The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 1139 contributions
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: 14 September 2021
Joe FitzPatrick
Do people have wider observations to make about the international picture?
As they do not, I will bring Karen Adam back in.
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: 14 September 2021
Joe FitzPatrick
I will bring in Paul Daly at this point. Perhaps, Paul, you can also touch on what it would mean to young LGBT+ people if Scotland was a world leader in this area.
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: 7 September 2021
Joe FitzPatrick
That is a really good point to end on. We have planned a number of evidence-taking sessions on this matter and are continuing to consider our approach to ensure that we are getting the widest range of evidence, but, for now, I want to thank you both so much for your evidence.
I suspend the meeting until 11 o’clock.
10:54 Meeting suspended.Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: 7 September 2021
Joe FitzPatrick
It is one of those areas where a couple of committees could be involved. We will certainly take an interest, but it will be for others to decide whether we are the lead committee. Thank you for that.
I have a question before I bring in Alexander Stewart. South of the border, in England and Wales, there has been legislation in relation to a system of no-fault divorce or dissolution. Are there any plans for such a system to be introduced in Scotland? Is there a need for that to happen?
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: 7 September 2021
Joe FitzPatrick
I have one more question. As well as the impacts of the pandemic, we are having to deal with the impacts of Brexit. Do you have reflections on the impacts of Brexit on the civil justice system? In particular, are there any common frameworks between the UK and Scottish Governments that you feel it would be helpful to update the committee on?
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: 7 September 2021
Joe FitzPatrick
I have a couple more quick questions. In the previous parliamentary session—or perhaps the session before that—there was a consultation on succession law and inheritance law, and the Government committed to legislating at the next available legislative opportunity. The Succession (Scotland) Act 2016 made some technical tweaks to the law, but it would be good to hear your thoughts on how we might take forward the commitment made in, I think, 2020 to introduce further legislation to deal with law that dates back to 1964.
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: 7 September 2021
Joe FitzPatrick
Agenda item 2 is an evidence session with Tristan Gray and Blair Anderson. We are pleased to welcome Tristan, who is the principal petitioner, and Blair, on behalf of End Conversion Therapy Scotland. I refer members to papers 1, 2 and 3, and invite Blair to make a short opening statement.
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: 7 September 2021
Joe FitzPatrick
What do you mean by “non-affirmative”?
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: 7 September 2021
Joe FitzPatrick
Thank you very much for that and, again, thank you for your openness today. Clearly, one of the groups from which we want to take evidence is a wider group of survivors. We need to do that as sensitively as possible because, although it is great that you have been able to come and speak so openly and give voice to so many people, we know that some people will not be in a position to do that, because of the trauma that they have faced. Rest assured that that is one of the areas that we are considering, and any suggestions that you feed in for that will be helpful.
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Meeting date: 7 September 2021
Joe FitzPatrick
That has been very helpful.
Obviously, the committee is at the start of a process of gathering evidence. A substantial amount has been submitted in writing by organisations and individuals. Some of that is going through a process before being published. However, we are keen to hear from you as to whether there are any further groups that we should be engaging with and potentially hearing evidence from as we go through our inquiry.