2.00 pm First Minister’s Motion to appoint Scottish Ministers
followed by First Minister’s Motion to appoint Junior Scottish Ministers
followed by Election of Members to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body
followed by Business Motions
followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions
Procedural information
Appointment of Scottish Ministers
While described as ‘Scottish Ministers’ and ‘Junior Scottish Ministers’ in the Scotland Act, by convention these roles are now described as ‘Cabinet Secretaries’ and ‘Ministers’.
Ministers in the Scottish Government are appointed by the First Minister with the approval of The Queen.
Before seeking that approval, the First Minister requires the agreement of the Parliament. The First Minister will put a motion to the Parliament seeking its agreement to his or her proposal for the appointment of an individual Member to be a Minister (or a group of Members to become Ministers).
The motion must be approved by a simple majority of Members, with the total number of votes cast greater than a quarter of the total number of seats in the Parliament.
Amendments to the motion are permissible under Standing Orders but only to delete the part of the motion relating to a particular Member or Members. Each amendment selected by the Presiding Officer will be voted on in turn.
Appointment of Junior Scottish Ministers
The same procedures, with any appropriate modifications, apply as those for the selection of other Scottish Ministers.
Appointment of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body
No later than 20 sitting days after a general election, the Parliament will elect four members of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body.
Not later than 30 minutes before the beginning of the first voting period, any member may nominate a candidate for election by submitting a written nomination to the Clerk. A nomination of a candidate will be valid only if it is seconded by another member.
The election is held using the electronic voting system.
Where the number of candidates is equal to the number of vacancies
The Presiding Officer will invite members to agree that there be a single vote to elect all the candidates. If all members agree that there should be a single vote, the Presiding Officer will read out the names of the candidates. After all the names are read out, members may vote for or against the candidates, or abstain.
The candidates will be elected if there is a simple majority of votes in favour of their election. The candidates will be eliminated from the election if a simple majority of votes in favour of their election is not obtained.
If any member disagrees to a single question being put, a separate vote will be called for each candidate in alphabetical order. Members may vote for or against each candidate, or abstain. The candidate will be elected if he or she obtains a simple majority of votes in his or her favour.
Where there are more candidates than the number of vacancies
Members will be asked to cast their vote for their preferred candidate. A separate vote will be called for each candidate in alphabetical order.
Members must vote once only and only use their “yes” button when voting. If any Member casts more than one vote, their votes will be treated as spoiled, and none of their votes will count. Any member wishing to record an abstention will have an opportunity to do so at the end of voting for the candidates.
Once all voting has been completed, there will be a short delay of a few minutes while the result is verified. The Presiding Officer will then announce: the number of votes cast; the votes for each of the candidates; and the votes to abstain. A candidate will be elected if an overall majority is obtained. If no majority is obtained, the candidate or candidates with the smallest number of votes will be eliminated and a further round or rounds of voting will take place until the vacancy is filled.
Where there are fewer candidates than the number of vacancies
Voting will proceed in the same manner as if the number of candidates is equal to the number of vacancies. Under Rule 11.10A.19 of Standing Orders, the Presiding Officer will announce that the total number of vacancies has not been filled and a further election for the remaining candidates will be held. The date and time will be announced in the Business Bulletin.
A candidate may withdraw their candidature at any stage between rounds of voting or votes.
Standing Orders does not prohibit members of the SPCB being elected from the same party but since 1999 the 4 person make-up of the SPCB has always been one member drawn from each of the SNP, Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties.
Media access
For media accreditation and to follow proceedings from the Chamber’s media gallery:
Pam Kaur: 0131 348 6852 parminder.kaur@parliament.scot
For press photography details contact:
Andrew Cowan: 0131 348 5878 andrew.cowan@parliament.scot