Justice 2 Committee to meet in Glasgow

CJ2004/2005 | 10 November 2005

Issues surrounding marches and parades are set to be discussed at Glasgow City Chambers on Monday, 14 November, by a Scottish Parliament Committee.

The Justice 2 Committee is scrutinising the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice Bill which proposes the introduction of football banning orders and changes to the laws relating to public processions - including Orange Order and Republican marches.

In a formal evidence taking session, the Committee will hear from invited witnesses including representatives from Cairde na h’Eireann, the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland and the Scottish Football Association.

Bill Butler MSP, Deputy Convener of the Justice 2 Committee, said: “We will be discussing issues at our meeting in Glasgow which are relevant to the whole of the country, but particularly to the West of Scotland.

“By holding the meeting in an area affected by issues the Bill aims to tackle, we feel we can gain a valuable insight into what is needed.”

Other organisation witnesses due to give evidence at the meeting are:
• Ibrox and Cessnock Community Council
• Calton Bridgeton Community Council
• COSLA
• STUC
• Scottish Premier League
• Chief Superintendent Kenny Scott of Strathclyde Police
• Scottish Professional Footballers Federation
• Supporters Direct
• Scottish Football Supporters Federation
Members of the public are welcome to attend this meeting and tickets can be booked in advance by calling Visitor Services at the Scottish Parliament on 0131 348 5200.

Textphone users can book tickets by calling 0845 270 0152. The Parliament also welcomes calls using the RNID Typetalk service.

Audio from the meeting is to be broadcast live online and can be listened to at the Scottish Parliament’s broadcasting website www.holyrood.tv.

Background

The Committee will meet at 1.45pm in Committee Room 8 of Glasgow City Chambers.

Media wishing to attend this meeting should contact Richard Holligan in the Scottish Parliament’s Media Relations Office to arrange access.

TV crews and photographers are advised to indicate their intention to attend before 5pm Friday 11 November.

The Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill is published as SP Bill 46 and is available from the Stationery Office and on the Parliament’s website.

A Scottish Parliament Information Centre briefing on the provisions of the Bill is available at the following internet address (pdf file):
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/research/briefings-05/SB05-57.pdf

Explanatory Notes (and the Executive’s and Presiding Officer’s statements on legislative competence) are published separately as SP Bill 46-EN. A Policy Memorandum is also published separately as SP Bill 46 -PM.

The Scottish Executive published Supporting Police, Protecting Communities: Proposals for Legislation in February 2005. This Bill brings forward those proposals.

The contact for members of the media is:

For further information, the media contact is:
Richard Holligan: 0131 348 5605
email: richard.holligan@scottish.parliament.uk

For public information enquiries, contact: 0131 348 5000 or 0845 278 1999 (local call rate)
Text phone: 0131 348 3415 RNID Typetalk calls welcome
email: sp.info@scottish.parliament.uk

Visit our website at: www.scottish.parliament.uk