SNP Constitutional Affairs spokesperson Pete Wishart MP has called for peers convicted and imprisoned for serious offences to be removed from the House of Lords.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has welcomed figures showing the average sentence for those convicted of handling an offensive weapon has increased for the sixth year in a row.

The figure, published in new criminal proceedings statistics, is now at a decade-high of 288 days - well above the average sentence length for all crimes of 277 days.

SNP MSP Rob Gibson has condemned comments from Tory veterans minister Andrew Robathan who said Arctic convoy World War II veterans’ claim for medals are like ones given to “Saddam Hussain’s evil henchmen”.

Responding to the comments, Mr Gibson said he was disgusted and called on Mr Robathan to apologise to the “brave men” who risked their lives on the most dangerous convoys of the war.

SNP MSP Christina McKelvie has welcomed news that new legislation for rape crimes is almost twice as effective at securing a conviction than older laws.

Preliminary figures published by the Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland QC show of the 13 concluded prosecutions for cases with a charge of rape, the conviction rate under the new legislation was 62 per cent.

Former First Minister and ex-leader of the Labour Party in Scotland Henry McLeish has condemned his party’s continued opposition to the Offensive Behaviour Bill.

In today’s Herald, Mr McLeish said the Bill made sense and “with the goodwill of all concerned will make a difference”.

Aileen McLeod, SNP MSP for South Scotland and member of the European and External Relations Committee, has welcomed today's (Monday) discussions between Scottish and Northern Irish authorities at the new facilities at Loch Ryan, which will combat organised cross-border crime.

As reports in today’s press warn that metal thefts are putting people’s lives in danger – with coastguard communications stolen, 999 phone system disconnected and other emergency services disrupted – an SNP MSP has welcomed the Scottish Government’s commitment to clamp down on metal thieves.

SNP MSP Christina McKelvie has today welcomed the news that the No Knives, Better Lives campaign is to be rolled out to South Lanarkshire as well as five other areas across Glasgow, Central Scotland and Lothians with £500,000 of additional funding.

An SNP MSP has welcomed statistics that show the number of recorded crimes committed by children and young people have fallen by almost 19 per cent.

The annual Scottish Policing Performance Framework report also reveals the number of complaints against police decreased by 388 to 4,310 – down 8.3% from the previous year.