Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 08 November 2023
08 Nov 2023 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Cashback for Communities
The member will be aware of the cross-border nature of much of that crime, including the supply of drugs to Scotland by road and rail from England. Given that, does she agree that, if the United Kingdom Government were to take the same approach as the Scottish Government and apply the cashback for communities approach to some of the proceeds of crime in England, that could benefit the people of Scotland? If she does agree, will she agree to write with me to the UK Government to propose such a change?
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-11127, in the name of Siobhian Brown, on cashback for communities. I invite members who wish to participa...
The Minister for Victims and Community Safety (Siobhian Brown)
SNP
Many members will already be familiar with the cashback for communities programme and the work that it delivers in their communities. Some may have even visi...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
We are tight for time across the rest of the afternoon, so members who want to speak should press their request-to-speak buttons now. I call Russell Findlay...
Russell Findlay (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
We agree with the Scottish Government motion on cashback for communities, and I hope that the Government finds agreement with our constructive amendment. Dr...
Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
SNP
The member makes a very important point. I want to ask a question that I intend to be helpful, although it might be too complicated to answer here and now. W...
Russell Findlay
Con
I will attempt to come on to that, but I have a lot to say. Criminals now regard proceeds of crime orders as a form of retrospective taxation—essentially, a...
Katy Clark (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I am pleased to follow Russell Findlay, who makes a powerful case for a review, and to open the debate on behalf of Scottish Labour. We support the programm...
Keith Brown (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP)
SNP
The member will be aware of the cross-border nature of much of that crime, including the supply of drugs to Scotland by road and rail from England. Given tha...
Katy Clark
Lab
I would be very happy to write to the UK Government with Keith Brown. He clearly has a huge amount of experience to draw upon and I am sure that he is absolu...
Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
I am pleased to speak in this debate on the cashback for communities programme. The Scottish Liberal Democrats believe that reducing crime involves a co-ord...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
We move to the open debate. We are tight for time. I call Christine Grahame, who has up to four minutes. 15:56
Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
SNP
Frequently, we become so accustomed to the innovative policies that the Parliament has introduced that we forget to reflect on—and, in some circumstances, to...
Meghan Gallacher (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
One of the many interesting aspects of our role as MSPs is learning about incentives that bring cash back to our local communities. I welcome the opportunity...
Evelyn Tweed (Stirling) (SNP)
SNP
Scotland has committed to getting it right for every child and to creating an equal society in which every child and young person in Scotland can reach their...
Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
Cashback for communities has reinvested the proceeds of crime in our communities, thereby supporting more than 1 million young people, including many in Mid ...
Stuart McMillan (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP)
SNP
I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests. I am an ambassador for Ocean Youth Trust Scotland. I am pleased to speak in the debate b...
Maggie Chapman (North East Scotland) (Green)
Green
I welcome the motion and share its commendation of the cashback for communities programme. Over its 15-year history, it has developed to become more sensitiv...
Keith Brown (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP)
SNP
I thank Siobhian Brown—who is no relation—for bringing the motion to the chamber for debate. I commend the work of cashback for communities, which uses money...
Roz McCall (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I add my support for the cashback for communities programme and for the Scottish Conservative amendment. I commend the scheme and recognise that, since 2008,...
Carol Mochan (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
It is right that consensus has been found in the chamber today, in so far as it has been recognised that the cashback for communities programme has been bene...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I need to ask you to conclude.
Carol Mochan
Lab
To conclude, I support this reinvestment in our communities. 16:33
Marie McNair (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP)
SNP
Over the past 15 years, the cashback for communities programme has played a crucial role in the lives of countless young people and communities across Scotla...
Pauline McNeill (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome this debate. It is some time since the Parliament discussed the cashback for communities programme. It is important to start off with Russell Fin...
Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
Today’s debate has been interesting and worth while. This Parliament does not spend enough time debating the justice system or how to tackle the crime that i...
Keith Brown
SNP
Given what Sharon Dowey has said about trying to increase the amount of money that is taken in from the proceeds of crime, would she be willing to write, alo...
Sharon Dowey
Con
Mr Brown and Ms Clark have been in the justice section for a lot longer than I have, so I would want to see more detail on that. At present, all the moneys f...
Marie McNair
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Sharon Dowey
Con
I will make some more progress, because I want to get through a lot of contributions from members. Crime gangs have already been emboldened by weaknesses in...
Siobhian Brown
SNP
I thank everyone who has taken part in today’s debate and shared their positive experiences of the cashback for communities programme’s 15 years of benefitin...