Chamber and committees

Our next item is the consideration of a negative instrument. I refer members to paper 2.

If members have no questions, are we content not to make any recommendations to Parliament on the instrument?

Members indicated agreement.

I bring in Jamie Greene to finish things off.

Perhaps I should come in here, Rona, and say that Marsha Scott wanted to respond to the previous question.

Thanks very much. I will come to Professor Burman, then I will bring in our other two witnesses.

Thanks very much for that. I will bring in Dr Marsha Scott next, and then Amanda Masson.

Dr Scott, I know that you might have to leave us, so feel free to just log off when you need to.

I now bring in Fulton MacGregor.

I will bring in Craig Naylor on training and, in particular, timescales in light of some of the work that HMICS has already done on the issue.

I will bring in Pauline McNeill and then Fulton MacGregor.

Both the witnesses who are online want to come in. I ask for fairly succinct answers, so that everyone can get the opportunity to ask questions.

Our first and main item of business is to consider the criminal justice issues raised in the Scottish Mental Health Law Review. As members will recall, the Scottish Government established the review to examine existing Scots law, with a view to improving the rights and protections of people who might be subject to mental health, incapacity or adult protection legislation by virtue of having a mental disorder.

We are joined by Professor Colin McKay. Professor McKay, who is based at the centre for mental health and capacity law at Edinburgh Napier University, was a member of the Scottish Mental Health Law Review team. Welcome.

I refer members to papers 1 and 2. I intend to allow around 45 minutes for this session. I invite Professor McKay to make some brief opening remarks.