Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 22 November 2023
22 Nov 2023 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Parliamentary Bureau Motions
As I have confirmed to Mr Findlay—not once but now twice—the increased fine rate applies to the same offences.
On Mr Findlay’s issue about cases, the fiscal fines, by having increased from the £300 to the £500 range, now cover cases in which the Crown Office considers a £300 fine to be insufficient in the circumstances but in which it considers a £500 fine to be appropriate.
Keeping those elements in place, pending consideration of permanent legislation, is a sensible approach to take. The consultation provides an opportunity to seek wider views on the proposals. Another reason is that the court system is still in recovery from the pandemic.
Given that you are pressing me for time, Presiding Officer, I will just refer members to the statement that I made at the committee.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is consideration of Parliamentary Bureau motion S6M-11375, on approval of a Scottish statutory instrument. I ask George Adam, on be...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I call Russell Findlay to speak to the motion, for up to three minutes. 17:34
Russell Findlay (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
The Scottish Government enacted a range of temporary powers in April 2020, at the start of the pandemic. Some of those powers were indeed temporary; however,...
Pauline McNeill (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
Russell Findlay
Con
Do I have time to take an intervention?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
A brief one, Mr Findlay.
Pauline McNeill
Lab
In addition to what the member has said, Labour has challenged several times whether the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service needs up to 260 days to p...
Russell Findlay
Con
That is another good reason to vote against the SSI, and I note that, in the committee, Labour voted alongside the Conservatives in opposition to it. This i...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I call Angela Constance to respond, for up to three minutes. 17:37
The Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs (Angela Constance)
SNP
I attended the Criminal Justice Committee on Wednesday 8 November, and explained the approach taken by the Scottish Government in respect of this instrument....
Russell Findlay
Con
Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?
Angela Constance
SNP
Do I have time, Presiding Officer?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I can give you a little bit of time back.
Russell Findlay
Con
I have to disagree with the cabinet secretary’s assertion. The statement from the Government to the committee was that the increase would be for “a wider r...
Angela Constance
SNP
As I have confirmed to Mr Findlay—not once but now twice—the increased fine rate applies to the same offences. On Mr Findlay’s issue about cases, the fiscal...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Thank you, cabinet secretary. The question on the motion will be put at decision time. The next item of business is consideration of Parliamentary Bureau mo...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I call Douglas Lumsden. 17:41
Douglas Lumsden (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
At committee, I raised concerns about the SSI. Those concerns remain, and I would like to raise them again today. Let me make it clear from the outset that ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
For clarity, we are referring to motion S5M-11376, not motion S5M-11375. I call the minister to respond. 17:44
The Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights (Patrick Harvie)
Green
I am grateful for the chance to respond to the points that have been raised on the SSI. It is an order that supports our ambition to grow the number and scal...
Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
Will the minister take an intervention?
Patrick Harvie
Green
I want to make some progress. Meeting the cost will be achieved through a mix of public and private investment. That point should be well understood by anyo...
Edward Mountain (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
Will the minister give way on that point?
Patrick Harvie
Green
No, thank you. The private investment will be driven by creating demand for heat networks. The funding that we have currently allocated to heat networks is ...
Douglas Lumsden
Con
Will the minister take an intervention?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
The minister is concluding.
Patrick Harvie
Green
For example, Glasgow’s LHEES identifies that heat networks there have the potential to supply between 1TWh and 4TWh of the city’s heat annually. We have laun...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
You need to conclude, minister.
Patrick Harvie
Green
Collectively, those actions will help us to achieve our proposed target. I ask Parliament to support the SSI.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Again, the question on the motion will be put at decision time. The next item of business is consideration of three Parliamentary Bureau motions. I ask Geor...