Parliament Workbench
Data: Official Report to 12 Nov 2026

Official Report · Committee

Current Petitions

Criminal Memoirs (Publication for Profit) (PE504)

Wednesday 17 January 2007 Public Petitions Committee Petitions 5 contributions · 4 speakers

Speakers

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The record

5 contributions
Michael McMahon Lab The Convener · Hamilton North and Bellshill
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Our first current petition is PE504, from Mr and Mrs James Watson, who call for the Scottish Parliament to take the necessary steps to stop convicted murderers or members of their families profiting from their crimes by selling accounts of their crimes for publication. At its meeting on 17 May, the committee agreed to write to the Minister for Justice for an update. The minister's response has been circulated to members, and the petitioners have submitted their response to the consultation with other correspondence that has been made available to the committee this morning. Members will note the petitioners' request that, as the UK Government has indicated its intention to launch a consultation on defamation of deceased victims of crime, which forms a large part of the petitioners' concerns, the petition be kept open until that process is complete. Do members have any views on that?

Helen Eadie Lab Dunfermline East
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I am sure that it is pleasing for the petitioners to note that the issue is being actively pursued by both the Minister for Justice and the Home Office, as well as by the Northern Ireland Office. I am sure that everyone around the table warmly welcomes that. In recognition of the fact that the review continues, we should keep the petition open and collectively try to ensure that the wishes of the petitioners are recognised.

Sandra White SNP Glasgow
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I agree with Helen Eadie that the petition should be kept open. I thank Mr and Mrs Watson for their written submission. They ask us for our views on the comments that were made by Shaun Woodward MP about politicians and public figures having a better chance of procuring media coverage if they disagree. I would say that that is just the view of Shaun Woodward MP; it is certainly not the view of all politicians. I concur with what Helen Eadie says about keeping the petition open until we get a further response about the UK Government's consultation.

John Scott Con Ayr
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Yes. It is vital that we keep the petition open. The fact that it will be kept open for a fifth year and into a third parliamentary session is an indication of how seriously the committee has taken the petition. I am pleased—as, I am sure, are other members—that it appears that we are getting movement on the issue, at last. If we are, that probably represents a victory for the committee.

Michael McMahon Lab The Convener · Hamilton North and Bellshill
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Are members happy with that proposal?Members indicated agreement.

In this meeting

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