Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Bill

Introduction of the Bill

The Bill was introduced by Kenny MacAskill MSP on 6 February 2013.

• Bill (As Introduced) (1.04MB pdf posted 7 February 13)
• Explanatory Notes (960KB pdf posted 7 February 13)
• Policy Memorandum (884KB pdf posted 7 February 13)
• Delegated Powers Memorandum (240KB pdf posted 7 February 13)

Research Briefings on Bill

• SB 13-21 Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Bill (576KB pdf)

Stage 1

The Bill was debated by the Parliament on 19 June 2013.

• Official Report, 19 June 2013 (786KB pdf)
• Minutes of Chamber Proceedings, 19 June 2013 (445KB pdf)

Lead Committee: Justice

The Committee published its Stage 1 report on 3 June 2013.

• 7th Report, 2013 (Session 4): Stage 1 Report on the Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Bill (1.31MB pdf)

Secondary Committee: Health and Sport 

Dates of consideration by Lead Committee:

    19 February 2013

    12 March 2013

    19 March 2013

    16 April 2013 (evidence)

    23 April 2013 (evidence)

    30 April 2013 (evidence)

    14 May 2013 (evidence)

    28 May 2013

Dates of consideration by Secondary Committee:

    26 March 2013 (evidence)

    16 April 2013 (evidence)

    23 April 2013 (evidence)

    30 April 2013 (evidence)

    14 May 2013

    21 May 2013

Dates of consideration by other committees:

    26 February 2013 (Subordinate Legislation)

    27 February 2013 (Finance)

    19 March 2013 (Subordinate Legislation)

    11 June 2013 (Delegated Powers and Law Reform, formerly known as Subordinate Legislation)

The Subordinate Legislation Committee published its report on the delegated powers provisions within the Bill on 19 March 2013:

• 20th Report, 2013 (Session 4): Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Bill (792KB pdf)

Stage 2

The Health and Sport Committee considered sections 26 and 27 at Stage 2 on Tuesday, 5 November.

• 1st Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 2 (645KB pdf posted 1 November 2013)
• 1st Groupings of Amendments for Stage 2 (139KB pdf posted 1 November 2013)
• Official Report, Health and Sport Committee, 5 November 2013 (381KB pdf)
• Minutes, Health and Sport Committee, 5 November 2013 (13KB pdf)

The Justice Committee considered the Bill on 12 and 19 November.

• 2nd Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 2 (539KB pdf posted 8 November 2013)
• 2nd Groupings of Amendments for Stage 2 (432KB pdf posted 8 November 2013)
• Official Report, Justice Committee, 12 November 2013 (532KB pdf)
• Minutes, Justice Committee, 12 November 2013 (87KB pdf)

• 3rd Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 2 (134KB pdf posted 15 November 2013)
• 3rd Groupings of Amendments for Stage 2 (125KB pdf posted 15 November 2013)
• Official Report, Justice Committee, 19 November 2013 (617Kb pdf)
• Minutes, Justice Committee, 19 November 2013, (91KB pdf)

• Bill (As Amended at Stage 2) (1.06MB pdf posted 20 November 2013)
• Supplementary Delegated Powers Memorandum (187KB pdf posted 28 November 2013)
• Revised Explanatory Notes (965KB pdf first posted 6 December 2010)

The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee published its report on the Bill as Amended at Stage 2 on 4 December 2013:

• 60th Report, 2013 (Session 4): Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Bill as amended at stage 2 (869KB pdf)

• SB 13-81 Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3 (410KB pdf)
• SB 13-79 Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3- National Confidential Forum (432KB pdf)

Stage 3

The Parliament debated the Bill at Stage 3 on 12 December.

• Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 3 (575KB pdf posted 9 December 2013)
• Groupings of Amendments for Stage 3 (193KB pdf posted 12 December 2013)
• Official Report, 12 December (982KB pdf)
• Minutes, 12 December (445KB pdf)
• Bill (As Passed) (470KB pdf posted 13 December 2013)

Passage of the Bill:

• summary (94KB pdf)

After Passing

The Bill received Royal Assent on 17 January 2014.

Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2014 asp 1