Hansard

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

19 Mar 2025

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Amendment 89 seeks to ensure that witnesses are given information on the special measures that are available to them in all cases. It also means that, where victims of certain sexual offences request to give their evidence in a particular way, that must be how they give their ...

Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con) Con Committee

31 Jan 2024

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

I want to follow up on the points that Pauline McNeill raised initially about the varying experiences of witnesses, as well as Russell Findlay’s point about the requirement for legislation. We have heard from witnesses about the different experiences that they have had. The Cr...

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

26 Mar 2025

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

I share the concerns that Pauline McNeill has just outlined, and I support her amendments. Russell Findlay’s amendments 26 to 52, 56 and 58 would remove the establishment of the sexual offences court from the bill. Everyone on this committee agrees that victims of sexual offe...

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

04 Oct 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

My first question is to Dr Louise Hill. Your submission says: “Children 1st support the proposal to establish a Victims and Witnesses Commissioner ... However ... a Commissioner should not be brought in—at considerable expense—to act as a substitute for real action in improvi...

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

15 Nov 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Thank you. You have actually answered one of my other questions—I was going to ask whether you are concerned that there is not a sufficient number of solicitors who are willing to be included on the register. You seem to be doing work to recruit solicitors, so that answers tha...

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

11 Jun 2025

Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Amendment 59 would ensure that, when deciding whether there should be a national jurisdiction calling from custody, there must be consideration of the “individual circumstances of the case” by the Lord Advocate or procurator fiscal. That could include circumstances such the...

Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

17 Sep 2025

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill

I acknowledge that the bill contains some improvements, and I welcome the fact that the Government backed my amendments to toughen up non-harassment orders and allow for a review to notify victims when fiscal fines are issued. However, taken as a whole, the bill fails to deliv...

Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

07 Oct 2025

Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill

Scotland’s justice system is in a state of crisis, and the Scottish Conservatives welcome anything that improves things for those who work in it and, of course, for victims and witnesses. As such, the bill has our support, and the priority now should be to ensure that the chan...

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

27 Sep 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

No problem, convener. Following on from Katy Clark’s question and the issue of the set-up and recurring costs, will the commissioner provide value for money and how will they improve the situation for victims and witnesses?

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

27 Sep 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

It is not an insignificant amount of money. Finally, on implementation, you have said that the bill is being brought in to make the system more efficient. Part 3 of the bill refers to the Children (Scotland) Act 2020; although sections 4 to 8 of that act aim to address some o...

Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con) Con Committee

04 Oct 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

You have both spoken about accountability. We already have a cabinet secretary and a minister who are accountable to Parliament, and I see all our panellists’ organisations as being the voices of victims and witnesses. I am trying to work out what the benefit would be of bring...

Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con) Con Committee

25 Oct 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

My question is about the commissioner. What do you think the commissioner will do that will be better than what is done by the charities that we have that already speak out on behalf of victims, complainers and witnesses? We heard from some of them last week. Setting up the co...

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

25 Oct 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Section 48 of the Children (Scotland) Act 2020 aims to address some of the weaknesses of the Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004 by making changes to it. However, the provisions in that section are not yet in force. Can you comment on the provisions that have not been bro...

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

24 Jan 2024

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

I have a question on the pilot itself, which I will put first to Professor Chalmers. We have heard from various witnesses that such a pilot would need extensive debate and discussion. Are you at all concerned that the details of the pilot are not included in the bill and will ...

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

31 Jan 2024

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Earlier, the Lord Advocate said that one of the single biggest improvements that could be made was to have witnesses better prepared and keep them properly informed. Does the bill go far enough? Should complainers have independent legal representation throughout the process?

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

07 Feb 2024

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

My concerns over the budget are whether we are providing the right resources to achieve our aim, whether it is a real-terms increase and whether it will cover all the training that will be required under the bill. We heard from somebody that, if we had better-prepared witness...

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

19 Mar 2025

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

We have heard from many witnesses about the trauma. The cabinet secretary and the Lord Advocate know about the trauma that it causes—everybody knows. The bill is there to address the trauma that victims face when they go through the court system and my amendment is the only on...

Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

01 Apr 2025

Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

I, too, thank the clerks for the work that they put into producing the committee’s report, and I thank everyone who gave evidence. The importance of the measures that are set out in the bill cannot be ignored. As with all legislation, it is important that MSPs of all parties...

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

10 Sep 2025

Substance Misuse in Prisons

We have received written evidence on issues with the management of an offender at risk due to any substance—MORS—policy. We heard from the previous witnesses about that, too. We believe that the policy is being reviewed. Will you tell us a bit more about the work that is being...

Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

16 Sep 2025

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

My amendment 96 would give the victims commissioner the power to request information from local authorities and social housing providers for the purpose of determining the support that they are providing to victims and witnesses. The amendment was suggested to me by Victim Sup...

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

19 Mar 2025

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

I note the cabinet secretary’s comment that the proposal does not require primary legislation, and that the consultation will commence in August, so I will not move the amendment. Amendments 258 and 259 not moved. Amendment 260 moved—Jamie Greene—and agreed to. Amendments ...

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

19 Mar 2025

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Amendment 91 would require the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service to prepare and publish an annual report to the Parliament on the use of floating trial diets and their impact on victims. The amendment tries to find a commonsense compromise between two arguments, balancing ...

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

25 Nov 2021

“Community empowerment: Covid-19 update”

The witnesses have already touched on some of these subjects. We worked differently during the pandemic—we definitely worked at pace and had to change our ways of working. David Allan said that people were fleet of foot and agile. There have been a couple of comments about pub...

The Deputy Convener (Sharon Dowey) Con Committee

02 Dec 2021

Decision on Taking Business in Private

Good morning, and welcome to the 10th meeting in 2021 of the Public Audit Committee. I will convene the meeting for the first evidence session and the convener will join us for the second. Before we begin, I remind members, witnesses and staff present that social distancing m...

The Deputy Convener Con Committee

02 Dec 2021

Section 22 Report: “The 2020/21 audit of the Crofting Commission”

Agenda item 2 is “The 2020/21 audit of the Crofting Commission”. I welcome our witnesses from the Crofting Commission: Bill Barron, chief executive; and Malcolm Mathieson, convener. I invite Malcolm Mathieson to make a short opening statement.

The Deputy Convener Con Committee

02 Dec 2021

Section 22 Report: “The 2020/21 audit of the Crofting Commission”

I will suspend the meeting to allow for a changeover of witnesses. 10:04 Meeting suspended. 10:08 On resuming—

Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con) Con Chamber

27 Jan 2022

Holocaust Memorial Day

It is a privilege to speak in today’s Holocaust memorial day debate and to join members in remembering all those who lost their lives in the Holocaust and in genocide since. Although we remember the victims of Nazi persecution—mainly the Jews—it is worth noting that Roma and S...

The Deputy Chair Con Committee

28 Jun 2023

Audit Scotland Annual Report and Accounts for the year to 31 March 2023 and Auditor’s Report on the Accounts

Under agenda item 2, we will take evidence on Audit Scotland’s annual report and accounts for the year to 31 March 2023 and the auditor’s report on the accounts. I welcome to the meeting our witnesses from Audit Scotland: Professor Alan Alexander is chair of the board; Stephe...

The Deputy Chair Con Committee

28 Jun 2023

Audit Scotland Annual Report and Accounts for the year to 31 March 2023 and Auditor’s Report on the Accounts

In that case, I will finish by thanking Professor Alexander, the Auditor General, Vicki Bibby, Martin Walker and Stuart Dennis for their evidence today. We will now have a short suspension while we change witnesses. 11:17 Meeting suspended. 11:20 On resuming—

Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con) Con Committee

27 Sep 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Ms McCloy has already answered much of my question on the reasoning behind changing the jury size. We are going from 15 to 12 jurors and when we had 15 jurors, if three stood down or were sick, we could still run the trial with 12. Now, we are going to have 12 jurors, but if t...

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

27 Sep 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

I will follow on from that line on questioning. We have a High Court and a sheriff court, so why do we need a new sexual offences court? The convener put it quite well when she asked whether we could improve and refine what already exists. How much will it cost to set up the n...

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

27 Sep 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

I still think that the money could be better used to upskill the existing staff. However, if the bill were to be passed, what would the timescale be to get the new court up and running, and do you actually have the resource to do that? 11:00

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

27 Sep 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

You said earlier that we all share the aim of the guilty being convicted and those who are not guilty being set free, which I am sure that we all agree on. However, we are saying that we want victims’ voices to be heard, and one of the things that victims have said is that, in...

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

27 Sep 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

As you have said, there is a range of commissioners who hold the system to account. However, have you assessed whether the other commissioners are effective in their roles? Might this be a case of, “They’ve got a commissioner, so we want one”? Are the commissioners effective? ...

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

27 Sep 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

A lot of groups out there, such as Victim Support Scotland, already deal with victims. Are we not listening to their voices? Are they not able to raise the issues with the system with us? Should we not be able to hear them, too? I am just thinking about the costs. Would it not...

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

27 Sep 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Thank you.

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

04 Oct 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Yes.

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

04 Oct 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Would it take a commissioner to carry out such a review? Should we continue with the bill, or should there be a halt in order to look at all the previous legislation that has not been implemented?

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

25 Oct 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

I would be concerned that, in going to one person, some of the voices might be diluted. How accountable do you think that the commissioner will be? At the moment, we already have a cabinet secretary and a minister who are accountable to Parliament. How accountable will the com...

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

25 Oct 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Stuart Munro, do you want to comment on that?

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

25 Oct 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

The power given by section 12 is restricted when the person is a member of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service but there is no similar exemption for defence agents. I know that concerns about that were expressed in the submission. Could you expand on what the concer...

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

25 Oct 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Are the measures in place? Are those provisions in force?

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

25 Oct 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Is anybody able to comment on why they are not in force?

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

25 Oct 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Why would you be confident that anything put in legislation through this bill will be put into force?

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

25 Oct 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

You are not able to comment. Okay, I will leave it there.

Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con) Con Committee

01 Nov 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Dr Bruce, in your submission, you suggest that the definition of trauma-informed practice in the bill should be more fully aligned with the agreed consensus definition that is contained in the framework. Do you think that there are risks if we do not get the definition of “tra...

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

01 Nov 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

My concern is that some organisations might just stick to the definition within the bill, which is a problem if it is not a good enough definition. You have also made comments about adapting processes and practices in an on-going way but, if organisations just stick exactly to...

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

01 Nov 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

What changes have followed in trauma-informed practice since NES published its guidance on it? What changes have you seen?

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

01 Nov 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

This one.

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

01 Nov 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

You said you are not tasked with monitoring that. Is anyone?

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

01 Nov 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

I have one last question. You mentioned earlier that you interviewed 12 people, and you obviously have a lot of different examples. Do you think that the bill addresses the issues that were raised by the people you interviewed? There are a lot of practices and procedures. We h...

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

01 Nov 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

A lot of my points have already been covered. I am looking more at the financial side of things. If you do not get the finances to implement the bill, is there a risk that you will not be able to implement it properly? I put that to Laura Buchan first.

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

01 Nov 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

So, it is about timescales and managing to implement it. If you were given the correct resources, would you be able to do some of the work now rather than having to wait for legislation?

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

01 Nov 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

I will give a specific example, which is just for the Crown Office. The Crown Office’s victim information and advice service still does not always, in some instances, inform victims of the outcomes of their case, which leaves them feeling as though the justice system has let t...

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

01 Nov 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

What are the barriers to implementing something like that now?

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

01 Nov 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

I have one final question. Listening to the opening remarks, I noted that everybody is supportive of change. The comments were totally supportive and the organisations are absolutely committed. John Watt mentioned a complete review of the system, which I am totally in favour o...

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

01 Nov 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

I agree with your comments: get it right at the beginning so that you get the right result at the end.

Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con) Con Committee

15 Nov 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Earlier, you said that the role will provide a statutory mechanism for the voices and experiences of victims to be heard. You also said that it would give them an independent voice and champion and that it would monitor compliance. However, there are already many groups and or...

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

15 Nov 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

You said in your opening statement that all organisations are supportive of bringing in trauma-informed practices. Those organisations have highlighted all the issues that we have highlighted, so would the money not be better spent on fixing the things that we already know are...

Sharon Dowey Con Committee

15 Nov 2023

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

I was looking at the definition of trauma-informed practice. We have heard in evidence that many of the criminal justice agencies have started to bring in trauma-informed practice without legislation being in place. When we heard from NHS Education for Scotland, it suggested t...