Seòmar agus comataidhean

Amendment 114, in the name of Russell Findlay, is grouped with amendments 118, 119, 123, 125, 127, 129 and 131. I call Russell Findlay to move amendment 114 and speak to all amendments in the group.

The question is, that amendment 123 be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members: No.

There will be a division.

For

Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green)
Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab)
Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con)
Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)

Against

Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP)
MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP)

There will be a division.

For

Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con)
Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)

Against

Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green)
Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab)
FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP)
MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP)

Good morning and welcome to the 29th meeting in 2022 of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. We have received no apologies this morning.

We are joined today by Shona Robison, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government, and Scottish Government officials. We are also joined by a number of MSPs who have lodged stage 2 amendments to the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, and others might join us throughout the meeting. We also have a full public gallery. I welcome everyone who is participating in the meeting today and those who are observing, either in person or online.

We have to consider and dispose of a large number of amendments to the bill. The committee has scheduled two days for that work; I intend to allow as much debate as is needed for each amendment, but I must ask members to be as concise as possible and to keep their points to what the amendments are about.

If we do not make sufficient progress, the committee might require a third day. Should that be the case, I will discuss that with members and, if necessary, will approach the Parliamentary Bureau to request that the stage 2 deadline be extended. We are expecting a long session this morning, so I will pause proceedings to allow for comfort breaks at appropriate points.

Our sole agenda item today is stage 2 consideration of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill. Members should have a copy of the marshalled list and groupings. If votes are required, I will call for yes votes first, then for no votes, then for any abstentions. Members should vote by raising their hand; clerks will collate the votes and pass them to me to read out and confirm the results.

I remind the cabinet secretary’s officials that they cannot speak during this stage. However, they are allowed to communicate with the cabinet secretary directly.

Members with amendments in a group will be called in turn. Any other member wishing to speak should indicate as much, and I will make every effort to accommodate them.

Let us make a start.

Section 1 agreed to.

Section 2—Persons who may apply

I announced that two members voted for amendment 114 and five members voted against it. However, the correct result was that three members voted for it and four members voted against.

The question is, that amendment 46 be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members: No.

The result of the division is: For 3, Against 3, Abstentions 1.

I therefore have the casting vote, and I use it to vote for the amendment.

Amendment 46 agreed to.

Amendment 123 moved—[Russell Findlay].

The question is, that amendment 114 be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members: No.

There will be a division.

For

Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab)
Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con)
Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)

Against

Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green)
FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP)
MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP)