Committee News Release
CJ1 001/2003
Thursday 9 October 2003
JUSTICE 1 COMMITTEE CALLS FOR EVIDENCE ON CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (AMENDMENT) (SCOTLAND) BILL
The Scottish Parliament Justice 1 Committee today issued a call seeking views from all interested parties on the general principles of the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill, which aims to allow for more thorough preparation of High Court cases, such as the introduction of a mandatory preliminary hearing, before the trial diet. Other proposed amendments aim to modernise time limits, and provide greater certainty that trials will proceed, such as fixing the date and time for the majority of trials and measures to deal with reluctant witnesses.
The Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Parliament on 7 October 2003.
As part of the Stage 1 consideration of the Bill, the Committee is keen to seek views from all interested parties on the general principles of the Bill.
Interested individuals and organisations are invited to submit written evidence to the Committee. The closing date for evidence is 28 November 2003.
Evidence at this stage should be typewritten, short and concise. It would be helpful if written evidence could be submitted in electronic form by email (preferably in MS Word 97) but postal submissions will also be accepted. Late submissions will only be accepted by prior agreement with the Committee.
Comments would be particularly welcomed from legal practitioners and from the general public, particularly users of the High Court system such as, victims, families of victims and accused, witnesses and accused persons. The Committee is very keen to hear from individuals and organisations that have day-to-day experience of criminal proceedings in the High Court and can highlight where the system is not as efficient as it should be.
Evidence received may be published by the Parliament.
Evidence should be submitted to:
Clerk to the Justice 1 Committee,
Room 3.11
Committee Chambers,
George IV Bridge,
Edinburgh EH99 1SP.
Email: justice.committee@scottish.parliament.uk
BACKGROUND NOTES:
The Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill is published as SP Bill 10 and is available from the Stationery Office and on the Parliamentary website at:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/bills/index.htm#10
Explanatory Notes (and the Executive's and Presiding Officer's statements
on legislative competence) are published separately as SP Bill 10-EN.
A Policy Memorandum is also published separately as SP Bill 10-PM.
For information, you may wish to consult the Guidance on Public Bills,
which is also available on the website.
The contact for members of the media is:
Eric MacLeod: 0131 348 5605
email: eric.mcleod@scottish.parliament.uk
For specific committee information, contact:
Douglas Thornton, Assistant Clerk: 0131 348 5227
Email: Douglas.Thornton@scottish.parliament.uk
For public information enquiries, contact: 0131 34 85000
For general enquiries, contact: 0845 278 1999 (local
call rate)
Visit our website at: www.scottish.parliament.uk