Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing) SNP

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-12922, in the name of Angela Constance, on the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill at ...

The Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs (Angela Constance) SNP

I open the debate with my thanks to the Criminal Justice Committee for its stage 1 report on the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill. It r...

John Swinney (Perthshire North) (SNP) SNP

I am grateful to the cabinet secretary for giving way and for the remarks that she has just placed on the record, because this is a significant issue. In he...

Angela Constance SNP

We will of course consider the debate in and around the jury majority with sensitivity and in depth, and we will look at all the relevant issues and engage w...

Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) SNP

The cabinet secretary already knows my position on juryless trials, so I will not reprise that. However, I would like clarification that the proposal is for ...

Angela Constance SNP

I can give clarification to Ms Grahame that the pilot, whatever form it takes, is to look at rape and attempted rape cases. I have already given commitments ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I now call Audrey Nicoll to speak on behalf of the Criminal Justice Committee. 14:15

Audrey Nicoll (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) SNP

I am very pleased to speak in this afternoon’s debate on behalf of the Criminal Justice Committee. I extend the committee’s sincere thanks to the clerking te...

Russell Findlay (West Scotland) (Con) Con

I thank the Criminal Justice Committee team for their assistance and not least for the unseen work of the eternally patient researchers and clerks. Committee...

Christine Grahame SNP

Will the member accept an intervention?

Russell Findlay Con

I will.

Christine Grahame SNP

I thank the member for his tone and for his thoughtful contribution. There you are. When I was in practice as a civil practitioner many moons ago, that alr...

Russell Findlay Con

I thank the member for her intervention and have dialled down my flamboyance for her today. I agree. The member speaks to a point that is a recurring theme,...

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

I sincerely thank my colleagues on the Criminal Justice Committee and the committee clerks for what is an excellent report. The convener outlined its content...

Angela Constance SNP

I wonder whether Pauline McNeill is aware of the written evidence of the senators of the College of Justice, in which they said that, despite the new jury di...

Pauline McNeill Lab

I acknowledge that, but I hope that the cabinet secretary agrees that some progress has been made, in that judges are now expected, in every case, to talk ab...

Rona Mackay (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) SNP

Does Pauline McNeill believe that a 24 per cent conviction rate in single-charge rape cases is acceptable?

Pauline McNeill Lab

No, I do not. In case the member has misunderstood my point, the Government has said throughout that it is not specifically aiming to increase conviction rat...

Christine Grahame SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Pauline McNeill Lab

Is there any time in hand?

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Yes—there is a limited amount of time in hand.

Pauline McNeill Lab

I will take an intervention from Christine Grahame.

Christine Grahame SNP

I am not on the committee, and I do not understand section 65(1), which says: “The Scottish Ministers may, by regulations, provide that trials on indictment...

Pauline McNeill Lab

That is one of the things that the Government has responded to—it will put the specified criteria into the bill. That is what I was trying to speak to, becau...

Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD) LD

I greatly enjoyed my time on the Justice Committee in the previous session and often find myself missing it, but I do not envy Audrey Nicoll and her colleagu...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

We move to the open debate. 15:54

Rona Mackay (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) SNP

Getting the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill to this stage has been a marathon. As a member of the Criminal Justice Committee, I too th...

Russell Findlay Con

Does the member share the concerns that others have expressed about there being too much in one bill?

Rona Mackay SNP

There is no doubt that it is a big bill, but we have taken a long time to scrutinise it and have heard a great deal of evidence. I agree that it is huge, but...

Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Con) Con

I thank members for their valuable contributions thus far. It is fair to say that the bill has been on a bit of a journey, perhaps much like my own from the ...