Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 22 March 2016
22 Mar 2016 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Bill
Before I call Malcolm Chisholm, I advise members that this is his valedictory speech. Like me, he has been a member since 1999 and, prior to that, he was a well-known Scottish member of the UK Parliament. He served as a Government minister and has been a very effective back bencher when his party was in government and in opposition.
Above all, Malcolm Chisholm is not just a politician but a parliamentarian—he has been a parliamentarian for all his long and distinguished political career. On behalf of the Presiding Officer team and the Parliament, I wish him all the best for the future. [Applause.]
15:45In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-15994, in the name of Michael Matheson, on the Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Bill. 15:09
The Cabinet Secretary for Justice (Michael Matheson)
SNP
I begin the formal stage 3 debate by thanking the members and clerks of the Justice Committee, the Finance Committee and the Delegated Powers and Law Reform ...
Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
Does the cabinet secretary agree that the use of expert witnesses would serve the purpose of dealing with those misconceptions in a very effective way—just a...
Michael Matheson
SNP
That point was raised at stages 1 and 2, and I will come to it in my speech. The issue was identified by the Crown, and I recognise that Margaret Mitchell an...
Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
SNP
Would the cabinet secretary concede, however, that the Lord President and Sheriff Gordon Liddle, who is vice president of the Sheriff’s Association, had very...
Michael Matheson
SNP
I recognise that they raised some concerns regarding the provisions, but I do not recall them saying that they would not take them forward if Parliament was ...
Elaine Murray (Dumfriesshire) (Lab)
Lab
I am honoured to open the stage 3 debate for Scottish Labour on the last bill to be considered in the fourth session of the Scottish Parliament. I would like...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
Just take a moment. There is plenty of time.
Elaine Murray
Lab
I have had this cough since 5 January. I wish it would go away. Opponents within the judiciary argue that similar directions will creep into other areas of ...
Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
The Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Bill is, as others have mentioned, the last bill that the Parliament will consider as session 4 draws to a c...
Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
SNP
It has been my privilege to convene the Justice Committee for five years. I thank all the committee members for their hard work and, not least, for their tol...
Roderick Campbell (North East Fife) (SNP)
SNP
The member has talked about Lord Carloway’s comments. Will the member accept that he also said this? “What I am trying to say is that it could be done but i...
Christine Grahame
SNP
Exactly—why do it this way if there is a better way of doing it? I think that the member has shot himself in the foot, no matter that he is a member of the F...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
Before I call Malcolm Chisholm, I advise members that this is his valedictory speech. Like me, he has been a member since 1999 and, prior to that, he was a w...
Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (Lab)
Lab
Thank you for those very kind words, Presiding Officer. Today’s bill is another step in the significant progress on action against violence against women th...
Christina McKelvie (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP)
SNP
On 11 September 2013, I led a members’ business debate on the sensitive subject of revenge porn. It was then the subject of a new campaign by Scottish Women’...
Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD)
LD
The bill addresses the need to tackle the damage that is done by abusive behaviour and sexual harm. The Government has acknowledged that the bill deals with ...
Roderick Campbell (North East Fife) (SNP)
SNP
I refer to my entry in the register of members’ interests as a member of the Faculty of Advocates. I begin by acknowledging Alison McInnes’s immense contri...
Christine Grahame
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Roderick Campbell
SNP
I will—briefly.
Christine Grahame
SNP
Does the member agree that juries may have preconceptions and prejudices in other types of case? For instance, if a young man with cropped hair and covered i...
Roderick Campbell
SNP
I am not, for one minute, suggesting that this does not set a precedent, but we need to look at every case on its facts. We will see how the directions work ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Before I call Margaret McDougall, the chamber will wish to note that this is her valedictory speech. Margaret McDougall became a member in this session of Pa...
Margaret McDougall (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Thank you, Presiding Officer, for your kind words. I am disappointed that the Scottish Government rejected my amendments to the bill, and I will continue to...
John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Ind)
Ind
A lot of work takes place before we get to this point in any piece of legislation, and I thank all the contributors that got us here. I will allude to infor...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
I pay tribute to Malcolm Chisholm. It is fitting that he has made his final speech in this debate, because his contribution to tackling violence against wome...
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
We now move to winding-up speeches. I call Annabel Goldie, who will give her final speech in Parliament. 16:29
Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
I am delighted to participate in this afternoon’s proceedings on the Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Bill, which is the final piece of legislati...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
On behalf of the Parliament, I would like to thank you for your substantial contribution to the Parliament as an MSP, as a committee convener and as the lead...
Elaine Murray
Lab
Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. I often wonder how much more can be said about a bill when we get to the final debate at stage 3. The cabinet secret...