Hansard

The Presiding Officer (Sir David Steel): NPA

The next item of business is the debate on motion S1M-2041, in the name of Mr Jim Wallace, on serious violent and sexual offenders, and an amendment to that ...

The Deputy First Minister and Minister for Justice (Mr Jim Wallace): LD

I am pleased to move the motion today. First, it confirms that we have delivered on all of our programme for government commitment to"review the law by 2001 ...

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

When reading this white paper, we have no choice but to go along with the stated aim of the minister: to make Scotland a safer place to live in. That is the ...

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): LD

Will Phil Gallie give way?

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Patricia Ferguson): Lab

The member is about to wind up.

Phil Gallie: Con

I am sorry. I would have liked to take an intervention from Mike Rumbles.I have a number of other queries. One relates to the time that it may take to make a...

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): SNP

As the lack of an SNP amendment to the motion suggests, I have no hesitation in welcoming the publication of the white paper on serious violent and sexual of...

Gordon Jackson (Glasgow Govan) (Lab): Lab

It will come as no surprise to members to learn that I, too, welcome unreservedly the contents of the white paper. I have also been pleased to hear a degree ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer: Lab

No.

Gordon Jackson: Lab

I am very sorry, but I thought I got a wee look.I always like to add a wee "but" just for the sake of it—old habits die hard. The white paper is a start, but...

The Deputy Presiding Officer: Lab

For Mr Jackson's information, he will know when I am winding him up.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): Lab

The debate has always been emotive and controversial. It concerns the most difficult offenders in our society. The debate is about creating safe communities....

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

Although the number of members in the chamber is somewhat depleted, there have been some extremely good speeches. Pauline McNeill was right to stress the imp...

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

As many members know, in a previous existence, I spent many years working with victims of violent and sexual offending and with perpetrators of those awful c...

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): LD

I would like to focus on one aspect of the excellent white paper. The paper tries to fulfil the recommendations of the MacLean committee and, on the technica...

Dr Richard Simpson (Ochil) (Lab): Lab

I commend the Executive for the process so far of developing a modern approach to the difficult issue of serious violent and sexual offenders.The Minister fo...

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): SNP

Like many members, I very much welcome the recommendations in the MacLean report and I thank the Executive for accepting them. The MacLean report will ensure...

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): Con

Sentencing is always a difficult issue, particularly when the crimes for which a sentence is being imposed are especially serious and sometimes horrific. The...

Roseanna Cunningham: SNP

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I realise that this is a matter of convention, but does the fact that the Executive front benches are entirely empty ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid): SNP

It is not for me to comment. It is a convention for ministers normally to be present during a debate and I am sure that civil servants or Government whips wi...

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): Lab

The Executive should be congratulated on bringing forward the white paper in line with the commitment in the programme for government and on accepting all th...

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): SNP

Like Kay Ullrich, I bring personal experience to the debate, as I am a former psychiatric nurse who worked in a locked ward. I was 17 years old at the time; ...

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): LD

In this debate, we have seen the Scottish Parliament at its best. There is a kind of seminar atmosphere about the proceedings. I mean that in the highest sen...

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): SNP

The SNP welcomes these progressive proposals. We all hope that, once they are fleshed out, they will facilitate a balance between the release of those who ha...

The Deputy Presiding Officer: SNP

We are falling slightly short of time. I may have to suspend business for two or three minutes before 5 o'clock. We shall see.

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

I am mindful of your concern about the timing, Presiding Officer, and I will try to as brief as I can.

The Deputy Presiding Officer: SNP

The problem with the time is the other way round.

Mrs McIntosh: Con

People have other places to go. I will not keep them any longer than I have to.We broadly accept the MacLean report findings and recommendations and we welco...

The Deputy Presiding Officer: SNP

Iain Gray will wind up for the Scottish Executive.You have 14 minutes, minister. If you just want to take your allotted 10 minutes, I will stop for three min...

The Deputy Minister for Justice (Iain Gray): Lab

I am glad to have the opportunity today to discuss another aspect of the Scottish Executive's work that is aimed at protecting our communities. Managing the ...