Chamber and committees

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of the proposed closure of 29 police stations across Scotland on antisocial behaviour. (S6O-02940)

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app was not working, but I would have voted no.

By the end of 2023, only 16 people in Scotland had come forward to have their conviction overturned. There are many more people who were not convicted but for whom the false accusations severely impacted their reputation, career and mental health. The full number of victims in Scotland is not yet known. What discussion has the Scottish Government had with the Crown Office and Prosecutor Fiscal Service regarding the number of people in Scotland who were potentially wrongly prosecuted? Does it expect to be liable for the cost of compensation?

I was expecting an answer on whether we are liable for compensation.

The Post Office has set aside £244 million in compensation for potential victims. Many victims have now died without having been able to claim the compensation or to clear their names, yet Fujitsu, the company that created the Horizon system, has not faced any financial implication and has reportedly been awarded more than 150 Government contracts since. What discussion is the Scottish Government having with the UK Government regarding the responsibility of Fujitsu in the scandal?

I congratulate the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee and its clerks on their substantial report. As many others have reiterated, there is unanimous support for it across the chamber, and I am glad to see that. Since the Scottish Parliament was created, in 1999, devolution has evolved significantly. Alexander Stewart spoke about devolution being

“an important part of Scotland’s political history”,

and he is right. It is now one of the most devolved institutions in the world.

From its formation, the Parliament was legally required to implement EU law in the devolved areas. Brexit changed that, and Angus Robertson began by outlining the unprecedented impact that that has had on devolved institutions in the UK. Leaving the EU had considerable consequences for the Scottish Parliament’s ability to carry out rightful scrutiny in devolved areas. Now, more than ever, we need competent Governments across the UK that co-operate and communicate to overcome that change.

As many of my colleagues have said, a key recommendation of the committee’s report is the need for improved intergovernmental co-operation. The report outlines the fact that, since our exit from the EU, there has been significant disagreement between the devolved institutions and the UK Government about how the regulatory environment should be managed within the UK. Since the UK’s departure from the EU, there has been a clear deterioration in relations between the UK Government and the devolved institutions. Clare Adamson spoke of the structural and systematic challenges that have arisen with devolution as a result of Brexit. That is true, but years of political disagreement and point scoring have also led to a stale relationship between the SNP Scottish Government and the Conservative UK Government. That political quarrel dates back to well before Brexit and, as Alex Rowley said, we now have two parties that are determined to use the constitution to pursue their own political ambition and foster division.

Scottish Labour believes that the people of Scotland and the rest of the UK deserve co-operation and trust, not conflict, between our Governments. Currently, relations between the UK Government and its devolved counterparts can be summed up as a culture of conflict, as Neil Bibby outlined. A new approach and a reformed relationship between the UK Government and the devolved institutions are required. The upcoming general election is a clear chance to establish those, and Scottish Labour is ready to take charge.

Transparency is paramount in strengthening intergovernmental relations as we move forward. The committee’s report outlines that we need better and more open communication between the UK and devolved Governments in reserved and devolved areas. Trust and transparency are key to the success of devolution.

Alex Cole-Hamilton has highlighted the deficiencies in the relationship between the UK and Scottish Governments since Brexit. We currently have two Governments in the UK that refuse to co-operate and communicate with one another, and devolution is suffering as a result. Labour is the party of devolution—

I am sorry, but I have a lot to say and I am watching the time.

Acts such as the UK Internal Market Act 2020 highlight the lack of respect that the UK Conservative Government now has for devolution. I share the concern expressed by committee witnesses that the Sewel convention must be legally strengthened. As Neil Bibby highlighted, the UK Labour Party’s commission on the future of the UK emphasised the need for a new and legally binding statutory formulation of that convention, which must be protected in order to respect devolution and the authority of the devolved institutions across the UK.

I have a lot to say—sorry.

Labour is the party of devolution, and we wish to see it strengthened, not undermined. The UK’s departure from the EU directly impacted on many areas of devolved competence. We wish to see the UK and Scottish Governments work together in a way that upholds and seeks to strengthen devolution. Sadly, that is not currently being demonstrated by either of the Administrations in charge. Instead, years of political disagreement have led to a culture of secrecy and distrust.

We cannot seek to mend our relationship with the UK Government if it continues to act in areas of devolved competence. It remains unacceptable for the UK Government to legislate in areas of devolved competence without consent. Prior to Brexit, the Sewel convention was widely upheld and applied by successive UK Governments. However, as Alasdair Allan outlined, since Brexit, the process has repeatedly been breached and the UK Government seems to consider the Sewel convention to be a thing of the past.

Thank you, Presiding Officer. Happy new year to you and to everyone in the chamber.

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to ensure that all people who were potentially wrongfully convicted as a result of the reported Horizon scandal are supported in coming forward if they wish for their conviction to be overturned. (S6T-01726)

Yes.

I had a round-table meeting with students earlier this year. They had loads of concerns about the pressure that they are under.

The minister mentioned that the Scottish Government is considering the funding arrangements. Can we ask the Government what consideration it is giving to issues such as the housing crisis, which place even more pressure on social work students? Will that factor into any decisions about the need for bursaries?