Miners' Strike (Pardons) (Scotland) Bill - financial memorandum

Overview

The Bill provides a pardon for miners who were convicted of certain offences relating to the 1984-1985 miners’ strike where the conditions of the pardon are met.

The offences are:

• breach of the peace
• breach of bail conditions – Section 3 of the Bail etc. (Scotland) Act 1980
• obstructing police etc. – Section 41(1)(a) of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967

The offence must have been committed while the miner was taking part in a picket line, demonstration or similar gathering in support of the strike - or while travelling to or from a picket line, demonstration or similar gathering.

If the Bill is enacted, a pardon will apply automatically. Miners will not need to apply for a pardon.

Current status of the Bill 

This Bill was introduced in the Scottish Parliament by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice on 27 October 2021.

Read and find out more about the Bill: Miners’ Strike (Pardons) (Scotland) Bill.

Stage 1

The Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee has been designated as the lead Committee and is responsible for scrutiny of the Bill at Stage 1. A separate call for views on the Bill’s policy provisions will be issued by that Committee and will be published on this consultation platform

Financial Memorandum

As with all Bills, the Finance and Public Administration Committee invites written evidence on the estimated financial implications of the Bill as set out in its accompanying Financial Memorandum (FM).

Read the FM for this Bill: Financial Memorandum (parliament.scot) (PDF).

Questions

1. Did you take part in any consultation exercise preceding the Bill and, if so, did you comment on the financial assumptions made? 
2. If applicable, do you believe your comments on the financial assumptions have been accurately reflected in the FM?
3. Did you have sufficient time to contribute to the consultation exercise?
4. If the Bill has any financial implications for you or your organisation, do you believe that they have been accurately reflected in the FM? If not, please provide details.
5. Do you consider that the estimated costs and savings set out in the FM are reasonable and accurate? 
6. If applicable, are you content that your organisation can meet any financial costs that it might incur as a result of the Bill? If not, how do you think these costs should be met? 
7. Does the FM accurately reflect the margins of uncertainty associated with the Bill’s estimated costs and with the timescales over which they would be expected to arise? 

How to submit your views

Please submit your views using the online submission form, linked to below.

We welcome written views in English, Gaelic, Scots or any other language. 

The call for views closes on 22 December 2021.