Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Lewis Macdonald) Lab

The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-21778, in the name of Shirley-Anne Somerville, on stage 1 of the Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill. 15:43

The Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People (Shirley-Anne Somerville) SNP

Presiding Officer, thank you for the opportunity to address the chamber on the general principles of the Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill. I express my grat...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

I call Ruth Maguire to speak on behalf of the Equalities and Human Rights Committee. 15:54

Ruth Maguire (Cunninghame South) (SNP) SNP

I am pleased to open the debate on behalf of the Equalities and Human Rights Committee. The debate comes in the midst of a health crisis facing not just our ...

Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con) Con

The cabinet secretary and the convener of the Equalities and Human Rights Committee have set out why the bill is before us. For thoroughness, I will go over ...

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD) LD

Does the member recognise that the ground of adultery in Scottish divorce law is seen as arcane and that unreasonable conduct is a far more appropriate groun...

Graham Simpson Con

I mentioned the issue only because it was covered in the committee’s report. I am not arguing for such an approach; I was trying to be humorous, although I p...

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

I vaguely recall the passing of the civil partnership legislation of 2004. It was a major step towards marriage equality for same-sex couples. I was chair of...

Andy Wightman (Lothian) (Green) Green

First, I thank the Equalities and Human Rights Committee for its scrutiny of the bill and its helpful stage 1 report. I also thank Ruth Maguire for her very ...

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD) LD

I thank the clerks and witnesses who have made the collection of evidence at stage 1 enjoyable and seamless in adding to the committee’s knowledge. In partic...

Andy Wightman Green

The member mentioned some figures, including 3 million couples. I presume that that does not relate to Scotland—I just want to clarify that we are not lookin...

Alex Cole-Hamilton LD

I am grateful to Andy Wightman for allowing me the opportunity to correct that point. It is, indeed, a UK-wide statistic. I imagine the figure would be in th...

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP) SNP

Although the bill has been directly influenced by the European convention on human rights Steinfeld and Keidan judgment, I believe that we should all have eq...

Joan McAlpine (South Scotland) (SNP) SNP

I, too, welcome the bill. Scotland—and, until very recently, England, Wales and Northern Ireland—is the only country in the world where same-sex couples can ...

Annie Wells (Glasgow) (Con) Con

I welcome the opportunity to speak in this debate on an important bill that will allow Scotland to continue to promote equality, freedom of choice and fairne...

Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) SNP

As a member of the Equalities and Human Rights Committee, I place on record my thanks to the clerks, witnesses and all those who gave up their time to get us...

Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

I am delighted to be able to participate in this afternoon’s stage 1 debate on the Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill. I pay tribute to the committee clerks, ...

Angela Constance (Almond Valley) (SNP) SNP

The starting point when considering the extension of civil partnerships to include different-sex couples is that the status quo is incompatible with the Euro...

Stewart Stevenson (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP

I apologise to the Presiding Officer and to colleagues for joining the debate late. I am a member of the COVID-19 Committee, and our stage 2 debate on the Co...

Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab) Lab

I start by reiterating Pauline McNeill’s affirmation that Scottish Labour welcomes the introduction of the bill to extend civil partnerships to mixed-sex cou...

Maurice Golden (West Scotland) (Con) Con

This has been an entirely consensual debate. Graham Simpson injected some humour of sorts, as well as some interesting legal commentary. We were joined virtu...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda Fabiani) SNP

In reference to Mr Golden’s opening remarks, I point out that it might be worth my while to remind all members that if they are contributing remotely they ar...

Shirley-Anne Somerville SNP

We started off today with Pauline McNeill telling her story about getting married in exotic places—I am not quite sure that my wedding near Dalkeith counts a...