Hansard

09:00

The Convener Lab

Our next agenda item is consideration of the Representation of the People Act 1983 Remedial (Scotland) Order 2025, which is subject to the affirmative proced...

The Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans (Graeme Dey) SNP

Good morning. The order that is before us today responds to a European convention on human rights compliance issue that has been identified in relation to vo...

The Convener Lab

I am grateful for your opening remarks, minister. Before I turn to questions and comments from committee members, I want to clarify something.We are talking ...

Graeme Dey SNP

Correct.

The Convener Lab

Therefore, subject to the SSI passing, there are no surprises for the coming election.

Graeme Dey SNP

Absolutely. That was always the understanding, subject to the Parliament agreeing to the instrument. The order coming into effect in November last year has a...

Sue Webber (Lothian) (Con) Con

I have a question, minister. In England and Wales, they have found a compromise: they do not let prisoners vote unless they are released on a temporary licen...

Graeme Dey SNP

With prisoner voting?

Sue Webber Con

Yes. This instrument is also about prisoner voting—these people are still detained.

Graeme Dey SNP

The decision was reached in 2022 and predates my time. The Parliament voted for that position. In so doing, this anomaly arose, which we are now trying to ad...

Sue Webber Con

I have a statement that I want to make later. Is that okay, convener?

The Convener Lab

Absolutely. That is fine.I have one further question with regard to the evidence received from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, which set out a number of ...

Graeme Dey SNP

I will bring in Iain Hockenhull with the detail, but my understanding is that work has been done. The trigger for progressing all of the activity will be the...

Iain Hockenhull (Scottish Government)

The new registration form, which is specifically designed around the group of people affected by the order, has been discussed with and prepared by the Elect...

The Convener Lab

“False hope” might be an interesting phrase. Do we know how many individuals this order will affect?

Graeme Dey SNP

We believe it to be in the region of 20 people. This is a very complex area, which is why I was reluctant to go for a permanent solution at this stage. As we...

The Convener Lab

That is helpful.Further, not that the next Parliament or Scottish Government would ignore it, but the sunset clause means that it will be in people’s diaries...

Graeme Dey SNP

I will make a useful point here, for clarity. As part of considering the options that I had, I had informal discussions with the business managers of the oth...

The Convener Lab

That was very helpful. Thank you.As members have no more questions, we will move to agenda item 3, which is the formal debate on motion S6M-20958. Members wi...

The Convener Lab

Does any member wish to speak?

Sue Webber Con

I do, convener.I will not be supporting this SSI today, because of my party’s long-standing opposition to allowing prisoners to vote, regardless of the circu...

The Convener Lab

If no other members wish to contribute, I invite the minister to respond.

Graeme Dey SNP

I will be very brief, convener. I understand Ms Webber’s position on this issue, but what we are dealing with is an anomaly in a law passed by this Parliamen...

The Convener Lab

I am grateful. The question is, that motion S6M-20958 be agreed to. Are we agreed?Members: No.

The Convener Lab

There will be a division.

ForMaguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP)Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab)AgainstWebber, Sue (Lothian) (Co...

The Convener Lab

The result of the division is: For 3, Against 2, Abstentions 0.Motion agreed to.That the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee recommends t...

The Convener Lab

I now suspend the meeting for a changeover of guests.09:13Meeting suspended.09:15On resuming—