The Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee is seeking views on the general principles of the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Bill, a Member’s Bill introduced on 27 May 2010 by Rhoda Grant MSP.

The Bill, together with accompanying documents (including a Policy Memorandum, Explanatory Notes and Financial Memorandum) can be found on the Parliament’s website.

• Bill as introduced plus accompanying documents

The Policy Memorandum states that the Bill has two main aims: to increase access to justice for victims of domestic abuse and to enable police and prosecutors to provide a more robust response to breached orders which in turn may deter abusers from further abusive action.

Specifically, the Bill will amend the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 to remove the requirement to show a course of conduct before a non-harassment order can be granted in civil proceedings involving domestic abuse.  The Bill will also amend the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986 to make legal aid available without means testing in respect of all applications for an interdict with a power of arrest or a non-harassment order where domestic abuse is involved.

Stage 1 of the scrutiny process is concerned with the general principles of the Bill, although it is also an opportunity to flag up more specific concerns that could be addressed by amendment at later Stages. 

The Justice Committee hopes to consider written submissions and to take oral evidence during October and November 2010 and to report on the Bill’s general principles later in the year.

As a first step, the Committee is inviting all interested parties to submit views on the Bill (or any provision of it) in writing.  

In making a submission, please indicate clearly whether or not you would wish to be invited to give oral evidence to the Committee to follow up on points made in your submission.  (Please note that the Committee may not invite all those who wish to give oral evidence.)  Submissions should be received, if possible, by no later than Friday 10 September 2010.

How to submit written evidence

Before making a submission, please read the Parliament’s policy on treatment of written evidence by subject and mandatory committees.

Written submissions should normally be limited to around 4 sides of A4 but, if they need to be much longer than this, they should be accompanied by a short summary of the main points.  Submissions should be set out in numbered paragraphs.  Where the submission refers to existing published material, it is preferable to provide hyperlinks or full citations (rather than extensive extracts). The Committee welcomes written evidence in English, Gaelic or any other language.

The Committee prefers to receive written submissions electronically (preferably in Microsoft Word format). These should be sent by e-mail to:

justice.committee@scottish.parliament.uk

However you may also make hard copy written submissions to:

Justice Committee

Room T3.60

The Scottish Parliament

Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Any queries about written submissions should be addressed in the first instance to the Justice Committee clerking team at the above e-mail address or on (0131) 348 5220.