Hansard

The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick) NPA

The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-11395, in the name of Elaine Murray, on tackling sectarianism. I will allow a few moments for members, pa...

Elaine Murray (Dumfriesshire) (Lab) Lab

When, on 14 December 2011, the Scottish Government used its majority to railroad through the Parliament the controversial Offensive Behaviour at Football and...

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

Does the member accept that—

The Presiding Officer NPA

Can we have Christine Grahame’s microphone on, please?

Christine Grahame SNP

My card is in, Presiding Officer.

The Presiding Officer NPA

It is working now.

Christine Grahame SNP

I know that I have a big voice, but I will obey the rules. Does the member accept that, on 4 March this year, the Justice Committee took substantial evidenc...

Elaine Murray Lab

Indeed, but I am talking about an in-depth investigation by committees and, in particular, discussion by the Parliament given its interest in the legislation...

Christian Allard (North East Scotland) (SNP) SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Elaine Murray Lab

Sorry, but I had better press on. The frustration of the anti-sectarianism campaigners Nil by Mouth has built up to such a stage that, before the October r...

John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP) SNP

The Equal Opportunities Committee did look at the report and agreed that, because the advisory group was carrying on, it would look at it again in future—whi...

Elaine Murray Lab

I have seen the letter from the convener of the committee. As a member of the Justice Committee, which could also look at the report, I accept that parliamen...

Fiona McLeod (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Elaine Murray Lab

No. I am afraid that I must get on. I know that we will hear from the Government that it committed £9 million over three years to research, education and co...

The Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs (Roseanna Cunningham) SNP

I assure everyone in the chamber that this Government remains completely committed to tackling sectarianism. The level of that commitment can be seen in the ...

Elaine Murray Lab

How many of those 44 funded projects will continue after March next year? Has any evaluation of their success been undertaken?

Roseanna Cunningham SNP

Of course that is happening. No project has any right to assume that funding will continue without its outcomes being assessed, and that is one of the key jo...

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con) Con

I congratulate Labour on allocating its parliamentary time to a debate on this important issue. Expressions of religious hatred, regardless of how they are ...

John Mason SNP

Does the member think that legislation was or can be part of the answer or that it must be purely about education?

Margaret Mitchell Con

I will come to that precise point. In 2011, that act was railroaded through by the SNP majority Government in the face of opposition from Scottish Conservat...

The Presiding Officer NPA

We now move to the open debate. Speeches should be four minutes, please. Time is fairly tight. 15:03

Christian Allard (North East Scotland) (SNP) SNP

We can all agree that we have a problem and that we need to talk about it. The key in this debate, inside or outside the chamber, is that sectarianism needs ...

Elaine Murray Lab

Can I just make a point of information about that?

Christian Allard SNP

First, let me read out to Elaine Murray a letter dated 1 April from our convener Margaret McCulloch, to Dr Morrow. The letter is important because it says wh...

Elaine Murray Lab

My motion does not comment on the failure of any committee; rather, it comments on the fact that Parliament has not discussed the report. That is the importa...

Christian Allard SNP

The motion refers to scrutiny by a committee. It may be that the motion is not drafted properly, so perhaps Elaine Murray will welcome the Scottish Governmen...

The Presiding Officer NPA

Have you finished your speech?

Christian Allard SNP

Did I have four minutes?

The Presiding Officer NPA

Yes. You have finished your speech. 15:07

John Pentland (Motherwell and Wishaw) (Lab) Lab

The forthcoming old firm match has attracted the media’s attention even though it is three months away. Although it has been nearly three years since they la...