Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott) Con

The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-06987, in the name of Kenny MacAskill, on stage 1 of the Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Bill.I call Mr ...

The Cabinet Secretary for Justice (Kenny MacAskill) SNP

I am grateful for the opportunity to open the stage 1 debate on the Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Bill and I thank the Justice Committee and the Health an...

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (Lab) Lab

Is the cabinet secretary saying that the existing law is not compatible with the ECHR? What does he have to say to Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Y...

Kenny MacAskill SNP

We would not have laws in this country that were not compatible with the ECHR, because of the nature of how this Parliament is established. I can assure Mr C...

Jenny Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab) Lab

Does the cabinet secretary share the concerns of organisations such as Scottish Women’s Aid that the challenge to the use of special measures may increase ci...

Kenny MacAskill SNP

I do not believe so. I met Scottish Women’s Aid just recently and I believe that, overall, the bill will provide what such agencies clearly desire. However, ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith) Lab

Cabinet secretary, could you come to a conclusion?

Kenny MacAskill SNP

People should not be denied the opportunity of acknowledgement—they should not be denied that benefit.

Jenny Marra Lab

Will the member take an intervention?

Kenny MacAskill SNP

I am sorry; I have been asked to wind up.I welcome the wide support to date for both the justice and health elements of the bill. We are happy to discuss and...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

I call Christine Grahame, who will speak on behalf of the Justice Committee. Ms Grahame, you have nine minutes.15:25

Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) SNP

As the Presiding Officer says, I speak in this debate on behalf of the Justice Committee, which was the lead committee considering the bill. However, I want ...

Christine Grahame SNP

I hope that you are not going to challenge me—it is your report.

Jenny Marra Lab

I am not going to challenge you, convener. The evidence that we heard from the victims of crime compellingly showed that people do not want to tell their sto...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

I remind members to speak through the chair.

Christine Grahame SNP

The report states:“witnesses asked for continuity in the support provided across the system.”That is the important part. However, I think that we all agreed ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

I call Duncan McNeil to speak on behalf of the Health and Sport Committee.15:34

Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab) Lab

I, too, express my thanks and appreciation for all those who allowed us to do our job in support of the Justice Committee in considering the bill, with a par...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

Mr McNeil, you must conclude.

Duncan McNeil Lab

Whether we call it a person-centred approach or the right thing to do, or say that it is not before time, action is necessary. We support the bill at stage 1...

Jenny Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab) Lab

Labour is happy to support the Government’s motion and the general principles of the Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Bill.Earlier this year, at the Scottish...

Christine Grahame SNP

I simply want Jenny Marra to confirm her position, because she signed up to the words:“On balance, the Committee does not believe that a compelling case has ...

Jenny Marra Lab

Committee reports are always agreed by the committee, but Scottish Labour thinks that there is a compelling case for case companions.Just as the Government i...

John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Ind) Ind

Given the member’s strength of feeling on case companions, did she think about whether it would have been appropriate to have a minority entry put in the Jus...

Jenny Marra Lab

As I said in response to the convener, committee reports are always agreed by the committee, and I think that we made our point in committee that we think th...

Bruce Crawford (Stirling) (SNP) SNP

Will the member give way?

Jenny Marra Lab

No.As I said, one area of concern that we have is about the bill’s monitoring and reporting procedures. Our concerns were raised during the committee’s evide...

Christine Grahame SNP

Will the member give way?

Jenny Marra Lab

No.

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

The member is not giving way. Interruption. Can we have order, please?