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Chamber and committees

Meeting of the Parliament [Draft] Business until 14:24

Meeting date: Thursday, November 21, 2024


Contents


Point of Order

Pam Gosal (West Scotland) (Con)

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. On 19 November, The National newspaper printed an article that criticised my decision to raise concerns about the fact that LGBT Youth Scotland, which is an organisation that is geared towards young people between the ages of 13 and 25, not children of primary school age, is working with two primary schools in my area of Milngavie on a pilot programme. I raised those concerns in a letter to the council’s chief executive after being contacted by—

Ms Gosal, a point of order should be raised when a member has concerns about whether proper procedures are being or have been followed in an item of business.

I have such concerns. I am going to come to that, Presiding Officer. Sorry about that.

Please do.

Pam Gosal

Maggie Chapman MSP made comments in which she stated that I am

“categorically more of a risk to children than LGBT Youth Scotland’s project in primary schools”.

I view that as clear defamation of my character. I hope, therefore, that Maggie Chapman will apologise and retract the comments.

Presiding Officer, were you aware of the comments by Maggie Chapman MSP? If not, now that you have heard them, do you believe that they conform with paragraphs 5 and 6, on the treatment of others, of section 7 of the code of conduct for MSPs?

The Presiding Officer

Ms Gosal, I am sure that you will be aware that I wish all members of Parliament to treat one another with courtesy and respect at all times. Articles that have appeared in newspapers are not subjects that I would necessarily expect to be raised as points of order.

The next item of business is a members’ business debate in the name of Roz McCall. There will now be a short suspension to allow people to leave the chamber and the public gallery.

12:48 Meeting suspended.  

12:50 On resuming—