Holyrood, made browsable

Hansard

Every contribution to the Official Report — chamber and committee — searchable in one place. Pulled from data.parliament.scot, indexed for full-text search, linked through to every MSP.

129
Current MSPs
415
MSPs ever elected
13
Parties on record
2,354,908
Hansard contributions
1999–2026
Coverage span
Official Report

Search Hansard contributions

Showing 60 of 2,354,908 contributions. Latest 30 days: 0. Coverage: 12 May 1999 — 25 Mar 2026.
Karen Adam SNP Chamber
25 Mar 2026
Portfolio Question Time · Older People’s Housing
Over the past five years, in representing Banffshire and Buchan Coast, I have met many older constituents who are deeply worried about the future of such complexes. Those cases have touched my heart, and they are urgent. Those people want to stay independent and they want home...
3. Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP Chamber
25 Mar 2026
Portfolio Question Time · Older People’s Housing
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that older people’s housing, including sheltered housing, is prioritised in local housing planning and delivery. (S6O-05711)
Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP Chamber
19 Mar 2026
Portfolio Question Time · Oil and Gas Supply Chain (Job Losses)
It is Labour’s reckless decision to continue the energy profits levy, but it was started by the Tories, and it is causing hundreds of job losses. Experts are warning that it is going to cost thousands more. It is going to undermine energy security and the just transition that ...
Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP Chamber
12 Mar 2026
First Minister’s Question Time
Presiding Officer,“Labour are doing to Aberdeen what Margaret Thatcher did to Middlesbrough, and it’s utterly shameful.”Those are the words and assessment of GMB general secretary Gary Smith on the impact of the Labour United Kingdom Government’s policies on the north-east and...
Karen Adam SNP Chamber
12 Mar 2026
General Question Time · Bus Services (Rural and Coastal Constituencies)
A survey that I recently carried out in my constituency of Banffshire and Buchan Coast showed extremely low satisfaction with the local Stagecoach bus services, because of repeated cancellations, poor communication and concerns about accessibility. Many people told me that the...
5. Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP Chamber
12 Mar 2026
General Question Time · Bus Services (Rural and Coastal Constituencies)
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the reliability and accountability of bus services in rural and coastal constituencies. (S6O-05631)
The Convener SNP Committee
10 Mar 2026
Decision on Taking Business in Private
We will now move into private session to consider the remaining items on our agenda.10:00Meeting continued in private until 12:04.
The Convener (Karen Adam) SNP Committee
10 Mar 2026
Decision on Taking Business in Private
Good morning, and welcome to the 8th meeting of 2026, in session 6, of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. We have received apologies from Marie McNair.Our only public agenda item is to agree to take in private, in the committee’s remaining meetings durin...
Karen Adam SNP Chamber
04 Mar 2026
Education
Does the member agree that the two-child benefit cap and a restriction in public service spending would affect the poverty-related attainment gap?
Karen Adam SNP Chamber
04 Mar 2026
Education
I understand what the member says about time, but things have changed so much in the past six years since Covid. Also, young people just do not know what type of roles and jobs will be available in the future. They might be in school right now, but the jobs that they will be g...
Karen Adam SNP Chamber
04 Mar 2026
Education
I identified in my opening remarks that we are not saying that the situation is perfect. There are areas that need improvement. The cabinet secretary said that herself. However, it is not blanket failure—absolutely not.I have lived experience of things that have not gone well,...
Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP Chamber
04 Mar 2026
Education
This debate cannot be reduced to the idea that Scottish education is simply failing, because that is just not true. Yes, there are pressures; yes, there are areas where improvement is needed; and yes, Opposition parties are right to raise those concerns. However, they should a...
Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP Chamber
04 Mar 2026
Portfolio Question Time · Future Farming Investment Scheme
Does the minister agree that the £21.4 million investment, which will be augmented by at least a further £14.25 million this financial year, in addition to the most generous direct support package in the UK, highlights that positive action is being taken to invest in our rural...
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
Subordinate Legislation
As no other members wish to comment, that concludes consideration of the instruments.Before we move into private to consider the remaining items on our agenda, I note that, although there will be further meetings in private to consider our draft reports, this is expected to be...
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
Subordinate Legislation
Do any other members wish to comment?
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
Subordinate Legislation
Do members agree to write to the Government to ask about that?Members indicated agreement.
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
Subordinate Legislation
Welcome back. Our third agenda item is consideration of six Scottish statutory instruments under the negative procedure. I refer members to paper 3. Do members have any comments to make about any of the instruments?
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”
That is really interesting, and it is great to hear that that work is on-going.That brings us to the end of the evidence session. I thank our witnesses very much for joining us. I suspend the meeting briefly before we move to our next agenda item.11:10Meeting suspended.11:18On...
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”
I was also thinking about the preventative work that you have spoken about and that early-years intervention. That would be covered as well.Another side—which you touched on, Jemina—is the education of perpetrators. In what you have said today, I hear trauma for deaf mothers a...
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”
Before we move on, I will pick up on a point that Tess White made. The committee highlighted in our post-legislative scrutiny of the British Sign Language (Scotland) Act 2015 that there should be parity with Gaelic. I am paying attention to what you have said about that. If th...
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”
We will now move on to questions from Rhoda Grant, who joins us online.
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”
Would Lucy like to come in at this point?
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”
That is great. Thank you. We will move on to questions from Marie McNair.
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”
I am cognisant of the fact that we are now an hour into this evidence session, and we still have half an hour to go, so I just want to check whether we are okay or whether anyone needs a comfort break. Do we need to suspend briefly for a few minutes, or are we all good?
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”
That is great, thank you so much, Lucy.10:15
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”
That is really interesting, Jemina, because if you do not have the language for it, how do you communicate it? That is a really pertinent point. Thank you for that.
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”
I understand that things such as sexual health, women’s hormones and sexual consent are often taboo to talk about, but coercive control is quite hard to describe in the hearing world as it is. We know that those discussions are often hard to have in the public space, so should...
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”
We will now move on to questions from Paul McLennan.
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”
Thank you for that, Lucy. Some of the most disturbing evidence that you have presented relates to children being used as interpreters. When the police arrive on the scene, children as young as six or seven are having to communicate between their mother and the police and descr...
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”
We move to questions from Maggie Chapman.
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”
I realise that you might not have the information to hand, but is the lack of interpreters due to the density of the population being in the central belt or is to a lack of access to education?
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”
Thank you all very much. We will move on to questions. Jemina, you touched on this in your opening statement. Given the shortage of interpreters, what specific approaches would most effectively improve access to qualified BSL interpreters in domestic abuse and justice settings?
The Convener SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
“Sign LOUD: Perspectives of Deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on Deaf families”
Our second agenda item is a consideration of the findings of a joint research report on the perspectives of deaf mothers and signing practitioners on domestic abuse, communication issues and the impact on deaf families, by Professor Jemina Napier, Dr Claire Houghton, Lucy Clar...
The Convener (Karen Adam) SNP Committee
03 Mar 2026
Decision on Taking Business in Private
Good morning and welcome to the seventh meeting in 2026, in session 6, of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. We have no apologies this morning. Pam Gosal and Rhoda Grant join us remotely.Our first agenda item is a decision on taking in private agenda ite...
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Neurodivergence
That is a great point on which to end. I thank the minister and his officials for attending the meeting.We will go into private to discuss the remaining agenda items.12:17Meeting continued in private until 12:41.
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Neurodivergence
I have a final question, which is about employment—I recognise that it is not specifically connected to your portfolio. People with lived experience of being neurodivergent have told us about their experiences in the workplace and in trying to access work. Most of them really ...
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Neurodivergence
Rhoda, do you want to ask your questions on criminal justice?
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Neurodivergence
We move on to questions from Marie McNair, who will be followed by Paul McLennan.
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Neurodivergence
Thank you very much for that really helpful feedback.
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Neurodivergence
How will the new £7.5 million of funding for neurodevelopmental assessments reduce waiting times and when will you see measurable improvements?
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Neurodivergence
Thank you. We now move to members’ questions, and I will kick us off. What concrete actions does the Scottish Government intend to take to ensure that a functioning, consistent neurodevelopmental assessment pathway is available to people across Scotland?
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Neurodivergence
Welcome back. Our next agenda item is our final evidence session in our inquiry into neurodivergence in Scotland. I welcome to the meeting Tom Arthur, who is Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing. The minister is accompanied by Georgia de Courcy Wheeler, who is CAMHS a...
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Subordinate Legislation
That brings this agenda item to a close. I thank the minister and her officials once again for joining us. We will suspend briefly for a changeover of witnesses.11:06Meeting suspended.11:09On resuming—
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Subordinate Legislation
We move on to questions from Tess White.
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Subordinate Legislation
We will move to Rhoda Grant, please.
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Subordinate Legislation
Rhoda Grant has a supplementary question.
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Subordinate Legislation
We move to questions from members, and I will kick us off. What specific progress has been made on the human rights bill?
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Subordinate Legislation
Welcome back. Our fourth agenda item is to take evidence on Scotland-specific issues raised in the concluding observations and recommendations of the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The Scottish Government published its high-level action plan ...
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Subordinate Legislation
That concludes consideration of the instruments. We will suspend briefly to set up for our next agenda item.09:47Meeting suspended.09:57On resuming—
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Subordinate Legislation
Our next item of business is consideration of three negative Scottish statutory instruments. As no member has indicated that they have comments, are members content not to make any comments to the Parliament on any of the instruments?Members indicated agreement.
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Subordinate Legislation
That concludes this agenda item. I thank the minister and officials for their attendance.
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Subordinate Legislation
Do members agree to delegate to me approval of the publication of a short factual report on our deliberations on the affirmative instrument that we have considered today?Members indicated agreement.
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Subordinate Legislation
We move to agenda item 3, which is the formal consideration of motion S6M-20605. I invite the minister to move the motion.Motion moved,That the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee recommends that the Legal Aid and Advice and Assistance (Fees) (Miscellaneous Am...
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Subordinate Legislation
We now have questions from Paul McLennan.
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Subordinate Legislation
Thank you. We will move on to questions from Maggie Chapman.
The Convener SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Subordinate Legislation
Our second agenda item is consideration of a draft affirmative instrument. I welcome to the meeting Siobhian Brown, Minister for Victims and Community Safety, who is accompanied by the following Scottish Government officials: Ciaran McDonald, legal aid reform team leader, and ...
The Convener (Karen Adam) SNP Committee
24 Feb 2026
Decision on Taking Business in Private
Good morning, and welcome to the sixth meeting in 2026, in session 6, of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. We have received apologies from Pam Gosal, and Maggie Chapman and Paul McLennan are joining us remotely.Our first agenda item is a decision on tak...
Karen Adam SNP Chamber
19 Feb 2026
Public Services (Funding)
Will the member take an intervention?
Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP Chamber
19 Feb 2026
Public Services (Funding)
I am grateful to have the opportunity to debate the motion, and I thank Alexander Burnett for bringing it to the chamber. However, there is something quite ironic about the subject of the debate, and I will not shy away from calling that out.We cannot let the Conservatives off...
Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP Chamber
19 Feb 2026
First Minister’s Question Time
This week, Scotland reaches a milestone as more than 50,000 households receive support to live in a warmer home, with homes now being cheaper to heat. Meanwhile, the Scottish National Party Government published plans that could mean that communities across Scotland see more mo...
← Back to list
Committee

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee 24 February 2026 [Draft]

24 Feb 2026 · S6 · Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Item of business
Subordinate Legislation
Legal Aid and Advice and Assistance (Fees) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2026 [Draft]
Brown, Siobhian SNP Ayr Watch on SPTV
Good morning, committee, and thank you, convener.I welcome the opportunity to speak to the draft Legal Aid and Advice and Assistance (Fees) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2026. This Scottish statutory instrument forms part of the Scottish Government’s programme of legal aid reform, which aims to strengthen access to justice and ensure that the system remains fair and sustainable for those who need it most.The instrument will increase solicitors’ fees and fixed payments for criminal, civil and children’s legal aid and advice and assistance by 13 per cent, commencing on 1 September 2026. Additionally, it makes further changes to legal aid, amending regulations laid last December, and meets a commitment given to the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee to make corrections and minor drafting and clarification changes to the Civil Legal Aid (Scotland) Regulations 2002 and the Advice and Assistance (Assistance by Way of Representation) (Scotland) Regulations 2003.The SSI has been developed in close collaboration with the Law Society of Scotland and the Scottish Solicitors Bar Association, and I want to express my thanks for their valuable contributions to the negotiations. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the Scottish Legal Aid Board for its input on the technical and operational aspects of the fee increase.The SSI provides a significant increase to solicitors’ fees, ensuring that legal aid professionals are better remunerated and supported and allowing them to continue to make a real difference to people’s lives. The 13 per cent increase in fees addresses the profession’s concerns and contributes positively to the retention of legal aid solicitors as it decreases the potential risk of their stopping legal aid work. That would have a detrimental impact on access to justice and solicitor availability, as the committee heard in evidence to its recent inquiry on civil legal assistance. Indeed, the Law Society of Scotland has publicly welcomed the increase, calling it“a lifeline for access to justice”.The SSI forms part of a broader package of reform that includes the establishment of an independent fee review mechanism group, which will help shape the future of legal aid by creating a robust, evidence-based process for reviewing and agreeing legal aid fees. The package also includes further secondary legislation that will come into force on 1 April, 1 June and 14 December this year, as approved by the committee on 3 February.Additionally, funding for 40 traineeships with digital support for new trainees will be provided as part of the fee uplift package of reforms to further support access to justice. The package demonstrates the Scottish Government’s commitment to a long-term investment in the talent pipeline into the legal aid profession.In summary, convener, the fee uplift reaffirms our commitment to continuing to provide a robust legal aid system and supporting solicitors to provide crucial legal aid services, which, in turn, allow people access to justice whenever they might need it. We aim to ensure that people get the help that they need and that the solicitors are there to provide it.I am happy to take questions.

In the same item of business

09:30
The Convener SNP
Our second agenda item is consideration of a draft affirmative instrument. I welcome to the meeting Siobhian Brown, Minister for Victims and Community Safety...
The Minister for Victims and Community Safety (Siobhian Brown) SNP
Good morning, committee, and thank you, convener.I welcome the opportunity to speak to the draft Legal Aid and Advice and Assistance (Fees) (Miscellaneous Am...
The Convener SNP
Thank you. We will move on to questions from Maggie Chapman.
Maggie Chapman (North East Scotland) (Green) Green
Good morning, minister. I am sorry that I cannot join you in person, but I thank you for that update. The 13 per cent uplift is welcome news. I have a couple...
Siobhian Brown SNP
:There has been a long period of negotiations with the Law Society and the Scottish Solicitors Bar Association about this uplift during the past 12 months, a...
Maggie Chapman Green
:Thank you. That is helpful. Given the conversations that can happen and the annual reviews, I am curious about why the 13 per cent increase will apply from ...
Siobhian Brown SNP
:Through some of the reform that we have been doing in secondary legislation, uplifts will be coming in on 1 April, 1 June and 14 December. The 1 September d...
Maggie Chapman Green
:Last night, we received the updated timeline for the different activities in legal aid reform, and I put my thanks for that on the record. I know that a lot...
The Convener SNP
We now have questions from Paul McLennan.
Paul McLennan (East Lothian) (SNP) SNP
It is great to hear about the progress of the discussions as we look towards the next parliamentary session. The committee made some recommendations on civil...
Siobhian Brown SNP
:I apologise for my letter coming late last night. It has a lot of detail in it and I am not aware of whether all the committee members have been able to go ...
Paul McLennan SNP
:I have a supplementary question. The minister will remember that I have asked this in the chamber as well. It is about accessibility in more remote areas. W...
Siobhian Brown SNP
:Absolutely. As we move into the next parliamentary session and consider primary legislation for legal aid reform, it is really important that all the recomm...
Paul McLennan SNP
:Thank you.
Tess White (North East Scotland) (Con) Con
Before I ask my main question, I want to ask the minister about the 40 traineeships that she mentioned. Those are definitely to be welcomed, so thank you for...
Siobhian Brown SNP
:Originally, it was to be 20 traineeships, which as a result of the negotiations has now gone up to 40 traineeships along with the digital support package. W...
Ciaran McDonald (Scottish Government)
We are still negotiating and talking about it, so we will be looking into the detail of that, and we will be able to share that with you in due course.
Tess White Con
:So, that is Government funded, and there might be some requirement that those people spend time on legal aid cases.
Siobhian Brown SNP
:Yes.
Tess White Con
:My next question is on something that my colleague Paul McLennan touched on, which is longer-term legal aid reform. It is difficult to say, because this is ...
Siobhian Brown SNP
:Yes. We went through that when we discussed the issue in a previous meeting. The work that I have been doing in the past 18 months is outlined in the letter...
Tess White Con
:When we had the debate on legal aid in the chamber, we discussed the issue of women fleeing domestic abuse and the recommendation that the financial thresho...
Siobhian Brown SNP
:Yes. I have on-going conversations with SLAB—I met with it last week. We must be clear that the work that SLAB does is vital. We have a legal aid budget of ...
Tess White Con
:Perfect—thank you.
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Lab
What other things are happening to help to provide legal advice in rural areas? Obviously, increases in fees help, but there are many other issues, such as t...
Siobhian Brown SNP
:The negotiations that we have been having for the past couple of months have primarily been on fee uplifts, to ensure that solicitors get the fees that come...
Rhoda Grant Lab
:Thank you.09:45
The Convener SNP
We move to agenda item 3, which is the formal consideration of motion S6M-20605. I invite the minister to move the motion.Motion moved,That the Equalities, H...
The Convener SNP
Do members agree to delegate to me approval of the publication of a short factual report on our deliberations on the affirmative instrument that we have cons...