Good afternoon. The first item of business is consideration of a business motion.
On a point of order, Deputy Presiding Officer. I very rarely make a point of order, but I feel that it is important to make one on this occasion to ensure that the answers that are provided by ministers to the Parliament are accurate and reflect reality. During yesterday’s topical question time, in response to my supplementary question, the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity stated:
“I also remind the member that barcodes are not part of the regulations passed by the Scottish Parliament and are therefore not part of the legislation that we can consider here.”—[Official Report, 6 June 2023, c 8.]
However, the Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Regulations 2020, which were passed by the Parliament, require European article numbers or barcodes to be included in any application for producer registration, as set out in schedule 1 of the regulations. I would be grateful if the Presiding Officer would confirm whether there has been any attempt by the minister to correct the Official Report on that point.
As members have been reminded on numerous occasions, there are appropriate mechanisms for amending the record, and it is up to members whether they choose to avail themselves of those mechanisms.
We will proceed with the first item of business, which is portfolio question time.
Apologies—the Minister for Cabinet and Parliamentary Business has to move a business motion first. I ask George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, to move motion S6M-09390.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I thought that I had come down to the chamber for no reason.
I think that you will find that constitution portfolio questions are well worth the trip down from the ministerial office. [Laughter.]
Motion moved,
That the Parliament agrees to the following revisions to the programme of business for Wednesday 7 June 2023—
after
2.00 pm Portfolio Questions:
Constitution, External Affairs and Culture;
Justice and Home Affairs
insert
followed by Ministerial Statement: Deposit Return Scheme
delete
5.10 pm Decision Time
and insert
5.40 pm Decision Time—[George Adam]
Motion agreed to.