Hansard

The Convener SNP

We move on to stage 2 of the Community Justice (Scotland) Bill. We will start where we left off last week, at section 9. Our intention is to conclude stage 2...

The Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs (Paul Wheelhouse) SNP

Good morning.

The Convener SNP

That was lovely of you to wish a good morning to everybody. I was not ready for that. Are you all ready to begin? Do you all have your papers out? Section 9...

The Convener SNP

Amendment 29, in the name of the minister, is grouped with amendments 30, 31, 31A, 32 to 37, 40 to 42, 98, 47, 51, 55, 56, 58, 59 and 63. If amendment 91, in...

Paul Wheelhouse SNP

At stage 1, the committee and stakeholders spoke in favour of a stronger participative role for the third sector in community justice. I fully recognise that...

The Convener SNP

Thank you very much, minister.

Margaret McDougall (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab

Amendment 31A seeks to amend amendment 31 by adding a reference to “victims of offences and their families” to ensure that victims and their families are g...

The Convener SNP

I am waiting for you to push your moment.

Margaret McDougall Lab

I will not push my motion at this time.

The Convener SNP

Does any other member wish to come in?

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD) LD

I warmly welcome the amendments from the minister in this group. They go a long way towards meeting some of the concerns that we heard during evidence taking...

The Convener SNP

I think that we all need to take deep breaths this morning.

Alison McInnes LD

I support that intention and think that the issue can be resolved.

The Convener SNP

I, too, welcome the inclusion of the third sector on the face of the bill. Everybody here, including the minister, knows that the third sector is at the core...

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con) Con

I concur with all that has been said. I hope that the minister can work with Margaret McDougall because I think that it is important that victims and their f...

Roderick Campbell (North East Fife) (SNP) SNP

I, too, welcome the continued dialogue between Margaret McDougall and the minister on the issues with—I hope—a view to resolving them at stage 3.

Christian Allard (North East Scotland) (SNP) SNP

I was not very keen to have the matter on the face of the bill. The only thing that I ask is for the minister to consider what I said previously about privat...

Paul Wheelhouse SNP

I thank members for their considered points—especially Margaret McDougall for showing such willingness to work with me. I am keen to deliver on the clear sen...

The Convener SNP

Amendment 70, in the name of Elaine Murray, is grouped with amendments 71, 87 and 92.

Elaine Murray (Dumfriesshire) (Lab) Lab

As I said last week, the amendments in my name were originally proposed by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities. I have lodged them in order to at le...

Paul Wheelhouse SNP

This group of amendments lodged by Dr Murray relates to the arrangements for community justice Scotland when reporting on the exercise of its functions or wh...

The Convener SNP

Amendment 72, in the name of Elaine Murray, is grouped with amendments 93 and 99.

Elaine Murray Lab

If these amendments were agreed to, a number of consequential amendments would be required. It did not seem to me to be a good use of the committee’s time or...

Alison McInnes LD

Over the past few years, we have heard a lot about the cluttered landscape in the community justice sector. The bill’s intention is to bring greater clarity ...

John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Ind) Ind

I understand that people are reticent about change, but I wonder whether, behind this group of amendments and indeed the previous group, there is a sense of ...

Paul Wheelhouse SNP

Amendment 72, in the name of Elaine Murray, relates to the creation and operation of an alternative construct to the one that is set out in the bill—that is,...

Elaine Murray Lab

I will simply wind up the debate formally. I will not press amendment 72—I seek leave to withdraw it. Amendment 72, by agreement, withdrawn.

The Convener SNP

I have asked for a second time—it will now be a third time, in fact—for the window to be closed, but that has not yet happened. If you, minister, and anybody...

The Convener SNP

Amendment 97, in the name of Alison McInnes, is grouped with amendments 73 and 75. If amendment 74 in the group headed “Outcomes and performance in relation ...

Alison McInnes LD

The group of amendments relates to issues that I believe should be addressed in the national strategy and performance framework. My amendment 97 would allow ...