Chamber
Plenary, 03 Nov 2005
03 Nov 2005 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Management of Offenders etc (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
We move now to stage 3 proceedings on the Management of Offenders etc (Scotland) Bill. I will begin with the normal announcement about the procedures to be followed. We will deal with the amendments to the bill and then move on to the debate on the motion to pass the bill. For the first part, members should have the bill—that is, SP Bill 39A—as amended at stage 2; the marshalled list, which contains all the amendments that have been selected for debate; and the agreed groupings.
In relation to amendments, the division bell will sound and proceedings will be suspended for five minutes for the first division. The period of voting for that first division will be 30 seconds. This is the first time that we have used the division bell in this context. Thereafter, I will allow a voting period of one minute for the first division after a debate on a group. All other divisions will be 30 seconds.
In relation to amendments, the division bell will sound and proceedings will be suspended for five minutes for the first division. The period of voting for that first division will be 30 seconds. This is the first time that we have used the division bell in this context. Thereafter, I will allow a voting period of one minute for the first division after a debate on a group. All other divisions will be 30 seconds.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Murray Tosh):
Con
We move now to stage 3 proceedings on the Management of Offenders etc (Scotland) Bill. I will begin with the normal announcement about the procedures to be f...
After section 1
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Con
The first group is on co-operation for purposes of inspections. Amendment 3, in the name of the minister, is in a group on its own.
The Deputy Minister for Justice (Hugh Henry):
Lab
The bill contains a number of provisions that are designed to achieve closer working among those charged with the delivery of offender management services. I...
Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I support amendment 3. It is very sensible and it clears up any doubts that there may have been—although I do not think that there were any—on the need for c...
Hugh Henry rose—
Lab
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Con
I will call Bill Aitken first and let you wind up at the end, minister.
Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con):
Con
Mr Maxwell raises a point that had occurred to me, too. It is unusual that a fairly commonsense amendment should be lodged at the 11th hour and almost the 59...
Hugh Henry:
Lab
I acknowledge that it is always best to give as much notification as possible and to bring things to committee early. In the development of all pieces of leg...
Amendment 3 agreed to.
Section 2—Community justice authorities
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Con
Group 2 is on community justice authorities—area covered and island authorities. Amendment 25, in the name of Jim Wallace, is grouped with amendments 26, 27,...
Mr Jim Wallace (Orkney) (LD):
LD
The issue of community justice authorities and island authorities has a long history. The Deputy Minister for Justice will know that from the earliest stages...
Hugh Henry:
Lab
We are certainly aware of some of the specific issues identified and questions raised by Jim Wallace, and we are also aware of the concerns expressed by the ...
Mr Wallace:
LD
Before the minister sits down, will he make it clear that his welcome reassurances on staffing will be followed up by funding? Obviously, there is no point i...
Hugh Henry:
Lab
We already provide 100 per cent ring-fenced funding for criminal justice purposes, so there is a certain logic to ensuring that funding flows in relation to ...
Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP):
SNP
Jim Wallace is correct to highlight the unique nature of our island communities. We recognise their special needs and requirements. However, we believe that ...
Hugh Henry:
Lab
I give Kenny MacAskill the assurance that he seeks. We do not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. We will scrutinise the plans closely, and we hope and ...
Mr Wallace:
LD
I am grateful to Hugh Henry for his response to my amendments. It has been useful to get on the record the reassurances that he has given. In particular, he ...
Amendment 25, by agreement, withdrawn.
Amendment 26 not moved.
Section 3—Further provisions as respects community justice authorities
Amendment 27 not moved.
Section 4—Special duties of chief officer of community justice authority
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Trish Godman):
Lab
Group 3 consists of minor amendments. Amendment 4, in the name of the minister, is grouped with amendments 5, 7 and 22.
Hugh Henry:
Lab
The amendments in this group are minor or technical in nature. Amendment 4 makes it clear that in section 4 the term "partner bodies" has the same meaning as...
Amendment 4 agreed to.
Section 5—Power of Scottish Ministers to require action by community justice authority: failure by that authority
Amendment 5 moved—Hugh Henry—and agreed to.
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Lab
Group 4 is failure by community justice authority—time for response to preliminary notice. Amendment 6, in the name of Jackie Baillie, is in a group on its own.