Backing for breach of bail amendmentspublished at 15:54
Independent MSP John Finnie says he is happy to back the government amendments on breach of bail.
Summary
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR LIVE TEXT COVERAGE
The Health Committee questioned the author of legislation that would introduce a soft opt-out for organ donation, as well as Scotland's top organ transplant clinician and the public health minister
Topical questions on flooding and the Glasgow bin lorry tragedy
The transport minister delivered an emergency statement on the Forth Road Bridge closure
MSPs debated the Criminal Justice Bill which sets out police powers to arrest, question and detain people
The member's debate focused on the campaign against Aberdeen's controversial Marischal Square project
Backing for breach of bail amendmentspublished at 15:54
Arrest and detention in connection with bail breaches amendmentspublished at 15:52
We now move to Group 6 amendments relating to arrest and detention in connection with bail breaches.
The justice secretary says officers not in uniform will need to produce identification when someone is in breach of their bail.
The minister details further measures in this group.
Government amendments relating to the code of practice passedpublished at 15:49
A series of government amendments are passed without demur taking us to Group 5 amendments.
These relate to a code of practice and also unanimously passed.
MSPs vote against the Lib Dem amendment on searching for alcoholpublished at 15:47
MSPs vote against the Lib Dem amendment on searching minors for alcohol.
Our first division and thus a five minute suspensionpublished at 15:40
Ms Murray sees her amendments duly passed.
Ms McInnes does not move amendment 84.
The Lib Dem MSP moves amendment 1 which fails to get a unanimous majority creating our first division and thus a five minute suspension.
SNP back Labour amendments but not those of the Lib Demspublished at 15:38
The justice secretary says he is willing to support Elaine Murray's amendments.
However Mr Matheson says he will not back those from Alison McInnes.
Lib Dem amendmentspublished at 15:36
Lib Dem MSP Alison McInnes speaks to her amendments, relating to provisions about possession of alcohol.
Ms McInnes says she is calling for the removal of the section entirely.
She says an order making power leaves no scope for parliamentary scrutiny and would allow the search of alcohol to be down to one or two MSPs.
Unamended there is a real risk that our young people will be targeted.
Labour amendmentspublished at 15:32
Labour MSP Elaine Murray says her amendment 11 requires a copy of the proposed regulations to—
(i) the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Scotland,
(ii) the Scottish Human Rights Commission,
(iii) the Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland,
and (iv) such other persons as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate.
The Labour MSP says amendment 12 would mean Scottish Ministers must also so lay a statement
(a) giving reasons for wishing to make the regulations as currently framed (and confirming whether the regulations will amend the relevant enactment in the same way as shown in the proposed regulations),
(b) summarising— (i) the responses received by them to the public consultation on the proposed regulations, (ii) the representations made to them by the persons to whom a copy of the proposed regulations was sent.
Amendment unanimously agreed topublished at 15:29
The amendment is unanimously agreed to
It is important that Police Scotland publish the data on stop and searchpublished at 15:29
The minister now speaks to Group 3 amendments dealing with publication of information by the police on the search of a person not in police custody.
Lib Dem MSP Alison McInnes says the SPA should study the figures before the come before parliament.
Mr Matheson says it is important that Police Scotland publish the data.
The minister's amendments in group 2 are all unanimously agreed topublished at 15:26
The minister's amendments in group 2 are all unanimously agreed to.
Minister confident that police will have the powers to drive down knife crimepublished at 15:23
The minister says there has been a significant reduction in knife crime in Scotland.
Mr Matheson says there has also been a significant reduction in stop and search and knife crime continues to fall.
He says he is confident that police will have the necessary powers to continue to drive down knife crime.
Labour will support the minister on this measurepublished at 15:21
Labour MSP Elaine Murray says her party will support the minister on this measure.
Former first minister asks about impact of stop and search on knife crimepublished at 15:18
SNP MSP Alex Salmond says he would like to have seen far more analysis about the impact on knife crime of stop and search.
Mr Salmond says when it comes to stop and search he is really concerned about how they have affected knife crime.
Image source, bbcImage caption, SNP MSP Alex Salmond
He says he wants to be absolutely certain nothing is done that would lead to an increase in knife crime.
Public safety at premises or events amendmentpublished at 15:16
The justice secretary talks to an amendment relating to public safety at premises or events.
- Amendment 8 says a person who is not in police custody may be searched by a constable if (a) the person— (i) is seeking to enter, or has entered, relevant premises, or (ii) is seeking to attend, or is attending, a relevant event
- and (b) the further criteria are met.
Justice secretary speaks to first group of amendmentspublished at 15:10
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson speaks to his first group of amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill, external.
Background: MSPs to pass stop and search legislationpublished at 15:09 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2015
MSPs are to approve new legislation that aims to introduce a statutory code governing the use of police stop and search powers.
The bill also sets out police powers to arrest, hold in custody and question suspects.
Image source, Police ScotlandBut a controversial proposal to end the need for corroboration was dropped earlier this year.
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson confirmed in September that Police Scotland was to stop the controversial practice of non-statutory stop and searches of adults and children.
It came after the Scottish government asked John Scott QC to examine the issue. His report found that ending the searches would not prevent officers carrying out their duties effectively.
Criminal Justice Bill Stage 3 Debate amendmentspublished at 15:06
MSPs debate amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill .
The Scottish government introduced the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill in the Parliament on 20 June 2013.
It now includes provisions:
- setting out police powers to arrest, hold in custody and question suspects
- seeking to improve the preparation and management of sheriff and jury cases
Fife needs as much support as it can be given - ministerpublished at 15:04
The minister says the whole country recognises this is an issue of national significance and that Fife requires as much support as it can be given.
The minister repeats, again, that this fault was not predictedpublished at 14:56
The minister repeats, again, that this fault was not predicted.
