Fulton MacGregor
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“Deputy Presiding Officer, you will know that I am interested in that, as you are. We were both members of the Criminal Justice Committee in the previous session of Parliament. Evidence shows that community-based sentences are effective in reducing reoffending.”
“Scotland’s prison population continues to rise despite our having the lowest number of recorded crimes, and the average custodial sentence length increased by 37 per cent between 2014-15 and 2023-24. That is all having an impact on capacity in our prisons.”
“Scotland’s prison population is at a critical point. As the motion demonstrates, the Scottish Government recognises the importance of the issue and is taking action through sustained investment, careful planning and a clear focus on public safety. The 2026-27 budget includes investment of £1 billion in Scotland’s prisons.”
“It builds on the investment of £25 million over the previous two years. I also welcome the cabinet secretary’s remarks on reviewing community justice. However, the evidence is already clear. Statistics show that people who are released from custody experience higher rates of reconviction than those who receive non-custodial sentences.”
“Given that it is unaffordable, there would be an almighty battle to deliver it, if that could happen at all. The issue is about having a credible plan, with the timescales that we have to date, to deliver for the benefit of the people of Lanarkshire and people elsewhere in Scotland, with that shift in the balance of care.”
“At what point did the Scottish Government deem that the cost outlined in the business case was too high? What discussions did it have with NHS Lanarkshire to try to resolve issues earlier?”
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“On more than one occasion, time pressures have seen me ferry a work experience volunteer from the constituency to the Parliament or to a visit in the constituency. I have never regarded doing so as inappropriate, because I have disclosure checks for other roles that I have held, but even if I had regarded it as inappropriate, nobody in the Parliament has ever warned me not to do it. In my 10 years as an MSP, vulnerable adult constituents have asked many times to see me privately at my surgery without my caseworker being present, and we are naive if we think that a predator who has been elected to parliamentary office would not take advantage of or manufacture such circumstances.”
“Although the reasoning for that is clear, it leads to inflexibility in the application of the scheme when it comes to those who hold elected office. To my knowledge, PVG checks are required only of local councillors who are involved in particular functions relating to the role of corporate parent or who, through their responsibilities, have access to looked-after children or carry out other education-related activities. However, the discussion in those early days should have considered including politicians more broadly. We know from bitter experience that those who would harm children or vulnerable adults will, and do, seek out positions in our society that confer on them power, influence and opportunity. I contend that, in our role as MSPs, we have all three. Consider the times when we offer work experience to high school students.”
“Before politics, I worked for more than 19 years in youth work, the children’s rights sector and youth policy. In that context, I was asked to join the voluntary sector issues unit of the protection of vulnerable groups implementation board under the Scottish Government. I was closely involved in the development of the 2007 act and its subsequent implementation. Since then, the PVG scheme has provided some level of protection and reassurance in relation to people who hold a regulated position, as defined by the 2007 act, through their work or volunteering responsibilities and who have unsupervised contact with children or vulnerable adults. As the 2007 act makes it an offence to require a check of someone who does not hold such responsibilities, the professional roles and volunteering activities that are required are explicitly listed.”
“Many members might have disclosures through the 2007 act process for other roles that they hold, but the act is clear that it is an offence to require a PVG check of someone who is not deemed to hold a regulated position. MSPs were excluded from those who are deemed to hold a regulated position when the act was introduced. Therefore, there is no voluntary route to give effect to such a measure. We cannot simply undertake, as good public representatives, to go through the disclosure process, or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body cannot suggest that as good practice or make it part of the induction of new MSPs, for example. Changing that would require amendment of the existing laws in the ecosystem and maybe even its own act of Parliament. My amendment 35 seeks to begin that process.”
“In discussing the bill, we are deliberating the means by which constituents can legally recall their members of Parliament if the conduct of those members falls below a threshold so that it is no longer fit or proper for them to serve in this chamber. I believe that, should a member of Parliament be barred from working with either children or vulnerable adults, they no longer meet the standards that should be required of the democratic representatives that our constituents send to this place, and that in itself should represent a threshold for recall. The only means that we have of verifying that somebody is not barred from working with children or vulnerable adults is to subject them to the disclosure regime under the auspices of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007.”
“Amendment 67 disagreed to. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Group 7 is on review of removal: protection of vulnerable groups. Amendment 35, in the name of Alex Cole- Hamilton, is the only amendment in the group. 17:00 Alex Cole-Hamilton: Members who were elected to the Parliament in the 2016 to 2021 session might recall that, when we amended the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007, I tried to make amendments that would have required MSPs or candidates for the Parliament to undergo the disclosure checks that we ask of anyone who is in a regulated childcare position or who is regulated as part of working with vulnerable adults. I want to tackle head on from the outset any incongruity that might be perceived between the intent of my amendment 35 and the scope and reach of the bill and the aims therein.”
“For Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (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) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (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) Against 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) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) 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) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) 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) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Ind) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) 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) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (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) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Ind) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) 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) 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) The Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 25, Against 85, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment 67A disagreed to. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I call Sue Webber to press or withdraw amendment 67. Sue Webber: I press amendment 67. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 67 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“For Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (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) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (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) Against 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) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Ind) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) 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) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Ind) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) 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) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (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) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Ind) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) 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) 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) The Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 25, Against 82, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment 66 disagreed to. Amendments 67 and 67A moved—[Sue Webber]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 67A be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“For Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (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) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (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) Against 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) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) 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) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (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) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Ind) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) 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) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (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) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Ind) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) 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) 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) The Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 23, Against 83, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment 65 disagreed to. Amendment 66 moved—[Sue Webber]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 66 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“For Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (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) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (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) Against 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) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) 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) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) 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) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Ind) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) 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) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (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) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Ind) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) 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) 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) The Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 24, Against 84, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment 64 disagreed to. Amendment 65 moved—[Sue Webber]. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 65 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Deputy Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I had difficulty connecting. I would have voted no. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Mr MacGregor. I will make sure that that is recorded. For Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (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) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (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) Against 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) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) 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) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) 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) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Ind) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) 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) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (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) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Ind) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) 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) 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) The Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 25, Against 84, Abstentions 0.”
“This debate provides us, as a Parliament, with an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to fairness, accountability and compassion. By calling on the UK Government to reverse its decision, we stand alongside those who are seeking recognition of the hardship that they endured and acknowledge the findings of an independent authority that was established to safeguard citizens and their rights. Let us demonstrate that the Scottish Parliament will continue to advocate for fairness, and let us support the motion. 17:30”
“Accepting responsibility, learning lessons and offering redress when harm occurs strengthen public trust in the Government and public institutions. Scotland has consistently sought to uphold the principles of fairness and social justice. Many of the women affected live in our communities, contribute to our economy and support their families. They are our mothers, our sisters, our daughters, our grans, our aunts, our friends and our colleagues. They deserve to know that their concerns are being raised clearly and firmly in this Parliament. Our support sends an important message that their experiences matter and that their voices are respected. That is why I wanted to speak today. I want the women affected in Coatbridge and Chryston to know that I will raise their voice and stand up for them on this issue.”
“Many faced declining health, reduced savings and increased reliance on benefits. They could not reasonably have anticipated or planned for those outcomes, given the lack of timely information. The WASPI campaign has consistently and constructively raised those concerns, ensuring that the voices of affected women are heard. That campaign’s advocacy has been grounded in evidence, persistence and dignity. The strength of feeling that has been expressed by campaigners reflects not only frustration at the lack of resolution but a desire for recognition of the difficulties that they endured. This is about accountability. When public bodies make mistakes, it is essential that those mistakes are acknowledged and addressed. The ombudsman exists to provide independent scrutiny, and its conclusions deserve to be treated with respect.”
“The Labour Party, which is now in government in the UK, stood with WASPI women before the election and said that it would make changes, but it reneged on that promise the minute that it came into office. That must be called out—it is a matter of trust—and every Labour Party member in the chamber and across Scotland should call it out. I know that some Labour members do. For example, my colleague Richard Leonard has been consistent in calling out the decision. He will be missed by the Labour Party when he stands down. For many women, the consequences of the failures have been life altering. Some women postponed their retirement and remained in physically demanding work for longer than they had expected. Others struggled to re-enter the labour market after years spent caring for family members.”
“That failure was confirmed by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman after a lengthy and detailed investigation. As we have heard, the ombudsman found that maladministration had occurred and that it had resulted in real injustice. Many women received notification of the changes far too late to adjust their plans. As a result, they faced years of financial uncertainty, difficulties in securing employment, increased caring responsibilities and significant emotional strain. The ombudsman concluded that compensation of between £1,000 and £2,950 per person was appropriate to reflect the scale and seriousness of the impact. I do not in any way think that such debates are about playing political football.”
“I thank Bill Kidd for securing this members’ business debate. I am grateful for the opportunity to speak in support of his motion, which calls on the UK Government to reconsider its latest decision on compensation for women affected by state pension age changes. The issue is one of fairness, responsibility and respect for millions of women whose working lives were shaped by expectations created by Government policy. More than 3.5 million women who were born in the 1950s experienced significant changes to their retirement plans following increases to the state pension age. The changes were not, in themselves, the core problem; rather, it was the failure of the Department for Work and Pensions to communicate the changes properly, in good time and in a clear and accessible way.”
“The bill represents a thoughtful evolution of Scotland’s visitor levy framework. It will enhance flexibility, respect local choice, support sustainable tourism and strengthen partnership working. It reflects the lessons learned from earlier implementation and the constructive engagement of stakeholders across the country, and it has gathered cross-party and stakeholder support. For those reasons, I support the general principles of the Visitor Levy (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill and encourage colleagues across the chamber to do the same. 15:34”
“Stakeholder perspectives also underline the value of flexibility. Industry bodies, including representatives from rural and tourism sectors, have more or less welcomed the move towards fixed-rate options, which they view as being simpler, more predictable and better suited to varied accommodation models. Their contributions have strengthened the bill and will improve its practical application. Of course, effective implementation will remain essential. On-going monitoring, clear guidance and continued engagement with councils and businesses will ensure that schemes operate smoothly and deliver tangible benefits. The statutory review mechanism that is built into the framework will provide an important safeguard, allowing Parliament to assess how the system is functioning in practice and to respond where necessary.”
“It contributes to the new deal for local government and builds on the Verity house agreement, reflecting a shared ambition to strengthen local decision making, support communities and improve public services. Alongside the record investment in the local government settlement, the measure will provide councils with an additional fiscal tool that complements existing funding streams. International experience further supports the approach. Levies on overnight stays are common across Europe and beyond—I am sure that many members have experienced that. Many destinations use such levies to reinvest in tourism infrastructure, enhance their visitor services and protect natural and cultural assets, and Scotland’s model draws on those lessons while ensuring accountability, transparency and local control.”
“It is really important that we recognise that a one-size- fits-all approach would not serve Scotland well. The bill will ensure that councils have the tools to design schemes that align with their unique circumstances and can take decisions locally. The Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee—of which I am a member, as I said— recommends that the Parliament agree to the general principles of the bill. The committee supports the introduction of a choice between a percentage levy and a flat-rate model. We recognise the Government’s responsiveness to evidence and we welcome the steps to shorten consultation and transition periods where appropriate. The bill also sits within a broader commitment to empowering local government.”
“Under the proposed framework, councils may choose between a percentage-based levy and a fixed-rate model, and they may also vary how the levy is applied, with options such as per-person or per-night charges. That will enable schemes to reflect local tourism pressures, economic conditions and seasonal demand. Such adaptability is vital across Scotland’s diverse landscapes. We have major cities that welcome millions of visitors each year, such as Edinburgh; rural, island and remote communities, where tourism patterns differ greatly; and areas such as my Coatbridge and Chryston constituency, where we have many great tourist attractions, such as the Time Capsule and the Summerlee museum, which are not always known about or regarded as particular tourist hot spots and do not have many hotels, for example.”
“That will ensure that tourism growth remains sustainable and that communities that share their places with visitors will benefit directly from that success. Importantly, the bill will not require councils to introduce a levy—Willie Rennie has just made that point—but will preserve local discretion. Councils will remain accountable to their residents and must consult communities, businesses and tourism organisations before bringing any scheme forward. That consultative approach will ensure that decisions are grounded in local knowledge and shaped by those who are most affected. The flexibility that is offered by the bill is particularly welcome.”
“The central purpose of the bill is to provide councils with greater flexibility in how they design and apply a visitor levy. It introduces the option of charging a fixed amount rather than only a percentage of accommodation costs. That additional choice will equip local authorities with a practical tool that better reflects the diversity of Scotland’s communities, tourism patterns and local economies. A visitor levy offers councils the opportunity to invest directly in the visitor economy. Any revenue that is raised must be spent on facilities and services that are used largely by those visitors, supporting infrastructure, public spaces, transport, cultural attractions and local amenities.”
“I am pleased to contribute to today’s stage 1 debate on the Visitor Levy (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill and to speak in support of its general principles, particularly as a member of the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee. I place on record my thanks to my committee colleagues and to the clerks who took the bill on at what might be called short notice, as the convener hinted. Although it is a quite technical piece of legislation, the bill is, in a nutshell, about strengthening local democracy, empowering councils and sustaining Scotland’s visitor economy in a way that best reflects local priorities. The legislation builds on the recent Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 and responds constructively to the experience, evidence and feedback gathered since the act was passed. We have already heard some commentary on that today.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the identification of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in primary care. (S6O- 05534)”
“That is why, for example, our vision for justice is aligned with keeping the Promise and recognises the importance of having partners working together to ensure that appropriate support and intervention are delivered. We also know that early intervention can allow individuals to address a range of needs that can contribute to offending or to the risk of offending behaviour. Dealing with all of that is in the wider interest of our communities.”
“The commission has made several recommendations that emphasise the importance of prevention. Does the cabinet secretary agree that effective prevention policies require a cross-portfolio and integrated approach to take account of the impact of varying societal factors, such as health and housing? Angela Constance: We know that people who are in contact with the justice system experience multiple and severe disadvantage. Intervening at the earliest stage and ensuring effective education and access to healthcare, housing and other support services are all vital aspects of preventing crime in the first place, which ensures safer communities and fewer victims.”
“The Deputy Presiding Officer: I am conscious of the number of members who still want to participate, so, before I call the next speaker, I am minded to accept a motion without notice under rule 8.14.3 to extend the debate by up to 30 minutes. I invite Mr Mason to move such a motion. Motion moved, That, under Rule 8.14.3, the debate be extended by up to 30 minutes.—[John Mason] Motion agreed to. 18:13”
“The role of a nature champion is to turn abstract policy into a personal mission, ensuring that unseen parts of our environment have a dedicated voice in the heart of our democracy. I hope that I am doing my small part in that, as any time I drive past it with the kids—I have already mentioned my two boys, and my wee girl is now getting to a good age as well—I always say, “In there is the great crested newt!” In the previous parliamentary session, I was the champion for the Natterer’s bat. I enjoyed being that as well, and I learned a lot about that species. As others have done today, I encourage all returning and new MSPs to become involved in the project.”
“They were very interested in finding the newts, but we have not found any. However, the newts are there—we have seen the pictures today. In any case, Gartcosh nature reserve is a fantastic walk, so anybody who wants a wee day out with family or to go for a walk on their own should try to visit it. On a serious note, protecting those green corridors in post-industrial landscapes is just as important as protecting any remote wilderness. That unique site at Gartcosh demonstrates how biodiversity can flourish alongside urban development when managed with care and expertise. The success at Gartcosh is a credit to the hard work of Froglife—sponsors of the great crested newt as part of the nature champions initiative—North Lanarkshire Council and the local people, who enjoy the presence of the colony, which continues to thrive.”
“The decline in species abundance is not a distant threat; it is a current reality, with one in nine of our species now at risk of national extinction. Everybody has been talking about the various species that they are champions for. I am very pleased to be the species champion for the great crested newt. I am pleased not only because it is a fantastic species but because the largest colony of the great crested newt in Scotland is in Gartcosh, in my constituency. Indeed, the reason why the Gartcosh nature reserve was established was to protect that species. I have been on various visits there with the local Froglife team to see the great crested newt, but I have not actually seen any, because they are very shy animals. I have taken my wee boys down a few times for a look, too.”
“The nature champions initiative is now one of the most successful examples of collaborative politics in this Parliament. Since 2013, it has grown into an award-winning model of engagement that has now been emulated across the United Kingdom. It is a testament to its impact that, as others have said, more than 100 MSPs have stepped up as champions during this session alone. I really enjoyed John Mason’s opening speech, which brought quite a lot of good humour into the debate. However, as well as the light-hearted side of the issue, we must be clear about why such advocacy is necessary. Scotland’s nature is in a state of quiet crisis. Scotland is currently ranked 212th out of 240 countries and regions for biodiversity intactness.”
“Resources and training must be focused where harm is actually occurring, not simply reflecting the headlines that are the loudest or the most sensational. My politics are rooted in social justice. I believe that safety and justice are inseparable. A society that tolerates racism, neglects mental health or leaves people in poverty will never be truly safe, no matter how many officers we throw at the problem. If we are serious about safer communities, we must invest in prevention, uphold everybody’s rights, challenge hate and rebuild trust. That requires courage, consistency and compassion. That is the standard that we should set and the responsibility that we all share. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I call Sharon Dowey to close the debate on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives. 16:50”
“Where the application of laws around harassment or stirring up hatred appears to be inconsistent, communities take notice. Police Scotland must be willing to reflect honestly on that: accountability is not an attack on policing, it is essential to strengthening it. Protecting the right to peaceful assembly, safeguarding those targeted by hate and recognising patterns of harassment before they escalate are not optional extras but are central to public safety in a democratic society. Finally, we need clarity about risk. Although debate often centres on street violence, many of the most significant and growing threats are digital: online fraud, coercive control, radicalisation and cybercrime. Community policing in the 21st century must adapt to that reality.”
“If we want genuine community policing, we must free officers to do that work. That means properly resourced mental health provision, investment in youth work and community services and serious action on poverty and inequality. We all know that it is much better to prevent crimes happening in the first place than having to deal with the consequences of crimes that have happened. Safety is not delivered solely through enforcement—it is built through prevention, dignity and care. That is where we believe that our focus should be. We also have to confront the issue of trust. Policing by consent depends on communities believing that the police will act fairly, proportionately and consistently. Where there is perceived overreach against peaceful protest or perceived inaction in the face of racist intimidation, trust is eroded.”
“I do not agree that having officers in every ward is necessarily the panacea that it is presented to be. I do not believe that we can talk about community policing without talking about the wider systems that shape it. If our officers are spending hours in A and E with someone who is in a mental health crisis, or supervising individuals in delayed court processes because there is nowhere else for those people to go, that is not a policing success story but a sign of systemic failure. Too often, police officers are left to pick up the pieces because mental health services are overstretched, community support is underfunded and justice processes are slow. That is unfair on officers, on those in crisis and on the communities that lose preventative, relationship-based policing as a result.”
“Fulton MacGregor: Sorry, Deputy Presiding Officer—I ended up talking so much about the local— The Deputy Presiding Officer: Please bring your remarks to a close. Fulton MacGregor: I will close there. Thank you. 16:46 Maggie Chapman: I thank Pauline McNeill for securing this debate. Although we will not be supporting her motion at decision time, I share her frustration at the persistence of certain types of crime and the feeling, shared by too many, that our streets are not as safe as they once were. As the debate draws to a close, I return to a simple but powerful truth: safety—that safety that we wish would return to our streets—cannot be separated from justice. A society that leaves people behind, that criminalises distress and that tolerates hatred will never be a truly safe one, no matter how many officers it deploys.”
“I agree with Pauline McNeill about that— the Criminal Justice Committee has done a lot of work on it and we need to look at areas where there is overlap with NHS services and how they can work jointly to take demand away from the police. I know that it is often a particularly difficult set of circumstances for officers to deal with. Targeted initiatives demonstrate how focused investment can deliver tangible results. For example, the retail crime task force was supported by £3 million in funding and it has already made a measurable impact in tackling shoplifting and supporting retail workers. By combining visible policing with intelligence-led operations, the task force has strengthened safety and confidence across Scotland. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Mr MacGregor, you need to bring your remarks to a close.”
“As Pauline McNeill mentioned, the roll-out of body-worn video cameras and digital evidence sharing systems is improving efficiency, enhancing officer safety and strengthening public confidence. By reducing administrative burdens and streamlining processes, those innovations will allow officers to spend more time in their communities, engaging directly with the people that they serve. Support for community policing relies on recognising the wide range of situations that the police respond to every day. In the Criminal Justice Committee, we have looked at the issues around police officers responding to mental health crisis incidents.”
“To give another example, Coatbridge community police officers have hosted community drop-ins and even worked alongside the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and other agencies in delivering the junior cop good citizen programme, which seeks to inform young people about respecting the community, fire safety, online safety, respect in relationships and road safety. Loads of good work is going on. In fact, when primary schools in my constituency have had issues with online bullying or whatever, they have got the local community cops to speak to the young kids to great effect. That has happened on at least a couple of occasions. The Scottish Government has also invested in modern technology to support officers in their work.”
“They are around and visible. They have good relationships with local councillors and the like. That collaborative approach helps to identify emerging issues, supports preventive action and builds lasting trust. Initially, I had concerns about police officers being in schools, but those concerns were quickly eased when I met officers in Coatbridge high school and St Andrew’s high school in my constituency. The officers are not there in the typical police fashion; they are there to support young people who might be experiencing difficulties. That works really well—they have great relationships.”
“That strong foundation matters, because community confidence grows when people see officers who know their area, understand local concerns and engage regularly with residents. That is something that everybody who has spoken in the debate is agreed on. When I think about North Lanarkshire, and particularly my constituency of Coatbridge and Chryston, I do not recognise a lot of the descriptions that other members have given. I am not saying that I disagree with what other members have said, because it might well be the case in their areas. However, I associate myself more with the remarks of Rona Mackay. I have good relationships with the local police officers in my constituency, and I see the work that they do. They are in and out of schools and youth services. They are often involved in football tournaments with local kids.”
“I am pleased to contribute to this debate on community policing, which speaks directly to how people across Scotland experience safety, reassurance and connection in their everyday lives. The Scottish Government recognises the importance of community policing, which, at its heart, allows security, trust and partnership to flourish in communities across the country. With that in mind, the Government remains firmly committed to investing in policing and public safety, as we already heard from the cabinet secretary. The funding in this year’s budget enables Scotland to maintain one of the highest ratios of police officers per capita in the UK. As of December 2025, more than 16,400 officers were serving communities, which gives Police Scotland the scale and flexibility that are needed to respond effectively to local and national demands.”
“Amendment 11 disagreed to. Schedule Amendment 12 not moved. The Deputy Presiding Officer: That ends consideration of amendments. As members will be aware, the Presiding Officer is required under standing orders to decide whether, in her view, any provision of the bill relates to a protected subject matter—that is, whether it modifies the electoral system and franchise for Scottish parliamentary elections. In the case of the Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill, in the Presiding Officer’s view, no provision relates to a protected subject matter. Therefore, the bill does not require a supermajority to be passed at stage 3. Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill”
“For Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Ind) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (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) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) The Deputy Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 15, Against 85, Abstentions 0.”