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Consideration of new petitions: The Committee will consider the following new petitions— PE1638 by Sean Clerkin on Local Housing Allowance (Bedroom tax 2); PE1641 by David Robertson on Future Independence Referendum. 3.
Shortcomings The disconnect between original purpose and modern application means there are three key shortcomings in the UK laws which we should aim to design out of a new Scottish crime: 1. They criminalise only the killing of ‘a child capable of being born alive’. 1 This was presumed in 1929 to be after 28 weeks’ gestation, but in 1991 1 a civil court held that the presumption operated from 26 weeks.
This inquiry follows on from the Committee’s previous work in relation to pre-budget scrutiny:
Pre-Budget scrutiny for 2022-23
Pre-Budget scrutiny for 2023-24
Pre-Budget scrutiny for 2024-25
Pre-Budget scrutiny for 2025-26.
Background.
Budget Scrutiny 2026-27: funding for culture.
These were:
Section 11 (power to release early) and section 14 (provision of information to victim support organisations) which were commenced on 26 May 2024
Section 5 (time spent on electronically monitored bail) of the Act which was commenced on 1 July 2024
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Some recommendations required systemic changes, such as new scrutiny structures, new monitoring frameworks, cross‑committee culture change, which tend to progress more slowly.
Committee findings and recommendations.
Following the evidence session on 26 March 2024 with the Minister for Public Health and Women's Health, the Committee issued a letter outlining their findings and recommendations.