Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 19 June 2025
19 Jun 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
National Advisory Council on Women and Girls Equality Recommendations
I would not want to comment on a specific case, and I do not know the specific case that Tess White refers to. More generally, we must ensure that the disposals that the courts give have the confidence of women survivors, and we know that that is often not the case. That does not necessarily mean that a prison sentence is needed in every case, but it means that we need adequate disposals that have the confidence of women who rely on the justice system.
Scottish Labour welcomes much of the work that the Scottish Government is doing. In particular, we welcome the next phase of the women’s health plan and the on-going work that has been undertaken to improve women’s outcomes across all areas of health. The cabinet secretary focused on that to a great extent in her opening speech. However, we are concerned that progress has been slow and that significant inequalities in women’s health remain. I very much hope that we will discuss those issues further in the debate.
15:33In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-18016, in the name of Shirley-Anne Somerville, on progressing the National Advisory Council on Women and ...
The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice (Shirley-Anne Somerville)
SNP
Today, the Scottish Government published its first annual statement following recommendations from the National Advisory Council on Women and Girls. The stat...
Pam Duncan-Glancy (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
I have a question on the point about the women’s health plan. Does the cabinet secretary agree that the situation for disabled women in Glasgow who seek to a...
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
I thank Pam Duncan-Glancy for that comment. She points—probably not for the first time today—to a discussion that is exceptionally important, which is about ...
Meghan Gallacher (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
On the point of childcare, there are councils across the country that are not allowing eligible two and three-year-olds to access the 1,140 hours of free fun...
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
We have to look in general at ensuring that there is sufficient, good-quality provision that is available flexibly in a way that aligns with what parents nee...
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
LD
Liberal Democrats are very supportive of the work that the Government is outlining today. The cabinet secretary mentioned the strategy that is to be forthcom...
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
The member has raised an exceptionally important point. As I look around the chamber, I see that it is mostly women who are here, as is often the case when w...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I advise members that we have a bit of time in hand, so they will certainly get the time back for interventions. 15:20
Tess White (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
I welcome today’s debate. It is so important to shine a light on what women and girls in Scotland are experiencing today. There is a mismatch—the Scottish Na...
Rona Mackay (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
SNP
I am struggling to understand what path you are going down. What you are talking about is not in the report that we are supposed to be debating.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Speak through the chair.
Tess White
Con
Ms Mackay might like to listen to my speech—if she does, she will find out. Meanwhile, the SNP’s proposed misogyny bill is just the latest in a litany of pa...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
For the sake of clarity, it is up to the chair to determine whether noise in the chamber is contravening the rules on courtesy and respect. I discourage conv...
Katy Clark (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I am pleased to open the debate on behalf of Scottish Labour. We, of course, welcome any and all action to improve the position of women and girls in society...
Tess White
Con
Will Katy Clark take an intervention?
Katy Clark
Lab
I am just about to conclude, so I am not sure whether it would be appropriate, but I am happy to take an intervention.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
You can certainly get the time back.
Tess White
Con
Does Katy Clark think that it is appropriate and proportionate for a male who has committed non-fatal strangulation and systemic abuse against his partner to...
Katy Clark
Lab
I would not want to comment on a specific case, and I do not know the specific case that Tess White refers to. More generally, we must ensure that the dispos...
Maggie Chapman (North East Scotland) (Green)
Green
I am grateful to the cabinet secretary for securing the debate. As she has outlined, gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls is one of the sus...
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
LD
I am pleased to speak on behalf of the Scottish Liberal Democrats but I am ashamed that, as the cabinet secretary rightly pointed out, I am one of only four ...
Meghan Gallacher
Con
Alex Cole-Hamilton is talking about issues in relation to women’s health, but what about young women’s health? We know that young women, particularly those f...
Alex Cole-Hamilton
LD
Meghan Gallacher makes an excellent point. It is incumbent on us all, in debates such as this one, to remind young women in particular of the health interven...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
We now move to the open debate. 15:43
Rona Mackay (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
SNP
I am pleased to be speaking in this important debate to highlight the key findings in the report of the National Advisory Council on Women and Girls and on t...
Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
I welcome the opportunity to debate an issue that is close to me and many of my fellow female MSPs across the chamber. Equality between men and women, and bo...
Alex Cole-Hamilton
LD
Sharon Dowey says that the EHRC has given clear guidance following the Supreme Court judgment. She must not have seen the select committee’s evidence hearing...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Sharon Dowey, I can give you the time back.
Sharon Dowey
Con
I think that the EHRC ruling was quite clear, and I do not think that there is any way that we need to wait for the guidance to come out. I would like to kno...