Douglas Ross
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party · Scotland
“To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to comments by the Scottish Information Commissioner who stated, in relation to the Government’s handling of information concerning the Salmond files, “I can no longer trust the government to handle this information unsupervised and will explore more intrusive options to ensure complianc…”
“I literally follow sport from the sidelines in my role as a match official but, more than that, as a parent of two boys in Moray, I give credit to the sporting organisations in Moray and across the Highlands that provide so many opportunities for young people—boys and girls— throughout the country.”
“When we are thinking about the bill, which will undoubtedly pass at stage 3 today, I am sure unanimously, we might consider what she said in her email: “Calum can’t advocate for himself due to his complex disability, but he can express this truth: the children aren’t naughty, they are scared.” Children should not be scared in Scotland, an…”
“I rise to make my final speech in the chamber. I chose to speak in this debate, on this subject, for a number of reasons. First, the member in charge proved to be a very conscientious and determined member in getting the bill through.”
“The work that I have done as an individual member, as a party spokesperson, as a party leader and as a convener has been assisted by their tremendous efforts.”
“I am frustrated that we have politicians who cannot speak for four minutes without having the lectern up and reading from a script, daring not to deviate by taking an intervention.”
The complete record
Every one of 1,089 lines we hold for Douglas Ross, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 7 of 22.
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. This afternoon, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs has written to me, confirming that she is requesting a change to the Official Report of this Parliament for the meeting of 16 September. This came under questioning today at the Education, Children and Young People Committee, and that request has come after weeks and months of MSPs in the chamber asking for the record to be corrected. That was refused by Angela Constance, and it was refused by John Swinney. Now, Angela Constance has agreed to do so. However, the advice on correcting information during proceedings is different from that for after proceedings. If a mistake is not notified during proceedings, there are different aspects that a member has to go through.”
“Sometimes, there are divisions in the chamber and we strongly disagree with one another. At other times, an individual member is able to work across the political parties to bring a nugget of an idea to fruition. Liz Smith should be very proud of having done that, and the Parliament should be proud that an Opposition member has been able to work with the Government to enact a law that will make a real difference. I am delighted to speak in favour of the bill, and I will be very proud to vote for it. 17:10”
“As a result of the bill, there will be so many opportunities for kids such as Nevis, now and in the future, to have experiences that will not only stick with them in their school career but remain with them throughout their entire life. We heard at committee about the difference that outdoor education makes to classroom environments. People who have one view of a teacher before they go on a week-long residential course might have a totally different view when they come back, and that aids education and the atmosphere and environment in our classrooms. The bill has so many positives. I was delighted when the committee could agree its general principles and the Parliament overwhelmingly supported it at stage 1, which is why the Parliament should—and will—support it to become law tonight.”
“And we all did drumming together at night, and it was really exciting and fun. I’d never done any of those things before ... I can’t do so many things like that at home because they don’t have spaces for kids with wheelchairs to join in ... I think every kid should get the chance to go to camp, have adventures and hang out together.”—[Official Report, Education, Children and Young People Committee, 13 November 2024; c 49-50.] Nevis articulated very clearly why the bill was so important to Liz Smith, who has committed so much of her parliamentary career to getting it on to the statute book, and why it is so important that the Parliament agrees to the bill tonight.”
“The meeting was on 13 November 2024, so it was more than a year ago, but the words that Nick March read to us about a young pupil called Nevis stuck with me at the time and still stick with me now. He said: “Nevis has cerebral palsy. He is a full-time wheelchair user and he needs support with feeding and an adult with him all the time.” Nick March wanted the committee to hear—and I want the Parliament to hear—the difference that outdoor residential learning made to Nevis. These are Nevis’s words being read out in Nevis’s Parliament as we are able to pass a bill that Nevis supports: “Rock climbing was awesome! I got to defy gravity and abseil down a mountain at the speed of light! Kayaking was so cool literally. I sailed round an island with my school friends in a storm! I scored a gold at archery!”
“I am not speaking tonight as convener of the Education, Children and Young People Committee, but as convener I was privileged to sit through the evidence sessions on the bill and to hear from people who are passionate about it, as Liz Smith is, and who wanted to share their experience about what it will achieve for so many others. I am delighted that so many of them are in our public gallery tonight to watch the final element of the bill’s passage. I will always remember that, when we were constructing our stage 1 report—and this was included in it—a letter by Nick March was read out to the committee, and I want to use those words again tonight.”
“I have the easiest job in the Parliament tonight, which is to open this debate on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives, because my Scottish Conservative colleague Liz Smith, along with her office and the non-Government bills unit, has done all the work—an incredible amount of work—to bring us to this stage. They have achieved something that, at some stages in the process, looked unachievable. However, at any point when there were challenges, Liz Smith got stuck in and overcame them, which has ensured that we, as a Parliament, can vote tonight for the bill to become law. I will be proud to do so.”
“To ask the Scottish Government whether it will release all correspondence between the Scottish Government and Professor Alexis Jay, and what mechanism will be used to provide this information to MSPs and Parliament.”
“I ask for your understanding of and reaction to what I believe is a discourtesy not just to the Parliament, but to you personally, given your ruling last night.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Before we get to the urgent question, I will quote your words from yesterday: “The ‘Scottish Ministerial Code’ states: ‘The Scottish Government should be accountable to the Scottish Parliament’. As a matter of courtesy and respect, I would expect that, when a minister cannot provide information in answer to a question in the chamber, and when the minister has committed to providing that answer in the chamber, they should undertake to provide such detail to the member as soon as it is available.”—[Official Report, 9 December 2025; c 95-6.] Five minutes ago—at 1 minute past 5—I received the information that I had requested back on 25 November. Half an hour before that, the Scottish Government published the information on its website.”
“I move amendment S6M-20057.1, to leave out from “; rejects” to end and insert: “, and considers that future transport infrastructure decisions should be based on economic importance, safety and local necessity, and underpinned by a national industrial strategy and a strategic spatial plan.” 16:14”
“Daniel Johnson: I am afraid that I cannot. I say politely to members of both parties that oppose the EV tax that, while the objections are understandable, we have taxation right now that is based on use. There is a charge of more than 50p on every litre of fuel; given that the average car does about 12 to 18 miles per litre, that is about 3p per mile. Given that—I presume—neither of those parties is opposed to fuel duty, how do they propose to replace the £20 billion? I simply put that to them. I understand the objections, but what is the replacement for that revenue? On that, I will close, because I have run out of time.”
“That is fundamental. Whisky is another of Scotland’s main exports. There are 99 distilleries in the Highlands, and 80 per cent of Highland gross domestic product is reliant on whisky. That generates 1,500 HGV journeys per day; there are sections of the A96 on which a fifth of all traffic is due to whisky. We export 40 bottles of whisky per second from Scotland. When we look at the challenges that we face with roads such as the A96, or indeed the A9, we see that when we have traffic jams there, we are literally creating the mother of all bottlenecks for our second-biggest export industry. Jamie Halcro Johnston: Will the member give way? Daniel Johnson: It will have to be very brief. [Interruption.] Actually, I do not really have time. I come on to EV— Jamie Halcro Johnston: Will the member give way?”
“Will the member give way? Daniel Johnson: I am happy to give way, but it will have to be brief. Douglas Ross: Daniel Johnson mentioned rest stops. There is a rest stop on the A9 that provides a useful food van, but Transport Scotland will not allow a sign to be put up to tell drivers to go in there. Does he believe that that should be looked at? It would help drivers to get the rest that they need, and food and drink to keep them alert while driving. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I can give you the time back, Mr Johnson. Daniel Johnson: On the face of it, the member’s suggestion sounds eminently sensible. It is about getting into the small details, which can make a big difference. If we want our roads to work in order to move goods around, HGV drivers need good facilities, including food outlets and secure places to sleep.”
“Therefore, we need tougher enforcement. We need to get the message out from this debate that e-scooters and e-bikes are not toys that are suitable for people to purchase and place under the Christmas tree— they are dangerous vehicles that are wreaking havoc. I would like to hear from the Scottish Government what it will do to ensure that action is taken and that the police can do their job by tackling such crimes. 18:46”
“Councillor David Gordon, chair of Moray Council’s planning and regulatory services committee, echoed that point when he said: “E-scooters are powered by lithium-ion batteries and in recent years some people have unknowingly bought unsafe or counterfeit models that fail to meet UK safety standards—with tragic consequences.” He went on to say that people should know exactly what they are bringing into their homes. He explained: “Unregulated devices can pose a serious fire risk.” The problems in communities have been well articulated, and we have experienced those in Moray. We have also seen the problem with batteries, some of which are potentially counterfeit, that are coming into people’s homes. That is a disaster waiting to happen. We have seen the tragic consequences of the use of such e-scooters and e-bikes.”
“Christine Grahame wants more legislation, but I just want people to understand the legislation that is in place at the moment and that these vehicles are not suitable as gifts, because of all the problems that we have discussed. Chief Inspector McKenzie went on to say that “anyone purchasing an e-scooter has a responsibility to be aware of the law and the implications of using one in a public space.” I think that too many people are unaware of that. Clare Adamson made a very good point about batteries.”
“Michael Marra mentioned that damage was done following a police pursuit. My understanding is that such pursuits are relatively rare. To go back to Liam Kerr’s point, the police are worried about pursuing such vehicles, because if the offenders, who are on illegal vehicles—whether they be scooters or e-bikes— fall off and are injured, the police are potentially liable, as they entered into a pursuit. I would be interested to know what discussions the minister has had with Police Scotland about what police officers can do to pursue such vehicles and those who use them. I also said that this is quite a timely debate. If people leave their Christmas shopping as late as I have, they will still be going about it. I believe that, when some parents are buying these e-scooters and e-bikes, they are unaware that they are illegal.”
“If you could take us up to 6.46, that would be helpful. Douglas Ross: Okay—that is fine. I was speaking about e-scooters. If Christine Grahame was speaking about e-bikes, I apologise. However, going back to my original point, I do not believe that simply requiring people to get licences and regulating their vehicles in some way will solve the problems. I believe that the people who will do things properly are the ones who buy e-bikes and e-scooters for the right reason, which is not to use them on the road. They will not be the ones who are causing the problems, and the people who are causing them will simply ignore that guidance. Consequently, we need to get to the bottom of the policing issue, which I want to focus on. I would be interested to know whether the minister is aware of how often Police Scotland pursues such vehicles.”
“The ones who are causing the problems will not suddenly, overnight, start registering their vehicles, which will then solve the problems. I am sorry, but I do not agree that that is the solution. I respectfully give way to Christine Grahame. Christine Grahame: I know that the member is keen to have clarity in the chamber. I was speaking about e-bikes; I did not mention e- scooters. The fact is that what I said about e-bikes is the case. Although an e-bike is defined as being limited to speeds of no more than 15mph, we know that many such bikes can be adapted. The safest approach is to require the same kind of rules for e-bikes as we require for motorists’ vehicles. Douglas Ross: I will come on to that. However, you will need to help me to do so, Presiding Officer—the clock is ticking. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Indeed.”
“Chief Inspector Mike McKenzie, who is the local area commander for Moray, wrote: “E-scooters cannot be legally registered by the DVLA, which means they are illegal to use on public roads.” He is very clear—[Interruption.] If Christine Grahame wants to come in, I will give way to her in a second, but—[Interruption.] In a second. I am sorry. I will give way once I have made the point that I want to put to Christine Grahame, which is that—I say this with the greatest respect—even if she disagrees with Chief Inspector McKenzie, it is naive in the extreme to say that licensing, taxing and registering the vehicles will solve the problems. The people who will do all of that are not the ones who are currently using those vehicles on public roads. They are the ones who are buying them to be used off road, in fields and so on.”
“I congratulate my friend and colleague Sue Webber on securing this important and, I believe, timely debate. I place on record my entry in the register of members’ interests, which notes that my wife is a police sergeant in Moray. I want to focus on the impact that the issue has had, and continues to have, in Moray. However, I must start with Christine Grahame’s proposal. If she believes in any way that there is consensus in the chamber on her proposal, she should count me out. My local police divisional commander disagrees with Christine Grahame.”
“I also have concerns about Deliveroo riders— other food providers are available—but that is perhaps for a separate debate. Christine Grahame: Yes, I appreciate that there are restrictions in the definition of a e-bike, and limitations on speed, but we know that the riders break those. All of that would be part of it. If a rider was licensed, we would simply remove their licence, as we would do with anybody else who uses our roads if they were abusing the highway code and causing accidents and so on. We should consider that aspect as well. I am not completely opposed to policing in urban areas and pedestrian centres where there may be particular issues. However, with regard to general road usage, I would like to see these vehicles have to fulfil the requirements under the UK “Highway Code”, including the requirement for licensing. 18:32”
“I will be interested to hear what the minister has to say about how the police are tackling the issue, but I would also like to know whether the Scottish Government is in conversation with the UK Government—this is not a hostile point, or a matter of what is or is not devolved—about how we can strengthen the requirements for the owners of these vehicles to have a licence; to be registered, taxed and insured; and to have an MOT, which every one of us with a vehicle needs to have. That would be a start. Sue Webber: Will the member take an intervention? Christine Grahame: Yes, I will take the intervention, although I was about to sit down. Sue Webber: I think that the problem—as my motion should perhaps have intimated—is illegal use, or illegal e-bikes. All the issues arise when they hit speeds of 15 mph and above.”
“Obviously policing helps, but I have concerns about that approach. Again, I make the point that it might be all right in town centres, but you will come across these vehicles when you are driving along the Portobello Road or coming through Holyrood park, and you cannot expect police to be on patrol all the time. The vehicles are not just there; they are delivering for various food chains and so on, so we have to consider the issue everywhere.”
“Much depends on defensive driving by motorists to evade them when they are weaving in and out of traffic. The riders deliberately make themselves menacing—macho, if you like—by being dressed in black. That adds another problem: apart from all the other problems, you cannot see them. Most of the time—and sometimes for other cyclists—it is almost impossible to see them until you are just about upon them, quite apart from the weaving in and out. Even a cyclist, under the “Highway Code”, is supposed to have a front light and, at the back, not just a reflector light but a red flashing light so that they can be seen. Many of the e-bikes do not have that. I would start, therefore, with simple, practical things such as licensing and so on, and enforcing the requirements in the “Highway Code”.”
“Does Christine Grahame understand that the position that she describes is because those vehicles are not legal on the roads? It is vehicles on our roads that require those things, so if we required e-bikes to have licences, MOTs and so on, that would actually put the problem legitimately on our roads. Christine Grahame: They are illegal on pavements, but they are actually legal on roads. If you look at the “Highway Code”, which I have looked at carefully, you will see that they can go wherever a bicycle can go, and bicycles are legal on our roads. Of course, bicycles are in the same boat—you do not need a licence to have an ordinary bike. I ask the member simply to look at that. However, I absolutely do not dispute that they are a menace, not just because of their speed but because of the way that they are driven.”
“Can you use your influence, or any powers under standing orders, to tell the Scottish Government that it is completely unacceptable to promise one thing and then change it, and to urge the Government to provide the information as a matter of priority, because it is needed now, not, as it suits the Government, by the end of this year?”
“I am further concerned that the Government has inserted a statement on the national grooming gangs inquiry, or the efforts that it will take forward regarding that, for next Wednesday and that, potentially, we will not have crucial information that was promised in this chamber because the Government is treating my request as a freedom of information request, which may not be answered until the end of the year. I make a direct plea to you, Presiding Officer, as you are our representative in this Parliament. We MSPs are seeking to get answers that would allow us to respond to our constituents.”
“She concludes her letter by saying: “We expect this information to be published by the end of this year.” I have so many concerns about that. Is it right that the Government can commit in the Parliament to provide information to a member who has requested it and then change that commitment to say that it will be part of a response to a freedom of information request? Is it acceptable for the Government to say that it will provide the information by the end of this year, which could possibly be while we are in recess, when there is no opportunity for the Parliament to scrutinise it?”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. On 25 November, during the urgent question on a national grooming gangs inquiry, I asked the minister who was responding, Natalie Don-Innes, “whether the Scottish Government will release all correspondence between it and Professor Alexis Jay”.— [Official Report, 25 November 2025; c 77.] At the time, the minister said that she did not have that information available but would write to me. The minister wrote to me this afternoon. In her letter, she says: “I explained that I did not have this information available at the time and committed to providing it in writing.” However, her very next paragraph states that the Scottish Government will now treat the request as a freedom of information request, because it has had similar freedom of information requests on the topic.”
“Otherwise, it is important that we take the time to reflect on the judgment and the complexity that is involved here. We will certainly be doing that in”
“Shamefully, during the tribunal, the cabinet secretary expressed confidence in the senior leadership of NHS Fife. Now he must have come to the conclusion that most of us reached months ago—that they do not deserve that confidence. If the current chief executive does not do the right thing and resign immediately, will he do the right thing and sack her? Neil Gray: I have already said in response to Murdo Fraser’s question that the tribunal still has a course to run, which includes the conclusion of the remedy, and that all parties involved have 14 days in which to appeal. It is important that the issues that have been raised around the four claims that were upheld out of 47 claims are responded to. That is why I will be corresponding with NHS Fife in order to get its response.”
“As I think I set out in my statement, I and Ms Robison, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government, will be meeting representatives of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities in the coming days to discuss some of the figures, particularly in relation to variance in teacher employment across the board. I will also raise directly with COSLA the issue in relation to Moray to understand more about the detail. If the member is able to share any more detail with me on the matter, I am more than happy to consider it. In relation to teacher numbers, I have set out the interventions that the Government has taken in relation to—”
“Moray has the highest level of teacher absences anywhere in Scotland. Councillor Derek Ross has described that as “shocking”, and Councillor Marc Macrae asked whether Moray teachers are “living in fear”. I ask the cabinet secretary for her response to Moray Council having the highest level of teacher absences in Scotland. Given that the cabinet secretary has so far refused to answer this question twice, I will try for a third time. Yes or no—will the SNP deliver its manifesto commitment on teacher numbers? Jenny Gilruth: Mr Ross will of course be aware that I began my teaching career in Elgin high school in Moray, in his constituency, and I found it to be a very supportive environment as a probationer teacher many years ago. I am concerned about the statistics that Mr Ross has shared with me today in relation to teacher absence.”
“The committee strongly agreed with the value of introducing a unique learner number to track students’ educational journeys and allow a better understanding of what works regarding transitions in the longer term.”
“I will repeat that point: almost a decade ago, the original commission recommended the introduction of a unique learner number. In his annual report in 2024, the current commissioner for fair access also recommended that each student have a unique learner number to help to monitor progress on widening access. Robert Gordon University and Universities Scotland indicated their and the sector’s strong support for the use of a unique learner number. Universities Scotland stated that it would allow for an understanding of “where a person has been in their educational journey”— [Official Report, Education, Children and Young People Committee, 26 February 2025; c 37.] and identification of their needs.”
“What access challenges exist for disabled, black and minority ethnic and care-experienced students outwith Scottish index of multiple deprivation 20 areas, and what might be done to address those challenges? I will take a bit of time to consider the key findings of our report and some of the recommendations that we made to the Government. I have chosen to start specifically on the unique learner number. That is because we heard a lot of evidence about it, it takes up a big part of our inquiry report and there is a clear recommendation to the Government. The original report by the commission on widening access in 2016 recommended the introduction of a unique learner number across all levels of education to track learners and share access data.”
“Back in 2016, the commission also recommended that, by 2021, students from the 20 per cent most deprived backgrounds should represent at least 10 per cent of full-time first- degree entrants to every individual Scottish university—I will speak more about that in a bit. The commission further suggested that there should be a review of that target in 2022, and that a higher target should be considered for subsequent years. Our inquiry considered the progress that is being made on widening access, focusing on the following issues. What is needed for colleges and universities to meet the 2026 target? What access initiatives are showing success? Is the work of the Scottish Government and partners to introduce additional data measures progressing, and when and how will that be incorporated into targets?”
“I am pleased to open this debate on the committee’s inquiry into widening access to higher education. I thank all those who shared their knowledge and expertise with us, and I thank my committee colleagues for their diligent work on the issue. In 2016, the commission on widening access recommended that, by 2021, 16 per cent of full- time first-degree university entrants should come from the 20 per cent most deprived backgrounds. The recommendation was that, by 2026, the figure should be 18 per cent, with an overall national target of 20 per cent by 2030. Scottish universities met the first interim target ahead of schedule in 2019-20. At least 16 per cent of full-time first- degree university entrants have come from the 20 per cent most deprived backgrounds ever since, although it must be noted that progress has stalled since 2020-21.”
“Had it not been for regular checks, which revealed a rising trend in my PSA levels, things may have been very different.” We are lucky that we have men such as Kenny Macintyre, Sir Chris Hoy and others who are speaking about their experience, raising awareness and encouraging men to come forward and get checked. However, prostate cancer is still killing 8,000 men in Scotland every year. What is the First Minister’s response to the National Screening Committee’s recommendation? Does he agree that, if we do not have a national programme, we should at the very least be encouraging as many men as possible to come forward to get tested, and we should be making those tests as easily available as possible, as they will literally save lives?”
“Last Friday, the United Kingdom National Screening Committee decided not to recommend a national screening programme for prostate cancer. The very next day, listeners to “Off the Ball” heard Kenny Macintyre speak very candidly about his own diagnosis with prostate cancer. Kenny was getting regular tests because of a family history of the disease, and he said: “I’m very lucky to have caught this early, and I believe that is only because I pushed for regular testing. I had absolutely no symptoms and all examination indicated things were normal.”
“To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons it is choosing not to answer any questions on the court proceedings in relation to its policy on transgender prisoners, which allows biological male prisoners to be housed in women’s prisons, despite the Supreme Court’s recent ruling, in light of section 5 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 allowing matters of general public interest to be discussed. (S6O-05238)”
“The Deputy Presiding Officer: I had just noticed that the Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans had vacated his seat, notwithstanding the fact that portfolio question time had not completed. I have had a word with the clerk about looking into the matter further, and that is what we will now do. I hope that that responds to Mr Ross’s question. [Interruption.] Excuse me—I am losing my voice. Justice and Home Affairs The Deputy Presiding Officer: We move to questions on the justice and home affairs portfolio. I remind members that, as questions 6 and 7 are grouped together, I will take any supplementaries on those questions after both have been answered. Greenock Police Station (Replacement) 1.”
“On a point of order, Deputy Presiding Officer. I apologise for not giving you prior notice of this point of order. I seek your guidance. Members who ask questions must be in their place at the start of portfolio question time. If they are not, even for a small amount of time, they must apologise—as we heard Clare Adamson do. They also have to remain in the chamber for the entirety of the portfolio questions. Today, the Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans, Graeme Dey, answered a question from Edward Mountain and then walked out midway through the item. Do the same rules apply to ministers as apply to back-bench MSPs, so that they should remain in the chamber for the entirety of the item during which they are answering questions?”
“The Deputy Presiding Officer: I call Kaukab Stewart to wind up the debate. Minister, I would be grateful if you could take us up to just before 5 o’clock, please. 16:50”
“Otherwise, the crime statistics that Ash Regan mentioned will continue to go up and the statistics that I mentioned to Paul McLennan on the number of women and girls whose lives are lost due to male violence will continue to be a cause for concern. We will not be able to address the issue and bring forward solutions until we understand the root causes. This has been an excellent debate, which has been largely consensual—even if we cannot agree that it has been consensual, I think that we can all get behind the motion. However, we need more than words; we need actions to prevent such violence so that, when we have these debates in the future, we can celebrate the fact that we have eradicated male violence against women and girls. Until that day, our job will not be done.”
“She also mentioned the fact that 15,000 sexual crimes were recorded in Scotland in 2024-25, which is the second-highest figure since 1971. Again, we cannot ignore the figures. There is an issue, and the fact that so many crimes are being recorded shows that we cannot assume that the Government is doing all the right things in that area. Carol Mochan summed up the debate very well and presented us all with a challenge. If we as MSPs do not fully understand all the aspects of the root causes of violence against women and girls, how can we come up with the solutions? That summed up what we had all heard during the debate, and it challenged us—certainly, those who will return to the Parliament in the next session— to come up with the solutions that are needed.”
“That must stop, and I do not understand why the Government is going to court to allow that to continue when the Supreme Court ruling was so clear. Claire Baker raised a local constituency issue very well, and she also spoke about the fact that 38 per cent of murders of women are by intimate partners. That is a statistic that we all know, but it terrifies me and every other MSP and legislator that the lives of people at their most vulnerable are ended by those whom they should trust most. That issue must be addressed, and we need to look at it. Ash Regan urged people to support her bill. As someone who took my bill to a similar stage and did not quite get the Government’s support, I know that this will be a nervous stage for her, but she made very strong points in support of her bill.”
“The Government speaks in its motion about the local and national impact, but the CPA looks at the international impact—I think that he said that it does so every year. The South Africa example that he gave was very worthy of the debate. Sharon Dowey spoke about the lack of a grooming gang inquiry. I will not reiterate all the points that the Scottish Conservatives have made about that, but it is now beyond doubt that the Scottish Government will have to launch a grooming gang inquiry. I am grateful that the Labour Party is facilitating a debate on the issue tomorrow. We are supposed to get an update by December, but we need to see action as a matter of urgency. Likewise, Sharon Dowey was right to comment on the fact that the Government is still housing male prisoners in the female prison estate.”