Government ‘playing procedural games’ to delay prostitution Bill, says Regan

Ash Regan has accused the Scottish Government of “playing procedural games” to delay her Bill to criminalise the purchase of sex.

The former SNP and Alba MSP said repeated delays to the Unbuyable, Proposed Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill were “deeply concerning for parliamentary democracy”.

She said that while Holyrood had passed a motion in November confirming the legislation would proceed to a vote on Thursday, the Government delayed its oral evidence by a week and then the cross-party Criminal Justice Committee report on the Bill asked to move the stage one debate deadline by two weeks.

Ms Regan, a former community safety minister, said the Government has also failed to put down a financial resolution for the legislation, which she said effectively blocked it at stage one.

Her Bill aims to criminalise those who buy sex from sex workers with fines of up to £10,000 or prison sentences proposed for those convicted.

The Scottish Government has said that while it supports making the purchasing of sex illegal, it said the independent MSP’s Bill would need to be “amended significantly”.

Ms Regan said: “The unusual delays and subsequent radio silence from the Government are deeply concerning for parliamentary democracy.

“Girls in care are disproportionately targeted and groomed into the sex trade.

“The public are watching, and if the Scottish Government is to convince them that they truly care about these vulnerable children and women, it must engage constructively and stop playing procedural games.”

Ms Regan said she welcomed an invitation to address the Parliamentary Bureau on Tuesday, following correspondence with the Presiding Officer, to argue against any further delay to the Bill.

But she said she is still waiting on a response to the Justice Secretary over the lack of a financial resolution.

She warned: “This continued can-kicking risks shamefully silencing survivors and undermining parliamentary democracy.

“This Bill is supported by brave survivors of the Scottish sex trade who deserve better than navel-gazing procedural delay.”

The politician urged the Government to take action, adding: “Delay is no longer neutral; it has consequences for women and girls whose rights are being violated in Scotland right now.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The timetable for this member’s bill is the responsibility of the Parliament, not the Scottish Government.

“The Government generally considers Financial Resolutions for members’ bills following publication of the committee Stage 1 report, which the Criminal Justice Committee has yet to do following its consideration of evidence.

“The timing of that publication is a matter for the committee.”