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Chamber and committees

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 15 July 2025
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Displaying 4120 contributions

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Criminal Justice Committee [Draft]

Prevention of Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 25 June 2025

Audrey Nicoll

We have only four or five minutes left, and a couple of other members want to ask questions, so perhaps you could follow up on that in writing.

Criminal Justice Committee [Draft]

Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 25 June 2025

Audrey Nicoll

Thank you. I will bring in other members, and I hand over to Liam Kerr.

Criminal Justice Committee [Draft]

Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 25 June 2025

Audrey Nicoll

As I said at the outset of our previous session with Pam Gosal, the Criminal Justice Committee regularly considers the issue of tackling violence against women and girls, which we take extremely seriously, as I am sure you know.

I will start with a general opening question, before bringing in Liam Kerr. As you will be aware, the minister said in a letter to the committee that

“There remain significant questions and concerns regarding the measures within the Bill and how they would work in practice, the extent to which they would deliver on the policy intent, and the associated financial implications.”

It is quite a broad question, but could you respond to those comments?

Criminal Justice Committee [Draft]

Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 25 June 2025

Audrey Nicoll

I have another couple of questions. You have spoken about other models, such as those in Sweden and Northern Ireland. The consultation responses indicate that there is a significant amount of support for the bill’s provision that would more fully criminalise those who are seeking to buy sex. However, I am aware of the work that has been done on legislation in Northern Ireland which, essentially, did the same thing, in that it criminalised the purchase of sex. The Department of Justice commissioned an official review in 2019 which found that there was

“no evidence that the offence of purchasing sexual services has produced a downward pressure on demand for, or supply of, sexual services”.

What is your view on the Northern Ireland experience? How might that shape your thinking about the legislative provision in Scotland?

Criminal Justice Committee [Draft]

Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 25 June 2025

Audrey Nicoll

Liam Kerr has a question, following which I will bring in Rachael Hamilton.

Criminal Justice Committee [Draft]

Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 25 June 2025

Audrey Nicoll

I have to bring the session to a close, so I thank Ash Regan and her staff for joining us this morning. That has been a helpful session.

We will suspend for a couple of minutes to allow our witnesses to depart.

12:00 Meeting suspended.  

12:01 On resuming—  

Criminal Justice Committee [Draft]

Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 25 June 2025

Audrey Nicoll

Rona Mackay, I forgot to bring you in for a supplementary to my questions.

Criminal Justice Committee [Draft]

Prevention of Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 25 June 2025

Audrey Nicoll

Katy Clark has a question.

Criminal Justice Committee [Draft]

Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 25 June 2025

Audrey Nicoll

Our next agenda item is an evidence session on the Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill from the member in charge of the bill, Ash Regan. We are also joined by Rachael Hamilton. I welcome Ash Regan to today’s meeting. She is accompanied by Maren Schroeder, senior researcher, and Anna MacLeod, parliamentary assistant, who are both from her office.

10:45  

The purpose of today’s evidence session is to inform the committee’s understanding of what the bill proposes. As with the previous session, this is an initial evidence session, and the committee will make a decision at a meeting in September on future evidence taking from other witnesses. I refer members to paper 1 and the letter from the Scottish Government giving its view on the bill. I will allow about 60 minutes for the session.

I invite Ash Regan to make an opening statement, for about five minutes.

Criminal Justice Committee [Draft]

Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 25 June 2025

Audrey Nicoll

You have focused on one specific aspect, but can you provide more detail on the wider cost implications?