Part of Urgent Question – in the Scottish Parliament at 4:59 pm on 10 December 2025.
Pauline McNeill
Labour
4:59,
10 December 2025
From what we have just heard, it is clear cut that Professor Alexis Jay’s advice in that letter was consistent with this Parliament supporting the Tory Amendment to the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill. That is clear. However, rather than bring clarity last week on the review on grooming gangs, there is further confusion about who is leading the review. Last week, the Government seemed to give the impression that Professor Alexis Jay is leading it, but all press reports say that that is not the case. Can the Minister confirm which of the two groups is leading the review? Is it His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland or the strategic group? We need to know who is leading it.
I highlighted in last week’s debate that there was a list of 46 children—including Taylor, who is a victim—and Police Scotland said that there would be an investigation. Given the importance of the issue—I also said this last week—I would like to know whether that list is included in the review on grooming gangs before we get to the question whether we need a full-blown inquiry.
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.
The political party system in the English-speaking world evolved in the 17th century, during the fight over the ascension of James the Second to the Throne. James was a Catholic and a Stuart. Those who argued for Parliamentary supremacy were called Whigs, after a Scottish word whiggamore, meaning "horse-driver," applied to Protestant rebels. It was meant as an insult.
They were opposed by Tories, from the Irish word toraidhe (literally, "pursuer," but commonly applied to highwaymen and cow thieves). It was used — obviously derisively — to refer to those who supported the Crown.
By the mid 1700s, the words Tory and Whig were commonly used to describe two political groupings. Tories supported the Church of England, the Crown, and the country gentry, while Whigs supported the rights of religious dissent and the rising industrial bourgeoisie. In the 19th century, Whigs became Liberals; Tories became Conservatives.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
