Equal Opportunities Committee, 06 Jun 2000

Meeting date: Tuesday, June 6, 2000

Official Report 140KB pdf

---

Reporters

The first report is from Irene McGugan.

The disability reporters group has not met since the previous meeting of the committee.

Johann?

You caught me by surprise—I was expecting a longer report before I had to give mine.

We have not met since the most recent full meeting of the committee. It is my intention to call a meeting next week, but we should record a significant shift in the Executive's statements, especially in relation to vulnerable witnesses and the cross-examination of victims of sexual crimes by those who are accused of them. I found the Executive's proactive position encouraging. It has taken the view that it wants to address that matter and asks the committee to work out how that should happen.

Along with women's organisations and others, our group probably played a small part in ensuring that the Executive recognised the strength of feeling about the matter—the politics of which it already understood. We should welcome that and I hope that we can contribute positively to a resolution of the matter.

I concur with that. Given the media interest in Glasgow Rape Crisis Centre and the centre's concern about any legal action from Frank Warren and future funding, has Johann Lamont had any recent discussions with the centre? Does she intend to contact it for an update on the situation?

I have had no contact with the centre. Like others, I was concerned over the weekend about the consequences of the legal action. Frank Warren's intention to pursue a claim for costs against the centre is a matter for grave concern. The centre had already reported to us on its funding problems and the important work that it does for vulnerable women. I am more than happy to make that contact. Perhaps the women's group can pursue that at our next meeting.

On Johann Lamont's first point, the Justice and Home Affairs Committee will hear evidence from Victim Support Scotland tomorrow, on victims in trials in general. The cross-examination issue will attract the most attention, but the issue is broader than that.

Although I do not know whether Johann Lamont can attend that meeting, it is important that a member of the committee attends, given the work that we have done on the issue.

On the second issue, I am sure that everyone is appalled by Frank Warren's attitude. We will have to apply maximum pressure to ensure that he does not press for costs. Equally, if the worst comes to the worst, we will ensure that Glasgow Rape Crisis Centre does not suffer because of his appalling attitude.

Okay. Johann Lamont will contact Glasgow Rape Crisis Centre to find out whether the committee can help with that situation.

The next report is from Michael McMahon.

Since our previous meeting, the race group's agenda has centred on travellers. The committee has not had a chance to discuss the evidence session that took place with the traveller groups. However, the session has raised many issues for an on-going debate. We need to consider how to get more evidence from organisations such as local authorities and the police, which have a direct impact on travellers' lives. I was going to pull the travellers' evidence into a report to identify the major areas of concern. Given the strength of the evidence that we received a couple of weeks ago, the committee must develop the debate and tackle this area of concern. I will take any guidance from members about what the race group can do. However, we should draw up an interim report as a basis for discussing the situation with other organisations.

Are you suggesting that you bring the report before the committee?

I could pull together a briefing note that sets out the arguments. I completed one before the evidence session with the travellers. However, it might be worth including a synopsis of that evidence to develop the debate. Perhaps the committee should consider inviting organisations such as the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and individual local authorities to hear their side of the argument.

Unfortunately, I could not be at the meeting with the travellers; however, I have read the Official Report of the meeting, and, as Michael has said, their evidence raises a number of issues. It might be worth discussing whether we should progress the inquiry by identifying individuals and organisations that can tell us about the situation. Now that we have started the inquiry, I am keen to continue it, because the committee should provide some input to this important debate.

Perhaps we should leave it to Michael to come back with a short report that outlines future courses of action and lists other organisations that we can take evidence from.

I will pull that together at the next meeting of the race group.

The next report is from Nora Radcliffe.

There was a meeting of the sexual orientation reporters group in Glasgow. A draft note of the meeting has been circulated to members of the group for amendment, and I hope to e-mail that to committee members later today.

Thanks very much.