Hansard

The Presiding Officer (Sir David Steel): NPA

Good morning. I apologise for the slightly late start. There were technical difficulties with the microphone system.

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): SNP

On a point of order. I am concerned that—yet again—we seem to be reading about Government announcements in the press rather than hearing them in the chamber....

The Presiding Officer: NPA

I share the member's concern. I will be charitable today because we have new ministers and, no doubt, new special advisers operating. However, I had a discus...

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): Lab

On a point of order. On the pre-release of speeches and how you might interpret that, would your sanction extend to the pre-release of speeches to Opposition...

The Presiding Officer: NPA

Yes, absolutely. We do not expect to read in the newspapers what will be said in Parliament—we expect to read what has been said.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): Con

On a point of order. As such pre-releases have happened several times, would the Presiding Officer care to have a word with the First Minister to ensure that...

The Presiding Officer: NPA

My words will be printed in the Official Report, so everybody will be aware of them. I take the issue seriously. If we allow the situation to continue, it wi...

Ms Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (SNP): SNP

On a point of order. Although I recognise your efforts to ensure that the chamber enjoys the status that it should, I suggest that there is a difference betw...

The Presiding Officer: NPA

Obviously, normal statements—whether by Government or Opposition parties—on issues that will be debated in Parliament are perfectly acceptable. What is not a...

Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP): SNP

On a point of order. It is important to reflect on some of the comments that you have made, Presiding Officer. I support fully what you have said about Gover...

The Presiding Officer: NPA

Let us not go back over yesterday afternoon. I think that I have said enough on the subject.

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): Con

On a point of order. My point of order has a slightly different twist, in that I would like some clarification. Opposition spokesmen and, perhaps, Labour bac...

The Presiding Officer: NPA

Absolutely. Similarly, the Executive may, from time to time, indicate general lines of policy—I am not against that. However, I object to detailed pre-announ...

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): SNP

I hope that none of your comments affects matters that have appeared in party manifestos over a number of years, Presiding Officer. Today's subject for debat...

The Presiding Officer: NPA

I must be strict about time this morning because we have two short debates. Two amendments to the motion have been lodged. I call Iain Gray to move the first...

The Deputy Minister for Justice (Iain Gray): Lab

I welcome the opportunity to reply to motion S1M-1303, although as Roseanna Cunningham said, perhaps it is a little early for me to be doing so. However, I c...

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): SNP

Is it useful to pick up the example of Grampian police, whose officers enforce the law while accompanied by drugs workers? They can allow folk who may be inv...

Iain Gray: Lab

I agree. There is a range of ways in which to bring enforcement and treatment together. The main attraction of drugs courts is that they would achieve that.

Phil Gallie: Con

Just before Mr Adam's intervention—

The Presiding Officer: NPA

I am sorry, Mr Gallie—your microphone is not on. I have to ask you to repeat that. We are having technical problems.

Iain Gray: Lab

Is this the definition of cruel and inhumane punishment?

Phil Gallie: Con

Mr Gray's predecessor suggested that drugs courts would apply only to first offenders. Does the minister agree that that would be the way forward?

The Presiding Officer: NPA

I will give the minister some injury time.

Iain Gray: Lab

Although the microphones are not working, I see that the clock is.I will say something about the drugs courts model later. The key to drugs courts is that th...

Mrs Lyndsay McIntosh (Central Scotland) (Con): Con

I support the comments that you made earlier, Presiding Officer, and I welcome Iain Gray to his new post. The debate is a baptism of fire, if ever there was ...

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): LD

It is good to participate again in a debate with the deputy leader of the SNP. I see that she has lost none of her zest since leaving some of us behind on th...

Roseanna Cunningham: SNP

That would not have happened in my day.

Euan Robson: LD

This is an important, if short, debate. I accept that the SNP included a commitment to drugs courts in its 1999 manifesto. The Liberal Democrats did not do s...

The Presiding Officer: NPA

We come now to the open part of the debate. I ask members to keep their speeches to four minutes so that we can fit everyone in.

Kay Ullrich (West of Scotland) (SNP): SNP

I welcome this debate, because I have worked in the criminal justice and drug abuse sectors.Almost 70 per cent of criminal offences in Scotland are committed...