Hansard

The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick) NPA

The first item of business this afternoon is a debate on motion S4M-09160, in the name of Kenny MacAskill, on the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill.

The Cabinet Secretary for Justice (Kenny MacAskill) SNP

I am delighted to open this stage 1 debate on the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill. The bill contains a significant package of wide-ranging reforms to our cr...

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con) Con

What does the Government have to fear from including consideration of whether or not to abolish corroboration in the remit of the Lord Bonomy review?

Kenny MacAskill SNP

I say to Ms Mitchell that I am quite clear that, as I will go on to say, the case for abolition has been made. It has been made and supported by prosecutors ...

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD) LD

Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?

Kenny MacAskill SNP

Not at the moment.The work of the distinguished experts in the review will allow us to modernise our system and ensure that it is in balance. I have complete...

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green) Green

Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?

Kenny MacAskill SNP

Not at the moment.All of us here share the same goal: a balanced and effective criminal justice system, and one that is safe and secure. Lord Bonomy’s review...

Alison McInnes LD

The cabinet secretary, the Lord Advocate and, indeed, Scottish Women’s Aid have all openly admitted that the removal of corroboration will not in itself resu...

Kenny MacAskill SNP

One of our most distinguished judges said that we cannot have a whole category of victims who are routinely denied access to justice. We cannot have those wh...

Margaret Mitchell Con

Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?

Kenny MacAskill SNP

Not at the moment.The voices of brave individuals have been echoed by those of the professionals who see the very personal and devastating impact that the co...

Patrick Harvie Green

Will the minister give way?

Kenny MacAskill SNP

Not at the moment.The difficulties posed by the corroboration rule to the pursuit of individual real cases could not be more apparent. We have heard from Pol...

Patrick Harvie Green

Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?

Margaret Mitchell Con

Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?

Kenny MacAskill SNP

After so much debate, we must now act. The bill sends a clear message that Parliament has listened and is acting to address that injustice. The corroboration...

Willie Rennie (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD) LD

Will the minister give way?

Kenny MacAskill SNP

Not at the moment.

Willie Rennie LD

Outrageous!

The Presiding Officer NPA

Order, Mr Rennie.

Kenny MacAskill SNP

The extent of that injustice is clear. Research for the Carloway review identified that, in 2010, 268 serious cases were dropped after the initial court appe...

Willie Rennie LD

Will the minister give way?

Kenny MacAskill SNP

I now ask Parliament to listen to the voices of those representing some of the most vulnerable people in our society and to support the general principles of...

Willie Rennie LD

Will the minister give way now?

The Presiding Officer NPA

The minister is in his final minute.

Kenny MacAskill SNP

We need to set that important principle now and move discussion on to how to ensure a modern, efficient and fair justice system that is fit for 21st century ...

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con) Con

I thank the numerous witnesses who gave evidence and the Justice Committee clerks for their work in helping committee members to compile the stage 1 report o...

Kenny MacAskill SNP

Margaret Mitchell missed out the police and prosecutors. Do they not have a say?

Margaret Mitchell Con

I listed the people who have expressed their opposition. As the cabinet secretary knows, for one reason or another the police gave very confused views and ch...