Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott confirms his party's support for the Bill.

He welcomes in particular the elements of the Bill dealing with qualified one-way costs-shifting.

Mr Scott also praises the introduction of group proceedings into Scots law.

"In the interests of brevity and lack of knowledge, I'll leave it there," the Lib Dem MSP concludes.

Image source, Scottish government

Sheriff Principal Taylor wrote to the Justice Committee at the start of March to raise his concerns about a stage 2 amendment which was passed.

He said that the amendment may result in DBAs not being offered to pursuers who have sustained catastrophic injury.

He added: "The recent amendment thus poses an existential threat to DBAs being offered in higher value cases in Scotland. What will be the consequence of the amendment? The likely outcome is that cases will either not be raised at all or will settle for considerably less than the true value of the claim."

You can view that letter here., external

Image source, bbc

Scottish Green MSP John Finnie says the principle policy objective of the Bill is to increase access to justice.

Mr Finnie says this has been referred to as long awaited legislation and pays tribute to Sheriff Taylor.

He says his wise counsel informed Stage 3 amendments and he says the Bill has improved.

The Greens will vote to pass the Bill at decision time.

Labour MSP Daniel Johnson says the Bill will make it easier for people to bring forward cases.

Those whose lives have been altered by personal injury will have real improvements in the prospect of getting redress and compensation, he says.

Scottish Labour therefore fully support the Bill and the positive reforms it will put in place, Mr Johnson confirms.

The Labour MSP welcomes the five-year review to ensure there are no unintended consequences.

The Civil Litigation Bill implements a number of recommendations from the Taylor Review of Expenses and Funding of Civil Litigation in Scotland. It aims to increase access to justice in Scotland

Image source, bbc

The parliament's briefing highlights the following changes proposed in the Bill:

• Introducing damages-based agreements, external, which would allow solicitors to be paid a percentage of the client's compensation where a court claim is successful. The Bill would enable percentage caps to be put in place to limit the fee level in these and other forms of no win, no fee arrangements.
• Introducing qualified, one-way costs shifting for personal injury cases, external. This would protect a pursuer from being required to pay the defenders' legal expenses if they lost their case, but still allow them to claim legal expenses from the defender if they won;
• Enabling a party represented free of charge to claim legal expenses, external from the other side if they won their case, with the money being paid to charity;
• Placing new requirements on commercially-motivated third parties who fund litigation, external in which they do not have a direct interest;
• Creating salaried posts for auditors of the court, external, to be employed through the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service; and
• Empowering the court to introduce rules to support group proceedings,, externalwhereby one set of court proceedings may be brought on behalf of two or more parties.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Liam Kerr is on his feet and speaking in favour of passing the Civil Litigation Bill.

Mr Kerr says Sheriff Principal Taylor said there had been a problem with the access to justice when he reviewed civil litigation.

He says the implementation of the Act must be closely reviewed.

The Tory MSP concludes saying he hopes the Bill will deliver access to justice and says it has the backing of he and his colleagues.

Legal Affairs Minister Annabelle Ewing says the potential costs involved in pursuing civil action often act as a deterrent.

This Bill, she explains, should provide more clarity on what suits will cost.

Part 1 of the Bill deals with the fees a litigant might be due to pay their own lawyer, while part 2 deals with the costs which could be recovered by the other side, Ms Ewing says.

I am satisfied the Bill implements Sheriff Principal Taylor's recommendations in both areas, the minister states.

She also says she is convinced the five-year review will show the Bill achieved its intended outcomes.

The Civil Litigation (Expenses and Group Proceedings) (Scotland) Bill, external will make provision about success fee agreements and expenses in civil litigation.

It will also make provision about:

• the offices of the Auditor of the Court of Session
• the auditor of the Sheriff Appeal Court
• the auditor of the sheriff court
• and make provision about the bringing of civil proceedings on behalf of a group of persons

Image source, bbc

Click here for extensive coverage of Thursday's debate on Stage 3 amendments to the Bill.

Image source, Thinkstock

MSPs will now debate the Civil Litigation (Expenses and Group Proceedings) (Scotland) Bill, external for the final time.

Scotland's medal haul was the nation's highest at an overseas Games, just nine short of the record 53 won on home soil at Glasgow 2014, and left them eighth in the final Gold Coast medals table.

Swimmer Duncan Scott was one of the first to arrive, telling BBC Scotland News: "It's good to be home, it's going to be good to get into my own bed."

He was a force in the pool, winning six medals - the most ever achieved by a Scottish swimmer.

He arrived in Glasgow with a gold, a silver and four bronzes around his neck and said one of the highlights of his games was carrying the flag in the closing ceremony.

"That was really special," he said.

"It's something only a select few people get to do, so to be chosen for that, I was delighted and it was an honour to close out Scotland's team in the best ever overseas games."

Image source, bbc

Public Health and Sport Minister Aileen Campbell says the Scottish team were, "from the get go, clearly there to do businesss".

Ms Campbell says the diversity of the 71 nations must not be forgotten but tolerance must always be promoted, citing Alex Rowley's praise of Tom Daly.

She says 95% of funding is to grassroots sports.

The minister says there is much to celebrate in terms of access to sports and stresses there is much to build on.

Tom English
Chief sports writer, BBC Scotland on the Gold Coast

Image source, bbc

The Gold Coast started to pack its tents and go back to normal life on Monday.

The temporary stands at the swimming pool came down, the dismantling of the beautiful arena for the beach volleyball began, the boxing hall disappeared and the place returned to being a sound stage for Hollywood movies.

A lot of the infrastructure is going, but memories are remaining. Which ones? So many. Too many. This is not meant to be a comprehensive sweep, just a series of snapshots. Good and bad and weird. Sporting life in all its forms.

• Read more here
• Scotland's 'best-ever' Games - Whittingham
• Scotland finish with 44 medals

Tory MSP Brian Whittle advocates extra-curricular activities before, during and after schools.

He calls for it to be made easier for children to participate by encouraging schools themselves to offer more.

Mr Whittle warns against a "false economy" of cuts to sport facilities given the long-term costs this could lead to.

Image source, bbc

Team Scotland have been given a heroes' welcome as they touched down on home soil after their most successful away games ever.

Scotland finished Gold Coast 2018 with a total of 44 medals - the nation's second highest tally in Commonwealth Games history.

The return flight from the Gold Coast carried the extra weight of nine gold medals, 13 silver and 22 bronze.

The athletes were piped out to meet the flag-waving crowds.

Read more here.