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Showing 60 of 2,354,908 contributions. Latest 30 days: 0. Coverage: 12 May 1999 — 25 Mar 2026.
Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): Con Chamber
15 Jun 2006
Senior Judiciary (Vacancies and Incapacity) (Scotland) Bill: <br />Stage 1
The offices of the Lord President and the Lord Justice Clerk are the two most senior in Scotland. The Lord President is the head of the Court of Session—Scotland's superior civil court—and the Lord Justice Clerk is the next most senior judge. Those two judges plus 32 senior co...
The Convener Con Committee
02 May 2017
Petitions
Agenda item 2 is consideration of five public petitions. I refer members to paper 1, which is a note by the clerk. I remind members that, if they wish to keep a petition open, they should indicate how they would like the committee to take it forward, or, if they wish to close ...
Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): Con Committee
01 Dec 2004
Dangerous Driving and the Law
Given that the petitions span reserved and devolved matters, I am very much in favour of option (a) in the note from the clerk, which suggests that the committee examine the consultation paper from the Home Office when it is published just to ensure that the correspondence in ...
The Convener: Con Committee
09 Sep 2008
Age
Under agenda item 2, we will take evidence on age in a round-table discussion. We will focus on the providers of leisure services and discuss age-related issues, including whether improved leisure services can help to divert young people from antisocial behaviour.I am Margaret...
The Convener Con Committee
05 Sep 2017
Petitions
Agenda item 3 is consideration of public petitions. The committee is asked to consider and agree what action, if any, it wishes to take on the petitions. Possible options are outlined in paragraph 5 of paper 1, which is a note by the clerk. I refer members to that paper. I rem...
The Convener Con Committee
19 Dec 2017
Petitions
Agenda item 3 is consideration of four petitions. I refer members to paper 3, which is a note by the clerk. The committee is asked to consider and agree what action, if any, it wishes to take on the petitions. Possible options are outlined in paragraph 5 of paper 3. I remind m...
The Convener Con Committee
27 Mar 2018
Petitions
The next item on our agenda is consideration of three public petitions. I welcome Christine Grahame, who is here to speak to petition PE1370. We will have comments from committee members, then I will bring in Christine Grahame, and we can take it from there. I refer members t...
The Convener Con Committee
18 Dec 2018
Vulnerable Witnesses (Criminal Evidence) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Agenda item 2 is our fourth evidence-taking session on the Vulnerable Witnesses (Criminal Evidence) (Scotland) Bill. I refer members to paper 1, which is a note by the clerk, and paper 2, which is a private paper. I welcome to the meeting the Rt Hon Lady Dorrian, who is the L...
The Convener Con Committee
03 Dec 2019
Subordinate Legislation
Agenda item 5 is consideration of five instruments that are subject to the negative procedure. I refer members to paper 6, which is a note by the clerk. The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee has considered and reported on the instruments and has made a number of commen...
The Convener Con Committee
21 Jan 2020
Subordinate Legislation
Agenda item 4 is evidence on a negative instrument. I refer members to paper 2, which is a note by the clerk. The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee considered the regulations at its meeting on 7 January and agreed to write to the Scottish Government to ask for more de...
The Convener Con Committee
14 Mar 2017
Subordinate Legislation
Agenda item 2 is subordinate legislation. The committee will consider the draft Scottish Tribunals (Listed Tribunals) Regulations 2017, which is an affirmative instrument. I welcome to the committee the Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, Annabelle Ewing, and her...
The Convener Con Committee
14 Mar 2017
Subordinate Legislation
Item 4 is also subordinate legislation. The committee is asked to consider four affirmative instruments relating to the transfer of the Scottish tax tribunals to the Scottish tribunals structure. Because the instruments are linked, we will take evidence on all of them together...
The Convener Con Committee
09 May 2017
Subordinate Legislation
I note what you say. I welcome Annabelle Ewing, Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, along with her Scottish Government officials: Elinor Owe, civil law policy manager, and Catriona Marshall from the directorate for legal services. I remind members that officials...
The Convener Con Committee
20 Mar 2018
Subordinate Legislation
Agenda item 3 is further consideration of a negative Scottish statutory instrument. I refer members to paper 3, which is a note by the clerk. Members will recall that, when we considered the regulations at our meeting on 6 March, we agreed to write to the Scottish Government ...
The Convener Con Committee
18 Sep 2018
Subordinate Legislation
Agenda item 4 is consideration of the Sheriff Court Fees Amendment Order 2018, which is subject to negative procedure. I refer members to paper 3, which is a note by the clerk. The paper includes the Scottish Government’s response to a concern that was raised by the committee ...
The Convener Con Committee
19 Mar 2019
Subordinate Legislation
That is duly noted. I refer members to paper 2, which is a note by the clerk. Members may wish to note that, in relation to SSI 2019/78, which is on legal aid, we have received written submissions from the Law Society of Scotland and the Edinburgh Bar Association, which are r...
The Convener Con Committee
04 Dec 2018
European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018
The next agenda item is consideration of a proposal by the Scottish Government to consent to the UK Government legislating using the powers under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 in relation to three UK statutory instruments. I refer members to paper 3, which is a note...
The Convener (Margaret Mitchell): Con Committee
10 Feb 2009
Decision on Taking Business in Private
Good morning and welcome to the second meeting in 2009 of the Equal Opportunities Committee. I remind all those present that mobile phones and BlackBerrys should be switched off, as they interfere with the sound system even when they are switched to silent. We have received ap...
The Convener Con Committee
27 Sep 2016
Petitions
The next petition is PE1370, which is on an independent inquiry into the Megrahi conviction. It is discussed on pages 3 to 5 of the clerk’s paper. The clerks have ascertained from Police Scotland that the timetable in relation to operation Sandwood has slipped since the lette...
The Convener Con Committee
17 Jan 2017
Public Petitions
I propose to defer to next week discussion of the three sets of petitions that are on the agenda, apart from the petition on an independent inquiry into the Megrahi conviction, in deference to the fact that we have people in the public gallery who have sat through all of the m...
Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): Con Chamber
23 Jun 2005
Legal Aid Reform
Although I am aware that the consultation is divided into two parts, I intend to concentrate on civil matters.I note that the consultation refers to publicly funded legal assistance as "advice on matters which raise a legal issue or which, if not resolved earlier, could result...
The Convener: Con Committee
19 Jun 2007
Deputy Convener
The third agenda item is selection of a deputy convener. As members will see from the clerk's note, the procedure is very similar to that for selecting the convener.The Parliament has agreed that members of the Labour Party are eligible for selection as deputy convener of the ...
Margaret Mitchell: Con Committee
21 Apr 2004
Subordinate Legislation
Paragraph 8 of the note from the clerk says that the regulations were laid"In order to avoid the creation of a loophole in the sex offenders register regime in Scotland and a consequent difference in the regime north and south of the border".There was an opportunity to do that...
Margaret Mitchell: Con Committee
23 Jun 2004
Legal Fees (Transparency)
I have examined all the options in the note by the clerk, paper J1/S2/04/25/2, and I favour option (b) as an initial way of progressing the matter. That would involve accepting the offer of having a meeting with members of the Law Society's remuneration committee to discuss th...
Margaret Mitchell: Con Committee
01 Dec 2004
Justice and Home Affairs <br />in Europe
Option e) in the clerk's note would be useful.
Margaret Mitchell: Con Committee
27 Apr 2005
Closed Petitions
I agree with the recommendation in the clerk's note. We went as far as we could go in our consideration of PE14. Our additional consideration of the matter led to a possible course of action being suggested and it is for the Carbeth hutters to decide whether to pursue that cou...
Margaret Mitchell Con Committee
18 Apr 2013
Local Policing
We could combine looking at that rationale with that visit because, as Kevin Stewart said, it is vital that we get out there and talk to people.Can I put in a bid to look at information technology? I see in the note by the clerk that the SPA can provide an initial update on IT...
The Convener Con Committee
04 Oct 2016
Subordinate Legislation
We come to agenda item 2. It is my pleasure again, for the second week in a row, to welcome Annabelle Ewing, Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, and her officials to the committee to speak to a draft Scottish statutory instrument, which is to be dealt with under t...
The Convener Con Committee
25 Oct 2016
Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
For agenda item 2, it is my pleasure to welcome our first panel: Sandy Brindley, national co-ordinator of Rape Crisis Scotland; Tom Halpin, chief executive of Sacro—Safeguarding Communities-Reducing Offending; Marsha Scott, chief executive of Scottish Women’s Aid; and, last bu...
The Convener Con Committee
15 Nov 2016
Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
It is my pleasure to welcome the first of today’s panels of witnesses in the committee’s third week of evidence taking on our Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service inquiry. I welcome chief superintendent Gordon Crossan, president of the Association of Scottish Police Supe...
The Convener Con Committee
22 Nov 2016
Subordinate Legislation
The next item on the agenda is consideration of a draft affirmative Scottish statutory instrument: the Air Weapons Licensing (Exemptions) (Scotland) Regulations 2016. I welcome again the Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, Annabelle Ewing, who is accompanied by Sc...
The Convener (Margaret Mitchell) Con Committee
13 Dec 2016
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2017-18
Good morning, and welcome to the 12th meeting in session 5 of the Justice Committee. Agenda item 1 is scrutiny of the draft budget for 2017-18. It is my pleasure to welcome from Audit Scotland Caroline Gardner, who is Auditor General for Scotland, Angela Cullen, who is an assi...
The Convener Con Committee
13 Dec 2016
Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
Agenda item 2 is an evidence session for our Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service inquiry. This is our sixth week of evidence taking for the inquiry. I welcome today’s witnesses. Gordon Dalyell is Scotland’s representative on the national executive committee of the Assoc...
The Convener Con Committee
20 Dec 2016
Draft Budget Scrutiny 2017-18
Agenda item 2 is draft budget scrutiny 2017-18. I welcome to the committee the Rt Hon James Wolffe QC, the Lord Advocate, and David Harvie, the Crown Agent and chief executive of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. This is the first time that either of you has appe...
The Convener Con Committee
20 Dec 2016
Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
Item 3 is our inquiry into the role and purpose of the COPFS. This is our seventh week of evidence taking. I welcome Michelle Macleod, who is Her Majesty’s chief inspector of prosecution in Scotland, and Dawn Lewington, who is assistant inspector. I refer members to paper 3, w...
The Convener Con Committee
07 Feb 2017
Subordinate Legislation
The second agenda item is consideration of an affirmative instrument—the draft Stop and Search Code of Practice (Appointed Day) (Scotland) Regulations 2017. I welcome from the Scottish Government Michael Matheson, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice; Stephen Jones, the head of p...
The Convener Con Committee
28 Feb 2017
Subordinate Legislation
Agenda item 2 is consideration of an instrument that is subject to affirmative procedure—the draft Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008 (Scottish Land Court) Order 2017. I welcome Annabelle Ewing, the Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, who will speak to the i...
The Convener Con Committee
28 Feb 2017
Limitation (Childhood Abuse) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Agenda item 4 is our second evidence-taking session on the Limitation (Childhood Abuse) (Scotland) Bill. I refer members to paper 2, which is a note by the clerk, and paper 3, which is a Scottish Parliament information centre paper. Our first panel of witnesses comprises Laur...
The Convener Con Committee
07 Mar 2017
Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Item 4 is our first session of evidence taking on the Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill. I refer members to paper 2, which is a note by the clerk, and paper 3, which is a Scottish Parliament information centre briefing. I welcome today’s witnesses, who are Charlotte Vitty, int...
The Convener (Margaret Mitchell) Con Committee
21 Feb 2017
Limitation (Childhood Abuse) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Good morning and welcome to the Justice Committee’s sixth meeting in 2017. Agenda item 1 is an evidence-taking session on the Limitation (Childhood Abuse) (Scotland) Bill. I refer members to paper 1, which is a note by the clerk, and paper 2, which is a paper by the Scottish P...
The Convener Con Committee
14 Mar 2017
Limitation (Childhood Abuse) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Agenda item 6 is our final evidence session on the Limitation (Childhood Abuse) (Scotland) Bill. I refer members to paper 5, which is a note by the clerk, and paper 6, which is a Scottish Parliament information centre briefing. I welcome back the minister. She is accompanied b...
The Convener Con Committee
14 Mar 2017
Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Agenda item 7 is our second evidence session on the Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill. I refer members to paper 7, which is a note by the clerk, and paper 8, which is a SPICe paper. I welcome the panel, which comprises Nigel Goodband, national chairman of the British Transport...
The Convener Con Committee
21 Mar 2017
Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Item 2 is our third evidence session on the Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill. I refer members to paper 1, which is a note by the clerk; paper 2, which is a Scottish Parliament information centre paper; and the written submissions that some of the witnesses have provided. I tha...
The Convener Con Committee
21 Mar 2017
Justice Sub-Committee on Policing (Report Back)
Agenda item 3 is feedback from the Justice Sub-Committee on Policing on its meeting of 16 March. Following the verbal report, there will be an opportunity for brief comments or questions. I refer members to paper 3, which is a note by the clerk. As Mary Fee is absent, I will p...
The Convener Con Committee
28 Mar 2017
Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Agenda item 2 is consideration of the Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill. This is our closing evidence session on the bill. I refer members to paper 1, which is a note by the clerk, and paper 2, which is a paper from the Scottish Parliament information centre. I welcome Michael...
The Convener Con Committee
28 Mar 2017
Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
The clerk has just passed me a note setting out what the BTPF has said—that no officer should go near the railway if they do not have a PTS certificate. That is the point.
The Convener (Margaret Mitchell) Con Committee
18 Apr 2017
Subordinate Legislation
Good morning and welcome to the Justice Committee’s 14th meeting in 2017. We have apologies from Oliver Mundell. I welcome to the committee Alexander Stewart, who is substituting for Oliver today. Agenda item 1 is consideration of an affirmative instrument: the draft Internat...
The Convener Con Committee
18 Apr 2017
Subordinate Legislation
Agenda item 3 is consideration of three instruments that are subject to negative procedure. I refer members to paper 2, which is a note by the clerk. The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee has considered and reported on all three instruments and has made no comment on ...
The Convener Con Committee
18 Apr 2017
Justice Sub-Committee on Policing (Report Back)
Agenda item 4 is the consideration of feedback from the Justice Sub-Committee on Policing on its meeting on 30 March. I refer members to paper 3, which is a note by the clerk. I invite Mary Fee to provide feedback from the sub-committee.
The Convener (Margaret Mitchell) Con Committee
25 Apr 2017
Criminal Finances Bill
Good morning and welcome to the Justice Committee’s 15th meeting of 2017. Liam McArthur has been delayed at Kirkwall airport but hopes to join us later this morning. Agenda item 1 is consideration of a legislative consent memorandum to the Criminal Finances Bill. It is a supp...
The Convener Con Committee
25 Apr 2017
Justice Sub-Committee on Policing (Report Back)
Item 3 is feedback from the Justice Sub-Committee on Policing on its meeting on 20 April. I refer members to paper 3, which is a note by the clerk. I invite Mary Fee to provide feedback.
The Convener Con Committee
02 May 2017
Petitions
Does anyone else want to comment? I think that we all agree with that. I note that it says in paragraph 10 of the clerk’s paper: “The submission notes the recent publicity suggesting that the family of” Mr Megrahi “will launch a bid to appeal against his conviction in the c...
The Convener Con Committee
09 May 2017
Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Agenda item 4 is our opening evidence session on the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill, with the Scottish Government’s bill team. I welcome Phil Lamont, bill team leader; Kevin Philpott and Patrick Down, bill team members; and Catherine Scott from the directorate for legal servic...
The Convener Con Committee
16 May 2017
Justice Sub-Committee on Policing (Report Back)
Agenda item 2 is feedback from the Justice Sub-Committee on Policing on its meeting of 11 May 2017. Following the verbal report, there will be an opportunity for brief comments or questions. I refer members to paper 1, which is a note by the clerk. As Mary Fee was not able to ...
The Convener Con Committee
30 May 2017
Subordinate Legislation
Agenda item 2 is consideration of an affirmative instrument: the draft Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016 (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2017. I welcome the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and his officials: David Dickson is from the criminal justice d...
The Convener Con Committee
30 May 2017
Subordinate Legislation
Agenda item 4 is consideration of another affirmative instrument: the draft Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015 (Relevant Trafficking or Exploitation Offences and Relevant UK Orders) Regulations 2017. I welcome the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and his offic...
The Convener Con Committee
30 May 2017
Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Item 5 is our second evidence session on the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill. I refer members to paper 4, which is a note by the clerk, and papers 5 and 6, which are Scottish Parliament information centre briefing papers. It is my pleasure to welcome Clare Connelly, who is fr...
The Convener Con Committee
30 May 2017
Justice Sub-Committee on Policing (Report Back)
The next agenda item concerns feedback from the Justice Sub-Committee on Policing on its meeting of 25 May. Following the verbal report, there will be an opportunity for brief comments or questions. I refer members to paper 7, which is a note by the clerk, and invite Mary Fee ...
The Convener (Margaret Mitchell) Con Committee
06 Jun 2017
Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
I welcome everyone to the 21st meeting in 2017 of the Justice Committee. Apologies have been received from Fulton MacGregor and Stewart Stevenson. I welcome George Adam to the meeting. Following the terrible events in London at the weekend, the Presiding Officer has notified ...
The Convener Con Committee
13 Jun 2017
Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Item 2 is our fourth evidence session on the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill. I refer members to paper 1, which is a note by the clerk, and paper 2, which is a private paper. It is my pleasure to welcome Dr Marsha Scott, chief executive of Scottish Women’s Aid, and Heather Wi...
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Chamber

Plenary, 15 Jun 2006

15 Jun 2006 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Senior Judiciary (Vacancies and Incapacity) (Scotland) Bill: <br />Stage 1
Mitchell, Margaret Con Central Scotland Watch on SPTV
The offices of the Lord President and the Lord Justice Clerk are the two most senior in Scotland. The Lord President is the head of the Court of Session—Scotland's superior civil court—and the Lord Justice Clerk is the next most senior judge. Those two judges plus 32 senior colleagues make up the Court of Session. Judges in the Court of Session are also judges in the High Court of Justiciary—the superior criminal court—whose head is the Lord Justice General, an office that is held by the Lord President. The Lord Justice Clerk is the next most senior judge in the High Court.

It is clear that those two offices are hugely important to our justice system and to the efficient running of our most senior criminal and civil courts. Crucially, the judicial business that is undertaken in those courts depends on the ability of the powers and duties that are attached to those offices to continue to be exercised in unforeseen circumstances.

The bill is necessary because of how current legislation stands and the current Lord President's unexpected incapacity. Under current legislation, provision is made for the Lord President's depute—the Lord Justice Clerk—to fill any vacancy temporarily and to carry out some of the Lord President's duties, but no provision is made for the Lord Justice Clerk to carry out the Lord President's statutory duties. It is therefore not only eminently sensible but essential for the Parliament to address the situation through the emergency legislation.

In effect, the bill does four things. First, it provides a catch-all provision that will ensure that, if the Lord President becomes incapacitated or if a vacancy arises, all the various statutory powers and duties that are attached to the office of Lord President are transferred to the Lord Justice Clerk temporarily, together with existing powers that are automatically conferred on him, until the vacancy is filled by a permanent appointment or the Lord President is deemed by a majority of his fellow judges in the inner house of the Court of Session no longer to be incapacitated.

A further provision puts in place a mechanism to empower senior judges to take action when the need arises by issuing a declaration as a result of at least five judges of the inner house of the Court of Session, including the Lord Justice Clerk, deciding that the office of the Lord President is vacant, or that the office holder is incapacitated or is no longer incapacitated. That declaration is to be intimated to the First Minister, who in turn passes it to the Scottish Parliament's Presiding Officer. The bill also makes provision to deal with the domino effect created by the office either of the Lord President or of the Lord Justice Clerk becoming vacant, or the respective office holders being incapacitated.

Crucially, the bill maintains the independence of the judiciary, which is a vital cornerstone of the justice system, by empowering judges in the circumstances outlined to take action free from ministerial interference. The Scottish Conservative party therefore has no hesitation in supporting the general principles of the bill.

In the same item of business

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Trish Godman): Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S2M-4542, in the name of Cathy Jamieson, that the general principles of the Senior Judiciary (Vacancies and I...
The Minister for Justice (Cathy Jamieson): Lab
I thank members for allowing the bill to be considered under the procedures that enable legislation to be passed swiftly. I acknowledge the co-operation of t...
Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): SNP
I thank the minister for her eloquent explanation of the bill. The Scottish National Party fully supports the action that the Executive has taken. Some thing...
Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): Con
The offices of the Lord President and the Lord Justice Clerk are the two most senior in Scotland. The Lord President is the head of the Court of Session—Scot...
Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): LD
The Lord President's extended illness is a source of regret. As Kenny MacAskill said, we are in the fortuitous position that, since the creation of the offic...
Gordon Jackson (Glasgow Govan) (Lab): Lab
I suppose that I should begin with a declaration of interest. I am—some people will be surprised to learn this—a practising member of the Faculty of Advocate...
Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): SNP
I welcome the fact that Gordon Jackson is contributing to the debate. Given his experience, I ask him to comment on one of the bill's provisions. The Lord Ju...
Gordon Jackson: Lab
I think that we will leave that one to the minister. As always, Stewart Stevenson has thought of something that never occurred to me. I suppose that he is sa...
Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): Con
Will the member take an intervention?
Gordon Jackson: Lab
I am sorry, but I am almost finished.
Phil Gallie: Con
It is on that point.
Gordon Jackson: Lab
All right.
Phil Gallie: Con
I acknowledge much of what Gordon Jackson says about the independence of the judiciary. However, for the justice system to work, the overall perception of th...
Gordon Jackson: Lab
The system is good; it is just that a balance needs to be struck. Of course, we need to have public confidence in the judiciary, but if newspapers undermine ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer: Lab
I remind members that mobile phones must be switched off and not just kept on silent. Someone's phone is interfering with the sound system.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): Con
I strongly support everything that Gordon Jackson has just said.I declare an interest as a non-practising QC. Indeed, I became an advocate a few months after...
The Deputy Presiding Officer: Lab
I call Maureen Macmillan to be followed by Colin Jackson.
Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): Lab
As others have done, I wish the Lord President well and a speedy recovery. The Lord President represents the majesty of the law in Scotland. He is the spokes...
The Deputy Presiding Officer: Lab
It is clearly too early in the morning for me. I now call Colin Fox.
Colin Fox (Lothians) (SSP): SSP
Presiding Officer, you must have confused me with another sprinter.I apologise to the Minister for Justice for missing her opening remarks in the debate—I wa...
Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): Lab
I support the Senior Judiciary (Vacancies and Incapacity) (Scotland) Bill and I, too, extend my best wishes to Lord Hamilton. I thank Lord Gill for the work ...
Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): LD
The situation is unprecedented. I, too, pass on our best wishes to Lord Hamilton and hope for his speedy recovery. Kenny MacAskill and others mentioned the a...
Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): Con
There is little to divide us on the issue, but it is perhaps worth while recording that, technically speaking, the difficulties did not start in the 16th cen...
Mr MacAskill: SNP
The debate has been consensual, which shows that members realise the importance of having an independent judiciary. We may disagree on aspects of our society...
Cathy Jamieson: Lab
I thank members for taking part in what has been a useful and consensual debate. I hope that the fact that we have tried to be open and transparent and have ...
Pauline McNeill: Lab
I agree whole-heartedly that the bill should not determine the process. The minister is correct to say that we should trust the judiciary. I just want to cla...
Cathy Jamieson: Lab
Yes. Pauline McNeill makes a valid point. Of course there needs to be a process. The point that I was making is that by not setting it out in the bill we are...
Stewart Stevenson: SNP
I apologise for bringing this up, but I think that it is better to do so now than later. I want to raise a related point about the drafting of the bill. The ...
Cathy Jamieson: Lab
We are attempting to take a belt-and-braces approach, as Bill Aitken described it. I hope that we will not find ourselves in a situation in which both the Lo...
Mr Jim Wallace (Orkney) (LD): LD
The minister and others have talked about taking a belt-and-braces approach. I perfectly understand why such an approach should be taken and endorse it. Howe...