Hansard

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...