Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 03 February 2026 [Draft]
03 Feb 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
I will come back to Ms Maguire if I have time.
We consider that there is more to be done to properly engage with and address the genuine concerns expressed that the offence would compromise women’s safety.
On the other proposals in the bill, we believe that there is merit in the proposal to repeal the offence of soliciting. That was widely supported by witnesses, although the Scottish Government’s view is that it would require further consultation. On the proposal to quash convictions for soliciting, we understand the policy intention, but we heard evidence that an alternative approach, based on pardons, would be preferable.
We agree with the general policy intention in the bill that individuals who are or have been in prostitution should receive assistance and support. However, we have concerns about the adequacy of the funding levels that are proposed in the bill.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-20627, in the name of Ash Regan, on the Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill at stage 1. I...
Ash Regan (Edinburgh Eastern) (Ind)
Ind
The world is watching. As the Jeffrey Epstein scandal finally unravels, it exposes something that survivors and whistleblowers have been telling us for decad...
Rona Mackay (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
SNP
Made a request to intervene.
Ash Regan
Ind
I will come to the member in a moment.Since 2002, there have been nine bills or formal proposals on prostitution. There have been a dozen consultations, mult...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
You are already over your time, Ms Regan—
Ash Regan
Ind
Okay. I apologise, but—
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
You are going to have to bring your remarks to a conclusion.
Ash Regan
Ind
—I would like to put on the record that I have repeatedly asked for more time for this debate. When I have taken bills through Parliament before, I have alwa...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
Ms Regan, if you could resume your seat for a second.
Ash Regan
Ind
—and its duty to have a proper debate on this.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
Ms Regan, if you could resume your seat for a second. Interruption. No, I am asking you to resume your seat. Could you please resume your seat? I will allow ...
Ash Regan
Ind
I want to make a point to the chamber about the timing, because that is an issue that the Government has raised. We never seem to know our own history in her...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
Please bring your remarks to a conclusion.
Ash Regan
Ind
Survivors have told us repeatedly that the loudest voices in the debate are from those who were never for sale. That is a scandal. One person told us that ev...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
Bring your remarks to a conclusion, please, Ms Regan.
Ash Regan
Ind
Presiding Officer, I will. Unfortunately—again—the Parliament does not allocate enough time to the things that are desperately important, such as saving peop...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
I call Audrey Nicoll to speak on behalf of the Criminal Justice Committee, for up to seven minutes.16:01
Audrey Nicoll (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP)
SNP
I am very pleased to open on behalf of the Criminal Justice Committee. At the outset, I advise members that I have limited time to set out some of the key de...
Fergus Ewing (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind)
Ind
Will the member take an intervention?
Audrey Nicoll
SNP
If Mr Ewing will bear with me, I will take his intervention if I have time at the end.Our overriding concern is the evidence that we heard about the impact o...
Ruth Maguire (Cunninghame South) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Audrey Nicoll
SNP
I will come back to Ms Maguire if I have time.We consider that there is more to be done to properly engage with and address the genuine concerns expressed th...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
Ms Nicoll, if you could resume your seat. I call Michelle Thomson to make a point of order.
Michelle Thomson (Falkirk East) (SNP)
SNP
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Given the level of interest in the debate, it is reasonable to assume that everybody in the chamber will have read th...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
That is not a point of order.Points of order should not be used to make interventions.
Audrey Nicoll
SNP
I thank Michelle Thomson for her intervention.My position is that it is important that I set out the position of the committee. I am happy to take interventi...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
You are over time now, Ms Nicoll.I now call—
Audrey Nicoll
SNP
May I just conclude my remarks, Presiding Officer?To conclude, I extend our thanks again to everyone who supported the committee’s scrutiny, and I look forwa...
Douglas Ross (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I rise as someone who also hopes to speak in the debate. I note that the first two speakers—the member in charge of t...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
Thank you, Mr Ross. In response to your point of order, this is a matter that has been considered by the bureau at some length, including contributions from ...