Purpose of Motions

1.1 A motion is one of the means by which Members can initiate debate or propose a course of action. Under Rule 8.1.1 of Standing Orders Members may, except where Standing Orders provide otherwise, give notice of a motion or move a motion about any matter. This includes those matters that are reserved to Westminster. All motions lodged are published in the next Business Bulletin. As a general rule a Member seeking to move a motion, whether in the chamber or in committee, will require to lodge notice of it with the Chamber Desk.

1.2 Where motions are to be debated they are lodged in accordance with the business programme agreed by the Parliament and form the basis for the debate. Such motions, if agreed to, become resolutions of the Parliament. Any Member can lodge an amendment to such a motion and the Presiding Officer selects which amendments will be debated. However, the majority of motions are not intended for debate and are lodged for a variety of reasons, such as drawing attention to a particular topic, seeking support for a cause or highlighting a particular event.  Others are lodged to congratulate constituents or organisations. Members can also lodge motions for Members’ Business which gives them the opportunity to debate matters of interest to them or which affect their constituents (see paras 2.17 to 2.21). Such motions are not moved and so do not result in a resolution of the Parliament.

Chamber Desk

1.3 The wording of motions can be discussed with clerks at the Chamber Desk. Clerks also provide advice and assistance on general matters relating to the processing of motions (content, timings, lodging arrangements, etc) as well as the arrangements for lodging parliamentary questions

(see Guidance on Parliamentary Questions, http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/pqa/).