Chamber and committees

That bill was introduced in June 2023, but it was late last year when it was finally passed, so that process took more than two years. There are also more than a dozen bills to get through in the next 22 sitting days.

Pauline McNeill, I will address some of the things that you highlighted.

The member mentioned the evolving digital landscape with women being filmed, which was on the news yesterday. That reiterates that we need the expertise to feed that into the discussions on how we move forward with the bill.

I know that Katy Clark and Pauline McNeill asked why this legislation was not in the programme for government. I have to clarify that there was a commitment in the 2020-21 programme for government to consult on challenging men’s demand for prostitution. That led the Government to develop a model for Scotland that effectively tackles and challenges men’s demand for prostitution. We published that strategic approach back in 2024. The Government is crystal clear that that work will continue—

We have heard the consensus, and this is an issue that needs to be addressed in the next parliamentary session. A commission that can examine and consider the many issues that have been aired today and act quickly in the next session is the way forward ahead of legislation that the Parliament can scrutinise and amend, knowing that it has the time and, importantly, that the proposals have been developed with those who are involved in prostitution. Women have clearly stated that, as drafted, the bill would put them at an increased risk of violence. I do not think that the bill can be amended sufficiently in six short weeks to allay those concerns and the other flaws in the bill.

I cannot and will not dismiss that clear concern for women’s safety that the committee has heard, which MSPs have reflected on today and which several stakeholders have outlined in their briefings. That concern needs to be at the forefront of our minds today, which is why the Scottish Government cannot support the bill stage 1.

I am sorry, but we did not have the official support for a shadow bill team on this particular bill.

The committee’s report clearly outlines the differing perspectives on the bill and offers a clear route map that should, I agree, lead to informed and deliverable next steps. Those next steps need to reflect and respond to how commercial sexual exploitation is taking place now, in 2026, and how the challenges of online activity—

One of the issues is that it is a reserved matter. However, as I think that Police Scotland told the committee in its evidence sessions, online activity is a huge issue in prostitution these days, and it needs to be able to enforce any legislation that goes through. Even though it is a reserved matter, therefore, we need to put it all in context as we move forward.

The next steps that we take need to reflect and respond to how commercial sexual exploitation is taking place now, in 2026, and to ensure that the challenges of online activity, which did not exist when the Nordic model was first introduced, can be addressed. That is why the Scottish Government welcomes and supports the committee’s recommendation that an independent commission be established to consider those issues, with a clear remit and timescale for reporting.

I will outline three steps that the Government will take on the committee’s recommendations. First, I have instructed officials to start work immediately on the establishment of a commission so that options are available for the responsible minister in the next Government. Those will be ready on their first day so that the next Government—as this Government will do if it is returned—can establish a commission at pace.

I will take an intervention, but in a moment. I want to make a little bit of progress first.

I also acknowledge the important role that the cross-party group on commercial sexual exploitation has played in ensuring that the social implications of commercial sexual exploitation, including trafficking and prostitution, have remained a matter of priority throughout this session of Parliament.

Members will be aware that, regretfully, the Scottish Government cannot support the bill at stage 1, due to the short time left in the session to address the significant issues. [Interruption.] I think that I need to be clear that the bill was introduced just eight months ago. If the member had introduced it in May 2024, we could maybe have worked together to get it in. [Interruption.]

Regretfully, the Scottish Government cannot support the bill. Although we strongly support the principle of criminalising those who purchase sex, the bill’s aim is to protect women, and legislating on principle alone is not sufficient to ensure that we deliver that aim. It is necessary to have a workable, effective bill that can command the confidence of Parliament. [Interruption.]

I will take an intervention from Carol Mochan.

I commend Ash Regan for the work that she has undertaken on the bill, which has brought prostitution to the top of the political agenda. Through the stage 1 process, Parliament has been able to hear directly from women who have lived experience of prostitution, which would not have happened were it not for the bill.

Yes.

Sorry, Presiding Officer.

You mentioned the evolving landscape—