Hansard

The Presiding Officer (Sir David Steel): NPA

Our first item of business is a Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party debate on motion S1M-1404, in the name of Phil Gallie, on district courts, and two a...

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

Thank you, Presiding Officer.This is the 21st century and Scotland has its own Parliament with clear responsibility for administering and managing its own ju...

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): Lab

I have a quick question for you. You mention thousands of villains, but how do we know that they are villains if they have not been tried in court?

Phil Gallie: Con

Many of them have been tried and convicted, but because the court doors are shut when they come along to face up to their convictions, they are turned away. ...

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): LD

My point about the ECHR has been made many times before. I suppose Mr Gallie is aware that the United Kingdom has been signed up to the ECHR for many years. ...

Phil Gallie: Con

I recognise that my party was committed to the principles of the ECHR, but it was careful not to incorporate the convention into our law. The Conservative Go...

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP) rose— SNP

Phil Gallie: Con

We have enough reports in the Scottish Parliament to paper the entire road system in Scotland. We need action, not discussion. I would have expected any part...

Christine Grahame: SNP

Will the member give way?

Phil Gallie: Con

Perhaps Christine Grahame will give us some ideas.

Christine Grahame: SNP

You know very well, Phil, that a report is in hand, as we were told about the on-going review of district courts at the meeting of the Justice and Home Affai...

Phil Gallie: Con

We do not need reports at the present time. We are in a desperate situation; something has got to be done. You may be prepared to wait till the spring, but I...

Christine Grahame: SNP

Will you—

Phil Gallie: Con

No. I am running out of time and cannot take another intervention.The national Government was quick to respond to the petrol fiasco. It was able to identify ...

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): Lab

Will Mr Gallie give way?

Phil Gallie: Con

I do not think that the Presiding Officer will allow me to give way, as I have already exceeded the time allowed for my speech.

The Presiding Officer: NPA

That is right, Mr Gallie.

Phil Gallie: Con

I apologise for that, Presiding Officer.I sympathise with Iain Gray, who has inherited this situation with his new ministerial post. However, his boss, Jim W...

The Presiding Officer: NPA

Before I call the minister to speak, I want to remind members of something. I did not want to interrupt you, Mr Gallie, but there were rather too many yous r...

The Deputy Minister for Justice (Iain Gray): Lab

I welcome the chance to clear up some of the misleading comments about the situation in Glasgow district court that have been flying around in the press and,...

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

Does the minister recognise that negotiations have been concluded in Aberdeen on behalf of all staff and that the local authority has reached a separate sett...

Iain Gray: Lab

I recognise that that has happened, but I would not care to comment on it for the reason that I have just given. I note that negotiations continued yesterday...

Phil Gallie: Con

If someone is taken in by the police on a Friday or Saturday night after creating a breach that involves violence and is due to appear in court on the follow...

Iain Gray: Lab

If the case is a common law case, it is not time barred and will not fall automatically because the court is closed on the day that has been arranged. I woul...

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): SNP

I am sure that all members present recognise that district courts perform an important function in our justice system. The present situation at Glasgow distr...

Iain Gray: Lab

Does Mr Matheson accept that he has just illustrated perfectly the point that I made: that this is a shared responsibility?

Michael Matheson: SNP

I accept that it is a shared responsibility. Every one of the bodies to which I referred has a role in the running of the district courts. However, ultimate ...

Phil Gallie: Con

Will the member give way?

Michael Matheson: SNP

My time is limited, but I will take a quick intervention from Phil Gallie.

Phil Gallie: Con

Does the member agree that it is right that the police should not take industrial action? Does he recognise that court staff are also important to the justic...