The next item of business is consideration of business motion S6M-12565, in the name of George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, on changes to the business programme. Any member who wishes to speak against the motion should press their request-to-speak button now.
Motion moved,
That the Parliament agrees—
(a) to the following revisions to the programme of business for—
(i) Tuesday 19 March 2024—
delete
5.00 pm Decision Time
followed by Members’ Business
and insert
8.45 pm Decision Time
(ii) Wednesday 20 March 2024—
delete
followed by Scottish Government Debate: Scottish Crime Campus and Tackling Serious Organised Crime
and insert
followed by Stage 1 Debate: Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill
followed by Financial Resolution: Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill
delete
5.00 pm Decision Time
and insert
5.30 pm Decision Time
(iii) Thursday 21 March 2024—
delete
2.30 pm Portfolio Questions:
Education and Skills
followed by Stage 1 Debate: Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill
followed by Financial Resolution: Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill
and insert
2.45 pm Portfolio Questions:
Education and Skills
followed by Stage 3 Debate: Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill
delete
5.00 pm Decision Time
and insert
4.10 pm Decision Time
(b) that, for the purposes of Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Questions on Thursday 21 March 2024, the words "of up to 15 minutes" in Rule 13.9.3 are suspended.—[George Adam]
14:04
Knowing that the Parliamentary Bureau meets at 12 noon on a Tuesday to consider business motions, I rise not to contest the business motion as much as to ask for something to be included at the earliest possible convenience.
This morning, Ineos announced that its ethanol plant at Grangemouth will close at the end of quarter 1 next year. That is an additional announcement on top of the previous announcements that have been made about the closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery, which is scheduled to close by the end of quarter 2 in 2025.
The announcement was made this morning and was probably not on anyone’s radar when the bureau met, so I am rising to ask for a ministerial statement on the matter—an opportunity for the Government to come to the chamber. People in Grangemouth and the Falkirk area will be worried that the news comes on top of the previous announcements and they will want to know about jobs and what the implications are for the wider industrial complex at Grangemouth, which is integral to Scotland’s economy and to our plans for net zero.
The other dimension is the flood prevention scheme, which will depend on resources coming not just from the public sector but from the private sector. There will be one less business operating on that estate.
There are questions to be asked about the future role of Grangemouth in the context of this further closure. I am therefore indirectly asking the Minister for Parliamentary Business whether there will an opportunity for the matter to be raised in the chamber at some point in the next few days.
I understand the seriousness of the situation and that people would want to discuss it. However, Mr Kerr will be aware that there is a process for the Parliament and the Parliamentary Bureau to work through, and I advise him—as I would advise any member who makes a similar request—to speak to his business manager and feed into the Parliamentary Bureau in that way. As Mr Kerr knows from his past involvement as chief whip, I am only too happy to deal with any requests that are made by members and we will see what we can do in the future.
Motion agreed to.
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