Katy Clark
Scottish Labour · Scotland
“I welcome the fact that we are taking steps to reduce the prison population, but there needs to be a wider discussion—I think that we are all agreed on that. Community justice must be expanded.”
“The chamber has been designed so that members speak through the chair, which also means that the microphones will work. If you face me, your microphone should work. Alyn Smith: I am grateful to Amanda Bland for her comment. She is a good colleague on the Criminal Justice Committee, and, as ever, that was a sensible question.”
“Yesterday, I met constituents outside the Parliament who are concerned about the potential impact on local communities and the environment of the energy consumption of proposed AI data centres in Irvine, Bishopbriggs and Hunterston, in my region. At least 24 controversial sites are being considered across Scotland.”
“The member cannot take an intervention, as she is already in additional time. Pauline McNeill: I will conclude with a specific point on deaths in custody, which the Criminal Justice Committee had a brief chat about on Wednesday morning.”
“I move amendment S7M-00469.2, to insert at end: “; is concerned that the current prison population crisis is chronically hampering effective rehabilitation; calls on the Scottish Government to increase its investment in GPS technology and speed up its roll out, and notes that the current approach to rehabilitation, community justice and e…”
“I understand that there is a request for national guidance, but that would be a deviation from where we are as a Parliament. However, if the mood of the Parliament is changing, the Government is open to listening, and that is a conversation to be had.”
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“The amendment will ensure that the report also covers the reasons for a determination under section 16(1)(a) that the committee is satisfied that a death is not reviewable. That will apply to both initial decisions and reconsiderations.”
“In recognition of the need for transparency, ministerial oversight and ensuring that families are kept informed, amendment 17 will strengthen the documentation of decisions not to proceed to review. We have listened and learned from the process that operates in Northern Ireland. Having a clear audit trail that adequately captures the reasons for decision making is clearly important and right. It will allow for further learning in relation to any issues or gaps in training, and it could also inform enhancements to the statutory guidance. In the same vein of transparency, amendment 46 will expand the current requirement for a periodic report to detail reasons for the sift outcome under section 16(1)(b).”
“The benefits of the amendments are that they will introduce flexibility to the review process and the ability to ensure that cases can be reconsidered where further relevant information emerges after an initial decision not to hold a review. That will ensure that we put victims and their families at the very core of the review model. The same process that is detailed in section 16 in relation to the initial determination as to whether to hold a review will apply. That means that the review oversight committee will be able to seek the Scottish ministers’ advice if necessary, and the Scottish ministers will retain the power to step in and overturn a decision not to carry out a review.”
“Amendments 11 and 12 moved—[Angela Constance]—and agreed to. Section 14—Notification of deaths The Deputy Presiding Officer: Group 6 is entitled, “Part 2 reviews: sift decisions (reasons and reconsiderations)”. Amendment 13, in the name of the cabinet secretary, is grouped with amendments 17, 18 and 46. Angela Constance: My amendments 18 and 13 will ensure that, in circumstances where new information is made available, the review oversight committee may reconsider a death where it had previously determined that a review would not be undertaken. Ministers would be able to do likewise where they had been asked by the committee to take the original decision.”
“It will, for example, allow an organisation to be added to the list in the schedule to reflect that organisation also being added to the list in section 11(3) and therefore avoid a potential conflict of interests. It will also allow changes to be made if, for example, Social Work Scotland, which is a non-statutory body, changes its name. Any regulations would be made using the negative procedure, which is in line with the powers mentioned above. The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee indicated that it was content with that approach at stage 2 in relation to the existing comparable powers. I move amendment 10. The Deputy Presiding Officer: No other member has asked to speak. Do you wish to add anything else, cabinet secretary? Angela Constance: No, thank you. Amendment 10 agreed to.”
“Similarly, amendment 56 relates to the addition of Social Work Scotland to paragraph 3 of the schedule, but in that case it is about a person having been a director rather than a member, which reflects the structure of Social Work Scotland. The amendments follow further engagement on the criteria for appointment to an office related to the review process. They are there fundamentally to ensure that there remains no conflict of interest. Amendments 57 and 52 introduce an enabling power that will enable the Scottish ministers to modify the criteria, where necessary and evidenced, for disqualification from appointment to a position related to the domestic homicide and suicide review model. That power is aligned with and will complement the existing powers to vary lists of persons in sections 11(5) and 20(6).”
“Amendments 54 and 55 will add the Risk Management Authority and the Scottish Social Services Council to the list in paragraph 3(1) of the schedule so that an individual may not be appointed to hold a relevant office under the review model if the individual is or, within the year preceding the date on which the appointment is to take effect, has been a member, employee or appointee of those bodies. That approach will ensure that those taking up the role of the review oversight committee chair, deputy chair or a case review panel chair are independent—a key point raised by stakeholders in the work to develop the review model. The approach is consistent with that for the other bodies that are covered by that provision.”
“Amendments 30 and 31 add the Risk Management Authority and Social Work Scotland to the list in section 20(5) to extend the duty to co- operate to them. That ensures consistency and the effective operation of the review model. As Social Work Scotland is not a public authority, further amendments are necessary. Amendments 22, 23, 25, 26, 28, 32, 33, 36 and 37 make necessary changes in recognition of the addition of Social Work Scotland. Section 20 needs to be broadened beyond applying to public authorities. The term “designated core participant” is being used to convey that the organisations to which the duty applies are all key to the successful conduct of reviews.”
“Its regulatory focus is on social work workforce standards, rather than on supporting and improving social work policy and practice. To ensure that no gap is created in relation to social work representation, amendment 11 adds Social Work Scotland to the list of nominating bodies. That will ensure that there is a more appropriate social work representative on the oversight committee, given Social Work Scotland’s focus on supporting and improving the social work workforce, policy and practice. The inclusion has been endorsed by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and I consider that the amendment will strengthen the committee’s ability to translate learning from reviews into improvement in social work service—something that I am sure that we can all agree on and welcome.”
“Amendments 10 to 12 make changes to section 11(3), which lists those who can nominate individuals to be a member of the review oversight committee. They are reflective of our continued engagement to ensure that we have the correct representation on the review oversight committee for domestic homicide and suicide reviews. 15:15 Amendment 10 adds the Risk Management Authority to the list of nominating bodies, reflecting feedback from the testing of the review model. Stakeholders said that the Risk Management Authority should be included, as its focus is to reduce the risk of serious harm posed by violent and sexual offending. Amendment 12 will remove the Scottish Social Services Council as a nominating body because we agree that it is not the right organisation to represent social work on the committee.”
“I urge the Parliament to take the opportunity that the bill provides us with to advance what is a new, trauma-informed solution to an existing issue, and to support my amendment. I move amendment 9. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, cabinet secretary. I apologise for cutting you off. Amendment 9 agreed to. Section 11—Review oversight committee The Deputy Presiding Officer: Group 5 is on part 2 reviews: bodies involved with reviews. Amendment 10, in the name of the cabinet secretary, is grouped with amendments 11, 12, 22, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30 to 33, 36, 37, 52 and 54 to 57. Angela Constance: The amendments in this and the following groups relate to part 2 of the bill, covering domestic homicide and suicide reviews.”
“It is important to state that amendment 9 does not give the Crown any new ability to prosecute accused persons for offences for which it could otherwise not do so. It is about modernising the way in which the Crown is able to bring about prosecutions, through streamlining procedure and ensuring a more trauma-informed approach. It will reduce churn in the court system by preserving the trial diet and avoiding delays. I am grateful to justice partners who have been involved in the development of amendment 9. We have engaged widely, including with the Crown Office, the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, the Law Society of Scotland, the Faculty of Advocates, the Scottish Solicitors Bar Association and, of course, victim support organisations. I am pleased that the amendment has broad support.”
“I appreciate that that was a long answer in response to a question on disclosure. The Deputy Presiding Officer: No other member has asked to speak. Do you have anything to add by way of winding up? Angela Constance: Just a wee bit, Presiding Officer, if you will bear with me. I will pick up where I left off. I recognise that circumstances may arise after the two-month deadline, which is why provision is made that the court may consider, on special cause shown, an application that is made after that point. Amendment 9 further provides that, unless the application is consented to by the accused, parties will have an opportunity to make representations on it. If the court considers that the conditions are fulfilled, it must grant the application, unless it considers that there is just cause not to do so.”
“We have also included a further safeguard in allowing the court to grant the accused an adjournment, if that is needed. I will not repeat my earlier remarks about the two conditions that have to be met before an application by the prosecution can be granted, but their purpose is to protect an accused’s interests, including by ensuring that prosecutors act as swiftly as possible so that the defence can prepare effectively. The practical effect of the conditions is that the prosecutor will have to satisfy the court that they are met in each application, and any information that is given in support of their application or requested by the court in that regard will be available to the defence, which will be able to request further information, should that be required, in order to consider their position on the application.”
“Liam Kerr: Amendment 9 seems eminently sensible, but concerns have been raised about a potential impact on disclosure—specifically whether, if the duty to disclose applies only from the point at which the amendment to the indictment is allowed, the defence’s ability to challenge that amendment might be curtailed, as well as the preparation time for the trial being limited. How does the cabinet secretary respond to that challenge? Angela Constance: I share the view that it is imperative to ensure that all parties, including the defence, have enough time to prepare. The purpose of the new provision is to preserve trial diets where possible, which can be done only if all parties have sufficient time to prepare. That is why we require applications to be made, ordinarily, at least two months before a trial.”
“The first condition is that that the new charges must relate to conduct that was not known, and could not reasonably have been known, by the prosecutor at time of service of the indictment. That important safeguard ensures that the mechanism will be used only in specific circumstances and will not undermine the existing time limits that apply to prosecutors in preparing their case after an accused appears on petition. The second condition is that the application is to be made as soon as reasonably practicable after the prosecutor becomes aware of the conduct and at least two months before the date fixed for any trial diet. That will ensure that sufficient notice is provided to the accused and is central to ensuring that, where possible, trial diets are preserved.”
“As a result, victims, witnesses and the accused would have to endure two trials, and many more months of involvement in criminal justice processes, before matters are finally concluded. Both options would result in significant duplication of resources and effort, as well as causing considerable distress and disruption for those involved. My amendment 9 will provide prosecutors with a third option by introducing a new procedure to allow them to amend the existing indictment by adding new charges. That will allow all the allegations against an accused to be tried together and would preserve any trial diet that has been fixed, avoiding delay for everyone involved, as long as certain conditions are met.”
“That would result in the trial diet fixed for the original indictment being lost and might also require an extension of the relevant time bars. That option can cause disruption, uncertainty and delay for victims, witnesses and the accused, who may be on remand. The second option is to allow the existing indictment to proceed to trial and conclude without disruption, then to separately indict the accused for a second trial on the additional charge. Where Moorov, the doctrine of mutual corroboration, is relied upon, that might mean that one or more of the complainers from the first trial will have to give evidence again, the second time as a docket witness. That second trial could be a considerable time after the first and, in some circumstances, the accused might be remanded for longer.”
“We know that, in abuse cases, disclosures can be staggered and delayed and that it can take complainers some time to be able to disclose the full extent of the abuse that they have suffered. Another circumstance is when additional complainers come forward after an indictment has been served. That can sometimes be triggered by awareness or publicity following the accused’s first appearance on the indictment, because court proceedings on the petition prior to that stage are held in private and cannot be reported in any detail. When such circumstances arise, prosecutors currently have two options for how to proceed. First, they could seek to desert the current indictment and serve a fresh indictment that includes new charges on the accused.”
“Amendment 9 builds on that purpose and introduces a new mechanism to allow prosecutors, in certain circumstances, to seek to amend indictments to add additional charges against the accused. In correspondence to the Criminal Justice Committee last week, I set out in some detail the rationale behind amendment 9 and why it would bring important benefits to victims, witnesses and the accused. Currently, once an indictment has been served, prosecutors cannot add substantive new charges to that indictment, other than those relating to the accused’s breach of bail or failure to appear at court. However, there are other circumstances in which prosecutors might want to add further charges to an indictment after it has been served. For example, a complainer will sometimes, at a later date, disclose further offending by the accused.”
“I do not intend to move the amendments and press them to a vote, but I have noted carefully what the cabinet secretary has said. I hope that, in the operation of the legislation, maximum communication will be encouraged to ensure that the interests of justice are served. Amendment 4 agreed to. Amendments 5 to 8 moved—[Angela Constance]—and agreed to. Amendments 64 and 65 not moved. After section 8 The Deputy Presiding Officer: That takes us to group 4, on amendment of indictment. Amendment 9, in the name of the cabinet secretary, is the only amendment in the group. Angela Constance: Part 1 of the bill seeks to modernise and enhance practice and procedure in the criminal courts to ensure that we have a justice system that is more efficient and is responsive to current demands.”
“I will speak to my amendments 64 and 65. The bill will allow national jurisdiction in custody cases. It will allow individuals to appear from custody away from their local area and the part of the country where the alleged offence took place. During stages 1 and 2, concerns were raised about the loss of the judge’s local knowledge of a community or an accused. Those issues were raised by the Law Society of Scotland and the criminal justice committee of the Sheriffs and Summary Sheriffs Association, although I note that the cabinet secretary has indicated today that those issues have not been raised during the time that the emergency legislation has been in place. My amendments would encourage communication with the local court in national jurisdiction cases.”
“That speaks to the strength of the release planning that has taken place, as part of which there has been a very sharp focus on the needs of short-term prisoners. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I make another plea for succinct questions and succinct answers.”
“Although there was a small downturn in the remand population over the summer, we are seeing an increase in the sentenced population and, in particular, in the number of prisoners who are serving long-term sentences. We are putting additional investment into Upside, which for the first time is providing support to both remand and short-term prisoners—men and women—who are leaving custody. The Scottish Prison Service has published return-to- custody rates for the Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Act 2025 and the emergency early release programme, which I referred to earlier. Those figures were 5 per cent and 13 per cent, respectively. The 5 per cent figure for the STP40 programme involved 17 individuals being returned to custody.”
“How much of the infrastructure to increase home detention, bail supervision, electronic monitoring and, indeed, victim notification will be in place by the time of the proposed releases? Given the high remand population, can the cabinet secretary say whether there is any sign that the new bail test is working? In addition, can she provide data on the reoffending levels further to the most recent set of releases? After the first set of releases, reoffending rates were very high, due to a lack of planning. Angela Constance: The home detention curfew regulations will be implemented this month. That will be closely followed by the pilot on the use of GPS technology, which we are working on. As the new bail test came into force only in May, it is too soon to say whether it has had an impact.”
“The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s service delivery consultation recently closed, with more than 3,500 responses. The consultation outlined several options, including changes to fire cover, the permanent withdrawal of 10 appliances and the closure of 13 fire stations.”
“The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service resource budget for this financial year stands at £332.1 million, which represents a real-terms cut of more than £56 million in the past 12 years. Sustained underinvestment in our fire capital budget has also led to a capital backlog of more than £800 million, and many fire stations are no longer fit for purpose. The fire service has estimated that £80 million per year would be needed to improve the condition of fire stations and control rooms. FBU Scotland is calling for increased and sustainable real-terms investment in the service from the Scottish Government. Ahead of this year’s budget process, I urge the minister to engage with the firefighters’ union, with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and with firefighters across Scotland.”
“Last year, it stood at eight minutes and 50 seconds. In such situations, when there is a risk to life, every minute counts. In control rooms, job losses have contributed to an increase in call-handling times. Call-handling times for incidents that pose a risk to life have increased from one minute and 10 seconds in 2016 to one minute and 32 seconds. Staffing levels in control rooms are generally considered to be inadequate and regularly fall below agreed safe levels. FBU Scotland is calling on the Scottish Government to commit to no further cuts to firefighter numbers. I urge the minister to give such a commitment today. Since its creation in 2013, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has faced cuts of tens of millions in funding from the Scottish Government.”
“In control rooms, there has been a 26 per cent reduction in staff—staff who are vital in handling calls and supporting individuals in emergencies, including those that pose a risk to life. When I met FBU Scotland yesterday, its representatives laid out the impact of those job losses on response times. Average response times have increased from six minutes and 51 seconds to eight minutes and 20 seconds. Every second counts when waiting for a response from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. The FBU fears that, without the investment that is needed in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, response times could eventually reach more than 10 minutes. Response times to incidents that pose a risk to life have also increased. In 2016, the average response time to such incidents stood at around seven minutes and 30 seconds.”
“Scottish Labour has lodged the motion because the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is in a state of crisis. The Fire Brigades Union Scotland has been warning for years about the devastating impact of underinvestment in our Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and about the threats that we are now facing after years of cuts and failure by the Scottish Government to deliver investment. Over the past 13 years, 1,250 firefighters’ jobs have been lost, which represents more than a sixth of the total workforce. That figure includes 729 whole-time operational firefighters and 368 retained operational firefighters. Those are direct cuts to vital, life-saving front-line services. The number of volunteer firefighters has also reduced by 35 per cent, which negatively impacts on emergency cover in many of our remote and rural communities.”
“I know that the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health has met Katy Clark on the matter, and I will consider the position that she has asked for and make sure that either the minister or I reply in writing. Hypermobility 3.”
“We have the British Hernia Society registry, but will the cabinet secretary ensure that all health boards retain records on complications arising from the use of hernia mesh and that that information is made available to inform decision making? Neil Gray: I thank Katy Clark for her advocacy on behalf of her constituents and for the work that her constituents have done through the petitions process. I appeared before the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee last week, and I have found the petitions system to be an excellent means by which members of the public can raise their concerns directly in Parliament. It is a very effective process.”
“My constituents Roseanna Clarkin and Lauren McDougall have a petition before the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee relating to complications that have arisen from the use of surgical mesh by the NHS. The Scottish Government has previously indicated that it will monitor the progress of the new British Hernia Society registry, to gather more information about the scale of the complications that have arisen from the use of mesh in hernia repairs. I previously submitted freedom of information requests to health boards across Scotland, and I got information from some health boards but not from others.”
“I will expand on that a bit more, because I know that there are interests in this—”
“As has been set out, it seeks to reduce the statutory notice period for a victim or survivor of domestic abuse to end their interest in a joint tenancy from four weeks to one week, and, crucially, to remove the requirement to notify a joint tenant and to do so without the consent of the landlord. Creating a circumstance in which a joint tenant could unilaterally end a joint tenancy at short notice would be extremely challenging. It could be open to misinterpretation; it could even be open to misuse. The amendment would represent a significant change to the property rights of social landlords and, therefore, to the operation of social housing. It could unintentionally provide a route for any tenant to leave their tenancy on one week’s notice—we can imagine the impact that that would have on social housing.”
“The first part of it would require ministers to lay regulations to commence part 2 of the Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Act 2021. I have discussed with Katy Clark the fact that I am entirely committed to doing that, and I confirmed to Ruth Maguire during part of last week’s stage 3 consideration that it is my intention to lay regulations to ensure that part 2 of the 2021 act comes into force. My aim is to do that by Christmas. I want those powers in force. Had that provision been an amendment on its own, I would have accepted it. However, there is a fundamental problem with the second part of amendment 328, which means that I cannot accept it.”
“I intend to work on the development of that guidance with Katy Clark and others for whom I know that that is a priority. Amendments 240 and 241, in my name, will ensure that the term “abuse” is used consistently in the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987. One part of that act currently refers to “domestic abuse”, but the bill includes a broader definition of abuse to cover a wider range of harmful behaviours. My amendment will update the wording so that the broader definition is used and that it is in line with the Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Act 2021. Maggie Chapman’s amendment 327 is not required, as my amendments, which I have just elaborated on, will ensure that the broader definition is used throughout. I turn to amendment 328, which is another of Katy Clark’s amendments.”
“Amendments 311 and 312 refer to the provision of details of support services, as Ms Clark set out. I am pleased to confirm that the provisions in all four of those amendments are already catered for in the bill. The bill contains provisions on addressing homelessness that arises from abuse, including duties on relevant bodies to provide appropriate support. Indeed, section 45 of the bill will require all local authorities and registered social landlords to publish a policy that sets out how they support tenants who “have experienced, are experiencing or are at risk of domestic abuse”. Landlords will have to take into account guidance from the Scottish ministers on how those policies should be developed and how they should be used. The guidance could require information on support services to form part of the support that is offered.”
“For example, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations said in its briefing: “We strongly support amendment 328”. It believes that the new section that the amendment proposes is needed for registered social landlords to be able to implement domestic abuse policies, which has been asked for by various campaigns. Amendment 329, which also relates to social landlords, would require a domestic abuse policy to include the steps that can be taken to write off rent arrears where there has been domestic abuse. I move amendment 309. The Cabinet Secretary for Housing (Màiri McAllan): I will begin by addressing Katy Clark’s amendments 309 and 310, which would oblige the relevant body to ask “whether the person is homeless or threatened with homelessness” as a result of abuse.”
“The amendment would address a gap in the law and similar issues, which I spoke to last week in relation to my amendment 293. Social landlords are clear that they need such a statutory footing in order to be able to implement their domestic abuse policies—I stress that amendment 328 relates to social landlords, not the private sector. I raised the issue at stage 2 and discussed it with the cabinet secretary and her predecessor. Given that the amendment relates to domestic abuse in circumstances in which the landlord accepts that there is or has been domestic abuse, a longer period than one week’s notice should not be required; one week’s notice is sufficient. As I said, the provision in amendment 328 has been requested by social landlords.”
“15:15 Amendments 328 and 329 were lodged after discussions with the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, which highlighted the need for greater security for victims of domestic abuse who may be left vulnerable to homelessness after ending a joint tenancy with their abusers. Amendment 328 would allow a joint tenant who “has experienced, is experiencing or is at risk of domestic abuse” to end their interest in the tenancy “without giving notice to each of the other joint tenants”. The amendment, which would apply to registered social landlords, would require that, when a landlord receives notice under the provision, they “must provide the tenant with details of such other support that may be available to the tenant in relation to domestic abuse”.”
“I will speak to amendment 309 and my other amendments in the group. Amendment 309 would require relevant bodies to ask individuals who they have reason to believe might be homeless or threatened with homelessness whether their situation arose as a result of either past or on-going experience of abuse. Amendment 310 would define “abuse” under the definition that is outlined in section 43 of the bill, as conduct “giving rise, or likely to give rise, to physical or mental injury, fear, alarm or distress”. Amendments 311 and 312 would require the relevant body, where it is informed that a person is either homeless or threatened with homelessness “as a consequence of ... having experienced or experiencing abuse” to provide details of support to that person.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report from the Scottish Funding Council stating that universities and colleges are in unsustainable financial situations, with some at risk of insolvency in the current financial year. (S6T-02699)”
“Last week, I urged the cabinet secretary to make a direct award to Ferguson Marine for the replacement of MV Lord of the Isles. That call is supported by the workers, unions, Ferguson Marine itself, businesses and the local community across the west of Scotland. Alasdair Allan: Will the member take an intervention? The Deputy Presiding Officer: The member is concluding. Katy Clark: I apologise—I cannot take one. I ask the Scottish Government to consider making a direct award under section 45 of the Subsidy Control Act 2022 in relation to that specific procurement exercise, and I reiterate the calls in Paul Sweeney’s motion for a national shipbuilding strategy in Scotland that recognises the strategic importance of shipbuilding to this country. 13:16”
“I would be grateful for clarity from the minister on social value being included in procurement and at least matching the 10 per cent minimum that is required in other parts of the UK, because we know that that has not been the case in previous processes. I also made the case for direct awards last week, which is lawful for essential infrastructure such as ferries. I understand that the UK Government has written to Scottish ministers about extending UK procurement legislation to Scotland. It would be helpful if the minister could outline what engagement, if any, is taking place with UK ministers on procurement legislation, the ability to make direct awards and the ability to maximise social value in any procurement policies.”
“The yard lost out on the CalMac order for seven small electric ferries earlier this year, not because of doubts about the quality of the yard’s bid, but because its bid was undercut on price. Concerns have been raised that social value was not considered—or was not considered sufficiently—in that decision, or indeed in other decisions that have been made. In other parts of the UK, the UK Government has now placed a minimum 10 per cent social value weighting element into the assessments of bids for shipbuilding contracts, and I support the points that Paul Sweeney made in his speech in that regard. When I raised that very point with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government last week, she said that social value weighting was already included in current procurement legislation.”
“Ferguson’s employs around 300 highly skilled workers and apprentices, and it has been a vital part of Scotland’s shipbuilding industry for more than a century now, delivering a third of the current CalMac Ferries fleet. The yard is also vital for the local economy in Inverclyde; continued failure by the Scottish Government to deliver on the promised investment or to help the yard secure work is creating uncertainty about the yard’s future. Last year, the Scottish Government pledged to invest £14.2 million in modern equipment at Ferguson’s, yet only £600,000 has been invested so far, and procurement notices for new machinery have lapsed. I would therefore be grateful if the minister could provide an update today on when the remaining promised investment will be delivered at Ferguson’s.”
“I congratulate Paul Sweeney on securing this important debate. The shipbuilding industry is of historic importance to many communities across Scotland, and it continues to play a significant part in our economy today. The deal that has been secured by the UK Government with Norway to provide at least five frigates will bring jobs and continued work for Scotland’s shipbuilding industry. The deal follows on from other contracts secured from the Royal Navy by Scotland’s shipyards, including Ferguson Marine, which will be involved in fabricating components for HMS Birmingham. There is still a clear need, however, for a comprehensive national shipbuilding strategy for Scotland, particularly when we consider the current position that Ferguson’s finds itself in as the Clyde’s last non-naval shipyard.”
“Of course, there are already criminal offences relating to such matters, but amendment 289 would increase the maximum penalties for such offences, which would be appropriate in situations involving repeat offenders. There are already offences for unlawful eviction, and the amendment would simply strengthen the law in this area, increasing the penalties. Both of my amendments are supported by Living Rent and other campaign groups. 16:00”
“That change would bring the law in Scotland into line with the provisions outlined in the UK Government’s Renters’ Rights Bill, which has been debated at Westminster over recent months, and it would therefore bring the law in Scotland into line with that of the rest of the UK. Edward Mountain said that he believed that that would mean that the landlord would pay double council tax, but, of course, that is not the position when there is an attempt to sell a property. No doubt, we can come back to that later if the member does not accept that point. Amendment 289 seeks to strengthen the criminal law in relation to wrongful termination. That offence criminalises the act of intentionally misleading a tenant into ceasing to occupy a let property and misleading the First-tier Tribunal into issuing an eviction order.”