Chamber and committees

We will have to close this evidence session shortly, but I want to ask all the witnesses if there is anything else about the bill that you would like to raise with us this morning. I just want to ensure that we have not missed anything that you were keen to share with us.

Thank you. You make a really interesting point about having what is almost a debriefing at the end of a trial.

Before I open up questioning to members, I come back to Hannah Stakes to speak about a trauma-informed environment in the court process, in particular, which we have been looking at and taking evidence on.

There are different views on how intimidating that environment can be. For some, as we heard from witnesses on the first panel, the solemnity of the court environment brings a feeling of seriousness to a survivor, in terms of how serious and important their case is.

I am interested in what views you might have about the court environment and how that could be improved. Does it need to be changed or altered, from a victim’s or survivor’s perspective?

Carry on.

Please be very, very quick.

Very finally, I call Fulton MacGregor, if he still wants to come in.

We have definitely run out of time now. I thank all the witnesses for attending. It has been a very worthwhile session.

Next week, we will return to the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill and take evidence from academics—including Cheryl Thomas, whom we referred to earlier—who have conducted research that is relevant to the bill, as well as from representatives of the legal profession.

I propose that we defer item 2 to a future meeting. Do we agree to do so?

Members indicated agreement.

Thank you. Do Hannah Stakes or Sarah Ashby have any brief points?

We are coming up to our allocated time. I bring in our final member, Pauline McNeill, then give our panel members a chance to add anything else that they wish to.

It is just after 10 minutes to 1, and we are looking to run the evidence session until just after 1. A couple of members still want to come in but, before I bring in Russell Findlay, I will interject and cover an issue that we have not picked up this morning, which is anonymity for victims.

Assuming that you are supportive of the provision on anonymity for victims, are there ways in which you would like to see the proposals in the bill changed or strengthened—for example, in relation to the offences covered or the duration of anonymity? The issue was covered to a greater or lesser degree in some of your written submissions, but I would like to pick it up in committee.

That is helpful—thanks very much.