Rent freeze and not proven abolition in new bill plans
A emergency rent freeze and moratorium on evictions to help people through the cost of living crisis, and criminal justice reforms that would abolish the not proven verdict and provide anonymity for complainers in sex offence cases, are among the headlines in the 2022-23 Programme for Government announced by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Emergency legislation will impose a rent freeze until at least 31 March 2023 along with the moratorium on evictions. Alongside that will be a new tenants’ rights campaign, as ministers believe many people are missing out on available support, and a “one stop shop” website to provide people with information on the range of benefits and support available to help them through the cost of living crisis.
Further support will see the Scottish child payment increased to £25 per week per eligible child from 14 November, when it also opens to all under 16s, the rollout of free school meals across all primary school age groups, the Fuel Insecurity Fund for households at risk of self-disconnection or self-rationing of energy doubling to £20m, freezing of all rail fares until March 2023, and widening of the Warmer Homes Fuel Poverty Programme.
In addition to the provisions regarding trials, the justice reforms will take forward Baroness Kennedy’s proposals regarding misogynistic behaviour, provide new trauma informed and age appropriate support for children coming into contact with the justice system, and end the placing of under 18s in young offender institutions.
A total of 18 new bills will include legislation on an independence referendum – but only if its competence is affirmed by the UK Supreme Court; the bill for the creation of the new National Care Service; and legal services regulation reform, the details of which are yet to be announced.
Other bills scheduled for introduction in the coming months include Bankruptcy and Diligence; Charities (Regulation); Circular Economy; Education Reform; Housing (two bills); Police Complaints and Misconduct Handling; and Trusts and Succession.
Measures based on the current land reform consultation will be introduced by the end of 2023.
Responding to the statement, the Law Society of Scotland said it was pleased that there would be reform to legal services regulation, but was “surprised and disappointed” by the omission of a Legal Aid Bill, and “deeply concerned” that plans to abolish the not proven verdict would risk an increase in miscarriages of justice.