Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 09 March 2022
09 Mar 2022 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Justice for Families (Milly’s Law)
The member raises an important point, which I do not have time to come back to in detail in this debate, but I hope that we will be able to explore it on another occasion.
The demands are not just being made in Scotland. Recently, Lord Rosser’s amendment to introduce a duty of candour into the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill was passed in the House of Lords. Such demands are being campaigned for throughout the UK, partly spearheaded by the Hillsborough campaigners, who have been campaigning for rights because of their treatment. The demands are also being backed by those who have campaigned for nuclear test veterans and victims of the Grenfell fire and of the Manchester arena bombing, and by those involved in many other campaigns.
In 2017, the Angiolini review of serious incidents and deaths in custody called for non-means-tested funding for families immediately after a state-related—
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-03491, in the name of Anas Sarwar, on Milly’s law—justice for families. I ask members who wish to speak i...
Anas Sarwar (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
Two years ago, I stood up in Parliament and exposed the failures at the Queen Elizabeth university hospital. What has been uncovered since is a human tragedy...
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care (Humza Yousaf)
SNP
I thank Anas Sarwar and Scottish Labour for bringing this very important debate to the chamber. I will address the points in the proposal that he has introdu...
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Lab
What the cabinet secretary has just said flies in the face of people’s experience. What sanctions would apply to health boards for not following the law?
Humza Yousaf
SNP
I accept fully Jackie Baillie’s point that, on occasion, the processes that we have put in place are not followed; I have said that already. When I have disc...
Sandesh Gulhane (Glasgow) (Con)
Con
I draw members’ attention to my entry in the register of interests, which states that I am a practising NHS doctor. The Scottish Conservatives welcome Anas ...
Humza Yousaf
SNP
I would be happy to look into that issue in more detail. I know of the issue because—far from it being shrouded in secrecy—the health board issued a press re...
Sandesh Gulhane
Con
I am talking about the internal walls, not the cladding—Interruption.—Was that before December’s debate, when ministers doubled down to defend the health boa...
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
LD
I am pleased to speak for my party in the debate and I thank Anas Sarwar for all his work with families and victims to shine a spotlight on the important iss...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
We move to the open debate. 15:24
Carol Mochan (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I am glad that my party has brought the debate to the chamber. It is the right thing to do, and passing the law would, equally, be the right thing to do. Tha...
Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I am grateful for the opportunity to speak in this important debate. I, too, associate myself with the comments that were made at the outset, and I thank eve...
Katy Clark (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
The debate is about the fundamental relationship between the individual and the state and about whether Governments and public institutions have a duty of tr...
Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
SNP
I hope that the member gets her time back for this intervention—she is making an interesting and important point. The problem is that, in an inquiry such as ...
Katy Clark
Lab
The member raises an important point, which I do not have time to come back to in detail in this debate, but I hope that we will be able to explore it on ano...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Ms Clark, I must ask you to wind up.
Katy Clark
Lab
I very much hope that the Parliament will look sympathetically on the motion.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Thank you—I am afraid that we are very tight for time. 15:37
Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
I start by sending my condolences to anyone affected by the tragic events at the Queen Elizabeth hospital in Glasgow. Nothing that we say or do in the chambe...
Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
SNP
Let me first express my condolences to Milly’s family. I have a 10-year-old granddaughter, the same age as Milly was when she died, and have similar images o...
Gillian Mackay (Central Scotland) (Green)
Green
My thoughts are with all those whose care has fallen short of the high standards that we hold for our public services. Fighting to have your voice heard can ...
Audrey Nicoll
SNP
I begin by offering my condolences to Milly Main’s family for the circumstances that have led us here, and expressing my admiration for the courage and deter...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
We move to the closing speeches. 15:55
Jackson Carlaw (Eastwood) (Con)
Con
This has been an interesting debate, with some informed and constructive contributions. I thank Anas Sarwar for the way in which he moved the motion, and I t...
Humza Yousaf
SNP
I think that this is the second time that I have said this in as many months, Presiding Officer, but it is a genuine pleasure to follow Jackson Carlaw’s cont...
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Lab
It cannot be acceptable that, in today’s Scotland, bereaved families should have to fight tooth and nail for justice for their loved ones when the unthinkabl...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
That concludes the debate on Milly’s law: justice for families. There will be a brief pause before the next item of business.