Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-15136, in the name of Colin Smyth, on justice for the Fornethy survivors. The debate wi...

Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

Presiding Officer, “Trust is sacred. Our trust was broken as little girls—and now, trust in the system that’s supposed to help us and do right by us has bee...

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

Will Colin Smyth take an intervention?

Colin Smyth Lab

I am happy to take an intervention.

Alex Cole-Hamilton LD

I am grateful to Colin Smyth for giving way—particularly because, regrettably, I am required to attend the First Minister’s emergency summit on youth violenc...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

I can give you the time back for that intervention, Mr Smyth.

Colin Smyth Lab

I thank Alex Cole-Hamilton for the support that he has given to the Fornethy survivors, including on that visit with the women to Fornethy, which was an incr...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

I will just give a gentle reminder to those in the public gallery that this is a meeting happening in public rather than a public meeting, so I discourage th...

Fergus Ewing (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP) SNP

I warmly congratulate Colin Smyth on his dogged pursuit of this issue and on the speech that he gave today, which is one of the finest that we have heard in ...

Maurice Golden (North East Scotland) (Con) Con

I thank Colin Smyth for bringing forward the debate. It is not the first time that he has done so, and that is to his great credit, because he has been a lon...

Foysol Choudhury (Lothian) (Lab) Lab

I join members in congratulating Colin Smyth on bringing this issue to the chamber once more, and I pay tribute to him for his long-standing campaigning for ...

Maggie Chapman (North East Scotland) (Green) Green

I thank Colin Smyth for lodging his motion and securing this debate, and for his very powerful and moving opening speech. I concur with every single word. I...

Monica Lennon (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I am grateful to have the opportunity to take part in the debate. I congratulate my colleague Colin Smyth and commend him for securing it and for uniting mem...

Fergus Ewing SNP

I thank Monica Lennon for taking my intervention. She is almost like an extra member of the committee, so frequent are her appearances to stand up for variou...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

I can give you the time back, Ms Lennon.

Monica Lennon Lab

I am grateful to Fergus Ewing for the important points that he makes. It is not just a matter of whether it shames the Scottish Government—it shames Scotland...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

I call the Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes, to respond to the debate. 13:23

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic (Kate Forbes) SNP

I thank Colin Smyth for lodging the motion and for his tireless work in supporting the Fornethy survivors. I give a huge welcome to the Fornethy survivors wh...

Fergus Ewing SNP

I note what the Deputy First Minister says in relation to the sub judice rule. However, the sub judice rule relates to a criminal case that is due to be hear...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

Always speak through the chair.

Kate Forbes SNP

There is absolutely no hiding going on, because I am about to outline some of the actions that I took directly in response to the five actions that survivors...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

That concludes the debate. 13:32 Meeting suspended. 14:30 On resuming—