Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith) Lab

The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-15087, in the name of Michael Matheson, on the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill.

Elaine Murray (Dumfriesshire) (Lab) Lab

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Given that the consideration of amendments has finished a lot sooner than expected, I wonder whether there is a possi...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

Thank you. That matter is being considered and members will be advised in due course. Members who wish to speak in the debate should press their request-to-...

The Cabinet Secretary for Justice (Michael Matheson) SNP

I am delighted to open the stage 3 debate on the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill. As members are aware, the bill has had a unique passage through Parliament...

Christian Allard (North East Scotland) (SNP) SNP

As a member of the Justice Committee, I think that the abolition of the absolute requirement for corroboration had a place in the bill and I am sorry that it...

Michael Matheson SNP

I recognise Christian Allard’s particular interest in the matter. It is not the first time that he has expressed concern about the removal of the corroborati...

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

I am sure that the cabinet secretary would accept that most crimes are committed in private and that it would be impossible to select certain categories of c...

Michael Matheson SNP

I am not disputing that point; I recognise the point that the member makes. I understand that many members who opposed the reform of corroboration did not d...

Elaine Murray (Dumfriesshire) (Lab) Lab

As we have heard, the bill was introduced almost two and a half years ago, in June 2013. It has gone through a number of transformations in that period. It w...

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con) Con

This stage 3 debate on the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill presents the final opportunity to thank the many witnesses and stakeholders whose contributions h...

Roderick Campbell (North East Fife) (SNP) SNP

The final words of the introductory music to the Scandinavian crime noir, “The Bridge”, which is currently showing on BBC Four, are: “everything goes back t...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott) Con

You should draw to a close please.

Roderick Campbell SNP

I will leave the question of the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission and the interests of justice to my colleague Christine Grahame. This important bi...

Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I am delighted to be able to take part in the stage 3 debate on the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill. I reiterate my thanks to Barnardo’s Scotland for its su...

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

The Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill is a wide-ranging and substantial bill. We need only to read its purposes to determine that. As others have said, it has...

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD) LD

What a difference a couple of years makes. No other Government bill has taken this long to get through Parliament and no bill has undergone such a dramatic a...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith) Lab

Could you draw to a close, please?

Alison McInnes LD

Nevertheless, the Scottish Liberal Democrats will support the bill at decision time. We are proud to have been pivotal to the bill’s success by ensuring that...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

Thank you. I ask that our next two members keep to their four minutes, please. I call Alex Salmond. 18:11

Alex Salmond (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) SNP

I welcome the opportunity to contribute, not least to defend Kenny MacAskill, who was a fine justice secretary. I say not just to Alison McInnes but to the w...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

I remind members that they should not turn their backs to the chair. 18:15

John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Ind) Ind

Section 1 of the bill is about the power of a constable and section 2 is about exercise of that power, which has been a key part of what we have discussed in...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

I am afraid that members have gone slightly over the time that has been allocated for the debate, so I would appreciate it if closing speakers could keep to ...

Gavin Brown (Lothian) (Con) Con

The bill has indeed—to quote the justice secretary—“had a unique passage”. One point that is worth making at the outset is that, despite a number of controve...

Elaine Murray Lab

I assume that decision time will be brought forward. That is pleasing because after two or more years of considering the bill, I think that I might be runnin...

Michael Matheson SNP

I listened with interest to all the comments that were made and views that were expressed during the debate. I am conscious that a number of members who spok...

The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick) NPA

I promise you that I did not touch the switch for your microphone.

Michael Matheson SNP

Okay—I believe you, of course. Alex Salmond raised the issue of tackling the knife culture. There is no doubt that there has been a massive reduction in kni...