My Amendment 96 would give the victims commissioner the power to request information from local authorities and social housing providers for the purpose of determining the support that they are providing to victims and witnesses. The amendment was suggested to me by Victim Support Scotland, which backs it.

All MSPs will be aware from their casework that local authorities and social housing providers play a key role in supporting victims. The power to request information from them will help the commissioner to assess the support that those bodies are providing to victims, and their compliance with the victims code.

Amendments 97 to 100 are all technical amendments in consequence of amendment 96.

I have concerns about the potential for a victims commissioner to drain resources from victims support services. However, I recognise that, if the bill passes, we will have one, and so we must give them the tools that they need to create change for victims. There is no point in having a commissioner if they cannot hold all relevant agencies to account.

If any MSP has ever been contacted by a constituent who has been failed by a local authority or social housing provider, they should back my amendment today on their behalf.