Hansard

Audrey Nicoll (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) SNP Chamber

25 Mar 2026

Mobile Phone Use in Schools (Ban)

I thank Pam Gosal for securing this debate on a Scotland-wide ban on the use of mobile phones in schools, and I congratulate her on her powerful and comprehensive speech. As this will be my last speech before I step down, I hope that the Presiding Officer will afford me a few ...

Audrey Nicoll (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) SNP Chamber

18 Mar 2026

Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would have voted yes.

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

Thank you, Fulton. It has been an absolute pleasure. We now move into private session.11:00Meeting continued in private until 11:15.

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

Thank you very much. The report will be published shortly.As this is our last scheduled meeting, I thank the minister and her officials for all their contributions to the committee over the past five years—it is greatly appreciated.That concludes our business in public. Before...

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

Are members content to delegate responsibility to me and the clerks to approve a short factual report to the Parliament on the affirmative instrument?Members indicated agreement.

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

I invite the minister to wind up and press or withdraw the motion.

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

Do any members wish to come in with any final comments?

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

I see that no other members wish to come in. Our next item of business is to consider a motion to approve the affirmative SSI on which we have just taken oral evidence. I remind officials—not that you need reminding—that only MSPs can speak in a debate on a motion.I invite the...

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

Is that question relevant to the instrument that we are dealing with today?

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

Thank you, minister. The committee is grateful for the update that you have provided, for the explanation that you have given and for some of the detail on the provisions in the SSI.I now invite questions from members.

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

Our next item of business is an oral evidence-taking session on an affirmative Scottish statutory instrument that has been relaid by the Scottish Government. We are joined by the Minister for Victims and Community Safety. I also welcome Robert Wyllie, policy lead in the safer ...

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Crime and Policing Bill

Thank you. I suspend the meeting for a few minutes to allow for a changeover of witnesses.10:31Meeting suspended.10:33On resuming—

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Crime and Policing Bill

Thank you. As this is our final scheduled meeting of the parliamentary session, I thank the cabinet secretary and all the officials who have attended the committee and given evidence to us in the past five years. We are very grateful.

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Crime and Policing Bill

Are members content to delegate responsibility to me and the clerks to approve a short factual report to the Parliament on the LCM?Members indicated agreement.

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Crime and Policing Bill

As no members want to make any points about the LCM, is the committee content to recommend to the Parliament that consent should be given for the relevant provisions covered by LCM-S6-57d?Members indicated agreement.

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Crime and Policing Bill

Our next item of business is an oral evidence session on a supplementary legislative consent memorandum for the UK Government’s Crime and Policing Bill. In addition to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, I welcome Scottish Government officials Yvonne Edmond, fr...

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

I thank the cabinet secretary for attending. We will now suspend briefly to allow a changeover of officials.10:17Meeting suspended.10:23On resuming—

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

The result of the division is: For 4, Against 2, Abstentions 0.We are agreed that consent should be given.Are members content to delegate responsibility to me and the clerks to approve a factual report outlining the points that have been raised today to the Parliament on the L...

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

There will be a division.

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

In that case, we will go back to the beginning. That might be easiest.Is the committee content to recommend to the Parliament that consent should be given for the relevant provisions covered by LCM S6-68 and LCM S6-68a?Members: No.

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

No, because it is an LCM.

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

There will be a division.

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Thank you, Stephen. I will move on and ask the question.Do members of the committee agree to recommend to the Parliament that consent should be given for the relevant provisions covered by LCM S6-68 and LCM S6-68a?Members: No.

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

I thank all members for their comments. I cannot answer that final question, but I will bring in Stephen Imrie again, if he has any information.

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Is that clear?

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

I will bring Stephen Imrie in to ensure that I am covering the technicalities of the process.

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Not quite. I am proposing that we proceed with the formal process that we are about to go through. Obviously, if members do not agree, we will go to a division, but thereafter, we will ensure that the points that have been raised by committee members are set out in the report ...

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Thank you very much. As no other members wish to come in, I just want to acknowledge all the points that have been made. We have covered quite a range of different aspects of the LCM, and I am grateful for that. Like Jamie Hepburn, I am grateful for the clarification that we h...

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Thank you.

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

I bring in the cabinet secretary to respond to the points that have been made.

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Thank you. Do any other members want to come in?

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Does any other member wish to come in? I see that they do not. That concludes our evidence session. I will now allow a short discussion through which, if they wish to, members can give me an indication of their views on the LCM before we move to the question of consent and any...

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Mr Mountain, would you like to come in?

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Thank you for that reassurance. I will hand over to Liam Kerr.

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Thanks very much.My final question relates to some of the information in the memorandum. It seems to suggest that certain clauses confer powers on UK ministers to act in devolved areas but make no provision for the involvement of Scottish ministers. If I am reading it correctl...

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

That would probably be helpful for our understanding of the bill’s provisions, although we are limited in our time. I was just wondering whether the opportunity for inquisitorial proceedings flowed from the outcome of an investigation, if you like. If you could clarify that by...

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Yes.

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

The new legacy commission’s core functions will be to investigate conduct associated with the troubles that caused death or serious harm and to conduct inquisitorial proceedings into the circumstances of certain deaths that were caused as part of the troubles. Can you help us ...

The Convener SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Thank you very much, cabinet secretary. Clause 28 is on matters relating to the investigation of deaths, and I am pleased that clause 28(10) will allow the Lord Advocate to request that the new commission investigates cases in which there is evidence of conduct that could amou...

The Convener (Audrey Nicoll) SNP Committee

18 Mar 2026

Northern Ireland Troubles Bill

Good morning, and welcome to the 11th meeting in 2026 of the Criminal Justice Committee. We have received no apologies, and we expect to be joined by Pauline McNeill and Katy Clark shortly.Our first item of business is an oral evidence-taking session on a legislative consent m...

Audrey Nicoll SNP Chamber

13 Mar 2026

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

I do not consider that to be acceptable whatsoever. The point that I am trying to make is that we want to ensure that the bill includes the most robust safeguards. My contention is that clear, accurate and comprehensive reporting would be a significant part of that provision.A...

Audrey Nicoll SNP Chamber

13 Mar 2026

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

I very much note and accept the member’s point about different models. To draw on his comments, perhaps it is the case that different models have different strengths and weaknesses.My amendments 275 to 277 and the amendments in the names of Bob Doris, Emma Roddick, Miles Brigg...

Audrey Nicoll SNP Chamber

13 Mar 2026

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

In opening the debate on this group of amendments, I described them as “straightforward.” However, that might have been to unintentionally understate the crucial importance of data and reporting, given that we know that, where assisted dying is legalised, reporting provisions ...

Audrey Nicoll (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) SNP Chamber

13 Mar 2026

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

This group of amendments largely seeks to strengthen recording and reporting provisions in sections 23A, 24 and 26 of the bill. Safeguarding is at the heart of the amendments. I will begin with my amendments, before speaking to other amendments in the group.My amendments 275, ...

Audrey Nicoll SNP Chamber

12 Mar 2026

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

I am keen to remind members that the provision of palliative care is not just the provision of that care itself; it includes workforce planning and staff training, often in specialist roles, and there are potentially significant additional costs for colleges, universities and ...

Audrey Nicoll SNP Chamber

12 Mar 2026

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

I would not argue with those findings, and I am sure that that evidence is robust, but there is evidence elsewhere that reflects a very different picture. The thrust of my amendments is to ensure that we can monitor, using an on-going method, the impact of an assisted dying pr...

Audrey Nicoll SNP Chamber

12 Mar 2026

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

I agree with the points that the member made, and the concerns about the impact of introducing assisted dying legislation on palliative care provision. I am aware that research in Europe shows that there has been a clear trend in palliative care funding being devalued. Where c...

Audrey Nicoll SNP Chamber

12 Mar 2026

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

During the consideration of stage 3 amendments, there has been on-going interest in how the bill might impact our palliative care provision, and not least our hugely valued hospices. As colleagues who represent constituencies that contain a hospice will know, they are very dep...

Audrey Nicoll (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) SNP Chamber

12 Mar 2026

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

I seek clarification of the member’s earlier response to the Deputy First Minister on the question whether assisted dying is understood to be a “reasonable” treatment option under the Montgomery ruling, which says that, by law, a doctor must offer all reasonable treatment opti...

Audrey Nicoll (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) SNP Chamber

12 Mar 2026

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

I am interested in the issue around the word “independent”. I understand the rationale for the member’s amendments, but I am interested in what reassurance can be provided that an independent advocacy service is truly independent. That circles back to the issue of coercion, wh...

Audrey Nicoll SNP Chamber

12 Mar 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Defence, Aerospace and Space Sectors (Skills Shortages)

The strategic importance of the aerospace, defence and space industries to Scotland cannot be overstated, as they add £3.7 billion to the economy and currently employ just under 37,000 people. I welcome the fact that many Scottish colleges and universities are developing activ...

3. Audrey Nicoll (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) SNP Chamber

12 Mar 2026

Portfolio Question Time · Defence, Aerospace and Space Sectors (Skills Shortages)

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to colleges and universities to address skills shortages in the defence, aerospace and space sectors. (S6O-05637)

Audrey Nicoll SNP Chamber

11 Mar 2026

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

To answer Ruth Maguire’s first point, yes, I share her concerns. There is perhaps an issue about public awareness, but there is also an issue about the lack of research that has been undertaken into the reliability of drugs that are used in assisted dying. For example, a recen...

Audrey Nicoll SNP Chamber

11 Mar 2026

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

My amendment 224 is a straightforward amendment that seeks to ensure that, after a patient dies from the lethal drugs injected, the doctor’s final statement contains sufficient information on those drugs for insurance claims, regulatory review and investigations. That will imp...

Audrey Nicoll SNP Chamber

11 Mar 2026

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

The simple answer is yes. Case study review is a critical part of the overall function that we need to undertake with regard to the operation of any legislation, particularly in the context of public protection. I fully endorse and agree with Bob Doris’s points. I ask members ...

Audrey Nicoll SNP Chamber

11 Mar 2026

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

I completely agree with Carol Mochan’s comments. It is important that we strike a balance in recognising the role of medical professionals and the role of a patient in that space. That makes it all the more imperative that detailed reporting should take place to support the de...

Audrey Nicoll SNP Chamber

11 Mar 2026

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Clare Haughey has raised a valid point, which I absolutely recognise. It is important to set the context of the discussion, given the differences in healthcare provision.Nobody in the Parliament wants people with eating disorders or similarly vulnerable people to be given drug...

Audrey Nicoll (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) SNP Chamber

11 Mar 2026

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Before I speak to my amendment 173, I say that I fully support Fulton MacGregor’s amendment 171. It is a practical provision that shows the intersection between issues such as adult support and protection and observing the rights of adults with incapacity, on the one hand, and...

The Convener SNP Committee

11 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

With that, I close the meeting.Meeting closed at 13:00.

The Convener SNP Committee

11 Mar 2026

Subordinate Legislation

We were due to move on to our final agenda item, which is on our legacy report. However, given the time, do members agree to defer that item to next week, when we are due to bring it back in any case?Members indicated agreement.