Hansard

I do, Presiding Officer.

The Government takes the preparation of financial memoranda on bills very seriously. They are subjected to extensive consultation with a range of interested parties, and we listen carefully to feedback about issues in connection with them, such as that which we had recently from the Finance Committee. That only serves to reinforce the Government’s determination to ensure that financial memoranda are produced in an effective fashion.

On the Courts Reform (Scotland) Bill, the Government worked extensively with our partners on the making justice work 1 board to develop the business cases for the various reforms that are being taken forward in the bill. The business cases were used to develop the financial memorandum, which has been agreed with all those bodies including in the main the Scottish Court Service and the Scottish Legal Aid Board. The bill is expected on the whole to make the civil justice system in Scotland more efficient by ensuring that cases are heard at the appropriate level in the system and therefore at a proportionate cost, which is reflected in the financial memorandum.

Dr Murray raised the issue of court fees. It has long been Government policy that the cost to the public purse from civil cases should be paid through court fees, with the necessary exemptions being in place for those who require them to be applied. As Mr McQueen, the chief executive of the Scottish Court Service, told the Justice Committee, the Government does not foresee a large overall increase in the total amount of fees that are recovered for the cost of civil business.

The issues around the financial memorandum have been carefully considered. If I understand the Labour Party’s position correctly, it supports the general principles of the bill. I find it strange that, in doing so, the Labour Party is not prepared to put in place the financial mechanisms to enable the bill to be applied. I encourage the Parliament to support the financial resolution at the appropriate time.