20/08/2009
The Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson MSP announced today he had taken the decision to recall Parliament on Monday.
Mr Fergusson said: “Following the announcement by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice at 1pm today on the compassionate release of Mr Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, I can confirm I have taken the decision to recall Parliament at the earliest practicable opportunity."
Earlier this week, the Presiding Officer announced he fully expected Parliament to scrutinise this matter once a decision had been made by Scottish Government ministers.
Mr Fergusson has decided Parliament will convene on Monday, 24 August at 2.30pm, with a Ministerial statement on the decision on Mr Al Megrahi followed by questions.
The Scottish Parliament has been recalled on two previous occasions. These followed the deaths of former First Minister Donald Dewar in October 2000 and the Queen Mother in April 2002.