Hansard

The Convener (Karen Adam) SNP

Good morning, and welcome to the third meeting in 2025, in session 6, of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. We have received apologies...

The Convener SNP

Amendment 312, in the name of the minister, is grouped with amendments 335 to 346, 438 to 441, 538, 443 to 447, 539, 448, 540, 467, 499 and 523. I point out ...

The Minister for Victims and Community Safety (Siobhian Brown) SNP

Good morning, convener and committee members. The first set of amendments in the group relates to the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission and is the outcome...

Maggie Chapman (North East Scotland) (Green) Green

I thank the minister for the engagement that we have had on my amendments 539 and 540 in this group. The substantive amendment is 540, and amendment 539 woul...

The Convener SNP

As no other members wish to come in, I call the minister to wind up.

Siobhian Brown SNP

I thank Maggie Chapman, and I acknowledge the concerns that the consumer panel has raised. We would not be able to get involved in the SLCC process—it will b...

The Convener SNP

Amendment 313, in the name of the minister, is grouped with amendments 314, 315, 317, 318, 320, 330, 356, 362 to 371, 381, 449, 451, 460, 471, 474 to 477, 47...

Siobhian Brown SNP

The amendments in this group are largely technical. The main amendment is 315, which, at the request of the SLCC, puts a matter beyond doubt by expressly pro...

The Convener SNP

Amendment 557, in the name of Paul O’Kane, is grouped with amendments 558 to 560, 643, 563, 316, 564, 565, 571, 573, 578, 582, 590, 605 and 640. I remind mem...

Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab

My amendments in this group seek to retain the current preliminary steps that the commission must take in respect of a complaint, specifically to determine w...

Siobhian Brown SNP

Paul O’Kane’s amendments in the group would place back in statute a requirement for the SLCC to determine whether a complaint was “frivolous, vexatious or w...

Paul O’Kane Lab

The minister might well be coming to these points. I appreciate what she said about the flexibility that will be afforded to the SLCC in relation to its rule...

Siobhian Brown SNP

On page 32 of the bill, section 41 sets out that, in order for the SLCC to apply the eligibility test, it will need to consult the Lord President, Scottish m...

The Convener SNP

I see that no other members wish to speak, so I call Paul O’Kane to wind up and to press or withdraw amendment 557.

Paul O’Kane Lab

Inaudible.

The Convener SNP

We will suspend for a few moments to deal with the technical problems that we are having. 10:00 Meeting suspended. 10:02 On resuming—

The Convener SNP

Welcome back. I call Paul O’Kane to wind up, and to press or withdraw amendment 557.

Paul O’Kane Lab

I will wind up on the amendments. I think that we are all trying to push towards a similar outcome in this debate, which is that there should be a process e...

The Convener SNP

The question is that amendment 557 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No.

The Convener SNP

There will be a division. As this is our first division, I remind members to show their vote by raising their hand. For O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab)...

The Convener SNP

The result of the division is: For 1, Against 5, Abstentions 1. Amendment 557 disagreed to. Amendments 558 to 560 not moved. Amendment 314 moved—Siobhian ...

The Convener SNP

Amendment 572, in the name of Paul O’Kane, is in a group on its own.

Paul O’Kane Lab

Amendment 572 is a relatively simple amendment that would leave out section 54(7) of the bill. As drafted, section 54(7) would repeal section 12 of the Legal...

Siobhian Brown SNP

Amendment 572 seeks to reinstate the express provision contained in section 12 of the Legal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 2007 on how the SLCC must...

Paul O’Kane Lab

Will the minister take an intervention?

Siobhian Brown SNP

Yes.

Paul O’Kane Lab

I am grateful to the minister for taking an intervention. It perhaps speaks to the point in my previous amendment about understanding the difference between ...

Siobhian Brown SNP

I will come to that further along, but as I said when we debated the previous group, the SLCC will have to go to consultation with the Lord President, Scotti...

The Convener SNP

Thank you. I ask Paul O’Kane to press or withdraw amendment 572.

Paul O’Kane Lab

I do not intend to say too much more, other than that I think that this amendment is about ensuring that there is a provision in the bill to ensure natural j...