Roderick Campbell: As far as future proofing is concerned, I like to think that the impact of the legislation will be kept under review and, if necessary, consideration will be given to extending it. However, for the moment, I agree with my colleague Alison McInnes that we need to take a cautious view.
Roderick Campbell: The member has talked about Lord Carloway’s comments. Will the member accept that he also said this? “What I am trying to say is that it could be done but it is not what we would see as the best way of doing it.”—[Official Report, Justice Committee, 8 December 2015; c 35.]
Roderick Campbell: I refer to my entry in the register of members’ interests as a member of the Faculty of Advocates. I begin by acknowledging Alison McInnes’s immense contribution to the issue of the alternatives to Cornton Vale. [Applause.] I turn to what is perhaps the most controversial part of the bill. The provisions in the bill on jury directions are designed to tackle two very important issues:...
Roderick Campbell: I will—briefly.
Roderick Campbell: I am not, for one minute, suggesting that this does not set a precedent, but we need to look at every case on its facts. We will see how the directions work in practice. I think that they need to be kept under review. I will move on to the domestic abuse aggravator. The Law Society, in particular, has been lukewarm about the aggravator. I am not unsympathetic to the argument that domestic...
Roderick Campbell: One of the report’s recommendations is that those who compile key university rankings should “ensure greater priority is given to socioeconomic diversity within the rankings” and that the institutions that take those actions should not be penalised. What is the Government’s view on that? How can we allay universities’ concerns about the ranking implications?
Roderick Campbell: Will the minister advise me how biomass energy centres, such as the new biomass plant in Guardbridge in my constituency, help the Scottish Government to achieve the target set out in the new energy strategy? Will he also clarify the Government’s position on independent emissions monitoring of such centres?
Roderick Campbell: 6. To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to figures from the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions that show a 5.5 per cent increase in visitor numbers at attractions in Scotland in 2015. (S4F-03295)
Roderick Campbell: I am pleased to note that one of the leading attractions was Falkland palace in my constituency. I am sure that the First Minister will agree that it is important to consider how tourism can grow. One such way is to improve accessibility. We have in Fife an accessible Fife project. What support can the Scottish Government provide for such initiatives to improve disabled access to Scottish...
Roderick Campbell: Is the minister able to confirm whether there are targets for such warnings?
Roderick Campbell: One of the Sue Ryder report’s recommendations referred to the need to develop and implement a method for collecting and presenting data on the prevalence of neurological conditions. Does the First Minister agree that a comprehensive database is important?
Roderick Campbell: I also congratulate Graeme Pearson on securing the debate. I add my support and praise for the list of organisations that he referred to in both his motion and his introductory remarks. Graeme Pearson has mentioned the 887 victims over a period. I accept that culpable homicide and murder are terrible crimes; however, I welcome the fact that Scottish Government crime and justice statistics for...
Roderick Campbell: Can the cabinet secretary advise the chamber on how Food Standards Scotland fits into the vision of a good food nation?
Roderick Campbell: The minister has largely answered my question, but I welcome the commitment to publishing an options paper and I look forward to seeing that paper before the dissolution of Parliament.
Roderick Campbell: I apologise to members: after my speech I will not be able to stay for the rest of the debate, because I have another engagement. I congratulate Jayne Baxter on bringing this debate to the Parliament and I welcome the opportunity to speak briefly on the fairer Fife commission’s report. Since the commission was established in September 2014, it has progressed towards its remit, which is to...
Roderick Campbell: 4. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it is having with the United Kingdom Government regarding the proposed referendum on EU membership. (S4O-05557)
Roderick Campbell: One of the threads of the UK Government’s negotiating position is to give greater powers to national Parliaments to block or scrap EU legislation. My understanding is that the UK Government has been exploring the possibility of a sovereignty bill to enshrine that. According to The Sunday Times, that could be either a British bill of rights or another bill. Does the cabinet secretary share...
Roderick Campbell: I welcome the comments of Alison McInnes and Elaine Murray. I did not hear anything in Margaret Mitchell’s comments about the financial implications of the aspect she raised. I do not know whether she has any views on that, but we did not hear any.
Roderick Campbell: I associate myself with the comments of Dr Elaine Murray. I, too, am baffled as to why there is an attempt to put a sunset clause in the bill at this stage.
Roderick Campbell: Is that helpful? There was no discussion of the matter at stage 1. Furthermore, Audit Scotland will want to look at the bill in the future and I cannot believe that any future Justice Committee will not review the whole issue of community justice. On a small point of detail, the amendment refers to repealing sections 1 to 32. Section 31 abolishes the CJAs. No doubt there is a good explanation...
