Parliament Workbench
Data: Motions & questions to 19 Nov 2026 · Votes to 12 Nov 2026

Motion For Debate · S5M-01434 · Session 5

Domestic Abuse Law

Lodged by Michael Matheson SNP Lodged 13 Sep 2016 Debate 15 Sep 2016 1 supporter

The motion

That the Parliament welcomes the announcement by the First Minister when delivering the 2016-17 Programme for Government that the Scottish Government will introduce legislation to create a specific criminal offence of domestic abuse; recognises that, in Scotland, there are approximately 60,000 incidents of domestic abuse reported each year, with the 2014-15 figures showing that 79% of such incidents having a male perpetrator and a female victim; recognises that, while physical abuse can be prosecuted under existing laws, it is challenging to prosecute psychological abuse and coercive and controlling behaviour under these; agrees that a new offence will both help the criminal justice system to deal more effectively with domestic abusers and, alongside access to appropriate advocacy services, allow better access to justice for victims, and notes that the Scottish Government is continuing to consider the exact terms of such an offence in the light of feedback to the recent consultation on a draft offence with the aim of ensuring that it appropriately and effectively criminalises the type of pernicious coercive and controlling behaviour that can constitute domestic abuse and that such an offence will have a significant impact on how society views domestic abuse by ensuring that there is clarity that psychological, as well as physical abuse, of a partner or ex-partner is a criminal offence.

What MSPs voted on: the motion as amended

The SNP’s motion was changed by amendments from the Conservatives (S5M-01434.1) and Labour (S5M-01434.2) before this vote. A vote ‘for’ was a vote for the motion as amended, not as lodged.

That the Parliament welcomes the announcement by the First Minister when delivering the 2016-17 Programme for Government that the Scottish Government will introduce legislation to create a specific criminal offence of domestic abuse; recognises that, in Scotland, there are approximately 60,000 incidents of domestic abuse reported each year, with the 2014-15 figures showing that 79% of such incidents having a male perpetrator and a female victim; recognises that, while physical abuse can be prosecuted under existing laws, it is challenging to prosecute psychological abuse and coercive and controlling behaviour under these; agrees that a new offence will both help the criminal justice system to deal more effectively with domestic abusers and, alongside access to appropriate advocacy services, allow better access to justice for victimsS5M-01434.1 Conservative both male and female victims who have been in a heterosexual or same-sex relationship; urges the Scottish Government to continue to raise awareness of Clare’s Law, and notes that the Scottish Government is continuing to consider the exact terms of such an offence in the light of feedback to the recent consultation on a draft offence with the aim of ensuring that it appropriately and effectively criminalises the type of pernicious coercive and controlling behaviour that can constitute domestic abuse and that such an offence will have a significant impact on how society views domestic abuse by ensuring that there is clarity that psychological, as well as physical abuse, of a partner or ex-partner is a criminal offence.S5M-01434.2 Labour ; recognises the important role of domestic abuse courts in dealing with the offence, and looks to extend the provision of these as part of proposals for tackling domestic abuse in Scotland.

Final wording as read into the Official Report at Decision Time. The marked changes are worked out by this site from the amendment texts and match that wording.

Amendments

  1. S5M-01434.1 Conservative Douglas Ross Agreed without a vote, per the Official Report
  2. S5M-01434.2 Labour Claire Baker Agreed without a vote, per the Official Report

Signatures by party

1 MSP besides the lodger · 0 from other parties
SNP 1

Party on the day each MSP signed. Signing a motion is voluntary and not whipped. Who signs whose motions

Vote

No recorded vote on this motion. Most motions are never debated, and many that are debated are agreed without a division. Vote records are published from 2011.

Amendments

2
  1. S5M-01434.1
    Domestic Abuse Law
    Douglas Ross Con Lodged 14 Sep 2016
    No recorded vote
  2. S5M-01434.2
    Domestic Abuse Law
    Claire Baker Lab Lodged 14 Sep 2016
    No recorded vote

Supporters

1 MSP

SNP 1

Show all 1 supporter by party

SNP 1

Party shown is each supporter’s party when the motion was published.

In the Official Report

4 contributions mention S5M-01434
  1. 15 Sep 2016
    Domestic Abuse Law
    Christine Grahame SNP Meeting of the Parliament

    The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-01434, in the name of Michael Matheson, on domestic abuse law. From the outset, I inform members that—watch my lips—time is tight. There is no spare time.

  2. 15 Sep 2016
    Decision Time
    Ken Macintosh Meeting of the Parliament

    There are three questions to be put as a result of today’s business. The first question is, that amendment S5M-01434.1, in the name of Douglas Ross, which seeks to amend motion S5M-01434, in the name of Michael Matheson, on domestic abuse …

  3. 15 Sep 2016
    Decision Time
    Ken Macintosh Meeting of the Parliament

    The next question is, that amendment S5M-01434.2, in the name of Claire Baker, which seeks to amend motion S5M-01434, in the name of Michael Matheson, on domestic abuse law, as amended, be agreed to. Amendment agreed to.

  4. 15 Sep 2016
    Decision Time
    Ken Macintosh Meeting of the Parliament

    The final question is, that motion S5M-01434, in the name of Michael Matheson, on domestic abuse law, as amended, be agreed to. Motion, as amended, agreed to, That the Parliament welcomes the announcement by the First Minister when deliver…