Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 25 February 2016
25 Feb 2016 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Criminal Verdicts (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Of course, and that is one of the issues that we can consider when we frame the research.
Using real jurors also carries a risk of exposing the system or individual cases to opportunistic challenges that misuse the results of the research, so we must be careful of that. I am also conscious that there are people who would say that if we are going to go into the issue in detail, we should use real jurors and deal with real cases rather than use mock jurors in a different set of scenarios.
All of those factors must be weighed up and considered, which is exactly what we are doing at the moment.
I reiterate my recognition of the tremendous amount of work that Michael McMahon has put into the bill, but I regret that the Government is not able to support it and I ask that Parliament not agree that it should move on to stage 2 consideration.
16:52In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-15429, in the name of Michael McMahon, on the Criminal Verdicts (Scotland) Bill. 15:59
Michael McMahon (Uddingston and Bellshill) (Lab)
Lab
I am pleased to open today’s debate on the Criminal Verdicts (Scotland) Bill. Today we debate and vote on whether the Parliament agrees to the general princi...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
I call Christine Grahame to speak on behalf of the Justice Committee. 16:09
Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
SNP
Presiding Officer, as you say, I am speaking on behalf of the Justice Committee and not in a personal capacity, but first I personally want to commend Michae...
The Cabinet Secretary for Justice (Michael Matheson)
SNP
First, I would like to thank Michael McMahon and the non-Government bills unit for their work on this legislation. Like other members, I commend Michael McMa...
Elaine Murray (Dumfriesshire) (Lab)
Lab
As Michael McMahon said, I lodged an amendment to his motion, and I am disappointed that the Presiding Officer did not select it for debate. I will neverthel...
Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
I am pleased to participate in this stage 1 debate on the Criminal Verdicts (Scotland) Bill. Michael McMahon has waited some considerable time for the bill t...
Christian Allard (North East Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
It has been a rollercoaster ride since I joined the Justice Committee in 2013. We have scrutinised many pieces of legislation, some of which we stopped, some...
Michael McMahon
Lab
Will the member give way?
Christian Allard
SNP
I am sorry, but I have only a few minutes. Perhaps the member can address the issue later. I would have been happy to consider abolishing the not proven ver...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
We now move to closing speeches. 16:38
Cameron Buchanan (Lothian) (Con)
Con
I thank members for the constructive debate this afternoon. It has been a pleasure to take part in it. Like others, I begin by paying tribute to Michael McM...
Graeme Pearson (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
As is evident from this afternoon’s debate, changes to elements of criminal justice procedure are famously difficult to achieve and sometimes take decades—an...
Michael Matheson
SNP
The debate has provided Parliament with a useful opportunity to look at the merits and shortcomings of having a three-verdict system in which two of the verd...
Christine Grahame
SNP
This follows on from what Cameron Buchanan said. If the not proven verdict were to disappear, the abolition would also pertain when it is not a jury making t...
Michael Matheson
SNP
Of course, and that is one of the issues that we can consider when we frame the research. Using real jurors also carries a risk of exposing the system or in...
Michael McMahon
Lab
I thank the staff of the non-Government bills unit, whose assistance has been invaluable to me over the past number of years. I am also grateful to the peop...
Christian Allard
SNP
I thank the member for taking my intervention. He is not the first person to have quoted Victim Support Scotland. I agree with him about the not proven verdi...
Michael McMahon
Lab
That is one piece of evidence, but the majority of responses to the consultation suggested otherwise. That is all evidence that allows people to determine wh...
Michael McMahon
Lab
I am sorry—I will not take an intervention. At present, a jury in Scotland can return a verdict of guilty when at least eight of its members are in favour o...