Chamber and committees

The questions on the motions will be put at decision time.

The next item of business is consideration of three Parliamentary Bureau motions. I ask George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, to speak to and move motion S6M-00392, on temporary rule changes, and to move motions S6M-00393, on establishment of committees, and S6M-00394, on committee remits.

Good afternoon. I remind members that social distancing measures are in place in the chamber and across the Holyrood campus. I ask members to take care to observe those measures, including when entering and exiting the chamber. Please use the aisles and walkways only to access your seats and when moving around the chamber.

The first item of business is time for reflection. Our time for reflection leader today is the Rev Andy Philip, chaplain, St Mary’s Episcopal cathedral, Edinburgh.

There are three topical questions today. There is a great deal of interest in them, so I would be grateful for short questions and succinct responses.

That concludes the Covid-19 update.

I call Siobhian Brown. This is Ms Brown’s first speech in the chamber.

Briefly, please, Ms Lennon.

We move on to supplementary questions.

The next item of business is consideration of business motion S6M-00347, in the name of George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out revisions to next week’s business. Any member who wishes to speak against the motion should press their request to speak button now.

Motion moved,

That the Parliament agrees the following revision to the programme of business on:

(a) Tuesday 15 June 2021—

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followed by First Minister’s Statement: COVID-19 Update

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followed by Ministerial Statement: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Statistics (2019)

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5.00 pm Decision Time

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5.30 pm Decision time

(b) Wednesday 16 June 2021—

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2.00 pm Portfolio Questions:
Social Justice, Housing and Local Government;
Constitution, External Affairs and Culture

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followed by Ministerial Statement: Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) Scotland Act 2021 Update

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5.00 pm Decision Time

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5.30 pm Decision time

(c) Thursday 17 June 2021—

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2:30 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2:30 pm Portfolio Questions:
Justice

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2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions

2:00 pm Portfolio Questions:
Justice

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2.00 pm Portfolio Questions:
Justice

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followed by Ministerial Statement: Provisional Outturn 2020-21—[George Adam]

Motion agreed to.

The next question is, that motion S6M-00294, in the name of Keith Brown, as amended, on justice: recover, renew, transform, be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Motion, as amended, agreed to,

Accordingly, the Parliament resolved—That the Parliament commends the commitment, dedication and innovation of justice partners, staff and key stakeholders in ensuring that the justice system can recover, renew and transform as Scotland emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, while looking towards reform that delivers a faster, fairer and more effective system; acknowledges key challenges and the ongoing need for measures to both continue to protect public health and to support the recovery of the justice system as it emerges from this most challenging period; recognises the investment of additional resources in helping to address the impact and encourages continued collaboration to ensure that the interests of victims and those who rely on the justice system remain at the heart of necessary reforms; recognises the inventive solutions that have been adopted, including the use of cinemas as remote jury centres, moving civil business online and enabling prisoners to maintain family contact through virtual visits; but, as in other jurisdictions worldwide, recognises the impact of the pandemic on the delivery of justice in Scotland on victims, witnesses and those accused of criminal offences, including those on remand, indicating the need for a clear focus on addressing the backlogs in court business and ensuring cases are progressed within a reasonable time period, all in order to deliver a modern justice system fit for future challenges; considers that the transformation of the justice system must take a human rights and equalities approach to address the disproportionate impact of punitive procedures on BAME communities and other marginalised people and the retraumatising of victims and survivors; acknowledges the urgent need to identify and increase enforcement action against corporate and environmental crime; recognises that an holistic approach to crime reduction and restorative justice that addresses the underlying causes of crime and focuses on rehabilitation, rather than punishment, reduces reoffending and delivers better outcomes for individuals and communities and tackles unacceptable levels of institutional violence, self-harm and suicide, and calls on the Scottish Government to explore opportunities to implement such approaches, including directing more resources towards prevention and reforming policing and prisons.