Order, Order.

We turn now to a Stage 3 Vote on SB219, in the name of the 19th Scottish Government. The question is that this Parliament approves the Motion Responses (Repeal) Bill.

Members are reminded to vote For/Against/Abstain. Attempts to stylise a vote may result in it not being counted. Where there is mix-up with an alternative voting style, this shall also be accepted.

Motion Responses (Repeal) Bill

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to repeal the bills associated with responding to motions

Section 1: Repeals

(1) The Parliamentary Accountability (Motion Responses) Act 2021 is hereby repealed in its entirety

(2) The Parliamentary Accountability (Clarification) Act 2021 is hereby repealed in its entirety

(3) Any motion still requiring a response under the terms of the above Act shall no longer require a response.

(4) Nothing in this Act prevents the Scottish Government from responding to motions via a written statement laid before the Parliament

Section 2: Commencement

(1) This Act shall come into force upon Royal Assent

Section 3: Short Title

(1) This Act may be cited as the Motion Responses (Repeal) Act 2023

This Bill was written by the Rt. Hon. Sir Frost_Walker2017 MSP on behalf of the 19th Scottish Government.

Opening Speech:

Presiding Officer,

Scotland, first the originator of the Motion Responses Act fad, is now the only country in the UK still to retain it. Wales, under the auspices of former First Minister Zakian, repealed it not too long ago, and I submitted a repeal that subsequently passed in Northern Ireland. Doubtless some may have heard the arguments before, but I would like to make them again.

Motions are non binding in our system. Nevertheless, most every response to a motion passing is “yes we’ll do this”, as if it manages to pass against a majority government (as more or less every one of our governments have been) then it would likely have been due to a government party (or multiple of) voting in favour of it. I understand the arguments that this forces a government to pursue a policy, but there has been no pressure on a government to do so or major discussion on implementation as part of these responses.

During the debates, most party leaders outline their reasons for supporting or opposing a motion, making a response to it in a written statement moot. The only time this is useful is if a motion passes against the will of the Scottish Government, but again this has happened only rarely if at all.

I would like to see these bills removed. I commend this to the Parliament!

Link to Stage 1 Debate

Link to Stage 3 Debate

Voting on this item of Business ends with the close of Business on April 23rd, at 10 pm BST.