Tess White
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party · Scotland
“It is scandalous that the Scottish National Party Government has spent millions of pounds funding self-identification groups while shutting sex-based women’s organisations out of public funding.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the social justice secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the protection of people’s human rights in relation to new renewable energy infrastructure, including the proposed SSEN Transmission 400kV overhead power line in the North East Scotland region. (S6O-05604)”
“Does the First Minister agree with his Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy’s comment that, if people do not want pylons, battery storage or other destructive infrastructure in rural Scotland, they are on the far right? If he does not agree with her, will he apologise for her disgraceful remark?”
“Siobhian Brown: We have heard the consensus, and this is an issue that needs to be addressed in the next parliamentary session. A commission that can examine and consider the many issues that have been aired today and act quickly in the next session is the way forward ahead of legislation that the Parliament can scrutinise and amend, know…”
“Liam Kerr and Pam Gosal gave example after example of when time was made available at the beginning of the day or at the end. I am not allowed to say that the Scottish Government was lying, but it was a misrepresentation of the truth. I thank Ruth Maguire for her intervention on Maggie Chapman, because we were cringing at her speech.”
“I am clear that we cannot dismiss the comments from women involved in prostitution who are “terrified” of the proposals. That should make us all pause. Ahead of today’s debate, members received many briefings that highlight the risks, but I appreciate that opinion is divided on the issue.”
The complete record
Every one of 316 lines we hold for Tess White, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 1 of 7.
“To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support freedom of speech across the cultural sector. (S6O-05617)”
“To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the social justice secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the protection of people’s human rights in relation to new renewable energy infrastructure, including the proposed SSEN Transmission 400kV overhead power line in the North East Scotland region. (S6O-05604)”
“It is scandalous that the Scottish National Party Government has spent millions of pounds funding self-identification groups while shutting sex-based women’s organisations out of public funding. Ahead of international women’s day, will the First Minister commit to finally opening the equally safe and equality and human rights funds to fair and open competition? The First Minister: The Government sets out to Parliament the investment that it is making. I have set out the uplift to the funds, and all of that provision is put to Parliament in the annual budget, which I am pleased to say Parliament approved last week. The Presiding Officer: We move to constituency and general supplementary questions.”
“Lord Advocate’s Role (Separation of Functions) 5.”
“Does the First Minister agree with his Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy’s comment that, if people do not want pylons, battery storage or other destructive infrastructure in rural Scotland, they are on the far right? If he does not agree with her, will he apologise for her disgraceful remark? The Presiding Officer: First Minister, please answer in relation to the substantive question. The First Minister: I am interested in Tess White’s comment. Members of the public are free to express their views on all questions. We all live in a democracy, and we are all free to express the points of view that we hold. It is important that all opportunities for engagement on any issues in relation to renewables projects are available to all members of the public through the planning process. That will always remain so.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the current state of libraries in Scotland as part of any action it is taking to protect and strengthen these services. (S6O-05515)”
“Ash Regan: They do not want your sympathy; they just need your vote. Those who vote against the bill today will find that it will become a stain on their voting record. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Ms Regan, we need to have your conclusion now. Ash Regan: I will conclude, Presiding Officer. For all the survivors of prostitution here, in Scotland and across the world, I commend the motion in my name. The Deputy Presiding Officer: That concludes the debate on the Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill at stage 1. There will be a short pause before we move on to the next item of business. Scottish Hospitals Inquiry”
“Ash Regan: What rational person thinks that the vulnerable are kept safe by shielding the men who have queued around the block to buy access to these wee girls’ bodies and then rape them like takeaway meals on the vile Punternet community sites? There are sliding-door moments in politics, and today is one of those sliding-door moments. I gave survivors, who have been ignored for generations, a voice in their national Parliament. Now, members, it is over to you. What are you going to do? Are you going to listen, are you going to act, or are you going to stand for shielding sex buyers and tolerating the collateral damage that they inflict? If that is for you, that will have to be between you and your conscience. Survivors do not want your praise. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Ms Regan, please complete your speech.”
“They have called to us all. They have bared their deepest trauma and shame in the hope that we will listen to them and in the hope that we will save the next wee girls who are targeted to have their bodies accessed by entitled, abusive sex buyers. Will you finally heed their call to courage? Will you listen to and act for them? MSPs who hide behind the polished lies that are directly out of the sex trade handbook should be ashamed, frankly. I want to address the point of harm. The only thing that would be harmed by my bill is the sex trade, and there is no excuse not to apply critical thinking and research to this debate, as other legislatures, even in the UK, have done and have told us about. They are watching this Parliament today. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Ms Regan, you will need to conclude.”
“The state has a duty to protect women and girls from sexual exploitation by abusive, dangerous men. If it does not act, I am afraid that all members will be complicit in that harm. As I look around the chamber this evening, I see some MSPs sitting here who know that they should register an interest, but I am sure that they will not, for varying reasons. The vote on the bill is not a conscience vote, but I believe that it should be, as such votes have been for other members’ bills. I also see former colleagues and friends on the benches who I know back the bill and support the principle. I wonder whether they will have the courage to say so with their votes—I hope that they will. Millicent Fawcett famously said, “Courage calls to courage”. The most courageous people in the Parliament today are the survivors of prostitution.”
“I have had radio silence from the Government on technical issues that are within its control and even on requests from survivors to meet the Government, which is shameful. I am sorry, Presiding Officer, but that is shameful. I have been a Government minister for four years and a back bencher in the Parliament for five years. Colleagues, I have to tell you that I have never been more ashamed of the lack of courage that is being displayed in the Parliament—not even to meet survivors of exploitation, which is probably happening metres from this building, let alone to stand up and be counted on a matter that is life or death. This is not about greyhound tracks that are not even operational; this is about life or death for vulnerable women and girls—but, you know, the Parliament is too busy.”
“If this is beyond the capability of the Parliament and 128 MSPs, in the two remaining months of a five- year parliamentary session, the public will ask us what we are doing here. I got to this stage 1 debate with just my own small team, alongside brave survivors, many of whom are in the public gallery, and a network of women’s rights and child safeguarding campaigners. I thank them. They have done and are doing what women have always done when those in power fail to act on our behalf: organise at kitchen tables between dinner and tea. I have had no support from the Government or privately funded lobby groups. I have not even had the NGBU resource that the public would assume that the public purse funds for all members’ bills.”
“Among all the issues raised at the committee—I have listened carefully to what has been said at stage 1 and have committed to a number of amendments to address those issues—the Government has not articulated one issue to me that I had not already covered in my various conversations with the minister. If it is a matter of money, what price does the Government put on the safety of women and girls? I even presented a Christie commission- based public-value case to the Government, showing that the bill will actually save Scotland money. The bill would enact a law that is backed by Police Scotland, the Crown Office, the UN special rapporteur on violence against women and girls and the Lord Advocate—a law that has been in force in eight countries for more than 26 years— and it reflects the Government’s own strategy.”
“The model does not pretend to manage the harm; it targets the demand and the entitlement that drives the system. If we fail to pass the bill, we are not protecting women’s safety; we are protecting men’s violence. We are shielding the minority of men who, in their own words, reveal exactly what they believe women to be for. Let us be clear: hiding sex buyers behind claims of women’s safety is not protection; it is exploitation. The silence that the buyers hide behind is not innocence; it is entitlement enforced by power. The Parliament now has to decide who it stands with: the exploited or the exploiter. My bill, including the title, is four and a half pages long and has 11 sections.”
“Many hold positions of authority and power— headteachers, senior professionals, princes and politicians. Police and prosecutors understand, and they see the pattern repeatedly. They back my bill. Men who are arrested for sexual assault often turn out to be sex buyers. Domestic abuse perpetrators frequently have a history of buying sex. Men who are stopped for kerb crawling already have previous offending against women. Digital evidence shows patterns of purchasing surfacing across different crimes. Demand for sexual access is not a separate behaviour. It sits as part of the wider continuum of violence against women and girls. That is why the Nordic model is such a game changer, because it does not criminalise the sellers—Maggie Chapman and I have that in common.”
“Another punter said: “If you want the best head, a junkie will do it best. I saw her when she was homeless. She wore that bikini for weeks on end, and I would fuck her unshaven, unkempt, unshowered. I’d do it again if I had the chance. She is an object placed there for men like us to use.” When women do not perform enthusiasm, they are punished, financially and verbally. Another review says: “Avoid. Let her learn the hard way that there’s no such thing as a free lunch.” This is the mentality of the men that members are being asked to protect by not backing my bill. Evidence suggests that about 11 per cent of men have bought sex. That figure is out of date, however—I think that it is higher now. Most of them are in relationships and are economically stable.”
“Across countries, and for decades, men who buy sexual access score higher on sexual entitlement, acceptance of coercion, hostility towards women and rape myth acceptance, which is one of the strongest predictors of sexual aggression. What does that look like in their own words? One buyer describes meeting a woman who was visibly unwell and disoriented. He said, “She looked like she was under the effect of chemicals. She was disorientated when I tried to talk to her, but I decided to give her a go anyway.” Another writes: “It truly is like living in a fantasy world, getting to pick from a range of girls to suck my cock and be fucked by me—all my teenage fantasies right there.” We hear again and again the language of ownership, the language of consumption and the language of contempt.”
“Ash Regan: The Lord Advocate said that “women involved in prostitution are disproportionately likely to be victims of serious … offences,” but the men “who purchase sex, whether on or off the street, are statistically more likely to perpetrate domestic abuse and other forms of violence against women and girls.” She went on to say that “It is therefore essential that the issue is considered within the broader context of public interest and societal harm.” That is not ideology; that is Scotland’s chief legal officer, giving her evidence, having had a long career as a sexual crimes prosecutor. The academic literature aligns with that.”
“Tess White: Presiding Officer, the rules say that MSPs need to show respect to other MSPs. There is a conversation going on beside me, involving a cabinet secretary and a minister, while I am trying to listen to Ash Regan’s closing speech. I think that that is disrespectful. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Ms White. I have noted your contribution. Obviously, every member would wish to extend courtesy and respect to all other members, and we should all be paying attention to the member who has the floor.”
“I will tell members where they go: they just go down the chain, to women who are poorer, more desperate and more vulnerable. That is a choice, but too many people in prostitution do not have a choice. They do not have agency, and they do not have an ability to plead. We are told that sex buyers are ordinary men, and I believe that they are. They are men who want privacy. The evidence—academic, operational and survivor led—tells us a different story, however. The Lord Advocate put this in her written evidence to the committee. She said that “women involved in prostitution are disproportionately likely to be—” Tess White: On a point of order, Presiding Officer. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Could you please resume your seat, Ms Regan? We have a point of order from Tess White.”
“Let us be honest: screening is not a safety measure; it is an attempt at a survival strategy that is used by women to try and navigate all the risks that are stacked against them—risks that are created by male entitlement, power and demand. It does not offer protection from violence. I am sorry, minister, but if you had taken the time— The Deputy Presiding Officer: Always speak through the chair. Ash Regan: If she had taken time to listen to survivors, the minister might have heard people explaining that point. There is a question here that is never answered. Rona Mackay: Will the member take an intervention? Ash Regan: I will not. If men are refused by those at the very top who are able to do some kind of vetting, where do those men go next?”
“There have been excellent speeches from Michelle Thomson, Ruth Maguire, Fergus Ewing and Stephen Kerr. However, we have not heard from the buyers. The bill criminalises the purchase of sexual access, yet, throughout the committee’s scrutiny and throughout its evidence, the people whose behaviour would be criminalised are very conspicuous by their absence. There were no sex buyers—no men coming in front of the committee to account for or justify why they believe that their power entitles them to purchase access to another human being’s body. That matters because, when concerns are raised about safety, as they have been again today, we are told again and again that criminalising men will make women less safe, sellers will screen more carefully and women will be forced to vet in order to survive.”
“Siobhian Brown: I cannot and will not dismiss that clear concern for women’s safety that the committee has heard, which MSPs have reflected on today and which several stakeholders have outlined in their briefings. That concern needs to be at the forefront of our minds today, which is why the Scottish Government cannot support the bill at stage 1. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I now call Ash Regan to wind up the debate. You have up to eight minutes, please. 17:58 Ash Regan: It has been an interesting afternoon. I reiterate my point that the Parliament is at its best when we are wrestling with such debates. However, it is very clear to me that the approach that I outlined in my bill has won the argument decisively in the chamber this afternoon.”
“Siobhian Brown: We have heard the consensus, and this is an issue that needs to be addressed in the next parliamentary session. A commission that can examine and consider the many issues that have been aired today and act quickly in the next session is the way forward ahead of legislation that the Parliament can scrutinise and amend, knowing that it has the time and, importantly, that the proposals have been developed with those who are involved in prostitution. Women have clearly stated that, as drafted, the bill would put them at an increased risk of violence. I do not think that the bill can be amended sufficiently in six short weeks to allay those concerns and the other flaws in the bill. Stephen Kerr: Six weeks! Did the minister not hear a word that has been said? The Deputy Presiding Officer: Members, the minister needs to conclude.”
“Next month, as part of our wider work to improve support, we will also launch an employability and training guide for women who are looking to exit prostitution. As I said earlier, there is £400,000 in our draft budget to provide support in this area, with a further £65,000 being provided to the Women’s Support Project to support women exiting prostitution. I commend Ash Regan for ensuring that the Parliament has recognised the need to change the legislation around prostitution and the majority agrees with the fundamental principle of criminalising the purchase of sex. However, we have also heard about significant concerns with the bill that would take time to address. Time is not available in this parliamentary session. Liam Kerr: Will the minister take an intervention? The Deputy Presiding Officer: The minister is concluding.”
“I hope that the minister has noted that point. Siobhian Brown: I have noted that. I was addressing some of the comments from other members, not all comments. I do apologise. It was not meant for that member. In my opening speech, I was going to mention operation begonia and a Crimestoppers campaign on commercial sexual exploitation that will be launched on 23 February. We have also funded the development of a resource to support police training that will be introduced this year. During its committee evidence, Police Scotland highlighted the importance of local support and how it will go hand in hand with its work. The new resource will build on the work that we have been undertaking with Police Scotland to strengthen the connections between police and local support services.”
“I have a point of order from Pauline McNeill. Pauline McNeill: I apologise for raising a point of order during a speech—I would never do that, but the minister started a sentence by saying that she would name the members who have been disingenuous. I do not know whether she meant me, but I think that I am owed an apology because what I said was what I believe. I will not stand here and be called disingenuous by the minister. I thought that we shared some common ground on the fact that the wider harm to women is something that we all agree about. Therefore, can I have an apology, please? The Deputy Presiding Officer: I thank Ms McNeill for her point of order. That is indeed a point of order. Under our standing orders, all members, including ministers, are required to treat every other member with courtesy and respect.”
“Siobhian Brown: The member mentioned the evolving digital landscape with women being filmed, which was on the news yesterday. That reiterates that we need the expertise to feed that into the discussions on how we move forward with the bill. I know that Katy Clark and Pauline McNeill asked why this legislation was not in the programme for government. I have to clarify that there was a commitment in the 2020-21 programme for government to consult on challenging men’s demand for prostitution. That led the Government to develop a model for Scotland that effectively tackles and challenges men’s demand for prostitution. We published that strategic approach back in 2024. The Government is crystal clear that that work will continue— The Deputy Presiding Officer: Minister, please resume your seat for a second.”
“Liam Kerr, you referred to the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill as one of the reasons for having time for all these amendments— The Deputy Presiding Officer: Always speak through the chair, please. Siobhian Brown: That bill was introduced in June 2023, but it was late last year when it was finally passed, so that process took more than two years. There are also more than a dozen bills to get through in the next 22 sitting days. Pauline McNeill, I will address some of the things that you highlighted. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Always speak through the chair, please. Siobhian Brown: Sorry, Presiding Officer. You mentioned the evolving landscape— The Deputy Presiding Officer: Always speak through the chair, please.”
“We have also heard about the issues with the bill as drafted relating to the definition of the criminal aspect in the bill and to enforcement. For example, in its briefing to MSPs, the Law Society of Scotland, which does not take a position on any of the bill’s policy intentions, states that it envisages that “the behaviours excluded from the scope of the proposed offence may lead to confusion”, and it agrees with the committee’s stage 1 recommendation that any new proposed offence should “have a clear definition consistent with current legislation and the policy intentions of the Bill.” I will reflect on some of the contributions from members. I appreciate that the issue is very emotive, but I feel that some members have been very disingenuous in relation to some of the facts that they have portrayed.”
“There is currently no detail in the bill on that and, if it were to progress, we would have no time to consult or engage with women in prostitution at the moment. Further work is also clearly needed to ensure that future legislation is deliverable for the police. I am sure that many members will be aware of the concerns that Police Scotland raised yesterday about operational costs that could arise as a result of the bill. In relation to what Fergus Ewing said regarding yesterday’s announcement from Police Scotland, I highlight that that was the first time that I had seen those figures, but I am told that that was in response to a question that Ms Dowey from the Conservatives asked in the committee’s meeting on 5 November last year.”
“We ask that you vote against the bill.” Ash Regan: The logic of those on the other side of the argument seems to be that, if we decriminalise similar crimes—if we decriminalise, say, rapists or domestic abusers—that will somehow make women safer. Surely we can understand that that is not the case and that we need to hold these men to account to reduce the level of violence. Siobhian Brown: That has not been our argument whatsoever. I support the committee’s recommendation to establish an independent commission on the issue, because, importantly, that will allow for further engagement with women who are currently involved in selling sex and offer an opportunity to hear from those with technical experience on how best to respond to online exploitation, specifically in relation to the support that women need.”
“I am clear that we cannot dismiss the comments from women involved in prostitution who are “terrified” of the proposals. That should make us all pause. Ahead of today’s debate, members received many briefings that highlight the risks, but I appreciate that opinion is divided on the issue. Finlay Carson: Will the minister take an intervention? Siobhian Brown: I am not taking interventions at this stage, as I have a lot to get through. For example, one briefing said that the bill would “make life more dangerous and difficult for those selling sex, by driving the industry underground”. In the open letter to MSPs that I mentioned—well, I was going to mention it in my opening speech, but I did not get the chance—the 126 signatories said: “for us this means our working conditions worsening, and the rate of violence we experience rising.”
“17:49 Siobhian Brown: I share the passion and the drive that have been clearly evident from all of today’s contributions. This is self-evidently a complex and sensitive issue that needs to be addressed in a way that everyone can agree on, particularly women who are involved in prostitution. Ms Regan and other members have spoken in defence of the bill, but we cannot ignore the voices of women involved in prostitution who have said that they will be at risk of violence and harm if it is passed. Carol Mochan: Will the minister take an intervention? Siobhian Brown: I am going to try to make some progress. We have about 22 sitting days left in this parliamentary session. Do members really believe that there is enough time to sufficiently address that concern and the many other flaws that have been highlighted in the bill?”
“It is supported by a long list of organisations, including the Crown Office, Police Scotland and Scottish Women’s Aid. The Deputy Presiding Officer: You need to conclude. Tess White: At its core, the bill is about the protection of vulnerable women and girls and reducing organised crime, including grooming and human trafficking. Let right be done today. I say to the SNP members who are just sitting there looking at me: do not be cannon fodder for your whips. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Ms White, you need to conclude. Tess White: A vote for this bill at stage 1— The Deputy Presiding Officer: Ms White, you need to conclude. Tess White: —is a vote to support the general principle of the bill. The Deputy Presiding Officer: We are well over our time, and we must make some progress.”
“I thank Rhoda Grant, because she made us pause for a moment. She asked the question: if this was your mother, sister or daughter, how would you feel? As my colleague Stephen Kerr said, is this a country we want to bring up our daughters and granddaughters in? The SNP has been in power for two decades. Fergus Ewing said today that it has become a nest of fearties, and I agree with that. The Government’s argument has been destroyed today. The SNP Government condemns violence against women and girls, yet prostitution is a form of violence that it has never tackled in legislation. The bill would reduce demand, disrupt organised crime and, crucially, provide a framework of better support for those who want to exit prostitution.”
“Liam Kerr and Pam Gosal gave example after example of when time was made available at the beginning of the day or at the end. I am not allowed to say that the Scottish Government was lying, but it was a misrepresentation of the truth. I thank Ruth Maguire for her intervention on Maggie Chapman, because we were cringing at her speech. My colleague said that it was just offensive, but we cringed when we listened to Maggie Chapman eulogise sex work. Ruth Maguire asked whether, if it is the case that sex work is work, we should set up work experience. She showed how ridiculous Maggie Chapman was being. Rona Mackay tried to intervene several times, and I say to her: violence from prostitution is not a myth. Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) rose— Tess White: I am afraid that I will not take an intervention from my colleague.”
“The bill seeks to address that reality directly by shifting responsibility away from the abused to the abusers—those who create the demand and those who profit from it. Voices have been raised about prostitution being driven underground, yet that is not borne out by evidence from countries such as Sweden. Traffickers and pimps depend on visibility and access. Their profits rely on men being able to purchase and abuse women easily. Reducing demand reduces the scale of harm and exploitation. Ash Regan pointed out that sexual exploitation exists because those with the power choose not to act. Liam Kerr and Pam Gosal challenged the argument that was laid out that the Parliament does not have the time to discuss the issue.”
“Sex tourism increased, more women were being violated, organised crime became entrenched and human trafficking got worse. Today, in my own region, there are pop-up brothels in towns, women are trafficked and there are alarming indicators of exploitation. We know that there are links between prostitution, grooming gangs and serious organised crime. In 2025, a Romanian gang was convicted in Dundee for trafficking, rape and sexual abuse connected to prostitution—those are not isolated incidents. As we have heard today, the central issue is demand. As Pam Gosal outlined, prostitution exists because men are enabled to buy sex, rape and abuse women and girls. As long as that demand is left unchallenged, exploitation and harm will continue.”
“I thank Ash Regan for her courage, and I thank her incredible team. I also thank the survivors of prostitution who shared their harrowing stories with MSPs. Today, we vote as a Parliament for the principles of this bill to put an end to state- sanctioned torture of women and girls. The bill responds to evidence of serious harm—evidence from women whose lives have been shaped by exploitation and violence. I speak today as someone whose views on the issue have changed. When I lived in the Netherlands shortly after prostitution was legalised there, I accepted the argument that regulation would improve safety and reduce abuse. Brothels were licensed and standards enforced to protect those selling sex. However, over time, I saw the horrific outcomes as they became apparent.”
“To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures value for money when allocating funding within the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture portfolio. (S6O-05420)”
“Motion agreed to, That the Parliament agrees to the following revisions to the programme of business for Wednesday 28 January 2026— after followed by Scottish Labour Party Debate: The Role of Political Decision Making in NHS Scandals insert followed by First Minister’s Statement: Update on the MV Bella-1 delete 9.30 pm Decision Time and insert 10.00 pm Decision Time Portfolio Question Time Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, and Parliamentary Business 14:14”
“For Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Baillie, Jackie (Dumbarton) (Lab) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Ind) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) Against Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) The Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 78, Against 25, Abstentions 0.”
“On a point of order, Deputy Presiding Officer. I would have voted no. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Your vote will be recorded. The Cabinet Secretary for Housing (Màiri McAllan): On a point of order, Deputy Presiding Officer. I would have voted yes. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Your vote will be recorded.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect women from rape and sexual assault in hospitals. (S6O-05401)”
“If need be, we could go back into the records and find a note of the meeting that Ms Stewart had with me and a range of other ministers, but that is going back some time, and I will have to come back to the member on that issue. The Presiding Officer: I remind members that, as this is our shortest question session of the week, concise questions and responses are appreciated. Pension-age Winter Heating Payment (Mid Scotland and Fife) 2.”
“Angela Constance: In summary, I will repeat the essence of what I said to Michelle Thomson: I will lay an SSI well in advance of the end of this parliamentary session, because I want to ensure that women and girls have those protections in the format of hate crime legislation, in the same way that those with other protected characteristics do. I assure members that that is all in hand. As for the second part of Tess White’s question, I would note that the Minister for Equalities has certainly not met me in recent times on the various equality duties. I recall that, some time ago, soon after her appointment to her post, she met ministers collectively and I know that she has, on more than one occasion, reminded all ministers of our collective responsibility to meet our equality duties.”
“The minister says that the SSI will be laid “in due course”, but we do not know when that will be. Only this Tuesday, at the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee, the Minister for Equalities informed us that she had not met the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs to discuss the nine protected characteristics—sex being one, as now defined and clarified by the Supreme Court judgment. That was absolutely alarming You have still not included sex in the hate crime legislation and have still not told us when the SSI will be laid. Also, why have you not met the Minister for Equalities? The Presiding Officer: Always speak through the chair.”
“In her name and that of so many others, it is time that we make non-fatal strangulation a stand-alone crime in Scotland. 13:05”
“As we have heard, the researchers, Professor Sonia Oreffice and Professor Climent Quintana- Domeque, say: “Laws that explicitly define and criminalise non-fatal strangulation are a scalable and actionable policy tool for preventing lethal acts of domestic violence. Our findings show how laws can be designed to shift enforcement earlier in the violence cycle and meaningfully enhance victim safety.” Fiona Drouet, in reply to the Lord Advocate’s rejection of a stand-alone NFS crime said: “A specific law would reinforce to health professionals, educators, and frontline responders that this behaviour is a red flag for escalating harm, including homicide and suicide. It would also support victims in recognising the seriousness of their experiences and empower them to seek help.” Emily Drouet was caught in the gap where the law should have been.”