Chamber
Plenary, 31 Jan 2007
31 Jan 2007 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Bill
The Scottish Council of Jewish Communities is, naturally, one of the groups that has studied this issue carefully because of the problems arising from the Nazis taking Jewish-owned art during the war. As has been said, the council is not in favour of our rejecting the motion, but it would like the ministers to pass on certain of its views to the ministers in London. First, the council says that the bill does not compel good practice. There is no mention in the bill of establishing the provenance of items that are brought into the country for an exhibition. The debate in the Justice 2 Committee alluded to some guidance, but the guidance, although it is good, is a voluntary code rather than a compulsory one. More could be done in the bill to make good conduct compulsory.
I understand that, in Switzerland, items that someone proposes to import into the country have to go on a list for three months and people have 30 days in which to register an objection if the description of the art indicates that they have some claim to it. After that, the object is safe from attachment by other people. That is a good system because we certainly do not want to prevent our museums from having good exhibitions but there should be a thorough system of vetting the items before they come in so that we know that our hands are clean.
I hope that the minister will accept that we could pass on some of those views to ministers in London.
I understand that, in Switzerland, items that someone proposes to import into the country have to go on a list for three months and people have 30 days in which to register an objection if the description of the art indicates that they have some claim to it. After that, the object is safe from attachment by other people. That is a good system because we certainly do not want to prevent our museums from having good exhibitions but there should be a thorough system of vetting the items before they come in so that we know that our hands are clean.
I hope that the minister will accept that we could pass on some of those views to ministers in London.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S2M-5427, in the name of Cathy Jamieson, on the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Bill, which is United Kingd...
The Deputy Minister for Justice (Johann Lamont):
Lab
Presiding Officer, I am conscious of the limited time available, so, with your permission, I will speak only briefly in my opening contribution. I hope to be...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
A number of members want to speak. I will not get them all in unless remarks are kept closer to two, rather than three, minutes.
Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP):
SNP
In a world of shifting boundaries—one thinks of the Balkans, Africa and the middle east—and with the overhang of history from the Holocaust, there are many c...
Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con):
Con
I welcome the minister's comments and the clarity that she attempted to give. We in the Conservative party welcome much of the content of the bill. A number ...
Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD):
LD
The Scottish Council of Jewish Communities is, naturally, one of the groups that has studied this issue carefully because of the problems arising from the Na...
Chris Ballance (South of Scotland) (Green):
Green
I will be brief, but I think that it is important that the breadth of voices of those in the chamber who have worries about part 6 of the bill in particular ...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
Order. A little more courtesy, please. There are too many private conversations going on.
Mr Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab):
Lab
I echo the comments of colleagues from all parties. Although we support most of the reforms in the legislative consent motion, a particular issue that arises...
Johann Lamont:
Lab
This is a significant debate. I have to say that I disagree strongly with the contention from our friend from the Green party that some folk in the chamber w...