Seòmar agus comataidhean

If you are not willing to withdraw, I will have to go to a vote, Mr Choudhury.

That concludes the public part of the meeting. Our next meeting will take place after recess, on Wednesday 17 April 2024.

We now move into private session to consider agenda items 4 and 5.

My question has been covered: it was exactly that question.

I go back to silent prayer. One of the witnesses who gave evidence last week had been arrested twice by the police and questioned by them. They openly admitted that they were in silent prayer and there was no prosecution. If Police Scotland will not be asking people whether they are in silent prayer, will we get any convictions at all?

Good morning, panel members. My questions are about criminal offences and penalties. Are the offences in the bill suitably clear?

The bill would create an offence relating to behaviour from property within safe access zones that could be seen or heard. What is your opinion on the issue of properties, including churches, that would be in safe access zones?

Are the fines that will be imposed for breaching the conditions in the safe access zones appropriate? As many of the fines will be paid by well-funded anti-abortion campaigners, will they have the effect of stopping activity in those zones? In relation to human rights, would prison sentences be appropriate for people who continued to offend?

Good morning to the witnesses. The bill would create an offence relating to behaviour that can be seen or heard from properties in the safe access zones, and we heard in the earlier evidence session that that could cover churches. Do you have any concerns about the extent of the offences and whether they comply with the European convention on human rights?

I wonder whether the committee might consider writing to the Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise to recommend that she meet the petitioners to discuss their concerns about unresolved allegations relating to child safeguarding and to ask her what consideration the Scottish Government has given to the suggestion of the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland to develop a new principle for individual professionals and agencies responsible for child protection issues.

The committee could also consider writing to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman to seek information on the effectiveness of an independent national whistleblowing officer for NHS services and its views on whether a similar approach should be adopted for education and children’s services.

Convener, I will withdraw my recommendation.