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Plenary, 23 Feb 2005

Meeting date: Wednesday, February 23, 2005

Official Report 446KB pdf

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Points of Order

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. This afternoon, during a vote at stage 3 of the Fire (Scotland) Bill, a glitch or confusion in the electronics meant that my vote was confused with Annabel Goldie's vote. With due respect to Miss Goldie, I do not want to be recorded as voting against my own party and I am quite sure that she would not like to be recorded as not having voted at all. I draw the Presiding Officer's attention to the matter and ask whether it can be dealt with in some way. If not, perhaps we should find a way of dealing with such electronic glitches in future.

On the same point of order, Presiding Officer. I confirm that what Mr Harper says is entirely correct. I do so on behalf of Miss Goldie, who has had to leave the chamber on other business.

This is not a great issue, although I imagine that it would have caused some excitement if the Executive had lost a vote by one. In the circumstances, might it be in order to report back at least to business managers on what exactly went wrong and on the action that should be taken to avoid this situation in future?

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I hesitate to take the chamber's time, but has the matter not already been recorded through the two members' points of order?

I have noted what was said in the points of order. We will get back to those concerned.