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Every contribution to the Official Report — chamber and committee — searchable in one place. Pulled from data.parliament.scot, indexed for full-text search, linked through to every MSP.

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1999–2026
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Showing 60 of 2,354,908 contributions. Latest 30 days: 0. Coverage: 12 May 1999 — 25 Mar 2026.
Margaret McDougall (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber
22 Mar 2016
Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Bill
Thank you, Presiding Officer, for your kind words. I am disappointed that the Scottish Government rejected my amendments to the bill, and I will continue to push my case. As it stands, the section of the bill that deals with the illegal sharing of intimate images includes onl...
Margaret McDougall Lab Chamber
22 Mar 2016
Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
I thank John Finnie for his support for my amendments. I know that the sending of abusive messages is a criminal offence, but the same does not always apply to the sharing of intimate material. My amendments would ensure that the sharing of all types of intimate material with...
Margaret McDougall (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber
22 Mar 2016
Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
Currently, the bill covers only the sharing of photographic images and film. Amendments 3 to 14, in my name, which are supported by Scottish Women’s Aid and others, seek to broaden the definition to include photographic images or film of an intimate situation; sound recordings...
Margaret McDougall (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber
09 Mar 2016
Rural Payments
I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate on rural affairs. I will use my time to discuss the CAP payments situation and the plight of dairy farmers. The current situation with CAP payments combined with the spiralling costs of the IT system is nothing short of scandal...
Margaret McDougall Lab Committee
01 Mar 2016
Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2
The aim of these amendments is to expand the disclosure section in the bill. The bill only covers the disclosure of photographs and film. The amendments, which are supported by Scottish Women’s Aid, seek to broaden that to include a photograph or film of an intimate situation,...
Margaret McDougall Lab Committee
01 Mar 2016
Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2
I note what the cabinet secretary says, but I will press amendment 70.
Margaret McDougall Lab Committee
01 Mar 2016
Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2
I understand that amendment 70 might introduce unintended consequences, but you have to show criminal intent to break the law and be charged with a crime. As the amendment has been written, it will still be in line with the aims of the bill and it should be included. The cabi...
Margaret McDougall Lab Committee
01 Mar 2016
Police Scotland
The preference is for briefings.
Margaret McDougall Lab Committee
01 Mar 2016
Police Scotland
There is a preference for the one-to-one briefings.
Margaret McDougall Lab Committee
01 Mar 2016
Police Scotland
Would you say that there has been a reduction in the number of emails that are sent to officers since the survey was done?
Margaret McDougall (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Committee
01 Mar 2016
Police Scotland
My question is on the general issue of communication within the police service. The report on the staff survey came out in September last year. In the survey, issues were raised about internal engagement, including the heavy reliance on cascading information by email and thro...
Margaret McDougall (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber
11 Feb 2016
Community Justice (Scotland) Bill
I am particularly pleased to be taking part in the stage 3 debate on the bill because this is the first bill that I have seen through from start to finish since joining the Parliament in 2011. As such, it gave me a great sense of achievement to have my amendments supported tod...
Margaret McDougall Lab Chamber
11 Feb 2016
Community Justice (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
The third sector plays an invaluable role in delivering vital services in relation to community justice, not only for victims and their families but for those who are convicted of an offence and their families, so I very much welcome the comment that the minister made about th...
Margaret McDougall Lab Chamber
11 Feb 2016
Community Justice (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
Amendment 25A supports the minister’s amendments. Amendment 17 agreed to. Section 15—National performance framework in relation to community justice Amendments 18 to 20 moved—Paul Wheelhouse—and agreed to. After section 18
Margaret McDougall (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber
11 Feb 2016
Community Justice (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
I will give some background to amendment 29. In section 1, the reference to “victims of offences and their families” is not the same as a reference to third sector organisations that support victims and their families. It cannot be assumed that a single reference to victims ...
Margaret McDougall Lab Chamber
03 Feb 2016
Portfolio Question Time · Employment Skills and Training (Ayrshire)
The minister will be aware that, in recent months, there have been announcements of job losses that roll into the hundreds across Ayrshire. Around 60 job losses have been announced at Clydeport, 77 at Red Cross house and 212 including agency workers at Mahle in Kilmarnock. Jus...
7. Margaret McDougall (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber
03 Feb 2016
Portfolio Question Time · Employment Skills and Training (Ayrshire)
To ask the Scottish Government what skills and other training it provides to people in Ayrshire who have been made redundant. (S4O-05520)
Margaret McDougall Lab Committee
02 Feb 2016
European Union Priorities
I wonder whether Roddy Campbell can answer a question about the directives on the presumption of innocence and on 16 and 17-year-olds, which, again, are addressed on page 4 of the paper. Where are we with those?
Margaret McDougall Lab Committee
02 Feb 2016
European Union Priorities
It is on page 4 of paper 3. In his letter, the Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs says: “Although Scotland cannot access funds from the Justice Programme as the UK has opted out, we are currently laying the ground for potential applications to the Connecting Euro...
Margaret McDougall Lab Committee
02 Feb 2016
European Union Priorities
My question is about videoconferencing. Can you give us an update on that?
Margaret McDougall Lab Committee
02 Feb 2016
Agricultural Crime
How does the information get out to those who live in the countryside such as farmers and others in remote areas? Is there an educational issue?
Margaret McDougall Lab Committee
02 Feb 2016
Agricultural Crime
I also note from last year’s evidence that some farmers were unsure whether to call 101 or 999 if something was happening in their area. Has that issue been overcome?
Margaret McDougall Lab Committee
02 Feb 2016
Agricultural Crime
Are you saying that the information is not filtering down to all farmers?
Margaret McDougall Lab Committee
02 Feb 2016
Agricultural Crime
But I would have thought that that information would be available in the forum.
Margaret McDougall Lab Committee
02 Feb 2016
Agricultural Crime
I was not a member of the committee when it took evidence on this matter last year, but I note that mention was made of the farm watch and rural watch schemes that were set up to alert farmers about criminals operating in their area. How well used are those schemes?
Margaret McDougall (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Committee
02 Feb 2016
Agricultural Crime
Good morning. In response to my colleague’s question, you mentioned compensation. Are farmers able to claim insurance for the loss of livestock?
Margaret McDougall (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber
28 Jan 2016
Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
The Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Bill is vital legislation that has been introduced to improve how the justice system responds to abusive behaviour, including domestic abuse and sexual harm, following the publication of the “Equally Safe” report. The bill has ...
Margaret McDougall (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber
28 Jan 2016
Succession (Scotland) Bill
I thank Stewart Stevenson for his speech, which as usual was educational. As the minister said, the Succession (Scotland) Bill is mainly technical. As we have heard, it is part of the wider-ranging reforms that are to be made during the next parliamentary session. In effect, ...
Margaret McDougall Lab Chamber
27 Jan 2016
Portfolio Question Time · Local Authority Education Services
Councils across Scotland are increasingly cash strapped, and further cuts are coming. What assurances can the Scottish Government give me and constituents that no child’s education will suffer due to council cutbacks, and has the Scottish Government been in contact with North ...
Margaret McDougall Lab Chamber
27 Jan 2016
Portfolio Question Time · Local Authority Education Services
Scottish National Party-held North Ayrshire Council is proposing to cut £500,000 from its education services, and it will be the schools’ front-line staff who will bear the brunt of the axe. A survey that was carried out by the GMB in December found out that 100 per cent of it...
4. Margaret McDougall (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber
27 Jan 2016
Portfolio Question Time · Local Authority Education Services
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to local authority education services. (S4O-05477)
Margaret McDougall (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Committee
26 Jan 2016
Community Justice (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2
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 given a higher profile in the bill by explicitly recognising them. As it stands, amendment 31’s proposed new paragraph (1...
Margaret McDougall Lab Committee
26 Jan 2016
Community Justice (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2
I will not push my motion at this time.
Margaret McDougall Lab Chamber
26 Jan 2016
Trade Union Bill
—to amend our standing orders to allow us to debate that legislative consent motion.
Margaret McDougall Lab Chamber
26 Jan 2016
Trade Union Bill
—so that members are not only setting out their opposition to the bill, but making sure that it is not imposed on Scottish public services. I hope that we can all work together across this chamber—
Margaret McDougall Lab Chamber
26 Jan 2016
Trade Union Bill
I am just closing, Presiding Officer. I am delighted that, in my area, North Ayrshire Council last month became the first Scottish National Party-led local authority to make such a commitment after a successful campaign by Labour councillors. We need to see that approach rolle...
Margaret McDougall Lab Chamber
26 Jan 2016
Trade Union Bill
That is not what we are here to discuss and it is not an issue. Removing the ban on the use of agency workers to break strike action—that ban was introduced by a Tory Government, no less, in 1973—is a dangerous precedent that would undermine the rights of all workers. I fear ...
Margaret McDougall Lab Chamber
26 Jan 2016
Trade Union Bill
I have just started. Perhaps I will take an intervention later. Let us be clear: this anti-trade union bill is bad for business and bad for workers. The only people who will benefit are bad bosses, while the rest of us suffer. The bill undermines the fundamental right of work...
Margaret McDougall (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber
26 Jan 2016
Trade Union Bill
I express my disappointment that, on the day that the Welsh Assembly is debating a legislative consent motion that will restrict the imposition of the anti-trade union bill on Welsh public services, we in the Scottish Parliament are unable to do similarly as a result of the Pr...
Margaret McDougall Lab Committee
19 Jan 2016
Community Justice (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2
No.
Margaret McDougall Lab Committee
19 Jan 2016
Community Justice (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2
I can stop and start again later.
Margaret McDougall Lab Committee
19 Jan 2016
Community Justice (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2
I am sorry.
Margaret McDougall (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Committee
19 Jan 2016
Community Justice (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2
Amendment 95 seeks to include the meaning of “community justice” by identifying the risk management and public protection elements of community justice that are lacking in the current definition. My amendment seeks to ensure that managing and supporting offenders in relation t...
Margaret McDougall (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber
19 Jan 2016
Apologies (Scotland) Bill
I, too, congratulate Margaret Mitchell on bringing this bill to Parliament. When I spoke in the stage 1 debate on the bill, I highlighted a number of concerns that I had with the bill. However, during the stage 2 discussions, the bill was amended. Those amendments dealt direc...
Margaret McDougall Lab Committee
12 Jan 2016
Police Scotland (Interception of Communications)
What is happening with the murder investigation now?
Margaret McDougall Lab Committee
12 Jan 2016
Police Scotland (Interception of Communications)
Was it in the view of senior officers in Police Scotland for a considerable time, so it was just a case of relaying it down the ranks?
Margaret McDougall Lab Committee
12 Jan 2016
Police Scotland (Interception of Communications)
One of the main changes made in the legislation is that when you intercept journalistic information, you should get judicial authorisation. From my point of view as a layperson, when I read that part of the legislation it seemed quite clear. I find it hard to understand why an...
Margaret McDougall Lab Committee
12 Jan 2016
Police Scotland (Interception of Communications)
You said that this does not happen every day and then you said that officers deal with these issues every day. What was so different about this particular authorisation?
Margaret McDougall Lab Committee
12 Jan 2016
Police Scotland (Interception of Communications)
Did the officers express concerns at the time that they had been tasked with carrying out these authorisations—that they had been put under pressure?
Margaret McDougall (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Committee
12 Jan 2016
Police Scotland (Interception of Communications)
Good morning. Since you became aware of the breach, have you spoken to any of the officers involved in the authorisation process?
Margaret McDougall (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab Chamber
06 Jan 2016
Portfolio Question Time · Common Agricultural Policy Basic Payment
Farmers are suffering from adverse weather conditions and their crop yields will be affected. In answers to previous questions, the cabinet secretary said that he will see what he can do. Will he expand on what the options are, and say whether they include acceleration of CAP ...
Margaret McDougall Lab Committee
05 Jan 2016
Petitions
I agree with Alison McInnes—we should keep both petitions open.
Margaret McDougall Lab Committee
05 Jan 2016
Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Are there any plans to look at the issue in the future or to raise it through the EU?
Margaret McDougall Lab Committee
05 Jan 2016
Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
There must be education about taking responsibility, as well. We must instil that in our young people. Sometimes, these images end up on social media—Facebook and so on. It is the responsibility of those sites to take down photographs that are inappropriate. However, there is...
Margaret McDougall Lab Committee
05 Jan 2016
Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Yes. If we want to widen the measures to include text messages, we should take that into account. There is also the issue of sexting—the sending of sexually explicit images or videos—which lots of young people are involved in. There is concern that, if that were included, you...
Margaret McDougall Lab Committee
05 Jan 2016
Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Technology now allows certain things to be done. For example, a text could be sent, and then a screenshot could be taken of that text, so that it becomes an image. How do we define that, and should it be included in the definition in the bill?
Margaret McDougall Lab Committee
05 Jan 2016
Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
I welcome the fact that you are going to look at the matter again. Victim Support Scotland and Women’s Aid Scotland have argued that it should not matter what media are used, as the issue is the non-consensual sharing or the threat to share sensitive or intimate material that ...
Margaret McDougall Lab Committee
05 Jan 2016
Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
We heard from witnesses who gave evidence that the bill’s provisions on the non-consensual sharing or distribution of private, intimate images should be widened and that different kinds of communication should be included, such as text messages and letters. What are your views...
Margaret McDougall Lab Committee
05 Jan 2016
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2016-17
Thank you.
Margaret McDougall Lab Committee
05 Jan 2016
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2016-17
You think that the resources are adequate to carry out that training.
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Chamber

Meeting of the Parliament 22 March 2016

22 Mar 2016 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Bill
Matheson, Michael SNP Falkirk West Watch on SPTV

That point was raised at stages 1 and 2, and I will come to it in my speech. The issue was identified by the Crown, and I recognise that Margaret Mitchell and Christine Grahame, who is the convener of the Justice Committee, have raised a valid point.

At stage 2, comments were made that providing for statutory jury directions would somehow threaten the independence of the judiciary and the separation of powers between the legislature and the judiciary. I find it hard to reconcile such comments with the fact that other jurisdictions have already legislated in the area without interfering with judicial independence. In addition, the provisions in the bill are deliberately framed to ensure continuing judicial discretion, in any case, on whether it is necessary to use the directions. That means that directions are not required to be given when they are not relevant to a given case.

In the same item of business

The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott) Con
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-15994, in the name of Michael Matheson, on the Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Bill. 15:09
The Cabinet Secretary for Justice (Michael Matheson) SNP
I begin the formal stage 3 debate by thanking the members and clerks of the Justice Committee, the Finance Committee and the Delegated Powers and Law Reform ...
Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con) Con
Does the cabinet secretary agree that the use of expert witnesses would serve the purpose of dealing with those misconceptions in a very effective way—just a...
Michael Matheson SNP
That point was raised at stages 1 and 2, and I will come to it in my speech. The issue was identified by the Crown, and I recognise that Margaret Mitchell an...
Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) SNP
Would the cabinet secretary concede, however, that the Lord President and Sheriff Gordon Liddle, who is vice president of the Sheriff’s Association, had very...
Michael Matheson SNP
I recognise that they raised some concerns regarding the provisions, but I do not recall them saying that they would not take them forward if Parliament was ...
Elaine Murray (Dumfriesshire) (Lab) Lab
I am honoured to open the stage 3 debate for Scottish Labour on the last bill to be considered in the fourth session of the Scottish Parliament. I would like...
The Deputy Presiding Officer Con
Just take a moment. There is plenty of time.
Elaine Murray Lab
I have had this cough since 5 January. I wish it would go away. Opponents within the judiciary argue that similar directions will creep into other areas of ...
Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con) Con
The Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Bill is, as others have mentioned, the last bill that the Parliament will consider as session 4 draws to a c...
Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) SNP
It has been my privilege to convene the Justice Committee for five years. I thank all the committee members for their hard work and, not least, for their tol...
Roderick Campbell (North East Fife) (SNP) SNP
The member has talked about Lord Carloway’s comments. Will the member accept that he also said this? “What I am trying to say is that it could be done but i...
Christine Grahame SNP
Exactly—why do it this way if there is a better way of doing it? I think that the member has shot himself in the foot, no matter that he is a member of the F...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith) Lab
Before I call Malcolm Chisholm, I advise members that this is his valedictory speech. Like me, he has been a member since 1999 and, prior to that, he was a w...
Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (Lab) Lab
Thank you for those very kind words, Presiding Officer. Today’s bill is another step in the significant progress on action against violence against women th...
Christina McKelvie (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP) SNP
On 11 September 2013, I led a members’ business debate on the sensitive subject of revenge porn. It was then the subject of a new campaign by Scottish Women’...
Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD) LD
The bill addresses the need to tackle the damage that is done by abusive behaviour and sexual harm. The Government has acknowledged that the bill deals with ...
Roderick Campbell (North East Fife) (SNP) SNP
I refer to my entry in the register of members’ interests as a member of the Faculty of Advocates. I begin by acknowledging Alison McInnes’s immense contri...
Christine Grahame SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Roderick Campbell SNP
I will—briefly.
Christine Grahame SNP
Does the member agree that juries may have preconceptions and prejudices in other types of case? For instance, if a young man with cropped hair and covered i...
Roderick Campbell SNP
I am not, for one minute, suggesting that this does not set a precedent, but we need to look at every case on its facts. We will see how the directions work ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab
Before I call Margaret McDougall, the chamber will wish to note that this is her valedictory speech. Margaret McDougall became a member in this session of Pa...
Margaret McDougall (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab
Thank you, Presiding Officer, for your kind words. I am disappointed that the Scottish Government rejected my amendments to the bill, and I will continue to...
John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Ind) Ind
A lot of work takes place before we get to this point in any piece of legislation, and I thank all the contributors that got us here. I will allude to infor...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Lab
I pay tribute to Malcolm Chisholm. It is fitting that he has made his final speech in this debate, because his contribution to tackling violence against wome...
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick) NPA
We now move to winding-up speeches. I call Annabel Goldie, who will give her final speech in Parliament. 16:29
Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con) Con
I am delighted to participate in this afternoon’s proceedings on the Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Bill, which is the final piece of legislati...
The Presiding Officer NPA
On behalf of the Parliament, I would like to thank you for your substantial contribution to the Parliament as an MSP, as a committee convener and as the lead...
Elaine Murray Lab
Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. I often wonder how much more can be said about a bill when we get to the final debate at stage 3. The cabinet secret...