Skip to main content

Language: English / Gàidhlig

Loading…

Seòmar agus comataidhean

Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

Criathragan Hide all filters

Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 23 December 2024
Select which types of business to include


Select level of detail in results

Displaying 808 contributions

|

Criminal Justice Committee

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 27 September 2023

Katy Clark

I am grateful for that.

I have spoken with the cabinet secretary previously about the independent legal representation of victims in other jurisdictions. Obviously, there is very specific and narrow provision in the bill in relation to the independent legal representation of rape victims. Is the Scottish Government willing to further explore a pilot or pilots in relation to the independent legal representation of victims—particularly rape victims—before the court process and during the court process? Might that be considered in the context of the bill or, indeed, as a separate discussion?

Criminal Justice Committee, Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, Social Justice and Social Security Committee (Joint Meeting)

Drug Deaths and Drug Harm

Meeting date: 26 September 2023

Katy Clark

I think that we will come on to that issue.

Criminal Justice Committee, Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, Social Justice and Social Security Committee (Joint Meeting)

Drug Deaths and Drug Harm

Meeting date: 26 September 2023

Katy Clark

The witnesses will have had the opportunity to look at the Lord Advocate’s statement. Do you believe that the scope of the Lord Advocate’s recent statement in relation to drug consumption rooms—and, in particular, any potential criminal offences—is sufficient? Do you have any concerns that staff or others might not have the reassurance that they need in order to be involved in such an initiative? Tracey McFall might be interested in commenting on that.

Criminal Justice Committee, Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, Social Justice and Social Security Committee (Joint Meeting)

Drug Deaths and Drug Harm

Meeting date: 26 September 2023

Katy Clark

Would any other witness like to come in on the specific point about the impact of policies such as decriminalisation on the number of problem drug users in Scotland—whether it is likely to decrease or increase the numbers or to have no impact? What are the implications for organised crime through the drugs trade?

Criminal Justice Committee, Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, Social Justice and Social Security Committee (Joint Meeting)

Drug Deaths and Drug Harm

Meeting date: 26 September 2023

Katy Clark

Do any other witnesses have concerns about the way in which the Lord Advocate’s statement has been drafted, or does it provide sufficient comfort to enable the plans to go ahead?

Criminal Justice Committee, Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, Social Justice and Social Security Committee (Joint Meeting)

Drug Deaths and Drug Harm

Meeting date: 26 September 2023

Katy Clark

I am here on behalf of the Criminal Justice Committee. I think that the witnesses have very clearly made the case on some of the public health arguments for decriminalisation and other harm-reduction measures. I am interested in the points that Simon Rayner made in relation to the supply side. Could you tell us what the impact of some of the proposals, such as decriminalisation, would be on reducing problem drug use and on the organised drug trade? Perhaps Simon Rayner could answer that.

Criminal Justice Committee, Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, Social Justice and Social Security Committee (Joint Meeting)

Drug Deaths and Drug Harm

Meeting date: 26 September 2023

Katy Clark

I have a clarification query for Kirsten Horsburgh. A lot of the drugs come from places such as Afghanistan and Colombia. What do you mean by regulation?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2024-25

Meeting date: 21 September 2023

Katy Clark

My question is for Emma Congreve. In your submission, in relation to child poverty, you state:

“we need to see much more focus on delivery of policies that have an evidenced route towards realising the targets, rather small allocations in different pockets which will not make a demonstrable difference.”

Will you explain in more detail how the Scottish Government should do this? Is there a danger that that approach might focus on policies that are easy to measure rather than on potentially more impactful policies that are difficult to measure?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Decision on Taking Business in Private

Meeting date: 21 September 2023

Katy Clark

I direct my question to Paul Traynor, in the first instance. Witnesses have argued that eligibility for the young carer grant should be extended to 19-year-olds. I understand that the Scottish Government is considering that. Is that a change that needs to be prioritised? If so, why?

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2024-25

Meeting date: 21 September 2023

Katy Clark

Will you say more on the first part of the question, about focusing more on an “evidenced route”? What does that mean for the Scottish Government?