Former Labour MSP for South Scotland
6. To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to engage with survivors on contested issues relating to the Scottish child abuse inquiry. (S4O-05711)
Since the meeting on Monday, survivors and our representatives have told me of their profound disappointment and anger because they do not feel that they are being listened to. They want an inquiry that covers all survivors, regardless of where the abuse took place, and a system of redress that covers all survivors. Will the Government work hard to deliver the promised survivor-centred...
I am grateful to the Parliament for giving me the opportunity to speak to the motion in support of families who are affected by murder and culpable homicide. I thank colleagues from all parties in the Parliament who supported the motion, which gives us a worthwhile opportunity to vent some of the issues for those who are affected by homicide. Those issues affect a surprising number of people...
As is evident from this afternoon’s debate, changes to elements of criminal justice procedure are famously difficult to achieve and sometimes take decades—and, on occasion, centuries—of debate. The cabinet secretary’s commitment to maintain an open mind on the matter is welcome. It is regrettable that he rejects Michael McMahon’s proposal and I hope that, in the next session of...
The cabinet secretary has set out his general plans for improving the estate. What will the impact on his plans be of the Government’s continued commitment to reducing the prison population, which has stayed stubbornly at the same level over the past five years? What is the timescale for the reduction?
I thank Christine Grahame for introducing this afternoon’s debate. I identify entirely with the comments of the cabinet secretary and of the convener of the Justice Committee. The work on human rights as they impact on Scotland lies at the very heart of all that the Parliament is about. I know that members are busy elsewhere in the building currently, but it is unfortunate that there is not...
I am pleased to close on behalf of the Scottish Labour Party. I am also pleased to recognise the tone of the contributions from all sides of the chamber. This is one of those debates where there is nothing to argue about. Human rights lie at the very heart of who we are and what we seek to achieve in our lifetimes—to treat others as we would want ourselves to be treated. I thank members of...
I acknowledge what the member has said. The lead from Government not only in saying those things but in ensuring that they are delivered will give the individual public servant the confidence to know that they will not be blamed for their openness and will not feel any pressure because of being frank. In future, we will not need whistleblowing lines and the like, because every citizen will...
