Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid): SNP

The next item of business is a debate on motion S1M-2868, in the name of Christine Grahame, on behalf of the Justice 1 Committee, on the committee's eighth r...

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

Somehow, I do not think that the debate will be oversubscribed, Presiding Officer.Before I address the detail of the Justice 1 Committee's report, I should s...

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

I recognise that—

Christine Grahame: SNP

Is Mr Gallie going to tell us the end of the story?

Phil Gallie: Con

Sorry, I did not hear that.Christine Grahame is discussing legal aid and the problem of identifying the expertise of solicitors. Would not anyone who is not ...

Christine Grahame: SNP

The problem is the same, but I said that the woman in my example had to find a firm that had two specialities—reparation and legal aid. The category has to b...

The Deputy Presiding Officer: SNP

Let us try Mr Wallace.

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

I thank the committee and all who contributed to its work for the efforts that were made in producing an important report. Indeed, I thank Christine Grahame ...

Christine Grahame: SNP

Let me make it clear that the committee's letter sets out the four most important issues that should be considered straight away. We will then address the ot...

Mr Wallace: LD

I am grateful for that. I hope that, in this speech, I hit on the correct four.I have limited time today, but I want to highlight some of the central recomme...

Christine Grahame: SNP

The minister's position is reasonable if the limit for small claims stays at £750. However, would he take a different view if the limit went up to £1,500, wh...

Mr Wallace: LD

The whole point of the small claims system is that it is intended to be relatively straightforward. Once we enter the realms of legal aid, the process become...

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): SNP

The report is fairly comprehensive and the minister detailed a long list of things that he is taking on as a result of it. It is almost impossible to cover e...

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

I thank the Deputy First Minister for his constructive response this afternoon, but I ask him and his colleague whether they can confirm that all those propo...

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): Lab

When we first began considering access to justice in the old Justice and Home Affairs Committee, we looked at gaps in the law and omissions that discriminate...

The Deputy Presiding Officer: SNP

We move to open debate. The debate is currently running about 10 minutes light, so speakers can have up to six or even seven minutes if they so wish. I ask P...

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): Lab

You gave me a fright there, Presiding Officer, but I am sure that I will think of something to say.I believe that we have an important piece of work in front...

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

I thank the Justice 1 Committee for its important work on changes to civil legal aid. It goes without saying that the work is particularly important for wome...

Christine Grahame: SNP

Eligibility.

Mr Paterson: SNP

Thanks very much, teacher.

Christine Grahame: SNP

It is late in the day.

Mr Paterson: SNP

I welcome the recommendation to change eligibility criteria by removing inconsistencies in benefit treatment. I am particularly pleased that the minister is ...

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

I congratulate the committee on the fact that the minister seems to have acted on some of its recommendations already. All members of the committee must feel...

Gordon Jackson (Glasgow Govan) (Lab): Lab

Will the member give way?

Phil Gallie: Con

Yes, but I am on a tight time scale.

Gordon Jackson: Lab

Mr Gallie has always believed in giving legal aid to small businesses, but has he worked out how much that would cost? Have we an indication of what it would...

Phil Gallie: Con

I accept that, but my point concerns very small businesses. I commend the Justice 1 Committee for asking the Executive to perform a cost analysis along the l...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Mr Murray Tosh): Con

I thank Mr Gallie for his single-handed effort to get us back to the timetable. We are still about five minutes light, so I will be reasonably flexible as we...

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): LD

The work for this report was done before I became a member of the Justice 1 Committee, so I can praise the report dispassionately. It raises a lot of importa...

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): Con

As I have never served on the Justice 1 Committee or been involved in the issue before, I can, with some detachment, congratulate the committee on a job well...