Committee
Justice Committee 19 January 2016
19 Jan 2016 · S4 · Justice Committee
Item of business
Community Justice (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2
Good morning, minister. Like others, I very much welcome the amendments that have been lodged that take cognisance of concerns that were expressed at stage 1, and that prevention is included, as well as early intervention, which is a crucial part of community justice. I also very much welcome Alison McInnes’s amendments. They start to put meat on the bones and home in on people who are at serious risk of first-time offending. They also mention the support that is needed to stop reoffending, for example, support in healthcare, mental health services and, particularly, the services that we know are all too often not available, including housing, employment and education. Housing is absolutely number 1 on the list. There are vexing examples of people being released with absolutely nowhere to go and having to rely on the third sector. I also support Margaret McDougall’s amendments. She has raised an important point about the safety of victims. 11:15
In the same item of business
The Convener
SNP
Agenda item 3 is stage 2 proceedings on the Community Justice (Scotland) Bill. Members should have their copies of the bill, the marshalled list and the grou...
The Convener
SNP
Amendment 1, in the name of the minister, is grouped with amendments 2 to 6, 94, 95, 66, 7, 8, 67, 9, 10, 96, 11 to 15, 68, 69, 16 to 20 and 22 to 27.
The Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs (Paul Wheelhouse)
SNP
At stage 1, the committee and stakeholders called for a stronger element of prevention and early intervention to be reflected in the definition of community ...
Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD)
LD
The group of amendments relates to changes to the definition of community justice as currently set out in the bill. A great deal of the evidence that we gath...
Margaret McDougall (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Amendment 95 seeks to include the meaning of “community justice” by identifying the risk management and public protection elements of community justice that ...
The Convener
SNP
Amendment 31A is in another group. You can persist with it if you want to—I am quite flexible today.
Margaret McDougall
Lab
I am sorry.
The Convener
SNP
Rather than “flexible”, perhaps I should have said “weakened”.
Margaret McDougall
Lab
I can stop and start again later.
The Convener
SNP
Just leave it then. We will keep to the amendments in group 1. Do you want to speak to other amendments in the group—did I stop you in full flow?
Margaret McDougall
Lab
No.
John Finnie
Ind
I want to comment on amendment 11. I welcome the Government’s broadening of the definition. I particularly welcome the categories that have been picked up be...
Roderick Campbell
SNP
As John Finnie is, I am supportive of amendment 11, which will broaden the definition of community justice. It is right that we look beyond “persons who hav...
Elaine Murray
Lab
First of all, I welcome the Government’s work to address the concerns that the committee expressed at stage 1. I support the Government’s amendments. I wan...
Margaret Mitchell
Con
Good morning, minister. Like others, I very much welcome the amendments that have been lodged that take cognisance of concerns that were expressed at stage 1...
Christian Allard
SNP
Good morning, minister. First of all, I would like to compliment the minister and thank him for all the changes with regard to the word “offenders”, which I ...
Paul Wheelhouse
SNP
I thank members for their thoughtful contributions to this debate on the first group of amendments. I have listened carefully to the points that have been ma...
The Convener
SNP
Amendment 94, in the name of Alison McInnes, has been debated with amendment 1.
Alison McInnes
LD
I will move amendment 94. I have heard what the minister said, but I have also heard the strength of other committee members’ points of view. However, if we ...
The Convener
SNP
The question is, that amendment 94 be agreed to. Are we all agreed? Members: No.
The Convener
SNP
There will be a division. For Finnie, John (Highlands and Islands) (Ind) McDougall, Margaret (Central Scotland) (Lab) McInnes, Alison (North East Scotla...
The Convener
SNP
The result of the division is: For 5, Against 3, Abstentions 1. Amendment 94 agreed to. Amendment 95 moved—Margaret McDougall.
The Convener
SNP
The question is, that amendment 95 be agreed to. Are we all agreed? Members: No.
The Convener
SNP
There will be a division. For Finnie, John (Highlands and Islands) (Ind) McDougall, Margaret (Central Scotland) (Lab) McInnes, Alison (North East Scotla...
The Convener
SNP
The result of the division is: For 5, Against 4, Abstentions 0. Amendment 95 agreed to. Amendment 66 moved—Alison McInnes.
The Convener
SNP
The question is, that amendment 66 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No.
The Convener
SNP
There will be a division. For Finnie, John (Highlands and Islands) (Ind) McDougall, Margaret (Central Scotland) (Lab) McInnes, Alison (North East Scotlan...
The Convener
SNP
The result of the division is: For 5, Against 3, Abstentions 1. Amendment 66 agreed to. Amendments 7 and 8 moved—Paul Wheelhouse—and agreed to. Amendment ...
The Convener
SNP
The question is, that amendment 67 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No.
The Convener
SNP
There will be a division. For Finnie, John (Highlands and Islands) (Ind) McDougall, Margaret (Central Scotland) (Lab) McInnes, Alison (North East Scotlan...