Chamber and committees

That is helpful. Just to follow up, I would like to know whether, once the provision is in place, in June, there will be a piece of work to monitor potential incidents in smaller venues and to respond accordingly if that is proving to be problematic. However, I appreciate your response.

I will open up the discussion to members.

Thank you.

Minister, I invite you to move motion S6M-08408.

Motion moved,

That the Criminal Justice Committee recommends that the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022 (Consequential Modifications, Saving and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2023 [draft] be approved.—[Siobhian Brown]

Motion agreed to.

Thank you, minister. That was very helpful. We will move to questions.

One or two members want to come in, but I wonder whether I can kick off—pardon the pun—by asking about the designation of a music or sporting event. The definition in the second instrument includes reference to an event venue that has

“capacity for 1,000 or more attendees”.

Could there be issues around the use of pyrotechnics at a venue that has a smaller capacity than that, such as a smaller football ground? Up in the north-east, we have quite a number of small football teams. I am not suggesting for one moment that they have an issue with pyrotechnics, but, technically, there could be an issue in a smaller venue. Has there been any consideration of venues that have a capacity of fewer than 1,000 attendees?

Thank you.

Jamie Greene has a quick question.

Good morning, and welcome to the 13th meeting in 2023 of the Criminal Justice Committee. We have received apologies from Pauline McNeill this morning.

Our first item of business is consideration of whether to take item 6, on our approach to legislation, in private. Do we agree to take that item in private?

Members indicated agreement.

I thank members, the minister and her officials for their time. That concludes our business in public, and we now move into private session.

Our next item of business is an oral evidence session on the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022 (Consequential Modifications, Saving and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2023. This affirmative instrument, along with the negative instrument that we will consider later in the meeting, forms a package of Scottish statutory instrument that brings certain provisions of the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022 into force. We will also take this opportunity to consider correspondence from the Minister for Victims and Community Safety on the timetable for the implementation of the remaining provisions of the 2022 act.

I welcome to the meeting Siobhian Brown MSP, the Minister for Victims and Community Safety, and, from the Scottish Government, Ms Mary Hockenhull, safer communities policy; Fiona McDiarmid, unit head, building safer communities; and Clare McKinlay, solicitor.

I take the opportunity to welcome Ms Brown to her new role. I refer members to committee papers 1 and 2, and I invite the minister to speak to the affirmative instrument.

Lady Dorrian’s review acknowledged several benefits that could be achieved through single-judge trials, including reducing the impact of rape myths. Does the cabinet secretary agree with the review that reducing the impact of rape myths is a very important factor in removing stigma and ensuring a fair trial for survivors?

I have a quick follow-up question. Without straying from the focus of the session, which is around place and space, it is important that communities and organisations are confident of funding sustainability. I am interested in your comments on models of funding that can provide that reassurance.

I have been listening with interest, particularly to the discussion on place-based policy. One thing that is coming into my head is the economic benefit that you bring to local areas when you are out in communities, cities and so on. I am thinking about, for example, the tie-in that some of your annual programme has with hospitality and tourism. What work has been done to look at the benefit that you bring to local economies? Forgive me if my next question has been covered already, given that a lot has been discussed. In addition to your engagement with partners and communities on performance, can you say a little about the mentoring that you do of local actors and performers through masterclass or mentoring opportunities?