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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 17 May 2025
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Displaying 1673 contributions

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

Reducing Drug Deaths in Scotland and Tackling Problem Drug Use

Meeting date: 22 March 2023

Russell Findlay

Justina Murray, some of your written evidence was similar to what you have said—perhaps even stronger. One part that jumped out at me was:

“Families repeatedly find there is no accountability in the system – no-one is accountable for repeated service and system failures, and their concerns are just dismissed”,

and that is on top of the implementation gap, which is a neat way of describing the difference between all the millions of words saying what we should be doing and what is actually happening. This might be a bit of a broad question, but why is there a gap? Is it about money or inflexibility? What can be done to improve delivery?

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

Reducing Drug Deaths in Scotland and Tackling Problem Drug Use

Meeting date: 22 March 2023

Russell Findlay

Good afternoon, minister. When was the last time that you spoke with anyone from Police Scotland or the Crown Office in respect of drugs consumption rooms?

Criminal Justice Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 8 March 2023

Russell Findlay

My next question is simply on something that I am curious about. The policy note says that section 31 of the 2003 act

“will allow persons in the UK to give evidence via telephone to a court in any of these countries.”

Would that sort of thing still be done by telephone?

Criminal Justice Committee

Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018: Post-legislative Scrutiny

Meeting date: 8 March 2023

Russell Findlay

So, on those other cases, it is a matter of “Watch this space.” What about the question whether it could potentially derail DASA if those cases were successfully appealed?

Criminal Justice Committee

Subordinate Legislation

Meeting date: 8 March 2023

Russell Findlay

The policy note says that an instrument in similar terms has been made for the rest of the United Kingdom. What are the differences between that instrument and this one? Are there any?

Criminal Justice Committee

Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018: Post-legislative Scrutiny

Meeting date: 8 March 2023

Russell Findlay

So, we will see that within three months.

Criminal Justice Committee

Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018: Post-legislative Scrutiny

Meeting date: 8 March 2023

Russell Findlay

Thank you. My second question is for DCS Faulds. The findings of the research from the University of Edinburgh that was referred to in earlier evidence, in which 22 victims talked about their experiences, was fairly critical. Dr Houghton, who is still with us in the public gallery, described it as “unremittingly grim.”

Regarding the police, the research describes the process as “inconsistent” and says that

“victims and witnesses were required to proactively collect and push for particular evidence to be considered.”

I am sure that you are aware of evidence of that nature.

I completely understand that everything revolves around funding. The chief constable has already stated that the current policing model is “unsustainable” on the basis of the funding model available to the police.

Your written evidence says that about 13,000 officers have had core training and 600 have had champions training. Earlier, the convener asked what was happening next and whether there were any deadlines or targets. Can you indicate whether that training is now back on track, what the targets are and where you are likely to go from here?

Criminal Justice Committee

Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018: Post-legislative Scrutiny

Meeting date: 8 March 2023

Russell Findlay

It would potentially be of value to consider that.

Criminal Justice Committee

Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018: Post-legislative Scrutiny

Meeting date: 8 March 2023

Russell Findlay

I am dealing with a case in which a woman’s partner is seeking legal aid for civil action that she believes has the ultimate goal of removing their child from the UK, and there are parallel criminal proceedings. I have made representation to the Scottish Legal Aid Board to try and point out the background to that. She feels totally isolated, and that the system is against her and is facilitating what is going on. I suppose that that speaks to your point.

Criminal Justice Committee

Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018: Post-legislative Scrutiny

Meeting date: 8 March 2023

Russell Findlay

Right—so it is more about the application of DASA.