Criminal Justice Committee
Minutes: 13 September 2023
Wednesday, 13 September 2023
21st Meeting, 2023
Minutes
1. Declaration of interests:
John Swinney and Donald Cameron were invited to declare any relevant interests. Mr Swinney indicated that he had no relevant interests to declare but stated that as a former member of the Scottish Government he participated in both collective and personal decision making on issues that will come before the Committee. Mr Cameron indicated that he is a member of the Faculty of Advocates.
2. Decision on taking business in private:
The Committee agreed to take item 5 in private.
3. Pre-Budget Scrutiny:
The Committee took evidence as part of its Pre-Budget Scrutiny from—
Deputy Chief Constable Jane Connors QPM, Crime and Operational Support, David Page, Deputy Chief Officer and James Gray, Chief Financial Officer, Police Scotland;
Lynn Brown, Chief Executive, Scottish Police Authority;
Ross Haggart, Chief Officer, Stuart Stevens, Deputy Chief Officer and John Thomson, Acting Director of Finance and Procurement, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service;
and then from—
Stephen McGowan, Deputy Crown Agent, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service;
Eric McQueen, Chief Executive, Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service.
4. Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill (UK Parliament legislation):
The Committee noted the supplementary legislative consent memorandum lodged by Angela Constance, Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs (LCM(S6)27b).
5. Pre-budget Scrutiny (In Private):
The Committee agreed to defer consideration of the evidence heard under agenda item 3 to a future Committee meeting.