Hansard

The Convener SNP

Item 2 is stage 2 proceedings on the Scottish Civil Justice Council and Criminal Legal Assistance Bill. I welcome the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and his o...

The Convener SNP

Amendment 25, in the name of Jenny Marra, is grouped with amendments 26 and 28 to 30.

Jenny Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab) Lab

Amendment 25 would give the Scottish civil justice council a duty to advise the Scottish Government on civil justice matters and a duty to consider how to ma...

The Cabinet Secretary for Justice (Kenny MacAskill) SNP

I will discuss amendment 25 and its consequential amendments 26 and 29 first. I appreciate that Jenny Marra is seeking to ensure that the bill is clear about...

Jenny Marra Lab

I have said what I want to say on the amendments, and I press amendment 25.

The Convener SNP

The question is, that amendment 25 be agreed to. Are we agreed?Members: No.

The Convener SNP

There will be a division.ForMarra, Jenny (North East Scotland) (Lab)Pearson, Graeme (South Scotland) (Lab)Mitchell, Margaret (Central Scotland) (Con)AgainstC...

The Convener SNP

The result of the division is: For 3, Against 5, Abstentions 0.Amendment 25 disagreed to.

The Convener SNP

Amendment 26, in the name of Jenny Marra, has been debated with amendment 25.

Jenny Marra Lab

As amendment 25 has been defeated, I will not move amendment 26.Amendment 26 not moved.

The Convener SNP

Amendment 27, in the name of Jenny Marra, is grouped with amendments 1 to 4 and 11.

Jenny Marra Lab

Amendment 27 would give the council an obligation to consult on changes to the rules of court. Given the complexity of many rules of court, organisations hav...

Kenny MacAskill SNP

Jenny Marra’s amendment 27 would require the council to consult“such persons as it considers appropriate before preparing draft rules”.However, the bill give...

Roderick Campbell (North East Fife) (SNP) SNP

I have difficulty with the statutory duty that Jenny Marra proposes, as it seems unnecessarily to tie the hands. There may be occasions on which consultation...

Jenny Marra Lab

I feel that the statutory duty to consult would strengthen the new council and its ties with the public at large. Organisations’ right to be consulted would ...

The Convener SNP

The question is, that amendment 27 be agreed to. Are we agreed?Members: No.

The Convener SNP

There will be a division.ForMarra, Jenny (North East Scotland) (Lab)Pearson, Graeme (South Scotland) (Lab)Mitchell, Margaret (Central Scotland) (Con)AgainstC...

The Convener SNP

The result of the division is: For 3, Against 5, Abstentions 0.Amendment 27 disagreed to.Amendment 1 moved—Kenny MacAskill—and agreed to.Section 2, as amende...

The Convener SNP

Am I going slowly enough?

Roderick Campbell SNP

Just about.

Jenny Marra Lab

Nearly.

The Convener SNP

That is faint praise.After section 3

The Convener SNP

The next group is on consultation of the council. Amendment 12, in the name of Margaret Mitchell, is the only amendment in the group.

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con) Con

Amendment 12 seeks to clarify an issue that I raised at stage 1. Part 1 of the bill establishes the Scottish civil justice council, which will be led by the ...

The Convener SNP

It might be a probing amendment, Mrs Mitchell, but you are still required to move it.

Margaret Mitchell Con

I move amendment 12.

Kenny MacAskill SNP

I appreciate what Margaret Mitchell is seeking with amendment 12, and entirely agree that the bill should not oblige ministers to consult the council. That i...

The Convener SNP

The next group is on composition of the council. Amendment 31, in the name of Jenny Marra, is grouped with amendments 32 to 34 and 36 to 39.

Jenny Marra Lab

Amendment 31 seeks to afford the council flexibility in the number of judicial members that can be appointed by changing the wording of the current proposal ...

The Convener SNP

Yes. This is your opportunity to speak to all the amendments.