Colleagues, the Parliamentary Bureau has agreed to suspend proceedings at this point, and I am minded to take a motion without notice to amend Wednesday’s business programme to remove the members’ business debate in the name of Jim Fairlie and to resume consideration of stage 3 amendments to the bill at 1.15 pm. I invite George Adam to move the motion.
Thank you, Presiding Officer. I am happy to move,
That the Members’ Business debate in the name of Jim Fairlie be removed from Wednesday’s Business and consideration of amendments be resumed at 1.15 pm on Wednesday.
As our proceedings come to a close, Presiding Officer, I would just reflect that Tuesday sittings should not continue into Wednesday for anything other than emergency legislation. It is deeply disappointing that the Government—[Interruption.]
Colleagues, I ask that we hear Mr Ross, please.
It is deeply disappointing that the Government has timetabled this legislation in such a way. I see that the First Minister remains in the chamber, so I hope that she will go away this morning and consider with her Government colleagues the remainder of the timetabling for the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill. It does not need to be pushed through in the final hours and days before we break for the Christmas recess.
I also ask that we as an entire Parliament put on record our thanks to its staff. [Applause.] Our security staff, the catering staff, the chamber staff and the information technology staff have stuck with us today and will be with us if the Government—[Interruption.]
Thank you, members.
—if the Government continues with this timetable. We thank the staff for their efforts, and I hope that the First Minister will reconsider the attempt that she is making to railroad this legislation through at such pace.
The question is, that the motion that I described be agreed to.
Motion agreed to.
I close the meeting.
Meeting closed at 00:13.