The Standing Orders are the rules of procedure for the Parliament.
They have been made in accordance with the Scotland Act 1998.
Standing Orders of the Scottish Parliament 6th Edition 10th Revision 2 July 2024
1. A “Public Bill” is any Bill introduced in the Parliament other than a Private Bill (as defined in Rule 9A.1).
2. The General Rules set out in Rules 9.2 to 9.13A apply in relation to every Public Bill other than a Hybrid Bill (as defined in Rule 9C.1), but where any of the Special Rules set out in Rules 9.14 to 9.21 apply in relation to the Bill, the Special Rule supersedes the General Rules to the extent that they are inconsistent.
1. A Bill may be introduced by any member on a sitting day. A Bill introduced by a member of the Scottish Government is referred to as a “Government Bill”.
2. A Bill shall be introduced by being lodged with the Clerk.
3. A Bill may not be introduced unless it is in proper form. The Presiding Officer shall determine the proper form of Bills and the Clerk shall arrange for the determinations of the Presiding Officer to be notified to the Parliament.
4. A Bill must, before introduction, be signed by the member introducing it and may also be signed by any other member or members who support the Bill.
5. The Clerk shall ensure that notice of the introduction of a Bill in the Parliament is published in the Business Bulletin. Such notice shall set out the short and long titles of the Bill, the name of the member who has introduced it and the name of any member supporting the Bill and shall indicate what type of Bill it is.
6. No Bill, other than a Budget Bill, may be introduced in the Parliament if it contains any provision which would have the effect of authorising sums to be paid out of the Scottish Consolidated Fund (as opposed to a provision which charges expenditure on that Fund).
1. The “member in charge” of a Government Bill is—
(a) the member of the Scottish Government who introduces the Bill, or who is subsequently appointed by the First Minister to take general responsibility for the subject matter of the Bill; or
(b) a junior Scottish Minister designated by that member.
2. The “member in charge” of a Member’s Bill is—
(a) the member who introduces the Bill; or
(b) another member designated by that member.
3. The “member in charge” of a Committee Bill is—
(a) the convener for the time being of the committee which made the proposal for the Bill (or, where that committee no longer exists, the convener of another committee established with a remit within which the subject matter of the Bill falls); or
(b) a member of the committee designated by the convener.
4. Any designation under paragraphs 1 to 3 shall be made in writing to the Clerk and does not prevent the member referred to in paragraph 1(a), 2(a) or 3(a) from exercising any of the rights that are conferred by these Rules on the member in charge of the Bill.
5. A designation under paragraph 1 shall no longer have effect if the member so designated ceases to be a junior Scottish Minister. A designation under paragraph 3 shall no longer have effect if the member so designated ceases to be a member of the committee.
1. A Bill shall on introduction be accompanied by a written statement signed by the Presiding Officer which shall—
(a) indicate whether or not in the Presiding Officer’s view the provisions of the Bill would be within the legislative competence of the Parliament; and
(b) if in the Presiding Officer’s view any of the provisions would not be within legislative competence, indicate which those provisions are and the reasons for that view.
1A. A Bill shall on introduction be accompanied by a written statement signed by the member introducing the Bill which states that in that member’s view the provisions of the Bill would be within the legislative competence of the Parliament.
2.A Bill must on introduction be accompanied by a Financial Memorandum which sets out best estimates of the costs, savings, and changes to revenues to which the provisions of the Bill would give rise, and an indication of the margins of uncertainty in such estimates. The Financial Memorandum must also include best estimates of the timescales over which such costs, savings, and changes to revenues would be expected to arise. The Financial Memorandum must distinguish separately such costs, savings, and changes to revenues that would fall upon—
(a) the Scottish Administration;
(b) local authorities; and
(c) other bodies, individuals and businesses.
2A. A Bill shall on introduction be accompanied by Explanatory Notes which summarise objectively what each of the provisions of the Bill does (to the extent that it requires explanation or comment) and give other information necessary or expedient to explain the effect of the Bill.
3. A Government Bill shall also be accompanied by a Policy Memorandum which sets out–
(a) the policy objectives of the Bill;
(b) whether alternative ways of meeting those objectives were considered and, if so, why the approach taken in the Bill was adopted;
(c) the consultation, if any, which was undertaken on those objectives and the ways of meeting them or on the details of the Bill and a summary of the outcome of that consultation; and
(d) an assessment of the effects, if any, of the Bill on equal opportunities, human rights, island communities, local government, sustainable development and any other matter which the Scottish Ministers consider relevant.
3A. A Member’s Bill shall, and a Committee Bill may, also be accompanied by a Policy Memorandum, as defined in paragraph 3 (but with the reference in paragraph 3(d) to the Scottish Ministers read as a reference to the member introducing the Bill).
3B. A Bill which contains any provision conferring power to make subordinate legislation, or conferring power on the Scottish Ministers to issue any directions, guidance or code of practice, shall on introduction be accompanied by a Delegated Powers Memorandum setting out, in relation to each such provision of the Bill—
(a) the person upon whom, or the body upon which, the power is conferred and the form in which the power is to be exercised;
(b) why it is considered appropriate to delegate the power; and
(c) the Parliamentary procedure (if any) to which the exercise of the power is to be subject, and why it was considered appropriate to make it subject to that procedure (or not to make it subject to any such procedure).
4. A Bill which contains any provision charging expenditure on the Scottish Consolidated Fund shall be accompanied by a report signed by the Auditor General for Scotland (referred to as “an Auditor General’s Report”) setting out the Auditor General for Scotland’s views on whether the charge is appropriate.
5. The documents which accompany a Bill under this Rule are referred to as its “accompanying documents”.
6. A Bill may be introduced without one or more of the accompanying documents required under paragraphs 2 to 4 of this Rule only with the agreement of the Parliament.
1. As soon as a Bill has been introduced the Clerk shall arrange for the Bill, together with its accompanying documents, to be printed and published.
1. The procedure for a Bill introduced in the Parliament shall be—
(a) consideration of the Bill’s general principles and a decision on whether to agree to them (Stage 1);
(b) consideration of the details of the Bill (Stage 2); and
(c) final consideration of the Bill and a decision whether to pass or reject it (Stage 3).
2. A Bill which has been passed by the Parliament may additionally be subject to reconsideration at a further stage in the circumstances described in Rule 9.9 (Reconsideration of Bills passed).
2A. A Bill which has been rejected by the Parliament may be subject to reconsideration at a further stage in the circumstances described in Rule 9.9A (Reconsideration of Bills rejected).
3. The business programme shall set out the time or times at which each Stage, or any part of any Stage, of a Bill is to be taken by a Committee of the Whole Parliament or at a meeting of the Parliament. In the case of a Stage to be taken in whole or in part by a committee (other than a Committee of the Whole Parliament), notice that the Stage or part of the Stage is to be taken shall be given in the agenda for the relevant committee meeting.
3A. The minimum period that must elapse between the day on which Stage 1 is completed and the day on which Stage 2 starts is 12 sitting days.
3B. The minimum period that must elapse between the day on which Stage 2 is completed and the day on which Stage 3 starts is 10 sitting days.
3C. Where part of a Bill is referred back to a committee under Rule 9.8.6 (for further Stage 2 consideration) a minimum period of 4 sitting days must elapse between—
(a) the day on which Stage 3 proceedings are adjourned and the day on which further Stage 2 proceedings start;
(b) the day on which further Stage 2 proceedings are completed and the day on which Stage 3 proceedings resume (but only if the Bill is amended at those further Stage 2 proceedings).
4. Subject to Rule 9.9A, if a Bill falls or is rejected by the Parliament, no further proceedings shall be taken on the Bill and a Bill in the same or similar terms may not be introduced in the same session of the Parliament within the period of 6 months from the date on which the Bill fell or was rejected.
5.A Bill introduced in any session of the Parliament falls if a decision whether or not to pass it has not been taken by the Parliament before the end of that session but a Bill in the same or similar terms may be introduced in any subsequent session.
1. Once a Bill has been printed, the Parliamentary Bureau shall refer it to the committee within whose remit the subject matter of the Bill falls. That committee (referred to as “the lead committee”) shall consider and report on the general principles of the Bill. Where the subject matter of the Bill falls within the remit of more than one committee the Parliament may, on a motion of the Parliamentary Bureau, designate one of those committees as the lead committee. The other committee or committees (the “secondary committee or committees”) may also consider the general principles of the Bill and report its or their views to the lead committee.
2. Where a Bill contains provisions conferring powers to make subordinate legislation, or conferring powers on the Scottish Ministers to issue any directions, guidance or code of practice, the committee mentioned in Rule 6.11 shall consider and report to the lead committee on those provisions. The committee mentioned in Rule 6.11 may also consider and report to the lead committee on any provision in such a Bill conferring other delegated powers.
3. In considering the general principles of the Bill and preparing its report on them, the lead committee shall take into account any views submitted by any other committee. The lead committee shall also consider and report on the Bill’s Financial Memorandum and shall, in preparing its report, take into account any views submitted to it by the committee mentioned in Rule 6.6. If the Bill is a Government Bill, the lead committee shall also consider and report on its Policy Memorandum.
3A. The lead committee shall report to the Parliament in time to allow the report to be published not later than the fifth sitting day before any date allocated in a business programme for the Parliament to consider the general principles of the Bill under paragraph 4. The Parliament shall not consider the general principles of the Bill earlier than the fifth sitting day after the lead committee report is published unless it decides to do so on a motion of any member.
4. Once the lead committee has reported on the Bill, the Parliament shall consider the general principles of the Bill in the light of the lead committee’s report and decide, on a motion of the member in charge of the Bill, whether to agree to those general principles.
5. Any member may by motion propose that the Bill be referred back to the lead committee for a further report on the general principles of the Bill, or any specified part of the Bill, before the Parliament decides whether to agree to them.
6. If the motion is agreed to, consideration of the Bill’s general principles is adjourned to a time to be determined by the Parliamentary Bureau. The Parliamentary Bureau shall refer the Bill back to the lead committee which shall prepare a further report in accordance with the Parliament’s decision.
7. If the Parliament agrees to the Bill’s general principles the Bill proceeds to Stage 2. If the Parliament rejects the Bill’s general principles the Bill falls.
1. If the Parliament has agreed to the Bill’s general principles, the Parliamentary Bureau shall—
(a) refer the Bill back to the lead committee to take Stage 2 of the Bill; or
(b) by motion propose that Stage 2 of the Bill be taken, in whole or in part, by a Committee of the Whole Parliament or a committee or committees other than the lead committee.
2. The Presiding Officer shall be the convener of a Committee of the Whole Parliament and shall chair its proceedings and the provisions of these Rules about committees shall apply with such modifications as are appropriate.
3. At Stage 2, each section and schedule and the long title of the Bill shall be considered separately and the committee shall decide whether to agree to them. The question that a section or schedule or the long title be agreed to shall be put by the convener without the need for any member to move a motion to that effect. Sections or schedules to which no amendments are proposed and which fall to be considered consecutively may be taken and agreed to together.
4. Unless the Parliament has decided, on a motion of the Parliamentary Bureau, the order in which the sections and schedules of the Bill are to be considered at Stage 2, the committee may decide the order. If neither decides, the sections shall be taken in the order in which they arise in the Bill, with each schedule taken immediately after the section which introduces it. The long title shall be taken last. This paragraph is subject to Rule 9.12.6(b).
5. A Bill may be amended at Stage 2. Notice of an amendment may be given by any member after the completion of Stage 1.
6. At Stage 2, amendments to any section or schedule or to the long title shall be disposed of before the committee considers whether to agree to the provision in question. Where no amendments are proposed to a section, a schedule or the long title, the committee shall proceed immediately to decide the question whether that provision be agreed to. If an amendment to leave out a section or schedule is disagreed to, that section or schedule shall be treated as agreed to.
7. In addition to the provisions of Rule 12.2.2 a member who is not a member of a committee taking Stage 2 of a Bill, or part of it, is entitled to participate in the proceedings for the purpose of moving, debating or seeking agreement to withdraw an amendment in that member’s name but shall not vote.
8. At the end of Stage 2, the Clerk shall, if the Bill has been amended, arrange for the Bill as amended to be printed and published.
8A. If a Bill is amended at Stage 2 so as to insert a section or schedule, or substantially alter any existing provision, the member in charge shall lodge with the Clerk, not later than the fourth sitting day before the day on which Stage 3 is due to start, revised or supplementary Explanatory Notes. Revised Explanatory Notes (or supplementary Explanatory Notes, when read in conjunction with the original Explanatory Notes) shall summarise objectively what each of the provisions of the amended Bill does (to the extent that it requires explanation or comment) and give any other information necessary or expedient to explain the effect of the amended Bill.
8B. If a Bill is amended at Stage 2 so as to substantially alter any of the costs, savings, and changes to revenues set out in the Financial Memorandum that accompanied the Bill on introduction, the member in charge shall lodge with the Clerk, not later than whichever is the earlier of—
(a) the tenth sitting day after the day on which Stage 2 ends;
(b) the end of the second week before the week on which Stage 3 is due to start,
a revised or supplementary Financial Memorandum. The revised Financial Memorandum (or supplementary Financial Memorandum, when read in conjunction with the original Financial Memorandum) shall set out, in relation to the amended Bill, the information required under Rule 9.3.2 in relation to the Bill on introduction.
8C. [deleted]
9. If the Bill has been amended at Stage 2 so as to insert or substantially alter provisions conferring powers to make subordinate legislation, or conferring powers on the Scottish Ministers to issue any directions, guidance or code of practice—
(a) the member in charge shall lodge with the Clerk, not later than whichever is the earlier of—
(i) the tenth sitting day after the day on which Stage 2 ends;
(ii) the end of the second week before the week on which Stage 3 is due to start,
a revised or supplementary Delegated Powers Memorandum,
(b) the committee mentioned in Rule 6.11 shall consider and report to the Parliament on those provisions.
9A. The Clerk shall arrange for any revised or supplementary accompanying documents to be printed and published.
10. [deleted]
1. Stage 3 of a Bill shall be taken at a meeting of the Parliament.
2. At Stage 3, the Parliament shall decide, on a motion of the member in charge of the Bill, whether the Bill be passed.
3. A Bill may be amended at Stage 3. Notice of an amendment may be given by any member after completion of Stage 2.
4. The Presiding Officer may select, as the Presiding Officer sees fit, those amendments which are to be taken at Stage 3 from amongst the admissible amendments of which notice has been given.
4A. Before Stage 3 begins, the Parliament may, on a motion of the Parliamentary Bureau, agree to one or more time-limits that are to apply to debates on amendments (as they have been grouped by the Presiding Officer). If such a motion is agreed to, debates on those groups of amendments shall be concluded by the time-limits specified in the motion, except to the extent considered necessary by the Presiding Officer—
(a) to enable those members given a right to speak on an amendment by Rule 9.10.13 to do so;
(b) as a consequence of the non-moving of an amendment leading to a change in the order in which groups are debated; or
(c) to prevent any debate on a group of amendments that has already begun when a time-limit is reached from being unreasonably curtailed.
5. Unless the Parliament has decided, on a motion of the Parliamentary Bureau, the order in which amendments are to be disposed of, they shall be disposed of in the order in which the sections and schedules to which they relate arise in the Bill. Amendments to the long title shall be taken last.
5A. During Stage 3 proceedings that are subject to time-limits agreed to under paragraph 4A, any member may, by motion without notice, propose that the next such time-limit be extended by such amount of time as is specified in the motion. Such a motion may be taken only with the agreement of the Presiding Officer and may not be debated or amended. If the motion is disagreed to, no further motion to extend that next time-limit may be moved. If the motion is agreed to, all remaining time-limits applicable to the same Bill shall be extended by the amount of time specified in the motion. The total time available on any sitting day for proceedings on Stage 3 amendments shall not be extended by more than 30 minutes by motions under this paragraph.
5B. If any motion under paragraph 5A is agreed to, the Presiding Officer may make such consequential alterations to the daily business list, including altering the time of Decision Time, as the Presiding Officer considers necessary or appropriate. Members shall be notified of any such alteration.
5BA. After any amendments have been disposed of, the Presiding Officer shall state whether or not in his or her view any provision of the Bill relates to a protected subject-matter within the meaning of section 31(4). This statement may be made orally or in writing, and if made in writing shall be published by the Clerk.
5C. Except where the motion that the Bill be passed is due to be moved on a later day, the member in charge of the Bill (or, in the case of a non-Government Bill, that member or a member of the Scottish Government with general responsibility for the subject matter of the Bill) may, immediately after the Presiding Officer has made the statement referred to in paragraph 5BA, by motion without notice propose that the remaining proceedings at Stage 3 be adjourned to a later day. Such a motion may not be debated or amended. If the motion is not agreed to, the Parliament shall proceed immediately to debate the motion that the Bill be passed.
5D. If—
(a) a motion under paragraph 5C is agreed to; or
(b) the motion that the Bill be passed is otherwise due to be moved on a later day,
the member in charge of the Bill (or, in the case of a non-Government Bill, that member or a member of the Scottish Government with general responsibility for the subjectmatter of the Bill) may give notice of amendments to the Bill to be moved at the adjourned proceedings or (as the case may be) on the later day when the motion that the Bill be passed is due to be moved. Such amendments are only admissible if, in addition to the criteria in Rule 9.10.5, they are for the purpose of clarifying uncertainties or giving effect to commitments given at the earlier proceedings at Stage 3.
6. At the beginning of the debate on the motion that the Bill be passed, the member in charge of the Bill may by motion propose that such part of the Bill as may be specified in the motion, amounting to no more than half of the total number of sections of the Bill, be referred back to committee for further Stage 2 consideration. If the motion is agreed to, the proceedings are adjourned to a time to be determined by the Parliamentary Bureau which shall refer the Bill to a committee in accordance with the Parliament’s decision. When the Stage 3 proceedings resume the Bill may be amended, but amendments are only admissible if they are to the provisions which were referred back to committee or if they are necessary in consequence of any amendment made at the further Stage 2 proceedings.
7. This Rule, apart from paragraph 6, shall apply to the resumed Stage 3 proceedings as it applies to the initial Stage 3 proceedings.
8. At Stage 3 a Bill may be referred back to committee for further Stage 2 consideration only once.
9. The question on the motion that the Bill be passed must be decided by division.
10. The result of such a division is valid only if the number of members who voted (whether for the motion, against it, or to abstain) is more than one quarter of the total number of seats for members of the Parliament. If the result is not valid the Bill shall be treated as rejected.
11. Where the Presiding Officer has made a statement that in his or her view any provision of the Bill relates to a protected subject-matter, the Bill is passed only if a super-majority is achieved and is otherwise treated as rejected.
12. If the Presiding Officer has made more than one statement as to whether or not in his or her view any provision of the Bill relates to a protected subject-matter, only the most recent statement is to be used in applying paragraph 11.
1. The member in charge of a Bill may, after the Bill is passed, by motion propose that the Parliament resolve that it wishes to reconsider the Bill if—
(a) a question in relation to the Bill has been referred to the Supreme Court under section 33;
(b) a reference for a preliminary ruling (within the meaning of section 34(3)) has been made by the Supreme Court in connection with that reference; and
(c) neither of those references has been decided or otherwise disposed of.
2. The member in charge of a Bill may by motion propose that the Parliament resolve to reconsider the Bill if—
(a) the Supreme Court decides that the Bill or any provision of it would not be within the legislative competence of the Parliament;
(b) an order is made in relation to the Bill under section 35 (order prohibiting Presiding Officer from submitting Bill for Royal Assent); or
(c) the Supreme Court decides on a reference made in relation to the Bill under section 32A(2)(b) that any provision of the Bill relates to a protected subject-matter.
3. Proceedings at Reconsideration Stage shall be taken at a meeting of the Parliament.
4. A Bill may be amended at Reconsideration Stage but amendments are only admissible if, in addition to the criteria in Rule 9.10.5, they are for the purpose of resolving the problem which is the subject of the reference for a preliminary ruling or which is the subject of the decision of the Supreme Court referred to in paragraph 2(a) or the order under section 35. Unless the Parliament has decided, on a motion of the Parliamentary Bureau, the order in which amendments are to be disposed of, they shall be disposed of in the order in which the provisions to which they relate arise in the Bill. In the case of a Bill referred to in paragraph 2(c) no amendment may be made at Reconsideration Stage.
5. The Presiding Officer shall state, after any amendments have been disposed of and before the debate on the motion that the Bill be approved, whether or not in his or her view any provision of the Bill relates to a protected subject-matter within the meaning of section 31(4). This statement may be made orally or in writing, and if made in writing shall be published by the Clerk. The Parliament shall then consider and decide by division, on a motion of the member in charge of the Bill, the question whether to approve the Bill. The result of such a division is valid only if the number of members who voted (whether for the motion, against it, or to abstain) is more than one quarter of the total number of seats for members of the Parliament. If the result is not valid the Bill shall be treated as rejected. Where the statement is that in the Presiding Officer’s view any provision of the Bill relates to a protected subject-matter, the Bill is not approved unless a super-majority is achieved.
1. The member in charge of a Bill may, after the Bill is rejected, by motion propose that the Parliament resolve to reconsider the Bill if, following a reference to the Supreme Court under section 32A(2)(a), the Court has decided that no provision that is subject to the reference relates to a protected subject-matter.
2. Proceedings at Reconsideration Stage shall be taken at a meeting of the Parliament. The Bill may not be amended at Reconsideration Stage.
3. Before the debate on the motion that the Bill be approved, the Presiding Officer shall state whether or not in his or her view any provision of the Bill relates to a protected subject-matter within the meaning of section 31(4). This statement may be made orally or in writing, and if made in writing shall be published by the Clerk. The Parliament shall then consider and decide by division, on a motion of the member in charge of the Bill, the question whether to approve the Bill. The result of such a division is valid only if the number of members who voted (whether for the motion, against it, or to abstain) is more than one quarter of the total number of seats for members of the Parliament. If the result is not valid the Bill shall be treated as rejected.
1. Amendments to a Bill shall be in such form as the Presiding Officer may determine. The Clerk shall ensure that any such determinations of the Presiding Officer are notified to the Parliament.
2. Subject to paragraph 6, where a member intends to move an amendment to a Bill at Stage 2 or Reconsideration Stage, that member shall give notice of the amendment by lodging it with the Clerk no later than the day (referred to as the final lodging-day) that is the fourth sitting day before the Stage is due to start. Where there is to be more than one meeting, held in different weeks, at which amendments are to be moved or disposed of, there shall be a separate final lodging-day for each of those weeks, that day being the fourth sitting day before the first such meeting in that week is due to take place. Amendments may be lodged until 16:30 on any day when the office of the Clerk is open, except on a final lodging-day, when amendments may be lodged only until 12:00.
2A. Subject to paragraph 6, where a member intends to move an amendment to a Bill at Stage 3, that member shall give notice of the amendment by lodging it with the Clerk no later than the day (referred to as the final lodging-day) that is the fifth sitting day before the Stage is due to start. Where there is to be more than one meeting of the Parliament, held in different weeks, at which amendments are to be moved or disposed of, there shall be a separate final lodging-day for each of those weeks, that day being the fifth sitting day before the first such meeting in that week is due to take place. Amendments may be lodged until 16:30 on any day when the office of the Clerk is open, except on a final lodging-day, when amendments may be lodged only until 12:00.
3. Notice of an amendment shall set out the text of the amendment, together with the name of the member proposing it. The member in charge of the Bill (if not the member proposing the amendment) and up to 4 other members may indicate their support for an amendment (other than a manuscript amendment) by notifying the Clerk at any time during the period when notice of that amendment may be given.
4. The convener or, as the case may be, the Presiding Officer shall determine any dispute as to whether an amendment of which the Clerk has been given notice is admissible. Notice of admissible amendments shall be published in the Business Bulletin.
5. An amendment is admissible unless—
(a) it is not in proper form;
(b) it is not relevant to the Bill or the provisions of the Bill which it would amend;
(c) it is inconsistent with the general principles of the Bill as agreed by the Parliament; or
(d) it is inconsistent with a decision already taken at the Stage at which the amendment is proposed.
6. An amendment of which less notice has been given than is required under paragraph 2 or 2A above is referred to as a “manuscript amendment”. A manuscript amendment may be moved only with the agreement of the convener or, as the case may be, the Presiding Officer. Such agreement shall be given only if the convener or, as the case may be, the Presiding Officer considers it is justified, in the circumstances, taking account of the disadvantages of lack of proper notice.
7. An amendment may be made to an amendment and this Rule shall apply accordingly.
7A. An amendment (other than a manuscript amendment) may be withdrawn by the member who lodged it at any time during the period when notice of that amendment may be given, but only with the unanimous agreement of any members who have indicated their support for the amendment. If such agreement is not obtained, the amendment becomes an amendment in the name of the member who first indicated that member’s support for the amendment and who does not agree to the amendment being withdrawn.
8. Where, at any Stage, notice of amendments to a Bill has been given, the Clerk shall prepare, for each week during which there are to be proceedings on the Bill at which amendments are to be considered, a marshalled list of the admissible amendments proposed. The list shall set out the amendments not so far disposed of in the order in which they are, subject to Rule 9.12.6(b), to be disposed of as determined by the Clerk. At Stage 2, the list shall include only those amendments which are lodged prior to the deadline for that week’s proceedings set out in Rule 9.10.2, together with any manuscript amendments to provisions expected to be considered in that week. The list shall exclude manuscript amendments which may not be moved because agreement has been refused under paragraph 6 above and, at Stage 3, shall exclude amendments not selected by the Presiding Officer. The Clerk shall arrange for the marshalled list to be published.
9. An amendment to insert a new section or schedule shall normally specify where it is to be inserted and shall be disposed of accordingly.
10. An amendment to an amendment shall be disposed of before the amendment which it would amend.
11. An amendment at any Stage which would be inconsistent with a decision already taken at the same Stage shall not be taken.
12. The convener or, as the case may be, the Presiding Officer may group amendments for the purposes of debate as that person sees fit. The Clerk shall arrange for any groupings to be published. An amendment debated as part of a group may not be debated again when it comes to be disposed of (unless it is an amendment to which Rule 9.12.6(b) applies).
13. The member moving an amendment may speak in support of it. A member intending to move any other amendment that has been grouped with the amendment moved may speak in support of that other amendment. The member in charge of the Bill and any member of the Scottish Government or junior Scottish Minister present at the proceedings may also speak on the amendment. Other members may speak on an amendment at the discretion of the convener or, as the case may be, the Presiding Officer.
14. If a member who has given notice of an amendment does not move the amendment when that amendment comes to be disposed of, the amendment may be moved by any other member present at those proceedings.
15. An amendment may be withdrawn by the member who moved it, but only if no member present at those proceedings objects.
1. Where a Bill contains provisions, or is amended so as to include provisions, which would, if the Bill were a Bill for an Act of the United Kingdom Parliament, require the consent of His Majesty, the Prince and Steward of Scotland or the Duke of Cornwall, the Parliament shall not debate any question whether the Bill be passed or approved unless such consent to those provisions has been signified by a member of the Scottish Government during proceedings on the Bill at a meeting of the Parliament.
1. A resolution under this Rule is referred to as “a Financial Resolution”.
2. The Presiding Officer shall decide in every case whether a resolution is required for a Bill under paragraph 3, 3A, 3B, 3C or 4 of this Rule.
3. Where a Bill contains provisions—
(a) which charge expenditure on the Scottish Consolidated Fund, or
(b) the likely effect of which would be to increase significantly expenditure charged on that Fund,
no proceedings may be taken on the Bill at any Stage after Stage 1 unless the Parliament has by resolution agreed to the expenditure or the increase in expenditure being charged on that Fund.
3A. Where a Bill contains provisions the likely effect of which would be to increase significantly expenditure payable out of the Scottish Consolidated Fund for any purpose, no proceedings may be taken on the Bill at any Stage after Stage 1 unless the Parliament has by resolution agreed to the increase in expenditure being payable out of that Fund.
3B. Where a Bill contains provisions—
(a) which impose (or confer a power to impose) any tax; or
(b) which increase (or confer a power to increase) any tax, the likely effect of which would be to increase significantly the revenue from that tax,
no proceedings may be taken on the Bill at any Stage after Stage 1 unless the Parliament has by resolution agreed to the imposition or increase.
3C. Where a Bill contains provisions which reduce (or confer a power to reduce) any tax, the likely effect of which would be to reduce significantly revenue from the tax, no proceedings may be taken on the Bill at any Stage after Stage 1 unless the Parliament has by resolution agreed to the reduction in revenue.
4. Where—
(a) a Bill contains provisions which impose or increase (or confer a power to impose or increase) any charge (other than a tax), or otherwise require (or confer a power to require) any payment to be made; and
(b) the person to whom the charge or payment is payable is required, by or under any enactment, to pay sums received into the Scottish Consolidated Fund (or would be so required but for any provision made by or under an Act of the Scottish Parliament),
no proceedings may be taken on the Bill at any Stage after Stage 1 unless the Parliament has by resolution agreed to the charge, increase or payment.
5. Paragraph 4—
(a) applies only where the charge, increase in charge or payment is significant; and
(b) does not apply where the charge, increase in charge or payment is—
(i) in respect of the provision of goods and is reasonable in relation to the goods provided;
(ii) wholly or largely directed to the recovery of the cost of providing any service for which the charge is imposed or the payment requires to be made; or
(iii) would otherwise result in no significant net gain or loss to the Scottish Consolidated Fund.
6. At Stage 2—
(a) where—
(i) an amendment makes provision which, if it were agreed to, would of its own accord cause the Bill to require a Financial Resolution which it would not otherwise require; and
(ii) the Parliament has not agreed to a motion for such a resolution,
the question on the amendment shall not be put;
(b) where—
(i) any other amendment makes provision which, if it were agreed to, might contribute towards causing the Bill to require a Financial Resolution which it would not otherwise require; and
(ii) the Parliament has not agreed to a motion for such a resolution,
the question on the amendment (and on such other related amendments as the Clerk may determine) is, subject to paragraph 6A, to be put immediately before the long title is taken or at such other time as the Clerk may determine.
6A. A question on an amendment shall not be put in accordance with paragraph 6(b) if, at the time when the question would otherwise be put—
(a) the amendment makes provision which, if it were agreed to, would cause the Bill to require a Financial Resolution which it would not otherwise require; and
(b) the Parliament has not agreed to a motion for such a resolution.
6B. At Stage 3, proceedings shall not be taken on an amendment if, at the time when those proceedings would otherwise take place—
(a) the amendment makes provision which, if it were agreed to, would cause the Bill to require a Financial Resolution which it would not otherwise require; and
(b) the Parliament has not agreed to a motion for such a resolution.
6C. For the purposes of paragraphs 6 to 6B, it is for the Presiding Officer to determine whether an amendment makes provision which, if it were agreed to, would cause, or might contribute towards causing, a Bill to require a Financial Resolution which it would not otherwise require.
7. Only a member of the Scottish Government or a junior Scottish Minister may give notice of a motion for a Financial Resolution. The motion may be moved only by a member of the Scottish Government or junior Scottish Minister, whether or not that person has given notice of it or indicated support for it. Such a motion may not be amended.
8. Unless—
(a) notice of a motion for any resolution required in relation to a Bill by paragraph 3 or 4 is given within 6 months of the completion of Stage 1; and
(b) the motion is agreed to,
the Bill falls.
1. A Bill may be withdrawn at any time by the member in charge but shall not be withdrawn after completion of Stage 1 except with the agreement of the Parliament.
1. Where a member who has lodged a draft proposal for a Member’s Bill accompanied by a statement of reasons is a member of (or committee substitute for) the committee to which the draft proposal is referred under Rule 9.14.5, that member shall not participate in that capacity in any consideration of the draft proposal by that committee.
2. Where—
(a) in relation to a Government Bill, a member of the Scottish Government or junior Scottish Minister;
(b) in relation to a Member’s Bill, the member in charge of the Bill;
(c) in relation to a Committee Bill, the member (if any) who submitted the draft proposal for the Bill or any member who participated as a member of the committee which developed the proposal for the Bill,
is a member of (or committee substitute for) any committee involved in scrutiny of the Bill at Stage 1 or any committee (other than a Committee of the Whole Parliament) taking all or part of Stage 2 of the Bill, that member shall not participate in that capacity in any consideration of the Bill by that committee.
1. “Member’s Bill” means a Public Bill, other than a Committee Bill, which is introduced by a member who is not a member of the Scottish Government and the purpose of which is to give effect to a proposal for a Bill made by that member in accordance with this Rule.
2. Each member may introduce no more than 2 Members’ Bills in the same session. For the purposes of this paragraph only, a draft proposal for a Bill submitted by a member to the Parliamentary Bureau in pursuance of Rule 9.15.4 and subsequently introduced as a Committee Bill shall be treated as if it were a Member’s Bill introduced by that member.
3. A member wishing to introduce a Member’s Bill shall first lodge with the Clerk a draft proposal consisting of the proposed short title of the Bill and a brief explanation of the purposes of the proposed Bill, together with either—
(a) a consultation document prepared as the basis for a public consultation on the policy objectives of the draft proposal to begin on the day on which the draft proposal is published in the Business Bulletin (or a specified date no more than two weeks later) and to last for a specified period of not less than 12 weeks; or
(b) a written statement of reasons why, in the member’s opinion, a case for the proposed Bill has already been established by reference to specified published material and that consultation on the draft proposal is therefore unnecessary.
4. The draft proposal shall be published in the Business Bulletin together with the member’s name, the date it was lodged and either—
(a) the dates on which the consultation period begins and ends, and information about where copies of the consultation document may be obtained; or
(b) information about where copies of the member’s statement of reasons may be obtained.
5. The Parliamentary Bureau shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after a draft proposal is lodged, refer it to a committee within whose remit the subject matter of the draft proposal falls (and may, in the case of a draft proposal accompanied by a consultation document, refer it to more than one such committee).
6. Where a draft proposal accompanied by a statement of reasons is referred to a committee, the committee may, within one month, consider the statement of reasons and decide either—
(a) that it is satisfied with the reasons given by the member for not consulting on the draft proposal; or
(b) that it is not so satisfied.
In calculating the period of one month referred to in this paragraph, no account shall be taken of any time during which the Parliament is dissolved or in recess for more than 4 days.
7. If the committee decides that it is not satisfied with the reasons given by the member for not consulting, the proposal falls unless the member, within 2 months, lodges with the Clerk a consultation document conforming with paragraph 3(a) (except that the consultation process shall begin on the day on which the proposal is republished under this paragraph). Where a consultation document is lodged with the Clerk under this paragraph, the Clerk shall republish the draft proposal in the Bulletin in accordance with paragraph 4(a) and the Parliamentary Bureau shall refer it to a committee or committees in accordance with paragraph 5.
8. The member who lodged the draft proposal may, at any time (during the same session) after—
(a) the end of the consultation period;
(b) the end of the period of one month referred to in paragraph 6; or
(c) the committee decides that it is satisfied with the reasons given by the member for not consulting on the draft proposal, lodge with the Clerk a final version of the proposal (the “final proposal”). The final proposal need not be the same as, but must be broadly similar to, the draft proposal.
9. A final proposal shall be accompanied by either—
(a) a summary of the consultation responses (including any conclusions the member draws from those responses), together with copies of all those responses; or
(b) the statement of reasons lodged with the draft proposal (or a revised version of that statement).
10. The final proposal shall be published in the first issue of the Business Bulletin published after it is lodged, in each subsequent issue published during the period referred to in paragraph 11 and in the first issue thereafter. In each such issue, the proposal shall be published together with information about where the summary of consultation responses or (as the case may be) the statement of reasons may be obtained and the names of any members who have supported the proposal.
11. Any member may notify the Clerk of that member’s support for a final proposal during the period beginning on the day the final proposal is lodged and ending one month later (or on the day the proposal is withdrawn, the Parliament is dissolved or a Bill is introduced to give effect to the proposal, if earlier).
12. The member who lodged the final proposal obtains the right to introduce a Bill to give effect to it only if—
(a) no later than the end of the period referred to in paragraph 11—
(i) at least 18 other members have notified the Clerk of their support for the final proposal; and
(ii) the members supporting the final proposal include members of at least half of the political parties (or groups formed under Rule 5.2.2) represented in the Parliamentary Bureau; and
(b) the Scottish Government has not made, by the end of the period referred to in paragraph 11 (or has waived its right to make, within that period), a statement under paragraph 13.
Where the member does not obtain such a right to introduce, the proposal falls and a proposal in the same or similar terms may not be lodged by any member during the same session within 6 months of that proposal falling.
13. A statement under this paragraph is a statement made by a member of the Scottish Government or junior Scottish Minister that the Scottish Government will initiate legislation, within a period of 2 years from the date of the statement or by the end of the same session, if sooner, to give effect to the final proposal. The right to make such a statement may be waived at any time during the period referred to in paragraph 11 by notice in writing to the member who lodged the final proposal and to the Clerk; and such a notice shall be published in the Business Bulletin.
13A. A statement under paragraph 13 shall be made in writing to the member and to the Clerk (who shall arrange for it to be published in the Business Bulletin), and shall be repeated to a meeting of the Parliament as soon as reasonably practicable.
13B. When a statement is repeated to a meeting of the Parliament under paragraph 13A, the member who lodged the final proposal may ask questions on the statement. In addition, other members may, at the discretion of the Presiding Officer, ask questions on the statement.
14. For the purposes of paragraph 13, initiating legislation includes—
(a) introducing a Bill;
(b) making subordinate legislation; or
(c) laying in draft a statutory instrument containing subordinate legislation proposed to be made.
15. The right to introduce a Bill to give effect to a final proposal may only be exercised until the first sitting day in June (or, exceptionally, with the consent of the Parliamentary Bureau until the last sitting day in September) in the calendar year preceding that in which the next ordinary Scottish Parliament general election is due to be held.
16. A proposal (whether draft or final) may be withdrawn at any time by the member who lodged it.
17. A member may not have more than two proposals (whether draft or final) for a Member’s Bill in progress at any time. For the purposes of this paragraph, a proposal is in progress from when the draft proposal is lodged until—
(a) the proposal falls or is withdrawn; or
(b) a Bill introduced to give effect to it is passed, falls or is withdrawn.
18. At Stage 1 of a Member’s Bill, the lead committee may recommend to the Parliament, on a motion of the convener of the committee, that the general principles of the Bill not be agreed to if (in the opinion of the committee)—
(a) the consultation on the draft proposal, or the published material referred to in the statement of reasons, does not demonstrate a reasonable case for the policy objectives of the proposal or does not demonstrate that legislation is necessary to achieve those policy objectives;
(b) having regard to the statements on legislative competence under Rule 9.3.1, the Bill appears to be clearly outwith the legislative competence of the Parliament and it is unlikely to be possible to amend it at Stages 2 and 3 to bring it within legislative competence; or
(c) the Bill has deficiencies of drafting that make it unfit to be passed and which are sufficiently serious as to make it difficult or impractical to resolve them by amendments at Stages 2 and 3.
19. If the Parliament agrees to a recommendation under paragraph 18, the Bill falls. Otherwise, the lead committee shall consider and report on the general principles of the Bill in accordance with Rule 9.6.1.
1. A Bill introduced in pursuance of this Rule is referred to as “a Committee Bill”.
2. A committee may make a proposal for a Bill in relation to matters within that committee’s remit in accordance with this Rule.
3. For the purposes of deciding whether to make a proposal for a Bill, or what such a proposal should contain, a committee may hold an inquiry into the need for a Bill.
4. Any member may submit to the Parliamentary Bureau a draft proposal for a Bill. The Parliamentary Bureau shall refer the draft proposal to a committee within whose remit the draft proposal falls. The committee shall consider whether it should make the proposal in accordance with this Rule.
5. A proposal for a Bill under this Rule shall be made in the form of a report setting out the committee’s recommendations as to the provisions to be contained in the Bill, together with an explanation of the need for the Bill. The proposal may also contain a draft of a Bill to give effect to the proposal.
6. A time shall be appointed in the business programme for consideration of the proposal by the Parliament.
7. If the Parliament agrees to the proposal, the convener of the committee which made the proposal may, no earlier than the fifth sitting day after the date on which the Parliament agrees to the proposal—
(a) if necessary, instruct the drafting of a Bill to give effect to the proposal; and
(b) introduce the Bill,
unless a statement has been made under paragraph 7A before that day.
7A. A statement under this paragraph is a statement made by a member of the Scottish Government or junior Scottish Minister that the Scottish Government will initiate legislation, within a period of 2 years from the date of the statement or by the end of the same session, if sooner, to give effect to the proposal.
7AA. A statement under paragraph 7A shall be made in writing to the convener of the committee which made the proposal and to the Clerk (who shall arrange for it to be published in the Business Bulletin), and shall be repeated to a meeting of the Parliament as soon as reasonably practicable.
7AB. When a statement is repeated to a meeting of the Parliament, under paragraph 7AA, the convener of the committee which made the proposal may ask questions on the statement. In addition, other members may, at the discretion of the Presiding Officer, ask questions on the statement.
7B. For the purposes of paragraph 7A, “initiating legislation” has the same meaning as in Rule 9.14.14.
8. At Stage 1 of a Committee Bill the Bill shall be referred to the committee mentioned in Rule 6.6 (unless it has been introduced to give effect to a proposal made by that committee), which shall consider and report to the Parliament on the Bill’s Financial Memorandum.
8A. Rule 9.6.2 shall not apply to any Committee Bill introduced to give effect to a proposal made by the committee mentioned in Rule 6.11. But if any other such Bill is considered by that committee under Rule 9.6.2, that committee shall report to the Parliament.
8B. A report on the Bill’s general principles by a committee shall not be required.
9. Once any committee required to report on the Bill has done so, the Parliament shall consider, and decide whether to agree to, the general principles of the Bill.
1. A Budget Bill is a Government Bill for a Budget Act within the meaning of section 29(3) of the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000 (asp 1).
2. A Budget Bill may be introduced only by a member of the Scottish Government and shall not require to be accompanied by a Financial Memorandum, Explanatory Notes or a Policy Memorandum.
3. At Stage 1 of a Budget Bill, the Bill shall be referred to the Parliament for consideration of its general principles and a decision on whether they are agreed to. A report on the Bill’s general principles from a committee shall not be required. If the Bill is considered by the committee mentioned in Rule 6.11 under Rule 9.6.2, that committee shall report to the Parliament on the relevant provisions before Stage 3. Stage 2 shall be taken by the committee mentioned in Rule 6.6.
4. The requirements in Rules 9.5.3A to C as to the minimum periods that must elapse between the Stages of a Bill shall not apply.
5. Stage 3 shall normally begin no earlier than 60 days after introduction of the Bill. If Stage 3 is not completed before the expiry of 70 days after introduction of the Bill (whether because of the operation of paragraph 7 or otherwise), the Bill falls.
6. Amendments to a Budget Bill may be moved, and notice of amendments to such a Bill may be given, only by a member of the Scottish Government or a junior Scottish Minister. The lodging deadlines specified in Rules 9.10.2 and 2A shall not apply. Notice of any amendment at Stage 2 or 3 shall be given by lodging it with the Clerk no later than 16:30 on the Friday immediately preceding the week in which the Stage is due to start.
6A. For the purposes of paragraph 6, if the Friday immediately preceding the week in which the stage is due to start falls during a period when the Parliament is in recess, then the lodging deadline will be no later than 16:30 on the Friday which immediately precedes commencement of any such period of recess.
7. If a Budget Bill is dependent upon the Parliament passing a particular Scottish rate resolution, Stage 3 proceedings on that Bill must not commence unless the Parliament has agreed to the motion for that resolution.
7A. Where amendments to a Budget Bill have been lodged, the Bill is to be treated as dependent only on the passing of a Scottish rate resolution which reflects the content of those amendments.
8. If a Budget Bill falls or is rejected at any Stage by the Parliament, a Budget Bill in the same or similar terms may be introduced at any time thereafter.
1. A "Scottish Law Commission Bill" is a Bill which-
(a) implements all or part of a report of the Scottish Law Commission (including a joint report with the Law Commission);
(b) complies with such criteria as shall be determined by the Presiding Officer; and
(c) is not a Consolidation Bill, Codification Bill, Statute Law Repeals Bill or Statute Law Revision Bill.
2. The Clerk shall arrange for the determinations of the Presiding Officer under paragraph 1(b) to be notified to the Parliament.
3. Where the committee mentioned in Rule 6.11 has commenced consideration of, but has not yet reported on, the general principles of a Scottish Law Commission Bill under Rule 6.11.1(g) and that Committee considers that on the basis of the evidence gathered by it the Bill does not comply with the criteria determined by the Presiding Officer under paragraph 1(b), that Committee shall inform the Parliamentary Bureau. The Parliament may, on a motion of the Parliamentary Bureau, designate another committee as the new lead committee. The new lead committee shall consider the general principles of the Bill afresh, but may take into account any evidence gathered and views submitted to it by the committee mentioned in Rule 6.11.
4. Where a Scottish Law Commission Bill which has been referred to the committee mentioned in Rule 6.11 at Stage 2 has been amended at that Stage so as to insert or substantially alter provisions conferring powers to make subordinate legislation, or conferring powers on the Scottish Ministers to issue any directions, guidance or code of practice, Rule 9.7.9(b) does not apply, but a revised or supplementary memorandum shall be lodged and published under Rule 9.7.9(a).
1. A Consolidation Bill is a Bill the purpose of which is the consolidation of enactments, whether or not with amendments to those enactments to give effect to recommendations of the Scottish Law Commission or of the Scottish Law Commission and the Law Commission jointly (“Law Commission recommendations”).
2. A Consolidation Bill shall not require to be accompanied by a Financial Memorandum, Explanatory Notes or a Policy Memorandum. An Auditor General’s Report shall be required only where the Bill includes provision charging expenditure on the Scottish Consolidated Fund that is to give effect to a Law Commission recommendation. A Consolidation Bill shall be accompanied by tables of derivations and destinations, and such tables shall be treated as accompanying documents within the meaning of Rule 9.3.5.
3. Where a Consolidation Bill has been introduced in the Parliament, the Parliamentary Bureau may by motion propose, in accordance with Rule 6.1, the establishment of a committee (referred to as “a Consolidation Committee”) to consider the Bill in accordance with this Rule. The Parliamentary Bureau may alternatively by motion propose the referral of the Bill to the committee mentioned in Rule 6.11 to consider the Bill in accordance with this Rule.
4. In proposing the membership of a Consolidation Committee under Rule 6.3, the Parliamentary Bureau shall have regard to the subject matter of the Bill and shall, where possible, ensure that at least one member of the Committee is drawn from amongst the members of a committee within whose remit the subject matter of the Bill falls.
5. At Stage 1 of a Consolidation Bill, the Consolidation Committee for that Bill or the committee mentioned in Rule 6.11 shall consider and report on the question whether the Bill should proceed as a Consolidation Bill. A report on the general principles of the Bill shall not be required. Once the Consolidation Committee or the committee mentioned in Rule 6.11 has reported, the Parliament shall decide that question on a motion of the member in charge of the Bill. There shall normally be no debate on that question. If the motion is agreed to, the Bill proceeds to Stage 2. If the Parliament rejects the motion, the Bill falls.
6.Stage 2 of a Consolidation Bill shall be taken by the Consolidation Committee for that Bill or by the committee mentioned in Rule 6.11.
7. At Stage 3 of a Consolidation Bill, there shall normally be no debate on the question whether the Bill be passed.
8. An amendment to a Consolidation Bill is admissible unless Rule 9.10.5(a), (b) or (d) applies or the amendment would cause the Bill to cease to be a Consolidation Bill.
1. A Codification Bill is a Bill the purpose of which is to restate existing statute and common law, whether or not with amendments to that law to give effect to Law Commission recommendations.
2. Rule 9.18 shall apply to a Codification Bill as it applies to a Consolidation Bill in relation to which the establishment of a Consolidation Committee is proposed by the Parliamentary Bureau, with such modifications as are appropriate. In particular, the Consolidation Committee referred to in that Rule shall be known as a “Codification Committee".
1. A Statute Law Repeals Bill is a Bill the purpose of which is to repeal, in accordance with recommendations of the Scottish Law Commission, spent enactments.
2. Rule 9.18 shall apply to a Statute Law Repeals Bill as it applies to a Consolidation Bill in relation to which the establishment of a Consolidation Committee is proposed by the Parliamentary Bureau, with such modifications as are appropriate. In particular, the Consolidation Committee referred to in that Rule shall be known as a “Statute Law Repeals Committee”.
1. A Statute Law Revision Bill is a Bill the purpose of which is to revise the statute law by repealing enactments which are no longer in force or have become unnecessary and re-enacting provisions of Acts (whether of the United Kingdom Parliament or the Scottish Parliament) which are otherwise spent.
2.Rule 9.18 shall apply to a Statute Law Revision Bill as it applies to a Consolidation Bill in relation to which the establishment of a Consolidation Committee is proposed by the Parliamentary Bureau, with such modifications as are appropriate. In particular, the Consolidation Committee referred to in that Rule shall be known as a “Statute Law Revision Committee”.
1. Any member of the Scottish Government or a junior Scottish Minister may by motion propose that a Government Bill introduced in the Parliament be treated as an Emergency Bill. If the Parliament agrees to such a motion, the remaining provisions of this Rule shall apply to such a Bill.
2. Unless the Parliament decides otherwise on a motion of the Parliamentary Bureau, Stages 1 to 3 of an Emergency Bill shall be taken on the same day. The time available for each of the Stages of an Emergency Bill, and for debates at each of those Stages, shall be decided by the Parliament on a motion of the Parliamentary Bureau.
3. Paragraph 2 is without prejudice to the power of the Parliament to adjourn Stage 3 of an Emergency Bill to a later day under Rule 9.8.5C or to refer part of the Bill back to committee under Rule 9.8.6.
4. The requirements in Rules 9.5.3A to C as to the minimum periods that must elapse between the Stages of a Bill shall not apply.
5. At Stage 1, an Emergency Bill shall be referred immediately to the Parliament for consideration of its general principles. The Parliament shall decide, on a motion of the member in charge of the Bill, whether to agree to those general principles. The lead committee, if any, shall not be required to consider, or report to the Parliament on, the Bill's general principles, the Financial Memorandum or the Policy Memorandum. An Emergency Bill containing provisions conferring powers to make subordinate legislation, or conferring powers on the Scottish Ministers to issue any directions, guidance or code of practice, is not required to be considered by the committee mentioned in Rule 6.11.
6. Stage 2 of an Emergency Bill shall be taken by a Committee of the Whole Parliament.
6A. Rules 9.7.8A, 9.7.8B and 9.7.9 do not apply in the case of an Emergency Bill.
7. Where a member intends to move an amendment to an Emergency Bill at Stage 2 or 3, or at Reconsideration Stage, that member shall, subject to Rule 9.10.6, give such notice of the amendment as the Presiding Officer may determine for that Stage or, where the Presiding Officer does not make such a determination, such notice as is required by Rule 9.10.2 or, as the case may be, 2A.
8. Rule 9.10.6 applies to an Emergency Bill as if the reference to notice required under Rule 9.10.2 or 2A included reference to the notice required by virtue of a determination by the Presiding Officer under paragraph 7.