Hansard

I am aware of Michelle Thomson’s interest in the petition. In fact, she would have liked to have been here, but she is across the corridor in another committee meeting. It seems a little inconsistent that the Scottish Government is not planning to do more than it has said, in the light of the fact that the UK Government is doing more, as is the European Union. I would like a more specific response from the Scottish Government on how it feels that the defamation law that was passed fairly recently covers the issue. The petitioner is plainly of the view that the Scottish Government does not recognise the scale of the problem. The scenario that we are concerned about is that the UK passes legislation, leaving Scotland as the jurisdiction of choice of very rich people who, basically, wish to attack the freedom of the press using the courts as a shield. I do not think that we want that to happen in Scotland. Therefore, I find the lack of any obvious enthusiasm from the Scottish Government disappointing. However, if it argues that the law that was passed last year is a sufficient shield, we need a lot more information and a lot more of a specific response than we have had at the moment. If we do not get that specific information, as I think might happen—I struggle to be an optimist in life, convener, and I hope that I am wrong—there is a case to have a hearing at which the petitioner and the University of Aberdeen academics who have submitted a written response, particularly Professor Borg-Barthet, who has been a key adviser to the European Union, along with the Law Society of Scotland and a Government minister might give evidence. If we are not satisfied by the initial responses, it might be helpful to indicate in the letters to everybody that we are contemplating holding an inquiry and therefore we hope that, again, the pencil will have a high lead content when we get the response.