4.1 Only a small proportion of motions lodged are selected for debate and indeed some motions are lodged primarily to provide the Member with a means of highlighting an issue, with no expectation of the motion being debated. A motion that is to be debated by the Parliament on a particular day will appear in the Daily Business List (Section A) of that day’s Business Bulletin. Under Rule 8.3.2 the motion may be moved by the Member who lodged it or by any other Member who has added his or her name to it by the end of the previous sitting day (and whose name will therefore appear in the Business Bulletin as a supporter of the motion).

There are restrictions on who can move certain motions.

These are—

• motions concerning the appointment of persons as Law Officers, members of the Executive or junior Scottish Ministers, or motions for the removal of a judge – which may be moved only by the First Minister (Rule 8.9);
• motions for a tax-varying resolution – which may be moved only by a member of the Executive (Rule 8.10);
• business motions – which may be moved only by a member of the Parliamentary Bureau (Rule 8.11);
• motions for a financial resolution for a Bill – which may be moved only by a member of the Executive or a junior Scottish Minister (Rules 9.12.7 and 9A.14.7)

4.2 If the Member moving the motion wishes to make a speech in respect of a motion, he or she should do so before moving the motion. They should end their speech by formally moving the motion (e.g. “I move the motion in my name” or “I move motion S3M-xx”). Other speakers may then be called by the Presiding Officer. If the Member does not wish to make a speech in support of the motion (or if no time has been allocated for debate) the Member should simply say “formally moved”.

Withdrawal of a Motion After it has been Moved

4.3 At any time during the debate, and before the question is put, the mover of the motion may seek to withdraw it (Rule 8.3.6). He or she should briefly explain why, then state “accordingly, I withdraw this motion.” The Presiding Officer will then ask the Chamber whether any Member objects to the motion being withdrawn. If no Member objects, the motion is withdrawn. If any Member objects, the debate on the motion continues as before. There is nothing to prevent the mover making more than one attempt to withdraw the motion.

Debates without Motions

4.4 It is also possible for debates to take place without a motion.  Such debates are commonly described as “subject debates” and conclude without any decision being taken.