudsman could come from one of a number of parliamentary committees. The establishing legislation was scrutinised by the then Local Government Committee and there is a strong argument that PB/S3/08/133
the committee convener member could be the convener of the current Local Government and Communities Committee. However, the remit of the Ombudsman also covers most of the public sector, including health, education and central Government. The Bureau is therefore invited to determine which convener should serve as committee convener member of the selection panel.
8. For completeness, the Bureau may wish to note that Kathleen Marshall, the Children’s Commissioner, has also advised that she does not wish to serve a second term and will demit office on 25 April 2009. However, it is clear that the relevant committee convener member would be the Convener of the Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee.
Recommendation
9. The Bureau is invited under Rule 3.11.3 to determine the committee convener member to sit on the Selection Panel to appoint a new Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.
PB/S3/08/133
RULE 3.11 OF STANDING ORDERS
Rule 3.11 Nomination of individuals for appointment by Her Majesty
1. The provisions of this Rule apply where an enactment confers, or a provision of a Bill that has completed Stage 1 would confer, power on the Parliament to nominate an individual for appointment by Her Majesty (except where these Rules make separate provision for the procedure that is to be followed by the Parliament in making such a nomination).
2. Where such a post is, or is expected to become, vacant, a panel (referred to as the “Selection Panel”) shall be established for the purpose of recommending a person for nomination by the Parliament to Her Majesty for the appointment in question.
3. Where the subject matter of the relevant enactment or provision falls within the remit of a committee, the members of the Selection Panel shall be-
(a) the Presiding Officer;
(b) the convener of that committee, or, in a case where the subject matter of the relevant enactment or provision falls within the remit of more than one committee, the convener of the committee that is determined for this purpose by the Parliamentary Bureau;
(c) at least 4 but not more than 7 other members appointed by the Presiding Officer.
4. Where the subject matter of the relevant enactment or provision does not fall within the remit of any committee, the members of the Selection Panel shall be-
(a) the Presiding Officer;
(b) a convener of a committee appointed by the Parliamentary Bureau;
(c) at least 4 but not more than 7 other members appointed by the Presiding Officer.
5. In appointing members of the Selection Panel, the Presiding Officer shall have regard to the balance of political parties in the Parliament.
6. [deleted]
7. Any member of the Selection Panel may by motion propose that the Parliament nominates the person recommended by the Selection Panel.
8. Any debate on such a motion shall be restricted to 30 minutes. Each speaker may speak for no more than 5 minutes. PB/S3/08/133
9. If there is a division on such a motion, the result is valid only if the number of members who voted is more than one quarter of the total number of seats for members. In calculating the number of members who have voted for this purpose, account shall be taken not only of those voting for or against the motion but also of those voting to abstain.