Chamber and committees

Good morning, and welcome to the 10th meeting of the Criminal Justice Committee in 2024.

Our first item of business is consideration of a legislative consent memorandum and a supplementary LCM for the United Kingdom Government’s Criminal Justice Bill as introduced. I refer members to paper 1. In particular, members should look at annexes A and B for details of the provisions in the bill that impact on devolved competences.

Members will wish to note that the Scottish Government is recommending consent, as set out in the memorandums.

Are members in a position to recommend to the Parliament that consent be given to the relevant provisions in the bill, or do members have questions that they would like answered before returning to the decision on the recommendation on a different day?

Thanks for that, Katy. It is noted.

I assume that that is a question that we can take away and confirm. It is a fair point to raise.

Coming back to the issue in front of us, can I confirm that you are content with the SSIs as they are, and that we can follow up on the points that you have raised?

If there are no more questions, I thank members for their helpful feedback. In view of the range of questions and the significance of the bill—its proposed provisions are indeed extensive and we were quite late in receiving the DPLR Committee’s report—I am happy for us to take away the questions and points that have been raised. We will seek appropriate views and schedule another evidence session in our work programme to come back on the LCMs with a minister in a few weeks’ time. Are members content with that proposal?

Members indicated agreement.

There is a lot in there. It is helpful to have that set out. Does anyone else want to come in? If not, I will bring Stephen Imrie in to pick up on a couple of those points.

Our second item is consideration of two negative Scottish statutory instruments. I refer members to paper 2. Do members have any questions on the instruments or are we content with both?

As it stands, we are being asked to express today that we are in agreement with the SSIs. We have noted the points that you have made. Obviously, if you were not content, that would hold things up. I would refer to Stephen Imrie on the timescales that we have. In either case, we are able to follow up the points that you have made and clarify them.

Perfect. Is there anything that you want to come in on, Stephen? No; okay.

Are members content with both the SSIs as they are, bearing in mind the comments that have been made?

Members indicated agreement.

Thank you for that.

That concludes our public agenda items. Our next meeting on 13 March will continue the consideration in private of our draft stage 1 report on the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform Bill.

I notice that the motion does not mention the increasing cost of extracting oil and gas, which the minister referred to in her contribution. What is the member’s message to the sector that faces that situation?