J2/S2/06/29/M

29th Meeting, 2006 (Session 2)

 Tuesday 7 November 2006

Present:

Apologies were received from Bill Butler MSP and Michael Matheson MSP.

The meeting opened at 2.13 pm.

1. Custodial Sentences and Weapons (Scotland) Bill: The Committee took evidence from—

Alan Baird, Convener, Criminal Justice Standing Committee, Association of Directors of Social Work; and
Lindsay MacGregor, Policy Manager, Councillor Eric Jackson and Councillor Alison Hay, COSLA;
           
Superintendent William Manson and Detective Superintendent James Cameron, ACPOS;
Clive Murray, National President, Association of Scottish Police Superintendents; and
Detective Chief Superintendent John Carnochan and Will Linden, Senior Intelligence Analyst, Violence Reduction Unit, Strathclyde Police;

Derek Turner, Assistant Secretary for Scotland, and Kenny Cassels, Vice Chair, Prison Officers Association.

2. Petition PE863: The Committee considered Petition PE863 by Bill Alexander which calls for the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Executive to amend the Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980 and agreed to write to the Scottish Executive.

3. Christmas Day and New Year’s Day Trading (Scotland) Bill (in private): The Committee considered a draft Stage 1 report. The report was agreed, subject to certain specified changes being made.

The meeting closed at 4.54 pm.

Tracey Hawe/Alison Walker
Clerks to the Committee