Contributions
638 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDScotland Act 1998: Section 35 PowerAbsolutely.17 Jan 2023HANSARDScotland Act 1998: Section 35 PowerI am here to answer on the constitutional decision I have taken. I suggest that the hon. Gentleman goes to oral questions and asks those questions of the Minister for Women and…17 Jan 2023HANSARDScotland Act 1998: Section 35 PowerThe point of the Scottish Parliament is to serve the people of Scotland in the areas that are devolved to it, but, to be clear, within the terms of the Scotland Act. It is not an…17 Jan 2023HANSARDScotland Act 1998: Section 35 PowerI shall answer the hon. Gentleman’s questions, hopefully in the right order. This is not a last resort. To understand the Scotland Act, section 33 relates to where UK legislation…17 Jan 2023HANSARDScotland Act 1998: Section 35 PowerYes. This is entirely a legal debate we are having. It is about the Scotland Act 1998, and we should not be bringing into it or politicising the transgender community. I was…17 Jan 2023HANSARDScotland Act 1998: Section 35 PowerI absolutely agree.17 Jan 2023HANSARDScotland Act 1998: Section 35 PowerWhat I am doing here is addressing the legal issues as advised by legal counsel. The issue here is adverse effects on UK-wide legislation—the Equality Act 2010 and the Gender…17 Jan 2023HANSARDScotland Act 1998: Section 35 PowerNo, we are not. The Minister for Women and Equalities has provided a written ministerial statement on that. There are changes, which include 16 to 18-year-olds self-identifying…17 Jan 2023HANSARDScotland Act 1998: Section 35 PowerToday I will make an order under section 35 of the Scotland Act 1998 preventing the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill from proceeding to Royal Assent. This order will mean…17 Jan 2023HANSARDScotland Act 1998: Section 35 PowerThe hon. Lady will not be surprised to hear that I do not recognise much of what she says as being correct. I would point her to the statement of reasons, which will be laid…17 Jan 2023HANSARDScotland Act 1998: Section 35 PowerAs I think I have said, the Minister for Women and Equalities and civil service officials had a number of engagements. My involvement comes after the event, because it is a…17 Jan 2023HANSARDScotland Act 1998: Section 35 PowerWell, if any are not addressed, I am sure that others in the Chamber will ask those questions.17 Jan 2023HANSARDScotland Act 1998: Section 35 PowerFirst of all, of course we respect and support the trans community. If the hon. Lady wants to raise specific issues, the Minister for Women and Equalities is very happy to have a…17 Jan 2023HANSARDScotland Act 1998: Section 35 PowerThat is simply not true. I am looking to protect the vulnerable, as the hon. Lady will see. Legal opinion may well be divided on this, but the legal opinion we have taken is that…17 Jan 2023HANSARDScotland Act 1998: Section 35 PowerI do not recognise any of those remarks. This is about following legal advice—and not taking the decision lightly—on the adverse effects that this Bill has on two UK-wide, or…17 Jan 2023HANSARDScotland Act 1998: Section 35 PowerWhat we are trying to do is avoid having two conflicting regimes either side of the border.17 Jan 2023HANSARDScotland Act 1998: Section 35 PowerI entirely disagree. We are supporting the Union. The Scotland Act is what we believe in. Section 35 was democratically put there and we believe we must take the legal advice we…17 Jan 2023HANSARDScotland Act 1998: Section 35 PowerNo—that is an appalling thing to say. This order is entirely addressing the legal advice I have been given, and the legal advice tells me that there is a reduction in safeguards,…17 Jan 2023HANSARDScotland Act 1998: Section 35 PowerWe believe, as the hon. Lady will see in the statement of reasons—I have made this point very clearly—that there is a reduction in safeguards for women and children. She will have…17 Jan 2023HANSARDScotland Act 1998: Section 35 PowerWe will publish the statement of reasons. On the other remarks the hon. Gentleman made, opinions may vary.17 Jan 2023