Hansard

The Presiding Officer (Alex Fergusson) NPA

The next item of business is a debate on motion S3M-8157, in the name of Alex Neil, on the Forced Marriage etc (Protection and Jurisdiction) (Scotland) Bill....

The Minister for Housing and Communities (Alex Neil) SNP

I thank the members of the Equal Opportunities Committee, its convener, Margaret Mitchell, and the committee clerks for their work on the bill. I thank also ...

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab) Lab

Will the minister take an intervention?

Alex Neil SNP

I am afraid that I am just finishing my speech.We expect the bill to result in more victims seeking help because—for the first time in Scotland—a focus will ...

The Presiding Officer NPA

I call Johann Lamont, who has about six minutes.09:31

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab) Lab

For once, I might not use my full quota of minutes, but that does not mean that the bill is not significant. It is relatively straightforward and short, and ...

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con) Con

The Forced Marriage etc (Protection and Jurisdiction) (Scotland) Bill is important legislation that the Equal Opportunities Committee had the opportunity to ...

Hugh O’Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD) LD

There is an oxymoron at the heart of the debate—it is “forced marriage”. If something is forced, there cannot be a marriage. The evidence that we took on the...

The Presiding Officer NPA

We have a little time in hand, so there is a bit of flexibility, if anyone needs it.09:44

Anne McLaughlin (Glasgow) (SNP) SNP

This will be my final speech as an MSP. I have decided to set myself a challenge. Instead of having the speech written out in front of me in 16-point bold, w...

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I am pleased to make my final contribution in the Parliament during this important debate on forced marriages. The Forced Marriage etc (Protection and Jurisd...

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP) SNP

I am pleased to speak in the debate on the second-last bill that we will pass in this session of the Scottish Parliament—the first session in which I have ha...

Hugh O’Donnell LD

Perhaps they are someone else’s.

Christina McKelvie SNP

Perhaps they are.When the Parliament was established, human rights and equality were written into its proceedings from the outset. The Parliament was establi...

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab) Lab

Having served on the Equal Opportunities Committee since 1999, I am pleased that the last debate of the parliamentary session in which I will participate con...

Hugh O’Donnell LD

This has been a short and sweet, consensual debate. However, I suspect that another event later this morning, commonly known as First Minister’s questions, i...

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Con

I, too, thank Marlyn Glen for everything that she has done in the Parliament and wish her happiness and success in the future.It is a pleasure to close for t...

The Presiding Officer NPA

I call Johann Lamont to close on behalf of the Scottish Labour Party. You have quite an amount of flexibility, Ms Lamont.10:07

Johann Lamont Lab

Hugh O’Donnell described this as a short and sweet debate. Neither the minister nor I often contribute to short and sweet debates, so we should cherish the m...

The Presiding Officer NPA

We come to the minister to wind up the debate. Minister, I can offer you your second 15-minute slot in a row. You have until 10.30 should you choose to use t...

Alex Neil SNP

Johann Lamont started by saying that it is not often she and I do short and sweet. I disagree. We do short and sweet all the time: she does the short, and I ...

Elaine Smith Lab

Will the minister join me in thanking Jean McFadden for my knowledge of Latin? She taught me at St Patrick’s high school in Coatbridge.

Alex Neil SNP

The Minister for Community Safety has just intimated to me that the correct pronunciation is “nobil-ay” officium. I am sure that the minister knows all about...

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD) LD

I was going to make that point to the minister.

Alex Neil SNP

Another lawyer—they are all around me this morning. I put on record the fact that Robert Brown, who nearly made an intervention, has made an enormous contrib...