08.05.2007
The Scottish Parliament’s Presiding Officer George Reid has today announced that the election of his successor and the new Deputy Presiding Officers will take place next week. The oath and affirmation taking by MSPs will go ahead tomorrow at 9.30am as scheduled.
At the end of the morning session, a motion will be put to Parliament proposing that the first meeting of Parliament is adjourned until 3pm on Monday 14 May, at which point it will reconvene to elect the new Presiding Officers. Mr Reid said:
“After discussion with the main parties it has been agreed that Parliament will vote on a motion to adjourn the first meeting until next Monday afternoon.
“Given the election result, it is right that Members have enough time to consider nominations for prospective candidates.”
Background
In accordance with The Scotland Act 1998, Parliament must meet within seven days of an election. At the first meeting of Parliament a Presiding Officer must be elected. This deadline does not include weekends or public holidays. Therefore, the date on which Parliament has to have met for the first time is Tuesday 15 May 2007.
A bureau motion will be put before Parliament to suspend standing orders so that the Parliament can meet, and continue the first meeting on Monday 14 May.
The business timetable for Monday is proposed as follows:
The first election will be for the Presiding Officer. Members will now be able to submit nominations to the Parliamentary Business Team in the Scottish Parliament between 1pm and 2.45pm on that day only.
Candidates can only be nominated by Members who have taken the oath or affirmation. A nomination is valid only if it is seconded by another Member.
Ballot papers for the first round of the election for Presiding Officer will be printed between 2.45pm and 3pm.
The election will start at 3pm with the outgoing Presiding Officer George Reid taking the chair and announcing the nominations.
Deputy Presiding Officers
Members who wish to make nominations for the positions of Deputy Presiding Officers will be able to collect nomination papers from the Parliamentary Business Team only after the election for the Presiding Officer has been completed. A nomination is valid only if it is seconded by another Member.
The time period during which nominations can be collected and submitted will be announced by the newly elected Presiding Officer before the sitting is adjourned.