Chamber and committees

We really have to move on. Apologies, Marsha. I will bring Rona Mackay in next.

We move to part 3, which—you will be glad to hear—is the final part, focusing on special measures for civil cases. We will run up to 11.25.

I will open up the questioning. I direct my first question to Dr Marsha Scott.

Some organisations that have submitted responses, especially those that are supporting individuals with lived experience of the civil justice system, have suggested that the scope of those who are “deemed vulnerable”—in other words, automatically treated as vulnerable—should be broadened. Can you outline your view as to whether part 3 sufficiently strengthens the protection that is available to individuals who are involved in civil court cases?

Thank you for your forbearance. I know that you are very passionate about that.

Thank you very much indeed. We have to draw the session to a close. I thank everybody on our panel this morning. We will have a short suspension to let our witnesses leave.

Good morning, and welcome to the 25th meeting in 2023 of the Criminal Justice Committee. We have received no apologies this morning; Katy Clark joins us online.

Under our first item of business, we will continue to take evidence on the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill. Last week, we began with an overview session on the bill with the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, Angela Constance. Today, we move on to phase 1 of our evidence taking, which will focus specifically on parts 1 to 3 of the bill. Those parts cover the establishment of a victims and witnesses commissioner, the embedding of trauma-informed practice in the justice system and the extension of special measures to civil cases. We expect phase 1 to run to mid-November, after which we will move on to consider other parts of the bill.

This morning, we are joined by people from organisations that represent victims and survivors of various crimes. I give a warm welcome to Ann Marie Cocozza, the co-founder of FAMS—Families and Friends Affected by Murder and Suicide; Sandy Brindley, the chief executive of Rape Crisis Scotland; Dr Marsha Scott, the chief executive officer of Scottish Women’s Aid; and Kate Wallace, the chief executive officer of Victim Support Scotland.

I refer members to papers 1 to 3. I intend to allow up to 75 minutes for this session. Given that we have such a large panel, before we get under way, I ask members to be as succinct as possible with their questions and the witnesses to be as succinct as possible with their responses. I remind everyone that in phase 1 of our scrutiny we are focusing on parts 1 to 3 of the bill, so, if we can, let us try to work through those parts in turn in our questions.

I will begin with an opening question on part 1, which covers the proposal for a victims and witnesses commissioner. What are your views on the pros and cons of such a post? I will bring in Sandy Brindley and then Dr Marsha Scott, because I know that Rape Crisis Scotland supports the proposal and that Scottish Women’s Aid is more opposed to the creation of the post.

Dr Hill, do you want to start? We will then bring in Bill Scott.

Can I—[Interruption.] Marsha Scott can add a brief comment.

I bring in Rona Mackay, to be followed by Fulton MacGregor. I ask for succinct questions and responses.

Thank you for that. You are right that we have a lot to cover, so I will open questions up to other members. Sharon Dowey would like to come in, followed by Pauline McNeill and Russell Findlay.

It is the back of half 12, so we will move on to part 3, which covers special measures in civil cases. I interrupted Pauline McNeill in her questioning earlier. Would you like to come back in, Pauline?