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Motion · S5M-23586 · 3 Dec 2020

A Family-friendly Parliament

Lodged by Murdo Fraser (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party) Standard Motion 41 supporters

The motion

That the Parliament notes that it was established with the ambition of being a family-friendly institution, which would encourage parents of young children to serve as MSPs; considers that the meeting schedule for plenary sessions is increasingly subject to late changes with frequent extensions into the early evening, often at very short notice; understands that there are serious and urgent matters to be discussed, but recognises that these timetable changes at short notice present substantial difficulties for Members with young children or other caring responsibilities; regrets that a number of sitting Members with young children are not seeking re-election, citing as the reason the incompatibility of Parliamentary responsibilities with family life; believes that the Parliament can ill-afford to lose talented Members because of its approach to timetabling, and calls on the Parliamentary Bureau to give urgent attention to the issue of sitting times, including considering whether Chamber sessions could be scheduled to start earlier in the day rather than running later, to ensure that the Parliament is truly family-friendly.

Supporters (41)

Source: the Scottish Parliament motions and amendments record.