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

Fulton MacGregor SNP Committee

Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Post-legislative Scrutiny)

I will finish by putting on my other hat, that of a member of the Equalities and Human Rights Committee. It is great to have this discussion as part of the scrutiny, so credit to the clerks. I hope that Diego Quiroz and other folk from the Scottish Human Rights Commission will...

Fulton MacGregor SNP Committee

Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Post-legislative Scrutiny)

A lot of this area has been well covered by the cabinet secretary and the minister, but I have one follow-up question. How can we improve the local scrutiny bodies? We heard a lot of evidence from various local authorities in different areas, and the police spoke about there b...

Fulton MacGregor SNP Chamber

Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Post-legislative Scrutiny Reports)

I understood that. It is right that the Justice Committee was able to undertake post-legislative scrutiny of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012, as all members said. That work is another example of this Parliament getting on with the day job of scrutiny, while we ...

Fulton MacGregor SNP Chamber

Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Post-legislative Scrutiny Reports)

I do not think that the statistics are the same. Many of the statistics compare Scotland with England and Wales. For example, Scottish people have personally experienced less crime than those living in England and Wales, and non-sexual violent crime here is at the lowest level...

Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) SNP Chamber

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

It gives me great pleasure to speak in today’s historic debate. We often use the word “historic” in this Parliament, but we rarely use it as appropriately as we do today. I hope that at decision time we will come one crucial step closer to passing a groundbreaking bill that ha...

Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) SNP Chamber

Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Following on from what Jamie Greene said, I say that I think that all of us in Parliament can be proud that we live in a country that abides by the principle of policing by consent. At its most basic, that means that I and, I think, the rest of the Scottish public view our Pol...

Fulton MacGregor SNP Committee

Draft Budget Scrutiny 2018-19

There is no doubt that there is potential for diversion schemes to be more equalised over the country as a whole, as well as more consistent, and local authorities and other stakeholders have a big role to play in that. Today’s debate is about budget scrutiny and the financial...

Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) SNP Chamber

Civil Litigation (Expenses and Group Proceedings) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

I speak in this debate as a member of the Justice Committee and, like others, I want to put on record my thanks to those who provided evidence during the course of the scrutiny of the bill. I am pleased that the committee agreed to the general principles of the bill, and we h...

Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) SNP Chamber

Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

This year’s parliamentary scrutiny of the forestry strategy was discussed during the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee’s consideration of the bill at stages 1 and 2. Scottish ministers will be taking on new duties in relation to a Scottish forestry strategy, which will ...

Fulton MacGregor SNP Committee

Human Rights and the Scottish Parliament

Do panel members, in particular Elena Whitham and Adam McVey, think that councils should have specific equalities committees that robustly scrutinise major policy decisions? I ask because I am thinking about a major policy decision in North Lanarkshire, of which you might be a...

Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) SNP Chamber

Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

As a member of the Justice Committee, I record my particular thanks to the clerks for their tireless work on the scrutiny of the bill, which has been an effort by all. I also pay tribute to all committee members from all parties for the collaborative nature of the scrutiny. T...

Fulton MacGregor SNP Committee

Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2022-23

Anything that improves access to justice and legal aid is crucial, so I welcome what you have said. However, the meeting is about budget scrutiny, so might the result of streamlining the process be that, once things are working more fully and better, more people will get legal...

Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) SNP Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2023-24

Good morning. I have been a member of this committee and its predecessor for six years, along with Rona Mackay—I think that we are the only two members who are in that position—and I have to say that this budget scrutiny is the starkest that I have heard. During previous sessi...

Fulton MacGregor SNP Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2023-24

I welcome all that. The blue-light collaboration, which you and the police have spoken about, is a fantastic piece of work and should be happening. It might be that you are not able to look at this, but in relation to budget scrutiny, is part of your analysis and assessment ...

Fulton MacGregor SNP Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2023-24

I was not sure whether you were going to bring me back in, convener, given that Wendy Sinclair-Gieben has already touched on this issue in response to earlier questions. Throughout the pre-budget scrutiny process, I have been asking other panellists about the interplay with o...

Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) SNP Committee

Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018: Post-legislative Scrutiny

Good morning to the panel. It has been quite an interesting discussion. I was a member of the committee that considered the legislation in the previous parliamentary session, along with Rona Mackay. It is fair to say that one of the highlights of the session was when it was pa...

Fulton MacGregor SNP Committee

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

I have a final question for Professor Thomas. First, Professor Thomas, thank you very much for coming up to Scotland, and I am sorry that you feel that your research is coming under so much scrutiny. We are delighted to have you here—the fact that we have invited you indicates...

Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) SNP Committee

Budget Scrutiny 2024-25

Good morning to the panel. A lot of the issues that I was going to ask about have been covered, and the responses have been full, which I really appreciate. However, there is a particular question that I want to ask, which is about this committee and our scrutiny. Your openin...

Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) SNP Chamber

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

It is a great privilege to speak in this debate. As other members have done, I pay tribute to my colleagues from all parties on the Criminal Justice Committee and, of course, the clerks for the work that has already been done. Members in the chamber who are not members of the ...

Fulton MacGregor SNP Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26

I am the convener of the cross-party group on adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. The convictions that you have spoken about have been welcomed by survivors in that community. If that trend is going to increase, what is the answer? Sticking to the pre-budget scrutiny p...

Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) SNP Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26

Good morning, cabinet secretary. I have a quick supplementary that relates to the area of the Crown Office and prosecution, and it comes ahead of a question from John Mason that you will answer at question time later today. It relates to the amount of time and cost that is inv...

Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) SNP Chamber

Like other members, I am delighted to speak in the debate as a member of the Criminal Justice Committee. Scotland thrives when it is confident, connected and secure in today’s world, and that means being a digitally secure and resilient nation. Digital technology can no longer...

Fulton MacGregor SNP Chamber

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

I will come on to that point.The acts that I mentioned were designed to ensure that, when decisions carry profound consequences, they are made with proper scrutiny, appropriate expertise and a full understanding of a person’s circumstances. However, the bill as it is currently...

Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) SNP Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2017-18 (Skills Development Scotland)

I was going to ask about the consistency of careers advice, but I think that Danny Logue has more or less covered that. To follow up on what Tavish Scott said, is there a careers adviser in each school, or is there an adviser for an area? Is careers advice provided on a needs-...

Fulton MacGregor SNP Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2017-18 (Skills Development Scotland)

I would be happy to speak to you outwith the meeting to set up a date to visit one of the schools in Coatbridge and Chryston and meet some of the staff.

Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) SNP Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2017-18 (Scottish Qualifications Authority)

Thank you for having us over to the SQA last week. It was a very worthwhile and interesting visit. It was good to see the scale of the work that you are involved in. I reflected after the meeting that I had learned a lot about what you do, which is a lot more than I had initia...

Fulton MacGregor SNP Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2017-18 (Scottish Qualifications Authority)

I am glad that you have picked up on that. After reading the submissions and hearing about the group of teachers who met the convener and Mr Greer, I took the opportunity last night to send a quick text to some teachers I know—like everybody, I have many friends who are teache...

Fulton MacGregor SNP Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2017-18 (Scottish Qualifications Authority)

This has been a very challenging evidence session for our witnesses. I hope that you respect that it has to be that way because the committee’s job is to scrutinise and ensure that things are as good as they can be. However, I wanted to come back in to say that, following las...

Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) SNP Committee

Draft Budget Scrutiny 2017-18

I have a supplementary to the convener’s question about domestic abuse; I want to come at the issue from a different angle. Would you say that the prioritisation of domestic abuse offences has led to any efficiencies in the system in relation to such cases? Is it the case that...

Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) SNP Committee

Draft Budget Scrutiny 2017-18

My question has more or less been covered—it follows on from Mary Fee’s question. You have identified that you need to live within your current financial circumstances, and the funding cuts that are coming from the Westminster Government are well documented. On specialist area...

Fulton MacGregor SNP Committee

Draft Budget Scrutiny 2017-18

Fulton MacGregor SNP Committee

Draft Budget Scrutiny 2017-18

I should have said that I am talking specifically about the funding that you get in relation to violence against women. Is it enough to maintain the current standard of prosecution?

Fulton MacGregor SNP Committee

Draft Budget Scrutiny 2017-18

I will follow up on that without, I hope, straying too much into questions that may be more appropriate for our next panel. Will the focus on domestic violence—as well as the focus that you have just mentioned—help to reduce domestic violence and lead to a cultural change? I k...

Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) SNP Committee

Draft Budget Scrutiny 2017-18

Thank you, convener. I wanted to come in earlier on Daniel Johnson’s question about the survey. Things moved on at that stage, but then Johann Lamont raised the issue again. I have to say that we did get a lot of negative feedback, but I disagree with Johann Lamont: I think t...

Fulton MacGregor SNP Committee

Draft Budget Scrutiny 2017-18

In yesterday’s chamber debate on improving the care experience for looked-after children, the root-and-branch review of the care system in Scotland was discussed. How will that review impact on the budget in relation to child protection and local authority delivery of services?

Fulton MacGregor SNP Committee

Draft Budget Scrutiny 2017-18

Does the cabinet secretary think that the root-and-branch review will broaden the child protection process for young people? 11:30

Fulton MacGregor SNP Committee

Draft Budget Scrutiny 2017-18

Thank you. I was conscious, as I asked that question, that I had intended to ask a further question on the child protection framework, but I realise that we are focusing on the budget, so I will leave it at that.

Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) SNP Chamber

Education and Skills Organisations (Performance and Role)

As a member of the Education and Skills Committee, I have great pleasure in contributing to this debate, and I want to start my contribution by paying tribute and giving thanks to the many, many teachers, assistants and various other staff who work tirelessly, day in, day out,...

Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) SNP Chamber

Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

It is a great pleasure to speak in this debate on the Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill. As a member of the Justice Committee, I pay tribute to the committee members for their scrutiny of the bill. Although there was not unanimous agreement on the general principles, I thank th...

Fulton MacGregor SNP Chamber

Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

I thank the member for her intervention. No—I do not believe that they will. However, to have 17,000 officers with the training is, to my mind, a significant enhancement, which is why the bill has been supported by most parties. When giving evidence to the Justice Committee, ...

Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) SNP Chamber

Limitation (Childhood Abuse) (Scotland) Bill

As a member of the Justice Committee, I support the bill and I agree that it will improve access to justice for survivors of historical childhood abuse. I thank the minister and the Government for introducing the bill and I thank all the members and witnesses who participated ...

Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) SNP Chamber

Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill

I am pleased to be able to speak in this debate today, and I thank you for allowing me to speak at all, Presiding Officer, even though my time has been cut. As a member of the Justice Committee, I pay tribute to all of my fellow committee members and those who gave evidence d...

Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) SNP Committee

Draft Budget Scrutiny 2018-19

I should probably declare that, just before the witnesses came in, I ate a roll with black pudding and a potato scone, so I have definitely done my bit for the food industry today, whatever anybody thinks about that particular combination. I was told earlier today that it is d...

Fulton MacGregor SNP Committee

Draft Budget Scrutiny 2018-19

No, that was the only point that I wanted to make. People are free to expand on taxation issues, as you said.

Fulton MacGregor SNP Committee

Draft Budget Scrutiny 2018-19

Mr Lyle is definitely rubbing off on you, convener. Laughter. Before I go on to my main question, I want to pick up on points about innovation and productivity. We know from other sectors where there is gender balance that productivity and innovation can be increased. Can you...

Fulton MacGregor SNP Committee

Draft Budget Scrutiny 2018-19

I appreciate the panel’s honesty and frank responses to the question. It is important to discuss the issue, given the areas where there could be more productivity and—as I said—innovation, if there were gender balance. I am glad that the issue is being taken on board. My othe...

Fulton MacGregor SNP Committee

Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Repeal) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Are not marches and parades subject to scrutiny by local authority committees prior to them taking place, whereas football games are not?

Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) SNP Committee

Draft Budget Scrutiny 2018-19

I was going to ask about the draft budget’s impact on savings, but the issue has been covered quite extensively. During the committee’s inquiry, I asked about the use of diversion schemes. Given the savings that are required, has the service had any thoughts about how such sc...

Fulton MacGregor SNP Committee

Draft Budget Scrutiny 2018-19

I was going to ask what opportunities the changes to the justice system might present for more diversion schemes to be used. Are you able to expand on any thoughts that you have had about how those discussions might unfold?

Fulton MacGregor SNP Committee

Draft Budget Scrutiny 2018-19

Thank you for that. I have a quick supplementary question regarding the office in Airdrie. I am the member for Coatbridge and Chryston, which is very near to Airdrie and will be impacted by how busy that particular office is. I have read the submission and want to confirm that...

Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) SNP Committee

Draft Budget Scrutiny 2018-19

When we took evidence from two panels recently there was a bit of discussion about devolved tax measures. Will there be a full review of the business rates system—if that is on the radar—and will there be an extension of the small business bonus scheme?

Fulton MacGregor SNP Committee

Draft Budget Scrutiny 2018-19

I have a quick supplementary on the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. Are there any thoughts about whether we could do more to support the roll-out of that?

Fulton MacGregor SNP Committee

Draft Budget Scrutiny 2018-19

I was asking about the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. Can we do any more to offer rates relief for local groups? The whole theme of my question is the tax issue.

Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) SNP Chamber

Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Repeal) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

I am a member of the Justice Committee, which has scrutinised the bill at stage 1. We heard a wide range of evidence and I put on record my thanks to all those who gave evidence and, of course, the clerks. As others, including James Kelly, have said, the report was very well w...

Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) SNP Committee

Budget Strategy Phase 2019-20

I have quite a general question. How would you consider budget scrutiny in terms of human rights levers when there are major policy differences between Governments? There is the example of welfare—I think that you gave that example at the start, which prompted my question—on w...

Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) SNP Chamber

Thank you, Presiding Officer. I am grateful for that. I am also grateful for the opportunity to speak in the debate as a former member of the committee. I thank the committee clerks and members for all their work during my short time on it. The Royal Bank of Scotland branch i...

Fulton MacGregor SNP Committee

Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Post-legislative Scrutiny)

I am the MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston.

Fulton MacGregor SNP Committee

Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Post-legislative Scrutiny)

I was not an MSP when the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 was passed, but there was a lot of talk then about financial reasons being the main reasons for reform. I do not know who to go to first, so whoever wants to answer the question should do so. Was the initial ...

Fulton MacGregor SNP Committee

Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Post-legislative Scrutiny)

We have moved on a wee bit, but I want to go back to the case for reform. I know that much of the driver for that was financial but, as Nick Fyfe mentioned, there were other reasons. Without going into areas of questioning on the benefits and negative consequences, which will ...

Fulton MacGregor SNP Committee

Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Post-legislative Scrutiny)

I felt that Ivor Marshall covered the timeline, so I was going back to the original question on reform. I would have incorporated that in the initial question.

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Committee

Justice Committee 06 November 2018

06 Nov 2018 · S5 · Justice Committee

Item of business

Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Post-legislative Scrutiny)

MacGregor, Fulton SNP Coatbridge and Chryston Watch on SPTV

I will finish by putting on my other hat, that of a member of the Equalities and Human Rights Committee. It is great to have this discussion as part of the scrutiny, so credit to the clerks. I hope that Diego Quiroz and other folk from the Scottish Human Rights Commission will be regular attendees at future scrutiny.

In the same item of business

The Convener Con

Agenda item 2 is an evidence session in our post-legislative scrutiny of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012. I refer members to paper 1, which is...

Simon Routh-Jones (Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service)

Good morning. I felt that it would be important and helpful for members of the committee if I were to mention that the fire service inspectorate is totally i...

Douglas Scott (Scottish Borders Council)

Thank you for inviting us. The Scottish Borders Council was a pathfinder local authority to pilot the local scrutiny arrangements that came into force with t...

The Convener Con

Thank you very much. The committee has heard varying opinions on whether reform has achieved benefits in terms of service delivery. What do the witnesses se...

Simon Routh-Jones

I am more than happy to start. In our judgment, the reform process is certainly providing effective impact with regard to what it was there for. It has certa...

Douglas Scott

We have had very close scrutiny of our performance from the work of the board, on a quarterly basis. The meetings have been attended by the local and divisio...

Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Lab

One of the key arguments that was made for reform concerned the provision of consistency and access to specialist services across Scotland. Do you have any g...

Simon Routh-Jones

With regard to national resources, there have been significant examples around flooding and major fires that have happened in Glasgow. Reform has meant that ...

Daniel Johnson Lab

One of the phrases that is used by the fire service itself is about the ability to have the right resource in the right place at the right time. The Fire Bri...

Simon Routh-Jones

The days of resources being static are gone. Risk is changing all the time and a service that has the flexibility to be able to move resources serves the pub...

Daniel Johnson Lab

On an associated point, the FBU thinks that it would be useful if the statutory response times, which we no longer have, were restored, both to provide a ben...

Simon Routh-Jones

No. I do not agree at all. We can be far more flexible and identify risks. The service should be based on risk rather than on a prescriptive approach. Moving...

Daniel Johnson Lab

I directed my questions to Mr Routh-Jones, but I would be interested to hear any insights from Scottish Borders Council.

Graham Jones (Scottish Borders Council)

In the Scottish Borders, we have developed our scrutiny arrangements and we have a monthly oversight group, which has cross-party membership. The police atte...

Rona Mackay (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) SNP

One of the main drivers of reform was the financial imperative. To a large extent, Mr Scott, you have already answered my first question. Have front-line ser...

Douglas Scott

We have to look at the changed situation, and the focus from the Borders point of view is both local and specialist. We are very well aware that, nationally,...

Graham Jones

One of the advantages of the national services is the volume of information that is available so that comparisons can be made of different local authority ar...

Rona Mackay SNP

That brings me on to my next question. What effect has national policy had on local services or local communities? I am thinking of some of the big decisions...

Graham Jones

The safer communities team is integrated: we have police officers, fire service officers, our alcohol and drug partnership and our community safety team, whi...

Rona Mackay SNP

You are saying that you adapt national policy to suit your local needs.

Graham Jones

Basically, yes.

Rona Mackay SNP

How many policy analysts do you have in the council?

Graham Jones

We have two. We have an information and statistics officer who deals principally with antisocial behaviour and who is a police employee. The other analyst is...

Rona Mackay SNP

Mr Routh-Jones, can you relate my question about national policy to the Fire and Rescue Service?

Simon Routh-Jones

Yes. My answer will be in two parts. On resources, the fact that there have been no station closures has been well-publicised. We started off with 356 and ...

Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD) LD

I am interested in Mr Jones’s description of the type of engagement that there has been, both on the police side and on the fire side. As you were speaking, ...

Graham Jones

Taser training was raised at one of our scrutiny meetings a few months ago and the rationale was put across. I do not think that anybody had a particularly s...

Liam McArthur LD

I think that the needs case at a national level, in terms of increased threat levels and all of the rest of it, was fairly well understood. Was there ever a ...

Graham Jones

It is a while since the issue was raised, so I cannot remember the exact basis of the discussion, but I think the view was that there was a credible need. I ...

Liam McArthur LD

That was helpful. I appreciate that I have slightly ambushed you. If there are further thoughts or observations that you want to share with the committee, I ...