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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 7 July 2025
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Displaying 1372 contributions

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SPCB Supported Bodies Landscape Review Committee

Interests

Meeting date: 12 December 2024

Ben Macpherson

I am not a member of the Law Society of Scotland, but I am on its roll of Scottish solicitors. That may be of relevance at points during our deliberations.

SPCB Supported Bodies Landscape Review Committee

Decision on Taking Business in Private

Meeting date: 12 December 2024

Ben Macpherson

Thank you very much, Murdo, for your assistance, and thank you, colleagues, for electing me—if that is an appropriate description—to the position of convener.

Item 3 is a decision on whether to take item 4 in private. Are we agreed?

Members indicated agreement.

10:03 Meeting continued in private until 10:50.  

Criminal Justice Committee

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Meeting date: 11 December 2024

Ben Macpherson

Good morning, minister, and to your officials. You have touched on this already, but I wonder whether you might say a bit more. In your opening statement, you said that amendments at stage 2 will be kept to an absolute minimum and, in response to a colleague, you said that they will be very technical in nature. For the benefit of the Parliament, even at this stage, and for those listening, will you say a bit more about the rationale behind that, and when the detail—some of which you relayed in a previous answer—will become clearer for those who are interested in the operation of the system?

Criminal Justice Committee

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Meeting date: 11 December 2024

Ben Macpherson

That clarification is helpful.

Criminal Justice Committee

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Meeting date: 4 December 2024

Ben Macpherson

Before I ask my question, I remind everyone that I am registered on the Law Society of Scotland’s roll of Scottish solicitors.

Building on the previous questions and the opening remarks, as a point of clarity, if the not proven verdict is removed, are you stating that 10 out of 12—a five-sixths majority—or unanimity would be your optimum position? Is that what you are arguing for, rather than a two-thirds majority?

Criminal Justice Committee

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Meeting date: 4 December 2024

Ben Macpherson

Thank you. I just wanted clarity on that.

Criminal Justice Committee

Scottish Biometrics Commissioner Annual Report 2023-24

Meeting date: 13 November 2024

Ben Macpherson

Commissioner, you have provoked a question that I have wondered about for some time. It is in relation to what you said about travel. Often, when people enter or exit other countries, biometric data is taken. Do constituents have any ability through your office—not in relation to a criminal justice investigation or any attachment to a crime but in relation to when their data is taken as they travel—to inquire as to whether that data is still held or can be deleted? Do you have that international connectivity?

Criminal Justice Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26

Meeting date: 13 November 2024

Ben Macpherson

Good morning to you and your officials, cabinet secretary.

You said that there was a 12 per cent increase in capital for Police Scotland in the past financial year. Given that that was, of course, in the context of a 9 per cent decrease for the Scottish Government overall, that 12 per cent increase clearly shows that investment in policing is a priority for the Government. However, as you have laid out, there is a need, whether it be in the estates review or otherwise, to continue to enhance and rationalise appropriately for a 21st century police force.

In relation to capital, the SPA and Police Scotland mentioned to the committee not only that multiyear funding would be beneficial, but that using the powers in the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 to enable the force to borrow and hold reserves could make a difference. Will you comment on those proposals that the SPA made, and can you give us any update on the conversations that the Scottish Government is having, particularly with the SPA? I appreciate that the overall call from the SPA was for more capital investment at a UK level, which would help the Scottish Government provide more capital funding.

Criminal Justice Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26

Meeting date: 13 November 2024

Ben Macpherson

So what makes it tricky is the fact that the Scottish Government is constrained in its capital borrowing powers.

Criminal Justice Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26

Meeting date: 13 November 2024

Ben Macpherson

Clearly, that would make a difference to the estate and to Police Scotland more generally.