Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 25 November 2020
The Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans and I have been discussing how difficult the timetable is in the run up to the end of the year; there is the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill, for example. The Government does not have parliamentary time—the Opposition has brought the debate forward. As my amendment, which I hope will get Labour’s support, indicates clearly and explicitly, I am more than happy to come back early in the new year to give an update on where the Government is on the matter. There is no dithering or delay. Of course, conversations must be had among partners. That is the understandable and sensible approach to take.
It is important that we take the public with us. The SPA has published the findings of its latest independent survey, which showed that 61 per cent of respondents rate their local police as excellent or good; there is a high degree of public confidence in the police. By enacting the recommendations in Dame Elish Angiolini’s report, I want to ensure that that percentage gets even higher.
There is no complacency on my part, or on the part of the Government. That can be evidenced by the fact that of the interim report in 2019’s 30 recommendations, approximately 21 have already been implemented, either fully or partly. The remainder have not been implemented because they require legislative change. I have always been up front and clear that it would be sensible to wait for the final report so that we can take legislation forward not in a piecemeal fashion, but in a more sensible way.