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Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

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

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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 29 December 2024
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Displaying 816 contributions

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Criminal Justice Committee

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

Meeting date: 6 February 2024

Rona Mackay

Does that have anything to do with the legal profession wanting to carry on without any changes?

Criminal Justice Committee

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

Meeting date: 6 February 2024

Rona Mackay

Do you recognise that a judge would be specifically trained and trauma informed, and that therefore bias and the belief in rape myths would not be as great?

Criminal Justice Committee

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

Meeting date: 6 February 2024

Rona Mackay

As I understand the matter, that is the conviction rate.

Criminal Justice Committee

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

Meeting date: 6 February 2024

Rona Mackay

Will your members come up with any constructive alternative proposal?

Criminal Justice Committee

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

Meeting date: 6 February 2024

Rona Mackay

But you have said that you are not going to do that in this case.

Criminal Justice Committee

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

Meeting date: 31 January 2024

Rona Mackay

If I understand you correctly, with regard to the not proven verdict, you are saying that, if we get the balance right with regard to jury size and majority, it would work. With regard to your point about retrials, would that not be an enormous burden on an already overcrowded court system?

Criminal Justice Committee

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

Meeting date: 31 January 2024

Rona Mackay

Good morning. On the point about pre-recorded evidence, we have heard from some survivors that they would prefer to have a choice. Do you agree that they should have such a choice?

Criminal Justice Committee

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

Meeting date: 31 January 2024

Rona Mackay

Thank you. I appreciate that.

Criminal Justice Committee

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

Meeting date: 31 January 2024

Rona Mackay

The bill provides that judges of the sexual offences court will be appointed for a period that will be set by the Lord Justice General, who will also have the power to remove them. What are your thoughts on that? Last week, we heard evidence from the Faculty of Advocates casting doubt on the seniority and experience of the judges who could be appointed to the court. They were dubious about that. Will you set out how it will work in practice? There is fear that, when rape is involved, a sexual offences court could be a downgrading from the High Court.

Criminal Justice Committee

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

Meeting date: 31 January 2024

Rona Mackay

The Faculty of Advocates was very insistent on that, and I was also struggling to understand. That is why I am keen to ask for both your views.

Sheriff Cubie, do you have a view on that?