Sturgeon makes gay convictions apology

Summary

The Justice Committee takes evidence on the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Repeal) (Scotland) Bill
SNP MSP Ruth Maguire asks about the CPAG report 'The Austerity Generation' during topical questions
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon issues an apology to all those convicted of same-sex activity that is now legal.
MSPs will then debate the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Bill
Labour MSP Daniel Johnson leads a member’s debate marking Respect for Shopworkers Week

Live Reporting

Craig Hutchison and Andrew Southwick

Postpublished at 12:18 Greenwich Mean Time 7 November 2017
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Postpublished at 12:18 Greenwich Mean Time 7 November 2017
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Meanwhile we have a new minister announcedpublished at 12:18 Greenwich Mean Time 7 November 2017
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Postpublished at 12:17 Greenwich Mean Time 7 November 2017
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Meanwhile business is carrying on here in the Justice Committeepublished at 12:16 Greenwich Mean Time 7 November 2017
Image caption,
Desmond Ziolo from the Glasgow Bar Association
Conservative MSP Liam Kerr asks Desmond Ziolo from the Glasgow Bar Association "are you suggested as drafted that Section 6 is not fit for purpose?"
Mr Ziolo says: "Police Scotland say in their own words due to the narrow scope this has not been used by police.
"Due to the wording the majority can not be dealt with with this provision.
"There is clearly a problem."
Postpublished at 12:15 Greenwich Mean Time 7 November 2017
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Postpublished at 12:15 Greenwich Mean Time 7 November 2017
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Postpublished at 12:11 Greenwich Mean Time 7 November 2017
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Postpublished at 12:10 Greenwich Mean Time 7 November 2017
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Postpublished at 12:10 Greenwich Mean Time 7 November 2017
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Postpublished at 12:09 Greenwich Mean Time 7 November 2017
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Postpublished at 12:07 Greenwich Mean Time 7 November 2017
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Background: Embarrassing defeat for the Scottish governmentpublished at 12:07 Greenwich Mean Time 7 November 2017
Image source, bbc
The Tories, Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green MSPs united in November last year to back a motion calling for the repeal of the Act by 64 votes to 63, inflicting an embarrassing defeat on the Scottish government.
The repeal bill was lodged by Labour MSP James Kelly in June this year and is currently at Stage One of Holyrood's legislative process.
Opponents of the law say it is poorly written, unnecessary in light of existing legislation and unfairly targets football fans, with the Fans Against Criminalisation campaign group staging protests against it.
Mr Kelly's public consultation on his Member's Bill found 71 % of respondents support scrapping the Act.
However ministers argue that opponents have not put forward any viable alternatives to tackling sectarianism at football and that scrapping it would send out the wrong message on offensive behaviour.
Academic says removing Section Six would not leave a gappublished at 12:06 Greenwich Mean Time 7 November 2017
Image source, bbc
Image caption,
Desmond Ziolo from the Glasgow Bar Association
Desmond Ziolo from the Glasgow Bar Association says there would be no gap in the law with the repeal of the Act.
Mr Ziolo says there is existing legisaltion there.
He says the issue is around Section Two about a "serious violent act".
Professor Fiona Leverick from the University of Glasgow says she does not think removing Section Six would leave gap.
Background: Charges and convictions under the Actpublished at 12:01 Greenwich Mean Time 7 November 2017
Since 2012, the number of charges reported to the Procurator Fiscal under the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012 is shown as follows:
Image source, Scottish Parliament/Police Scotland
In respect of convictions where the main charge was under Section 1 of the Act, COPFS have published the conviction rates as follows:
Image source, Scottish Parliament/Police Scotland
Scottish football fans are the 12th best behaved out of 55 in Europepublished at 11:58 Greenwich Mean Time 7 November 2017
Image source, SNS
Image caption,
Riot police in Europe
Scottish FA chief executive Stewart Regan says: "We have had extensive meetings with the government, we have worked very closely with them."
He compares the behaviour of fans in Scotland to those in Europe.
"Without minimising sectarianism and its impact on Scottish society, Scottish football has been seen as the 12th best behaved association out of 55.
"I look around Europe and see issues with riots and police horses on the pitch. I think we control it as well as we can."
Background: Top-level summit arranged after Old Firm 'shame game'published at 11:55 Greenwich Mean Time 7 November 2017
Image source, SNS
Image caption,
Celtic v Rangers in March 2011 saw 34 fans arrested
A top-level summit was held in Scotland to discuss serious disorder surrounding Old Firm games, after the so-called "shame game" in March 2011.
First Minister Alex Salmond confirmed the move after an ill-tempered Scottish Cup replay at Celtic Park on was described as "shameful".
Three Rangers players were sent off during the tie, which also saw several touch-line and tunnel confrontations and 34 arrests inside the stadium.
Read more here
'There is no doubt that we have amended our rules considerably'published at 11:54 Greenwich Mean Time 7 November 2017
Image source, bbc
Image caption,
Neil Doncaster from Scottish Professional Football League
Neil Doncaster from Scottish Professional Football League says: "There is no doubt that we have amended our rules considerably and amended our guidelines."
Mr Doncaster says tackling bad behaviour is the focus.
Background: Government defeated in Offensive Behaviour at Football Act votepublished at 11:49 Greenwich Mean Time 7 November 2017
Image source, bbc
Image caption,
The law was intended to discourage overtly sectarian behaviour in and around Scottish football matches
MSPs voted to urge the Scottish government to repeal its Offensive Behaviour at Football Act last year.
Opposition parties all back scrapping the act, and united to hand the government a symbolic defeat.
Labour's James Kelly has lodged a member's bill aiming to repeal the legislation, and the Tories put the matter forward for debate.
SNP MSPs defended the legislation, saying opponents have not put forward any viable alternatives.
The Offensive Behaviour at Football Act (OBFA) became law in 2012, carried by the votes of the SNP majority government of the time despite opposition from all other parties.
With the SNP now a minority administration, it has come under pressure from opposition groups who maintain that the law is poorly written, unnecessary in light of existing offences and unfairly targets football fans.
'No summit called after T in the Park'published at 11:48 Greenwich Mean Time 7 November 2017
Scottish FA cheif executive Stewart Regan points out there "wasn't a summit called after T in the Park" despite incidents at the popular music festival.
"I think football has been targeted.
"Football gets tarred unfairly with being the source of offensive behaviour. Sectarianism doesn't just happen at football matches."