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Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 24 August 2025
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Displaying 3543 contributions

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Criminal Justice Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26

Meeting date: 6 November 2024

Audrey Nicoll

I will give you the final word if you wish, Mr Logue. You do not have to add anything.

Criminal Justice Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26

Meeting date: 6 November 2024

Audrey Nicoll

For our next panel of witnesses, we are joined by representatives of the Scottish Prison Service. I extend a warm welcome to Teresa Medhurst, chief executive; Linda Pollock, deputy chief executive; and Gerry O’Donnell, director of finance. I intend to allow about 75 minutes for the session. I ask for concise questions and responses, and for brevity, as there is a lot to get through and a lot that we are interested in.

In addition to papers 1 and 2, which members already have, I refer members to the written submission from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland, which was circulated separately and is relevant to our questions.

I will kick things off with general opening questions for Teresa Medhurst. In your view, what are the main financial challenges that are facing the Scottish Prison Service? What advice has the SPS given to the Scottish Government on the budget resources that are needed for prisons in 2025-26?

Criminal Justice Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26

Meeting date: 6 November 2024

Audrey Nicoll

I have a couple of questions that I am interested in picking up on from the submission from HMIPS. Theresa Medhurst touched on Castle Huntly prison in earlier evidence. I note that, in the recently published thematic review on progression, there was a reference to significant improvements being required in individualised case management, and in training and development of staff, if people in prison are to progress to less secure conditions—such as in Castle Huntly—in preparation for release, thereby optimising the benefits of the underused capacity. Are there specific blockages or challenges—for example, around staff training and development—that are adding to that and which, from a budgetary point of view, are of interest to the committee?

Criminal Justice Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26

Meeting date: 6 November 2024

Audrey Nicoll

Agenda item 2 is pre-budget scrutiny. Our focus today is on the courts, the prosecution service and prisons. We have two panels of witnesses this morning. Our first panel consists of representatives of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. I am pleased that we are joined by Malcolm Graham, the chief executive of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service—welcome to your new role—and John Logue, the Crown Agent at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. I offer you both a very warm welcome.

I refer members to papers 1 and 2. I also refer members to the FDA union’s written submission, which was circulated separately and is relevant to our questioning of Mr Logue. We thank the FDA union for its submission.

I intend to allow about 75 minutes for this session. I will begin by asking the witnesses an opening general question to set the scene, after which we will move on to other members’ questions.

What do you see as being the main financial challenges that your organisation faces, and what is the latest position on any discussions that you have had with the Scottish Government on your budget for 2025-26?

Criminal Justice Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26

Meeting date: 6 November 2024

Audrey Nicoll

I should say that we still have three members seeking to come in, and there will probably be a couple of supplementary questions, so I will just stop you there, Mr Graham.

Criminal Justice Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26

Meeting date: 6 November 2024

Audrey Nicoll

Liam Kerr has a supplementary question.

Criminal Justice Committee

Deputy Convener

Meeting date: 30 October 2024

Audrey Nicoll

Our next item of business is the selection of a new deputy convener. The Parliament has agreed that only members of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist party are eligible for nomination as deputy convener of the committee. I understand that Liam Kerr is that party’s nominee for the post and I invite members to agree that we appoint him as our new deputy convener.

Liam Kerr was chosen as deputy convener.

Criminal Justice Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26

Meeting date: 30 October 2024

Audrey Nicoll

That is helpful. I move to other members, because I know that there is a lot to cover and our time is limited.

Criminal Justice Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26

Meeting date: 30 October 2024

Audrey Nicoll

I want to come in on the back of one of Ben Macpherson’s questions, on borrowing powers. James Gray, you gave a helpful answer and a bit more detail on the on-going discussions with officials and, in your written evidence, you quoted a figure of £200 million that you would be looking to borrow. Has there been any discussion about the practicalities of that? How would it work? Who would you be borrowing from, and who would cover risk if there was a default? What about interest payments? I am thinking more of the practicalities. Have you reached that point yet?

Criminal Justice Committee

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26

Meeting date: 30 October 2024

Audrey Nicoll

Thank you very much. That brings this evidence session to a close. I thank all our panel members. We will have a short suspension to allow for a changeover of witnesses.

11:26 Meeting suspended.  

11:32 On resuming—