Chamber and committees

The member has indicated that she wishes to withdraw amendment 67. Does any member object to its being withdrawn?

I call Katy Clark to wind up and to press or withdraw amendment 37.

Good morning, and welcome to the 14th meeting in 2023 of the Criminal Justice Committee. We have received no apologies.

Our business today is consideration of the Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill at stage 2. I ask members to refer to their copies of the bill, the marshalled list of amendments and the groupings document.

I welcome to the meeting Angela Constance, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, and her officials. I remind members that the officials are here to assist the cabinet secretary during the stage 2 debate and that they are not permitted to participate in the debate. For that reason, members should not direct any questions to them.

Before we start our consideration of amendments, I draw members’ attention to an additional pre-emption that is not noted in the groupings document. In group 10, on the release on licence of long-term prisoners, amendment 74 pre-empts amendment 10. That means that, if amendment 74 is agreed to, I cannot call amendment 10. If we do not reach that group today, that information will be included in the groupings document ahead of next week’s meeting.

Section 1—Decisions on bail: relevant information from officer of local authority

Amendment 7, in the name of the cabinet secretary, is grouped with amendments 35, 66 and 36.

There will be a division.

For

Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab)
Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con)
Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (Con)
McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab)

Against

MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP)
Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP)
Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP)

The result of the division is: For 4, Against 4, Abstentions 0. As there is an equality of votes, as convener, I will use my casting vote to vote against the amendment.

Amendment 67 disagreed to.

I think that we have jumped ahead slightly, which is fine. However, we will now come back to focus on group 2. I call Jamie Greene to speak to amendment 56 and other amendments in the group.

The question is, that amendment 56 be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members: No.

I call the cabinet secretary. My apologies; I call Jamie Greene.

There will be a division.

For

Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab)
Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con)
Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (Con)
McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab)

Against

MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP)
Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP)
Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP)