Minutes: 25 October 2023

Wednesday, 25 October 2023

26th Meeting, 2023

Start time: 10:00am

End time: 12:35pm

Location: T4.60-CR6 The Livingstone Room

Published: Thursday, 26 October 2023

Committee Member attendees:

Minutes

1. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill:

The Committee took evidence on parts 1 to 3 of the Bill at Stage 1 from—

Jonathan Campbell, President, Edinburgh Bar Association;

Jamie Foulis, Committee Member and Treasurer, Family Law Association;

Stuart Munro, Convener of the Criminal Law Committee, The Law Society of Scotland.

2. Access to court transcripts:

The Committee considered correspondence received from the Scottish Government. The Committee agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs.

3. Forensic pathology services:

The Committee noted the issues raised in HM Inspectorate of Prosecution's Annual Report for 2022-23 over the current model for the provision of forensic pathology services in Scotland. The Committee agreed to write to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, the NHS and the Scottish Government.

4. Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 1.

5. Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill (In Private):

The Committee further considered its approach to the scrutiny of the Bill at Stage 1.