Part of the debate – in the Scottish Parliament at 8:30 pm on 16 September 2025.
Pauline McNeill
Labour
8:30,
16 September 2025
I thank the Cabinet secretary for working with me on the corroboration issue. I did not say this from the outset, but it is important to review the interaction between the new provisions to remove the not proven verdict and the very fine balance of the new jury size. It is important to continue to review the different elements and, as corroboration is a significant part of the process, that was one reason why I felt that it should be reviewed.
Amendment 1 agreed to.
Amendment 2 moved—[Pauline McNeill]—and agreed to.
Amendment 153 moved—[Katy Clark]—and agreed to.
Amendment 154 not moved.
Amendments 155 and 156 moved—[Katy Clark]—and agreed to.
Section 71—Commencement
The cabinet is the group of twenty or so (and no more than 22) senior government ministers who are responsible for running the departments of state and deciding government policy.
It is chaired by the prime minister.
The cabinet is bound by collective responsibility, which means that all its members must abide by and defend the decisions it takes, despite any private doubts that they might have.
Cabinet ministers are appointed by the prime minister and chosen from MPs or peers of the governing party.
However, during periods of national emergency, or when no single party gains a large enough majority to govern alone, coalition governments have been formed with cabinets containing members from more than one political party.
War cabinets have sometimes been formed with a much smaller membership than the full cabinet.
From time to time the prime minister will reorganise the cabinet in order to bring in new members, or to move existing members around. This reorganisation is known as a cabinet re-shuffle.
The cabinet normally meets once a week in the cabinet room at Downing Street.
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
