Official Report: search what was said in Parliament
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.
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Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Access to Justice
Meeting date: 14 March 2023
Joe FitzPatrick
We will go to Fulton MacGregor first, as he was going to ask about that issue.
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Decision on Taking Business in Private
Meeting date: 14 March 2023
Joe FitzPatrick
Welcome to the seventh meeting in 2023, in session 6, of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. We have received no apologies.
Agenda item 1 is on whether to agree to take in private item 3, which is consideration of today’s evidence. Are we agreed?
Members indicated agreement.
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Access to Justice
Meeting date: 14 March 2023
Joe FitzPatrick
Colin Lancaster may be keen to answer before you probe that area.
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Access to Justice
Meeting date: 14 March 2023
Joe FitzPatrick
Jen Ang is keen to come in, and Karen Adam has a supplementary question on this area.
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Access to Justice
Meeting date: 14 March 2023
Joe FitzPatrick
We will now go back to the area that Rachael Hamilton raised. Pam Gosal will reintroduce that subject.
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Access to Justice
Meeting date: 14 March 2023
Joe FitzPatrick
That is a strong point, though, Pam.
We will move on to questions about areas for legal aid reform.
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Access to Justice
Meeting date: 14 March 2023
Joe FitzPatrick
Does anyone else want to come in on that area? If not, I will bring in Pam Gosal.
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Access to Justice
Meeting date: 14 March 2023
Joe FitzPatrick
Thanks very much, everyone. That has been a really interesting evidence session. I think we have covered all the areas that we were hoping to touch on. There is a lot for us to consider as we proceed with our work in this area.
We will now move into private session to consider the evidence that we have heard.
11:58 Meeting continued in private until 12:40.Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Access to Justice
Meeting date: 14 March 2023
Joe FitzPatrick
Maggie wishes to ask a question.
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Access to Justice
Meeting date: 14 March 2023
Joe FitzPatrick
Item 2 is to hear from stakeholders on access to justice in Scotland: Jim Stephenson, convener, access to justice committee, Law Society of Scotland; Jen Ang, director, JustRight Scotland; Fiona McPhail, principal solicitor, Shelter Scotland; Rachel Moon, senior solicitor and legal services manager, Govanhill Law Centre; Colin Lancaster, chief executive, Scottish Legal Aid Board; and Gillian Fyfe, strategic lead for strong communities, Citizens Advice Scotland, who joins us remotely. You are all very welcome.
We have chosen a round-table format in order to encourage a little more of an informal discussion on the issues, so please feel free to indicate and come in on any of the issues that are of interest to you.
The committee is keen to hear about how you currently support people who seek advice, the challenges that your services face and access to funding. The committee is also interested in hearing your views on legal aid reform.
First, I ask each of you to introduce yourselves and say a little bit about the work that your organisation does and maybe a little about whether there has been a change to that work as a result of the pandemic and the cost of living crisis. I will go clockwise, starting with Jim Stephenson.
