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Showing 60 of 2,354,908 contributions. Latest 30 days: 0. Coverage: 12 May 1999 — 25 Mar 2026.

The Convener SNP Committee

Deputy Convener

The committee’s next task is to choose a deputy convener. The Parliament has agreed that only members of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party are eligible for nomination as deputy convener of the committee. I understand that Russell Findlay is that party’s nominee for ...

The Convener SNP Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2023-24

On the issues that Russell Findlay raised about the Scottish Prison Service, I am happy to write back with further requests for clarification. The point about private sector contract costs and some of the challenges that are linked to inflation and increasing prices is reasona...

Audrey Nicoll SNP Committee

Reducing Drug Deaths in Scotland and Tackling Problem Drug Use

Thanks, convener, although much of what I wanted to cover has been covered by Russell Findlay. We still work within the context of 50-year-old misuse of drugs legislation that might have been fit for purpose back in 1971 but most people agree is less relevant now, particularl...

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Our next agenda item is consideration of two negative Scottish statutory instruments that relate to the new transgender prisoner policy that we have just been discussing. I refer members to papers 1 and 2. I remind all members who are present that only committee members can p...

The Convener SNP Committee

Pre-Budget Report (Scottish Government Response)

Thank you for those follow-up comments. As Jamie Greene said, we are at the draft budget stage, and I have no doubt that we will return to some of the issues that we feel quite strongly about. As we progress through our work programme, we will have an opportunity to monitor ...

The Convener SNP Committee

Reducing Drug Deaths in Scotland and Tackling Problem Drug Use

I will now bring in Russell Findlay, followed by Gillian Martin. Over to you, Russell.

The Convener SNP Committee

Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Thank you for that helpful clarification. I will call Russell Findlay next. A number of members are interested in sticking with the issue of conducting court business by electronic means, so I will bring in Russell and then Rona Mackay.

The Convener SNP Committee

Drug Deaths and Drug Harm

I will bring in Russell Findlay. I apologise, Russell; I should have brought you in earlier. I know that you are interested in asking some questions around safe consumption rooms.

The Convener SNP Committee

Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

That ends stage 2 consideration of the bill. I thank the cabinet secretary and her officials for attending. I have a couple of comments, before everybody dashes off. We will meet again on Wednesday 9 October, when we will consider two Scottish statutory instruments that exten...

The Convener SNP Committee

Domestic Abuse, Gendered Violence and Sexual Offences (Priorities in Session 6)

Before I move on to Mr Findlay—it is third time lucky, Mr Findlay—I will bring in Professor Burman, who I think was quite interested in contributing to the general discussion.

The Convener SNP Committee

Prisons and Prison Policy

We have about 20 minutes left, so I ask members and witnesses to keep your questions and responses as succinct as possible. We will now focus on the parole system, starting with questions from Russell Findlay.

The Convener SNP Committee

Domestic Abuse, Gendered Violence and Sexual Offences (Priorities in Session 6)

I think that Fulton MacGregor is interested in asking some general questions. Then, if nobody else wants to ask general questions, we will move on to considering priorities for action, at which point I will bring in Russell Findlay.

The Convener SNP Committee

The committee will look at the fee structure and arrangements in due course, but thanks for that. Russell Findlay is next.

The Convener SNP Committee

Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2022-23

That would be helpful—thank you. If there are no more questions on the capital budget side of things, we will move on to look at Covid and the 26th UN climate change conference of the parties—COP26—on which Russell Findlay has some questions.

The Convener SNP Committee

Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2022-23

I will bring in Russell Findlay, before coming to Collette Stevenson.

The Convener SNP Committee

Misuse of Drugs and the Criminal Justice System

Thank you, Louise. I think that we understand and appreciate that that issue of relationships is important. I thank everyone for their comments on that subject, which have been insightful and informative. We will move on to look at the supply of drugs and links with serious o...

The Convener SNP Committee

Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2022-23

We move on to the issue of Covid deaths, with questions from Russell Findlay.

The Convener SNP Committee

Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2022-23

Thank you, cabinet secretary. We will move straight to questions. I ask that members keep their questions as succinct as possible, given that we have a fair bit of ground to cover. Russell Findlay has questions about Covid recovery.

The Convener SNP Committee

Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2022-23

Thank you. I will bring in Russell Findlay and then Collette Stevenson.

The Convener SNP Committee

Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2022-23

I will hand over to Collette Stevenson and then Russell Findlay. I would like to bring this session to a close at 11:30. We have a few additional issues to pick up, so we will see how much we get through, given the time. I ask for succinct questions and answers. 11:15

The Convener SNP Committee

Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2022-23

I will bring in Russell Findlay, and then Katy Clark can come in briefly.

The Convener (Audrey Nicoll) SNP Committee

Decision on Taking Business in Private

Good morning and welcome to the 13th meeting of the Criminal Justice Committee in 2021. We have apologies from Russell Findlay. Fulton MacGregor joins us online. Our first item of business is to agree whether to take agenda item 3, which is consideration of this morning’s evi...

The Convener SNP Committee

Prosecution of Violence against Women and Girls

In the interests of time, please keep questions and answers succinct. Katy Clark has some questions about misogyny in policing and then I will bring in Russell Findlay.

The Convener SNP Committee

Prosecution of Violence against Women and Girls

Thank you very much for that, DCC Graham. I also thank Katy Clark for her forbearance. I think that Russell Findlay has a couple of questions on the gender recognition legislation.

The Convener SNP Committee

Prosecution of Violence against Women and Girls

I will bring in Russell Findlay to kick off with questions on reporting and recording.

The Convener (Audrey Nicoll) SNP Committee

Prosecution of Violence against Women and Girls

Good morning, and welcome to the 15th and final meeting in 2021 of the Criminal Justice Committee. No apologies have been received this morning. I ask members and our guests to switch all mobile phones to silent and to wait for the sound engineer to switch on your microphone ...

The Convener SNP Committee

Prosecution of Violence against Women and Girls

Russell Findlay wants to come back in, and then I will hand back to Jamie Greene, followed by Rona Mackay.

The Convener SNP Committee

Prosecution of Violence against Women and Girls

We will move on to look at the area of communication. I call Russell Findlay, to be followed by Pauline McNeill.

The Convener SNP Committee

Prosecution of Violence against Women and Girls

Thank you, Lord Advocate. If Fulton MacGregor has finished his line of questioning, I invite Mr Harvie to come in, and then I will bring in Pauline McNeill and Russell Findlay, who are both interested in asking supplementary questions on this topic.

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

We move to questions. I will kick things off with a general question, after which I will hand over to Russell Findlay. Cabinet secretary, it is interesting to note the early feedback since the introduction of the changes. You mentioned that concerns had been expressed about a...

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Thank you—that is helpful. There is a lot of interest in the issue, and we have a lot of questions on it. I hand over to Russell Findlay.

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

I thank all members for their comments, which are balanced, measured and set out our thoughts on the evidence that we have heard and on some of the aspects of the SSI that we would like to monitor and follow-up. As Russell Findlay alluded to, we need to look at the measures f...

The Convener SNP Committee

Pre-Budget Report (Scottish Government Response)

Item 2 is consideration of the Scottish Government’s response to the committee’s pre-budget scrutiny report. I refer members to paper 2. I thank the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans for his detailed response. I invite members to share any views they have or follow-u...

The Convener SNP Committee

That is helpful. I am grateful for those points. Just to clarify, I note that one of the main reasons for keeping the petition open previously was that a number of judicial processes had not been concluded when the committee was considering the petition. My understanding is th...

The Convener SNP Committee

Reducing Drug Deaths in Scotland and Tackling Problem Drug Use

Thank you, minister. I will shortly hand over to members to open up questioning. If we have time at the end of the session, I may come back to your point about the legality of safe consumption rooms and the Lord Advocate for Scotland’s current position with regard to looking ...

The Convener SNP Committee

Reducing Drug Deaths in Scotland and Tackling Problem Drug Use

We have come to the end of the session, but I have a bit of time in hand if members are happy for us to extend the session to around 16:35. I will bring in Gillian Mackay, followed by Russell Findlay.

The Convener SNP Committee

Reducing Drug Deaths in Scotland and Tackling Problem Drug Use

I will bring in Russell Findlay, who has been waiting patiently, and then, if there is time, I will bring in Foysol Choudhury and Gillian Martin.

The Convener SNP Committee

Reducing Drug Deaths in Scotland and Tackling Problem Drug Use

Thank you. I will now open up the questioning to Paul O’Kane, first of all, to be followed by Russell Findlay.

The Convener SNP Committee

Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

I call Rona Mackay, to be followed by Russell Findlay. I should also say that, although everything that we are discussing is important and relevant, I would appreciate it if we kept our questions to the provisions in the bill.

The Convener SNP Committee

Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Before I bring in Russell Findlay, Pauline McNeill has a follow-up question.

The Convener SNP Committee

Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

I will now bring in Russell Findlay.

The Convener SNP Committee

Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

I have a final quick question before I hand over to Russell Findlay. Back in January—just a couple of months ago—we received an update from, I think, Eric McQueen that the backlog will probably last until about 2025. However, in some of the evidence that has been submitted rec...

The Convener SNP Committee

Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

That is helpful. We have a couple of other themes to cover, but first I will bring in Russell Findlay.

The Convener SNP Committee

Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

We are just about there. Russell Findlay has a final question on this topic, after which we will cover fiscal fines.

The Convener SNP Committee

Subordinate Legislation

That is very helpful. Russell Findlay is next and then we will work our way round the room.

The Convener SNP Committee

Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Do not worry; we are just glad that you have arrived safely. I hand over to Russell Findlay.

The Convener SNP Committee

Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

We have a fair bit of interest in this topic, so I will bring in Jamie Greene, then Russell Findlay and Fulton MacGregor. Please keep your questions and responses succinct, because there are still another couple of areas that we are interested in exploring.

The Convener SNP Committee

Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

That is very interesting. You have covered a lot there. I will hand over to Russell Findlay, then bring in Katy Clark to ask some questions about licensing.

The Convener SNP Committee

Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

We have a few supplementary questions on that subject. Pauline McNeill has a follow-up question, and I know that Russell Findlay and Jamie Greene would like to come in, followed by David MacKenzie. I will come to you all, starting with Pauline.

The Convener SNP Committee

Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Thank you. It is helpful to get that clarification. We will move on to looking at the restrictions around the use and supply of fireworks. I will bring in Fulton MacGregor first, and then Russell Findlay has some further questions.

The Convener SNP Committee

Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Thank you, Fulton. Russell Findlay wants to come in.

The Convener SNP Committee

Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

I would like to keep things moving. We are just about at half past 3 but, if I may, I would like to carry on for another 10 minutes or so. It is important that we consider some more questions, in particular on pyrotechnics. I will bring in Russell Findlay on that. However, be...

The Convener SNP Committee

Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

That is very helpful. I will bring in Russell Findlay to pick up some questions on pyrotechnics. 15:30

The Convener SNP Committee

Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Thanks very much, chief inspector. That is a helpful overview. Would Russell Findlay like to come back in on that update from Nicola Robison?

The Convener SNP Committee

Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

I call Rona Mackay, to be followed by Russell Findlay.

The Convener SNP Committee

Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

I will bring in Russell Findlay for a final question, then I will bring in Norman Donald, in case there is anything that he would like to add.

The Convener SNP Committee

Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Thanks very much, minister. I will hand over to Russell Findlay to ask some other questions.

The Convener SNP Committee

Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

I cannot resist the temptation to comment on this point. Legislative provisions are available to Police Scotland on the carrying of offensive weapons, whereby, if someone has a lawful reason for carrying a particular object or is doing so within the curtilage of a premises for...

The Convener SNP Committee

Priorities in the Justice Sector and an Action Plan

We need to keep that issue open. That is fine. We move on to page 12, which covers “Long-term actions”. Again, I refer back to the recent chamber debate. It might be relevant to include some of the updates from that in the table. On trauma training, I noted the update in Po...

The Convener SNP Committee

Misogyny and Criminal Justice in Scotland Working Group: Final Report

Sadly, we have time only for one final question. I ask Russell Findlay to be brief, if he can.

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Committee

Criminal Justice Committee 22 June 2021

22 Jun 2021 · S6 · Criminal Justice Committee

Item of business

Deputy Convener

Nicoll, Audrey SNP Aberdeen South and North Kincardine Watch on SPTV

The committee’s next task is to choose a deputy convener. The Parliament has agreed that only members of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party are eligible for nomination as deputy convener of the committee. I understand that Russell Findlay is that party’s nominee for the post. Russell Findlay was chosen as deputy convener.

In the same item of business

The Convener SNP

The committee’s next task is to choose a deputy convener. The Parliament has agreed that only members of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party are eli...

The Convener SNP

That was unanimous. Congratulations on your appointment, Russell.

Russell Findlay Con