Presiding Officer rejects request for Sewel motion on Trade Union Bill

The Scottish Parliament will not be given the chance to hold up the UK Government's Trade Union Bill through a legislative consent motion, after Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick yesterday rejected the Scottish Government's request for a motion to be lodged.

Ms Marwick told the chamber that it was her decision that the bill was not a "relevant bill", that is, one that affected devolved matters, and so no legislative consent motion could be lodged. She added: "The Parliament has other ways of discussing the matter and I am sure that the Government and any other interested parties will take those discussions forward."

She added that she has asked for her letter to the cabinet secretary explaining her reasons to be placed in the Scottish Parlliament Information Centre.