Seòmar agus comataidhean

I think that you might have jumped ahead to our next agenda item.

Where there is on-going dialogue between the two Governments in relation to how legislation is being developed in bills, it is not clear to me that the Scottish Parliament is aware of what those discussions might involve. It might be helpful for us to have some understanding of that process and the issues that are being raised.

Would our clerk like to add anything to that, or does that pretty much cover the position?

We have a lot on the agenda today.

No worries at all. We are getting near summer recess—that is fine.

Is the committee in agreement that the Scottish Parliament should give its consent to the relevant provisions in the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill, as set out in the Scottish Government’s draft motion?

Members indicated agreement.

Thanks. As you know, the committee has been looking at the broader issue of online child sexual exploitation and the escalating incidence of it. Our discussions have obviously incorporated the bill and its progress. We hope that we will remain sighted on the Government’s position on the bill, in particular, because the committee is very interested in that issue.

Are members content to delegate to me the publication of a short report that summarises the outcomes of our deliberations on the LCM?

Members indicated agreement.

The issue will now move to the chamber, where it will be for all members to decide on, based on our report. I thank the minister and his officials for their attendance, which has been short and sweet.

We will have a short suspension while we await the arrival of Maree Todd.

Our next item of business is consideration of a supplementary legislative consent memorandum on the Online Safety Bill. I am very pleased to welcome to the meeting the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport, Maree Todd, and her Scottish Government officials. Hilary Third is head of self-harm policy and distress interventions—mental health; and Katy Richards is a solicitor in the legal directorate.

I refer members to paper 2.

I invite the minister to make some opening remarks on the supplementary LCM, after which we will move to questions.

Nobody else wants to come in.

Russell Findlay and Jamie Greene have both made a lot of reasonable points. The letter sets out the current position around legislation, which, in the context of this discussion around pyrotechnics, has perhaps one or two gaps.

I was pleased to read that the minister, along with officials, is having

“further discussions with Police Scotland, football clubs and authorities, and other ... stakeholders, about the effectiveness of FBOs.”

The point that you made latterly, Jamie, around the course of conduct, is key. We may be able to ask about that, but it is my understanding that a course of conduct would be anticipated before an order would be placed on someone. That is a practical issue at the moment. A lifelong ban would apply if a series of incidents—a course of conduct—indicated that a person was not desisting from their behaviour but continued taking pyrotechnics into a ground.

We have noted the points that have been raised. If the committee is in agreement, we can put those further questions to the minister.

Members: indicated agreement.

We move straight to questions from members, starting with Jamie Greene.